Chapter 323

Felicia was missing, her whereabouts completely unknown.
While others might afford to take their time, there was no way Felicia could afford to wait. And Stephan? He could hardly stand still. If he could, he would fly straight to Khogend without delay. Every second felt like a wasted eternity. “Take care of Imogen,” Stephan barked over his shoulder before striding out the door.
His command was met with a unified, disciplined response from the maids, bodyguards, and everyone else within earshot.
“Yes, Mr. Russell!” they echoed in sync.
Watching Stephan leave in such a hurry, Johanna sighed quietly as she approached Imogen, ready to soothe her disappointment. “Imogen…”
Before she could say anything more, Imogen’s face suddenly contorted in pain. Her hand flew to her stomach, and beads of sweat broke out across her forehead.
“It hurts… It hurts so much…” Imogen gasped, doubling over. Her voice was weak, trembling.
“Imogen!” Johanna cried.
“Ms. Russell!” one of the household staff yelled.
Then, someone’s voice rang out in alarm, “Blood! She’s bleeding!”
All eyes turned toward Imogen’s skirt, where a crimson stain had begun to spread.
“My baby…” Imogen whispered, her voice barely audible. Then, her body went limp, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
“Get the car!” someone shouted. “We need to get her to the hospital!”
The Russell residence, usually serene and orderly, erupted into chaos.
Stephan had barely made it to the private airstrip at the back of the house where his jet was prepped and waiting for departure when he heard the commotion. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned back.
The aircraft’s doors were open, the flight path was cleared for Khogend, and the jet stood ready to take off.
But it sat there, empty, waiting for Stephan, who didn’t board.
On the sixth day of Felicia’s captivity in Ablil, she stood by the hot spring as usual. She had her silver needles in hand.
After five days of treatment, the results spoke for themselves. And today’s session brought even more progress.
“Try standing up, Mr. Glovers,” Felicia suggested, raising an eyebrow.
Maurice’s eyes flickered. He exhaled slowly, gripping the armrests of his wheelchair. After a few tense moments, he pushed himself to his feet.
He stood. The moment felt electric.
His closest guards, loyal to a fault, watched in disbelief. They cheered like they had just witnessed a miracle.
Maurice’s body stiffened. Years
confined to the wheelchair had left
his legs weak and unsteady, and his muscles seemed unsure of the movement. He hesitated, then willed
himself to take a step forward.
But his legs betrayed him. They buckled under his weight, and he teetered toward the steaming waters of the spring.
Felicia, standing closest to him, moved swiftly to steady him before he fell.
His men quickly surrounded Maurice, helping him back into the wheelchair.
Felicia’s expression remained calm. She stretched her arms lazily as if she hadn’t just saved him from an embarrassing tumble.
“No need to rush,” she said
smoothly. “We’ve still got one more
session tomorrow. After that,
guarantee you’ll be walking like you
never stopped.”
Maurice took a deep breath, his jaw tight with frustration. The taste of standing, however brief, had ignited a yearning he hadn’t felt in years.
Now, the wheelchair felt more like a prison than ever before.
“I’ll leave it in your hands, Ms. Fuller,” he said, his tone measured but laced with determination.
Felicia waved off his words like they were nothing. “No big deal.”
She tossed her medical kit to one of the guards and began rolling her shoulders, easing her own aches and pains Casually, she added, “Once tomorrow’s session is done, I’ll be heading back to Khogend. I’m sure you don’t have a problem with that, right, Mr. Glovers?”
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