Katelyn responded with a gentle laugh, “Me too.”

Sensing her own fatigue setting in, Katelyn decided it was time to leave.

“Miss Marshall, you should rest now. I have other commitments, so I must go.”

If she stayed much longer, she might end up fainting herself. Ashlyn tried to sit up in acknowledgment but quickly collapsed back onto the bed.

Katelyn instructed, “Don’t try to move. The doctor will come by to check on you soon.” With that, she walked toward the door.

After Katelyn exited, uncertainty clouded Ashlyn’s expression. Sophia had described it as a slow-acting poison, so why the sudden collapse today? Was Sophia misleading her all along?

The thought sent a cold shiver down Ashlyn’s spine. She resolved that if Sophia had deceived her, she would make sure Sophia faced severe consequences, even if it came at a great cost.

Unbeknownst to Ashlyn, Katelyn hadn’t mentioned that the toxic herb solvent had completely neutralized the toxins.

For now, Katelyn’s only wish was to return home and sleep until she regained her strength.

The following day, Katelyn’s sleep was abruptly interrupted by persistent knocking at her door.

The banging on the door grew more frantic. Katelyn’s face tightened in clear annoyance, her temper flaring as she threw the covers aside.

“Who is it?” she shouted, but the knocking continued without pause.

Suppressing her anger, Katelyn walked to the door and flung it open. Before she could react, a sharp slap struck her face. The sting immediately snapped her out of her grogginess.

gα?ησν?s?c? brings imagination alive

Holding her cheek, Katelyn looked up to see who was responsible.

It was Sharon.

With her sleeves rolled up, Sharon seemed ready to strike again, angrily shouting, “You bitch, did you sabotage the competition so Lise only came in tenth?”

As Sharon’s hand came at her once more, Katelyn’s expression turned cold as stone. She swiftly caught Sharon’s wrist, tightening her grip until a loud crack echoed through the room as a bone dislocated. Sharon screamed, “Ah!”

Katelyn’s voice was icy as she spoke, “For her to have even this ranking is a stroke of good fortune. How dare you come here complaining?”

At that moment, Katelyn could almost feel the urge to harm Sharon for her audacity.

Sharon, clutching her wrist in pain, glared at Katelyn and hissed, “You’re wicked! I’m calling the police. After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?”

Katelyn’s anger flared. The Bailey family had always left her to fend for herself, and now Sharon had the nerve to attack her.

Sleep-deprived and irritable, Katelyn had no patience for this.

“Go ahead, call them. In fact, I’ll do it myself!” She swiftly pulled out her phone and began dialing the police.

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