Katelyn steadied herself, gripping the edge of the table for balance. Turning to Ryanna, she said,
“Princess Ryanna, I just remembered something urgent. I’ll have to excuse myself. Let me make it up to you with dinner sometime soon.”
Ryanna’s sharp eyes narrowed as she caught the slight unsteadiness in Katelyn’s movements. A strange feeling crept over her—something wasn’t quite right. But since Katelyn had already excused herself, Ryanna made no effort to stop her.
Fiona, observing in silence, chose not to draw any attention to herself. Acting rashly with so many onlookers would only complicate matters.
Katelyn pushed past her growing discomfort, forcing herself to step outside.
Annie’s dissatisfaction was evident as she said,
“She has no sense of respect. You didn’t even dismiss her, and she’s already gone. So arrogant and disrespectful.”
Ryanna didn’t comment; she just watched as Fiona avoided the crowd’s notice and quietly slipped toward the door.
The corner of Ryanna’s lips twitched into a knowing smile. Tonight promised to deliver some unexpected drama.
The sprawling Robles estate was eerily quiet, the path to the parking lot stretching beneath the canopy of dense, ancient trees. The stillness made the walk almost unnerving.
As Katelyn reached the shaded path, a sudden grasp on her arm startled her—firm and unrelenting.
Reacting instinctively, Katelyn’s body moved with precision. Her hand gripped the attacker’s neck, her icy tone slicing through the air.
“Identify yourself!”
The person hadn’t anticipated her swift reaction or her fighting skills. A flicker of fear flashed across his face, but his confidence returned when he noticed Katelyn’s grip weakening.
Excitement lit up his features as he edged closer.
G al no vel s . com holds tales worth reading
As the figure came into view, Katelyn realized it was Marco.
With a smug grin, Marco placed his hand over hers, his fingers trailing across her skin.
“Miss Bailey, what a coincidence. Shall we have a little talk?”
His suggestive tone left no room for doubt—this wasn’t just about talking. A wave of fury surged within Katelyn. The realization that her wine had been drugged only sharpened her awareness of his intentions.
Without hesitation, her grip on his neck tightened as her voice turned cold and threatening.
“Stay away from me, or I swear you won’t walk away from this!”
Her resolve radiated a lethal certainty. Every muscle in her body seemed poised to act if he dared to test her.
Feeling the increasing pressure on his neck, Marco froze. His breath caught, and fear flickered across his face, though he masked it with a sly grin.
“No need to get worked up. I only want to have a conversation.”
His casual tone betrayed the sinister patience of someone waiting for the upper hand.
Though dizziness clouded her head, Katelyn’s focus remained unbroken. Her mind stayed sharp enough to piece together Marco’s vile intentions.
Not wasting another moment, she delivered a swift kick, sending him stumbling backward, then strode toward the road without looking back.
.
.
.