Return of the Crowned Heiress novel Chapter 469

After the meal, Felicia was about to clear the table when Stephan stopped her.

He gave a slight nod toward the doorway, and a few familiar-looking maids entered. They swiftly began tidying the table and cleaning up.

They were the staff Stephan had brought over from the Russell estate.

Felicia was more than happy to relax. Her villa spanned three floors, plus a basement. Cleaning it all was exhausting. Having help made life so much easier.

She settled onto the couch while holding a cup of hot water with both hands. Blowing on it, she took a sip, then repeated the process. As the steam from the cup warmed her face, the seat beside her sank suddenly, and Stephan's voice sounded in her ear. "Does it still hurt?"

She spat out the water, nearly choking on it. She started coughing violently as her face flushed bright red.

Stephan patted her back gently, his well-controlled strength right on point.

Once Felicia recovered, she immediately shot him a glare.

However, her violent coughing fit earlier had brought tears to her eyes. Her attempt at intimidation failed. Her gaze, shimmering with unshed tears, inadvertently carried a fatal allure.

Stephan chuckled softly.

His dark eyes, usually cold and piercing, softened at that moment, shedding their sharpness. The typically aloof and icy man now looked warm, almost tender, as he gazed at her.

Felicia stared at him, momentarily lost in thought.

The next second, her view was entirely blocked by a pair of hands. Everything went dark, leaving her unable to see anything. But the voice that reached her ears was deep and laced with humor. It sounded husky and restrained. "My dear, please don't look at me like that anymore. I can't handle it."

Felicia had no idea that every time she fell in a daze, her pure, innocent gaze was enough to drive him wild. And yet, she remained blissfully unaware of the chaos she caused.

"Oh…" She blinked a few times.

Would it be dangerous?

Felicia's eyes flickered as she turned to him and asked, "Where are you going, and what are you doing?"

Until now, Felicia had never shown any curiosity about him. She had always maintained a detached, indifferent attitude that made it seem as if she was unaffected by the world around her or by him.

Finally getting her to ask that question, even if it was just a simple one, was enough to prove that she was letting go of her indifference. She was beginning to accept him and wanted to know more about him.

The corners of Stephan's lips curved into a smile. He gently cupped her face as he replied, "Where I'm going has to do with that map."

Momentarily forgetting to resist, she stared at him in surprise. "But isn't that map a fake?"

The mere mention of that map gave her a headache. A supposedly mythical object—an ancient, legendary map—was somehow tied to the Fuller family!