Return of the Crowned Heiress (Felicia)

Every time Felicia needed to leave the Russell estate, she'd rely on Kenneth for a ride down to town. But once at her destination, she'd insist he return without her. She'd always arrange her own way back, usually by cab. Kenneth had followed those instructions to the letter, but tonight, that wasn't enough to appease Stephan.

Stephan glared at him before turning on his heel and heading toward the door. His determined stride left no doubt about his intentions-he would personally pick her up.

But just as he reached the entrance, headlights flickered outside, and the sound of an approaching cab made him pause.

Felicia stepped out of the cab, carrying herself with her usual nonchalance. "Thanks. Just wait here a moment," she told the driver before heading toward the house.

She met Stephan in the doorway. "Oh, hey," she greeted casually, barely slowing her pace as she slipped past him.

Stephan stood still, his expression unreadable. Though his dark eyes followed her retreating figure into the house, he said nothing.

Upstairs, Felicia went straight to the guest room that had been serving as her temporary refuge. She began packing up her things, carefully tucking away the jars of ointments and vials of herbal concoctions she had spent days perfecting. Each bottle was a little treasure resulting from painstaking work and her natural talent for medicinal remedies. They were particularly effective for healing wounds, so she was sure they'd fetch a good price.

She smiled to herself. Once sold, the profits would help cover her newly rented apartment-her next step toward independence.

With her bag securely packed, Felicia slung it over her shoulder and headed toward the stairs, only to find her path blocked.

Stephan stood at the top of the staircase, his tall frame illuminated by the soft glow of the hallway lights. His expression was unreadable, but the intensity of his gaze was unmistakable.

"It's 11:00 pm," he said, his deep voice laced with restrained frustration. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going back to campus," Felicia replied, her tone calm and even.

Stephan's eyes narrowed. She was lying. He could see it in the slight lift of her chin and the overly casual way she said it. The campus had already locked its gates for the holiday break. There was no way she was going back there. "Is that so?" he asked, his voice cool but with a dangerous undertone.

"Yes," Felicia replied without hesitation, her face unreadable.

Stephan stepped closer, his towering presence making the narrow landing feel even smaller. "Are you just so eager to cut ties with me?"

His words were low, laced with mockery.

Felicia tilted her head back slightlyNôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

as she leaned against the staircase

railing to put some distance between them. But Stephan didn't move back. Instead, he leaned in, his sharp features only inches from

hers.

"We don't have any ties to cut," Felicia countered quietly, her tone as neutral as ever.

Something dark flashed in Stephan's eyes. It was a dangerous glint that warned of his shifting mood.

Before Felicia could respond, she felt herself lifted off the ground in one swift motion.

"Stephan!" she yelped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her effortlessly down the hallway. For a brief, panicked moment, she thought he might actually throw her over the railing.

But instead, Stephan strode into the master bedroom and unceremoniously dropped her onto the plush, oversized bed.

The mattress was so soft that Felicia bounced slightly upon landing, her bag slipping off her shoulder and falling to the floor.

Stephan's tall frame loomed over her

as he placed one knee on the bed, his weight sinking into the mattress The shadows in the dimly lit room only heightened the intensity in his gaze, his eyes burning with suppressed emotions that Felicia couldn't fully decipher.

"Stephan..." she began, only to be silenced by the weight of his presence as he leaned down.

s close, and his breath

His face was

was warm against her cheek. In the faint moonlight filtering through the window, she could see the sharp angles of his face, the tension in his jaw, and the fiery determination in his eyes.

"If you even consider going to Arnold again, I'll make sure he regrets it," Stephan growled, his voice low and threatening.

Felicia's heart skipped a beat, her mind struggling to keep up with the sudden shift in his demeanor.

Then, he added, his tone firm and possessive, "And it's not just him. You're not allowed to go to anyone else."