The figure stepped inside, her movements deliberate and chilling, like a vengeful spirite to im what was owed.


    Rowena spotted her and instantly, the color drained from her face. She stumbled backward, nearly tripping over her own feet.


    "Trying to run? Where are you going to go?" Nte''s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile as she advanced, her gaze as sharp as a de fixed on this


    venomous woman.


    Behind Nte strode Finley, Kemp, and a squad of imposing bodyguards. Their presence turned the room''s atmosphere to ice.


    Rowena''s mother recognized Nte at once-Rowena''s old friend from university, the one who hade to dinner a few times with Isadora back in the day.


    She tried to put on a gracious front, moving forward to greet her. "Nte, is that you? You really do look like a star-I see you on TV all the time. What brings you here with such an entourage?"


    Nte marched forward in her heels,pletely ignoring the warm wee. Her tone was biting. "Step aside."


    The harsh rebuff left Rowena''s mother flustered, her smile faltering.


    She bristled. "What kind of attitude is that? Just because you''re famous now and our family''s lost its standing, doesn''t mean you can treat your elders with such disrespect."


    Nte''s expression hardened. "How I treat you depends on what your daughter''s done. If I find out you helped her, I won''t spare a single one of you."


    These past few days, Isadora had been in the hospital after the poisoning incident with Pudding, the stress triggeringplications in her pregnancy. Victor had barely left her side.


    Nte had gone to visit Isadora, and, in the hallway, overheard Victor and Finley talking quietly. The investigators had finally tracked down where Rowena was hiding.


    Nte hadn''t hesitated-she stormed straight over.


    Last time, she''d shown mercy and only warned Rowena, believing she might reflect and change. She had been wrong. Rowena had only grown bolder, repeatedly scheming against Isadora.


    Nte''s fury burned so hot she hadn''t slept in days.


    Rowena''s mother and her father, Keeley, exchanged uneasy nces. They''d noticed Rowena''s odd behaviortely: the sudden influx of money her insistence that they leave the country and nevere back. Whenever they questioned her, she''d dodge or brush them off.


    Now, Rowena''s mother turned to her, panic in her voice. "Rowena, what have you


    done? Don''t scare your mother like this."


    Rowena''s face was ashen, her temples throbbing. She turned away, her voice


    cold. "Mom, Dad, don''t listen to this woman. She''s talking nonsense."


    Rowena''s mother looked at the assembled group, all of them looking so grim and dangerous it made her tremble Weren''t you her friend why would you bring people here like you''re leading a police raid?"


    Nte''s voice was dangerously low. "Stop right there. Don''t call me her friend— can barely stand the word."


    With that, Nte''s eyes shed. She lunged forward, grabbing Rowena by the throat and mming her down with a single, ruthless motion. In one swift move, she straddled Rowena, pinning her to the floor.


    A strangled scream tore from Rowena''s lips.


    Finley and Kemp watched in awe-Nte fought like a wildcat.


    Rowena''s mother cried out and rushed forward to help, but Kemp''s bodyguards blocked her path, holding her back.


    Rowenay pinned, gasping for air. She managed to spit out a furious usation. "Nte, what did I ever do to deserve this? What gives you the right?"


    "What did you do?" Nteughed coldly. "You''re petty, jealous, cruel-a snake who repays kindness with


    betrayal. You smeared Isadora''s


    name in the press by exploiting her preg then you poisoned her dog at the engagement party, letting Pudding die right there. A hundred deaths wouldn''t be enough for what you''ve done."