Felicia and Lake sat in the backseat of the car.


    "Why are we going to Ashford?


    "Don''t ask yet. You''ll understand soon. After tonight, maybe our family can get back on track"


    Luke thought for a moment before simply responding. "Okay."


    Feeling a twinge of concem, Felicia gently rubbed his arm


    She had gone to the Sowle residence under the guise of discussing wedding details There, she leamed that ire had an orchard in the countryside of Ashford.


    She also found out that ire had taken into the area to pick fruit


    This information startled her. She thought, "Why go today of all days?"


    Putting together the pieces of information, the realized that ire and Tina might have already fallen into a trap


    Determined, she decided she needed to investigate further. She wanted to see for herself who their mysterious ally was, the one who could deceive them into going


    to Ashford.


    Most importantly, she wanted to witness Tina''s capture with her own eyes. If necessary, she would help things along.


    Meanwhile, Vespera and her group followed the red car to the vige they had intended to visit.


    The red car pulled into a three-story red building, which had a specially paved road leading to it. Calvert parked the car in a hidden spot that still allowed them to obore the building,


    From a distance, they saw Tins and ire step out of the car, followed by the driver, Hannibal Mason, and the bodyguard, Denton Rowse


    Tina''s expression was stemm


    On the other hand, ire looked nervous, ncing around as if something terrifying were lurking, ready to strike at any moment.


    They entered the building, and after a long wait, they still hadn''te backout. The group grew restless in the cat.


    At that moment, Jade took a box of mint candies from her bag. She popped one in her mouth and then uttered the rest to the group. "Would anyone like a mint?" Vespera cook.one. "Thanks."


    The others followed suit, each taking a mint.


    Once everyone had their candy, Jade returned her attention to the scene outside


    After a while, there was finally some movement from the building Tea and ire emerged.


    ire ordered Denton to retrieve a cloth bag and a suitcase from the car''s trunk she then gave a few more instructions to Hannibal before pulling in toward the onchard behind the small building.


    The unchard was truly ast


    Vespere and the others followed them for about seven or eight minutes, contining on their path.


    Reba had already opened her phone to record, capturing footage of different foult


    The camera finally stopped when Tina and ire came to a halt.


    Before theny arge pond with a small dit mound beside it. The wildflowers and grasses atop the slope were exceptionally lush for the season. Beside the pond rood a white cabin, surrounded by fruit trees.


    These matched Tina''s description perfectly.


    The only difference was that the pond she had described wasn''t the elliptical one they had seen along the way. Instead, it was perfectly round, with a crescent- shaped patch ofnd in the center, which was also fled with fruit trees. Calpe entered the cabin


    After a while, Denton came out, carrying a long wooden nk and cing it across the shore, leading to the crescent-stuped patch ofnd in the middle of the pand


    The group hid behind the cabin, holding their berath.


    the nk, ire and Tina carefully walked across Denton followed, carrying a shovel and the suitcase.


    ire posted to a peachtree and structed Denton to dig there.


    Reba''s grip tightened on her phone.


    Just as she was about to capture the key evidence, a voice suddenly called out from behind them, "Why haven''t you passed our yet?


    The mice was soft, but it cur through the stillness, hitting everyone with a sharp jolt of rm,


    lte and Tina finge.


    "Who''s there?"


    The group tumed in shock to see who had spoken.


    Jade had already removed her mask, and in the dim light cast by the cabin, her scarred face looked even more terrifying. Her expression was emotionless as she spoke softly, "Sorry."


    And with that, Vespera and the others, one by one, copsed


    "The candy... It... It''s tainted..." Calvert, with his stronger willpower than the rest, managed to speak out. He insisted on finishing his line before losing


    consciousness.


    Tina tumed back toward the cabin,


    She stood there, staring at the unconscious group of people and then at Jade.


    Her expression shifted from surprise to excitement.


    Sheughed wildly. "Jade, it''s been years. You haven''t changed. You''re still as dark, selfish, and despicable as ever. You never fail to impress me."