Chapter 353

Leo Clemenson froze in place, his blood turning to ice.

Evelyn Laurent's gaze was like a poisoned dagger, piercing straight into his soul.

"Evelyn!" Rachel Clemenson yanked her brother behind her, her voice shrill with panic. "Have you lost your mind? We live in a society governed by law!"

Her chest heaved violently, nails digging into her palms.

Crystal Rothschild bit her lower lip, her voice soft and hesitant. "Evelyn, that kind of talk is really inappropriate..." Her lashes fluttered. "Leo was just worried about you."

Evelyn scoffed and turned to leave.

"Stop." Ethan Sullivan's voice cut through the air.

He stepped slowly toward Rachel, his presence suffocating. "Who gave you the right to dictate terms to my woman?"

The combat knife glinted coldly in the sunlight.

"If I hear one more word—" Ethan's lips curled into a smile, but his eyes remained frozen. "I won't hesitate to silence you myself."

Rachel paled, stumbling back half a step.

The next moment, Ethan turned and took Evelyn's hand, his voice instantly softening. "Come on, let's get back to work."

Hugo Rothschild remained silent in the shadows.

His knuckles whitened around his knife, his gaze locked onto Evelyn.

Both men swung their blades at the vines.

The clash of steel carried an unspoken tension, thick as gunpowder in the air.

"Snake." Evelyn paused abruptly, not bothering to turn.

Crystal shrieked and jumped back.

"Don't worry!" Rachel forced a steady tone. "I used to catch snakes back home—"

Her voice trailed off as she met Hugo's icy glare.

Crystal clutched Rachel's sleeve. "C-can we just go back?"

No one answered.

Only the rhythmic sound of blades slicing through vines echoed through the jungle. Hugo's strikes grew faster, yet he couldn't close the distance between himself and that unwavering figure ahead.