Return of the Crowned Heiress (Felicia)

Felicia gradually regained consciousness.

The first thing she felt was an itch on her face. Struggling to open her eyes, she found herself face-to-face with Arnold, his face just inches from hers. Their lips were almost touching. Without thinking, she threw a punch at Arnold.

Her fist struck Arnold's face. However, her strength had yet to completely return, and Arnold barely flinched as the punch hit. Instead, he casually grabbed her wrist. "Felicia, my patience has limits."

His dark eyes bore into hers. "I don't care whether you're trying to play hard to get or whether you hate me, but one thing's clear. If I want something, I'll get it!" Felicia's blood boiled, and for a moment, she felt like she was going to choke on her own blood.

She had never met somebody so shameless or arrogant. She sneered furiously, "You want me to be yours? In your dreams!"

Arnold wasn't upset. Instead, he moved closer. He pinned her other wrist, forcing her to stay still.

A faint floral scent wafted from her. It was a delicate and surprising fragrance for this season. It was soft yet refreshing. For a moment, Arnold's focus faltered.

He felt regret.

The effort his grandfather had gone through to arrange his engagement to Felicia had been huge. Matthew had even gone so far as to plan a citywide spectacle of an engagement party. Yet, in the end, Arnold left the event to meet with Kayla instead. If only he'd known... If only he had stayed. Then, Felicia would have already been his.

Arnold's gaze lingered on her lips, completely drawn to them. His gaze grew darker, and he leaned in without hesitation.

But just then, Felicia used her remaining strength to drive her knee into Arnold's abdomen.

Arnold grunted in pain like a beast pushed too far. In the same motion, he shoved a pill into Felicia's mouth.

Felicia tried to spit it out, but Arnold wasn't going to give her that chance. He locked her jaw, forcing the pill to dissolve in her mouth.

The more she struggled, the faster the drug took effect. Her body burned up, as though it was in flames.

Arnold's eyes grew colder and darker. He hadn't wanted to resort to this, but Felicia had given him no choice. She wouldn't give in. Previously, Kayla had used every trick in the book to seduce him, and though Arnold had been tempted, he resisted in the end.

But Felicia was different. Especially after what he had seen in Opulent Elegance that night when she was with Stephan. Arnold's jealousy and anger flared up again, and his gaze narrowed.

As he leaned in to kiss her, something unexpected happened She stopped resisting, and her voice turned soft, almost on the verge of tears. "It hurts... Could you loosen your grip, just a little?"

Arnold paused briefly. He looked at her fragile wrist, which was now bruised and reddish from his grasp Her face was flushed from the drug's effects, and her teary eyes made her look so vulnerable

.n

His heart wavered. He softened and let go of her wrist, asking, "Will you behave?"

Felicia's eyes shimmered with tears as she nodded.

The moment Arnold released his grip, the despair vanished from her face and was replaced by a vicious gleam in her eyes.

Arnold's heart skipped a beat. Before he could react, Felicia broke free and sprang to her feet. She seized the bedside lamp and swung it at his head. Arnold instinctively stepped back.