Alfy gave a quiet nod, choosing not to speak further. She waved at Ashlyn and said, “I’ll be on my way now. I have errands to run in the city.”

Ashlyn kept her eyes on Alfy as she walked away, watching until Alfy vanished from view.

Once inside, Ashlyn shut the door behind her. The waitress took a step back, then casually sat in a chair, her presence anything but ordinary. With a sharp gaze, Ashlyn asked, “Who are you?”

To be confronted by someone like this right after arriving in Granville wasn’t a good sign.

The waitress studied Ashlyn carefully.

“You really do resemble me.” In an instant, the waitress removed a human mask, exposing her real face.

Ashlyn stood motionless. It was her! The woman before her had gentle, kind features, but that wasn’t what caught Ashlyn’s attention. What mattered was that she looked exactly like Ashlyn.

Ashlyn’s eyes widened in shock. Her thoughts raced back to what Katelyn had mentioned, about someone who looked just like her. Up until this moment, Ashlyn had believed Katelyn was just teasing her. Now, standing before this woman, she couldn’t deny it any longer! Why did this woman look so much like her?

Ashlyn took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

“Why do you look like me? What is it you want?”

She was sure she had no siblings, no twin sisters. But the woman before her had an eerie presence that sent a chill down her spine. The idea that this woman could use a face like hers to return to the Marshall family was terrifying.

A cold shiver ran down Ashlyn’s spine in that instant. And to her horror, this woman was none other than Sophia.

I@?e$t ￠н@я$ ?η и?vε.c?m

Sophia rose from her seat and casually made her way to Ashlyn. She reached out, gripping Ashlyn’s chin, her eyes studying Ashlyn closely.

“Ashlyn Marshall, heiress to the Marshall Group, a renowned jewelry designer. Tsk, how charming. All those public accolades.”

Ashlyn recoiled at the coldness of her touch, as though a snake had slithered across her skin—chilling, venomous, and full of hatred. Dark emotions tightened around her heart. Now it made sense why Katelyn had been so wary. With someone like this nearby, caution was the only choice.

Suddenly, Sophia’s grip on her chin tightened painfully. Ashlyn’s eyes widened in sheer terror.

Before Ashlyn even knew what was happening, a pill was dropped into her mouth.

“What did you make me swallow?” Ashlyn demanded, her voice tight with alarm. Without a second thought, she shoved Sophia away, stumbling toward the trash can as she desperately tried to vomit.

But Sophia just stood there, calm and unbothered, watching Ashlyn’s frantic efforts with a cold smile.

“It dissolves instantly. You won’t be able to throw it up.”

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