She stood and met Vincent’s gaze.

“I get it. Don’t worry, I’m fine.” In just moments, she had composed herself.

Alfy emerged from the bathroom, her face dripping with water. Her expression twisted with disgust as she addressed Katelyn.

“Sorry, I was wrong. I’ll never look at that stuff again.”

She had thought she could handle it, but the reality was far worse than she’d imagined. It was utterly revolting. Those people were absolute perverts.

Katelyn’s mood lifted at Alfy’s dramatic shift. Her lips curled into a teasing smile.

“Why not give it another look? Maybe after a while, you’ll get used to it.”

Before, when Katelyn warned her not to look, Alfy had brushed it off, thinking Katelyn was just teasing her. Now, the weight of the situation hit her, and she understood how serious it really was.

Frantically waving her hands, Alfy shook her head with vehemence.

“No way! I can’t handle even a second more.”

If she kept watching, she was sure she’d throw up everything she ate yesterday. Even now, just recalling it made her throat tighten uncomfortably.

Katelyn couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy as she watched Alfy. She picked up a piece of apple Vincent had sliced earlier and offered it to Alfy.

“Here, have a bite. It’ll help settle your stomach.”

The natural sweetness of the fruit might counter the lingering nausea. Alfy didn’t refuse. Taking the apple, she perched on the sofa and nibbled it quietly. After a couple of bites, the sickening sensation began to ease, though her head still felt foggy.

A sudden knock on the door drew all their attention. Their eyes shifted simultaneously as Jaxen peeked inside. Upon spotting them, he entered fully, closing the door behind him.

Standing with his hands on his hips, he launched into a tirade.

“Has Neil completely lost it? We should ship him straight to a psych ward.”

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Crossing the room, he dropped into a chair opposite the sofa.

Katelyn glanced at Jaxen, his fury evident in every movement. With a light sigh, she offered a measured response.

“Don’t let him rile you up. We’ll handle people like him in due time.”

Alfy, clueless about what had transpired, stayed silent, her eyes darting between Jaxen and Katelyn in confusion.

Vincent, however, frowned and asked, “What happened? What’s Neil done now?”

Jaxen felt anger surge through him once again. He slammed his hand down on the table with a loud thud. The impact made everything on the table tremble, signaling his intense fury.

“What else could it be? That idiot Neil! I went through all that trouble to get Lise thrown in jail, and just like that, he swoops in and pulls her out. Does he think I’m a pushover?!” Jaxen replied, his voice filled with frustration.

A new wave of rage swept through him, too strong to contain. Finally, he had Lise, who killed his friend, punished, yet she was rescued. At times, Jaxen felt an overwhelming urge to grab a knife and end Lise’s life himself. Luckily, a shred of reason prevailed.

Vincent, shocked but composed, responded, “Isn’t that to be expected? Neil adores Lise. How could he let the woman he loves rot in jail?” Katelyn glanced at Vincent. His argument was so solid and convincing that she couldn’t find a single thing to say in response. His words, however, made her stomach churn slightly.

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