Her words, along with the way she spoke, carried an unmistakable flirtatious tone.

Alfy couldn’t bear it anymore and blurted out, “Miss, it seems like there’s an imbalance between your intelligence and your looks. Did all your beauty leave no room for brains?”

Jaxen burst into laughter, unable to contain himself. When did Alfy start becoming so harsh? But he had to admit, it was refreshing to hear.

Even Katelyn’s lips twitched into a slight smile. It seemed that spending time with Jaxen had influenced Alfy, giving her a touch of mischief. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing; it meant she wouldn’t let anyone push her around easily. After all, being too innocent could be a disadvantage in their world.

Mona’s expression hardened. She shot Alfy a frosty look and snapped, “Miss, you ought to think before you speak. It’s all too easy to upset someone that way.”

Jaxen wouldn’t stand by while someone spoke harshly to Alfy. He quickly defended her, saying, “It’s okay. As long as she’s with me, Alfy can speak her mind.”

Alfy looked shocked. She shot Jaxen a fierce look and said, “I don’t need your presence to speak my mind.”

Mona watched their exchange, her expression growing even more sour as her eyes flicked toward Vincent, clearly frustrated by the dynamic. At that moment, Katelyn realized Mona was interested in Vincent. Yet, how they were connected remained a mystery to Katelyn.

Vincent then turned to Katelyn and gently explained, “Katelyn, I really don’t know her at all. There’s no connection between us. Please, don’t be upset.”

His gaze was serious, as if he truly had no idea who Mona was. At first, Katelyn experienced a brief wave of jealousy, but Vincent’s words swiftly eased her worries.

Mona’s face stiffened, her mask slipping away. She shot a cold glare at Vincent and snapped, “Mr. Adams, you really don’t care for my feelings, do you?”

Vincent’s expression was cold, his disdain evident. “Why should I? Keep your distance, or you’ll regret your actions today.”

The Adams Group indeed maintained numerous partnerships, but none from the Figueroa family were of any particular significance to grab his attention. So, Vincent had no idea who Mona was.

Mona looked over the nearly empty plates and retorted, “Mr. Adams, since you are so ruthless, don’t blame me for being so too.”

α с?ρ αν﹒

Katelyn’s face hardened at these words. She faced Mona directly and demanded, “And how, precisely, do you intend to be ruthless to us?” Her voice, cutting and forceful, filled the space, altering the ambiance of the entire restaurant. The tension was evident, and even the other diners seemed to hold their breath. Katelyn’s presence was intimidating, daunting enough to instill fear.

Mona, however, reclined casually in her chair, resting her chin on her hand as though she were an audience to an intriguing drama. “Let’s see if you’re still so bold in a minute. Prove you’re exceptional, and I’ll concede you’re remarkable.”

It was apparent that Mona was not without a contingency.

Katelyn gave Mona a chilling stare and asked, “You poisoned the food, didn’t you?”

Mona froze, her eyes widening in shock as she faced Katelyn. How had Katelyn figured out the food was poisoned?

Indeed, the tartare had been laced with poison, but it was merely a distraction. The actual toxins were in the other dishes. These substances were meant to impair, not kill, subtly numbing the nerves. It was unlikely anyone would detect them. How could Katelyn have possibly known?

Katelyn ignored Mona’s shock and grabbed a bowl of salad from the table. It was spotless—they had already finished it. All that remained was an empty bowl.

“Was this the dish you tampered with?” she inquired, setting the empty bowl before Mona.

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