As they passed, many in the crowd recognized Vincent, their gazes flickering with curiosity and amusement as they noticed the woman beside him. Knowing smiles spread across their faces, whispers rippling through the room.

Rumors had long circulated—Vincent had cast aside his engagement to Princess Ryanna for Katelyn. But seeing them now, some dismissed it as a fleeting affair. After all, they reasoned, men had their needs, and Vincent was no exception.

Inside the private room, Vincent calmly poured a glass of water, his movements precise, and handed it to Katelyn with a gentle touch.

“Drink,” he said softly. “It’ll help calm you down.”

His voice was calm, but there was an underlying tension in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the grim reality outside. They both knew they couldn’t change what was happening out there; it was the brutal law of survival in the underworld.

Katelyn took the glass, her hands trembling slightly, and took a small sip. The cold water helped settle the nausea that had crept up on her. She leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly as she tried to steady her nerves.

Katelyn glanced at Vincent, her voice soft but laced with tension.

“When will they arrive?”

As if on cue, Vincent’s sharp gaze flicked toward the entrance of the casino. His expression hardened, and his voice turned icy.

“They’ve arrived.”

Katelyn stood up, setting her glass down with a soft clink, and turned toward the entrance.

Outside, the atmosphere shifted as a woman in a flowing white dress entered, flanked by a group of guards. Her face was hidden behind a mask, but her figure and aura were captivating.

As she appeared, the casino seemed to hold its breath, commanding immediate attention. Many of the men stared at her with possessive eyes, their gazes lingering with a mix of fascination and desire.

Behind her, another woman appeared, her face bare and striking. Her allure eclipsed even the masked woman’s, but her undeniable authority commanded immediate respect. The moment she stepped into the casino, the room seemed to quiet, and all eyes subtly shifted. It was none other than Sophia.

Though Sophia’s face had been altered beyond recognition, Katelyn knew her the moment she walked in. The change in appearance hadn’t diminished the cold, commanding aura surrounding her. Katelyn hadn’t expected to see Sophia tonight, but here Sophia was.

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Katelyn leaned closer to Vincent, her voice low and steady.

“The masked woman was… Zoey.”

Katelyn’s memory was sharp, and the recognition hit her instantly. Despite being noticeably thinner, Zoey’s presence and aura were unmistakably the same.

Katelyn muttered, “Why would Zoey be brought here?”

If the intention was to punish her, this place seemed almost luxurious compared to the horrors Katelyn knew Zoey had endured. She was all too familiar with the depths of cruelty Zoey had faced, and this setting didn’t align with that.

Vincent shook his head, his expression grim.

“I don’t know yet,” he admitted quietly. “But judging by the situation, it doesn’t look good for Zoey.”

Despite their extensive investigations, they still hadn’t uncovered why Sophia harbored such relentless cruelty toward Zoey. It was a mystery that gnawed at them, one they were determined to solve.

Katelyn fell silent, her mind racing. This wasn’t something they could unravel with the information they had now. They needed to dig deeper to uncover the full story behind Sophia’s vendetta.

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