Return of the Crowned Heiress novel Chapter 695

"You…"

Felicia never imagined she would get caught just like that!

Stephan didn't even see her face. How did he recognize her from just her back? It was impossible!

Felicia was so stunned she almost let her shock show. She had intended to feign ignorance and act like it was a mistake. But as soon as she met Stephan's unreadable gaze, she gave up and sighed in defeat. "How did you recognize me?"

"Why were you hiding?" Stephan didn't answer her question and instead asked one of his own.

Why was she hiding?

Felicia froze for a moment. The first thought that came to her mind was simple—guilt. She had snuck in to check on Imogen because of that overwhelming guilt weighing on her. Only by seeing Imogen safe and out of danger could she breathe easier.

And as for why she wanted to avoid Stephan… It was because she wasn't ready to face him.

No matter how she framed it, everything that happened had stemmed from her actions. Stephan probably hated her to the core by now.

Caught in a swirl of complicated emotions, Felicia decided to come clean. She softened her tone and began to explain, "About what happened earlier on the mountain… Maurice didn't mean to stab Imogen. He was under the influence of a venomous creature's control, and it's all because of me. That's why—"

Before she could finish, Stephan's eyes gleamed with cold mockery. He cut her off with a bitter laugh, "Felicia, are you that desperate to defend Maurice?"

"I…" Felicia faltered, her voice failing her. It was as though a scalding-hot needle pierced her chest, leaving a sharp, stinging pain. "I'm not defending anyone. I just wanted to explain to you. If it hadn't been Maurice who lost control, then the person…"

She finished the rest of the sentence in her mind, unable to say them out, "...would have been me."

Felicia had never seen such a look in Stephan's eyes before. It was like he was looking at a stranger. His gaze was cold, mocking, and filled with a mix of disappointment and doubt.

She tilted her head back and let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Then what do you think happened?"