At that moment, several people approached from all directions.

By the time Effie realized something was wrong, they had already surrounded her.

She became instantly alert. "What do you want?"

"We're here to take you to where you need to be," the woman in charge replied with a sinister smile, signaling her men to move in.

"Do you really think a group of small-time troublemakers like you can take me on?" Effie, seething with anger, eyed the reckless group as if they were walking corpses.

The group began to form a formation to capture her, but just then a man appeared, standing like a solid, protective barrier, shielding her.

"Mr. Walter, what brings you here?" The woman was startled, her guilt apparent, and she instinctively took a step back.

Walter's voice was icy. "Did Ashlyn send you?"

"No, I just couldn't stand her getting in the way of you and Miss Ashlyn, so I wanted to teach her a lesson." The woman lowered her head, fearing Walter would see through her deceit.

Walter glared at her coldly before taking Effie away.

"Let go of me!" Effie shook him off. "I don't need your false sympathy!"

Walter's heart ached as he watched Effie walk away swiftly. He wished he could end his suffering, but he said nothing.

He simply followed her in his car, making sure she got home safely to the Harris family before silently departing.

Walter then went to the Jensen family.

Ashlyn greeted him warmly upon hearing the news.

"Why the sudden visit? You didn't even tell me you were coming.

Did you miss me?" She wrapped her arms around his neck, her smile particularly alluring.

She adored Walter's handsome, rugged face and his captivating personality. She had been enamored with him since childhood, though her studies abroad had kept them apart.

When she returned, she found someone else by his side, which felt like a knife twisting in her heart.

But now, everything was back on track.

Walter looked grim.

He stared directly at Ashlyn, finding her radiant smile terrifying.

He had never truly understood the saying “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" until now.

"I've agreed to marry you, so why won't you leave Effie alone?"