Walter's voice was as cold as ice, sending shivers down one's spine.

He shook her arm off, fury radiating from him like a beast ready to devour.

Ashlyn was terrified, unable to speak.

It was the first time she had seen Walter like this.

Yet, disturbingly, he looked irresistibly handsome and charismatic.

"Walter, let me explain. I don't understand what you mean.

We're engaged, you're already mine. Why would I need to target her? I'm not that idle, " Ashlyn stammered, taking a couple of steps back as Walter's expression grew darker.

She hoped that by explaining, they could reconcile and spend their lives together in peace.

But before she could finish, Walter grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the ground.

Ashlyn was petrified, her eyes wide with fear. As his grip tightened, her neck felt like it would snap, and the air in her lungs was being crushed out of her.

"This is your last warning. Control your people. If I find out you've harmed her again, I'll make you pay, even if it costs me my life!" He spat each word with venom, piercing Ashlyn's heart like a dagger.

Walter had left.

Ashlyn lay discarded like an unwanted object on the ground.

Watching his cold silhouette retreating, her heart shattered into pieces.

How could things turn out this way?

She was the one who met Walter first; they were inseparable childhood friends destined for each other, a match made in heaven.

Why did it have to come to this?

Just then, the woman who had attempted to assassinate Effie returned with a few others.

"Miss, what's happened to you?" the woman asked, rushing forward to help Ashlyn, who was sitting on the ground in disarray.

But Ashlyn slapped her hard.

"You useless fools, what good are you?" Ashlyn was shaking with anger. "Is that vile woman's child still around?"

The woman's face turned pale; she hesitated to tell the truth.

"Miss, when we arrived, Mr. Walter was near that woman. We hadn't made a move when he appeared, but... "

"But what?" Ashlyn gritted her teeth, demanding fiercely, "You're all fired if you bring me nothing good!"