Felicia never anticipated this outcome, nor Roberta's drastic action.

"Aunt Felicia..." Roberta coughed, blood staining the ground. The poison was potent; the blood was black. Her face was ashen, her brow furrowed in agony.

Felicia said quickly, "Don't speak, don't move." Relieved she carried silver needles and medicine, she swiftly inserted a needle into a specific point to impede the poison's spread, then administered several remedies. "Swallow! Hurry!"

Roberta shook her head, choking back blood. With a faint whisper, she said, "Aunt Felicia, I betrayed you once, but not again. I've done it."

"Enough," Felicia insisted. "Don't talk. Swallow the medicine. I'll use the needles, you'll be fine!"

Felicia rapidly applied acupuncture, but the poison spread relentlessly. Roberta's breath grew shallow. She smiled faintly. "No use, Aunt Felicia. The poison… there's no antidote…"

Felicia continued, ignoring her.

Roberta gazed skyward, her smile fading. "Aunt Felicia, do you think Mom will come for me?" She continued without waiting for a reply, "I think she will. She died in my arms this morning. She said she didn't want to be a burden. She said with her around, I'd never escape Talia's control. But she didn't know… With her gone, I can't endure this anymore… It's better this way. No one can hurt us anymore…"

Her breathing grew weaker. With immense effort, she retrieved a voice recorder from her pocket and pressed it into Felicia's hand. "Aunt Felicia, beware of Kayla. She… she wants you gone… Also, thank you for being my light. I can't fight anymore. You're probably disappointed. I'm sorry, Aunt Felicia."

With her last breath, Roberta closed her eyes. A single tear traced a path down her cheek. She was dead, in Felicia's arms.

A lump formed in Felicia's throat as she confirmed Roberta's death. After a while, she gently closed Roberta's eyes, shielding them from the sun. Silently weeping, she whispered, "It wasn't your fault. You were brave, Roberta." Approaching footsteps sounded behind her.

It wasn't just Clive; Kayla and Talia had arrived, alerted by a maid's frantic report of a death. Their eyes betrayed a barely concealed excitement as they exchanged a furtive glance.

Upon seeing Roberta, they were momentarily stunned. Felicia, not Roberta, was supposed to be poisoned!

Clive checked Roberta's pulse, disbelief etched on his face. The young woman smiling at him only moments ago was now lifeless. He had even promised to change her dressing today. He looked at Felicia, dazed. "Licia, what happened?"

Felicia remained silent, gently laying Roberta down before turning, her eyes gleaming coldly. As Kayla and Talia watched innocently, Felicia seized their collars, yanking them forward. With forceful kicks to their knees, she sent them both sprawling to the ground in simultaneous yelps of pain.