Chapter 1073

Oliver and Dorian took the lead, advising Josefina to stay outside and assess the situation from there. Josefina, ever the team player, waited at the door while the two of them ventured inside.

The scene was unsettling. The woman on the bed was crawling with tiny, black

bugs. The squirming mass made Dorian think of maggots, and he couldn't shake the thought that the woman might be infested. With a quick, silent click, Dorian captured the scene on his phone and hurried back to show Josefina.

Josefina's eyes widened in shock. "Is she some kind of host for these critters?" she asked, barely concealing her disbelief.

There were just so many of them.

"Josie, hang back for a minute. Get Percy over here to take a look," Dorian suggested, knowing Percy would likely grumble, "Oh, no thanks, I'm out!"

But Josefina was not one to back down. She slipped into her protective gear with practiced ease. "Don't sweat it, I know what I'm doing," she assured them.

Fully suited up, Josefina went back in.

"Dorian, step out. It's risky without protection," she advised.

Dorian hesitated. "Josie, maybe get some backup. You don't have to do this alone."

"These bugs aren't going to attack us. Their host is on the brink, so they're weaker now. It's the perfect time to check things out," Josefina explained.

Seeing her resolve, Dorian stationed himself nearby, ready to step in if things went south. The room was spacious enough for Oliver to stand by without cramping Josefina's workspace.

With steady hands, Josefina used tweezers to collect the bugs, placing them in a glass jar and sealing it in a bag. She then examined the woman's wounds, noticing the bugs were emerging from her chest, hungrily gnawing at her flesh.

Sensing their host's impending demise, the insects were desperate for food, consuming whatever they could.

Josefina opened her medical kit and poured a vial of liquid over the woman. Instantly, the bugs began to flee, scrambling off her body.

Dorian was floored. "My sister's a genius!"

Josefina płaced a specially-prepped on the floor, quickly corralling

box

the

2 bugs inside. Once

secured

gave the woman a pills

With the window open for fresh air, the woman slowly started to come around, life flickering back into her eyes.

Josefina, still in her protective gear, stood beside Oliver, watching the woman on the bed. Her face was a mess, marred by scars.

"Who are you?" a clear, calm voice asked, carrying an undeniable strength that demanded honesty.

Mason found, to her surprise, that

she coul

speak more freely now

"My name is Mason, a

tenth generation descendet

Sarder family."

When Mason saw Josefina's face clearly, relief washed over her.

Sed surely a

sweet-looking girls looking girl seemed

soft hearted

overet

good person.

Thank goodness, good people still existed!

Josefina's excitement was palpable. Her heart raced, her hands shook. Talk about speaking of the devil!

"You know Sydney, right?" Josefina asked.

Mason flinched, struggling to sit up. "You know her too?"

Josefina nodded. "What a twist, she's my adversary. Did you put those bugs in her? Were you planning to do the same to me?"

Mason froze, her mind reeling. Had she escaped one dangerous situation just to land in another?

Fear crept in as Mason reconsidered the smiling girl in front of her, realizing she might have misjudged her entirely.