<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Bonnie let out a sigh.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She began. Yvette, there’s an old custom in Dungo Vige. If a woman gives birth and her firstborn is a boy, she’s free to have more children without restrictions.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“But if her firstborn is a girl, and the second is also a girl, that second daughter must be killed unless she’s born with a unique constitution that allows her to better control poisonous insects.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“In that rare case, the girl is spared and given a special title. I’m one of those rare cases. For years, I’ve been the only second- born girl in Dungo Vige who met these two conditions.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Before me, there hadn’t been one in the vige for nearly twenty years. Holden is pressuring me to marry because only a daughter born to me is chosen as the next special woman.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yvette’s gaze sharpened, a glint of ruthless rity in her bright eyes. Superstitions like these had been passed down for generations.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Bonnie was the only surviving second–born girl in all these years, which meant many others had met their deaths at the hands of these ignorant vigers.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yvette toyed with the cup in her hand, her tone detached. “How was Xavian chosen?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Bonnie snorted coldly. “Yvette, Xavian’s selection was nothing but a farce concocted by Dr. Hansen, the vige’s so–called great doctor. It’s a sham, with no scientific basis whatsoever.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The vigers blindly believe in it. Marrying me off to Holden’s nephew, Xavian, is just another way for Holden to keep the future special woman under his control.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yvette let out a short, sarcasticugh. “Quite the scheme.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Bonnie hesitated, her expression turning serious. “Yvette, since I got back, I’ve noticed something odd about the vigers. They look pale and listless, easily angered, almost as if something has drained the life out of them. It’s frightening.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yvette’s gaze lowered slightly, her voice cold enough to chill the room. She tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table, musing. “The vigers are raising poisonous insects, sustaining them with their own blood. Naturally, they’dck vitality.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Bonnie’s eyes widened in shock. “Yvette, how do you know that everyone here raises poisonous insects?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Jeremiah and a friend of mine uncovered it,” Yvette replied coolly.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Bonnie nodded. It wouldn’t be difficult for someone with Jeremiah’s skills to find that out. Suddenly, Bonnie looked a bit embarrassed. “Yvette, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I really am.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yvette nced up briefly.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Bonni</font></font>Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I…”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">hurried to exin, “Yvette, I don’t raise poisonous insects, and I don’t know anything about using magical poisons…</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yvette gave a slight nod. “I know. There’s no trace of poisonous insects on you.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Bonnie scratched her head, looking a little sheepish. ‘So, Yvette knew all along,’ she wondered.</font></font>
Shaking her head, Bonnie added, “Yvette, not everyone in Dungo Vige knows how to raise poisonous insects. Only the women do.
“Over the years, the conditions for raising poisonous insects have deteriorated, so sessful breeding has be rare. But now the vigers, including some of the men, look so strange.
“Even if they re feeding their blood to poisonous insects, it shouldn’t affect them like this. Yvette, could it be possible that they re actually sick!
Wette lowered her gaze for a moment, then replied in a chilling tone, “No, they’re not sick. They’re simply suffering from severe blood loss.
Every man here carries a strong scent of poisonous insects. It’s been at least a year now. If this goes on, they won’t survive another year.”
Bonnie gasped. “Yvette, will they really die? I was herest summer, and everyone in Dungo Vige seemed perfectly fine back then. How could things have changed so drastically in just one year?
They all know men shouldn’t try raising poisonous insects with their own blood, so why would they suddenly take such a risk? There must be some hidden secret behind this.”
Yvette nced at Bonnie, raising an eyebrow. ‘Seems Bonnie’s gotten sharper. Strange events rarely ur without a reason. she wondered.
Yvette asked, “Do you know Sheldon?”
Bonnie’s expression immediately soured, her disdain evident. “Yvette, Sheldon is a disgusting bastard. He’s been a pervert since he was young. Before he was even of age, he got a girl from Dungo Vige pregnant and then abandoned her.
“The poor girl died in childbirth, along with the baby, and no one ever held him ountable. Why are you bringing him up, Wette?”
Yvette replied casually, “I see. He brought me into Dungo Vige.”
Bonnie’s jaw nearly dropped. “Yvette, what did you say? You came here with Sheldon?”
Yvette nodded. “Yes.”
Bonnie felt so touched she was on the verge of tears. ‘Yvette took such a huge risk just to help me,‘ she wondered.
Seeing Bonnie about to tear up again, Yvette rubbed her temples and said calmly, “No crying.”
Bonnie’s tears stopped right in their tracks. ‘Yvette is absolutely the queen of ruining a moment,‘ she thought.
Bonnie knew she couldn’t afford to be weak now. Yvette had taken a huge risk to help her, and Bonnie was determined not to be a burden.
Yvette asked, “What kind of person is Holden?”
Bonnie thought for a moment. “Yvette, Holden is extremely selfish and controlling, ruthless too. Everyone in the vige is afraid of him, and I think he’s hiding a lot of secrets.
“Something strange happened when I came back. I visited Holden’s house, and I saw himing out of his study. But I’d just checked that study, and no one was in there. It was like he’d appeared out of nowhere.”
Yvette set down her cup, her face expressionless, and her gaze deep and icy. “There’s something off about his house.”
Bonnie nodded. “Something off? Do you think Holden has a secret room or something? You know, like in those TV shows… how else would he just appear out of thin air?”
Yvette’s brow lowered slightly. “His residence has a strange aura about it, and theyout is unusual. There’s definitely a secret room there, but it’s well–concealed and will take time to locate.”
Bonnie was shocked thurt her wild guess actually hit the mark. Just as she was about to say something more, Yvette’s gaze turned sharply toward the window. She murmured, “Someone’s Comming. We have two minutes?
Bonnie instantly mmed up as she wondered. Who could being at a time like this? If they find Yvette here, we’re doomed
Yvette whispered, “For the next three days, stay inside, eat on time, and keep up your strength.”
Bonnic nodded quickly. “I understand, Yvette.”