Return of the Crowned Heiress (Felicia)

Since the Fuller family had employed Ruben, his murder naturally drew police scrutiny. Standard procedure dictated questioning anyone who had interacted with him before his death. Kayla was the first person in line to be questioned.

When questioned, Kayla answered every inquiry smoothly, her expression calm and composed, leaving no room for suspicion.

Her explanation was simple-it had nothing to do with her.

Kayla recounted her story effortlessly. "That night, Ruben drove me to the shopping district. I told him he could take a break while I shopped. But when I finished and came out, he was gone. The car was missing, and I couldn't reach him on the phone." Dexter, standing nearby, chimed in, "That's right, Captain Quinn. My daughter wouldn't lie. She was furious about having to take a cab home and even yelled at me about firing Ruben. Who could've guessed this would happen to him..." Laurence, a seasoned investigator and longtime acquaintance of Dexter, was unbothered by personal connections when it came to his work.

"Mr. Fuller," he interrupted, "I'm questioning your daughter. Please don't interfere."

Laurence wrapped up the formal questions and turned to leave with his team. However, just before stepping out, he stopped and asked Kayla, "By the way, what did you buy during your shopping trip?"

"Well..." Kayla paused for a second. Then, she went with the flow, answering, "A watch, clothes, and accessories."

He smiled politely. "A young lady's love for fashion-nothing unusual about that."

But as he turned away, Felicia caught the faint glint of doubt in his eyes.

No crime was without cracks. And Kayla's story? It was riddled with them.

Felicia watched silently, shaking her head slightly. Kayla was practically a walking web of inconsistencies. Pull one thread, and the entire story would unravel.

At the front door, Dexter escorted Laurence and his team out. Though Ruben's death troubled him, he still hoped to glean some answers.

"Captain Quinn," he asked, "what can you tell me about how Ruben died?"

Laurence paused, his expression grave. "Ruben was strangled from behind, likely to ensure asphyxiation. Afterward, the scene was staged to make it look like a drunk-driving accident-his body and the car were pushed into the river."

Dexter sucked in a sharp breath. "So it was... a murder? A personal vendetta?"

"Too early to say," Laurence replied. "But we're closing in on some leads." He placed a firm hand on Dexter's shoulder, his gaze heavy with

unspoken meaning. "In theMaterial © NôvelDrama.Org.

meantime, Mr. Fuller, you andl

daughter Kayla need to stay in

Khogend. Neither of you can leave the city until the investigation is concluded."

"Understood. We'll cooperate fully," Dexter promised with a hearty laugh, showing no signs of concern.

The thought that Kayla might be involved didn't even cross his mind.

Back inside the Fuller residence, Kayla let out a long breath, finally relaxing after the tense encounter. She clung to Myra's arm, her voice playful and exaggerated.

"Mom, that was so scary! What if our family is cursed or something? Ever since all this started, everything's been going wrong!"

Her eyes flicked briefly to Felicia, the implication in her words as sharp as a blade.

The message was clear-none of this chaos had happened before Felicia returned to the family. Kayla was pointing fingers without directly saying the words. "Nonsense!" Myra playfully chided, a hint of mock sternness in her voice. "Quick, take it back-knock on wood! Don't jinx it!"

Kayla mimicked the gesture with an exaggerated laugh. "Mom, why do you always treat me like a little kid?"

"Because in my eyes, you'll always be my little kid," Myra replied with a warm smile, tapping her daughter gently on the forehead. The sweet bond between mother and daughter was heartwarming, a picture of love that could make anyone smile.