Under the lingering, hostile gaze of Kevin, Ace Kane finished his humble midday meal. The tension in the small kitchen was thick enough to choke on, a sharp contrast to the serene, thin mountain air outside. Ace seemed entirely unaffected by the silent daggers being thrown his way, savoring the simple wild greens as if they were a delicacy from a Michelin-starred kitchen. Once he finished, he stood up, offered a polite nod to the villagers, and followed Lora Hale as she led him on a quiet stroll through the winding, dust-choked paths of Mud Town.
Because Sienna was busy conducting her afternoon classes for the children, Kevin hadn't followed them. His singular, obsessive focus remained fixed on the actress; wherever she went, he hovered like a persistent, unwanted shadow. This gave Ace an
