CHAPTER 105: 105. FEEDBACK

Mr. Frederick and Elijah Simons were still deep in conversation. The last words from Mr. Frederick had settled perfectly in Elijah’s ears, and a slow, satisfied smile spread across his face.

But Elijah was still a bit confused about the exact plan his friend had in mind. With a curious yet uncertain look, he asked, "This plan you’re talking about, I don’t really understand how it’s going to play out. But I trust you to make it work. Can you briefly explain it to me?"

Mr. Frederick’s smile deepened. "Elijah, this plan will work. I believe in it completely. But right now, what I need from you is simple—go back home, gather all your men, and keep them on standby. I’ll give you the full details tomorrow, but first, I need to bring in some more professional hands to strengthen our side."

Elijah nodded, though the excitement in his chest was hard to hide. "Alright, I’ll do just that. I’ll get going immediately."

"Good," Mr. Frederick said, then added as Elijah turned to leave, "One more thing—stay hidden for now. Let your men know that this is war, but this time, we are going in with a solid plan."

Elijah’s eyes lit up. "I love the sound of war. This is what I’ve been waiting for."

Without wasting time, Elijah walked out of the living room, climbed into his car, and drove off with determination.

Mr. Frederick remained seated, his mind racing with satisfaction. "This is going to be fun," he murmured to himself. "To destroy an enemy, you must play them against another enemy who knows them better. The Gilbert family will hear from me soon."

**At Mrs. Spencer’s House**

Laura arrived at Mrs. Spencer’s house around 10 a.m. She walked directly into the living room but didn’t find Mrs. Spencer there. She politely asked one of the maids to inform her that she was waiting.

The maid quickly headed to Mrs. Spencer’s room, and in no time, Mrs. Spencer stepped out, walking gracefully into the living room.

"Good morning, Mrs. Spencer," Laura greeted, standing up and bowing her head slightly.

"Good morning, Laura. How are you today?" Mrs. Spencer returned her greeting with a warm smile.

"Have you been able to get any information concerning Maria? What about what we discussed yesterday?" Mrs. Spencer asked, her gaze filled with expectation.

"Yes, ma’am. I went to their house and found out that Maria is safe. I also created a little distraction there, but thankfully, no one saw or noticed me," Laura explained, though her tone was low and her face dull.

Mrs. Spencer caught on immediately. "That’s great news. But you seem unhappy, child. What’s wrong?"

Laura sighed deeply. "I saw something that really broke my heart, ma’am. I don’t know what to do about it."

Mrs. Spencer leaned forward, growing impatient. "Talk to me, Laura. What’s the matter?"

"I saw Cassandra... She was there, and she was... she was making love with Bernard," Laura said, her voice laced with pain and disappointment. "She also agreed to help him get information from Maria. The saddest part is, she’s being used by Bernard and doesn’t even know it."

Mrs. Spencer’s eyes narrowed slightly but her voice remained calm. "That’s a big one, but you must not let this distract you. Remember, your focus is Maria. Your mission is to protect her from anyone and anything that might harm her."

"Yes, ma’am. But I feel like confronting Cassandra. I want to face her, right in front of Maria," Laura said, her frustration rising again as her fists tightened.

Mrs. Spencer quickly shook her head. "No, no, child. That’s not the way to handle this. What if she denies it? And how will you explain what you were doing at their house that day?"

Laura’s mouth dropped open slightly. She hadn’t thought of that. She remained quiet, her anger still simmering, but unsure of what to say next.

"You’re usually the one who handles things with wisdom, Laura. You said Cassandra is being used without even realizing it. Use your wisdom, not your emotions. Don’t let anger lead you," Mrs. Spencer advised gently, her voice softening as she saw Laura begin to relax.

Laura lowered her eyes and nodded. "Okay, ma’am. So, what do you suggest I do about Cassandra now?"

"Continue to act normal around her. Don’t raise her suspicions. Keep reading her mind—learn what she’s thinking and prepare for any moves she might make that could hurt Maria," Mrs. Spencer instructed with a steady voice.

Laura listened carefully, taking in every word. Mrs. Spencer smiled and gently pulled her into a warm hug. "Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I’m very proud of you."

Laura smiled faintly as she rested in Mrs. Spencer’s arms.

"Where’s your friend, ma’am?" Laura asked, looking around the house as she pulled away from the hug.

"She went out to get a few things. I believe she’ll be back soon," Mrs. Spencer answered calmly.

As they continued their conversation, the door opened and Hadizah, the witch, stepped into the living room. She had a pleasant smile on her face as she greeted them and took a seat directly opposite them.

"Welcome back, Hadizah. I hope you were able to get what you went out for?" Mrs. Spencer asked with genuine interest.

"Thank you, my dear friend. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get what I went for. Something else happened... something that made me rush back home immediately to talk to you about it," Hadizah said, but this time her voice trembled slightly, and her cheerful expression quickly faded into fear.

Hadizah’s last statement, laced with fright and unease, instantly raised alarm in Mrs. Spencer and Laura. The worry and concern on their faces deepened.

"Hadizah, what exactly did you see?" Mrs. Spencer asked, her voice calm but her eyes sharp with curiosity as she stared intently at her friend.

Hadizah’s hands trembled slightly as she began to speak.

"I was still moving around, gathering herbs for some concussions. I also stopped by a grocery store to pick up a few things. That was when I saw them, some of the old legends of the past. I believe they’ve escaped from the path we failed to close."

Laura’s eyes widened in confusion. "Who are these old legends?"