Chapter 368

The backpack was halfway handed over when a large, well-defined hand snatched it midair.

Alexander Roland dangled the backpack strap between his fingers, giving Sebastian Valdemar a pointed look.

This guy wasn’t even trying to hide his obvious favoritism.

The Roland brothers exchanged a glance, silently agreeing on their next move.

Sebastian felt the weight of their stares burning into his back. He stiffened but kept walking, pretending not to notice.

At the rear of the group, Isabella Langley gazed longingly at his retreating figure. But he never turned back.

The light in her eyes dimmed.

"Oliver, I can’t walk anymore. Carry my bag."

Isabella batted her lashes, her tone dripping with entitled sweetness.

"Carry it yourself."

Oliver Valrose didn’t even bother looking at her.

The backpack straps dug painfully into her palms.

"Oliver Valrose!"

She hissed his name through clenched teeth.

"Annoying. If it’s too heavy, don’t bring it."

Dark circles shadowed Oliver’s eyes, his irritation plain. After a night of partying, being dragged up this mountain at dawn had drained his patience for pretense.

"You—"

Her gaze flicked to Evelyn Roland, surrounded by admirers, then back to her own miserable situation. A lump of resentment settled in her chest.

Why was she always overlooked?

A mountain breeze swept past, cooling the simmering tension.

The Roland brothers flanked Evelyn like twin sentinels.

Halfway up the slope, Evelyn suddenly stopped.

Whispers rustled from deep within the trees.

She moved toward the sound without hesitation.

"Evelyn?"

Her brothers hurried after her.

A group of villagers sat huddled together, sighing in distress. They froze when the elegant young woman appeared.

"Don’t be afraid," her calm voice soothed. "I heard someone was bitten by insects?"

"Y-yes," one villager stammered, pointing to the corner. "She got it the worst."

Evelyn’s gaze landed on a woman with a swollen face, scratching desperately at her skin.

"Let me help."

She crouched, fingers deftly plucking herbs from the grass.

Borrowing a stone mortar, she crushed the plants with practiced ease.

The villagers gaped.

"Apply this to the bites. Keep the rest to repel insects."

As the herbal paste touched her skin, the woman gasped. "The itching stopped!"

The others stared in disbelief.