As Nala's words fell, she reached up to pull off her veil, but she suddenly found that her hands refused to obey her will.

"Leave," Felix said flatly.

Nala's gaze remained fixed on him. "Why? Aren't you even a little curious about me? They say even heroes can't resist beauty's charm. Are you afraid that once you see my face, you won't be able to stop thinking about me?"

Felix responded with a slight, dismissive smirk. "Feelings come from the heart. What does appearance have to do with it? Besides, are you really Nala Hughman?"

The question made Nala freeze momentarily. Before she could recover, Felix's voice rang out again.

"Go back and tell that self-righteous woman that even if she were to come here herself, I wouldn't be the least bit interested in what lies beneath her veil."

With a wave of his hand, the door opened, and Nala found herself stepping backward out of the courtyard. Once outside, her body regained movement. Without a word, she turned and left.

At Yvonne's villa,