Realizing he couldn't deny it, Forrest admitted, "I mentioned Alick briefly while talking to Willie. Why does that upset you?"

Annis's sensitivity was understandable. Although Camila had explained why Alick was unreachable, Annis still found it odd but couldn't quite articulate her unease.

"No, you didn't just mention him in passing. That statement clearly had significance," Annis insisted, her gaze intense.

Forrest felt exposed. “Don't ask me about it," he said, attempting to walk away.

However, Annis was not ready to let him go. She grabbed his arm and firmly said, "You can't leave!"

Forrest turned to face her and asked, "What are you doing? If Alick sees you holding my hand like this, he will be jealous. Don't you know it's inappropriate for a man and a woman to have such contact?"

Annis realized he was just trying to get her to release him. She responded, "Tell me what that sentence means, then I'll let you go."

"Which sentence? What do you mean? I don't understand," Forrest replied, attempting to feign confusion.

Annis, having experienced what happened last time, wasn't as naive as before. She didn't believe a word Forrest said.

“You know exactly what I mean. Stop playing dumb. If you don't explain, I'm not letting you go," she insisted firmly.

Forrest was left without words. "Mila," he called out, glancing behind Annis.

As Annis turned to look, Forrest seized the moment to pull his hand free and dashed away. He thought to himself that if she continued to press him, he might just reveal the truth.

Nonetheless, Annis was undeterred and chased after him. With no other option, Forrest started calling for Camila's help, “Mila, Mila..."

Camila was assisting Rowena with tidying up, careful not to strain her injured shoulder, which limited her ability to exert force.

She compensated by using her other arm more.

Just then, she heard Forrest calling her.

Looking up, she saw him rushing towards her.

"Forrest..." Camila began, frowning slightly.

Forrest quickly hid behind her.

“Annis kept asking me about Alick. I didn't know anything, but she wouldn't stop."