#Chapter 112: Salted Earth

Ella POV Even before I fully processed what I was seeing, an uneasy feeling settled in my chest. Beside me, Alexander stood silent, either gauging my reaction or caught in disbelief himself. The ground was ruined. Deep furrows crisscrossed the earth in jagged, uneven lines of soil and stone. Mixed throughout were patches of white. I moved cautiously toward the fields, crouching to scoop up a handful of the soil. Rubbing it between my fingers, I noticed its hardness and coarseness. Without thinking, I brought it to my lips and tasted it. The harsh sting was unmistakable. I dropped the dirt and turned to Alexander. My voice was hoarse and uneven as I forced out the single word. “Salt.” Alexander stared at me, his expression unreadable for a moment before fury darkened his features. “That rotten little cheat,” Alexander said, his voice thick with outrage as he yanked his phone from his pocket and began dialing. “He’s not going to get a