During the party, Chase approached Ana during a quiet moment.
"You look breathtaking tonight," he said with a boyish smile.
"Thank you," she replied, uncertain.
"Don't you remember me?" he leaned in. "I was the one who bumped into you outside the gallery a few weeks ago."
Realization dawned. "You're that guy…!"
"Chase Fairchild," he said with a charming bow. "Harry's cousin. Welcome to the family...sort of."
Trisha approached Russell, a flirty smile on her lips.
"Drink?" she offered.
Russell took the glass, raising an eyebrow. "Have you seen Ana?"
Trisha leaned in close, slipping a folded note into his pocket. "Tonight… she'll be yours. Just follow the map."
He drank the wine, excitement brimming.
Ana was chatting with Kimberly when a waiter arrived with a glass of champagne.
She smiled politely, took the glass, and drank.
Sasha watched from the shadows. Her eyes gleamed as Ana began to sway slightly, confusion flickering in her gaze.
"I… I need some air," Ana whispered.
The cool air outside did little to ease her nausea. As she stumbled along the hallway, a kind-faced waitress approached.
"Miss, you don't look well. Let me help you rest."
Ana, unable to refuse, allowed herself to be guided into a quiet room. The moment her head hit the pillow, her eyes closed. The world went dark.
Back in the ballroom, Harry's smile faded. He began to look around. "Where is she?" he asked Kimberly.
"I thought she went outside..."
Panic settled in his chest. He turned to his guards. "Find her. Now."
Room 119.
Russell's footsteps echoed down the hallway. Drunk and half-lucid, he grinned as he opened the door the server had led him to. A soft light glowed within. A woman lay on the bed, still and silent.
"Ana," he purred. "I knew you'd come around."
He pulled off his shirt and pants, his breath ragged with lust. Crawling onto the bed, he touched her face. "You're so soft…"
She didn't stir.
"I'll make you feel good, baby," he whispered. "Just relax…"
He began to undress her.
And outside, chaos was about to unfold.
The party had ended hours ago, yet there was still no sign of Ana.
"She wouldn't just disappear," Kimberly murmured, her face pale with worry. "Not without telling anyone."
Harry stood by the massive window, his jaw clenched, fists tightening at his sides. "I should never have let her out of my sight," he muttered under his breath.
Sasha lingered nearby, silent but smug, a glint of cruel satisfaction dancing in her eyes. Her crimson lips curled ever so slightly as she watched Harry spiral into unease.
At that moment, the front doors opened with a clatter. One of Harry's men rushed in, dragging a trembling young server by the arm.
"M-Mr. Harry, sir," the server stammered, avoiding eye contact. "I...I helped Miss to a room earlier. She wasn't feeling well. She asked for a place to rest."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "What room?"
"Room 119, sir."
The Old Madame, who had until then remained seated in the drawing room, her cane resting beside her, snapped her fan shut with a sharp clap. "And we've been held up for this insignificant matter?" she snapped. "All of this because a girl wanted to nap?"
Harry didn't wait to respond. He turned on his heel and bolted down the hall, Kimberly close behind. The others followed, murmurs and raised brows trailing them like shadows.
Sasha's voice rose above the crowd. "Let's just go see her together," she said sweetly. "I'm sure she'll have an explanation."
Harry reached Room 119 first and flung the door open with such force the hinges groaned.
Then he froze.
Everyone behind him stopped short.
On the bed, beneath silk sheets tangled and damp with sweat, lay Russell, naked and deeply asleep. Beside him, a woman also lay unclothed, her back to the door, strands of dark hair cascading over her bare shoulders.
A slow, deathly silence filled the room.
Sasha let out a gasp, dramatic and sharp. "Ana?" she exclaimed in mock horror. "How...how could you do this?"
"What?" Kimberly's eyes narrowed. "Sasha, shut up."
But the damage was done.
The Old Madame's face turned crimson. "Shameless filth!" she bellowed. "How dare she bring such disgrace to this family!"
Harry saw red.
With a guttural roar, he crossed the room and yanked Russell from the bed, sending him crashing to the floor with a groan. Then the blows came; hard, fast, merciless.
Russell woke up mid-beating, struggling to shield his face. "What the hell, Harry?!"
"You disgusting bastard!" Harry growled, landing another punch to his jaw.
"She came to me!" Russell barked, bleeding from his lip. "Ana chose me! She loves me! She's mine now!"
Wrong move.
Harry grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
"I'll kill you," Harry seethed.
"Harry!" Leo burst in and rushed to pull him back. "That's enough! Get yourself together!"
Harry's chest heaved, his fists shaking as he stared at Russell, barely restraining the urge to finish what he started.
"An abomination," the Old Madame hissed. "This is a disgrace! Two young people behaving like animals!"
"I'll wake her up," Sasha offered quickly, voice saccharine and false. "We need answers."
She crossed to the bed, her fingers brushing over the woman's bare shoulder with performative gentleness. "Ana, wake up," she said softly, then louder. "Ana…"
The woman stirred.
A groggy moan escaped her lips as her eyes blinked open. Sasha gently pushed back the strands of hair covering her face.
Then froze.
Everyone leaned in.
Trisha.
It was Trisha.
Russell staggered backward, horror spreading across his face like wildfire. "T-Trisha?" he choked out. "What...what are you doing here?"
Trisha sat up slowly, the silk sheets slipping from her chest. Confusion gave way to horror as she looked around at the crowd staring at her. Her gaze dropped to her own body then to the naked, bleeding Russell beside her.
Then she screamed.
A guttural, tortured scream that echoed through the room like a wounded animal.
"No...no, this can't be! It was supposed to be..."
The Old Madame clutched her chest, her face contorting in fury and shame. "Unforgivable!" she thundered. "Absolutely disgraceful!"
"Come," Harry said, suddenly calm. He gently took the Old Madame's arm and led her out. "You shouldn't see this."
Kimberly followed in stunned silence.
Behind them, chaos erupted.
Russell clambered to his feet, his expression turning accusatory. "Why you?" he yelled at Trisha. "You weren't supposed to be here!"
Trisha lunged at him, clawing at his face. "You bastard! You ruined me! I'll kill you!"
As they thrashed, Sasha stood frozen, her face pale, her mind whirling.
It wasn't supposed to be Trisha. It was supposed to be Ana.
She turned away from the grotesque scene, her lips curling in cold hatred.
The bitch escaped again.
Back at the Lake House
Moonlight streamed through the curtains as Ana slept peacefully in a cozy bed, her breathing even and serene.
Beside her sat Adonis, his eyes filled with quiet relief as he watched her sleep. He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and sighed.
"You're safe now," he whispered.
Flashback
Adonis stood in the shadows at the party, always watching. Always alert.
When the server led a drowsy Ana down the hallway, he followed, suspicion prickling at his skin. Something wasn't right.
He saw the server slip into the room so he also entered to check up on Ana. Hr tried waking her up but she was not responding. A few minutes later, Trisha appeared, glancing around before entering with a sinister look on her face.
Adonis's instincts screamed.
He slipped in through the side and hid inside the bathroom. Moments later, he heard everything. Trisha's voice low, calculating.
"She won't wake up. Not in time," she whispered. "Just make sure the lights are off when Russell walks in."
Adonis didn't hesitate.
He stepped out of the bathroom. Trisha turned, startled but too late.
With a swift strike, Adonis knocked her out cold.
He looked at the sleeping Ana, anger boiling in his chest.
He called Aaron immediately. "Plan changed. I need your help."
Within minutes, Trisha's unconscious body was swapped into the bed. Ana was carried to safety.