Chapter 500

The elevator doors slid shut.

Alexander pressed only his floor button.

Daniel hesitated before speaking. "I shouldn't accompany you further."

Alexander gave a brief nod. "Understood."

Daniel then selected his own floor.

Morning light streamed through the hotel corridors.

Alexander emerged from a room wearing a bathrobe.

Last night's clothes were draped over his arm.

He shut the door firmly behind him.

Victoria stepped out of the elevator just then.

Her face brightened when she saw Alexander.

But her smile froze mid-greeting.

Her eyes caught the shirt on his arm.

Vivid lipstick stains marked both collar and shoulder.

All words died in her throat.

Alexander turned the corner without noticing her.

A door opened and closed down the hall.

Victoria stood motionless, stunned.

Her gaze dropped to the room number.

Daniel had clearly said Alexander was in 2503.

She checked the keycard he'd given her.

It definitely said 2503.

So why was Alexander leaving 2508?

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

She pulled out her phone and called Daniel. "Who's in 2508?"

Daniel sounded surprised by her question. "Ms. Sinclair."

Confirmation struck her like a physical blow.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

She took a sharp breath. "What happened these past two days?"

Nothing could explain Alexander emerging from Isabella's room at dawn.

Wearing a bathrobe. Carrying yesterday's clothes.

Daniel reluctantly explained last night's events.

He concluded with, "After returning to the hotel, Mr. Whitmore dismissed me. I don't know what occurred between them afterward."

Victoria ended the call without another word.

She stood frozen for a long moment.

Then she moved mechanically toward Alexander's room.

Meanwhile, Isabella woke with a throbbing headache.

Her mind felt foggy and disoriented.

Memories of the bar restroom flooded back.

The hand covering her mouth. The chemical smell.

She bolted upright in bed, fully awake.

Panic surged through her as she scanned the room.

Recognition slowly dawned.

This was her own hotel room.

She blinked in confusion.

Had it all been a nightmare?

But her body felt heavy with residual fatigue.

She reached for her phone to call Nathaniel.

It rang before she could dial.

Nathaniel's voice came through. "You're awake?"

"My head is pounding," she murmured. "Someone attacked me in the restroom. I think I passed out. But I'm back in my room now. What happened?"

Nathaniel hesitated before answering. "Alexander saved you."

He gave a brief account of events.

Isabella's hand stilled against her temple.

A strange stillness settled over her.