The emotional shock had been too much-M was utterly spent.


    She drifted in and out of sleep, barely awake before exhaustion pulled her under again. The next time she came to, she found herself tangled in Lysander''s arms. Her bare back pressed against his chest, scorching hot, and her legs were trapped between his. She could even feel his arousal, hard and insistent.


    Anger red, hot and sharp.


    This bastard!


    Remembering all the suffering she''d endured because of him, resentment welled up in her chest. Without thinking, she sank her teeth into his hand, which rested heavily near her corbone.


    He hissed quietly-clearly awake.


    She bit harder, tasting blood, but Lysander didn''t loosen his hold. If anything, he only pulled her closer, his body growing even hotter. His lips brushed her ear, voice low and rough.


    "Darling, don''t move."


    "If


    you keep this up, you''ll have to take responsibility."


    Pervert!


    M didn''t anger easily, but every time she saw him, she was filled with a fury she couldn''t suppress. And he was impossible—always unreasonable, always pushing. Afraid he''d actually lose control, she reluctantly unclenched her jaw.


    "Are you going to let go or not?"


    Lysander''sugh was dark and husky. "Honestly, you could bite me a little longer if you want. I like it when you... bite me."


    He whispered thest two words directly into her ear, his tone thick and suggestive. Then he traced the edge of her ear with his tongue, warm and damp, sending an involuntary shiver through her body. The meaning was all too clear.


    She''d had enough.


    M tried to wriggle free, but Lysander pinned her firmly to the bed, both her wrists and legs trapped.


    "Darling," he said, frowning, "You''re still hurt. Don''t make things worse."


    She struggled a few more times in vain, then gritted her teeth. "Get off me, and I''ll be just fine!"


    "But I''m already up."


    Desire was burning between them, and with M so close, Lysander wasn''t about to let this go. His voice dropped, rough with need. "If I can''t have you, at least help me out here."


    She shot him a murderous re. "If you''re desperate, just say so."


    Heughed, pressing his forehead to hers. "Then kiss me. Or we could do more. Darling, I''ve been holding back for so long."


    M clenched her jaw.


    She stared him down, then said each word with deliberate rity, "Lysander, move. I need to call my aunt."


    The word "aunt” hung in the air, and the heat between them vanished. Lysander''s yful expression faded, reced by something harder and colder. The tension in the room thickened, leaving no trace of intimacy.


    For a long moment, no one spoke.


    Then Lysander said, "She''s fine."


    "I want to see her."


    It was all so absurd-this nightmare she''d been dragged into. When she was kidnapped, her aunt was still in the ICU. Locked away in that old manor for days, M had worried constantly, terrified something had happened, unable to rest easy for a moment.


    Now, she was desperate for news.


    This time, Lysander let her go easily. M took his phone and, not wanting to share the same cabin any longer, stepped out into the hallway.


    ...


    Standing in the corridor outside the cabin, M called her aunt''s assistant, Sophie. The call connected almost instantly. Sophie''s sigh of relief was audible when she recognized M''s voice.


    "Ms. Suthend, thank goodness you''re alright."


    "I''m fine," M replied quickly. "How''s my aunt? Is she awake?"


    There was a short pause before Sophie answered, "Chairwoman Suthend is stable. She''s out of intensive care, but still unconscious. The doctors say she needs a bit more observation, but as long as there are noplications, she should wake up in a few days."


    "Should?" M pressed, anxiety gnawing at her. "Is there a more precise timeline?"


    After confirming several times that her aunt was very likely to wake and her condition was stable, M finally allowed herself to rx a little. She then asked after thepany.


    At this, Sophie hesitated briefly before answering honestly, "There''s nothing major to report. Mr. Montgomery''s people dide by, but your aunt''s hospitalization has been kept confidential. Nothing''s gotten out."


    M was silent for a few seconds. "I understand."


    "Ms. Suthend, where are you? Are you hurt?" Sophie asked with concern. "I can send someone to pick you up right away."


    M nced out the window at the dark sea below. She wasn''t even sure herself where she was and promised Sophie she''d send her location once she had it. She also asked for a video call to check on her aunt, and only after seeing her with her own eyes and confirming her condition did M end the call.


    She quickly dialed Miranda next.


    Miranda, unlike Sophie, wasn''t calm at all-she answered in a fit of tears and fury. M didn''t dare mention her own injuries, only reassuring Miranda over and over that she was safe, promising to be home soon. Only then did Miranda calm down. Finally, M had a chance to ask about Julian.


    "The little one''s fine. I didn''t tell him about the kidnapping,” Miranda said. “By chance, his grandmother from Italy had someonee pick him up the next day. Once I confirmed everything, I let her take him."


    Thank God.


    M had heard from Nathaniel before the trip that Julian''s grandmother lived in Italy. Since Julian''s mother was about to be released from prison, it had been arranged for him to leave the country with his grandmother. If Julian had discovered her disappearance, it would have been a disaster.


    After chatting with Miranda a while longer and promising to take care of herself and return as soon as possible, M finally hung up.


    Suddenly, the world was quiet.


    She leaned against the corridor window, gazing out at the endless ck sea. The weight pressing on her chest finally eased a little. Thank God-everyone was safe.


    She''d been afraid ever since she was taken to that old manor. If something happened to her loved ones because of all this, she would never forgive herself. Cossio, Giselle—those maniacs were capable of anything. Her aunt was already in the hospital because of this senseless disaster.