I bit down hard on the man''s arm that was holding me captive. He jolted awake, staring at me in the moonlight, and I shrank back, startled by his reaction.


    It didn''t take long for him to regain his senses. His eyes, filled with a fierce


    intensity, locked onto mine. Suddenly, he grabbed my chin, and I struggled to breathe as pain shot through me. With his free hand, he traced a small freckle on the bridge of my nose. "Beautiful," he murmured.


    I tried to cry out for help, but only muffled sounds escaped my lips.


    "Trying to leave?" His voice was cold, yet weak.


    "I won''t kill you. Just tell me, who are you?"


    I could only manage a few more muffled sounds.


    "Can''t speak?" He looked at me skeptically, and I nodded, too scared to utter a word.


    "Then you better not tell anyone I''m here."


    I nodded obediently, and only then did he seem satisfied.


    "Go on. Leave."


    His grip loosened, and he slumped back, exhausted.


    I seized the opportunity, scrambling off the bed. The man curled up again, shivering as if he were in an icebox. I opened the door to leave but paused to nce back at him. I couldn''t just abandon him like that. I tucked a nket around him, turned the air conditioning to heat, and shut the window before slipping out.


    I didn''t understand what was happening, but this man looked just like Max. There had to be a story here.


    He couldn''t die-not when Max''s whereabouts were tied to him.


    I returned to my room and tried calling Max, but there was still no answer.


    It waste, and I couldn''t sleep.


    When I ventured back to the room I''d left the mysterious man in, the door was ajar. I distinctly remembered closing it.


    Inside, the room was empty. Even the bed was neatly made, as if nothing had happened.


    Was it all a figment of my imagination?


    I backed out of the room, unnerved, and returned to my own as the first light of dawn crept in.


    So much had happened. Was Lily okay? Where was Max?


    And who was the man in that room?


    I stared at my reflection, my eyes bloodshot and weary. Anxiety


    wed at me, but I was no lopol


    afraid. I''d been through too much.


    swnch.


    Helen arrived early, finding me standing by the window. She rushed over,


    steadying me. "Did you not sleep at allst night?"


    I nodded silently.


    "Princess Harriet''s maid contacted


    me. She wants us to join her for breakfast. She also knows we took the Goodwin sisters and demands a ransom. Otherwise, she says we won''t leave this country."


    I frowned slightly.


    "She also said if we want to see Lily, we must hand over the Goodwin sisters." Lily was alive!?


    A sliver of relief washed over me at the thought of Lily being safe.


    But it was clear that the princess knew of my connection to Lily, though she couldn''t figure out just how deep it ran.


    She wanted to see which I would choose-Lily or the Goodwin sisters.


    "Any news on Max?" I gestured to Max''s photo.


    Helen understood instantly, shaking her head. "Mr. Hilton''s assistant assured us that Mr. Hilton is currently safe."


    I nodded, keeping to myself the encounter with the man who resembled Max from


    the night before.


    "Get the Goodwin sisters back


    home. The safest ce for them is away from here. Princess Harriet


    probably won''t harm Lily. She''s safe


    for now."


    I typed a message on my phone.


    "I''ll meet with her for breakfast. You handle escorting the Goodwin sisters back


    safely."