Outside the banquet hall, Mila staggered through the corridor, barely able to walk properly. Her vision spun violently, and the luxurious hallway around her seemed to blur and tilt.

She wanted to find a restroom, but she no longer even knew where she was going.

The heat inside her body kept intensifying. Every breath felt heavier than the last.

"I need help..." she whispered weakly.

Her trembling fingers reached into her purse, pulling out her phone. But before she could unlock it, her steps faltered. The phone slipped from her hand.

"Careful." Strong arms caught her before she could fall. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Mila looked up weakly, but her vision remained too blurry to recognize the person clearly.

"You don’t look well," the man said gently. "Come with me. I’ll take you somewhere you can rest."

"No..." Mila pushed weakly against him. "I’m fine... thank you."

She tried to walk away, but her legs nearly gave out again.

Ethan immediately wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

"It’s me, Ethan," he said softly near her ear. "Look at me, Mila."

Mila froze. Even through her hazy vision, disbelief flashed across her face.

"Come with me," Ethan coaxed smoothly. "I’ll take care of you."

"No... let me go..." she protested weakly, struggling against him.

But the drug in her system was too strong. Her strength rapidly faded away.

Ethan tightened his grip and dragged her down the corridor.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked faintly.

"You need help," Ethan replied calmly. His lips curled into a dark smile. "And right now, I’m the only one who can help you."

He pulled her inside the lounge room and shut the door behind them.

Mila’s entire body tensed immediately.

The moment the door closed, unease crashed over her harder. She shoved Ethan away and stumbled backward.

"What are you doing?" she demanded weakly. "Why did you bring me here?"

"I already told you," Ethan smirked as he slowly approached her. "I brought you here to help you."

Mila’s discomfort worsened by the second. Her skin burned unbearably. Her breathing had become uneven and shaky. Though her thoughts were blurred, she had already realized someone had drugged her.

And now she understood who it was.

"I don’t need your help," she muttered, forcing herself backward. "Let me go."

"You can barely stand," Ethan said calmly. "Stop pretending you don’t need me."

He moved in closer.

Mila instinctively stepped back, but her legs suddenly hit the edge of the bed.

"Uh..." She gasped and fell backward onto the mattress.

Before she could get up, Ethan climbed over her and pinned both her wrists above her head.

Mila struggled violently beneath him, twisting her body and trying to push him away. But his grip was too strong.

"Let go of me," she cried out.

"Mila..." Ethan smiled darkly. "Stop fighting. Nobody is coming here."

His eyes gleamed with obsession. "I arranged all of this. For you. For us."

Mila stared at him in disbelief and fury. "You..." Her voice trembled with rage. "You drugged me?"

"Yes." Ethan didn’t bother denying it anymore. "I did."

His fingers brushed against her cheek possessively. "I want you back."

Mila jerked her face away immediately. "Don’t touch me."

Ethan chuckled softly, but the amusement quickly vanished from his face. His expression turned cold and possessive. He grabbed her jaw tightly.

"You were mine first," he hissed. "And you’ll only ever belong to me. I’m taking you back."

Then he kissed her forcefully.

Mila’s body was already weak from the drug. Her thoughts blurred further as heat coursed wildly through her veins. Her body reacted against her will, the drug amplifying every sensation until it became unbearable. But deep inside, her conscience screamed at her not to give in.

’This is wrong. You can’t give in to him. You love Dominic.’

The moment Dominic’s name crossed her mind, fiery defiance surged through her. Strength suddenly returned to her struggling limbs.

"Get away from me," she shouted and twisted violently beneath him.

But Ethan only pressed her down harder.

"Enough," he growled impatiently. "I wanted to be gentle with you. But you forced me to be rough."

He tore the sleeves of her gown with one harsh tug and kissed her again aggressively.

On the other end, Valentina and the guards spread throughout the hotel, searching desperately for Mila.

"Watch every exit," Valentina ordered sharply. "No one leaves this hotel with her."

"But this place is huge," one of the guards said anxiously. "There are too many rooms on every floor. It’s not easy to find her."

"But it’s not impossible," Valentina replied coldly, determination blazing in her eyes. "And we’ll find her even if we have to tear this entire hotel apart."

"Understood."

All dispersed.

Valentina moved quickly through the corridor when something suddenly caught her attention. She froze.

A few feet away, Mila’s purse lay abandoned on the floor.

Valentina hurried toward it. Her eyes instantly landed on Mila’s phone lying nearby. A cold chill ran down her spine.

"Her bag and phone are here," she muttered. "Something has happened to her." Gathering the bag and phone, she stood up. "Mila, I’m coming. I’ll find you."

Her eyes filled with fury.

"And I’ll kill everyone who touched you."

She stormed away.

Inside the lounging room...

Despite the drug rapidly taking over her body, Mila continued fighting desperately.

"I’d rather die than let you touch me," she hissed furiously before sinking her teeth hard into Ethan’s arm.

"Ahh..." Ethan screamed in pain and released her instantly.

The second she was free, Mila grabbed the heavy ashtray from the bedside table and smashed it against his head.

Blood immediately streamed down his forehead.

"Mila," Ethan roared in rage.

Mila kicked him hard in the chest.

Ethan lost balance and crashed onto the floor beside the bed with a painful groan.

Ignoring the dizziness threatening to consume her, Mila jumped off the bed and bolted toward the door.

"Wait," he cried and then groaned as he tried to stand up. "You bitch..." he muttered, rubbing his aching back. "You think you can escape me. Never... Tonight, I’ll make you mine."

He ran out after her. The blood dripped on his eyes. He wiped them away ruthlessly and ran down the corridor.

"Mila. Stop right there."

Fear shot through her chest. She didn’t dare look back. Gritting her teeth painfully, she forced herself forward.

Suddenly, a door on the right side burst open.

"Ah..." Her body slammed violently against the opposite wall.

Pain exploded through her head, worsening the dizziness consuming her. For a moment, everything spun around her.

’Was that Ethan? Did someone attack me?’

Still disoriented, Mila slowly lifted her head. Through her blurred vision, she saw another man stepping out of the room. Her breathing hitched instantly.

That figure... He looked exactly like Dominic.

Mila blinked repeatedly and rubbed her eyes weakly, trying to clear her vision.

"Dominic," she managed to whisper, wondering if he was really there.