Drunk and Daring I Kissed a Tycoon

Chapter 19

Walking through the winding, dimly lit hallway, Vespera felt her nerves tightening. She kept glancing over her shoulder, her paranoia growing with every silent step. The hotel was eerily quiet. She hadn't passed a single staff member.

The silence was... unsettling.

After covering some distance without anyone following, she let out a slow breath. Maybe she was overthinking.

If Felicia had wanted to resort to underhanded tricks, she would have done it long ago. There was no reason to make a move now when Vespera was leaving Luke on her own.

Felicia was certainly bitter about the settlement money, but for the Munoz family, that amount was insignificant. She wouldn't be foolish enough to take a reckless risk over it.

Up ahead, just a little farther, was the main lobby where she had entered earlier. Vespera pulled out her phone to check the time. It was already 7:40 pm.

She figured it was time to text Raymond. She unlocked her screen and began typing, "I'm here, at..."

She didn't get to finish.

At the next turn, a female hotel staff member in a black uniform suddenly stepped out, colliding with her.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, miss!" The woman quickly apologized, reaching out to steady Vespera.

"It's fine, I'm okay, you don't-"

Before she could finish, an icy sting pierced the side of her neck.

Her heart skipped a beat. She tried to shove the woman away, but her vision blurred, a wave of dizziness crashing over her.

The female staff member's lips curled into an eerie smile.

Feigning concern, she held Vespera even tighter. "Miss, are you alright? Which suite are you staying in? Oh, that one? Alright, I'll take you back."

After muttering a few words to herself, the woman forcefully "helped" Vespera, guiding her toward a more secluded hallway.

"Help..." Vespera's panic surged.

Her limbs were growing weaker, her voice trapped in her throat. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make a sound.

The world around her blurred, slipping further and further away like she was plummeting down a deep, dark void.

"Someone... Someone help..."

When she had been bumped earlier, she had instinctively slipped her phone into her pocket. The unfinished message was still on the screen.

Mustering every ounce of strength left in her body, she forced her limp hand into her pocket. Her fingers moved slowly, cautiously, relying solely on touch as she typed blindly.

And then-she hit send.

Elsewhere in the hotel, Dominic had just finished a meeting with a client and was now resting in a quiet courtyard of the hotel, his eyes closed.

He had a few drinks and a warm buzz settled over him.

The night breeze swept through his hair, lifting it briefly before letting it fall gently against his sharp brow.

"Ding-"

notification broke

a message from Vespera, and

smile faded quickly. His brows knit

eyes, his voice calm. "What is

for half a second, then stepped forward, holding out

"Ms. Gildon was supposed to meet me at 8:00 pm. She just

at the last two words. They seem... off. Mr. Reid, what do

Dominic was speechless.

for acting without permission. Then, he shifted

"I'm here, at hlep."

brows furrowed slightly as he considered it. Then, suddenly, a sharp glint

hesitation, he tapped to initiate a video

looked surprised. "Mr.

a hand, signaling for

was puzzled, but before he could question it, the

other end, the screen showed nothing but a blurry haze of dim light. If he listened closely, he could make out the faint sound of footsteps. Shoes

for help quickly faded into muffled whimpers. Something was

call abruptly, his expression dark. "Find out if Vespera checked into

seconds. "They said a beautiful woman arrived around 7:00 pm. She mentioned having an appointment and even left

it was likely Ms. Gildon. But after that, no one saw where

Dominic stood up.

he pulled out his phone and dialed another number. His steps were firm and fast

room, the dim lighting cast eerie shadows

thrown onto

stood around, dressed in nothing but towels.

their expressions twisted

bed was a collection of disturbing items, including a syringe filled with

"N-No... don't... come..."

sent violent tremors through her body. She

her strength gave out, and she collapsed back onto the

she could do

her legs too weak to support

she's a real

face, that body...

her. Paid us not just to ruin her but to destroy her completely. What kind of bastard would waste

as a hotel staff member rummaged through Vespera's bag and

an

grabbed Vespera's hand, and

give her a divorce

you all to do whatever you please, but he

Vespera's mind went blank.

"Luke? No!

refused to

fumbled over her body, desperately searching for her phone. It slipped through her fingers several