In the quieter hotel corridor, far from the ballroom's glittering noise, Kaivan, Zinnia, and Felicia finally faced Livia's parents. Her father, a broad-shouldered man with sharp eyes, closed in quickly.
"Where is my daughter?!" he demanded.
Kaivan stood steady, his voice soft yet reassuring. "Please stay calm, sir. Livia is safe. She's with us."
Felicia stepped closer, scanning the hallway with sharp instinct. In a whisper, she warned Kaivan, "Rapi's here… she followed us."
Kaivan stiffened. His brows drew together, a chill running down his spine as he muttered, "How is she here…? William is dead. Rapi shouldn't… she shouldn't exist anymore."
The word "dead" struck the parents like a blow. Livia's mother clutched her husband's arm, her face draining of color. The father's eyes widened as he barked, "Dead?! Who are you people? Where is my daughter?!"
Kaivan inhaled slowly and tried to stay composed. He smiled faintly. "Trust me. She's with someone who can protect her."
But the calm shattered.
Kaivan's phone rang, Frans's name appeared. He answered, only to hear frantic shouting, "Kaivan, get out now!"
Before he could reply, a hand appeared behind him, swift and silent. In an instant, his phone was no longer in his grasp.
Rapi stood there, emerging from the shadowed hallway. Her movement had been so quiet, so fluid, not even Felicia could react in time. The chill she carried was unmistakable.
Zinnia froze as Rapi stepped forward with elegant, dangerous poise. Her voice echoed gently, yet every word cut deep. "Sir, come with me. Your daughter is right behind."
With no real choice, Livia's parents followed her. Kaivan, Zinnia, Felicia, and several suited guards moved after them. The hotel corridor, bathed in golden light, suddenly felt cold and narrow.
Kaivan exchanged glances with the girls behind him. His eyes signaled the silent message, be ready. Zinnia nodded, steadying her breath. Felicia scanned every corner, prepared for anything.
Outside the hotel, tension surged just the same. Isabel sat in the front seat of the car, clutching the Tome Omnicent tightly, while Raphael watched the entrance with an icy expression. Frans and Radit fidgeted in the back, unable to hide their unease.
A soft whisper brushed Isabel's mind. The Tome spoke.
"Tell Kaivan. Tome Omniphilos is inside that room. The danger is closer than you think."
Frans immediately tried calling Kaivan, but the call went unanswered. His expression hardened. He turned to Raphael. "Should we go in?"
Raphael paused, considering. "If we enter now, we risk everything. But if we wait too long… it might already be too late."
Time seemed to stretch thin. Everyone held their breath.
Then, another whisper from the Tome.
"Do not enter. You will disrupt the path. Wait until Kaivan sends word."
Radit, who had been fidgeting in his seat all this time, finally snapped. "How long are we supposed to wait?!" he yelled, frustration spilling over.
Isabel drew in a slow breath, trying to stay calm. She understood why they had to wait, but the tension made the inside of the car feel unbearably tight. They exchanged anxious glances, hoping Kaivan would walk out any moment now.
Inside the bright, luxurious building, Kaivan, Zinnia, Felicia, and Livia's parents were escorted into a spacious room glowing with crystal lights. It looked warm, yet carried a quiet, unnerving tension beneath its elegance. Kaivan and Zinnia were cuffed, while Felicia was bound from shoulders to ankles with heavy chains, an excessive measure that hinted at how afraid they were of her strength.
At the center of the room stood a graceful woman: Vella. Her face looked gentle, almost innocent, yet her gaze radiated authority and pressure. She welcomed them with a serene smile. "Hello, and welcome. Sorry about the restraints. They're only temporary," she said softly, as if this were nothing more than a polite reception.
Kaivan watched her, confused and wary. She wasn't the ruthless villain he had imagined, more like a calm host.
Vella stepped closer. "I gathered you here for one thing: a major business opportunity." Her eyes drifted across their faces. "If you're willing, of course."
Kaivan listened carefully. Her voice was soft, but her sentences were too refined, too deliberate, hiding something beneath their elegance. He quietly observed the guards' positions, the exits, the objects around them. Felicia leaned slightly toward him and whispered, "If we break free, what's the plan?"
Kaivan replied under his breath, "Let's hear her out first. She's not using brute force. She must have a reason."
Vella continued speaking with the ease of a stage performer. "My goal is simple, stability, a strong economy, and peace. I dislike violence, but sometimes peace must be protected with methods that are… firm."
A brief silence hung in the air. Vella studied their faces, waiting. Kaivan's eyes hardened. Behind her gentle words, he sensed something else, not peace, but hunger for power.
"She only wants luxury," he whispered to Felicia. Felicia smirked softly, a faint laugh escaping. Zinnia almost smiled too, but quickly straightened when Vella's gaze passed over them.
The room glowed beautifully, yet it felt wrapped in a thin layer of tension. Vella ended her explanation in a warm tone. "Please consider my offer with an open heart." Her smile was too warm, so warm it felt cold to Kaivan.
Before anyone could respond, a giant screen lit up, displaying videos of the guests' loved ones. They looked fine, resting in comfortable rooms, eating quietly. Vella said, "Your families are safe."
For a moment, the atmosphere loosened. Several people exhaled in relief. But tension surged again when Livia's father spoke, voice trembling, "Where is Livia?"