Chapter 1

In an exclusive presidential suite at the Lunar Hotel in Tiston, a man’s irresistibly sexy voice suddenly sounded in Ella Grant’s ear. The memory of the night before flooded her mind, sending a shock so intense through her body that she thought her heart might stop.

The room was pitch dark, and she couldn't make out the man's face. Her instincts flared—was he sent to mess with her? If so, a confrontation was inevitable. She needed to escape.

Moving swiftly but quietly, Ella reached into her bag, pulled a pair of handcuffs, and placed them near the bed's headboard.

The man was oblivious, and Ella knew it, which meant he wouldn't see it coming when she forcefully pushed him to the other side of the bed.

This was her only chance, and she couldn't risk it.

"Be good now…" the man let out a low chuckle.

In a flash, Ella yanked his hands toward the headboard, where her handcuffs lay waiting.

With practiced speed, she cuffed his left wrist and fastened the other end to the bedpost, effectively securing him to the bed.

Ella swiftly leaped off the bed, moving so smoothly that the man barely registered what was happening. His dazed expression quickly morphed into a chilling smile, his eyes glinting with dangerous amusement in the darkness.

In this situation, of all things, she dared to scheme against him? Absolutely brilliant!

Yet, he had to respect her for being the only one to ever get the cuffs on him. He'd let his guard down earlier, and her lightning-fast reflexes had taken him by surprise. One thing was certain—she had definitely captured his interest.

The man gave his cuffed wrist a slight shake, then slowly sat up, reclining against the headboard with an air of composed grace. Even now, he appeared completely at ease.

His eyes followed Ella intently, a predatory gleam in them that seemed to pierce her very core. Once he had his prey in sight, escape was impossible—he would never let them go.

The suite, reserved exclusively for Liam Jones, came with heightened privacy, including windows and curtains engineered to keep the room bathed in darkness.

In the shadows, Liam quietly detached a tracker from his left wristwatch while Ella searched for her things. With expert precision, he slipped the tracker into her bag, which still sat where she had left it.

Ella remained blissfully unaware.

"Did you honestly believe you could run?" Liam's voice was calm but edged with a warning, hoping she wouldn't trap herself in an inescapable situation.

From the tender age of three, Ella had been rigorously trained as the Grant family's heir, dedicating 15 years to mastering various disciplines. As a result, she became intelligent, skilled, and highly resourceful, with a shrewd, adaptable nature.

Yet, her intelligence didn't overshadow her endearing sweetness and charm. Ella was also remarkably flexible—both physically and mentally.

Ella took pride in the words of her grandfather, Philip Green, who had once told her that she was an unrivaled figure, so unbeatable that no one could ever hope to stand against her. After all, she had never faced defeat in her 18 years of living—losing was simply not in her nature.

So when Liam threatened her, she couldn't help but scoff. How absurd—there he was, cuffed to the bed and completely immobilized, yet still acting as though he had the upper hand. Of course, that was all he could do—talk.

Smirking at his pitiful attempt, Ella laughed and replied, "Of course I can."

Her tone dripped with dominance as she made her exit, leaving Liam stunned by the sheer boldness of her words. Ella's provocative remark had irritated him, making him question whether her arrogance was ingrained in her very being—so much so that she dared act so haughtily, even when caught.

Before leaving, she casually waved him off, completely unaware of the real danger nestled in her bag. "Good luck with the handcuffs. Take your time. Don't rush, alright? Bye for now—oh, oops. I meant to say, I hope we never meet again."

She exuded an air of confidence that verged on arrogance, and it gnawed at Liam. She was, without a doubt, insufferably arrogant.

In the darkness, Liam easily picked up on her triumphant smirk. Ella looked so infuriatingly proud that it bordered on arrogance. Oh, she was arrogant, no doubt—Liam could feel the air of self-satisfaction she carried as she left him behind in the dark room.

But with a slight shake of his cuffed wrist, he let out a quiet laugh. Did she truly believe he was helpless? That she wouldn't be caught? How naïve.

If Ella thought for a second that Liam would let her escape, she was sorely mistaken.

His gaze flickered toward her handbag, where he had slipped the tracker earlier. He wasn't in a rush—they'd meet again soon enough.

Without wasting a second after she spoke, Ella dashed out of the room, heading straight for the nearest elevator—Elevator No. 5. Her intuition screamed a warning—Liam was not a man to be taken lightly. She had to escape immediately.

But Ella didn't realize just how powerful Liam truly was.

Back in the suite, Liam remained seated against the headboard, his hand still cuffed to the bed. The room was in disarray, with the thin blanket barely covering his abdomen, yet despite the chaos, Liam exuded calm composure.

His posture remained elegant, as if completely unbothered by his situation.

Now that the tracker was activated, the red dot on his watch revealed her every movement.

When he noticed Ella descending in Elevator No. 5, a slow smile crept across his face, his cold eyes glinting with amusement—a gaze sharp enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.

Though she had bound him, the cuffs were a mere inconvenience. He could have her caught with a single command. "Catch the woman in Elevator No. 5," Liam calmly ordered through his watch. He hadn't planned for her to be on the run for long.

Yet, the thought of catching Ella himself stirred something within him. He was eager to see her reaction when she realized she couldn't escape. But first, he needed to be freed.

He made another call. "Come to my room, Jasper."

The message was brief, but Jasper Whitmore was always on standby, and Liam knew he would arrive within the minute no matter the circumstance.

Liam watched the red dot on his watch, tracking Ella's movements as a quiet laugh rumbled in his chest. She was still in Elevator No. 5, but it didn't matter. Her escape would end there.

Aidan Earhart was already positioned to catch her, but Liam planned to go down himself as well.

She was trapped, with no way out. How naïve she had been to believe she could escape him. After she had toyed with him and cuffed him to the bed, Liam would never let her get away. Soon enough, she'd realize her mistake—he'd deal with her personally.

Chapter 2

Jasper was horrified when he arrived at Liam's suite. The room was in complete disarray, clothes scattered all over the floor, and the mess was so overwhelming he couldn't bring himself to look at it for long.

What caught his attention the most was Liam, leaning against the bed's headboard—his upper body covered with angry red scratch marks. The worst part was the handcuffs that chained Liam to the bed.

Jasper could barely believe what he was seeing—Liam, of all people, had ended up cuffed to the bed. It was clear that Liam had been outplayed. He had even deployed their latest advanced tracker to try and catch his assailant.

With the clues scattered about, it didn't take long for Jasper to piece the situation together. Someone had clearly slept with Liam, then handcuffed him to the bed before making their escape. And although the culprit had fled, Liam had managed to place a tracker on her.

Despite witnessing the situation firsthand, Jasper found it difficult to believe. But the truth was undeniable—someone had bedded Liam and left him as a victim.

Freeing Liam from the handcuffs took Jasper only three seconds.

As soon as he was loose, Liam muttered, "Check for fingerprints on the handcuffs."

He had always prided himself on his meticulousness, and he was certain Ella's fingerprints were on the handcuffs. This evidence was crucial. With the tracker and those prints in hand, he couldn't help but ponder how she would try to escape his grasp.

Glancing at his watch, Liam noticed the tracker still showed Ella inside Elevator No. 5, pausing on different floors. He chuckled to himself—she was still stuck in the elevator after all this time.

Although Liam had already called Aidan, he didn't mind catching Ella himself. The thought of confronting her where the elevator stopped amused him. He could already imagine her surprise when she realized she had walked straight into his trap.

Quickly pulling on his clothes, Liam left the suite and entered the exclusive elevator. It was fast—he'd reach the first floor well before Ella, giving him time to intercept her. After all, it was his own exclusive elevator—he did not need to wait.

Inside the elevator, Liam made another call. "Block all the hotel's exits. No one leaves the hotel."

Then he instructed Jasper, "Check the hotel's CCTV footage for Elevator No. 5."

Liam's reputation for meticulousness was well-earned. He effectively cornered Ella, cutting off all her escape routes.

When Casey Brown, the hotel manager, received Liam's call, he was slightly surprised, but he still did as Liam asked without further questions.

Meanwhile, inside Elevator No. 5, Ella remained composed on the surface, though deep down, she felt the pressure mounting. The elevator had been stopping intermittently to let passengers on and off, which had wasted her some time.

However, she soon found herself alone in the elevator after everyone else exited on the third floor.

The previous night, Ella had been drugged. At first, she stayed clear-headed long enough to plan her escape, but her memory afterward was hazy. When she woke, she found herself in a strange man's bed.

Ella wasn't sure if she'd been set up, and the dim light in the room had obscured the man's face. Yet she could sense that Liam was dangerous and knew she needed to escape. That was why she'd cuffed him to the bed before fleeing.

But Ella knew handcuffing Liam wouldn't be enough to stop him for long. If he had freed himself already… Her eyes darted to the digital panel as the floor numbers descended. A sudden realization dawned on her, and with a slight smirk, she hit the button for the second floor.

She wasn't sure if Liam was pursuing her, but she needed to remain cautious to avoid any traps.

When the elevator stopped on the second floor, Ella quickly made her way to the stairwell. Just as she was about to step inside, she overheard a voice saying, "Mr. Thompson, we've stationed guards at all exits. No one will leave the building."

Ella's breath hitched—just as she expected.

She would've been caught immediately if she had gone straight to the first floor. She had underestimated Liam's abilities—only minutes ago, she had left him cuffed to the bed, yet he had already taken control of the situation.

It was clear now that Liam held significant power within the hotel. Handcuffing him had only bought her a little time.

As long as she remained inside the hotel, every path would lead to a dead end. Liam would soon catch up to her. Would she even have a chance to escape by then?

What Ella didn't realize was that Liam had already arrived at the first floor and was waiting for her by Elevator No. 5.

Though Ella had a nagging sense that she was walking into a trap, she wasn't ready to give up yet. She refused to believe Liam could catch her so easily.

Ella eventually returned to the hallway where the elevators were. When she had exited Elevator No. 5, she'd left her bag at the elevator's door track, preventing the doors from closing and keeping the elevator stuck on the second floor.

Now that Liam had blocked all exits, she figured there would also be guards waiting by the elevators on the first floor. If she descended now, she'd be caught instantly.

Realizing this, Ella grabbed her bag and watched as the doors of Elevator No. 5 closed and the elevator began its descent. The moment it started to move, she quickly pressed the buttons to go up. Since Elevator No. 5 was already descending, another one would soon arrive on the second floor.

As she expected, Elevator No. 5 stopped on the first floor. The button she had pressed inside was for the basement floor, but the fact that it stopped on the first floor instead meant someone was waiting for her there.

It was just as she had suspected.

At the same time, Elevator No. 3 arrived on the second floor, its doors sliding open. Ella stepped inside, pressing the button for the 48th floor, but just as the doors began to close, she blocked them with her handbag and slipped back out into the hallway.

The doors shut, and the elevator ascended to the 48th floor without her.

A satisfied grin spread across Ella's face. If Liam and his men were monitoring the elevators from the first floor, they would see Elevator No. 3 going up and assume she was inside. This would give her the chance she needed to make her next move.

Ella remembered that a costume party was happening on the third floor that night, hosted by a wealthy scion. The party was known to last well into the night—this might be her only shot at slipping away unnoticed.

As she made her way to the stairs, Ella took out a slim mobile phone from her coat and sent a quick message.

Meanwhile, Liam had already noticed Elevator No. 3 climbing to the top floors. He glanced at his watch again, raising an eyebrow in amusement. Ella was quick on her feet, playing a game of hide-and-seek.

Oh, but what a shame…

Chapter 3

However, it was a misfortune for Ella, for Liam could see her every move. The tracker he had slipped into her handbag earlier gave him the upper hand. There was no escape for her.

True to his nature, Liam quickly processed the situation and adapted, devising new strategies and instructions to shut down every possible escape route Ella might attempt.

Liam pulled his phone out and dialed a number, saying, "Use every resource you have to bring as many men as possible to the Lunar Hotel within 15 minutes. Block all exits. No one leaves."

It was 2:00 am, and only a skeleton crew was on duty at the hotel. Knowing he was dealing with a sharp, resourceful woman like Ella, Liam had called for backup as a precaution.

"What's going on, Liam?" Mason Xander had been half asleep when he picked up Liam's call. However, the urgency in Liam's tone woke him up immediately. Moreover, it was rare for Liam to request his help on such a grand scale. "Do you have someone you need to catch, Liam?"

"A woman," Liam answered casually. Since he needed Mason to catch Ella, he'd need to provide him with some information.

"A woman?" Mason's voice shot up several octaves in surprise but quickly turned into excitement as he asked, "What kind of woman is she, Liam? Is she your girlfriend?"

Still, Mason couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. When Liam abruptly ended the call without saying another word, Mason was left hanging, frustrated and curious about who this woman could be.

But Liam's silence wouldn't stop Mason. He could always check the CCTV footage himself—he wasn't about to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

"Mr. Jones, I had someone check the CCTV footage, but it seems like they were all destroyed," Jasper reported back to Liam after completing his task. Despite his efforts, he had been a step too late.

Liam's expression tightened upon hearing that. It had only been two minutes since Ella had slipped out of his suite, meaning she had the CCTV footage erased during her escape.

"Has the costume party Mr. Langley organized been dismissed yet?" Liam asked, recalling the event Ethan Langley had arranged on the third floor. He noticed the tracker was now indicating movement on that very floor.

"Not yet," Aidan responded, though he didn't understand the question's relevance.

"Alright," Liam responded, his mind clicking into place. Ella was planning to blend in at the party. It was a smart move, considering the chaos and anonymity the costumes would offer her.

It seemed like Liam had finally caught a little fox—a particularly arrogant and cunning one.

If Ella were to sneak into the party, she would need to change and leave her handbag behind—an issue since Liam had planted a tracker inside it.

Liam hurried into the elevator, heading straight for the third floor. Just as the doors were about to close, he gave his orders. "Keep watching the elevator entrances. Don't let anyone leave."

Liam was clearly pulling out all the stops to keep Ella from escaping the hotel.

Though Casey had some reservations, he said nothing more and simply agreed. Liam then ascended to the third floor.

With Ella heading to the party, Liam knew exactly where he was going—straight to the party itself to catch her.

Ella had indeed made her way to the costume party on the third floor, already in disguise with a fox mask. She knew she couldn't leave alone under the current circumstances, so she was searching for someone to help her.

Ella's gaze swept across the dimly lit hall, searching for a familiar face. Despite the masks, she spotted her target immediately—Hunter Quinn.

Hunter was infamous for his ruthlessness and manipulative nature, but he was also Oscar Quinn's cousin. Since Ella was betrothed to Oscar, she could turn to him for help.

Though she dreaded aligning herself with someone like Hunter, she knew enough about the Quinn family's secrets to use them as leverage. That knowledge would force his hand to help her, even if it meant dealing with the man she wanted to avoid.

She walked up to him and said, "Hunter."

Hunter stopped and glanced at her with indifference, clearly thinking she was just another woman trying to get his attention.

Ella didn't flinch at his response. She met his gaze and said, "Mr. Quinn, I assume you've handled all of the recent affairs for the Quinn family if you're here enjoying yourself so freely?"

Ella paused, inching closer to Hunter before she slowly added, "Like your cousin, Darius, who intentionally ran over two people with his car, killing them.

"Oh, and like the mistress your father got pregnant, who mysteriously died in an accident just a few days ago. Also..."

Ella understood Hunter's façade of cynicism. Despite his outward appearance, he still cared deeply for the Quinn family. His expression darkened with anger as he grasped her wrist, demanding, "Who are you?"

Ella merely smiled in response.

"What do you want?" Hunter's eyes narrowed, his sharp instincts telling him she wasn't here by accident.

"Help me leave the hotel," Ella replied, her calm smile masking the anxiousness gnawing at her inside. No matter how desperate the situation, she never let it show.

Hunter furrowed his brows, taken aback by her unusual request. "Is it really that hard to leave a hotel?"

Ella nodded slowly. "Given my current circumstances, it's incredibly difficult for me to leave. I need your help, Mr. Quinn."

With Liam blocking all exits, escaping was a daunting task for her.

Meanwhile, at the ballroom entrance, Liam arrived, only to be stopped by a security guard. "Sir, this is a costume party. You'll need to wear a mask."

Without hesitation, Liam grabbed a mask and headed inside. He moved quickly to where the tracker had indicated, but Ella's abandoned handbag was all he found. She was gone, having changed into her costume and disappeared into the crowd.

Realizing he was a step behind, Liam knew finding her now would be much more difficult. But he was determined. He'd find her, no matter what it took.

"Alright, I'll help you," Hunter said, his tone shifting to one of intrigue. He looked at Ella with curiosity, wanting to know more about the mysterious woman before him.

"Let's go." Hunter grasped her wrist, pulling her toward the exit. He didn't seem to find her request particularly difficult, and Ella exhaled softly in relief. Things were going more smoothly than she had hoped, and she followed closely behind him.

But suddenly, she felt a firm grip on her waist. Before she could react, she was pulled into a powerful embrace.

Ella's breath caught in her throat as she looked up, meeting another man's eyes. Her heart sank. The gaze staring back at her was tranquil, indifferent, but she felt a dark, underlying threat.

Though the dim lights and the mask obscured his face, Ella didn't need a clear view to know who he was. The palpable sense of danger radiating from him left no room for doubt—this man had to be the same one she had handcuffed to the bed.

Chapter 4

Ella was bewildered. How had Liam found her so easily in the bustling ballroom? Was it sheer luck, or had he recognized her?

Liam's silent gaze cut through the air, unnerving her. His calm demeanor only fueled the panic that bubbled inside her, sending a chill down her spine.

Ella felt deep in her bones—getting captured by him meant a certain death. After all, she had left him handcuffed to the bed after their encounter.

Even the briefest glance at his eyes, simmering with danger, made her feel as though he was moments away from tearing her apart. She had no choice. She needed to escape—now.

At this moment, the only way for Ella to escape was to act fast and create a diversion. Fortunately, she had anticipated this scenario and came prepared.

"Ah! Murder! Ah! Blood—there's so much blood!" Ella screamed as she tore open a concealed blood bag—a clever prop she had stashed away in her pocket after changing into her costume.

Her panicked shrieks pierced the air, cutting through the thumping music.

The crowd erupted into chaos as Ella dropped a small ball-shaped device at Liam's feet. The moment it hit the floor, it shattered, releasing a sticky liquid that oozed beneath his shoes.

These were the props she had grabbed from the dressing room. She had to admit—whoever had designed them knew what they were doing. They were disturbingly effective.

Everything happened in a heartbeat. One moment, Liam was pulling her into his arms, and the next, her blood-curdling scream and sudden movements caught him off guard. For a split second, even Liam was stunned, his gaze fixated on the fake blood.

Ella seized the opportunity. She freed herself from his grasp and darted away, grabbing Hunter's arm as she bolted toward the exit. "Let's go!" she urged.

Every second was critical now. If Ella hesitated even for a moment, Liam would have torn her apart the instant he got his hands on her.

As she darted through the crowd, Liam's sneer cut through the noise behind her. He hadn't been entirely sure she was the same woman who had handcuffed him earlier. But with the chaos she had caused, her identity was no longer in doubt. She had confirmed herself as his target.

She was clever, he had to admit. The wizard's robe she wore concealed her figure, and the oversized mask obscured her face. But now that he'd seen her costume, there was no way she could escape.

Smirking, Liam made no immediate move to pursue her. He knew his territory well. She might have gotten a head start, but she wouldn't get far—especially when he had laid out traps.

He would let her have her moment of false triumph, allow her to think she was getting away—let her gloat, and savor her fleeting sense of victory.

Just as he was about to give chase, his expression shifted. His shoes were glued to the floor, locking him in place.

Meanwhile, Ella, drenched in fake blood, ran through the ballroom unchallenged—no one dared stop someone who looked so wounded. On her way out, she grabbed a random woman by the arm and pulled her along. The woman, terrified and confused, didn't resist and ran with Ella until they reached the elevators.

By sheer luck, the exclusive elevator opened on the third floor. Ella couldn't help but chuckle. Liam had used this very elevator, but now it would be her ticket out.

Ella stepped inside, and just before the doors closed, she saw Liam emerge from the ballroom. He was faster than she'd expected. Even with his shoes glued to the floor, he had managed to break free in record time. But Ella was still ahead.

"Bye." Ella waved provocatively as the doors closed. Her wave alone, even through her mask, conveyed her arrogance.

Liam watched her retreat, his eyes narrowing with a cold fury that sent chills through anyone nearby. She might think she was out of reach, but as long as she remained in his domain, she could never truly escape. He would make sure of that.

Inside the elevator, Hunter finally snapped out of his shock. He stared at Ella, eyes wide with confusion, but she ignored him. Instead, she turned to the woman she had pulled into their escape.

"Ms. Harris," Ella said politely, "I need your help."

The woman, Ruby Harris, glared at Ella with suspicion. "Why should I help you?" she demanded.

Ella leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Ruby's expression shifted from disbelief to shock. She clenched her jaw and asked, "What do you need me to do?"

"Put this on and collapse on the floor when we reach the first floor. Pretend to be injured," Ella instructed, handing Ruby the blood-soaked robe.

Ella knew that the real challenge would come on the first floor. With the exclusive elevator she had hijacked from Liam, it was obvious that his people would be waiting to intercept her. Her success or failure depended entirely on her next move, and she had no intention of letting it fall apart now.

Ruby, still reluctant, found herself without a choice but to follow Ella's instructions.

Hunter, observing silently, couldn't help but admire her boldness. She was sharp, calculating, and had seamlessly adapted to every unexpected twist. What puzzled him even more was her knowledge of the Quinn family's darkest secrets, something almost no one else knew. Who exactly was she?

As expected, the elevator doors opened on the first floor.

Aidan stood waiting, expecting to see his boss, and Liam's absence immediately raised alarms. Without hesitation, Aidan barked, "Seize them!"

Several men rushed forward, but just as they reached the elevator, Ruby, now wearing the blood-soaked robe, stumbled forward and collapsed into Aidan's arms.

"Miss, are you alright?" Aidan asked, momentarily thrown off by the sight of blood and the sudden collision. The others around him stood frozen, horrified by the scene playing out before them.

By the time they realized what had happened, Ella had already shut the elevator doors and pressed the button to descend to the underground parking lot.

Even if they wanted to stop her, it was too late.

"Quick! Chase after them! We can't let them escape!" Casey was the first to snap out of the shock and realize it had all been a trickery. He immediately yelled for pursuit.

But Ella had bought herself enough time. The confusion, the chaos—it was all working in her favor.

Inside the elevator, as they descended toward the parking lot, Hunter's eyes narrowed. He had been quietly observing her every move, and something didn't sit right with him. In one swift motion, he reached out and yanked the mask off Ella's face.

"Ella?" he said in disbelief, staring at her as if she were a ghost. For a brief moment, he thought he must be hallucinating. There was no reason for her to be at the Lunar Hotel of all places.

This was Ella—the same woman everyone mocked and called stupid, useless, and naïve. How could she be here?

But the woman before him was indeed Ella, and her actions revealed her intelligence. She had deliberately feigned ignorance, deceiving him with a bimbo persona. He couldn't comprehend why she would pretend to be foolish when she was clearly the opposite.

Ella didn't utter a word, only casting Hunter a brief, composed glance before slipping her mask back on. Her serenity left him speechless. Who was Ella?

His mind wandered back to Oscar, who had constantly ridiculed Ella, calling her the most foolish person alive. Oscar had even gone as far as wanting to break off their engagement.

Now, as Hunter thought of it, he couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the irony. The Ella before him was anything but a fool.

Once the elevator doors slid open, Ella quickly walked out.

"My car is just ahead. It's not far," Hunter said. Though he was filled with doubt and uncertainties, he knew now wasn't the time for questions.

His car was parked only about ten yards away. It would take mere seconds to reach, but even those seconds seemed dangerously long with Liam's men close behind.

Meanwhile, on the third floor, Liam pressed the elevator button once more, irritated by the fact that Ella had used his private elevator for her escape. Soon, Elevator No. 1 arrived to take him down.

Unexpectedly, when the elevator doors opened on the first floor, Liam found himself unable to exit. After all, he had given orders to bar all elevators.

Casey gasped softly upon seeing Liam. "Mr. Jones?"

Chapter 5

Liam's gaze fell on Ruby, recognizing the bloodied wizard's robe she wore. Sharp as ever, he instantly pieced together what had happened.

He had clearly underestimated Ella—this was all part of her carefully crafted scheme.

Fine! The game had just gotten more interesting. But she had better hope she didn't fall into his hands.

With the hotel exits sealed, just as he ordered, there was no way Ella could escape.

In the underground parking lot, Elevator No. 2 opened just as Ella and Hunter dashed toward the car.

"They're there! Quick, after them!" Several men picked up their pace, giving chase as soon as they spotted the pair.

Ella reached Hunter's car just as Liam stepped out of Elevator No. 1. A concrete pillar had blocked his view, keeping her hidden from sight.

Watching her sprint ahead, Hunter couldn't help but be impressed—this was Ella at her best, fueled by adrenaline and danger.

Hunter unlocked the car, and Ella slipped inside right as Liam rounded the pillar, catching just a glimpse of her leg disappearing into the vehicle.

Hunter took the driver's seat, quickly reversing with a sharp drift and speeding off like a pro racer. His skill behind the wheel left no doubt that racing was in his blood, and within moments, they shook off their pursuers, including Liam.

"Consider the job done!" Hunter grinned. This was way too thrilling!

"Say that once you leave the hotel." However, Ella's response was less hopeful as she knew Liam's power and capabilities.

"What do you mean? Is there an ambush at the exit?" Hunter was momentarily confused, but he quickly understood what she meant.

"It's possible," she replied, recalling the earlier mention of the blocked exits. She wasn't sure if it included the underground parking lot, but with so many exits to cover, they couldn't have enough men to guard them all. There was still hope.

"Which exit should we take, then?" Hunter asked in all seriousness. It was odd to see him, usually so arrogant, actually asking her opinion.

"The closest one," Ella decided. With little information, their best option was to escape as quickly as possible.

Watching the car speed away, Liam gave up the chase and pulled out his phone.

"Where are you, Liam? I'm already at the hotel. What's going on?" Mason's voice crackled over the phone when Liam didn't speak first.

"How many men did you post at the underground parking lot's exits?" Liam's voice was cold, making Mason shudder despite the lack of emotion.

"I've stationed six or seven at each," Mason answered cautiously, sensing Liam's displeasure. "You haven't caught her yet?"

"It's a Bentley, and the license plate ends in 666. Do whatever it takes to stop them from leaving," Liam instructed. Mason, listening closely, realized he had inadvertently given him the answer.

"Don't worry, Liam. I'll be sure to get the job done!" Mason boasted confidently. As the police chief, he took pride in his abilities. Yet he couldn't help but feel curious about the person who had pushed Liam to such extremes.

"What's going on? Why are there so many people here?" Hunter was startled by the seven people forming a human barricade at the exit. Had he driven any faster, they would have been run over.

Trapped in a standstill, they couldn't retreat or advance. It would be a disaster if none of them moved when the car continued forward. Hunter slowed down, unwilling to risk running anyone over.

Ella pursed her lips. They were trapped between a human barricade ahead and multiple pursuers behind. And she believed Liam would soon catch up to them.

She'd be at his mercy if caught, and it would be entirely due to their failure to move past this human blockade fast enough.

"Let's try a different exit," Hunter suggested. "There's no way they blocked them all, especially at this hour!"

"It's no use. Do you not see the uniforms they're wearing? They're auxiliary police and not the hotel's staff members. There's nothing we can do. Auxiliary police patrols around the clock—anytime and anywhere," Ella said.

Trying a different exit wouldn't make a difference. The auxiliary police, likely on Liam's payroll, had positioned themselves everywhere. They were stuck.

"What kind of grudge does he have against you to resort to such extreme measures just to hunt you down?" It was only now that Hunter understood the seriousness of their predicament. He had never faced anything this intense nor imagined that leaving a hotel could be this difficult.

Extreme was an understatement. Ella thought it fit the situation perfectly.

"Maybe we should pull back for a bit?" Hunter suggested. Since charging ahead was out of the question, they could retreat momentarily and keep moving to avoid getting caught.

"No. We can't," Ella replied firmly. She was convinced that retreating now would only seal her fate—she'd be caught for sure.

Hunter turned toward her, a mix of expectation and hesitation on his face. "You have a solution?"

"Keep driving. Don't slow down," Ella instructed, her gaze fixed on the barricade.

"You sure this won't end in someone dying?" Hunter asked, his concern evident. Things could go terribly wrong if they accidentally killed any of them.

"Don't worry. They won't," Ella assured him, her voice calm and unwavering, as if there was not a single doubt in her mind.

"Alright," Hunter replied, pressing the gas pedal harder. It was only then he realized how much trust he had in Ella's judgment.

The car barreled toward the exit where the auxiliary police waited. Though their expressions had tightened with anxiety, none of them moved.

Hunter squinted, but he didn't slow. Ella's confidence in the situation was unwavering, and somehow, he found himself trusting her without question.

When they were a mere ten yards from the exit, Ella opened the sunroof and stood up, her hand outstretched as she threw something toward the auxiliary police. "Here! Have a taste of the Grimoria M-DN31 grenade!"

As it hit the ground, the grenade released a thick cloud of smoke, enveloping the officers. Ella couldn't help but appreciate how convincingly realistic the prop was!

Hunter's jaw dropped. He was stunned, watching in disbelief. How did Ella come up with this? Her ingenuity was absurd—and brilliant.

"Bomb! It's a bomb! Run!" The seven auxiliary police panicked, scattering in all directions at the sight of the grenade spewing smoke.

Since they were in her way, Ella had to find a solution to get rid of them. After all, it wasn't as if they could just crash straight into them.

But with the grenade going off, they'd have no choice but to scatter. After all, no one would be crazy enough to risk their life for a command from Liam, right?