Before Robert and Suzy could even catch their breath, the men in black suits were already closing in.
Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway—fast, deliberate.
"They're here," Robert said under his breath.
Suzy didn't panic. Her eyes swept the corridor in a single glance—distance, exits, numbers.
Three seconds.
That was enough.
"I know," she replied lightly.
Then she moved.
Not away—but straight toward the fire emergency button.
"Stop her!" one of the men shouted.
Suzy smiled faintly.
Right on time.
She slammed her hand against the button.
The alarm exploded throughout the motel—loud, piercing, impossible to ignore. Red lights flashed violently as doors burst open. Guests flooded the hallway, shouting, pushing, trying to escape.
Chaos.
Exactly what she wanted.
Suzy slowed her pace.
Running now would make her stand out.
Instead, she slipped into the crowd, her expression shifting instantly—wide-eyed, startled, just another guest caught in the panic.
Behind her, the men forced their way through.
"Spread out! Check every exit!"
Too predictable.
Suzy caught their movements in the reflection of a glass panel as she moved with the crowd. Step by step, she let herself be carried forward—then, without warning, she slipped sideways between two arguing guests and changed direction.
A hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Got—"
Suzy tilted her head slightly, her lips curving.
"Oh? Are you sure?"
Before he could react, she twisted sharply, using the force of the moving crowd to break free. She stumbled forward on purpose, disappearing into a group rushing toward the stairwell.
Within seconds—
She was gone.
Meanwhile, Robert clenched his jaw and forced himself to move.
Pain shot through his body with every step, but he didn't slow down. Using the chaos as cover, he slipped into a side corridor and made his way toward the parking area.
His breathing grew heavier.
But his mind stayed clear.
By the time he reached the empty parking garage, his vision had started to blur.
"Sir."
Danielle's voice cut through the silence as he approached quickly.
His expression darkened at the sight of Robert—blood, torn clothes, barely standing.
"Who did this to you?" he asked, his tone controlled but edged with anger.
Robert exhaled slowly.
"Look into Suzy," he said, his voice low and strained. "Why she was at the club… and why someone tried to kidnap her."
Danielle didn't hesitate.
"Yes, sir."
A few hours later
"You bunch of fools!"
The sharp crash of shattering glass rang through the VIP room.
No one dared to lift their heads. The air itself felt heavy under Vanilla's fury.
"How could you let that bitch slip away right under our noses?"
Her gaze swept across the room—cold, sharp, unforgiving.
"And you even lost the thief?" she continued, her voice rising. "Tell me… do you all have a death wish?"
The well-built man standing before her looked intimidating, but under her glare, he stiffened.
"We tried our best, Ms. We saw her drink it… and then she suddenly disappeared."
Vanilla let out a short, mocking laugh.
"That's your explanation?" she snapped. "Then tell me—how did she escape when your men were outside?"
The man hesitated. "Well, Ms—"
"And the thief?" she cut in sharply. "What's your excuse this time? You'd better make this sound impressive… or don't bother speaking."
"It seems… they were working together."
Vanilla fell silent.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she considered it—then she scoffed.
"Working together? That girl?" she said dismissively. "She's not that capable."
Still…
Something about it didn't sit right.
Was it coincidence—or was Suzy aiming at her father's business?
No.
Vanilla crossed her arms, brushing the thought aside.
Suzy had already gotten what she wanted—a scandal, a photo, a mess to spread.
That was more her style.
With a cold glance, Vanilla shifted her attention.
"Anthony," she said sharply.
The burly man stepped forward immediately.
"Clean this up. And don't disappoint me again."
"Yes, Ms."
After escaping the danger, Suzy went straight to her best friend's hideout.
She pushed the door open casually, as if she had just come back from a normal outing.
Meily looked up from the couch. "So?" she asked. "How did your plan go?"
Suzy smirked, leaning slightly against the doorframe.
"What do you think?" she replied. "What about you?"
Meily studied her for a second, then stood and walked over to the table. She poured a glass of orange juice and handed it to her.
"As planned."
Suzy took the glass, her smile deepening.
"Good."