Cecilia, tired and utterly frustrated by the day's events, stood near the Grand Imperial entrance. She had been staring at the street for what felt like an eternity, ready to walk inside and give up, when she saw two familiar figures approaching. Her heart leapt with relief.
She stood frozen for half a minute, letting the reality sink in. Miles and Ethan were walking toward her.
Miles reached her first, his expression serious. "We need to go. Fast," he said, skipping any pleasantries. "We're not staying here. We need to go to an apartment, not the hotel."
Cecilia, already exhausted by the hotel's high-stakes social atmosphere, nodded immediately. "Fine by me." She quickly went inside, packed her few belongings, and within minutes, emerged to leave with the two men.
