Amelia didn't know what else to say, so she just nodded.

Ethan glanced at his watch. "Let's head back to our rooms. It's weird just standing here."

She got the message and turned around, heading into her own room.

Inside, she spent ten restless minutes pacing and fidgeting. Every second dragged by, slow and heavy. When her alarm finally went off, she jumped, shut it off, and slipped into her slippers, rushing out into the hallway.

She stopped herself just outside her door, realizing she was acting way too jumpy. So she paused, took a few slow breaths, and forced her face to relax. No one could tell what was going on inside her, not with the calm mask she wore.

Amelia was good at pretending. On the surface, she looked totally fine. No one would notice the anxiety churning inside her or the way her heart was racing.

She walked over to Dennis's room, keeping her expression cool and steady. She glanced down at the living room. The maids were busy as usual, and Kevin's tearoom door was open. He was sitting inside, quietly playing chess.

The Lane estate was calm and quiet.

Amelia let out a slow breath and knocked softly on Dennis's door.

As she expected, there was no answer.

Following the plan, she called out gently, "Dennis?" Then she knocked again, a little harder.

Still nothing.

She made her voice a bit louder, trying to sound casual but urgent. “Dennis, open the door for Auntie. Dennis?"

She called a few more times, hitting the door harder each time. "Dennis, open up. Dennis, are you there?"

Silence.

She frowned, her worry starting to show. "Dennis, are you asleep?"

Downstairs, one of the maids looked up at the noise.

Amelia knocked again, but everything was quiet. She put her hand on the doorknob and spoke softly, "Dennis, are you sleeping? Auntie's coming in, okay?"

She turned the knob and slipped inside, whispering, "Dennis? Are you sleeping?" as she stepped in.

The maid downstairs went back to her chores.

It was already dark outside, and Dennis's room was almost pitch black. The curtains were drawn tight blocking out the night. Only a sliver of light crept in from under the door.

Amelia walked in slowly, letting her eyes adjust. She could just make out the shape

of someone under the blanket.

The room was silent. Not a sound.

She moved closer, tiptoeing to the bed. "Dennis, are you asleep?"

She reached out, grabbed the edge of the comforter, and slowly pulled it back, revealing Dennis's small, peaceful face.

He didn't react at all. His breathing was slow and even.

It looked like such a normal, quiet scene, but Amelia's heart was pounding out of control.

She knew something was wrong

with Dennis, but her hands were still

damp with sweat Panic and

urgency crashed over her, and she

shook his shoulder, her voice

growing sharp. "Dennis! Dennis..."

She called his name over and over, but Dennis didn't move.

Her chest tightened, her breaths coming quicker.

That's when it hit her. The medicine had started to work.

Amelia shot up, switched on the lights, and quickly checked the desk to make sure everything she and Dennis had set up earlier was still there. She sucked in a breath and then screamed as loud as she could.

"Ah!"