The shockwave knocked the water glass off her desk, shattering it on the floor. Outside, a chorus of blaring sirens erupted, cutting through the panicked screams and cries of terrified crowds.

On the screen, lan's expression morphed instantly into absolute terror.

"Ellie, what the hell is happening?"

Eleanor dropped to the floor to retrieve her phone, her voice shaking. "I think... I think a bomb just went off downstairs."

She scrambled to the window and peeked out. Thick, black smoke was billowing up from the lower floors, and people were fleeing in all directions. Just then, a second explosion rocked the building, rattling the glass violently in its frame.

"Get away from the window!" lan roared through the speaker. "Listen to me. Stay in the room. Lock the door. Do not leave under any circumstances. I'm sending the bodyguards up to get you right now."

Eleanor's heart was hammering against her ribs, her hands trembling so hard she could barely hold the phone.

"Okay, I won't move. I'm staying right here," she promised frantically.

"I'm calling the detail to extract you to a safe house," lan snapped before abruptly ending the call.

Eleanor stared at her screen as a text from a colleague popped up: "Dr. Sutton, the hotel is under a Terrorist Attack. There are armed men in the lobby. Do not leave your room!"

A second later, a message from her lead bodyguard arrived.

"Dr. Sutton, the hotel is on total lockdown. Hostiles have seized all exits. We cannot breach the upper floors. Please remain calm, stay hidden, and keep completely silent. Military backup is en route."

Eleanor quickly typed back, "Understood. I'm hiding."

Message failed to send.

They had cut the cell towers.

Outside, the wail of sirens grew deafening. Every passing second felt like an eternity.

Eleanor hid in the darkest corner of the room, trapped in agonizing suspense. With no signal, she was completely blind to what was happening downstairs.

As night fell, the power to the entire hotel was severed. Many of the visiting scholars were trapped in the dark just like her.

Eleanor stayed huddled on the floor

for the entire night. Bursts of

automatic gunfire echoed

sporadically from below,

accompanied by occasional flashes

of fire lighting up the sky. Hepnerves were strung so tight

hey were ready to snap. Finally, the first fight of dawn crept through the window.

She hadn't slept a single second.

She had no idea what the situation was. Her phone had died hours ago. All she could do was wait.

The gunfire gradually ceased, replaced by the heavy thud of military helicopters circling overhead.

Seven o'clock. Eight o'clock.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed in

the hallway outside her door.

วน

Eleanor's heart shot into her throat. She held her breath, her eyes locked onto the heavy wooden door.

Then came a sharp knock, followed by a voice she knew better than her own heartbeat.

"Ellie, open the door. It's me."

Tears flooded Eleanor's eyes instantly. It was lan.

She tried to stand, but her legs were completely numb from terror and exhaustion. Forcing herself up, she dragged herself to the door and yanked it open.

Standing there was lan. His eyes were completely bloodshot, his hair a disheveled mess, and in his right hand, he was gripping a matte-black handgun.

Startled, Eleanor flinched, but lan immediately tossed the weapon to a bodyguard and crushed her into his chest.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I'm late. I'm sorry you had to go through this," lan choked out, burying his face in her hair as he clamped her tightly against him.

Pressed against his chest, smelling the sharp scent of sweat and

adrenaline radiating off him the nea suffocating wave of despair.

choked her all night finally broke.

had

lan held her with crushing force, as if he needed physical proof that she was really

there, alive and unharmed.