Elena’s POV

After leaving the private room, I walked down the quiet corridor toward the restroom, the lively sounds of conversation fading behind me with every step. The moment the door closed behind me, the noise from the banquet seemed to disappear entirely, leaving only the faint hum of the hotel’s ventilation system and the distant murmur of other guests somewhere far away.

When I finished and stepped back into the corridor, I did not immediately return.

The atmosphere in the private ...