Owen got up to freshen up. When he returned, he gently lifted Aria’s chin and kissed her.


    The moment their lips met, a sharp knock sounded at the door.


    Before Aria could even process what had happened, Owen had already pulled away swiftly, as if that yful, retaliatory sneak-kiss had never urred.


    She nced up to see Owen clear his throat awkwardly before heading to answer the door.


    Carlos showed up with some food.


    “Don’t you guys ever go out? If you stay cooped up in here all day, you’ll turn into mushrooms,” Carlos teased.


    Owen took the food and said, “We’ll be moving out soon.”


    Carlos had already guessed they wouldn’t be staying long, so he wasn’t surprised. “Alright,” he said with a shrug, “who knows when we’ll see each other again.”


    Owen said, “Hit me up if you ever visit Huthailia.”


    Not wanting to disturb them, Carlos didn’t linger at the door.


    Aria and Owen changed locations again, returning to the very hotel where it all began.


    The hotel was just a stone’s throw from Ivy Hospital, offering a clear view from their window.


    When checking back into the hotel, the receptionist’s face was a picture of mixed emotions. She kept stealing nces at Aria, clearly wanting to say something but holding back.


    Finally, as she handed over the room key, she murmured, “I’m sorry. Those guys were absolutely terrifying. I had no choice but to lead them to your room. Thank goodness you’d already left.”


    Aria said, “They had the wrong person and left.”


    After dinner, Owen’s gaze drifted to the high-rise building outside the window.


    Owen said, “The top floor has a private elevator and emergency exits, but they’re all under heavy surveince. Forcing our way in isn’t an option.”


    After some thought, he continued, “The emergency exits are too risky-if we alert the guards, we could easily get nked. The private elevator goes straight to the first floor, but they can shut it down at any moment.”


    Aria gave a soft hum. “Leave the surveince to Vanessa-she can handle it. There’s a doctor with a simr build to mine; I’ll disguise myself as her to get inside. You handle the obstacles.”


    After running through tactical simtions, the two finally finalized their extraction n.


    Aria said, “Tristan is quite thin. We’ll need to find someone who can pass for him.”


    Owen’s eyes lit up as he remembered someone. “I have the perfect candidate-he’s skinny and specializes in making a quick getaway. He can impersonate Tristan.”


    After confirming the target, Aria texted ck Rose: [I’m taking the top floor target.]


    ck Rose was baffled, not knowing why Aria told her this.


    ck Rose: [Want my help?]


    Aria texted back: [No need to help. Just turn a blind eye.]


    ck Rose: [I’m in charge. I’ll face consequences for this.]


    Aria: [Better than dead.]


    ck Rose felt helpless, but she had to admit that Aria had a point.


    ck Rose: [Let me know when you’reing, and I’ll stay out of your way.]


    Aria: [You’d better steer clear starting tomorrow.]


    ck Rose: [Aren’t you afraid I’ll rat you out?]


    Aria: [If you’re not afraid of dying, go ahead.]


    Once Echohawk set her sights on someone, she’d hunt them to the ends of the earth. ck Rose knew this all too well. [I’ll stay out of your way.]


    *********


    Makeup case in hand, Owen and Aria had barely stepped into the vi when their eardrums were assaulted by an ear- splitting shout.


    “Hey, Aria!” the group greeted her in unison.


    The seven of them snapped to attention in perfect unison, their eyes practically glowing like searchlights as they stared straight at Aria.


    Owen frowned in displeasure, but the group, in perfect unison, pretended not to notice and continued enthusiastically, “Aria, have you eaten yet? We can whip something up for you!”


    Someone else said, “Aria, feeling tired? I give killer massages!”


    Owen cut in sharply, “Keep it down.”


    Aria nced at the group. “I’ve already eaten,” she said. “I’ll be counting on you all for tomorrow. Thank you for your trouble.”


    They said with a smile, “No trouble at all! It’s our honor to help you, Aria!”


    One of them said, “Exactly! Even if the Captain stays silent, just say the word, Aria-we’d walk through fire for you!”


    Seeing they were about to start up again, Owen swept a dangerous gaze over them, instantly silencing the group.


    The seven finally fell silent.