Chapter 4

Ella was bewildered. How had Liam found her so easily in the bustling ballroom? Was it sheer luck, or had he recognized her? Liam's silent gaze cut through the air, unnerving her. His calm demeanor only fueled the panic that bubbled inside her, sending a chill down her spine. Ella felt deep in her bones—getting captured by him meant a certain death. After all, she had left him handcuffed to the bed after their encounter. Even the briefest glance at his eyes, simmering with danger, made her feel as though he was moments away from tearing her apart. She had no choice. She needed to escape—now. At this moment, the only way for Ella to escape was to act fast and create a diversion. Fortunately, she had anticipated this scenario and came prepared. "Ah! Murder! Ah! Blood—there's so much blood!" Ella screamed as she tore open a concealed blood bag—a clever prop she had stashed away in her pocket after changing into her costume. Her panicked shrieks pierced the air, cutting through the thumping music. The crowd erupted into chaos as Ella dropped a small ball-shaped device at Liam's feet. The moment it hit the floor, it shattered, releasing a sticky liquid that oozed beneath his shoes. These were the props she had grabbed from the dressing room. She had to admit—whoever had designed them knew what they were doing. They were disturbingly effective. Everything happened in a heartbeat. One moment, Liam was pulling her into his arms, and the next, her blood-curdling scream and sudden movements caught him off guard. For a split second, even Liam was stunned, his gaze fixated on the fake blood. Ella seized the opportunity. She freed herself from his grasp and darted away, grabbing Hunter's arm as she bolted toward the exit. "Let's go!" she urged. Every second was critical now. If Ella hesitated even for a moment, Liam would have torn her apart the instant he got his hands on her. As she darted through the crowd, Liam's sneer cut through the noise behind her. He hadn't been entirely sure she was the same woman who had handcuffed him earlier. But with the chaos she had caused, her identity was no longer in doubt. She had confirmed herself as his target. She was clever, he had to admit. The wizard's robe she wore concealed her figure, and the oversized mask obscured her face. But now that he'd seen her costume, there was no way she could escape. Smirking, Liam made no immediate move to pursue her. He knew his territory well. She might have gotten a head start, but she wouldn't get far—especially when he had laid out traps. He would let her have her moment of false triumph, allow her to think she was getting away—let her gloat, and savor her fleeting sense of victory. Just as he was about to give chase, his expression shifted. His shoes were glued to the floor, locking him in place. Meanwhile, Ella, drenched in fake blood, ran through the ballroom unchallenged—no one dared stop someone who looked so wounded. On her way out, she grabbed a random woman by the arm and pulled her along. The woman, terrified and confused, didn't resist and ran with Ella until they reached the elevators. By sheer luck, the exclusive elevator opened on the third floor. Ella couldn't help but chuckle. Liam had used this very elevator, but now it would be her ticket out. Ella stepped inside, and just before the doors closed, she saw Liam emerge from the ballroom. He was faster than she'd expected. Even with his shoes glued to the floor, he had managed to break free in record time. But Ella was still ahead. "Bye." Ella waved provocatively as the doors closed. Her wave alone, even through her mask, conveyed her arrogance. Liam watched her retreat, his eyes narrowing with a cold fury that sent chills through anyone nearby. She might think she was out of reach, but as long as she remained in his domain, she could never truly escape. He would make sure of that. Inside the elevator, Hunter finally snapped out of his shock. He stared at Ella, eyes wide with confusion, but she ignored him. Instead, she turned to the woman she had pulled into their escape. "Ms. Harris," Ella said politely, "I need your help." The woman, Ruby Harris, glared at Ella with suspicion. "Why should I help you?" she demanded. Ella leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Ruby's expression shifted from disbelief to shock. She clenched her jaw and asked, "What do you need me to do?" "Put this on and collapse on the floor when we reach the first floor. Pretend to be injured," Ella instructed, handing Ruby the blood-soaked robe. Ella knew that the real challenge would come on the first floor. With the exclusive elevator she had hijacked from Liam, it was obvious that his people would be waiting to intercept her. Her success or failure depended entirely on her next move, and she had no intention of letting it fall apart now. Ruby, still reluctant, found herself without a choice but to follow Ella's instructions. Hunter, observing silently, couldn't help but admire her boldness. She was sharp, calculating, and had seamlessly adapted to every unexpected twist. What puzzled him even more was her knowledge of the Quinn family's darkest secrets, something almost no one else knew. Who exactly was she? As expected, the elevator doors opened on the first floor. Aidan stood waiting, expecting to see his boss, and Liam's absence immediately raised alarms. Without hesitation, Aidan barked, "Seize them!" Several men rushed forward, but just as they reached the elevator, Ruby, now wearing the blood-soaked robe, stumbled forward and collapsed into Aidan's arms. "Miss, are you alright?" Aidan asked, momentarily thrown off by the sight of blood and the sudden collision. The others around him stood frozen, horrified by the scene playing out before them. By the time they realized what had happened, Ella had already shut the elevator doors and pressed the button to descend to the underground parking lot. Even if they wanted to stop her, it was too late. "Quick! Chase after them! We can't let them escape!" Casey was the first to snap out of the shock and realize it had all been a trickery. He immediately yelled for pursuit. But Ella had bought herself enough time. The confusion, the chaos—it was all working in her favor. Inside the elevator, as they descended toward the parking lot, Hunter's eyes narrowed. He had been quietly observing her every move, and something didn't sit right with him. In one swift motion, he reached out and yanked the mask off Ella's face. "Ella?" he said in disbelief, staring at her as if she were a ghost. For a brief moment, he thought he must be hallucinating. There was no reason for her to be at the Lunar Hotel of all places. This was Ella—the same woman everyone mocked and called stupid, useless, and naïve. How could she be here? But the woman before him was indeed Ella, and her actions revealed her intelligence. She had deliberately feigned ignorance, deceiving him with a bimbo persona. He couldn't comprehend why she would pretend to be foolish when she was clearly the opposite. Ella didn't utter a word, only casting Hunter a brief, composed glance before slipping her mask back on. Her serenity left him speechless. Who was Ella? His mind wandered back to Oscar, who had constantly ridiculed Ella, calling her the most foolish person alive. Oscar had even gone as far as wanting to break off their engagement. Now, as Hunter thought of it, he couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the irony. The Ella before him was anything but a fool. Once the elevator doors slid open, Ella quickly walked out. "My car is just ahead. It's not far," Hunter said. Though he was filled with doubt and uncertainties, he knew now wasn't the time for questions. His car was parked only about ten yards away. It would take mere seconds to reach, but even those seconds seemed dangerously long with Liam's men close behind. Meanwhile, on the third floor, Liam pressed the elevator button once more, irritated by the fact that Ella had used his private elevator for her escape. Soon, Elevator No. 1 arrived to take him down. Unexpectedly, when the elevator doors opened on the first floor, Liam found himself unable to exit. After all, he had given orders to bar all elevators. Casey gasped softly upon seeing Liam. "Mr. Jones?"