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CHAPTER 73
~Xavier's POV~
The hotel room was quiet except for the soft rustle of fabric.
Alanna folded another blouse carefully before placing it inside her suitcase. The bed was already half-covered with neatly arranged clothes, documents, and travel essentials. Her return ticket rested beside her purse, untouched since morning.
She paused, pressing her palm against her lower back.
"Just one more night," she murmured to herself. "Then everything goes back to normal."
Except nothing had felt normal in a few weeks. Jade had changed. The world around them had changed. Even the air felt heavier lately, like something unseen was waiting to happen.
A sharp knock sounded on the door. Alanna frowned. She was not expecting anyone. She had made sure she carefully finished her work two hours ago, tying up loose ends.
Another knock followed, much firmer this time.
"Coming," she called, walking toward the door while smoothing her dress unconsciously.
