Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 248

The corridor was fairly bustling with guests, chatting away in small groups.

This was a circular balcony on the top floor. I scanned the area, finding several multifunctional halls. Through the corridor, there were restrooms, lounge areas, changing rooms, an electrical room, and a storage closet.

I looked down the corridor, catching sight of a few guests sneaking off to the restroom. But there was no sign of Jerome or Clara, and certainly no sign of Hannah, who had followed them earlier. Mildly puzzled, I headed towards the restrooms.

It had been a while since I had worn heels. Walking was genuinely tiring, especially on the soft carpet. It was like walking through sand.

The further I moved down the corridor, the fewer people there were. The noise from the main hall faded to a faint murmur. It was eerily quiet.

The restroom area was open plan, with a large mirror dividing it into two. On the left was the men's room, and on the right was the ladies'.

I stopped by the sink and looked at myself in the mirror. My makeup was untouched, effectively hiding any signs of fatigue. It was an understatement to say I was glowing.

I was particularly pleased with the dress I had chosen for the night. It was understated yet luxurious, the perfect complement to my radiant complexion.

But my focus wasn't on my appearance. I rinsed my hands under the tap, straining to hear any sounds from the restrooms.

A man entered the restroom area. He saw me and greeted enthusiastically, "Mrs. Dawson!"

I nodded in response and he entered the men's room. I was pretty sure that all of the guests knew who I was, so his greeting wasn't surprising.

I entered the empty ladies' room. After waiting a few minutes to make sure the man had left, I stepped back out into the corridor.

I was puzzled and wondered if they had left the area.

I stepped out of the restroom and looked down the corridor again. It took a sharp turn, leading to the lounges. I wasn't ready to give up just yet, so I moved further down the corridor. I thought I heard voices. I looked back; the restroom was out of sight.

I hesitated, contemplating whether to continue. I could hear faint voices, but they disappeared and reappeared unpredictably.

I leaned against the wall to ease my fatigue and anxiety. I held my breath and listened, but all I could hear was my own heartbeat.

I laughed at myself. There were no voices, just echoes from the main hall.

Just as I was about to turn around and head back, I heard a low growl. It startled me. The voice was deep and muffled, but I couldn't make out what was being said.

Chills ran down my spine and goosebumps sprouted on my skin. There were definitely people in there. But I had no idea which room they were in.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest.

I managed to calm myself down. I thought, since I'm already here, I might as well check out who's in there. Since someone had growled, it was clear that the situation inside wasn't cheerful.

Driven by curiosity, I took a few more steps forward. Sure enough, I could hear voices. "You already missed one opportunity! Don't tell me... give you another chance."

"I want to see..."

Two men were speaking. Their words were incoherent and I couldn't understand what they were saying.

I was confused. Who were they?

It was definitely not Clara.

"Jerome, don't you..."

Jerome? It was definitely Jerome.

I felt a surge of adrenaline and tiptoed a few steps further in. The voices were coming from one of the rooms. I mustered up the courage to get closer. "...Use this opportunity, gain momentum, you stupid... someone, dead..." This voice was strange. I guessed it was a foreigner speaking in broken English.

I held my breath and leaned closer. The door wasn't fully closed. There was a small crack. I dared to take a peek inside to see who the other man was.

Just as I reached out to push the door slightly open, a thunderous sound startled me. I almost let out a scream. My foot hit a trash can by the door, making a loud 'thud'.

"Who's there?" a voice from inside asked.

Frightened, I quickly stepped back, but footsteps from inside indicated someone was coming to check the door.