Chapter 1 You Should Go to Bed First

Late at night, a stunning woman dressed in black and wearing sunglasses stood at the entrance of the Manhattan Grand Hotel, clutching a pristine white lily.

She had been lingering there for over an hour.

This was the most luxurious hotel in City A, America, a place only the wealthy could afford. With over eight hundred rooms of various types, the hotel was known for its tasteful design and comfort.

Guests who stayed here always felt exceptionally cozy and welcomed.

Taking a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, the woman tightened her grip on the lily and stepped inside.

"Ms. Laura Harvey? Please follow me," a smiling woman who appeared to be a hotel staff member said to her.

It was then that Laura realized the lily in her hand was a signal.

Nodding, she followed the staff member into the elevator.

As the staff member pressed the button for the 8th floor and the elevator doors closed, it felt like she was being transported from a bright world into a dark dungeon.

Tonight, she was heading to a "black rendezvous" filled with a sense of despair.

Standing at the door of Room 888.

"Ms. Laura Harvey, this is your room. You should know what to do next. I'll head back to the lobby now. Good Night!" The staff member maintained her charming smile.

Laura let out a cold laugh and tossed the lily onto the floor by the door.

She pulled out the room key from her pocket, opened the door, and walked in.

Meanwhile, the staff member took the elevator back down from the eighth floor.

"By midnight, a white lily must be seen at the door of Room 888 in the Manhattan Grand Hotel, or you'll be in big trouble." This was a message relayed to her from "him," delivered in his usual threatening tone.

The room was pitch black, with only the moonlight streaming in, allowing her to barely make out that this was a luxurious presidential suite.

Laura sighed softly, thinking of turning on the light, but remembered his words: "From the moment you enter Room 888, you are not allowed to turn on the lights."

She lowered her hand, her face barely visible in the darkness, except for her eyes, which shone like stars.

"Once inside, take a shower, then wait for me in bed. Tonight, I hope you won't disappoint me!" Standing in the room, she couldn't help but recall his most important instruction.

With a loud bang, the bathroom door slammed shut. Laura let out a cold laugh and turned to walk in.

The moonlight was still so beautiful, stirring her heart.

Laura spent a long time in the shower, making sure she was thoroughly clean.

As she dried her long, silky hair, she walked out of the bathroom.

Unable to turn on the lights, she carefully felt her way to the bed in the dark, just about to sit down.

Suddenly, "You're right on time." A cold male voice came from behind her, as chilling as the icy winds of Antarctica.

The voice was pleasant but slightly hoarse, making it hard to determine the speaker's age.

Startled by the sudden voice, Laura let out a small gasp and quickly turned around to see who was speaking.

In the moonlight, she saw a man sitting on the sofa behind her.

The room was too dark to see his face clearly, and he wore a mask shaped like an eagle, which glinted ominously in the dim light.

Despite the eerie appearance of the masked man, Laura wasn't afraid. Instead, she let out a cold laugh.

"You've got leverage over me, so of course, I had to be on time. No lights and a masked face, you don't want me to know who you are. But I should remind you of something."

The man seemed intrigued by her calm demeanor. He paused briefly before asking, "What is it?"

"I'm a teacher at a school for the deaf and mute," Laura said with a cold smile, slowly tossing the towel aside.

"So I'm very sensitive to voices. If I've heard a voice once, I can recognize it the second time. If you really don't want me to know who you are, you'd better change your voice or stop speaking altogether."

The man was silent for a moment, then suddenly stood up and walked towards her.

He exuded an indescribable sense of oppression, like a predator in the forest，closely watching its prey that has fallen into the trap.

"I admire your composure, Laura Harvey. I hope you keep this unique quality in the game to come. Thanks for the reminder, but the voice you're hearing now isn't my real one. If I want to keep something hidden, only God might know. Now, it's time for you to perform. Remember, your family's lives depend on what happens on this bed."

As he approached, Laura instinctively took a few steps back, her earlier composure vanishing.

"Don't come any closer."

The man didn't stop, continuing to advance on Laura.

His voice was filled with an undeniable possessiveness.

"Don't come closer? Are you refusing me, Laura Harvey? Didn't William Smith warn you about the consequences of refusing me? Are you sure you can handle that?"

Standing right in front of her, the man stared at her through the mask's slits with eyes that seemed to pierce her soul.

His gaze was as cold as a wolf's, making Laura's heart tighten.

She knew she was like a prey caught by a predator, with no escape.

Clenching her teeth, Laura fought back her fear and disgust.

She knew she had no right to refuse, as her family's lives were in his hands.

"I know I have no way out. Tell me, what do I need to do?"

The man smirked, suddenly yanking the towel from her body and pushing her onto the bed.

"You should start by getting on the bed."