The door closed behind them, and the room fell into an unnatural quiet.
May stood where she was for several seconds, unsure whether she was allowed to move. The red dress felt heavier now, like it carried expectations she did not understand. The mirror across the room reflected a version of her that still looked unreal, lips slightly parted, eyes wide with questions.
William was the first to break the silence. He let out a slow breath, the kind that sounded like frustration being forced down.
"I am really sorry about that," he said again, softer this time.
May nodded, though she did not know what she was agreeing to. "It is okay," she said automatically.
But it was not.
Nothing about what just happened felt okay.
She hugged her arms lightly, suddenly aware of how exposed she felt. "So… dinner is really canceled?"
William hesitated. That hesitation told her more than his words ever could.
"Yes," he said finally. "For tonight."
"Oh."
The word came out small. She was not disappointed about the food. It was the feeling that something she had briefly looked forward to had been taken away without her having any say in it.
William noticed. His expression softened. "I promise I will make it up to you," he said quickly. "Kai just likes to… take control."
May nodded again. She did not trust herself to say more.
There was another pause. An awkward one.
"I should let you rest," William said, stepping back toward the door. "Today has been a lot."
"Yes," May agreed. "It really has."
He opened the door, then stopped. "If you need anything, I am right next door. Room 998. Please do not hesitate."
"I will," she said, offering a small smile.
When the door closed, May finally allowed herself to exhale.
She turned slowly, walking back toward the bed. The room felt different now, less magical, more like a stage after the actors had left. She sat on the edge of the mattress and stared at the carpet, replaying everything in her head.
Kai.
The way he had looked at her made her uncomfortable in a way she could not explain. Not threatening. Just… knowing. Like he saw more than he should.
And that name Mr. Jin had used.
Miss Blackwood.
She frowned. Why that name?
Her own surname echoed faintly in her mind, one she had not spoken aloud in a long time. She shook her head, brushing the thought aside. It had to be a mistake. People made mistakes all the time.
She lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The soft lights above glowed warmly, but her thoughts were anything but calm.
Without a phone, without anyone she knew, she felt suddenly very small in this massive hotel.
"What am I doing?" she whispered to the empty room.
She had run away with no plan, no destination. Just fear and determination. And now she was here, wrapped in luxury that did not belong to her, surrounded by people who knew each other far better than they knew her.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of the bedspread.
She thought of Troy.
Did he find the note yet?
Was he angry?
Worried?
The thought made her chest ache. But she could not go back. She would not.
A knock sounded.
Her body tensed instantly.
"May?" William's voice came through the door. "It is me."
She sat up. "Yes?"
"I just wanted to check on you," he said. "Can I come in?"
She hesitated, then nodded, realizing he could not see her. "Yes."
He entered, closing the door behind him. His eyes flicked to her again, lingering just long enough for her to notice.
"You look… different," he said, smiling faintly.
She looked away, embarrassed. "I feel different," she admitted. "Like I am pretending to be someone else."
William chuckled softly. "You are not pretending. You are just seeing yourself differently."
She did not respond. She was not sure she believed him.
"I wanted to explain Kai," he said, leaning against the desk. "He can be intense. He is not used to being told no."
"That was obvious," May said before she could stop herself.
William laughed, then grew serious again. "He does not mean harm. Not usually."
Not usually.
May swallowed. "Why does he care so much?"
William paused. "That is… complicated."
She nodded, accepting the answer for what it was.
Another silence settled between them, but this one felt less tense.
"I should change," May said, glancing down at the dress. "I do not think I should stay in this."
"Yes," William agreed quickly. "Of course."
He moved toward the door again. "Goodnight, May."
"Goodnight, William."
When he left, May finally stood and changed back into the soft bathrobe. She hung the red dress carefully, almost reverently, as if it belonged to another version of herself she had briefly met.
She climbed back into bed, pulling the covers around her.
Her body was tired, but her mind refused to rest.
Tomorrow, she told herself. Tomorrow, she would figure things out.
But as sleep finally claimed her, one thought lingered stubbornly in her mind.
Kai's eyes.
The way he had looked at her like he already knew her story.