Chapter 304: A Twist of Fate (4)

The receptionist, shocked by Hannah’s statement, was speechless. “You have the right to call the police, but you must tell me her room number. If anything happened, the hotel can’t afford the consequences!”

Hannah, trying to remain calm, muttered to herself, “Don’t panic. Susan wouldn’t cross the line.” Her threat proved effective; the receptionist quickly searched the system.

“Mrs. Johnson is in Room 1999…”

Hannah swore under her breath, disbelief washing over her. “Give me a room key!” she demanded. The receptionist hesitated but, intimidated by Hannah’s demeanor, complied.

Hannah and Jimmy rushed to the elevator, frantically pressing the button. They entered immediately and, using the key card, selected floor 19.

Reaching the 19th floor, Hannah consulted the hotel’s room map, then hurried towards Room 1999. Fear gnawed at her, but she inserted the key card.

The door opened, revealing Susan curled on the bed, flushed. How much alcohol did she drink? Hannah wondered, approaching cautiously. “Susan?”

Susan, apparently asleep but still clothed, stirred at the sound of her name. She opened her eyes, blurry with sleep. “Hannah?” she mumbled, barely registering the familiar voice.

“Get up, I’ll take you home,” Hannah said, reaching for her. Susan resisted. “No… I want to stay with Henry. Where is he?”

Hannah’s temper flared, but then she noticed Susan’s unusual behavior—it was more than just drunkenness. She touched Susan’s forehead; her temperature was alarmingly high.

“Susan, you’re not feeling well, are you?” Hannah asked.

Susan nodded. “Yes, Hannah. I feel terrible, like thousands of ants are biting me. I really want…” She trailed off, overwhelmed by a confusing mix of sensations and desires, her long legs crossed, nearly losing control.

Hannah was certain Susan had been drugged. Knowing Susan would never willingly jeopardize her relationship, she quickly lifted Susan. “Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

Susan protested weakly, too weak to resist as Hannah lifted her from the bed. “Where’s Henry? He was here just now.” This troubled Hannah, too. Theodore had said they left the nightclub together. Why was she alone? And where was Henry?

“Hannah, find Henry for me. I want… I want to… with him…” Her words were slurred and fragmented. Hannah signaled to Jimmy, who helped them support Susan out of the room.

The situation was highly irregular, but Hannah had no time to analyze it; getting Susan to Manuel was paramount. She failed to notice a man lurking at the corridor’s end, clutching the key card to Room 1999.

Getting Susan into the car proved difficult. Her condition worsened; she writhed in agony.

“Where’s Manuel? Hannah? Where is he? I feel so sick!” Hannah urged Jimmy to drive faster, which he did without hesitation.

“Hannah, I feel terrible. I think… I think I might have been drugged,” Susan cried, indicating she retained some awareness of what had happened.

“Yes, you were drugged. Just hang in there. It’ll be alright soon,” Hannah reassured her.

“I’ll see Henry soon, right?” Susan asked, her thoughts clouded, her desire for Henry overriding everything else.

Hannah remained silent. Her plan was to take Susan to Manuel, not Henry.

They arrived at Manuel’s residence. Susan, delirious and intensely driven by her desires, was nearly impossible to control, and even presented a challenge to Hannah and Jimmy as they maneuvered her into the elevator. Her tears flowed, her eyes bloodshot from her distress. Hannah, steeling herself against the night’s events and the potential consequences, remained firm. This was a decision she wouldn’t regret, even if Susan hated her for it tomorrow.

The elevator arrived. Hannah used Susan’s finger to open Manuel's door.

“Manuel!” Hannah called from the living room.

Tia emerged from a bedroom. Seeing Susan’s state, she rushed forward. “Ms. Phillips! What happened? Why are you so drunk?”

Hannah, urgently, said, “Which room is Manuel’s?”

“That one,” Tia replied. “I’m afraid Mr. Johnson’s asleep. I’ll take care of Ms. Phillips. Don’t worry.”

“No. Open his door for me.”

“But…”

“Hurry up!” Hannah’s impatience sharpened her tone.

Tia, unable to refuse, opened the door. Manuel hadn’t slept. He’d received a message from Martina, along with a photograph.

Martina's message read: “I saw Susan and Henry at the hotel.” The photo showed Susan and Henry embracing. It looked idyllic.