I met her gaze for barely two seconds before pushing myself to my feet, forcing my movements to be slow, deliberate—controlled.

  I couldn’t afford to let her see my hesitation. If I panicked now, I’d only make things worse.

  Fine. If I slipped up, I’ll own it.

  I straightened my back, exuding the same arrogance Riser was known for, and let out a small, amused scoff. “Ravel, it’s about time.” My voice was calm, confident—like I had been in control of this situation all along. “Time to stop this act.”

  A lie. A btant, desperate lie. But if I pyed it right, it might just work.

  This wasn’t just damage control—it was survival. If I wanted to escape his fate, if I wanted to avoid getting doused in holy water and humiliated by Issei, then I had to stop being that Riser. No more entitled fool walking blindly toward his downfall.

  Without sparing Ravel another gnce, I turned and strode toward a door, assuming it led to the bathroom. She had come in from the other entrance, so it was a safe guess.

  As I stepped inside, I could still feel her stunned gaze boring into my back. She didn’t understand what was happening.

  Good. That meant she’d be too preoccupied to question me—for now.

  I shut the door behind me and let out a long, shaky breath, my shoulders finally sagging.

  That was close. Too close.

  Leaning against the door for a moment, I steadied myself before pushing off and taking in my surroundings. The bathroom was massive—practically the size of an entire apartment. Polished marble floors, golden accents, and an air of quiet luxury that screamed nobility.

  To my right, a mirror loomed, its reflection forcing me to confront the truth.

  Riser Phenex stared back.

  Sharp golden hair, smoldering eyes, an undeniably aristocratic presence—I was no longer me. The realization threatened to settle in again, but I tore my gaze away. There was no point dwelling on it now.

  Instead, my eyes nded on the massive bathtub at the center of the room, filled with crystal-clear water. They say you can tell how rich someone is by the size of their bathroom. If that was true, then Riser wasn’t just rich—he was obscene. The tub alone was big enough to fit four people comfortably, yet here it was, waiting for me alone.

  Without hesitation, I pulled off my shirt, then my pants, letting them fall carelessly to the side. The air was cool against my skin as I stepped into the water.

  The moment I sank in, a deep, indescribable relief washed over me. The sensation was unlike anything I had ever felt before—like my entire body was dissolving into pure comfort. My exhaustion, my stress, the lingering panic—it all faded, melting away as if being purified.

  Was this because of my Phenex bloodline? Some kind of natural healing ability?

  Whatever it was, it felt amazing.

  I let myself sink deeper, surrendering to the sensation. If only for a moment, I could forget everything and just breathe.