Charlotte heard the commotion and summoned every last ounce of strength to sit up.
But her body was too weak; she couldn’t even swing her legs off the bed.
Suddenly, the metallic rattle of a chain echoed from outside her room. Someone was locking her in.
With tremendous effort, Charlotte dragged herself to the door—only to find it had indeed been bolted from the outside. The handle wouldn’t budge.
“Is anyone there?” Her voice was hoarse and frail as she called out, but the only response was the relentless beeping of the smoke alarm.
Smoke began to creep down the hallway, seeping under the door and curling into the room.
Trapped and exhausted, Charlotte was overtaken by the thick, acrid smoke, collapsing unconscious to the floor.
……
**Shocking! Five-Star Hotel Engulfed in Flames Overnight!**
**Death toll still being confirmed…**
One sensational headline after another flashed across the city as midnight bled into dawn.
But by morning, the news was buried beneath a tidal wave of headlines about the Harrington family’s wedding of the century.
Elevators in every office tower buzzed with talk of the lavish affair.
Darren and Xena—their names topped every trending list.
The ceremony was set in Astra’s most opulent estate, Emerald Manor.
Inside the grand manor, guests in designer gowns and crisp tuxedos mingled, laughter and champagne flowing freely.
At the heart of the estate, in the bridal suite of a European-style villa, Xena sat poised before the vanity, staring at her own reflection.
Her makeup was flawless, every feature aglow beneath the lights.
Beside her, her mother—tears shimmering in her eyes—whispered, “You look beautiful…”
Xena glanced up, wanting to say something, but the words died on her lips as the stylist entered with a team of assistants.
The stylist carefully placed a crown atop Xena’s hair, inlaid with ninety-nine brilliant diamonds.
Then came the main event: the wedding dress.
With a gentle rustle, velvet slipped from the mannequin, revealing a princess-worthy gown—a designer original, breathtaking enough to make everyone in the room momentarily forget to breathe.
Draped around the mannequin’s neck was the legendary necklace, the “Heart of the Ocean.”
A smug smile tugged at the corner of Xena’s lips.
Charlotte, or whoever that woman was in the hotel—you were never a match for me.



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