She tried to remember what she had eaten. It seemed like there wasn''t anything out of the ordinary. "John, could you please hurry up?" she urged.


    John was the Welton family''s new driver, and he didn''t know Eliza well. The car wasn''t moving particrly fast, and he nced at her through the rearview mirror. Mae had specifically told him to drop her off at Pine Street, which was known for being quite chaotic. He couldn''t understand why such a beautiful woman would live there.


    "Sure thing, Ms. Valerie. We''re almost there," he replied.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    After they reached Pine Street, Eliza''s fever was making her lose consciousness. She struggled to keep herself together as she stepped out of the car, wandering aimlessly and losing her sense of direction. John noticed something was off. He thought about offering to help her up, but before he could say anything, she had already ventured deep into the shadowy alley, disappearing from view. The car slowly drove away.


    Eliza, with her face flushed and leaning against the wall, stumbled forward. Her cheeks were burning red, as if scorched by a fierce me.


    What on earth was happening to her? She felt a strange, intense heat rising from within, coupled with a sudden, overwhelming longing for a man... She desperately tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt like they weighed a ton, impossible to lift. She shook her heavy head, trying to dispel the sudden strangeness.


    Could it be... Had she been drugged? Who would do that to her? The coffee? Why was her coffee spiked when nobody else''s was? Who could have drugged her? Casper? If it were him, he would have insisted on taking her home, and then whatever happened next would seem all too natural. It couldn''t be him. If he wanted her, he wouldn''t need to drug her. Then who could it be?


    She tugged at her cor, continuing to walk further in. Something felt off. The deeper she went, the more she encountered oddly dressed men and women. Some leanedzily against the walls, theirughter tinged with


    ???


    frivolity. Others held in their


    arms, kissing without a


    their


    lewd breaths filling the air.


    Where was she? Eliza''s heart raced. She pinched her thigh hard, hoping the pain would clear her foggy thoughts. No, this definitely wasn''t the way home. She leaned against the peeling wall, slowly turning around, her gaze blurry as she looked toward the dark entrance. She needed to leave this ce.


    Then, a sharp voice rang out, "Oh, where did this beautye from? It''s been ages since we''ve seen such a stunner willingly walk our way."


    The voice was ambiguous, distinctly


    effeminate. Eliza didn''t want to engage. Her steps were heavy, her body hot, and the only thought in her mind was to get out of there. Her body became less responsive. Her steps slowed, as if she were sinking into thick mud. Her breathing grew rapid and heavy, the desire for a man burning inside her like a raging fire. Her reason struggled, but that desire, like an unstoppable wave, threatened to engulf her.


    No. She couldn''t copse here.


    Her trembling fingers reached into her bag, searching for the eyebrow razor she hadn''t used in ages. Gripping it tightly in her hand, she let the faint pain sweep through


    body. Blood oozed out, briner n


    back some of her sanity. Just as she was about to continue, several mboyantly dressed men blocked her path.


    "You''ve got guts, walking into this alley alone. Seems like you don''t know the legends of this ce," one of them sneered.


    "This one''s a real catch. I bet Rick would definitely like her," another added.