Byran curled his lip as a smirk tugged at his features. âGot it! Donât worry, Bro. I wonât lead them astray.â
Ellinor glanced absentmindedly at the children interacting with their two uncles. Deciding it was time to leave, she turned to Balfour. âLetâs grab some food at the restaurant near the kindergarten. After that, Iâll arrange for our driver to pick us up so you and Byran can head straight home.â
Balfour looked anxiously at his sister, worried about saying too much and upsetting her further. He nodded. âAlright.â
âLetâs go! Uncleâs gonna treat you to a tasty meal!â
Bending down, Byran scooped up his niece, Layla, while Balfour picked up Baber.
Adrian obediently took Ellinorâs hand, walking with her towards the restaurant just a few hundred meters away from the kindergarten.
At the hotel, Sophia took Marcus for a walk through the lush gardens before heading back to their room. As she swiped their key card, her gaze unconsciously swept over the door of the suite opposite theirs. She looked like she was in deep thought from the look on her face.
âMarcus, what do you fancy for dinner? We have plenty of ingredients left. Iâll look up some recipes and whip something up for you and Tristan.â
Marcus responded nonchalantly, âJust a simple salad and scrambled eggs will do.â
Sophia nodded, her smile never fading. âOkay! Oh, I accidentally broke the bottle of ketchup that we bought yesterday. Why donât you and Tristan go in and rest while I buy another one? Iâll be back soon.â
With a slight nod and a grunt, Marcus entered the room with his son, leaving Sophia to her task.
After closing the door behind them, Sophia didnât head straight for the elevator. Instead, she walked across the hall to knock on the door of the neighboring suite. She couldnât shake off the feeling that something about the occupants was off, and she needed to check.
After a while, there was still no answer.
Sophia frowned. Was the room empty? Or had they checked out?
Just as Sophia was about to leave, hurried footsteps echoed from within the suite, and a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman with disheveled hair opened the door. âCan I help you?â
Her clothes were haphazard, and her silk robe was askew.
Sophia, realizing that she had interrupted something, quickly apologized. âIâm sorry! I must have the wrong room!â
The woman cursed under her breath before slamming the door shut.
Finally, Sophia dismissed her concerns and went downstairs to get the ketchup.
Meanwhile, inside the suite, Quinton handed the blonde woman a wad of cash. âYou did well just now.
Stay here for a few days, and make sure the woman from earlier sees you living here.â
This was Ellinorâs plan. She had predicted that Sophia would become suspicious of the suite and had prepared Quinton to handle it.
The woman took the money without hesitation, bringing it to her lips for a kiss. âHmm, I can stay here.
But are we just going to live in the same suite, doing nothing?â
Quinton, not changing his expression, gave her a warning look. âYouâre paid to do a job. If you want more money, behave yourself and donât do anything you shouldnât.â
The woman shrugged indifferently. âWhat a bore⦠Well, Iâll be in my room. Call me if you need me, or you can always come and find me later, handsome.â