Chapter 342: The Retreat

Emily went quiet on the other end for a second, catching her breath. Then, a radiant smile bloomed across her face—one that April could practically hear through the phone just from the soft, blossoming tone of her voice.

"Thank you, April," Emily said, her gratitude practically glowing over the line.

April cut the call and looked over at Samuel.

"I’m all yours, my High Steward," April murmured, slipping her phone back into her purse. "Lead the way."

Samuel’s eyes glinted with quiet, dark satisfaction. He didn’t waste a single second. He stepped smoothly in front of her, placing his hand lightly against the small of her back to guide her toward a discreet service panel built right into the mirrored wall of the corridor.

He tapped a swift, three-digit override code on a hidden keypad. The mirrored door slid open with a soft, hydraulic hiss, revealing a dimly lit, high-speed staff elevator that bypassed the main lobby entirely.

"Watch your step, Miss April," Samuel murmured, stepping in behind her as the hidden door glided seamlessly shut, sealing out the distant, mounting arguments of the four men down the hall.

The elevator descended silently. Within twenty seconds, the doors parted to reveal a secluded, subterranean loading bay where a sleek, black luxury sedan sat idling in the cool underground air, the driver’s door already being held open by a sharp-looking attendant.

April stepped out, the acrylic heels clicking smoothly against the polished concrete. She couldn’t help the light, breathless laugh that escaped her lips as she slid onto the plush leather backseat.

"I feel like you already planned this, Samuel,"

"Impressed?" Samuel asked softly, shutting her door with a solid, satisfying thud before walking around to slip into the driver’s seat.

"Beyond impressed, Samuel," April said, leaning her head back against the leather headrest with a triumphant smirk. "That was poetic."

"I’m glad." Samuel adjusted his rearview mirror, his dark eyes meeting hers through the glass as he shifted the vehicle into drive and smoothly pulled out of the private exit into the cool evening air.

Upstairs, in the private VIP corridor, Nat finally shoved his way past Oliver, only to freeze dead in his tracks. The hallway was completely empty, save for the four of them.

"Where the hell did she go?!" Nat roared, his fiery eyes scanning the vacant corridor in disbelief.

Xavier rushed forward, his eyes wide with sudden panic, while Alexander stood motionless, his sharp blue eyes narrowing as he realized the subtle, masterclass maneuver that had just taken place.

"Samuel," Alexander stated flatly, his voice dropping an octave. "He took her."

"That bastard!" Nat growled, pulling out his phone with a vein popping on his temple.

Miles away on the quiet highway, April’s phone on her lap began to buzz frantically with back-to-back incoming calls from Nat, Xavier, and Alexander.

April looked down at the lighting screen, then up at Samuel in the rearview mirror. Samuel’s lips were curved into a rare, devastatingly handsome smile—one of pure, unadulterated victory.

"Shall I silence your device, Miss April?" Samuel asked smoothly.

"Please do," April chuckled, flipping the phone to silent and tossing it into her purse as they melted into the city lights, leaving the chaos far behind.

The quiet hum of the luxury sedan’s engine was the only sound breaking the serene atmosphere as they glided down the illuminated highway. Far behind them, the city skyline gleamed like a scatter of loose diamonds, along with the utter chaos they had left brewing in the arena’s VIP corridor.

April leaned back against the leather seat, her legs stretched out comfortably. The new acrylic heels caught the passing streetlights, shimmering almost imperceptibly against her skin.

Without the suffocating presence of four overly territorial men vying for every inch of her air, she could finally breathe.

Through the rearview mirror, her eyes caught Samuel’s. The usual cool, unreadable mask of the High Steward was softened by a subtle, lingering warmth.

"I must admit, Miss April," Samuel said, his low, velvety voice cutting through the soft hum of the car, "seeing you outmaneuver them with such casual ease is perhaps the most satisfying part of my evening."

April let out a soft, amused hum, a lazy smirk touching her lips. "I couldn’t have done it without my accomplice. You executed that exit like you’ve been planning an escape route for weeks."

"A good steward anticipates every possible scenario," Samuel replied smoothly, turning the steering wheel with effortless, one-handed precision as they took the private exit toward the estate. "Including the moment my lady requires a rescue from an overly dramatic audience."

The subtle emphasis on my lady sent a quiet, pleasant ripple through her chest.

When the sedan finally glided through the wrought-iron gates of the estate and came to a gentle stop before the grand entrance, Samuel was out of the driver’s seat in an instant. He opened her door, offering a hand with immaculate, timeless chivalry.

April placed her hand in his, stepping out onto the cool stone driveway. The night air was crisp, carrying the soft scent of night-blooming jasmine from the gardens.

Instead of immediately letting go, Samuel’s fingers lingered against hers just a fraction longer than necessary. He looked down at her, his dark eyes searching her face under the soft exterior lights of the estate building.

"No calls. No arguments. No chaotic declarations," Samuel murmured softly, his thumb brushing over the back of her knuckles. "Just a quiet night. As it should be."

"Won’t they come back anytime soon? I assume they’ll figure out we’re here any moment from now," April said as they walked forward but he gave a reassuring smile.

"Then I’ll just make sure they don’t figure out something so basic. Trust me on that."

April looked up at him, her dark eyes softening. Among the storm of personalities that surrounded her every day, Samuel had always been her anchor—the quiet, steady force keeping everything running seamlessly in the background.

"Thank you, Samuel," April said genuinely, her voice dropping into a quiet, intimate register. "For always knowing exactly what I need."

Samuel’s lips curved into a tender, breathtakingly rare smile, bowing his head slightly. "It is my absolute privilege, Miss April."

As she walked up the grand staircase toward her suite, the quiet house wrapped around her like a peaceful blanket.

She set her purse on the vanity, pulling out her phone. The screen lit up with an absurd number of missed calls and frantic text notifications from Nat, Xavier, and Alexander—each message progressively more demanding and unhinged than the last. Of course, she turned off her location a while ago so they can’t track her.

April chuckled softly, setting the phone face down on the nightstand without reading a single one.

Stepping out of her heels, she stretched her long legs, a feeling of deep, restful contentment settling into her bones. Tomorrow would bring its own wave of demanding men, competitive meals, and inevitable drama.

But tonight, the victory was entirely hers.

Or so she thought.

Barely an hour after she had drifted into a heavy, peaceful sleep, the air in her bedroom shifted. The subtle click of her bedroom door unlocking barely registered over her soft, steady breathing.

Then came the weight.