CHAPTER 302: CHAPTER 302 DRUGGED

A few minutes earlier...

Vanessa clutched the edge of the bathroom sink, breathing heavily. Her reflection in the mirror didn’t make sense—flushed cheeks, glassy eyes, red lips slightly parted as her chest rose and fell quicker than normal. She could feel her heart beating inside her ears. It wasn’t the alcohol. No way.

Her stomach had twisted earlier, but that sensation had passed. What remained now was worse—an overwhelming heat crawling under her skin, making every inch of her body feel overly sensitive. Her breath hitched, and she whispered softly to herself, "What the hell is wrong with me...?"

The air felt heavy, her skin tingling in waves she didn’t understand. It wasn’t nausea. It was something else—something artificial. And then, like puzzle pieces snapping into place, she remembered: the drink.

Her fingers curled tighter around the edge of the marble sink. That drink hadn’t been from the bartender. It had already been sitting on the table when Liam brought it. Her eyes widened.

Shit.

Just as she was about to stagger toward the door, it swung open violently, and two figures stepped in. Vanessa’s blood ran cold.

It was them. The two from earlier. The taller one, Aiden—cocky, entitled, unrelenting—and his shorter friend, Tony. Aiden had a smirk on his face, his eyes burning with twisted satisfaction.

"Well, well..." Aiden said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Didn’t expect to find you so... hot and bothered already."

Vanessa’s eyes narrowed as she forced herself upright. "You," she hissed, her voice trembling with equal parts fear and fury. "What did you do to me?"

Her body swayed slightly, the strength in her legs threatening to give out, but she didn’t drop. Not yet.

Aiden let out a low chuckle as he slowly circled her like a predator. "You think you can humiliate me in front of everyone and walk away?" he sneered. "I don’t think so."

Vanessa’s hands curled into weak fists. Her limbs felt sluggish, as if her body was moving through water. Whatever was in that drink—it was working fast. She couldn’t fight like this.

"You spiked the drink," she said through gritted teeth.

"Now you’re catching on." Aiden’s hand reached for her, brushing along her hair, trying to grab a hold of it, but before he could make full contact, Tony grabbed his arm and yanked him back.

"The hell are you doing?" Tony said sharply, eyes wide. "We said we’d make him look bad. Embarrass him. Not this."

Aiden ripped his arm away. "What does it look like I’m doing?"

Tony’s face twisted. "This wasn’t part of the plan. You didn’t say anything about—about this shit. I’m not a part of that."

Aiden scoffed and took a step back, folding his arms. "Then leave. No one’s stopping you. Or you can stay. Join in the fun."

Tony looked at him like he didn’t recognize the man standing in front of him. "You’re sick."

Vanessa had stumbled back against the wall, using it for balance as she listened. Her breath came in short gasps, her vision starting to blur, but she held on. Her heart pounded like a drum. Every second that passed made her more vulnerable.

Aiden turned back toward her slowly, malice in his eyes.

"You should’ve just been polite earlier. All of this... could’ve been so much easier."

Vanessa’s knees buckled slightly—but before she hit the ground, the heavy door to the bathroom slammed open.

The sound echoed through the tiled room like a gunshot.

Aiden turned around just in time to see a figure step through the door with a terrifying calmness—white strands in his hair, mask still on, his eyes sharp as steel.

Liam.

His eyes locked with Vanessa’s, and that was all it took. He didn’t hesitate. No questions, no pause.

Liam moved.

It was just a step forward—but in a blink, he was standing right in front of Aiden.

Aiden froze.

His entire body locked into place as Liam’s hand wrapped around his throat with terrifying precision. His brain screamed at him to run, to move, to breathe—but Liam had already lifted him off the ground. His fingers dug into Aiden’s neck like iron, and the taller man dangled helplessly in the air, legs flailing, mouth open, gasping soundlessly.

Tony backed away instinctively, pressed against the tiled wall, eyes wide with shock.

Liam’s eyes were cold. Icy. Focused. He could have killed Aiden in a second.

And for a moment—it looked like he might.

The sound of strained breath, the twitch of Aiden’s face turning red—it was all too satisfying. Liam’s jaw tensed as he began to twist, but then... he stopped.

With a controlled breath, he released his grip.

Thud!

Aiden hit the ground, coughing violently, eyes watering, body convulsing as he tried to suck in air. The helplessness, the fear—it was all over his face.

Liam didn’t say a word. He just stepped forward and drove a swift, brutal kick into Aiden’s stomach.

Crack.

The man slid across the bathroom floor like a broken puppet.

"Piss off," Liam growled.

Tony didn’t hesitate. He dashed over, pulled Aiden up as best he could, and half-dragged him out of the room without looking back.

The second the door slammed shut, Liam turned—his eyes snapping to Vanessa.

She was leaning against the wall, one arm clutching the opposite elbow, her legs clenched tightly together, her breaths shallow. Her whole posture screamed distress. Panic.

"Vanessa!" Liam crossed the distance and held her shoulders gently. "Are you okay?"

She slowly lifted her head. Her face was red. Her pupils were dilated. Sweat clung to her forehead despite the cold air of the tiled room.

Then—she pulled off her mask.

And whispered, "It’s hot..."

Liam blinked. "What?"

Before he could ask again, she collapsed into him—hugging him tightly, her fingers gripping the back of his shirt. She trembled against him, and the heat from her body was impossible to ignore.

Liam’s mind raced. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong.

He could feel how weak she was. She wasn’t just panicked. Her body felt... off. Overheated. Shaky. Her skin was burning up.

DING!

Analyzing biological vitals of: [Vanessa Carter]

Core Temperature: 39.4°C (Elevated)

Heart Rate: 131 BPM (Elevated)

Blood Pressure: 142/93 (Elevated)

Neurological Scan: Stimuli hypersensitivity detected

Abnormal chemical presence detected in bloodstream.

Substance Class: Neurological stimulant / aphrodisiac compound

Effect: Heightened sensory perception, increased physical sensitivity, accelerated pulse, inhibition suppression, induced euphoria

Warning: Subject has been drugged with a potent arousal-inducing compound. Immediate physical exertion or stress may exacerbate symptoms.

Countermeasure: Cold exposure or sedative agent recommended. Estimated duration of effect: 2-3 hours (without antidote)

Liam’s jaw tightened.

Those bastards.

They had slipped something into her drink. Something specifically designed to make her vulnerable—this vulnerable. And she didn’t even realize what it was until now.

He looked down at her again. She was breathing into his chest, gripping him tightly as if her body couldn’t decide whether it wanted to collapse or cling to him forever. Her red lips parted again, and he could feel the tremor in her breath.

She didn’t even understand what was happening to her.

But he did now.

"Vanessa," he said gently, brushing her hair away from her face, "you’re okay. I’ve got you."

She nodded against his chest, though her body remained tense, flushed.

"We need to get out of here. Quietly."

He wrapped his arm around her, steadying her weight without making a scene, then lifted her slightly. Her legs didn’t resist—she let him guide her, burying her face in the side of his neck.

Liam’s thoughts were racing. If two random dudes could do this to her, then there might be more victims. But right now, none of that mattered.

He had one priority—and that was getting her the hell out of there, before her condition attracted the wrong attention again.

Liam stepped out of the bathroom and into the hallway with Vanessa in his arms, her body still hot to the touch. He moved with silence, weaving past open doors, staying low and unnoticed.

The moment he reached the rear of the mansion, he didn’t hesitate. He looked around once—calculating distance and visibility—then he stepped out into the night air.

Circling around the house to find Dickson wasn’t an option. Not now. They couldn’t drive out of here—not without causing a scene or drawing attention.

So Liam crouched, adjusted his grip on Vanessa’s body, and bent his knees.

Then—he leapt.

The force of his jump sent a gust of wind downward, and before his feet even touched the other side of the estate wall, wings burst from his back, shimmering faintly in the moonlight. With a powerful flap, he lifted higher, the air humming around him.

Vanessa clutched tightly to him even in her haze, instinctively holding on. She didn’t say a word—her body still trembling, face flushed.

Within three minutes, he reached the edge of the city where the old factory stood. He flew in through the back loading dock and landed silently. The moment his feet touched the ground, his wings vanished into thin air with a sharp flick of energy.

He carried Vanessa inside and gently laid her on the couch inside one of the rooms she formed there. Her breathing was still unsteady, and her eyes fluttered open only halfway. She looked dazed, vulnerable—but aware.

Liam crouched beside her, searching her face again for signs of improvement.

She was still flushed. Still biting gently on her lower lip, as if trying to suppress something. The same tension filled her body, her knees lightly drawn together, one hand gripping the edge of the couch like it was grounding her.

Then—Liam removed his mask.

And everything changed.

Vanessa’s eyes snapped fully open the moment she saw his face. The restraint she had been clinging to cracked in an instant. Her hand shot forward, grabbing his shirt, yanking him close—and before Liam could speak, her lips crashed into his.

It was sudden.

Hot.

Desperate.

She kissed him like he was the only thing that mattered in the world.