Katelyn gave a small, helpless smile.

“Alfy, you should go to bed. We’re staying here tonight.”

It was far too late to make the journey back to the city after their swim. With a sleepy nod, Alfy murmured, “Okay,” before stumbling off toward the bedroom.

Since they were in a suite, Katelyn and Alfy shared the room while Ashlyn had her own. The setup was cozy and convenient.

After wishing Ashlyn goodnight, Katelyn finally made her way into the bedroom. As Katelyn leaned against the bed, her phone buzzed unexpectedly. It was a message from Vincent: “Come to Room No. 1.” Katelyn froze in surprise. Vincent was here for the swim too?

After double-checking that it was truly Vincent’s number and making sure Alfy was sound asleep, Katelyn stood and made her way to his room.

When Katelyn walked past Ashlyn’s room, she noticed the door was slightly open. Katelyn reached out to knock and push the door closed when a voice drifted from inside.

“Dad, I understand. Don’t worry. She’s let her guard down now.”

Katelyn froze in place. A cold wave of realization swept over her. So, Ashlyn had been pretending the entire time? Even what she said in the bath?

Though Katelyn had suspected something about Ashlyn’s true nature, hearing it now still left her in shock.

As Katelyn stood there, just about to leave, her phone suddenly buzzed with a new message.

“Who’s there?”

Inside the room, Ashlyn frowned at the door.

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Katelyn knew that if she walked away now, it would only make things worse, so she knocked on the door.

Ashlyn’s fingers tapped the screen of her phone to end the call.

“Come in.”

Katelyn slowly opened the door, took one step—then stopped in pure shock. From a nearby shelf, a bird shot straight toward her. With a sharp gasp, Katelyn threw herself back, stumbling a couple of steps. Perhaps terrified, the bird turned and swooped toward Ashlyn. It landed on her arm with ease. Ashlyn’s face softened as she ran a gentle hand down the bird’s back.

“I just got off the phone with my dad, and he told me how to make her less jumpy. Looks like it’s starting to work.”

Ashlyn let out a soft whistle to the bird, one that Katelyn couldn’t understand. Then she added, “Your presence scared her.”

Katelyn froze. Was Ashlyn just talking about the bird?

She stood at the doorway, making no move to enter. With a small smile, she said, “Sorry to intrude, but I saw your door ajar. I only stepped in to remind you. And you’ve got a nice bird here; where did you get it from?”

Ashlyn gently stroked the bird’s tiny head, her eyes soft with affection.

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