Katelyn’s pupils narrowed sharply. Disaster had struck. They were trapped in a malfunctioning elevator.

Every year, countless people were injured in elevator accidents, and now she and Bartley seemed destined to join that unfortunate statistic.

The elevator shook violently, the floor indicator flashed erratically, and the ceiling lights flickered, threatening to plunge them into darkness at any moment. The situation was rapidly deteriorating.

Katelyn struggled to maintain her balance amid the violent shaking, gripping the elevator’s railing for support.

In the opposite corner, Bartley did the same, both of them anchoring themselves against the walls to avoid being thrown around.

She glanced at Bartley in frustration. “How can a high-end hotel like this have such a terrible elevator?”

Bartley looked equally bewildered. “I’m not sure what’s happening!”

“Just hit the emergency button—hit all the buttons if you have to!” Katelyn commanded sharply.

This wasn’t the time to argue with him. The elevator was out of control, and they needed to act fast to prevent a catastrophe.

Their immediate goal was to take any precaution to safeguard themselves before conditions worsened.

Despite the chaos, they had to try to minimize any potential injuries. Struggling to stay steady, Bartley moved to the control panel and frantically pressed every button, hoping for a response.

“We should get down in the corner and protect our heads. It’s the safest position to prevent injuries if we crash,” Bartley said, his voice shaky.

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Without hesitation, Katelyn crouched down.

To her annoyance, Bartley crouched beside her in the same corner instead of keeping his distance.

Katelyn shifted away from him, but Bartley seemed oblivious to her irritation.

Even amid the imminent danger, Bartley continued to chatter. “Miss Bailey, when you think about it, our meeting seems almost destined. First, you checked into my hotel, then we met again at the gala, and now here we are, trapped in an elevator. If we don’t make it out, it’s almost like we’re star-crossed lovers.”

Katelyn felt her patience wearing thin. Why had she ever considered Bartley intelligent? At this moment, even the simplest villager from her hometown seemed wiser than him.

She grimly reflected on the significance of first impressions. Their influence could distort one’s perspective for far too long.

She had once believed Bartley to be intelligent, but now it was clear he was simply foolish.

Katelyn managed a strained smile, her patience steadily dwindling.

“Are you an only child in your family?” she asked.

Bartley responded earnestly, “Yes, my parents decided against having more children to avoid sibling rivalry. It was just me.”

Katelyn’s smile grew, though it held a sharp edge. “Your parents made a mistake. If they’re still of age, they should consider having another child. Maybe the next one would be more capable.”

Indeed, it was often through competition and challenges that people truly matured.

Elora remained innocent and na?ve because Breck had kept her sheltered from the harsh realities of the world. Similarly, Bartley had been spoiled, born into wealth with every advantage provided effortlessly.

His life had been too easy, and that was evident in his carefree attitude.

It was likely these factors that had shaped Bartley into the person he was today.

Bartley scowled, about to , but the elevator jolted sharply before he could speak.

Even in their crouched positions, they lost their balance, crashing to the floor. As the elevator continued to shake, standing became increasingly difficult.

Katelyn clenched her teeth and, overcoming her fear, managed to regain her crouched position, striving to remain composed.

“How quickly does your hotel usually handle elevator emergencies like this?” she asked, her voice steady despite the tension.

Every prestigious hotel had procedures for such crises.

They had already pressed the emergency call button.

If the staff was competent, help should be arriving shortly. Bartley massaged his head, trying to remember. “It shouldn’t take more than five minutes.”

“Then we wait,” Katelyn said helplessly.

However, the reality of their predicament continued to irritate her, and she tightened her jaw. “Once we’re free from this, I’m filing a complaint against your hotel.”

Bartley prudently remained silent.

At that moment, the elevator gave one last shudder and, thankfully, came to a halt. The doors creaked open, finally revealing the outside world again.

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