Chapter 102 Kiss

Katelyn’s POV The smoke alarm’s shrill cry finally faded, leaving a ringing silence behind it. I stood near the hallway entrance, my phone flashlight cutting a narrow path through the darkness. The entire floor was cloaked in a heavy, electrical stillness, no lights, no sounds except for soft footsteps and the nervous whispering of employees near the stairwell. Ethan stood beside me, his jaw tight, shoulders squared as if bracing for an unseen threat. His phone cast a beam of light down the corridor, but his attention was on the alarm panel above. “I don’t smell smoke,” I murmured, narrowing my eyes toward the ceiling. “This isn’t a real fire.” “Security confirmed that already,” Ethan said, pulling his phone away from his ear. “It’s a false alarm. Likely triggered by someone smoking near a detector. But…” he paused, frowning. “It’s too conveniently timed.” I felt it too, that strange tug in my gut. “I’m going to check the breaker panel,” I said, already walking. “I want to be sure.” “Y