Chapter 97

At dawn, Bernard had already found out Nancy’s room number and knocked on the door. There was no response for a long while. He paused, then knocked again—this time louder. “Knock knock knock!” Finally, there were voices inside. A man’s grumble and a faint “shut up” from a woman, followed by approaching footsteps. Nancy opened the door, wrapped in a bathrobe, her cheeks still tinged with pink. A few hickeys peeked out where the collar slipped off her shoulder. Things had gone on till 4 a.m.—Matthias was all over her like a hungry dog, leaving marks everywhere. She only got him to stop when she threatened to break his leg, or he would’ve claimed her whole neck too. Seeing Bernard at the door, she was briefly stunned and tightened her robe. Bernard’s face and back were still slick with sweat. Strands of his messy black hair clung to his forehead. He wasn’t wearing his usual gold-rimmed glasses and looked a bit out of sorts. “Mr. Dean, something wrong?” she asked, puzzled. “Nancy…” Bernard