Edward Wheeler only showed his face briefly when Kiara first arrived and didn't come back that evening. Knowing he was busy with official duties, Kiara didn't contact him. That night, she went to bed early with Wendy to save energy for the first competition tomorrow.
The hotel room's air conditioning was on, keeping the temperature constant. In the middle of the night Kiara felt inexplicably cold. Half-asleep, she grabbed the blanket to cover her daughter, her consciousness drifting. The room was pitch-black save for a few small lights at the entrance, casting a dim glow that made the interior hazy.
Kiara felt as though there was a dark figure standing not far from the bed. Waking up in the middle of sleep, her mind was still foggy, and without her glasses, she couldn't see clearly, assuming it was Edward Wheeler returning from a night shift.
"Turn the air conditioning up a bit, then come over after you've showered," Kiara mumbled half-asleep, then fell deep into slumber again.
