Before Sophia could process her surroundings, a powerful force yanked her into an embrace.

Kyle's arm clamped around her waist like an iron vise.

The familiar scent of laundry soap filled her nostrils.

Weightlessness engulfed her instantly.

Wind howled past her ears, punctuated by sharp gasps.

The fall seemed to last an eternity.

Upon impact, she clearly heard Kyle's muffled grunt.

"Mr. Grant?" Her voice tightened.

"Fine." His tone remained steady. "Don't move. There might be traps."

In the darkness, both held their breath.

Sophia could hear her own frantic heartbeat.

"Where are the others?"

"Separated by mechanisms," Kyle answered tersely.

Sophia couldn't help complaining, "The Vanderbilt ancestors really overcomplicated things."

"A test," he said flatly. "The unworthy don't deserve treasure."

She flexed her numb legs.

Her fingers brushed damp soil.

"We need to find a way out."

Kyle nodded in the dark. "Wait for rescue."

Time stretched endlessly in the void.

Sophia began counting her heartbeats.

At three hundred, she finally broke.

"Let me check for exits."

Blindly, she groped along the walls.

Kyle stayed precisely three steps behind.

His footsteps sounded uneven.

"You're hurt?"

"Minor." His voice betrayed nothing.

After exploring the entire chamber, Sophia slumped back down.

"It's a maze."

"Yeah."

Meanwhile, outside the chamber...

Natalie paced in circles, gripping her phone.

"Sophia!" Her shout echoed through the cavern.

Only silence answered.

Dusk approached.

Finally, she dialed Ethan's number.

"Brother..." Her voice cracked.

The rustling of papers abruptly stopped on the other end.

"Explain."

"Sophia's been trapped all day. She's not responding—"

Ethan shot to his feet.

A water glass shattered on the hospital floor.

"Send coordinates."

"But your injuries—"

The line went dead.

In the hospital room...

Ethan ripped out his IV.

Blood beaded at the puncture site.

A bodyguard blocked the door. "The Chairman ordered—"

Steel glinted.

A fruit knife pressed against the man's throat.

"Move."

Three hours later...

A convoy halted at Phoenix Peak's base.

Oliver steadied the staggering Ethan. "You'll get yourself killed like this."

Ethan shook him off.

Silas's wheelchair waited at the chamber entrance.

"The mechanisms below are complex—"

Ethan had already stepped into the abyss.

"She can't wait."