AMELIA’S heart was still racing when the stranger took two hurried steps backward, palms raised in surrender.

“I’m so sorry,” he said again, voice low and sincere. “I truly apologize. I didn’t mean to break in.”

He turned halfway toward the door as though ready to disappear and give her privacy, but something in his tone— respectful, not arrogant, made her pause.

“Wait,” she said quickly, adjusting the towel tighter around her chest. “Just… stay there. Don’t move.”

He froze obediently, eyes lifting to the ceiling instead of at her. That alone eased her tension.

“I knocked,” he explained gently. “Several times but there was no response. I tried calling...