Ariana rushed downstairs and zipped through the hallway, heading straight for the door that swung wide open to the dining room.

She was just about to walk over when something made her freeze in her tracks.

Two bodyguards stood on either side of the door, each holding the leash of a massive, snarling mastiff.

The dogs went nuts, barking like crazy and lunging toward Ariana as if they wanted a piece of her.

Ariana usually adored dogs, but the fierce aggression of these two made her heart race. She quickly stepped back, her voice shaking a bit as she shouted to the bodyguards, "Can you pull the dogs away?"

The bodyguards barely moved and just tightened their grips on the leashes. One of them glanced at Ariana and said, "These are Mr. Olson's dogs. They stay right here."

Ariana rolled her eyes and peered into the dining room.

Sitting at the table with a cocky smile was Bennett, looking like he was having a blast. “I thought you were a dog person? What's up, scared of a couple of big puppies?"

Ariana felt her temper rising, her hands curling into fists.

This man must have done this on purpose! This had to be payback for that joke she had made earlier, where she had mistaken him for a dog.

She was indeed into dogs, but these mastiffs seemed more interested in chewing her legs off.

And in this creepy mansion, who knew what Bennett had been feeding them?

She wasn't about to just stroll past these beasts.

Just then, Bennett's voice floated from inside, counting down.

"Thirty, twenty-nine..."

Ariana's eyes widened as she realized what he was up to, and panic set in.

Damn it! Was he really doing a countdown now?

Ariana felt a mix of fear and urgency as she tried to slip past the mastiffs, but they were way too aggressive. She had to step back again.

“Twenty, nineteen..." Bennett's voice was smooth, calm, and almost teasing as he counted down and watched her struggle.

Feeling desperate, Ariana's eyes darted around the room and found an open window on the side. Without thinking, she climbed through it.