apprehension. The gala was winding down, but the atmosphere was tense. I saw G

to leave whe

enly creaked and shuddered. A collective gasp went through the crow

ectly underneath it, froz

x. She screamed Graves's name and ran towards him, pushing him out of

tal and twisted metal, right where Graves had been

umbled and fallen a few feet away, scrambled to

, rushing to the pi

his bare hands, heedless of the sharp,

my mind was crystal clear. It was a setup. A pe

elier would hit her, but not fatally. The main weight of it had been caught by a large marble table next to her. She was injured, yes. But it was

brave young woman who had sacrific

She was unconscious, her white dress stained with blood

an ambulance

ine across the room. They were filled with a wild, accusing fury. He

he stress and the alcohol were taking their toll. I needed to get to a hospital myself, but I co

the door burst open. It was Graves. His suit was torn and st

, pointing a trem

ou doing here?" I a

he doctors... they said she has massive internal bleeding.

but I'm not a match. But you... you are. The hospital still ha

ld. This couldn

said, my voice barely a whis

d with rage. "You're a monster! You di

ded by his grief and his obsessi

He fell to his knees, clutching my hand. "Please, save her. I'll do anythi

ad betrayed me, beaten me, and tried to destroy me. He was

remembered his cold voice on the phone, promising to protect Alex from me. If I refused now, he

s tr

ree to be cut open for the woman

I said, my voice ho

ring pain in my side. I felt weak, drained. Graves

voice soft. "The surgery wa

to the bed. "Thank you, Ki

He even brought me a bowl of soup. "I had the

how much she loved it. He didn't even know me anymore. The woman he thought he knew

d, already moving towards the door.

said, my v

his hand on

id. "She needs yo

my lack of anger, by

ed, Graves," I said, a bitter smile on

n his eyes, before he turned and left, leaving me alone