CHAPTER 56: THE BUSINESS PARTY (ACCIDENT).

I hated it. I hated that I always let her words get into my head. I shouldn’t have. Her words were empty. They were meant to pull a reaction from me. And yet, I gave her that power every time.

At the end of it, I found an empty table and sat down. I didn’t even think about why a table would be empty in such a crowded room. My head was spinning, and I needed a moment to breathe before I faced Alexander again.

From where I sat, I could see him across the room, standing tall and composed, surrounded by high-end guests. He was calm, gesturing lightly as he spoke, his face holding that same faint smile. It was strange watching him like this. I never knew he could talk that much to people. He was a man of few words. And until now, we had never had a conversation that lasted more than five minutes. But here he was.

I dropped my bag on the table, trying to focus on something else, but I couldn’t. I just hoped that we could really set our differences aside and make progress on my mother’s case. But if not... I didn’t know what else to do.

Suddenly, the bubbling atmosphere shifted. I could hear the sound of people murmuring around me, and with time, it grew louder and more frantic.

I glanced up, confused, and noticed people staring in my direction. Some were pointing at me, their expressions a mix of fear and alarm.

"What is going on?" I whispered to myself.

That was when a pale woman nearby shouted in panic. "Look up! Above you!"

*Above me?* I thought, and slowly tilted my head back.

And my heart stopped, dropping into my stomach the moment I saw it.

Above me was a huge chandelier swaying unnaturally. The bolts holding it seemed to be out of place. One of them had already torn loose, and now the chandelier was dangling precariously, as if it would drop in the next second.

My body went still like a statue. I couldn’t think or move. It was as if my feet were glued to the ground, refusing to obey my mind’s desperate screams to *move.* I just sat, paralyzed, watching in horror.

Another bolt gave way, then another. The chandelier creaked loudly as it strained against the last bolt.

Just as the final bolt began to give in, I felt a hand grab my arm, yanking me away with so much force that it knocked the remaining air from my lungs.

Suddenly, a deafening crash shattered the air as the chandelier smashed into the table where I had been sitting, sending shards of glass and metal flying in different directions across the room.

For a moment, I couldn’t hear anything except for the ringing in my ears. My chest heaved heavily as I tried to process what had just happened, until I heard a familiar irritated voice.

"You were just going to sit there and let that thing crush you? Do you even have any adrenaline in you?"

It was Alexander. His tone was sharp, and a frown creased his brow as he glared at me. He was still holding my arm.

I took a step back and subduedly pulled my arm from his grip.

"Don’t touch me," I quietly said, loud enough for him to hear but not for the crowd that had gathered around us, watching in amusement. Some even had their phones out, recording. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.

Alexander’s expression turned cold. "Is that the first thing you say to someone who pulled you away from death?"

Of course not. I just couldn’t do that right now. There were a lot of people recording, and the last thing I wanted was to end up on a headline with him.

So, instead of answering, I turned around and walked away.

****

Alexander scoffed, amazed, as he watched Anna walk away. He couldn’t understand what exactly was wrong with her. Telling him not to touch her, when she had just sat there waiting to be crushed.

What if he hadn’t turned around when he heard people murmuring? Only heaven knew what would have happened.

Alexander exhaled sharply, forcing himself to calm down. There were other important things he needed to focus on tonight, like having Vanvik explain how a damaged chandelier could still be in the hall. The old hag would definitely have some compensation to pay, he thought, turning to leave.

But something caught his attention. A figure dressed in all black was standing on the upper floor, leaning against the railing.

The figure was watching him. And the moment their eyes met, the figure sharply turned and began to hurry away.

Alexander’s thoughts sharpened. Without thinking, he moved swiftly, making sure to keep the intruder in his line of sight, even as they moved further away.

He quickened his pace, weaving past the guests and ignoring the startled looks they threw at him as he brushed past them. He just prayed that whoever the mutt was, they wouldn’t slip away so easily.

But by the time he raced to the second floor, the figure was gone.

Alexander cursed under his breath as he moved further into the second floor. The stranger couldn’t have gone that far, since his eyes had been following them the entire time. The only moment he had lost sight of them was while climbing the stairs. So, they couldn’t have gotten away already.

With that thought playing in his mind, Alexander decided to search the area. He checked the storage closet, the lounge, and a locked office. He even pushed open the restroom doors, but each one was empty.

There was no one in sight.

Alexander’s jaw tightened as he suppressed the anger and frustration smoldering in his chest. The bastard was lucky to have gone ghost, and he hoped they always did, because next time, they wouldn’t be so fortunate... that was, if Alexander didn’t find them first.

And he would. He promised the sack of shit that.

Finally, he stopped in the middle of the hallway, then pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Ethan, his other hand pressing against the bridge of his nose as he waited for Ethan to pick up.

And shortly, he did.

"Boss?"

"There is an intruder."

"What? How?"

Alexander could hear the confusion in Ethan’s voice. "I don’t know. A chandelier almost squashed my wife out of nowhere. And then, there was an intruder," he explained.

"That makes sense. But how did they get an invitation? And wait, didn’t they get screened before entering?"

"No idea. Check the CCTV. I want every angle covered. The entrance, exit, back rooms. Find everything."

There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by a sigh. "Understood. I will get back to you when I have something."

Alexander hung up and slipped his phone back into his pocket. For a moment, he just stood there in the quiet hallway, unsure of what to do next. Then, his thoughts drifted to Anna. He knew how impulsive she was. He just hoped she hadn’t left the party and gotten herself into more trouble, since she always seemed to be courting disaster at every turn.

Alexander exhaled sharply and headed back downstairs in search of Anna. His eyes scanned the room, and it didn’t take long for him to find her.

She was standing alone in a small corner, her head lowered and her shoulders slightly hunched, as though she was trying to make herself as invisible as possible. She looked alone, like a child excluded from playing with her mates.

Alexander stopped and watched her for about three seconds before slowly approaching her.

She didn’t notice him at first, not until he was standing right in front of her. She quickly raised her head, and Alexander noticed the brief flash of relief in her eyes before they hardened into the look he was used to. Hatred.

But he didn’t care.

"Let’s go home," he said quietly but firmly.

Her brows furrowed slightly. She always gave him that look whenever he mentioned the word ’home.’

And he knew why. She didn’t feel like she belonged there. But that didn’t matter. That was his home, and as far as he was concerned, it was hers until the marriage was over.

Anna didn’t say anything. She just looked at him a little longer than usual before walking past him.