The loud crash of the falling stage light echoed through the entire hall.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then panic spread like wildfire.
People stood up from their seats. Staff members rushed onto the stage while security guards tried to control the crowd.
"Turn off the lights!"
"Call the technicians!"
"Make sure Miss Carter is safe!"
On the stage, Isabella Carter was still trying to process what had just happened.
Her heart was pounding in her chest.
A few seconds ago she had been singing confidently in front of thousands of fans.
And now…
A massive stage light had crashed onto the exact spot where she had been standing.
If someone hadn't pulled her away
Her thoughts stopped.
Because at that moment she realized something.
A strong arm was still wrapped around her waist.
She slowly looked up.
Alexander Knight stood beside her, his expression cold but focused.
His grip around her waist was firm, steady, protective.
For a brief moment their eyes met.
Isabella felt her heart skip a beat.
Then she quickly pushed him away.
"I'm fine," she said quickly.
Alexander looked at her carefully.
"You almost got crushed."
"But I didn't."
"That's not the point."
Isabella crossed her arms.
"Can you stop acting like the world just ended?"
Alexander stared at her for a moment.
"You're impossible."
She raised an eyebrow.
"And you're dramatic."
At that moment, Sophia, Isabella's manager, ran onto the stage looking terrified.
"Isabella!"
Sophia grabbed her shoulders.
"Are you hurt? Are you bleeding? Did anything fall on you?"
"I'm perfectly fine," Isabella said.
Sophia looked at the shattered stage light and shivered.
"That could have killed you."
Meanwhile, several reporters had already rushed closer to the stage.
Cameras flashed wildly again.
"Miss Carter! What happened?"
"Was this an accident?"
"Do you think someone tried to sabotage the show?"
Sophia immediately blocked them.
"No comments! Please move back!"
Alexander gently guided Isabella away from the stage.
"Come with me."
She frowned.
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere safer."
"I'm not a child."
"And yet you keep behaving like one."
She glared at him.
"You're very rude."
"You're very reckless."
They walked down the hallway behind the stage where it was quieter.
Isabella suddenly stopped walking.
Alexander stopped too.
"What now?" he asked.
She turned toward him.
"So this is my life now?"
"What do you mean?"
"You following me everywhere like a shadow."
"That's my job."
"I didn't hire you."
"But you're stuck with me."
She groaned dramatically.
"This is going to be a nightmare."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"For who?"
"For me!"
Before he could respond, a group of photographers suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway.
Cameras flashed instantly.
"Isabella!"
"Miss Carter!"
"And who is this handsome man with you?"
One reporter leaned forward excitedly.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
Isabella nearly choked.
"What?!"
Alexander remained calm.
The reporter continued.
"You two look very close."
Another reporter added jokingly,
"Are we witnessing a secret celebrity romance?"
Isabella turned red with embarrassment.
"He's not my boyfriend!"
Alexander glanced at her.
"Relax."
"Relax?! They think we're dating!"
"That sounds like their problem."
"It's my reputation!"
One photographer laughed.
"Miss Carter, you're holding his arm."
Isabella froze.
She slowly looked down.
Somehow during the chaos she had grabbed Alexander's sleeve.
She immediately let go.
"I was not holding him!"
Alexander smirked slightly.
For the first time since meeting him, Isabella saw a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"You were," he said calmly.
She glared at him.
"Don't look so happy about it."
"I'm not."
"You're smiling."
"I'm not smiling."
"You are!"
Before their argument could continue, Sophia rushed into the hallway.
"Isabella! There you are!"
She looked at Alexander.
"Why are reporters saying you two are dating?"
Isabella pointed at him.
"It's his fault!"
Alexander looked confused.
"How is that my fault?"
"You keep standing so close to me!"
"That's called protection."
Sophia sighed.
"Please stop arguing. Tonight has already been chaotic enough."
Meanwhile, Alexander walked back toward the stage entrance.
"What are you doing?" Isabella asked.
"Checking something."
"Checking what?"
He didn't answer.
He walked back to the stage where technicians were inspecting the broken equipment.
Alexander crouched beside the fallen stage light.
He studied the metal carefully.
His eyes narrowed.
The bolts holding the light in place had been loosened.
Not broken.
Loosened.
Which meant
Someone had tampered with it.
Behind him, Isabella walked closer.
"What are you looking at?"
Alexander stood up slowly.
His expression had changed.
It was colder now.
More serious.
"Tell me something," he said.
"What?"
"Who knew your exact position on stage tonight?"
Isabella frowned.
"What kind of question is that?"
"Answer it."
"Well… the event organizers, my manager, the stage crew…"
She paused.
"And probably the technicians."
Alexander looked back at the broken light again.
"This wasn't an accident."
Isabella blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"The bolts were loosened intentionally."
Sophia gasped.
"You mean someone sabotaged the equipment?"
Alexander nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Isabella felt a chill run down her spine.
"Why would anyone do that?"
Alexander turned to look directly at her.
His voice became dangerously quiet.
"Because someone wanted that light to fall."
The hallway suddenly felt colder.
Isabella tried to laugh it off.
"That's ridiculous."
But Alexander didn't look like he was joking.
Then he said something that made her heart skip.
"And they wanted it to fall on you."
Silence filled the hallway.
For the first time that night, Isabella felt genuine fear.
She looked at the shattered light again.
If Alexander hadn't pulled her away…
She swallowed nervously.
"Someone tried to kill me?"
Alexander didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he glanced toward the dark corridor behind the stage.
His instincts were telling him something.
Someone was watching.
Somewhere in the shadows, a figure quietly stepped away from the corridor.
Watching.
Waiting.
And smiling.
Because tonight's "accident" had only been the beginning..