Grace''s mind snapped back to the drink she had. Still, pulling off something like that at an event this size required precision.


    She swept her gaze across the room and quickly spotted someone familiar- Yancey.


    He headed toward her the second their eyes met.


    "What''s wrong, Grace? Are you okay?"


    She tried to answer, but the heat mmed into her again-sharp, unbearable, like ants crawling all over her skin.


    It wasn''t just a surface itch—it felt like it was rising from her bones, deep and maddening. Scratching barely helped.


    She averted her gaze and gave a slight shake of her head.


    Too many familiar eyes were here tonight. If they saw her clinging to Yancey, they would only revive the old whispers that she was still hopelessly in love with him.


    She instinctively turned to leave, hoping to find somewhere to hide.


    But Yancey caught her wrist.


    "Grace, seriously, what''s going on? If you''re not okay, I''ll take you home."


    Her vision was already swimming. There was no point trying to exin.


    Right now, all she wanted was for someone to hold her. The drug was wreaking havoc on her.


    Yancey moved closer, but Grace shoved him hard.


    "Don''te near me," she said.


    He stumbled back, clearly caught off guard by her strength.


    Given their history and the rumors that never seemed to die, the moment they got near each other, all eyes would turn their way.


    Now, half of the room was watching, the mood thick with amusement and anticipation.


    Grace felt she was already at the brink of copse. She reached toward a


    stranger''s wine ss, ready to smash it on the floor and grab a shard—maybe the pain would clear her head.


    However, Yancey calmly adjusted his outfit and blurted, "I''ll take you home, Grace."


    He leaned in again.


    The fire burning inside her was out of control now, and she couldn''t take much


    more.


    Just then, the crystal chandelier overhead flickered twice, and the entire room was swallowed in darkness.


    A heavy crash rang out, followed by the sound of ss breaking. It had to be the champagne tower copsing.


    Every head turned toward the noise, and


    bet


    tr Whispers started. People were


    trying to figure out what just


    vels


    happened.


    SV


    In the darkness, Grace felt someone near her. It was a presence that stirred something familiar.


    Thus, without thinking, she leaned toward it.


    The person paused, then slipped an arm around her waist and quickly steered her away.


    It all happened in under 30 seconds.


    When the lights came back on, Grace was gone.


    Yancey stood frozen, his expression darkening. Whoever took her had moved fast -too fast.


    He looked around frantically, trying to figure out where Grace had gone.


    But she


    nowhere to be found


    the first floor.


    One Heart pounding, / made a beeline for theel.ne


    only to find Dn there.


    Dn stood there with a ss of wine in hand, looking as polished andposed


    as ever.


    The ckout had thrown everyone off, even him. He was here to watch the show, waiting to see when Ethan would make his move, so he could catch him in the act and rat im out to Jordan.


    But this? It had caught even him off guard.


    Yancey didn''t even nce at him. He brushed past Dn, heading upstairs.


    Dn, however, raised an arm and blocked his way.


    "Going after her is pointless now, Yancey. We need this mess to grow first. Go get some rest," Dn said.


    Yancey pped his hand away with a scoff. "Save your advice. You''re the one who needs to rest, not me."


    Dn had been recovering from a serious injurytely, yet no one knew the details.


    His expression turned cold, and he didn''t argue further.