"Mayor Sean is right over there. Let''s go over and say hello." Chad offered Evadne a gentlemanly gesture. "I ordered a champagne tower. Once it''s set up, would you do the honors of pouring it with me?"


    Perhaps it was just a woman''s heightened intuition, but Evadne felt a sudden chill. She sensed a pair of eyes watching her from the shadows.


    She feigned a casual nce over her shoulder, and her heart skipped a beat.


    A familiar, tall silhouette shed past the entrance. Even though it was just a blurry shadow, she recognized him instantly. It was Thaddeus.


    Was he here today, too? Had he been hiding in the dark, quietly watching her this whole time?


    Evadne followed Chad over to Mayor Sean. The three of them chatted andughed, but her mind was entirely elsewhere.


    Momentster, a waiter wheeled out a cart bearing a towering pyramid of champagne sses, stopping in front of Evadne and Chad to a round of apuse. "Mr. Abernathy, the champagne tower you requested," the waiter said respectfully. "Thank you." Chad''s elegant features softened into a gentle smile as he gazed deeply at Evadne''s impassive face. “Evadne, shall we?"


    "Sure," Evadne agreed verbally, but her eyes couldn''t help drifting toward the main entrance.


    Chad''s gaze turned somber, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the champagne bottle.


    Suddenly, a sharp crash shattered the atmosphere!


    The crowd gasped in rm. “Watch out! The tower is falling!"


    Under normal circumstances, Evadne''s reflexes would have allowed her to dodge. But her attention had been entirely focused on the door. By the time her mind snapped back to the present, it was toote to move!


    The champagne tower copsed like a crystal tree, raining heavy ss straight toward her!


    The guests scrambled backward. Mayor Sean bolted faster than a startled rabbit.


    "Evadne! Watch out!"


    Chad lunged forward, wrapping his arms securely around Evadne and pinning her beneath him to shield her from the impact.


    Crash!


    The massive tower of sses smashed into him. Evadne heard a heavy, pained grunt from the man right next to her ear.


    The sheer force sent both of them tumbling to the floor.


    But the danger wasn''t over.


    The waiter''s demeanor suddenly shifted. His bloodshot eyes red with unhinged fury as he pulled a gleaming dagger from behind his back and raised it high above his head!


    "Chad Abernathy! You murderer! Evadne Ashbourne, you aplice! Go to hell!" The crowd shrieked in terror, but no one dared to step in.


    The man stomped through the sea of shattered ss, roaring with hatred. The de was aimed straight at the closest target: Evadne''s chest!


    Whether it was Evadne or Chad, he didn''t care. Today, they both had to die—or at the very least, he was taking one of them down with him!


    "Evadne, don''t be afraid. I''ve got you!" Chad''s eyes burned with fierce resolve as he rolled over, using his own body as a human shield over hers.


    He had nobat training, but if the de struck, his body would absorb the blow, buying her enough time to escape!


    Evadne''s eyes widened in sheer shock.


    She didn''t like Chad. In fact, she loathed him, let alone trusted him. But she never imagined that this deeply calcting maniptive man would throw away his own life to protect her without a second thought.


    She knew he was putting on a show.


    SV


    But this was a life-or-death crisis. Was he really willing to go this far for an act? "Ugh!"


    Suddenly, the attacker let out a muffled groan of pain.


    Evadne''s heart pounded wildly as she stared at the scene unfolding before her.


    Thaddeus had lunged forward with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, he snatched the dagger from the assants hand and pinned the man down hard into the shattered ss!


    They were so close. Evadne and Thaddeus locked eyes.


    Staring into his dark, intense gaze, tears welled up in her eyes, but she fought them back with everything she had.


    Suddenly, she felt a wet, sticky warmth against her palm. She looked down and gasped.


    "Mr. Abernathy is hurt! Call an ambnce!"


    “Evadne... I''m fine. As long as you''re safe... that''s all that..."


    The color drained from Chad''s face as he slumped weakly against her.


    Watching Evadne fuss over Chad made Thaddeus''s chest tighten. It felt as though an invisible hand were crushing his throat, a suffocating. wave of despair washing over him.


    Hotel security finally rushed in, taking control of the attacker and calling the police.


    "Evadne! Chad! You twisted bastards!"


    Even while pinned to the ground, the man screamed until his voice cracked. "You''ll rot in hell! You''re going to pay for this!"