ire''s eyes narrowed as she stared at her, trying to process what she was seeing. There, in the second row, sat Lisa Thompson.


    Thest time ire hadid eyes on Lisa was at the police station, of all ces, bailing her out. And now, here she was, at a fashion show, of all ces? ire couldn''t shake the bad feeling that started creeping up her spine. Something about Lisa being here didn''t sit right, but ire pushed the thought aside and focused on the stage. She was here for fashion, not Lisa.


    Meanwhile, Alex was sneaking into the venue through the back door, doing his best to avoid the photographers who were eagerly snapping photos of anyone who looked important. He had his phone pressed to his ear, listening to his mother''s voice with a mix of impatience and resignation.


    "Alex, darling, make sure you find something nice for me," his mother''s voice chirped on the other end.


    Alex rolled his eyes, his tone dripping with annoyance. "Mum, I could''ve hired someone toe to this fashion show for you. You know I have zero interest in women''s fashion, especially when I''ve got a mountain of work waiting for me."


    His mother didn''t have it. "Oh, hush, Alex. I wanted my son''s opinion, not some random stylist''s. Think of it as a mother-son day out, even if it''s just you there and me back at the mansion."


    Alex let out a sigh, sarcasm seeping into his reply. "Oh, sure. Nothing says quality time like me running around at a fashion show while you''re sittingfortably at home. Can''t wait."


    "Just let me know what you pick out for me, sweetheart," his mother said with a sweet but firm tone, clearly ignoring his sarcasm.


    The call ended, and Alex slipped his phone back into his pocket, letting out another sigh. Just as he was about to figure out where he was supposed to go, a staff member approached him with a bright smile. "Can I help you, sir?" she asked.


    "Yeah, I''m Alexander Harris," he replied, trying not to sound too uninterested.


    The staff member''s smile widened as recognition shed in her eyes. "Right this way, Mr. Harris," she said, leading him to his seat.


    As Alex followed her through the venue, he couldn''t help but scan the room, taking in the crowd. His eyesnded on ire, and he nearly did a double take. Was it just him, or did he seem to run into ire everywhere these days? Or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, it was starting to feel like fate or some kind of cosmic joke was at y.


    Settling into his seat, Alex kept one eye on the runway and the other on ire. She looked as poised andposed as ever. And then it hit him. Maybe this was his chance to have a conversation with ire without Matthew hovering around. He hadn''t spotted him anywhere, and the after-party might offer the perfect opportunity to finally get her alone for a real talk.


    The fashion show was in full swing, and the atmosphere was electric. The lights dimmed, and the first model made her way down the runway, her every stepmanding attention. ire, seated in the front row, was all business-well, mostly.


    She couldn''t help but admire the clothes, mentally bookmarking a few pieces to snag after the show. Some of those dresses were too good to pass up.


    For nearly forty minutes, the parade of fashion continued. Models glided in and out, each outfit more stunning than thest. ire''s focus was razor-sharp, assessing each piece with a discerning eye. She was already nning how to incorporate thetest trends into her wardrobe.


    When the final model strutted back down the runway, the designer appeared, bowing to a round of apuse. The show was over, and the crowd erupted in cheers, pping for the stunning disy they had just witnessed.


    As people began to rise and


    disperse, the unexpected happened. A loud crash@choed through the venue as one of the massive lights above the runway suddenly plummeted to the ground. Screams pierced the air as panic spread through the crowd like wildfire. ire shot to her feet, her heart racing as her eyes filled with shock. She could feel the panic creeping in as she tried to make sense of the


    chaos unfolding before her.


    To make matters worse, the fallen light had been electrified, and sparks flew, igniting a fire that quickly began to spread across the room. The once-celebratory atmosphere dissolved into chaos as people shoved and pushed in a desperate attempt to escape. But amidst the panic, ire''s thoughts weren''t on herself-they were on Talia, who she knew was backstage.


    "Talia!" ire shouted, her voice


    barely audible over the screams and the crackling mes. She pushed her way through the crowd, but the sheer number of bodies crashing against her made it impossible to move freely. Someone mmed into her and she lost her bnce, hitting the floor hard. Pain shot through her as shended on her side, but she ignored it, scrambling to her feet. Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Determined to find Talia, ire fought her way backstage. The heat was unbearable, and the smoke was thickening by the second. Her breath came in short gasps as she coughed, theck of oxygen making her head spin. "Talia!" she called out again, but there was no answer. The backstage area was a mess, with people running in every direction, and Talia was nowhere to be seen.


    ire felt the mes drawing closer. She needed to get out-fast. But just as she turned to leave, another piece of stage decoration, loosened by the fire, began to topple towards her. ire''s eyes widened in terror, bracing herself for impact. But then, out of nowhere, a hand grabbed her arm, yanking her to safety just in time.


    ire spun around to see who had saved her, only to find herself staring into the familiar face of Lisa. ire''s expression hardened instantly. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice icy despite the surrounding heat.


    Lisa matched her tone with equal coolness. "Saving your life, apparently," she shot back.


    ire narrowed her eyes, suspicious. The timing of Lisa''s appearance was too convenient. "I don''t believe you," she said bluntly, her mind racing with doubts.


    Lisa rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by ire''s skepticism. "Think whatever you want, ire," she snapped. "I don''t care. But right now, we need to get out of here before this cees down on top of us."


    From across the room, Alex was fighting his way through the smoke and debris. He squinted, trying to make out two figures in the distance. His breath caught when he realized who they were-ire and Lisa. But what on earth was Lisa doing here?


    Before he could make sense of it, Lisa acted again. With a sudden shove, she pushed ire aside, just as another piece of burning stage décor came crashing down. ire hit the ground; the wind knocked out of her as she stared up at Lisa in shock. Her mind was spinning, unable toprehend what had just happened.


    Was Lisa trying to save her, or...?


    "ire!" Alex''s voice cut through the chaos as he reached her, frantically pushing the fallen debris off her. His eyes darted between ire and Lisa, confusion and concern written all over his face. "Are you okay? What the hell just happened?" ire shook her head, still in shock. "I don''t know."