The grand estate buzzed with laughter and music. The party was in full swing—every corner alive with chatter, clinking glasses, and flickering lights. Zayan stood at the far end of the room, surrounded by a circle of guests, deep in conversation. His face was unreadable, as always—calm, cool, detached.
Nora wandered through the crowd, her eyes quietly scanning the faces around her. She didn't quite belong in this world of elegance and masks, but she moved with cautious grace.
Suddenly, she bumped into someone.
"Oh—I'm so sorry," she said quickly, looking up.
It was Frya.
Frya's eyes narrowed, voice hushed. "Whatever you do… don't go into the second room. Nathaira set you up."
Nora blinked, confused. "Huh?"
"Just don't go. Trust me."
"But… why are you telling me this?"
"Nothing," Frya muttered, then vanished back into the crowd before Nora could ask more.
Minutes later, a maid approached Nora. "Excuse me, miss. Can you please get the wine from the second room?"
Nora froze. The second room.
Instead of going, she quietly slipped into another room nearby, heart racing.
The lights were off. She stepped in, closing the door behind her. But she wasn't alone.
A voice came from the shadows. "The f*** are you running from?"
Nora gasped. "Zayan?"
He stepped out from the dark and walked towards her, expression unreadable.
"Nothing…" she whispered.
Without another word, he reached out and pulled her into an embrace. It surprised her—but he held her like he needed it. Like something inside him was cracking.
Just then, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
"Asher?" someone called out. "Hey—do you know where Nora is?"
"She went into that second room," someone replied.
Asher walked toward it. The door slammed shut behind him.
A scream.
A sharp, blood-curdling scream.
Nora pulled away from Zayan, frozen in place.
"That voice…" she whispered. "My—Ash."
She bolted out of the room.
Chaos erupted.
Guests screamed. People rushed toward the second room. The door flew open—there, on the floor, was Asher.
Covered in blood.
"Who is this boy!?"
Nora pushed past everyone, falling to her knees beside him. "Move, please! Ash—Ash! Wake up, baby—please!"
Catalina, Aveline, Zola, and Frya arrived, horror on their faces.
"Get the car! NOW!" Catalina yelled.
Zayan moved to leave, but Nora had already picked Asher up in her arms, blood soaking her dress.
Down the stairs. Out the door. Running like her life depended on it.
The car screeched to a halt in front of the mansion.
"Get in!" Zayan shouted, holding the door open.
She climbed in with Asher cradled against her. "Stay with me. Please, Ash—open your eyes for me. Please—don't close them."
Blood soaked her hands. Her dress. Her heart.
In a broken voice, Asher whispered, "N…N…Nora…"
"Yes, I'm here. I'm right here! Don't close your eyes, okay?"
Zayan drove like a madman. Straight to the hospital.
The moment they arrived, Asher was wheeled inside on a gurney. Nora ran after him, blood still clinging to her skin.
"You'll be fine, Ash. I promise," she said, trying to sound brave.
Asher smiled weakly. "I love you, Nora."
She smiled through the tears. "I love you too."
The doors of the operating room closed behind him.
Nora stood there, frozen, shaking. His blood was all over her.
She clenched her fists, her entire body trembling—not with fear, but rage. Pure, burning rage.
Zayan walked up beside her, his face tight with emotion. "He'll be okay."
"No…" she whispered, eyes darkening. "I'm going to make Nathaira pay for this."