He didn’t leave the party.
Instead, he melted into the crowd. Watching obsessively as Mia stayed by Alexander’s side.
When she finally excused herself and headed upstairs toward the restroom at the far end, something dark snapped inside him.
He followed quietly.
Standing in the shadows near the washroom, he waited.
And when she stepped onto the stairs—
He struck.
His hand shoved violently into her back.
A scream tore from her lips as her body tumbled down the long staircase, the sound of bone and flesh hitting each step echoing through the hall.
Gabriel staggered back, heart pounding violently. Without looking back, he hurried down the emergency stairs and slipped out through the back door of the party, disappearing before anyone noticed his presence.
The crash was so loud that the entire hall fell silent.
Everyone turned at once.
Alexander’s heart slammed into his throat. In the very next second, every instinct in his body snapped awake. His heart slammed violently against his ribs as he turned toward the sound. Guests were already gasping, heads whipping in the same direction.
“Mia!”
He broke into a run.
She was sprawled at the foot of the stairs, her body curled slightly, one hand braced against the floor. Her face had gone pale, pain etched into every line. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to sit up, a broken sound escaping her lips.
Alexander dropped to his knees in front of her, his breath ragged.
“How the hell did you…?” His voice shook despite his effort to keep it steady. “Where does it hurt?”
Her elbows were scraped raw. One knee was already swelling, red and angry. She winced as she tried to move, tears spilling freely now.
Without waiting for an answer, Alexander lifted her carefully and carried her to the nearest couch, settling her down gently. Waiters rushed over immediately, several emergency kits already in hand.
Alexander wiped the tears from her face, his hands tender despite the storm raging inside him. “Talk to me, Mia.”
She swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “I—I don’t know. Someone pushed me.” Her eyes flicked toward the stairs. “I felt it. A hand on my back. But… there’s no one there now.”
Something dark and violent twisted in Alexander’s chest. His jaw tightened.
Sawyer was already on the phone. Within minutes, a doctor arrived and knelt in front of Mia.
“Look at my finger,” the doctor said calmly. “Follow it.”
After checking her pupils and confirming there was no head injury, he stood and turned to Alexander. “Mrs. Graves is fine. No major injuries. Just superficial scratches and bruising.”
Alexander nodded once. Short. Controlled.
The moment the doctor stepped away, Alexander bent down and scooped Mia up in his arms again.
“I’m taking her home,” he said curtly to Sebastian and Sawyer. “Handle the party.”
“Alexander,” Mia protested weakly, her hand gripping his jacket. “I’m fine. This is your company’s event. You can’t just leave.”
