Chapter 11: The Attack
527 Words
The orchestra filled the ballroom with soft music as Ethan and Isabella stood in the center of the dance floor.
All eyes were on them.
"Relax," Ethan whispered.
"I'm trying."
"You look nervous."
"I am nervous."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Ethan's lips.
"For someone who agreed to marry a stranger, you're surprisingly brave."
Before Isabella could respond—
BANG!
A loud crash echoed through the ballroom.
The crystal chandelier swayed violently.
Guests screamed.
A masked man shoved a security guard to the floor.
Another grabbed Isabella's arm.
"Come with us!"
"What are you doing? Let me go!" she cried, struggling.
The ballroom erupted into chaos.
Women screamed.
Guests ran for cover.
Ethan's eyes turned icy.
"Take your hands off her."
The masked man laughed.
"Or what?"
In one swift movement, Ethan punched him squarely in the face.
The man stumbled backward.
Another attacker rushed toward Ethan.
The billionaire dodged the blow and shoved him into a nearby table, sending glasses crashing onto the floor.
Isabella had never seen him like this.
Calm.
Focused.
Fearless.
But before she could move—
A third attacker wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her toward the exit.
"Ethan!"
Her terrified scream echoed through the ballroom.
Ethan spun around.
"Isabella!"
The attacker pulled out a knife.
"Stay back!"
"If you move again, she'll get hurt."
The room fell silent.
Ethan slowly raised his hands.
"Let her go."
The man smirked.
"You don't make the rules tonight."
Suddenly—
BEEP!
A sharp alarm rang throughout the estate.
The front gates slammed shut automatically.
Red emergency lights flashed across the walls.
The attackers exchanged worried glances.
"What?"
"They locked the compound!"
One of them shouted into his earpiece.
"We've been trapped!"
Ethan took one careful step forward.
"You planned to kidnap my fiancée."
His voice was terrifyingly calm.
"You should've planned your escape too."
Within seconds, dozens of armed security officers rushed into the ballroom.
The attackers panicked.
One tried to run.
Another dropped his weapon.
The man holding Isabella shoved her away and sprinted toward the back door.
Ethan caught Isabella before she hit the floor.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, breathing hard.
"I'm... I'm okay."
For a brief moment, Ethan pulled her into a tight embrace.
His heartbeat was racing.
So was hers.
Neither of them noticed.
From outside the ballroom...
Victoria watched everything through the glass doors.
Her plan had failed.
She clenched her fists.
"So..."
She smiled coldly.
"If I can't scare Isabella away..."
"I'll destroy her another way."
She turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Later that night...
The police arrested two of the attackers.
But one escaped.
As officers searched the ballroom, Ethan's head of security walked over carrying a small silver pendant.
"We found this on one of the attackers."
Ethan took it.
His expression changed instantly.
He knew that symbol.
A symbol from a past he had spent years trying to bury.
Isabella noticed the change in his face.
"Ethan..."
"Do you know who they are?"
He closed his hand around the pendant.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I was hoping..."
"...I'd never see this again."
- Writer
