The stage lights came back on to illuminate the auction table , as one of the event staff approached Aliana with a thin folder containing the transaction documents . Standard procedure - the paperwork had to be signed to finalize the auction and hand over the item . " Mrs. Aliana , this is the receipt and official transfer form . After this , the painting will be handed to- " CRACK ! The ballroom lights suddenly went out . All the noise and applause that had just erupted when Aliana won the painting were instantly silenced . The room plunged into total darkness . The MC , who was about to guide the handover of the painting's documents , fell silent . Whispers of panic echoed , followed by the scraping of chairs and overlapping footsteps . " Please remain calm , everyone … we ask for your calm … it seems there's been a power outage , " the MC's nervous voice crackled from a failing microphone . Some guests quickly turned on their phones , but the lights weren't bright enough to cut through the large , pitch - dark ballroom . Aliana instinctively spun around , trying to assess the situation , but she couldn't see a thing . Not a single emergency light was on . It was as if the backup system had been completely disabled . Within seconds , a loud noise rang out - something heavy falling near the stage - followed by the sound of fabric tearing . Then , a faint scream . And then - a sharp grunt . Aliana turned to the side , startled . She couldn't see clearly , but a shadow moved swiftly near the stage . Suddenly , Andrian tackled her from the side , pulling her down . " Get down ! " Their bodies nearly hit the floor , but Andrian held them up with one arm while his other hand braced for defense . In the next instant , Aliana caught a glimpse of a faint glint - like a flicker of lightning - rushing toward them . A knife . Aliana's instincts kicked in . She wrenched herself free from Andrian's grip and lunged toward the shadowy figure . Without hesitation , she grabbed the attacker's wrist . Her grip instantly recognized the pressure and angle of the strike . This wasn't an amateur - it was a professional assassin . Aliana twisted the attacker's arm , trying to disarm him , but the figure spun swiftly . They struggled in close quarters . Aliana deflected the knife's trajectory , but the man was agile . He broke free and leapt backward toward the ballroom curtain . Within seconds , he disappeared through an emergency exit . " Mr. Andrian ! " his personal security shouted , some of them switching on small flashlights from their pockets . " Over here ! Follow the light ! " White beams flashed across panicked faces and tightly packed guests . " Mr. Andrian ! Are you all right ? " one guard asked , relieved to find him . " Where's Aliana ? " Andrian demanded as he grabbed a flashlight from one of the guards . " She was right next to me . " 1/4 8:19 pm S Chapter 34 The guards exchanged uncertain glances . They began scanning the room in the dark . " Aliana ! Where are you ? " Andrian's voice rose above the noise of the crowd . But no response came . 20 vauchers . Aliana was already far from him - chasing after the figure who had fled to the emergency stairwell . Their footsteps echoed in the narrow corridor . Aliana ran , skipping two steps at a time . The emergency staircase was dark and eerily quiet . The footsteps ahead were swift and well - trained . Aliana chased hin breathing hard . Her body was still recovering , but adrenaline kept her going . Downstairs , the man abruptly stopped and turned to strike . The knife lifted again , but Aliana kicked his arm . The blade flew from his grip and clattered onto the floor . They fought at close range - punches , kicks , elbows . The man was strong , but Aliana had technique . A swift shoulder lock sent him crashing to the ground . But just as she moved to pin him , his fist landed hard - directly on Aliana's right shoulder , the spot where her wound hadn't fully healed . " Aagh- ! " Aliana slammed into the wall with a gasp , retreating as pain flared through her body . Her black gown was already soaked red at the side - her old gunshot wound had reopened . The man didn't waste the chance . He rolled backward , snatched up the knife , and darted down a side corridor . Aliana held her breath and followed , though her pace was slowing . The lights flickered back on . Voices from the guards grew closer . Aliana looked over her shoulder . If she returned now , everyone would see her - bleeding , bruised , and barely composed . No. She couldn't go back yet . She had to leave without being noticed . Aliana leapt down a side stairwell to a quieter floor . She crouched , running in a controlled stagger , hand clamped to her side . Her breath was shallow . Quickly , she navigated the corridor , heading up the service stairs . She had memorized the building layout . Two turns later , she reached the quiet kitchen area , then slipped out a side door and rushed to the back parking lot . Pulling a compact phone from her clutch , she pressed a button . " Rafe … " A few seconds passed before the call connected . Aliana had stationed Rafe near the building earlier . " Miss … I heard something happened . Are you- " " Pick me up . Now , " Aliana cut him off sharply . " I'm at the back entrance . East wing ." It took less than two minutes for a black car to speed into view . " I see you . " The headlights flared . Rafe opened the back door and ran to her . His face changed instantly upon seeing the blood soaking 2/4 8:19 pm S Chapter 34 her shoulder . " Miss ! You're hurt again ? " " It's not bad . Let's go …. Don't let anyone find me here . " Rafe helped her into the car . They pulled away from the hotel's deserted service lot . " Where are we going ? " Rafe asked . 20 vouchers Aliana didn't answer at first , her breath shaky as dizziness set in . She murmured softly , her vision beginning to bice " Someone's targeting Andrian . He's a professional . Find out who he is . " Rafe turned sharply . " You're sure ? " " The knife . His moves … That wasn't an amateur . He's a hired assassin . " Rafe nodded , tension etched on his face . " I'll look into it . But right now , we need to treat that wound . " Aliana said nothing more . She leaned her head back , her vision dimming . " Alicia's painting . You have to check it ," she whispered . " The painting ? " " There might be a clue … " Her voice was faint . Rafe glanced in the mirror . Her face had gone pale . Panic struck . " Miss … please hang on . Try not to speak . You're losing a lot of blood ." " Take me to the Velor estate . Everyone's probably looking for me . " Her eyes fluttered closed . The pain finally overpowered her . Her temperature spiked , and the last thing she heard before everything went black was Rafe shouting : " Stay with me , Miss ! " Back in the ballroom , Andrian was in turmoil . He had mobilized his entire security team , but Aliana was nowhere to be found . " Where the hell did she go ? " Andrian hissed . " She couldn't have gone far ! " The head of security lowered his gaze . He'd dispatched guards in every direction , even checked the CCTV - but no trace of Aliana . Only a small bloodstain was found on the emergency stairwell . Andrian froze when he heard that . Nathan approached . " Are you sure she didn't just exit through the garden ? " Several guests had indeed fled that way , including Ethan's wife and Aliana's parents , who rushed out during the blackout . 3/4 8:19 pm Chapter 34 Andrian's eyes narrowed . " She didn't run . Someone attacked me - and right after that , she vanished . " Nathan's face tensed . " Someone attacked you ? " Andrian didn't reply , but his jaw clenched . He wasn't in love with his wife , but he felt responsible for her safery Aliana was now part of the Velor family . If she was hurt - especially because someone was after her - Andrian would bear that guilt . " Send out more people to find her . Check every inch of this building , even the streets . Search the next building if you to . " " Yes , sir ! We'll start immediately . " have AD