The city slept under a blanket of stars, the skyline glittering like a crown worn by the restless night. But beneath the glitter and glamour, chaos was quietly creeping in, like a poison slowly seeping into the veins of an otherwise flawless celebration. The once vibrant gala had faded into a hushed murmur, shadows lengthening and creeping through the hallways as the guests reveled, unaware of the storm that had almost torn through their world.
Emma sat rigid in the back of the sleek black armored SUV, her hands clasped so tightly they were white-knuckled. Her breathing was steady on the outside, but inside, a tempest roared. Her heart pounded with the aftershocks of what could have been a bullet meant for her, a silent assassin hiding in the darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to end everything. The silence inside the vehicle felt suffocating, thick with the weight of survival and uncertainty.
