The backstage hallway had never felt so quiet.
For Isabella Carter, the silence was unsettling.
Just minutes ago, the hall had been filled with music, applause, and flashing cameras. Now the excitement of the event had been replaced by whispers and nervous staff members rushing around.
The shattered stage light still lay on the floor behind them.
And according to Alexander Knight…
It wasn't an accident.
Isabella folded her arms tightly.
"That's impossible," she said, trying to sound confident.
Alexander stood across from her, his expression calm but serious.
"The bolts were loosened."
"So?"
"So lights like that don't just fall on their own."
Sophia looked pale.
"You mean someone sabotaged the equipment?"
Alexander nodded once.
"Yes."
Isabella let out a nervous laugh.
"Okay, this is getting ridiculous."
Neither of them laughed with her.
That made the situation even worse.
"You're overthinking this," Isabella continued. "It was probably a mistake by the stage crew."
Alexander stepped closer to the fallen light and pointed at the metal frame.
"Four bolts hold this structure in place."
He tapped one of them.
"Three are completely loose."
Isabella frowned.
"That still doesn't prove anything."
"It proves someone wanted it to fall."
Sophia whispered, "But why?"
Alexander's dark eyes slowly moved toward Isabella.
"Because she was standing under it."
The words hung in the air like a heavy shadow.
Isabella suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
For the first time that night, the reality of the situation began to sink in.
Someone might actually want her dead.
She quickly shook her head.
"No. That's crazy."
Alexander straightened.
"Do you have enemies?"
Isabella scoffed.
"I'm a celebrity, Alexander. Of course I have enemies."
"Anyone dangerous?"
She hesitated.
"Well… there are jealous actors, angry fans, gossip bloggers…"
"Anyone who might try to kill you?"
She rolled her eyes.
"No."
Alexander studied her face carefully.
For someone who had nearly died, she was surprisingly calm.
Or maybe she was just refusing to accept the truth.
Sophia clapped her hands nervously.
"Okay! That's enough investigation for tonight."
She grabbed Isabella's arm.
"We're leaving."
Alexander didn't argue.
In fact, he preferred it that way.
The longer Isabella stayed here, the more vulnerable she was.
Outside the hotel, a black SUV waited near the entrance.
Security guards opened the door quickly.
Sophia climbed in first.
Isabella followed, adjusting her dress as she sat down.
Alexander took the seat beside her.
The car started moving immediately.
For a few minutes, none of them spoke.
Isabella leaned her head against the window, staring at the city lights passing by.
Finally, she sighed.
"I can't believe this."
Alexander glanced at her.
"Believe what?"
"That tonight almost turned into a disaster."
"You're lucky."
"Lucky?"
"Yes."
She turned toward him.
"You say that like it's normal."
"For me, it is."
Isabella frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Alexander didn't answer.
Instead, he looked out the window.
She studied him curiously.
"Were you always this serious?"
"Yes."
"Even as a child?"
"Yes."
"Wow," she said dramatically. "Your childhood must have been very fun."
Sophia laughed softly from the front seat.
Alexander ignored both of them.
Isabella tilted her head.
"You know… most bodyguards I've seen in movies are very quiet."
"And?"
"You talk too much."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You started the conversation."
"That's not the point."
She crossed her arms.
"You're still annoying."
"And you're still reckless."
Sophia groaned.
"Please stop arguing."
Isabella smirked.
"He started it."
Alexander looked unimpressed.
"Very mature."
She leaned closer to him.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Enjoying what?"
"Annoying me."
He looked straight at her.
"I don't need to try. It happens naturally."
Sophia burst out laughing.
Isabella gasped.
"You're both terrible."
Alexander allowed the smallest hint of a smile to appear.
It disappeared almost instantly.
But Isabella noticed it.
"You smiled!"
"I didn't."
"You did."
"No."
"You definitely did."
Sophia shook her head.
"You two sound like a married couple."
Both of them spoke at the same time.
"We are NOT a couple!"
The driver nearly laughed.
Isabella glared at Alexander.
"This is all your fault."
"How?"
"You saved me."
He blinked slowly.
"That's… my job."
"Well now everyone thinks you're my boyfriend."
"That sounds like their imagination."
"It's my reputation!"
Alexander leaned back in his seat.
"Your reputation almost got crushed by a stage light."
She opened her mouth to argue again
Then stopped.
Because he was right.
For a moment, the car grew quiet again.
Finally Isabella spoke softly.
"Thank you."
Alexander looked at her.
"For what?"
"For pulling me away earlier."
His expression didn't change.
"I was doing my job."
She rolled her eyes.
"You really don't know how to accept gratitude, do you?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"You're unbelievable."
The car slowly stopped in front of a tall luxury apartment building.
Isabella's home.
Security guards opened the doors.
Alexander stepped out first and scanned the area carefully.
Old habits.
No suspicious movement.
No strange vehicles.
Everything looked normal.
He turned toward Isabella.
"You go inside first."
She frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
She walked past him dramatically.
"You're very bossy."
"And you're very stubborn."
Sophia whispered to Isabella while walking.
"He's actually handsome."
Isabella whispered back.
"Don't say that."
"Why?"
"He'll become even more arrogant."
Alexander pretended not to hear them.
Inside the apartment, Isabella kicked off her heels immediately.
"Finally."
She walked toward the kitchen.
"Do you want coffee?"
Alexander looked around the apartment.
"No."
"You're very boring."
"I'm very alert."
She poured herself a glass of water.
Then she noticed something strange.
The balcony door was slightly open.
Isabella frowned.
"That's weird."
Alexander noticed immediately.
"What?"
"I'm pretty sure I closed that door before leaving."
Alexander walked toward the balcony slowly.
His instincts sharpened.
He stepped outside and scanned the area below.
The street looked quiet.
Too quiet.
Then his eyes landed on something.
A small object sitting on the balcony table.
He walked closer.
It was an envelope.
Alexander picked it up carefully.
"What is it?" Isabella asked.
He opened it slowly.
Inside was a single photograph.
Alexander's expression hardened instantly.
"What's wrong?" Isabella asked nervously.
He turned the photo toward her.
Isabella's face turned pale.
The photograph showed her standing on the stage earlier that night.
Taken from a distance.
But that wasn't the worst part.
Across the photo, someone had written three words in red ink.
"NEXT TIME YOU DIE."