Beneath it, Dustin had just taken a step toward Jeffery unwittingly placing himself directly under the dangling weight.

Joanne s pupils dilated in horror as the chandelier dipped lower, the angle unnatural, its golden arms tilting downward like claws ready to strike. Then came a metallic creak. The chandelier seemed on the verge of plummeting, poised to crush both Dustin and Jeffery.

Joanne and Hester cried out at once, their voices overlapping in panic. Jeffery! Dustin!

Both women surged forward, but in the chaos, Joanne s elbow collided with Hester s shoulder.

Hester stumbled backward and fell to the floor, her heels slipping helplessly against the polished tiles.

As the crowd erupted into disarray, gasps and shouts rising in waves, Hester remained on the floor, stunned. She watched as Joanne without hesitation ran straight toward Jeffery. Not Dustin. The realization hit like a slap.

Not far away, Alicia and Dolores were startled by the commotion behind them. Instinctively, Alicia turned to look only to be stopped by Linsey s outstretched arm.

Don t turn around, Linsey said calmly, shielding her with both body and voice. It s nothing serious.

Meanwhile, Dolores sobered up instantly. She sprinted toward Dustin, her heart pounding, instincts screaming.

She didn t know the chandelier wouldn t fall. She didn t know it had been secured with a hidden safety chain, or that the danger was part of a carefully orchestrated performance.

She only knew that Dustin was standing under it and she couldn t let him face it alone.

When she registered her surroundings, she realized she was lying over Dustin, shielding him from danger, eyes squeezed shut as she braced for impact.

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the room.

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What happened with the chandelier?

Oh my God, that was terrifying!

Wait look! It didn t fall There s still a central chain holding it up!

Seems like it just came loose Thank goodness.

As the panic subsided, Dolores slowly opened her eyes, dazed and shaken, only to find Dustin gazing at her his eyes glistening with tears.

You really came, he murmured, his voice raw with emotion.

In that moment, Linsey s earlier words replayed in his mind like a prophecy: Dolores will come. She ll run to save you.

And she had. Without hesitation, without knowing it was all a staged illusion, she had lunged at him just as he had secretly hoped.

Dustin, are you okay? Dolores asked, her voice trembling. Her face was pale, her eyes darting over him, checking for injuries. Did anything hit you? Are you hurt?

I m fine, Dustin whispered, his arms slipping around her waist. He pulled her in tightly, inhaling deeply as though grounding himself in her presence.

Of all the variables he had planned for tonight, Dolores had been the one element he couldn t predict.

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