Alexander POV
The applause roared through the grand ballroom as I finished my speech. Another successful evening, another night of hollow praises and shallow smiles. My father's hand landed heavily on my shoulder, his face beaming with pride as he turned to shake hands with one of his business partners.
"Alexander, your speech was brilliant," his deep voice boomed, echoing above the chatter of the crowd. "A true testament to our family legacy."
I nodded, but my mind was elsewhere. I smiled politely at the gentleman in front of me, but it was forced. I could feel the sweat starting to trickle down my back in the thick, overheated room. The weight of the tuxedo jacket was suffocating me, but none of that mattered. I scanned the sea of people, my heart pounding in my chest as if it already knew what my mind had yet to catch up on.
Isabella.
Where was she?
I spotted a flash of her golden hair through the throng of guests, but something was wrong. Her body was crumpled on the floor, surrounded by people who seemed more interested in snapping photos than offering any kind of assistance. My breath hitched, panic gripping me by the throat as I excused myself from the conversation mid-sentence.
"Alexander, where are you going?" my father called after me, his voice laced with irritation. He stepped in front of me, trying to block my path. "You can't just leave now! This is an important event for the company."
"I need to go," I said, brushing past him, barely sparing him a glance.
"Alexander, this is—"
I cut him off, my voice sharper than I intended. "I don't care about the damn company right now."
I could hear him calling out to me again, but his words were lost to the blood pounding in my ears. My only focus was Isabella, lying there on the floor. I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the whispers and the flashing lights of the photographers who were already raising their cameras, no doubt eager to capture this moment. Let them. I didn't care.
When I finally reached her, my heart nearly stopped. Isabella's face was pale, her eyes half-closed, and her breath shallow.
"Isabella," I whispered, kneeling beside her, my hands trembling as I cupped her face. "Isabella, can you hear me?"
Her eyes fluttered open for a brief second, and she looked at me with a dazed expression. "Alexander…"
"I'm here," I said, my voice rough with fear. "I've got you."
I wasted no time. Gently but firmly, I gathered her limp body in my arms, lifting her off the floor. She felt so light, so fragile. My heart clenched as I carried her through the crowd, ignoring the growing murmur of voices around us. People were staring, whispering, but none of them mattered. All that mattered was getting Isabella help.
"Alexander, is she okay?" someone asked as I passed, but I didn't stop.
A few more faces swam into view, and I recognized a couple of reporters from the city's major newspapers. They looked eager, hungry for a story. Their cameras clicked furiously as I carried Isabella towards the exit. The flashes went off like strobe lights, but I didn't even look up.
"Mr. Laurent, what's going on?" one of them shouted.
"Move!" I barked, and the crowd parted just enough for me to push through.
The valet was already bringing my car around, having seen me storming towards the exit with Isabella in my arms. I laid her gently in the passenger seat, brushing a lock of hair from her face. Her skin was clammy, and she was still so pale.
"Stay with me, Isabella," I murmured, as I slid into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut.
I tore out of the driveway, the engine roaring as I sped through the city streets. Isabella's breathing was shallow, and every minute felt like an eternity. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white, and my heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest.
"Just hold on," I whispered, glancing over at her pale face. "Please, hold on."
The hospital loomed ahead, and I pressed down on the accelerator, ignoring the blaring horns as I swerved through traffic. My only thought was getting Isabella to safety.
I screeched to a halt in front of the emergency entrance, not caring that I parked in the ambulance zone.
I leapt out of the car and rushed to her side, scooping her back into my arms. Nurses and doctors were already rushing towards us, but they seemed to move in slow motion.
"Doctor!" I shouted, my voice hoarse with desperation. "I need a doctor!"
One of the nurses reached us first, her face a mask of professionalism as she quickly checked Isabella's pulse.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice calm, but there was an urgency behind her eyes as she motioned for a stretcher.
"I don't know," I admitted, my voice breaking. "She just collapsed."
"Let's get her inside," the nurse said, leading the way as I carried Isabella through the sliding glass doors.
They guided me towards a bed, and reluctantly, I laid her down on it. My hands hovered over her, unwilling to let go, but the nurse placed a firm hand on my arm.
"We'll take it from here," she said gently, but firmly. "You need to wait outside."
I hesitated for a moment, my heart twisting in my chest. The thought of leaving her, even for a second, was unbearable. But I nodded, stepping back as the team of doctors and nurses wheeled her away.
As soon as the doors swung shut behind them, I felt the weight of everything crash down on me. I collapsed into one of the waiting room chairs, my hands still shaking.
Minutes passed, maybe hours, I couldn't tell. Time had lost all meaning. All I could do was replay the image of Isabella lying on the floor, pale and lifeless. The fear that gripped me in that moment hadn't loosened its hold.