Chapter 1010:

“Even you are laughing at me!” she snarled, rearing back and delivering a sharp, furious kick to the metal base.

The strike landed with a heavy thump, sending a tremor up the pole. The old or poorly fastened wires overhead jerked tight, then snapped with a piercing crack, sparks bursting in the air.

In an instant, the large decorative spotlight perched high above began to tilt. Its loosened connections strained and broke as the wind tugged at the tangled cables, and the weighty fixture lurched free, plunging straight toward Kristen standing beneath.

Panic flooded Kristen’s widening eyes as she registered the danger barreling toward her. Her mind went starkly blank, and all she could do was watch as the dark mass expanded at a terrifying pace. She tried to move, but her body refused to obey, locked stiff with fear.

At that critical instant, a figure burst in from the side with astonishing speed.

Kristen felt a firm hand clamp around her waist, yanking her backward with stunning force. The world blurred into a dizzying whirl as she was swept into a warm, solid hold. Her face collided with a broad chest, and she inhaled a blend of crisp medicinal notes, lingering moisture, and distinctly masculine warmth.

𝘈𝖽𝗱𝗂𝖼𝗍𝘪𝘃𝘦 𝘀𝗍𝗈r𝗶еs оn g𝘢𝗹ոov𝖾𝗅𝘴.𝗰𝘰𝘮

With an explosive crash, the heavy spotlight smashed into the ground, striking just inches from where her back had been. The impact sent shards of metal and glass spraying across the pavement. Severed wires swung overhead, sputtering with stray sparks.

The chaos instantly caught the attention of nearby guests, and several people hurried toward the scene.

Kristen’s pulse hammered against her ribs, her knees trembling from the shock.

When her scattered thoughts finally snapped back into focus, she lifted her gaze with a shiver and saw Brad’s sharp jawline and the faint crease between his brows.

She went still. Had he truly just saved her? Was it really him? His strong arms remained firmly locked around her waist, holding her safely within the shelter of his grasp.

The fabric of Brad’s shirt clung to Kristen’s chilled, damp skin, radiating a warmth that seeped into her bones—comforting, grounding, and deeply unsettling all at once.

Kristen lifted her gaze, dazed, her breath hitching faintly.

So this was the warmth Rylie often talked about, the quiet steadiness Brad carried so effortlessly. It wrapped around her like an invisible shield, dissolving the last remnants of terror that had paralyzed her moments earlier.

Up close, Brad’s expression remained composed, his features devoid of theatrics. Yet it was precisely this calm, controlled strength that held her spellbound.

After ensuring the shattered spotlight hadn’t injured anyone else, Brad gently loosened his hold on her. The sudden absence of his arms left her oddly hollow, but before the cold could reclaim her, he shrugged off his coat and set it around her shoulders with practiced ease.

“Kristen!” Frank’s voice sliced through the confusion as he rushed over, panic etched across his face.

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