"I... I must have forgotten it," he stammered, his panic palpable.

Isabella's instincts screamed that something was dangerously wrong.

"Who are you really? What are you trying to do?" Her voice rose, trembling with fear.

Suddenly, the man pulled out a gleaming dagger from beneath his coat. The blade caught the light menacingly as he lunged toward her.

"Argh!" Isabella cried out, recoiling too late. The blade sliced her arm, sending sharp pain radiating through her body. Blood instantly soaked her sleeve.

With his disguise blown, the man's expression turned vicious. He spun around and bolted from the room.

"Help! Someone help me!" Isabella shouted, her strength fading rapidly. Her vision began to blur.

Blood dripped onto the pristine white sheets, spreading in a dark, ominous stain.

As her consciousness slipped away, Isabella collapsed onto the cold floor, swallowed by overwhelming darkness.

At Blackwood Enterprises.

"Mr. Blackwood, terrible news!" Benjamin burst into Ethan's office, his face pale, his entrance frantic.

Ethan continued reviewing his documents, seemingly unperturbed.

"What has you so panicked?"

"Mrs. Blackwood was attacked at the hospital," Benjamin explained, his voice cracking. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

Ethan's pen halted abruptly, leaving a dark ink blot on the paper.

He looked up sharply, his gaze icy and penetrating.

"Say that again."

"There was an attempt on Mrs. Blackwood's and Mrs. Vance's lives," Benjamin said, his voice shaking. He avoided Ethan's intense stare.

A cold tension filled the office, as if Ethan's presence alone had dropped the temperature.

He sprang from his chair. His pen fell from the desk, clattering unnoticed onto the floor.

His voice was low, seething with controlled fury.

"What happened?"

"A man disguised as a doctor sneaked into Mrs. Vance's room," Benjamin rushed out, words tumbling over each other. "Mrs. Blackwood caught him trying to inject Mrs. Vance with an unknown substance. He attacked her with a dagger and escaped."

"What is her condition now?" Ethan's tone was frigid.

Benjamin froze momentarily, unsure which part Ethan meant. After a pause, he answered,

"The attacker... he got away."

Ethan's glare was piercing.

"I wasn't asking about him. How is she?"

Realizing his error, Benjamin quickly replied,

"Mrs. Blackwood's condition is stable; it was only a minor cut. She's been treated and bandaged. The doctors said her quick reaction meant the cut was shallow and missed any vital areas."

Ethan's voice was cold and authoritative as he commanded,

"Dispatch security to the hospital immediately. I don't want anything getting through, not even a fly."

"Right away, Mr. Blackwood," Benjamin responded, turning to leave.