Love and Devotion No Longer His to Claim by Dream Fish

Chapter 343

Angela was the first to notice something was wrong. She hadn't even finished speaking when a sense of foreboding hit her. The moment the enormous crystal chandelier fell, she instinctively moved to evade it.

Alas, the chandelier was too large. Even after taking a few hurried steps away, she couldn't completely escape its range. A sharp fragment of the fixture slashed across her back, sending a searing pain through her body.

She staggered and fell to the ground with a muffled groan, but she instinctively suppressed her voice, trying her best not to appear too disheveled.

"Angela!" Several anxious voices rang out at the same time, while Dexter and Finn rushed toward the center of the stage almost simultaneously.

By then, all the other lights at the venue had been turned on, and the crowd erupted in shock.

Smelling the metallic tang of blood made Angela dizzy. Yet, her first thought was that she must not let this ruin the celebration.

"I'm fine!" Angela grasped Dexter's wrist. "Let's get off the stage first. Get Clara to take things from here. I... I still have to come out to present the awards later."

"Are you insane?" Finn's voice carried frustration. "You're injured. What's more important, your health or "

"My work is more important." Angela locked eyes with Finn. "Finn, everyone is watching. I can't afford another misstep."

"But you didn't cause this. Everyone saw what happened, and you're hurt." A look of concern crossed Finn's gaze, mixed with puzzlement.

on. If I can return to the stage, people will respect me even more. My company needs this kind of recognition. Do you understand?" Angela's urgency made her

frantic. "I don't

off the stage immediately." Dexter added, "Who are you to her? Do you want her to

swallowed back his words, an overwhelming bitterness settling

it turned out, he had no right anymore. He didn't

then, the others came over as well,

my wound treated. The rest of you should go back to your seats. Don't panic,

gazes of everyone,

signaled the host to continue with the next

was escorted

that her wound, though not too deep, had small glas's shards embedded in it. They had to be

a while when she heard

Yet, somehow, she was always the one to

of it." She gritted her teeth. "It must be done quickly. I still have matters

shocked. "That might not be

handle it. It's really fine." Angela was getting impatient. Her

inches long, with a deep, bloody streak that was shocking to

doctor looked at Dexter with