Empire 212

Ethan and Nadia completed the interview as scheduled. Throughout the entire process, Ethan maintained a strict, professional distance, keeping eye contact to an absolute minimum.

For the final shot, they were all supposed to stand on a scenic lookout, gazing into the distance. Ethan was the first to take his position, his posture impeccable.

Nadia followed, camera in hand. But as she stepped into place, she suddenly stumbled, letting out a small cry as she pitched forward, off the edge of the platform.

The lookout was built into the side of the mountain, with only a rudimentary, partial railing. Nadia had been standing on the steps, completely exposed. A fall from that height would be fatal.

Ethan was the only one close enough to react. Everything happened in an instant. He lunged forward, his hand clamping around her arm, and yanked her back from the edge. As he pulled her to safety, she crashed into his chest.

The moment she was steady, he pushed her away.

Though the contact lasted only a fraction of a second, the faint click of a camera shutter from a hidden corner captured the moment.

“Be careful,” Ethan said, his voice flat. He immediately signaled for Ash to bring in the security team to secure the area.

Nadia rubbed her arm where his fingers had dug in, wincing. He had pushed her away such force, as if she were something unclean.

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Still, it was better than being ignored completely. She glanced back at the steps. If he hadn’t caught her, if he had let her fall… then she truly would have lost everything.

Two hours later, the shoot was finally over. The crew began to pack up their equipment, and the local children who had participated were led away by their supervisors.

Ethan, eager to get on the road and call Ramona, was heading for his car.

Suddenly, a strange tremor ran through the ground, followed by a sickening, deep rumble from above.

“Look out! Rockslide!” someone screamed.

Ethan spun around, his eyes widening in horror. A massive boulder, wrapped in a torrent of mud and debris, was hurtling down the mountainside directly toward them.

Panic erupted. People scattered in every direction. But in the direct path of the rockslide, a small girl, no older than seven or eight, had fallen. She was frozen in terror, staring up at the

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avalanche of earth and stone, too scared to even try to run.

“Dangert”

The girl was not far from him. Without a second thought, Ethan turned and ran back

“Ethan“” Nadia screamed from a safe distance, her face pale with shock.

“Mr. Jordon!!!” Ash was paralyzed with fear, unable to move a single step forward.

The other bodyguards and crew members were the same. Everyone saw the girl, but only Ethan ran toward the danger without a moment’s hesitation.

As the roar of the falling boulder grew deafening, Ethan snatched the little girl, pulling her into a tight embrace. He shielded her with his own body, diving to the side just as the boulder crashed down.

“BOOM!”

The impact shook the very ground beneath them. The jagged edge of the massive rock scraped against Ethan’s side as it slammed into the earth, sending a shower of smaller stones flying like shrapnel. The force of the blow knocked the air from his lungs, and his vision went black as he and the girl hit the ground hard.

An all–consuming pain ripped through him. Warm liquid trickled down from his temple, blurring his sight. He could feel the sharp, grating pain of broken ribs with every ragged breath.

“Mr. Jordon!!” Through the settling dust, Ash and the bodyguards scrambled toward him, frantically pulling away the rocks that pinned him down.

The little girl, safely cradled in Ethan’s arms, had fainted from the shock and impact but was otherwise unharmed, save for a few scrapes. She was the first to be carried away.

“Ethan! Ethan!” Nadia stumbled through the debris and fell to her knees beside him. The sight of his blood–soaked shirt made her heart shatter, tears streaming down her face.

“The girl…” Ethan forced out, his voice barely a whisper.

“She’s okay! Mr. Jordon, you have to hold on!” Ash choked out, his own voice thick with unshed tears.

Blood was seeping from wounds on Ethan’s head and body; it was impossible to tell how badly he was hurt.

Ethan tried to tell them not to worry, but the effort sent a fresh wave of agony through him, and he let out a muffled groan. His consciousness was fading, the world turning dark at the edges.

In the last moment before he blacked out, his lips moved. “Don’t… let her know…”

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Chapter 2IK

It was an order for Ash. He understood immediately. Ethan didn’t want Ramona to find out he was injured.

“Okay, just hold on… The medical team is almost here.”

“Ethan!” Nadia reached for his hand, but his last words, his thoughts only of Ramona even in this state, were a knife to her heart.

At that same moment, back in Havencrest City, Ramona was pulling up to the Covington Group building. A sudden, inexplicable chill ran down her spine.

She checked her phone. It was not yet ten o’clock. Ethan had said he would call her this morning, but her earlier text had gone unanswered.

Was he just busy?

Cedella

Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.