Chapter 263 Ascertain the Truth

Chapter 263 Ascertain the Truth

Audrey was held tightly in Reid's arms, completely unharmed.

But she could feel it clearly—warm liquid was dripping from Reid's forehead onto her cheek.

The thick, metallic scent of blood instantly filled the air.

Audrey shoved away the shattered light tubes pressing down on them, her hands trembling as she gripped Reid's shoulders.

Reid's head had been struck by the metal, leaving a horrifying gash. Blood poured out, instantly staining his custom-tailored black suit crimson.

He let out a muffled groan and lost consciousness completely.

Audrey's mind went blank. The composure she'd always prided herself on crumbled in an instant.

She was used to facing danger alone. She'd never imagined someone would throw themselves in front of her without a second thought.

"Doctor! Call an ambulance!" Audrey's voice tore through the backstage chaos, carrying a chilling edge of violence.

She quickly ripped fabric from her gown and pressed it hard against the bleeding wound on Reid's head.

Vernon rushed over like a madman. Seeing the blood pooling on the floor, his face went deathly pale. "Audrey, are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." Audrey's eyes were bloodshot. She raised her head and locked eyes with Vernon, her voice ice-cold. "Go. Find out exactly how that lighting rig fell."

Vernon clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists. "Leave it to me."

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles.

The red light outside the emergency room glowed harshly.

Audrey stood at the end of the hallway in her blood-soaked black couture gown.

Her hands were covered in Reid's blood, dried to a dark russet.

She didn't wash them. She just stared at the emergency room door, radiating a dangerously low pressure.

Urgent footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Vernon strode over, still in his stage costume. His expression was dark as a storm.

"I found the problem." Vernon stopped beside Audrey and lowered his voice, his tone laced with murderous intent. "The truss's load-bearing bolts didn't break naturally. The cuts are clean—obvious signs of tampering. Someone bribed an outsourced stagehand and sabotaged the lift platform before it was activated."

Audrey slowly turned her head. Beneath her cool gaze, a bloodthirsty darkness churned.

"Who did it?"

"The stagehand ran, but I've already sent Blackwater Worldwide after him. I've also got people sweeping Los Angeles's underground fixer networks." Vernon's voice was venomous. "Whoever dared to touch my sister on my stage—I don't care who they are—I'll strip the skin off their bones."

The emergency room door swung open.

The attending physician stepped out and removed his mask. "Mr. Harrington sustained a severe head trauma with minor concussion and blood loss, but no damage to the cranial nerves. The wound has been sutured. He's still unconscious and will need to remain hospitalized for observation."

The tension in Audrey's nerves eased slightly.

She pushed open the patient room door and walked to the bedside. Reid lay there with thick bandages wrapped around his head, his face pale, stripped of his usual sharpness and authority.

Audrey pulled up a chair and sat down, taking his cool hand in hers. She didn't move from his side.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the blinds into the room.

Vernon arrived carrying an assortment of extremely expensive supplements.

Reid was awake, propped up against the headboard while Audrey helped him drink water.

Vernon set the items down and walked to the bedside. He bowed deeply to Reid with utmost seriousness.

"Reid, thank you." Vernon dropped all his usual casualness, his tone sincere. "If it weren't for you yesterday, Audrey would be the one lying here. You saved my sister's life. From now on, you're my brother. If you ever need anything, just say the word."

Reid glanced at Audrey beside him with a gentle look, then spoke coolly. "I protected my fiancée. It's what I should do. I don't need your thanks."

Vernon didn't take offense at his coldness. His expression turned ruthless again. "About the lighting rig—I've traced the lead to Chinatown. We'll have answers soon."

Meanwhile, in McLean, Washington.

Inside the Collins Mansion, the atmosphere had frozen over.

Lucienne and Julian watched the accident footage from Los Angeles, breaking into a cold sweat, their bodies trembling with fear. If that lighting rig had hit its mark, Audrey wouldn't have survived.

"Find them! Start searching immediately!" Julian slammed his hand down on the table, his furious voice echoing through the estate. "Contact every connection we have in North America. No matter what it takes, drag the mastermind out into the open! Anyone who dares touch my daughter—I'll make sure they have no grave to rest in!"

On the second floor, in the shadows.

Helen listened to Julian's roar from downstairs. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.

She covered her mouth tightly, her face white as a sheet, her eyes filled with absolute terror.

She never imagined Reid would rush forward to shield Audrey.

Audrey wasn't dead.

And now the Collins family would stop at nothing to find the culprit.

The minimalist piano melody echoed through the Peacock Theater.

Just as the music reached its crescendo, the heavy load-bearing truss directly above the stage emitted a sharp, piercing sound of metal snapping.

Hundreds of pounds of steel framework, along with countless stage lights, came crashing down.

Audrey's sharp instincts kicked in at the critical moment.

She kicked away the piano bench and rolled sideways at lightning speed.

With a deafening crash, the million-dollar Steinway piano was crushed into a pile of splintered wood.

Thirty thousand people in the audience erupted in terrified screams. The global livestream signal cut out instantly, screens plunging into darkness.

Washington, McLean. The Collins Mansion.

Helen stared at the static-filled iPad screen, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

It missed? Audrey actually dodged it?

She shot to her feet and grabbed Linda, who had just entered the room, her voice trembling. "What happened? You said it was foolproof! She's not dead!"

Linda quickly locked the door and lowered her voice to calm her. "Lady Helen, accidents happen. Even though she wasn't killed, the performance is ruined, and she's definitely shaken."

"I'm asking if they'll trace this back to us!" Helen's eyes reddened with panic. She gripped Linda's arm so tightly her nails dug into flesh. "That was the American Music Awards! A global broadcast! The LAPD will definitely investigate!"

Linda patted her hand, a flash of ruthlessness in her eyes. "Don't worry. I covered my tracks. The Chinatown scavenger who loosened the bolts—I've already had him dealt with. Made it look like gang violence. Dead men tell no tales. No matter how much the police investigate, they'll conclude it was aging stage equipment."

Hearing the word 'dealt with,' Helen's racing heart finally began to slow.

She sank onto the sofa and let out a long, shaky breath.

As long as they couldn't trace it back to her, Audrey would never escape.

Even if she survived, this scare would be enough to make Audrey see reality.