Without thinking, I leapt from my seat, my body moving on its own. I can't let him get hurt, I thought, my mind a whirlwind of fear and determination. This was my chance to prove I wasn't just a bystander—I could protect the people I cared about.
"Ovelia!" Ace and Ann yelled in unison, their voices filled with alarm as they rose from the table.
As the knife hurtled toward Ray, I reached him just in time, positioning myself in front of him. The room erupted into chaos, with screams and chatter filling the air. My heart pounded as I watched the knife fly toward me, time seeming to slow down.
"What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?!" Lady Firera's voice echoed in my mind, sharp and incredulous.
But I didn't have time to respond. The knife was already in the air, and all I could think about was protecting Ray. My breath hitched as I braced myself, the world narrowing to the glint of the blade and the deafening sound of my own heartbeat.
Ray's POV
