Chapter 266

Paisley, engrossed with the actors, looked up, her pupils shrinking as a massive light plummeted. A crushing force slammed into her, but strong arms caught her before she hit the ground. Screams and pounding feet erupted around her.

“Paisley, are you okay?” Dominick’s blurry face swam into focus. He was breathing hard, relief etched on his features. He’d seen the light shift, saving her, but a trickle of blood ran down her forehead. The light’s edge had grazed her.

“Paisley, can you hear me?” he shouted, anxiety lacing his voice.

She gasped, the buzzing in her head receding. Focus returned, meeting his worried gaze. “I—I’m fine,” she whispered, wincing as a sharp pain shot through her head. Dominick stopped her from touching the wound. “Don’t.”

She glanced at the fallen light, its edge stained crimson, a strand of her hair snagged in the metal. A wave of despair washed over her. Years of careful maintenance, gone. She didn’t know if it would grow back.

Dominick, mistaking her distress, murmured, “Don’t worry, you’re still beautiful. Perfect.”

Paisley noticed his own scratched hand—the same hand she’d once injured. “Is your hand okay?”

He hadn’t noticed. “It’s nothing.” But his concern remained fixed on her head. “Doctor? Is there a doctor?” he called out to the crew rushing toward them.

“This is a film set,” Paisley replied, a wry smile playing on her lips. “And I am a doctor.”

She attempted to stand, her nerves still raw. Dominick helped her up, his earlier panic replaced by dawning realization. Paisley was a medical expert.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, his voice trembling.

“I’m fine,” she said, checking her pulse, then finding a mirror. “Just looks worse than it is.” Relief flooded his face.

The crew, unaware of her medical expertise, were terrified. Gary, his face pale, stammered, “I’ve called an ambulance. Ms. Vaire, you should go to the hospital.”

She agreed. It needed stitches. Gary noticed Dominick’s injury. “Mr. Vanderbilt, you should go too.”

He nodded. Paisley produced pain relief pills, offering one to Dominick. He took it without question.

“Aren’t you going to ask what it is?” she teased.

“What’s to ask?”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll poison you?”

He gazed at her bright smile. “Then I’d be happy to die.”

The ambulance arrived soon after, the bleeding significantly reduced thanks to the medication. The crew was amazed.

They were rushed to the hospital, followed by Lucy and Julian.

Only after they left did Gary exhale, his relief quickly replaced by fury. “What happened? Investigate immediately!”

Dominick and Paisley hadn’t fully processed the near-disaster. They wouldn’t let this go. It had been pure luck.

Gary shuddered. “Suspend all filming! Every piece of equipment must be checked. This can’t happen again!”

Chaos erupted, except for Sheela, who sat silently, staring at the fallen light.