Chapter 2 - The Push
The immense chandelier tilted, a barely perceptible shift that sent a sickening jolt of pure adrenaline straight through Daniel’s veins. Time seemed to fracture, slowing to an agonizing crawl as his brain processed the catastrophic failure unfolding above his unsuspecting wife. There was absolutely no time for long-winded explanations. There was not even enough time to scream a warning to the other guests mingling in the immediate vicinity. The heavy brass fixtures groaned, a terrifying sound of imminent collapse.
"Valeria!" Daniel roared, his voice tearing through the elegant string music and shattering the polite atmosphere of the gala.
Valeria turned her head, her smile faltering as she registered the raw, unfiltered terror in her husband’s eyes. She had no idea that death was plummeting toward her from the ceiling.
Daniel did not hesitate. He sprinted across the polished marble floor, his polished shoes finding traction through sheer desperation. He closed the distance in a fraction of a second, his muscles burning with the effort. He didn't just grab her; he launched his entire body weight into hers.
"Get down!" he bellowed, throwing his arms around her and using every ounce of his momentum to shove her violently to the side.
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Valeria gasped as she was thrown through the air, tumbling roughly onto the thick, ornate Persian rug. Maternal instinct took over instantly; she curled into a tight ball, wrapping both arms securely around her protruding stomach to shield her unborn child from the impact.
Less than a second later, the final, thick strand of the main steel cable snapped with a sound like a gunshot. The multi-ton crystal behemoth surrendered to gravity, dropping from the vaulted ceiling in a terrifying freefall, aimed precisely at the spot where Valeria had just been standing.
