Chapter 272

The rope, once thick as a thumb, had frayed to the width of a pinky finger.

It strained, ready to snap at any second.

Their eyes widened in horror.

All movement ceased instantly.

Julian shouted, "Isabella, look out!"

She heard the warning and glanced upward.

The situation became immediately clear.

Isabella knew she had to remain perfectly still.

Even the smallest shift could sever the weakening cord.

Her gaze swept across her surroundings, assessing options.

Across the building, reporters noticed the danger.

Their cameras zoomed in on the fraying rope against the balcony.

The live stream exploded with panicked comments.

(It's going to break! This is terrifying!)

(That's a thirty meter drop! She won't survive the fall!)

(Why risk your life for someone like her, Ms. Montgomery? It's not worth it!)

(Scarlet and her family should pay for this! Her suicide attempt is causing someone else's death!)

(Where are the rescue teams? Hurry! Save Ms. Montgomery!)

Unaware of the broadcast, Isabella calculated her position.

She dangled below the seventh-floor balcony.

The sixth floor stood just out of reach.

Five meters separated the floors.

Too high to reach the seventh, too low to step onto the sixth.

Suspended in air with no support to distribute her weight.

Another sharp 'crack' echoed.

The rope fibers splintered further.

Mere seconds remained before complete failure.

Death awaited if she fell.

Screams flooded the live chat.

(Ahhhh!)

(She's going to die!)

Isabella's brow furrowed slightly.

She withdrew a dagger from her pocket.

With a swift, precise motion, she slashed the straining rope.

The blade cut clean through.

Isabella plunged downward.

Gasps erupted from every witness.

Hearts hammered against ribs.

What had she done? Why cut the only thing holding her?

Before anyone processed the action, her hands gripped the sixth-floor balcony railing.

She executed a perfect mid-air flip.

Landing gracefully on the balcony, steady and unharmed.

Her movements flowed with lethal elegance.

Dressed in black tactical gear, she embodied a elite operative.

The live stream erupted into chaos.

(Am I watching a movie? That was insane!)

(Ms. Montgomery's skills are unreal! So fierce! So brilliant!)

(I'm a fan for life! Forever!)

Isabella stood firm, not a scratch on her.

She peeled off her gloves, tossing them aside.

Her stride never broke as she moved indoors.

Julian and Adrian charged down the stairs, faces pale with fear.

They found her completely unscathed.

Relief washed over them.

Adrian clutched his chest. "Boss, you took ten years off my life. I need a vacation after this."

"Train more, sleep less. Build better stamina," she advised coolly, already heading back up.

"How's Arabella?" she asked without breaking stride.

"Not good," Julian answered grimly. "After you kicked her in, we found a gash on her arm. She sliced her wrist open. Blood is pouring out, but she's fighting anyone who tries to help."

A slit wrist.

She could bleed out in minutes.