**Chapter 2: A Night to Forget**

As Lady Victoria's world began to spin, she felt a firm hand grasp her elbow, steadying her. She looked up to see a tall, dark-haired man with piercing blue eyes gazing intently at her. His face was chiseled, with sharp angles and a strong jawline that seemed to be carved from granite. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the chaos of the gala fading into the background. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and urgent, as he helped her sit down on a nearby chair. Lady Victoria tried to speak, but her voice came out in a mere whisper. She coughed, and a small trickle of blood escaped her lips, staining her purple dress. The man's eyes widened in alarm as he quickly grabbed a nearby napkin and pressed it against her neck. "Someone, get a doctor!" he called out, his voice carrying above the din of the party. As the medical team rushed over, Lady Victoria felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the noise and focus on her own body. The pain in her throat was intense, and she could feel her strength ebbing away. The last thing she remembered was the man's face, etched with concern, before everything went black. When Lady Victoria came to, she was in a private room, surrounded by beeping machines and sterile white walls. The dark-haired man sat beside her, holding her hand in his. "Welcome back," he said, smiling softly. "My name is Dr. Alexander Gray. I'm a...friend of a friend. I was at the gala when...well, when you were hurt." Lady Victoria tried to speak, but her throat was sore and scratchy. She coughed, and Dr. Gray handed her a glass of water. "Where am I?" she croaked. "You're at a private hospital in the city," he replied. "The doctor says you're going to be okay, but you need to rest for a while." As Lady Victoria looked around the room, she noticed that her dress had been cleaned and pressed, and her jewelry sparkled on her dresser. She also spotted a small bouquet of flowers on her bedside table, with a card that read: "Get well soon, Lady Victoria. -A friend." "Who did this to me?" she asked, her voice firm. Dr. Gray's expression turned somber. "The police are investigating, but so far, they haven't found any leads. It looks like it was a random attack, but...there's something else." Lady Victoria raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "It seems that the poison used to hurt you is quite rare," Dr. Gray continued. "The police think it might be more than just a random attack. They think it might be...personal." Lady Victoria's eyes widened as a chill ran down her spine. She knew that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine. And Dr. Alexander Gray, with his piercing blue eyes and calm demeanor, seemed to be right at the center of it all.