Stanhope Brown instinctively protected Grace Gordon with one hand and tried to stop the flying vase with the other... But protecting Grace was his priority, so his hand swung back too far, missing the vase... Instead, the vase hit him in the head.
It all happened in an instant.
Blood poured down the left side of Stanhope's head, covering his left ear...
Grace was in shock, her injured hands gripping Stanhope's waist tight, not even feeling the pain through the intensity.
Blood stained Stanhope's crisp shirt collar, outlining the contours of his face in striking red, cold enough to make anyone shudder.
"Stanhope!"
Hearing Old Madam Brown's voice, Stanhope let go of Grace... straightening up, the bloody ceramic pieces falling to the ground as he moved.
Stanhope's deep voice came through, asking Grace: "Are you hurt?"
At this moment... no words could describe the shock in Grace's heart.