"Give me a break. If he can ditch his childhood sweetheart like that, your granddaughter would've been in for a world of hurt if she'd bonded with him."
"It's all old news now…"
The chatter floated to my ears, snippets of pity and gossip. I forced a weak smile, but the banquet hall fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Serena swept in, draped in a designer gown, dripping with jewels that could buy half the town. Her smile was dazzling, stealing every eye as she glided to the center of the hall, stopping at the end of the grand staircase, basking in the crowd's awe.
Gabriel took her hand, his eyes so soft they practically glowed. "Everyone," he said, his usual laid-back tone replaced with a polished edge, "allow me to introduce—"
The lights flickered twice and went out. Dark
