Sophie’s Pov
The gala started as it always did — with glittering lights, murmurs of investors, the soft clinking of wine glasses, and a subtle undercurrent of power in the air.
I stepped into the ballroom, holding my clutch like it was a shield. The dress I wore was understated — soft lavender, modest neckline, delicate fabric that moved with me. Neutral enough not to draw attention, yet feminine enough that I didn’t disappear entirely.
I tried to focus on the present. The bright chandeliers. The polished floors. The people — all of them walking, talking, smiling, pretending the weight of ambition wasn’t crushing them from the inside.
But then a familiar scent — wood, spice, sunlight — and I froze.
Cassian.
He had arrived early. I could see him talking to a group of executives, relax
