The atmosphere in the ballroom shifted from elite to imperial as the double doors at the head of the hall swung open. The host’s voice took on a reverent, almost trembling quality.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are honored by the arrival of Mr. Chad Dortmund."
The room erupted into a flurry of movement as the elite scrambled to stand. Chad Dortmund, the son of the Governor and the heir to a political dynasty that had held the state in its grip for three decades, entered with the stride of a man who viewed the world as his personal estate. At his side, Serena immediately broke away from her group, gliding toward him and tucking her arm into his with a triumphant glance back at the room—and specifically at Dante.
"Chad, darling," Serena purred, her voice carrying across the quieted hall. "You
