IRENE'S POV
After delivering my speech, I could still feel the rush of adrenaline coursing through me. I kept my posture straight, my chin slightly lifted, and my face calm, but beneath that exterior, my heart was racing.
I knew all eyes were on me—some with admiration, some with skepticism. But this wasn’t new. It was almost familiar. Back in the Gerard Wolf, the doubts had been sharper, more intense, more personal. I had fought hard for respect there, and I would do the same here. Slowly, that familiar confidence took root, silencing any lingering nerves.
As I turned to walk back toward Leon, the crowd began to murmur among themselves. Their applause had been polite, even supportive, but I could sense the doubts simmering just beneath the surface. It didn’t bother me. I’d overcome dou
