*VINCENZO*
As I stepped back into the grand ballroom, a wave of conflicting emotions crashed over me like a storm. The soft strains of a waltz floated through the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the partygoers. But all I could focus on was the memory of Adeline's warmth against me, the way her breath quickened when I pulled her close. Damn it, Vincenzo, get a grip. It was just a moment—a brief burning sensation that now felt more complicated than I ever wanted to admit.
My heart raced, not solely from what had just transpired but also from the seething anger that had ignited within me. The image of that old fucker, his hand raised as if he had the right to lash out at her, was still fresh in my mind. I could see it, crystal clear—the way my muscles tensed, the instinctu
