Hours later, the gala surged with masked dancers, whispered oaths, and poisoned smiles.
Ethan wandered through it like a ghost. His conversation with Sophia played on loop in his head, a torment of missteps and missed meaning.
He knew he hadn’t betrayed her. But in this world, intent mattered less than appearance—and he’d just been painted.
From a distance, he saw her again.
Standing between Felix and Darius. The three of them are laughing over something secret.
It was the kind of image that could haunt a man.
Then the door.
A small, curved passage leading to one of the tower’s private rooms.
Sophia glanced over her shoulder—just once.
And then all three of them slipped inside.
The door shut.
And locked.
—-
Sleep eluded Ethan.
Not because of the chaos of the auction or the di
