The charity gala was already in full swing by the time Arielle stepped into the grand ballroom.
Chandeliers hung high above, their light spilling across polished marble floors. The air buzzed with the low hum of conversations, laughter, and clinking glasses. Guests milled around in tailored suits and sparkling gowns, their movements effortless, rehearsed.
Arielle adjusted the thin strap of her dress and forced herself to breathe evenly. Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she moved beside Kairo, who walked just half a step ahead of her.
It had been weeks since the storm. Weeks since the kiss neither of them had spoken about.
And yet, she felt it now more than ever — that shift between them, sharp and unspoken, hanging in the air like static.
Kairo’s hand rested lightly on he
