Lila’s POV
The restaurant was filled with the city's wealthiest snobs, and every single eye was on us the exact second we walked through the doors. It was disgusting. Women in diamonds and men in tailored tuxedos actually stopped chewing their tiny, overpriced food just to gawk at us. Lucien’s hand was still wrapped firmly around my waist, his palm warm and heavy against the green silk, guiding me through the crowded dining room toward a private booth in the back like he didn't just blackmail me into this life. He looked completely unbothered, his chin held high, while I felt like a prize pony being paraded around for entertainment.
The second we finally sat down in the plush leather booth, the waiter scurried away, and the tension between us became so thick you could literally cut it wi
