The event hall shimmered with light, every surface reflecting careful design and deliberate wealth. Crystal chandeliers hung high above, casting a soft glow across polished floors, while quiet music moved through the space without drawing attention to itself. Everything was arranged to appear effortless, but nothing here was accidental.
Elara stepped out of the car beside Dante, the evening air cool against her skin, but her posture steady and composed. The entrance ahead was already lined with guests, their voices blending into a low hum of conversation that carried both curiosity and expectation. This was not just another gathering. This was a stage.
She felt it immediately.
Not as pressure, but as awareness.
Dante adjusted his cuff slightly, his movements calm, precise, as if nothin
