Her phone remained dark, silent as the night itself, with no further messages to disrupt the quiet. In time, exhaustion claimed her, and Elena drew the covers over her head, surrendering to a fragile slumber.
….
The following evening arrived like a gilded invitation to battle, and Elena stepped into the opulent charity gala with poised determination. Rengald had escorted her initially, his steady presence a reassuring anchor, yet urgent business calls soon claimed him, pulling him into shadowed corners of the grand hall. Daniel, too, found himself in constant demand—either engaged in hushed conversations over his phone or surrounded by eager associates seeking his counsel on matters of finance and influence.
In striking contrast, Elena garnered little more than polite nods and fleeting
