The ballroom glittered like a jewel box cracked open. Chandeliers cascaded down in crystalline rivers, spilling golden light across polished marble floors. Every table was draped in ivory silk, champagne flutes sparkled, and the murmur of conversations layered with the faint strains of a string quartet. For most, it was just another night of handshakes, networking, and carefully balanced laughter. But for Gigi Bellamy, the air itself seemed charged, as though every glimmering surface carried an edge she couldn’t ignore.
She had attended events like this countless times—fundraisers, art galas, and endless business dinners—but tonight her nerves buzzed. She wore a gown Isabella had insisted on: deep emerald silk that clung elegantly to her figure, cut with a daring back that left her feelin
