ELENA’S POV
London spun me again, his hand firm but tender on my waist, and I laughed—a sound so light, so free, it startled me. It wasn’t the practiced, polite laugh I’d perfected under Aiden’s watchful gaze. This was raw, unfiltered joy, bubbling up from somewhere deep inside me, a place I’d forgotten existed.
London’s eyes sparkled as he grinned, his dimples carving soft shadows into his cheeks. He was nothing like Aiden. He didn’t make me feel small, like I was an afterthought, a placeholder for someone else’s dreams. With London, I felt seen. I felt like I mattered.
The music swirled around us, a lively rhythm that matched the beat of my heart. But then, like a shadow creeping into the light, I caught Aiden’s gaze from across the room. He stood near the entrance, his drink un
