The grand hall of the estate was silent, save for the sound of my heels clicking against the marble floor. The engagement party had ended, leaving behind nothing but echoes of forced laughter and whispered conversations. I felt suffocated in my own home, drowning in a sea of deception and expectations.
Jay had offered to take me away. To save me. But how could I let him risk his life when my father’s fate hung in the balance? No, I had to play this game until I understood exactly what I was dealing with.
And that started with Valentino.
I found him in the lounge, swirling a glass of dark liquor, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He always looked at me like I was a puzzle to be solved, a game he was determined to win.
"You’re still awake?" His voice was smooth, but laced with amus
