Valeria's POV
A grand gala attended by the rich and famous, where guests clinked glasses and exchanged hollow smiles, discussing business opportunities with each other.
In the northwest corner of the hall, away from the bustling center, lay a secluded area with few people around. A towering stack of champagne glasses created a glistening screen, sectioning off a triangular oasis. Yet, rather than offering peace, the air here was thick with tension, each breath laced with an icy chill.
Three women and two men stood together, each holding a glass of champagne but without drinking it. They all stared at me, the lone woman standing three steps away from them.
I leaned lazily against a long table, half illuminated by the champagne tower’s glow, which cast ripples of light over me. The warm
