The ballroom shone with gold and white hues, as crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow upon the guests, whose laughter and conversation resonated throughout the space. The string quartet performed gently in the background, a calming melody that seemed to wrap around the room like a comforting embrace. But for Dysis, everything felt overwhelming. The towering columns, the grand staircase, the glittering crowd—it all seemed like a blur as her focus remained on one person: Alexander. She had never seen him like this before. The usual cold, calculated mafia leader—capable of making even the bravest shudder with a single glance—was different tonight. There was a stillness in him, an almost tense calmness in the way he stood. His grip on her hand was firm enough to assert control, but there was

