Eloise spun in Estefan’s embrace, her heart a battlefield of conflicting emotions as vibrant music surged around them, wrapping her in a tapestry of sound and sensation. With each rotation, the distance between her and Zachary felt like an insurmountable chasm, echoing with the unspoken words that weighed heavily on her heart. Fleeting glimpses of him caught her eye—still standing at the edge of the ballroom, engaged in conversation with someone else, his back turned to her like an unyielding fortress, physically and emotionally removed from her world. The stark contrast between his imposing figure and the lively atmosphere intensified her sense of isolation.
“Isn’t this exhilarating?” Estefan murmured, pulling her closer, his grip firm yet intoxicatingly warm, radiating a heat that felt
