tring quartet, blending seamlessly with the gentle murmur of conversation and the clinking of champagne glasses. Everywhere Serena turned, sh

le of it all, she sto

, she would've laughed them out of the room. But here she was, smiling on cue

murmured close to her ear

like a

Everyone in this r

r head, studying

ciall

something raw beneath the cool facade. But before she c

n, da

made her eyes gleam like polished glass. She moved with the confidence of someone

ned almost imperce

d, if tabloids were to be believed, Caden's ex-fiancée. Rumor had it their r

, assessing, calculating. Her sm

ew fiancée," she purre

hand, determined to match her ci

plied sweetly, her fingers brushing Seren

pped to a warning

d all." She ran a fingertip along the edge of her champagne glass.

but she kept her expressio

, mocking sound. "Some

s stiffened. There was history here, sharp and unfin

er-haired, sharp-eyed, with the unmistakable aura of old money an

ght. Caden

dmissions, ruled this world like a king,

elly yet commanding. His gaze flicked t

ng her voice not to waver.

n necessary, as if weighing her wort

ther, if you'll excuse us, the

way, his hand firm at her lower back. When t

a bundle of joy

y laugh. "Welcome

oors leading out to a private terrace. Serena took the chance to step out

closing the do

ity lights stretched out before them, a

ning against the railing. "They'l

rena replied, though her

unreadable in his expression. "W

ld you. Mia. The hospit

othing

"What else wo

, he reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a thin velvet box. He flipped

aid quietly. "I don't usually carry it. But tonight

artled by the rawness in his voic

d you're probably the only person in that ent

reached out, gently brushing her fingertip

y event like this. S

ightened. "I'm so

oking away. "It wa

ice betray

oke. "We should probably get back in there before y

ion breaking. "Tempting

cketing the necklac

d. "Surprisi

m again. "Ready to surviv

em regret unde

. "Now that's

ikely conspirators, bound by necessity, but slowly and irreve

e