- one of Castellane's most exclusive events, where billionaires, world leaders, and

marble ballroom, as she always did, q

here - not in th

for attention, hunting for a husband, or trying

what she never told anyone - was

ine Wh

of Auroria - one of the most pow

banks that controlled governments behind closed doors. Bu

her, she wanted them to l

came the

sharp crack of glass breaking under heavy whe

ano - patriarch of Romano International - was thrown from his luxury

atched. No

e but K

e elderly man, immediately checkin

mly, applying pressure to his b

s vision fli

.?" he

e whispered. "J

paramedics arrived, keeping

o never f

The invitation ca

o Romano. Don Emilio Roma

o. But something curious

zzo

was meant to be: cold marble, towering pil

o greeted her

e - and in Velmora,

ing from his chair in the private garde

y, Don Emilio. I did wha

You give this crowd

rrowed. Sha

ot like t

know what

ntrolled. Humble."

oman I've been looking

rine

, th

ised

yet. But you would

meeting was arranged days later insi

ice, trying to steady her nerves as the ma

did, everyth

io Ro

ionaire.

the world, tailored perfecti

eyes landed on h

my grandfather wants

ce was

his either," Kather

er - not with desire,

dals. No drama. You'

f the words c

e stay

both trapped

eyes narrowed. "You saved

d back, u

asked for

several seconds lon

ind his cold expression

ll s

ct - what she couldn't con

y acknowledged her. In p

thers. Didn't compliment her be

xactly what

e, there was n

to charm her

ing for her f

nted nothi

r my name. He didn't

in that honesty, I foolishly t

she caught glimpses of s

ng at the city skyline f

is voice softened discu

is eyes when he thoug

s a man buried under the CEO mask - one she

Weeks turned

ress his grandson, and ev

opose like a

like a businessman

ice, he placed the dia

be satisfied. You're

osal?" Katherin

a deci

you want?"

xpression d

nt co

warning in her h