phin

whispers of the elite stung, their eyes raking over my plain, understated day

His lethal gaze pinned my mothe

s seem to tremble. "Is the Castillo family so utterly bankrupt that you cannot afford a single

l color. She opened her mo

de with practiced innocence. "Mr. Moretti, please. We did prepare a

merald silk. She raised her voice, ensuring the entire ballroom could hear. "I pulled every string I had to acquire

with fake maternal warmth. "Go change, Ser

een of the fabric. A bitter, genuine smile touched my lips. I ha

he sudden hush of the room. "Wearing this poorly constructed

p rippled throug

, predatory eyes locked onto Bianca. There was no qu

indignation. "How dare you! You're just a country girl! What would you

tic," I said, my voice steady, "why d

ntact the most reclusive designer in Europe? D

pretend on the phone," Bianca s

anding by the wall. "Bring me the hotel's tele

ing at Damien. The Don gave

picked up the receiver and dialed a number I knew by heart. The ballr

g only

r its icy arrogance. But the moment I spoke a quiet greeti

ugh the receiver, speaking in rapid, flawless French. "You finally called! T

hat followed

endoza standing just behind Damien. The Consigliere

lie had just been incinerated in front of New York's most dangerous elite. Slowly, I met Dam