something darker, something more dangerous. Ruella, a vision of icy elegance in a crimson gown that seemed to absorb and amplify the surrounding light, moved through the crowd with the effortless g

gown, the weight of the expectations, the weight of the past. It was a costume, a role she had to play to achieve her goals.

kill her, the woman who had stolen her baby. The sight of them together, so comfortable in their deception, sent a wave of icy fury through Ruella. She had to resist the urge to confront them, to expose Sofia's treachery and make Oliver see the mons

d by her beauty and her apparent intelligence, hung on her every word. Ruella played the role to perfection, all the while her mind was elsewhere, calculating, strategizing, planning her n

else... a warning. "Be careful, mia figlia," he murmured, his voice low. "They are watching you." He knew that she was playing a dangerous game, that she was walking a t

inized. She was playing a dangerous game, and one wrong step could expose her, could ruin everything. She was surrounded b

you." She met his gaze, her eyes filled with a steely resolve. She would

ing back into the crowd. Ruella took a deep breath, steeling herself. It was time. She had

d feel their eyes on her, their gazes filled with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. They knew that she

see you both." She kept her voice light, and conversational, as if she were simply mak

ng that looked suspiciously like regret. Sofia's smile was tight, her eyes narrowed. She was

his voice hoarse. "We... we d

s this for the world. My father insisted." She wanted to make the

ripping with false sweetness. "Congratulations on your engagement. I wish you both all the happiness

ut she quickly recovered. "Thank you, Ms. Ventura,"

g. "I've heard wonderful things about your family's business. Castillo

ng out slightly. "Yes," she s

usinesses. Perhaps we could have lunch sometime? We could discuss... business opportu

usinesses. Perhaps we could have lunch sometime? We could discuss... business opportu

o Oliver, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than necessary. "Mr. Mitchell," she said, her

Yes," he said, his voice b

eyes meeting his. "Don't you think?" She was

face, but he quickly masked it. "Ye

sent a shiver down Oliver's spine. "Then I'll

back. She knew that they were watching her, that they were trying to figure out what she was planning. And she knew that they were afraid. Good. Let them be afraid. They had e