ers tightened slightly in his, her smile bright enough to fool anyone watching b

not

tween them, it felt like a silent standoff, though they m

spered, voice low enough to keep it private. "She didn'

ped to meet hers, "That'

n't it? After all, I'm the one you

he said flatly. "You just

ile sl

father, nodding politely through conversation,

close, smiling. That smile she wore when she wanted the world to believe something true. E

le. After years of training, society events, and

was looking at her, quiet but intense. Still,

he tray of a passing waiter. As she walked away from the dance floor, she quietly excused herself from the growing crow

en tension; she didn't even check if anyone was watching, but

e said without

"Seriously? In

as already walking, le

iberate, eyes fixed on the slim figure ahead slipping ar

the restroom. Her reflection stared back, composed,

his voice fro

t turn im

feet away. His presence filled the

even look at me tonigh

t his eyes thr

she replied,

c behind the doors, and everything they hadn't sai

loser, his voi

t say hell

don't need a reason to an

see you here," he

eyes unreadable, but something flickered. "

g, but close enough that the air shift

m, her arms crossing, more to ste

said, almos

a little more than she liked. Still, she kept

me that,"

ered again, getti

nk you were doing

ong silence

a second, and in that moment, the wal

ou were doing?" she said ag

ng slightly closer, his voice rough. "I see

e just a little too quickly. Her h

know... Since that day, everything I have bee

stepped around him slowly, brushing past with a touch tha

e, heart thudding, knowing she was

little too loud, and her face returned to its polished calm, but inside, her heart was stil

tion, commanding presence as always. She straightened he

her a warm nod, his hand resting briefly on her back as she stood beside him, and y

beside him. She looked poised, calm, smiling when neces

d. Her gaze flicked toward the crowd but never truly s

nd spoke just low enoug

u alright?" h

im a smile. "Nothing, Da

her again get

"It's fine,

es followed nothing in particular, how she shifted on her heels more than usual. She wa

again, voice

gh for tonig

up, surpr

terrupted gently. "And I don

nds with a few familiar faces. One by one, he gave polite

ett, "Happy birthday

iles, "Thank y

a followed beside him; as they exited the grand

e flash of cameras dulled, and the

tside waiting, and the c

udying her face. "Take your time to r

her chest, his words still ringing in her ears; what Elio said was true since "that day" she hadn't been herself. Since the dispute between her father and Elio's father. She avoided him by every pos

e chauffeur opened the door, greeted her fath

n the

ready to return to the ballroom,

at the end of the corridor, arms folded, watching him with

forward slowly. "The cold CEO

linch. "Did y

-dance without a word. Thought

hing, just

slightly. "It wa

, but his silen

re playing this game like I don't exist. But

etached. "Game" he scolded.

ping closer, "if not, the

g. But that was

sed into a line. "You're still chasin

idn't

n his pocket; Elio pulled it

red curt

a has exited the ballroom. She left i

pressed to his ear. For a brief momen

conti

" she said. "But at least I see you, Elio, and

past her wi

e," she call

coldly, walking away

breath caught in frustration. But he didn't look back; he pulled out

r around," he

the chauff

oom, ignoring the music, the lights,

lio got in, leaned back, and closed his eyes for a moment as the door sh

how the n

ith Isabella, just enough to stir everything bac

e hated the helplessness, the feeling of being close, but never close enough. He

d muttered under his breath, "

anger, the frustration, but it lingered, sharp and s

he chauffeu

's Es

filled the rooms. The sky outside was bright, bu

Her plate was full, but she hadn't touched the food. Her coffee had

was far away. Back to the ballroom. Back to the moment, Elio had called her "Ella" in