Velvet Lies And Hidden Desires

the sea of elegantly dressed guests. Laughter and chatter mingled with the soft strains of a string quartet, filling the air with the buzz of the annual Hartley Foundation Gala.

d, her eyes sparkling with a joy that had once drawn Richard in like a moth to a flame. But now, as he watched her, he felt a hollow ache. Their marriage, once vibrant and full of promise, had fa

riking contrast to the opulence around her. Sophia was beautiful in an understated way, her warmth and intelligence radiating effortlessly. She had been a fixture in their lives f

gesture-and yet, Richard's chest tightened. He quickly averted his gaze, sipping his champagne to mask the sudden rush of g