Chapter 13
As the final notes of the orchestra faded and the heavy oak doors of the ballroom began to close, the high-energy buzz of the evening evaporated. Evan finally started to notice a shift. Serenity wasn’t as vibrant as she had been an hour ago; the effortless spark had dimmed.
At first, he chalked it up to exhaustion—socializing at this level was a marathon, and he assumed she was simply spent. But as they stood by the exit, he watched her bid farewell to the remaining guests with a sweetness and charm that seemed to reignite the moment someone else was looking. She was a professional until the very last handshake.
The second they crossed the threshold of the gala and stepped into the quiet, dimly lit corridor leading to the valet, the mask didn't just slip—it was stripped away.
