I took another sip of my mocktail, letting Ian's words settle in the back of my mind. His laughter lingered, echoing above the soft background music and the lively chatter around us. In the distance, silver platters of gourmet food floated on thin anti-grav fields, weaving among guests in a silent display of futuristic convenience.
Occasional flashes of holographic decorations rippled across the vaulted ceilings of the Creighton estate—an architectural marvel combining old-world grandeur and sleek technological accents.
