The orchestra continued playing beneath the crystal chandeliers, filling the ballroom with elegant melodies that blended effortlessly with the laughter and conversations surrounding the guests. Waiters moved gracefully between small groups carrying silver trays, while flashes from photographers illuminated different corners of the grand hall.
To everyone else, the engagement celebration continued exactly as it should have.
Adrian's attention, however, remained fixed on the woman standing in front of him.
She smiled as she spoke about Paris, her eyes bright with the kind of excitement that couldn't be rehearsed. Every time she mentioned Maison Étoile, the campaign, or the people she'd worked alongside, there was an unmistakable warmth in her voice.
She wasn't describing a job.
She was remembering an experience she genuinely treasured.
