Author POV

Stephanie swirled the champagne in her glass, her perfectly painted lips curving into a faint, knowing smile as she watched the crowd from her seat. The campaign hall glimmered with golden light, laughter, and the hum of political chatter. Yet, beneath all the glitz, her mind wasn’t on the speeches or the cameras—it was on Giovanni.

“Strange,” she murmured, tapping a manicured finger against the rim of her glass. “She’s not here.”

Across from her, George leaned ...