Giovanni’s POV

After Gray left to meet some of his associates, I tried to calm myself down. The hall felt suffocating—the noise, the perfume, the flashes of cameras—it all blended into one dizzying blur. I needed air.

I slipped away quietly, pretending to be on a phone call, ignoring the few curious glances that followed me as I walked down the long corridor. The light was dimmer here, and the music from the main hall was nothing more than a muffled hum against the walls.

I didn’t ...