Elena’s POV

President Yu’s eyes landed on me first, and for a moment I felt as if she saw far more than anyone else here ever bothered to notice. She didn’t address me immediately, though.

Her attention shifted only because Stella stepped forward with an urgency that practically pushed the air aside. Stella arranged her expression into something gentle and distinguished, introduced herself as Damien’s fiancée, and extended her hand with a soft smile that looked carefully rehearsed. ...