Chapter 73

Viona POV

The music swelled, violins climbing high as laughter bubbled across the ballroom. Glasses clinked, skirts swished, and the atmosphere of celebration deepened with every passing moment. Yet for me, the glittering lights seemed colder, the smiles sharper, and every step of the dancers felt like a march toward doom.

I knew why he was here.

The Founder never attended gatherings out of leisure. He was not a man who wasted hours on champagne and idle chatter. Whenever he ...