LAUREN'S POV

Roman chuckled softly, his gaze flicking toward me — calm, unbothered, and utterly in control. He didn’t even have to say much; his silence carried authority.

“Well, you can say something like that,” Roman replied to the host, his tone smooth and composed, his eyes still on me as if silently daring me to correct him.

I felt my throat tighten. My pulse fluttered uncomfortably beneath my skin as I forced a small, polite smile. His gaze lingered longer than it should have, ...