Betty’s POV

The ballroom was soon flooded with guests. The lights were dimmed as classic music filled the atmosphere. Everyone started to mingle in small clusters. I could spot Mum sharing a few words with some partners.

The servers circulated the champagne. The sparkling bubbles in the cup were truly tempting. My lips itched to take a sip, but Ivan was adamant about me staying far away from alcohol, like it was some type of poison that would kill me at a single taste.

The entire time, we ...