Kai stepped out of the sleek black sedan into the smooth whisper of the DeLuca mansion’s driveway, twilight soft against the stone. In his hand was a modest bouquet—white tulips and blush roses—his quiet gift. He inhaled the evening air before stepping forward.

Inside, Rebecca watched from the grand foyer, hands folded until Kai reached the threshold. He paused, and she greeted him without a word, moving with every inch of his arrival choreographed. He offered the bouquet with ...