Chapter 44 The Ties That Bind

• The gala was a shadowed labyrinth of whispered promises and hidden threats, all wrapped in the glittering veneer of a masquerade. Beneath the glittering chandeliers and behind the elaborate masks, the underworld’s most dangerous players gathered—each one a ghost in the night, a predator hunting for power, influence, and secrets best kept buried.
• Ivy stepped into that world like a blade forged in fire—sharp, cold, and lethal. The red silk of her gown clung to her curves, the hem sweeping the marble floor as she moved with a grace born of survival. The black lace mask covered half her face, obscuring her identity but sharpening the mystery that trailed her every step.
• Damien was already there, waiting near the grand staircase, the gold and black mask on his face turning his expression unreadable. His dark eyes flicked to her as she approached, and for a moment, the pulse of the room seemed to slow—time bending around the unspoken tension between them.