Chapter 56 The Grand Gesture

• The crystal chandeliers overhead sparkled with a brilliance that rivaled the diamonds adorning the women at the gala. Conversations hummed in the background, a polite cacophony of pleasantries and laughter. Celia stood near the edge of the room, her satin gown flowing elegantly as she gripped a flute of champagne she hadn’t touched. Her parents were just a few feet away, engaged in lively conversation, completely unaware of the turmoil brewing inside her.
• Alexander wasn’t supposed to be here.
• She had made it clear the last time they spoke that they needed space—time to think, time to heal. Yet, when she glanced across the grand ballroom, there he was. Standing tall in a tailored tuxedo, Alexander exuded confidence, but his piercing gaze betrayed him. His eyes searched for her, cutting through the crowd like a beacon, as though he would settle for nothing less than locking eyes with her.