Chapter 78 Paled In Comparison

• Clutching several gift bags in one hand, and holding a Kelly bag and a walking cane in the other, Holly was the epitome of beauty and grace in a classic black dress, matching satin pumps and a burgundy coat draped around her shoulders. Her long hair, pulled away from her face in a French twist, and the minimal jewellery she'd chosen, tied her look together beautifully, giving her an air of timelessness.
• She nervously glanced around the room, scanning the sea of unfamiliar faces. Relief and something Andrei wanted to believe was joy flashed in her eyes when her gaze finally settled on him, her big, unrestrained smile warming up the room.
• As he sat there, unable to believe she was truly there, and not a figment of his imagination, Andrei couldn't help but think how all the peonies he'd sent her over the years—and he reckoned he'd sent her over a thousand since he saw her first show two years ago—paled in comparison with her.