Chapter 73 Gideon's Pov

• As the meal progressed, I found myself distracted by Esmeralda’s every movement. The way she pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The way she absently caressed her belly as she listened to Darius’s banter. The way her smile lingered, even when she thought no one was watching.
• I shouldn’t have noticed these things. I shouldn’t have cared. But as the minutes passed, it became harder to ignore the quiet pull I felt toward her.
• When the plates were cleared and Esmeralda excused herself to take a walk in the gardens, I remained seated, staring at the empty space she had occupied.