As the evening drew to a close, the grand ballroom slowly began to empty. Enrico emerged from the sit-down, he glanced around the room, his eyes scanning the dwindling crowd until they landed on Isabella, standing near the bar, her posture tense and her face unreadable.
He approached her with a confident stride, the remnants of the evening’s negotiations and conversations still lingering in his mind. Isabella turned her head slightly as he neared, her eyes meeting his with a guarded expression.
“It’s time to go,” Enrico said, his voice low and authoritative. He placed a hand on her back, guiding her toward the exit. She stiffened at his touch but didn’t pull away, her face betraying none of the turmoil that was brewing inside her.
The ride back to the mansion was shrouded in an uncomfor
