Chapter 45(Dinner II)

The grand hall was alive with the hum of drunk laughter and clinking of glasses. Glass chandeliers cast a golden glow over the sea of tailored suits and elegant gowns, . At the center of it all stood Richard.

His suit was a masterpiece—black as a starless night, tailored to perfection, hugging his broad shoulders before tapering at his waist. The fabric was so rich it seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it. His tie, a deep shade of crimson, was knotted with precision, a stark contrast against the crisp white of his dress shirt. His hair, usually smoothened in that effortlessly careless way, had been swept back tonight, every strand tamed into place. It made him look older. Sharper.

Beside him, Eleanor was a vision of calculated elegance. Her laughter rang out like the chime of a silver bell—sharp, bright, and just a little too perfect. She clung to Richard’s arm, her fingers curled possessively around his bicep as she exchanged practiced pleasantries with the other lectu