The lobby of the Plaza was a sea of velvet and flashbulbs. This was the Founders’ Gala, the first of the three mandated appearances, and the air was thick with the scent of lilies and high-stakes curiosity. Bella sat in the back of the town car, her hands folded in her lap. She wore a gown of midnight navy, structured and high-collared, more like armor than silk.Dante sat beside her, his presence a heavy, silent anchor. He hadn't touched her since they left the tower. He hadn't even looked at her directly, preferring to study the briefing notes on his tablet. But as the car pulled to the curb and the muffled roar of the crowd reached them, he finally looked up."The gala is a gauntlet, Bella. The board is here to see if we flinch. The press is here to see if we’re lying. Don't give them a single frame they can use against the children.""I know how to audit a room, Dante," Bella said, her voice cool and steady. "Just remember the agreement. You don't lead me, and you don't talk fo
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