CLAIRE ANDERSON I'm halfway across the lawn, my steps carrying me toward Xavier's rigid silhouette, when I feel it. A gaze, sharp and focused, pressing against my skin like a physical weight. I pause, my hand still raised to catch Xavier's attention, and I turn slowly, scanning the clusters of guests scattered across the manicured grass.She's standing near the edge of the terrace, a glass of champagne balanced between her fingers, her posture impeccable. Her platinum hair is swept back from her face in a sleek, elegant twist, and her pale blue dress drapes across her frame like it was made for her. Her eyes meet mine, cool and assessing, and for a moment, neither of us moves. I don't know who she is, but I know she's someone important—someone who belongs here in a way I never will. The way she holds herself, the way the other guests seem to drift around her like she's the center of their orbit, tells me she's been a fixture in this world for a long time. She's not just a guest. She'
Last Updated : 2026-08-23 Read more