Elena is walking a tightrope—between duty and desire, silence and rebellion. The chapter opens with her trying to focus on anything but Nicolas Russo, but his presence lingers like smoke. He's not just in the room—he's in her thoughts, her pulse, her every breath.
At a family function, Elena is once again forced into proximity with Nicolas. Their interactions are brief but charged with subtext. A glance. A word. A brush of fingertips that feels like a spark to dry kindling. Nicolas doesn't flirt—he commands. And Elena, despite herself, responds.
We see more of Nicolas's control in this chapter. He's calm, composed, and terrifyingly observant. He notices everything—especially Elena. He doesn't say much, but when he does, it's with a precision that cuts through her defenses. There's a moment—fleeting but unforgettable—where he steps just a little too close, says something just a little too intimate. And Elena? She doesn't step away.
Meanwhile, Elena's internal monologue is a storm. She's furious with herself for wanting him. She reminds herself of the rules, the consequences, the scandal she barely survived. But none of it matters when he looks at her like she's the only thing in the room worth seeing.
The chapter ends with a moment of quiet devastation. Elena realizes that this isn't just a crush. It's not even lust. It's something deeper, darker, and far more dangerous. And she's already in too deep.
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