CHAPTER 152
KATYA POV
It was almost an hour now. An hour of music shifting, lights dimming and brightening, waiters gliding by like they were on wheels, and guests laughing a little too loudly over their glasses of champagne.
An hour of the throne-chairs on the podium still sitting empty.
An hour… and still no Romeo.
Marina had already moved on. Floating from group to group like a living gemstone, greeting people, accepting compliments, dazzling like she hadn't walked in alone.
Her father drifted beside her at first, then split off, shaking hands and smiling like a businessman sealing invisible deals.
But no matter how polished they looked, no matter how flawless Marina's smile remained, I noticed the glances.
Quick. Sharp. Careful. They kept flicking back toward us. Toward Nonna.
Toward the empty podium.
And that's when I realized....Nonna was nervous. Not openly. Not dramatically. Anyone else would've missed it.
