Among the heads of the Ten Great Families, curiosity simmered beneath the surface. While many of them knew that something had changed between Anastasia and Vincent, none dared to question it openly. The two families had always been intertwined, but this new level of closeness—this unspoken bond—was something none of them could explain.
The powerful families, used to their intricate webs of influence and loyalty, kept a careful eye on both of them. The Vasilievs and the Blackwoods were too important to risk anything foolish. Everyone understood the stakes. So, instead of asking questions, they waited, watching their every move with silent scrutiny.
It wasn't just the elders who noticed. The younger heirs—Vincent's older brother, Anastasia's cousins—sensed the change as well, though they, too, kept their thoughts to themselves. There was a palpable tension between the two young heirs. But neither Vincent nor Anastasia spoke openly about it.