Chapter 55 - Sebastian badmouths Lucas

The party hall was all glitter and grandeur, the kind of place where wealth didn't whisper—it shouted. Crystal chandeliers hung like frozen cascades from the high ceiling, scattering light across the polished marble floor. Round tables draped in ivory linen were dotted around the room, each crowned with towering arrangements of fresh lilies and roses. Soft golden uplighting warmed the cream-colored walls, while the far end of the hall opened into a stage framed by velvet drapes. Waiters in crisp black and white moved effortlessly between guests, balancing silver trays of champagne flutes and hors d'oeuvres. The air carried a subtle blend of expensive perfume, wine, and the faint tang of polished silver.