A charity gala.
Who wouldn't feel nervous?
For Missy, this was her first time attending something this extravagant.
Her palms were cold.
Her fingers slightly stiff.
And the moment their car entered the grand hotel lobby, lined with warm golden lights reflecting against polished marble floors, Missy could feel her heartbeat quicken noticeably.
Nervous was an understatement.
She was absolutely tense.
"Nervous?"
Raven noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
He reached for her hand and gently intertwined their fingers, his thumb brushing slowly across her knuckles.
"You don't need to be so tense," he murmured. "Just relax. I won't leave you alone."
Missy exhaled softly.
"Easy for you to say. You're used to things like this."
Raven let out a small amused hum.
"Believe it or not, I don't appear at events like this very often either."
There was something layered in his tone.
Something meaningful.
"Hm... in fact, it's been a very long time since the last one."
