Chapter 105

KIEL'S POINT OF VIEW

The engagement party was supposed to be a celebration.

At least, that's what it looked like from the outside.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the ballroom in golden light. The clink of champagne glasses echoed against the soft hum of classical music. Laughter floated through the air, polite and rehearsed. Everyone wore their best smiles—tailored suits, designer gowns, and masks made of charm and diplomacy.

But beneath it all, I felt the weight pressing against my chest.

This wasn't just a party. It was a transaction.

A merger.

A performance.

And I was the lead actor in a play I never auditioned for.

Business partners from both families mingled near the bar, discussing market trends like they were trading gossip. I overheard snippets as I passed through the crowd.