Ethan's POV
Ethan adjusted the cuffs of his suit as he stood near the grand entrance of Blackwood Manor. The gala had just begun, and the estate was already filling with the most powerful figures in the world—business moguls, politicians, royalty, and military elites.
This wasn't just an event.
It was a battlefield.
Deals were made here. Alliances were formed. Enemies were exposed.
And tonight?
Elena Carter was walking straight into it.
Ethan's eyes scanned the crowd. Classic was here, looking effortlessly sharp in a tailored black suit. Christiana was nearby, her gaze unreadable, already playing the game.
Then, the moment he had been waiting for—
Elena arrived.
Dressed in an elegant navy-blue gown, she stepped into the grand hall with just the right amount of confidence. Not too much to seem arrogant, not too little to seem insecure.
She knew eyes would be on her.
But what she didn't know?
The people watching her weren't admiring. They were analyzing. Calculating. Hunting.
Ethan smirked slightly as he saw Chris Blackwood himself make his entrance from the upper floor, his presence commanding the entire room without even trying.
The King had arrived.
And now?
The game could truly begin.