The music slowly resumed after the dance ended.
Guests continued talking, laughing, and moving around the ballroom as if nothing unusual had happened.
But the atmosphere around the Romano couple had subtly changed.
People were watching them more closely now.
Elena could feel it.
Curiosity.
Speculation.
Interest.
As she walked back toward Alessandro, she straightened her shoulders slightly.
He was standing exactly where she had left him, his expression calm but unreadable.
Adrian stood beside him, holding a glass of champagne while trying not to look amused.
Elena stopped in front of them.
"Well," she said casually, "that was dramatic."
Alessandro's voice was quiet.
"You accepted his invitation."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"It was a dance, not a marriage proposal."
Adrian coughed quietly, clearly trying not to laugh.
Alessandro didn't react.
His eyes moved briefly toward Victor across the ballroom before returning to Elena.
"Victor Hale doesn't do anything without a purpose."
"Yes, I noticed you've mentioned that."
Elena crossed her arms.
"And yet nothing terrible happened."
"Not yet."
That answer made her pause.
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Adrian finally broke it.
"So…"
He glanced between them.
"Did he say anything interesting?"
Elena shrugged lightly.
"He asked if I was loyal to Alessandro or to myself."
Adrian's eyebrows rose slightly.
"That's… a loaded question."
Elena nodded.
"I thought so too."
Alessandro spoke quietly.
"And what did you answer?"
She met his gaze directly.
"The truth."
A brief silence passed.
Adrian watched both of them carefully.
Finally he asked,
"And that truth is…?"
Elena gave a small smile.
"I said I'm loyal to myself."
Adrian blinked once.
Then looked at Alessandro.
"That explains the look on Victor's face."
Alessandro's expression didn't change.
But his voice became slightly colder.
"Victor is trying to understand you."
Elena sighed.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because it's important."
She studied him carefully.
"And what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Are you trying to understand me too?"
For a moment, Alessandro didn't answer.
Then he said quietly,
"Yes."
The honesty surprised her.
But before she could respond, Adrian suddenly stiffened slightly.
His eyes moved toward the ballroom entrance.
Elena noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Adrian lowered his voice.
"New arrivals."
Alessandro followed his gaze.
Two men had just entered the ballroom.
They were dressed formally like the other guests.
But something about them felt different.
Their posture.
Their movements.
Adrian spoke quietly.
"Victor didn't invite them."
Alessandro's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Elena frowned.
"Who are they?"
Adrian answered calmly.
"Trouble."
The two men began moving through the crowd slowly.
Not toward the dance floor.
Not toward the stage.
Toward Victor.
Victor noticed them as well.
But his reaction was subtle.
Just a small shift in posture.
A quiet signal.
One of Victor's bodyguards immediately stepped forward.
But the men stopped before reaching him.
Instead, one of them handed Victor a small envelope.
Victor took it calmly.
He opened it.
Read the contents.
And for the first time that night…
His smile disappeared.
Elena noticed immediately.
"That doesn't look good."
Alessandro watched carefully.
"No."
Victor looked around the room briefly.
Then his eyes landed on Alessandro.
For several seconds, the two men stared at each other across the ballroom.
Victor folded the note slowly.
Then handed it back to the messenger.
The two men left the ballroom just as quietly as they had entered.
Adrian frowned.
"That wasn't normal."
Elena crossed her arms.
"Should we be worried?"
Alessandro remained silent.
Across the room, Victor suddenly started walking toward them again.
This time his expression was different.
Colder.
More serious.
When he reached them, he spoke quietly.
"We need to talk."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds ominous."
Victor ignored the comment and looked directly at Alessandro.
"Privately."
Alessandro didn't move.
"Say it here."
Victor hesitated for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Very well."
He lowered his voice slightly.
"Someone just placed a contract."
Adrian frowned.
"A contract?"
Victor's gaze shifted briefly toward Elena.
"A professional one."
Elena blinked.
"You mean—"
"Yes."
Victor's voice remained calm.
"An assassination contract."
The word hung in the air like a gunshot.
Adrian's expression hardened immediately.
Alessandro didn't react outwardly.
But his eyes became dangerous.
"Target?"
Victor answered simply.
"Elena Romano."
For a moment, the ballroom noise faded into the background.
Elena stared at him.
"Excuse me?"
Victor nodded slightly.
"The message I just received confirmed it."
Adrian cursed quietly under his breath.
Alessandro stepped closer to Elena without even thinking.
His voice was calm.
But cold.
"Who placed it?"
Victor shook his head slightly.
"Unknown."
"That's convenient."
Victor met his gaze.
"I didn't place it."
Elena looked between them.
"Great."
She rubbed her forehead slightly.
"So now someone else wants me dead too."
Adrian spoke quietly.
"This complicates things."
Victor nodded.
"Yes."
Elena sighed.
"I've been married for three days."
She looked at Alessandro.
"Your life is very stressful."
Alessandro didn't respond to the joke.
His attention remained entirely focused on Victor.
"Why tell us?"
Victor's answer was simple.
"Because if Elena dies tonight…"
He glanced around the ballroom.
"…everyone will assume I did it."
That made sense.
Adrian nodded slowly.
"He's right."
Victor looked at Elena again.
"And despite what Alessandro believes…"
His voice softened slightly.
"I have no interest in killing you."
Elena stared at him.
"Well that's comforting."
Victor straightened his jacket.
"I suggest leaving soon."
Alessandro's voice was calm.
"We will."
Victor nodded once.
Then stepped back.
"But be careful, Elena Romano."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Victor's expression became serious again.
"Because someone in this city already decided you're worth killing."
And in a world like theirs…
That decision rarely came without a reason.