Diana was still processing the humiliation of being barred from approaching Sophia when a familiar voice cut through the ambient conversation with unexpected venom."Diana Morrison. We need to talk. Now."She turned to find Ryan Steel striding toward her, and the expression on his face made her breath catch. Gone was the polished charm, the calculated smoothness, the veneer of civilized superiority he always wore like armor. In its place was raw, undisguised fury that twisted his handsome features into something almost ugly.Diana had known Ryan for years—had endured his condescension, deflected his persistent marriage proposals, tolerated his family's attempts to control her. But she'd never seen him truly angry before. Irritated, yes. Frustrated, certainly. But this was different.This was rage."Ryan," Diana said carefully, aware that other guests were watching with barely concealed interest. "This isn't the time or place—""Don't." Ryan's voice was low and dangerous as he closed t

Andrea Chen moved through the reception hall with practiced subtlety, her professional demeanor making her virtually invisible among the celebrating guests. As Sophia Palazzo's chief of staff, Andrea had perfected the art of gathering intelligence without appearing to do so—a skill that had proven invaluable over her five years of service.Tonight, Sophia had given her a simple directive: find out everything possible about Marcus Hayes.Andrea approached a cluster of older society matrons, inserting herself into their conversation with a glass of champagne and a practiced smile. "What an extraordinary evening," she offered as an opening."Extraordinary is one word for it," one of the women replied with a sniff. "Scandalous is another. Did you see that young man? The one who won all those early auctions?""Marcus Hayes?" Andrea prompted innocently."If that's even his real name," another matron added darkly. "Spending millions like it was nothing. Very suspicious, if you ask me.""I he