The Kiss that Sparked it All

Ellinor shifted her gaze to the banquet hall’s entrance.

In walked Balfour, decked out in a light–colored suit, exuding an undeniable charm.

Guests nocked to him, raising glasses, exchanging greetings, and creating quite the buzz.

In fact, when Theo walked in earlier, he had quite the fan club too. But Theo’s icy demeanor meant he wasn’t exactly the warmest guy in the room. The crowd soon got the hint and backed off.

Balfour, on the other hand, handled the compliments and attention like a pro. He’d raise his glass and flash a smile, cleverly feeding off the crowd’s energy. But beneath the pleasantries, one could sense a cold indifference.

As Ellinor watched Balfour, he caught her eye. A brief flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly regained his composure and went back to chatting with an older gentleman, not giving her a second glance.

Ellinor shrugged off the encounter and redirected her attention to other parts of the hall, observing the scene in detail.

of older men and women, with a sprinkle of young people here and there.

was not really

and a classy orchestra, they’d set up a quaint stage in the middle of the hall. A performance was underway to honor old Mr. Bagley’s

seriously, how many young guns today

a gift, sit politely for a

party was just too darn boring

a soft spot

any playmates, she devoured all the books she could find. In her free time, she’d seek out traditional performances, and

was actually having a ball at this party.

a very cozy and welcoming

wondered if she’d been here as a kid. Maybe her mom had brought her over? Her mom’s hometown was always filled with sweet and warm memories. She couldn’t recall the specifics, but the