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.

made up of older men and women, with a sprinkle of young people

birthday bash had an old–school vibe; it was not really the hip

and a classy orchestra, they’d set up a quaint stage in the middle of the hall. A performance was

guns today could sit through something

politely for a bit, and then scram

was just too darn boring

a

all the books she could find. In her free time, she’d seek out traditional

was actually having a ball

Bagley family’s home had a very cozy and welcoming vibe.

her mom had brought her over? Her mom’s hometown was always filled with sweet and warm