The man''s name echoed suddenly in her ear.


    Isadora''s heart clenched painfully as thoughts of her pregnancy shed through her mind.


    "Tonight''s the Capitolion Charity G," Nte said breathlessly. "Victor was invited as the guest of honor, and guess who''s clinging to his arm? None other than Laverne—the Oscar-winning actress everyone''s obsessed with right now."


    "Isadora, isn''t he still your boyfriend? How can he be so shameless, parading another woman around for everyone to see? The whole room is gossiping about how perfect they look together. It''s infuriating!"


    Isadora just stood there, stunned.


    Without another word, Nte grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.


    The ballroom was buzzing with chatter andughter.


    Waiters wove through the crowd, bncing trays of cocktails.


    Onstage, the charity auction was already in full swing, the bidding lively and relentless.


    From the moment she stepped in, Isadora spotted him-sitting in the prime spot closest to the stage.


    That table was surrounded by distinguished men, every one of them exuding wealth and influence, with morous actresses in designer gowns hanging on their every word.


    It was no wonder Isadora''s eyes went straight to Victor.


    He stood out so sharply from everyone else.


    Victor''s profile looked like it had been carved by a master sculptor-bold brows, piercing eyes, a perfectly straight nose-a striking, almost dangerous kind of handsome.


    He lounged in the seat of honor, shoulders broad beneath a tailored tuxedo, a luxurious bow tie at his throat. The crisp lines of his jacket narrowed at the waist, and his long legs stretched out in jet-ck trousers.


    He easily outshone even the glittering lights of the ballroom.


    It had been nearly a month.


    Isadora hadn''t seen him, hadn''t even crossed paths with him in her daily life.


    Now she just stood there, caught off guard, staring at his silhouette.


    Maybe her gaze lingered too long, because suddenly Victor''s indifferent eyes swept over the crowd andnded on her.


    Itsted only a second-his gaze brushed past her, casual, almost dismissive, as


    if he hadn''t even registered that it was her.


    Isadora couldn''t say what she felt in that moment.


    All she knew was that the darkness in his eyes seemed unfamiliar, almost cold.


    Victor himself felt distant, unreachable.


    Nte tugged her arm again.


    "Isadora, do you see? That''s Victor-and right next to him is Laverne, this year''s Oscar winner. Look at her-she''s practically glued to his side!"


    When Isadora didn''t respond, Nte nced over and noticed how pale she looked.


    Assuming Isadora was furious, Nte squared her shoulders, determined to stand up for her friend. She pulled Isadora through the crowd, straight toward Victor''s table.


    By the time Isadora realized what was happening, they were already standing in front of the VIP table, just steps from the stage.


    Instantly, the entire table turned to look at the two of them, surprise flickering in their eyes.


    Nte hesitated for a split second-after all, everyone at this table wielded serious power in Capitolion. A single word from any of them could ruin her career.


    But ncing at Isadora, she steeled herself, chin held high.


    Her gaze slid from Laverne to the man sitting at the head of the table, regal andposed.


    "Well, isn''t that something?" Nte said, her voice loud and clear. "This prince looks an awful lot like my best friend''s boyfriend!"


    The room perked up instantly, all eyes locked on them.


    Even Laverne, the celebrated Oscar winner who had been Victor''spanion all evening, was only ever introduced as his date-not his girlfriend.


    Victor lifted his eyeszily, his deep gaze cool as it swept over the two women. His voice, when he spoke, was low, edged with a faint, mocking amusement.


    "Funny," he drawled. "I don''t recall having a girlfriend."