Then, as the last echoes of applause faded, something truly shocking happened—Vincent took a step back, his hand still holding hers, and without warning, the two vanished from the center of the ballroom.
Whispers filled the room. No one had seen them leave, but it was as if the very air had swallowed them whole. It was as if they had evaporated into the ether, leaving the stunned crowd behind. The couples, who had been frozen in awe just moments before, now stood in disbelief, trying to understand what had just occurred.
The world's reaction was immediate. News outlets exploded, cameras shifted to the ballroom's grand doors, yet there was no sign of them. The vast array of billion-dollar technology that the top families had at their disposal couldn't catch the most important moment—Vincent and Anastasia's disappearance.
Back in the grand hall, people began to speculate. The heads of the families, the richest and most influential of them all, were quick to offer their interpretations. Some believed that this was all part of the spectacle, a carefully orchestrated disappearance that added to the grandeur of the night.
Yet none of their guesses could have prepared them for what was happening behind closed doors.
Anastasia's room, secluded from the eyes of the world, was dimly lit. The walls were adorned with the elegance that befitted her position—rich tapestries, vintage chandeliers, and a sprawling bed that seemed to have been designed for moments like this, though it was rarely used for such personal affairs.
As soon as the door closed behind them, the world outside disappeared entirely. In that moment, it was only Anastasia and Vincent—two souls who, despite the distance they had once put between them, had always gravitated toward each other.