The air buzzed with music and champagne chatter as Raya carefully slipped through the crowd, leaving Adrian and Elias behind. Her path led her to a cluster of guests near the floral archway — where Seraphina's family stood, laughing and mingling.
Her heart thudded.
Play the part, she told herself.
Juliana caught sight of her first. "There you are! I was beginning to think Adrian locked you away again."
Raya gave a small laugh. "You know how he is."
Beside Juliana stood Hector Hart, the powerful, always well-dressed CEO of the Hart Group — Seraphina's father. He looked up from his drink and grinned.
"Well, well. So now that you've got a man, you forget your old man, huh?"
"Sorry, Daddy," Raya said sweetly, hooking her hand around Hector's arm, falling into the role. "You know how these things go."
Hector chuckled, clearly pleased. "I was just telling your mother we should speed up this wedding of yours."
