Damian's Pov
The moment we entered the main hall of the Symphony Gala, the entire room ceased its collective hum. It was not a physical stop; it was an audible hush, a collective intake of breath that followed us like a shockwave across the polished marble floor. This was the currency of my world: attention, consequence, and silent, immediate judgment. I could feel the microscopic shift in the room's energy, the instantaneous re-evaluation of every existing relationship based on my arrival with her.
