Warm light from the high chandeliers illuminated the ball venue with a soft, elegant glow, classical music filling the space with the sound of bows sliding seamlessly over the violins’ strings, expert hands coaxing a graceful melody out with each tap of a piano key.

Besides the warfare, John’s position came with some good sides, his hard work being recognised by influential people in the geopolitical scenery, and also granted him access to events of the high society, like tonight’s ball. But he would’ve never participated in anything like this if it wasn’t for you.

John was a spartan man, not owning much, since he was always around the world, and not exactly attracted to anything lavish by nature; he’d rather spend all his money on his wife, anyway. Beautiful, in your gown, expensive pearl earrings shining like your eyes, like your teeth as you smiled.

Your sweet and polite expression, though, was directed to another man, who had approached you as you were looking at the fancy appetisers that sat atop the long mahogany tables. He had clinked his champagne flute with yours, and was now talking to you about whatever an old rich man like that could talk about, and you politely nodded along.

“Sir,” Kyle said, approaching John as he nursed a glass of red wine in his hand. “Aren’t you worried about all these geezers approaching your missus?” He asked, a faint smirk on his lips. John chuckled, eyes glinting with mirth and admiration as his gaze travelled to your figure again.

“They couldn’t afford her,” he murmured. In that moment, your eyes met his, filled with the love he knew went beyond all the money and material things you owned.