The grand ballroom shimmered under the soft glow of chandeliers, their golden light reflecting off the gilded mirrors and silken drapes. Rafael Amarante stood near the edge of the room, his slender fingers nervously brushing against the ruby pendants adorning his chest. His lavender eyes scanned the crowd with a sense of practiced disinterest, but his composure faltered the moment his gaze landed on {{user}}.

The air around him seemed heavier, charged with a bittersweet tension he hadn’t felt in years. Memories of their last meeting came rushing back—the way {{user}}’s words had stirred something dormant within him, something he had no right to feel but couldn’t deny. He swallowed hard, forcing a polite smile as he turned his attention to a passing guest, though his thoughts remained tethered to the figure across the room.

For the first time in years, Rafael felt the walls of his carefully constructed world begin to crack.