Evelyn's POV
Victor's words lingered in the air long after he spoke them.
"One hour is over."
No one answered.
No one needed to. The silence itself carried everything that couldn't be said aloud.
The celebration continued around us as though nothing had changed.
Guests laughed over champagne while the orchestra played another elegant melody, completely unaware that an entire family had spent the last hour holding its breath.
Victor slowly looked around the ballroom.
Satisfied that no one was paying attention, he turned toward Richard and spoke quietly.
"We shouldn't stay here."
Richard nodded immediately.
"Let's go."
Victor's eyes shifted to Adrian.
Then they settled on me.
"You too."
Without another word, the four of us quietly excused ourselves from the guests around us.
We left separately enough not to attract attention, yet close enough that we reached the private lounge almost together.
As I walked away, I glanced back only once.
Grace had already noticed.
