She looked at me, her eyes softening. “Oh, Nina, you don’t have to—” “I want to, mom.” She smiled, a beautiful, genuine smile that I had only seen a handful of times in my life—and it seemed to be more so lately. “Thank you, darling.” As we left the salon, I felt a little lighter. The world ou
Nina The morning sun had finally risen high into the sky by the time my mom and I arrived back at the mansion. The morning felt jam-packed with activities, revelations, and emotions, but I was happy. As we made our way back to the mansion with our bags, the noise and hustle of my father’s servants
We stood there for a while longer, watching as Enzo and Tyler continued to play. Tyler never seemed to run out of energy, and was proving to be a good match against Enzo. I grinned so much as I watched them that my face eventually grew sore, and it wasn’t until my mom spoke that I realized that I
Nina My heart pounded as I finally stepped out of my bedroom, dressed and ready for the ball. I looked down at the gown, its midnight black fabric shimmering under the soft glow of the hallway lights. For the first time in forever, I felt like I almost belonged in this extravagant setting. But e
“Good,” my father said, draping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer as we began to walk to the hors d'oeuvres table. “He’s a good man, Nina. I’m proud to call him my son-in-law.” Just as I was about to respond, I caught a snippet of Enzo’s conversation drifting across the room: “Yes,
Nina The mansion was alive with laughter, clinking glasses, and lively chatter. I was immersed in it all by Enzo’s side, but my focus sharpened when Tyler walked in, a radiant smile on his face and a girl on his arm. She was tall, slender, and had a vibe that screamed ‘effortlessly cool’. “Hey
I leaned into him, absorbing his familiar, comforting scent. “Yeah. Just got a little introspective, is all.” Enzo chuckled. “Nina, being introspective? That’s a new one. Kidding.” The scent of roses filled the air, mingling with the earthy smell of damp soil. The sound of the music playing insi
Nina “Nina! Enzo!” My brother’s voice carried across the garden, breaking Enzo and I out of our reverie. We both lifted our heads and turned around to see Tyler standing in the doorway, waving excitedly with a grin on his face. “What is it, Ty?” I called out, charmed by his enthusiasm. “They