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Chapter 40: The Gala
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2026-07-30 16:00:55Valentina POV
"You look beautiful," Renzo murmured against my ear as we stepped into the blinding opulence of the Ricci ballroom. His palm was a solid, grounding weight at the small of my back. "Try to enjoy this, even if the company is questionable.""I'll do my best." I forced a seamless, practiced smile onto my face, but my eyes were already working the room out of pure survival instinct. I mapped the exits. I scanned the balconies. I calculated the density of a crowd that could
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The Don's Secret Heir Chapter 40: The Gala
Valentina POV"You look beautiful," Renzo murmured against my ear as we stepped into the blinding opulence of the Ricci ballroom. His palm was a solid, grounding weight at the small of my back. "Try to enjoy this, even if the company is questionable.""I'll do my best." I forced a seamless, practiced smile onto my face, but my eyes were already working the room out of pure survival instinct. I mapped the exits. I scanned the balconies. I calculated the density of a crowd that could turn from a celebratory toast to a firing squad in the span of a single breath.Carmela Ricci found us within minutes. She swept through the glittering crowd resplendent in emerald silk, a predatory warmth radiating off her like heat off midnight pavement."Valentina. You actually came." She took both my hands in hers, leaning in to press a flawless, icy kiss against my cheek. She was every inch the gracious matriarch. "And you must be Renzo. Marco has told me absolutely nothing about
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