"Alaric," Daniel muttered quietly from behind him, a subtle nudge to get his son moving.
Alaric exhaled a slow, sharp breath through his nose. He smoothed down his tuxedo jacket, stepped forward, and walked toward the small, velvet-covered table where the ring boxes waited under the glittering chandeliers.
The countdown was over. The game was officially live.
Alaric stepped up to the velvet-covered table and picked up the engagement ring. Turning back to Elena, he took her left hand in his.
The moment their fingers brushed, he froze.
Her hand was slightly shaking.
Alaric's eyes narrowed as he slid the ring onto her finger.
Was she actually nervous? He immediately dismissed the thought.
That's impossible.
She had been the one desperately pushing for this timeline from the very start. It had to be another calculated performance. Just another part of her script.
