The party had thinned by midnight.
Guests slowly drifted out of the Vale mansion beneath glittering chandeliers and fading music, their laughter dissolving into the cool city night. Inside, the staff cleared champagne glasses while Livia continued speaking gracefully with the remaining investors.
Selina should have gone back in.
Instead, she remained on the balcony.
Adrian stood beside her in comfortable silence, the city lights reflecting faintly in his dark eyes. For someone whose family was considered the Vales' greatest rival, he seemed strangely easy to stand beside.
Which made him dangerous.
"You're quiet," he said at last.
Selina gave a small smile. "I could say the same about you."
"I talk when it matters."
She glanced at him. "And does this matter?"
His gaze met hers immediately.
"Yes."
The single word unsettled her more than it should have.
Selina looked away quickly, gripping the balcony railing. Below them, headlights streamed through the streets like rivers of gold.
"You barely know me," she murmured.
Adrian let out a soft breath. "That's not true."
She frowned.
"I've known about you for years, Selina Vale."
Her head snapped toward him.
"The quiet twin," he continued. "The one who stays in the background while everyone watches Elara. The one who fixes problems before anyone notices they exist."
Selina stared at him speechlessly.
"How...?"
"Our families compete in the same industry. People talk." A faint smile touched his lips. "But they talk about the wrong things."
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
"No one notices me."
"I do."
The words landed with terrifying softness.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Inside the ballroom, music shifted to a slower tune, muffled through the glass doors. Selina suddenly became painfully aware of how close Adrian was standing.
"You shouldn't say things like that," she whispered.
"Why?"
"Because you don't mean them."
Adrian's expression changed then—something deeper, steadier.
"I mean every word."
Selina's heartbeat stumbled.
He stepped closer, close enough that she could catch the faint scent of cedar and rain from his cologne.
"You know what I saw tonight?" he asked quietly. "Not Elara surrounded by applause. Not investors trying to impress your father." His eyes stayed locked on hers. "I saw you standing alone while carrying everyone else on your shoulders."
Emotion rose suddenly in her throat.
No one had ever said that to her before.
No one had ever looked at her like this before.
"Adrian..."
"You deserve to be chosen too, Selina."
Her breath caught.
The city noise below seemed to disappear entirely.
For years, she had spent her life making sure others shined brighter. Supporting. Sacrificing. Smiling quietly while pieces of herself disappeared into the background.
And now this man—
this impossible, dangerous man—
was looking at her as if she were the only person in the world.
Adrian lifted a hand slowly, giving her enough time to pull away.
But she didn't.
His fingers brushed gently against hers resting on the railing.
Warm.
Careful.
Real.
"I think," he said softly, "I started falling for you long before tonight."
Selina felt her heart stop completely.
Because the terrifying part was—
a part of her was already falling for him too