To everyone’s surprise, Gavriel smoothly stepped in and picked up both glasses before Aliana could. He then lifted one of them to his lips and took a sip as though it were the most natural thing in the world before passing the same glass to Aliana.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at him in stunned silence.

His gaze traced her beautiful features before he replied with a completely straight face, "I was checking if it suited your palate."

When she merely blinked at him, he added, "After all, my fiancée should have nothing but the absolute best."

"What a thoughtful son-in-law I have," Portia commented in absolute delight, sparking a round of amused chuckles from the guests nearby.

A warm blush rose to Aliana’s cheeks before she accepted the glass and offered him a gentle smile, causing the corner of his lips to curl up ever so slightly.

Just then, Alester spoke up once more, raising his glass high. "I would like to raise a toast to Aliana and Gavriel. May you both have a remarkably bright future together, and may nothing ever have the power to take that away from you. Cheers!"

"To their happy future!" The crowd echoed in unison, everyone taking a sip of their champagne.

With amusement dancing in her eyes, Aliana clinked her glass against her future husband’s. They raised the crystal to their lips and drank, their gazes locked onto each other, charged with an undeniable intensity that anyone watching from afar could easily feel. Even those who still had jealousy coiling around their hearts could do nothing but watch the couple from afar.

Soon after the toast, guests began approaching the couple to congratulate them one by one.

Because the event was extremely exclusive, no media outlets were permitted inside. Only a few select photographers roamed the ballroom to capture candid pictures of the elite crowd.

Soft, ambient music flowed beautifully in the background as servers moved seamlessly through the room, passing around bite-sized delicacies and fresh drinks.

Adoring whispers swirled through the air about Gavriel and Aliana being the most breathtaking pair the high-society world had ever seen.

Both were undeniably powerful, but it was their striking, flawless features that truly captivated the room. Guests gushed over how not even the top icons in the entertainment industry could compare to their otherworldly appearance.

Even with the pair being together, women couldn’t help but drool over Gavriel, while men couldn’t stop gawking at Aliana. Yet they all knew that, from where they stood, they could only look and not touch.

As the evening progressed, the dance floor was officially opened. Jade took the microphone, instantly drawing everyone’s attention with her bright energy.

"Good evening, everyone. I hope you are all having a wonderful time tonight. For those who don’t know me, I’m Jade Ross, Aliana’s childhood best friend. I cannot begin to express how happy I am today to see her finally find her perfect match."

Her gaze shifted towards Gavriel. "Of course, I welcomed him with open arms..." she paused dramatically before adding, "though not without the mandatory threat every best friend is legally required to deliver should he try anything funny."

A ripple of laughter immediately swept through the room.

Jade grinned before continuing, "But jokes aside, I’d now like to invite our beautiful couple to grace us with their presence on the dance floor."

Almost instantly, countless eyes turned toward Gavriel and Aliana in anticipation.

Gavriel turned to Aliana and offered his hand, his deep, husky voice washing over her. "Shall we?"

"Yes," Aliana replied, placing her palm in his as he led her smoothly onto the dance floor.

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[Music recommendation: LIBERTO - Love Crime]

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As the lights dimmed around the room, a singular, warm glow cast down from the magnificent chandelier above, enveloping them the moment they took their positions.

Like a moth drawn helplessly to a flame, Aliana moved closer to him.

One hand rested upon his broad shoulder while the other remained enclosed within his. Gavriel’s hand settled possessively at the small of her waist, though not before his fingers deliberately brushed against the exposed skin revealed by the low-cut back of her gown.

The touch was fleeting...yet it was enough to make goosebumps rise on her skin.

Fortunately for her, no one could see it. The long cascade of her hair concealed his wandering hand from the crowd, allowing the devil to indulge himself without drawing attention.

Her breath hitched at the light touch of his fingers against her bare skin.

And Aliana had to forcefully bite back the low gasp that threatened to escape her lips at his public teasing. Instead, she settled for a discreet, narrowed glare at the sly devil who was enjoying himself entirely too much.

As the slow, rhythmic music began to play, they moved fluidly across the floor. His hand continued its slow ascent up her spine, his fingertips intentionally tracing her skin, knowing exactly what he was doing as he watched the breathless reactions blooming across her beautiful face.

Aliana, on the other hand, even as she tried to keep her racing pulse under control, found herself utterly surprised by how gracefully Gavriel moved.

No matter how intimidating his demeanour appeared to others, no one would ever suspect he could dance so flawlessly. He moved with an effortless, lazy grace, his steps so light it felt as though he had done this countless times before.

There was nothing stiff about his movements.

If anything, he shifted like water flowing gently down a stream, as if he had been born with an innate talent for it.

And no matter how much he tried to tease her, Aliana found herself genuinely enjoying the moment, matching his fluid rhythm perfectly.

Unable to hold back her curiosity, she kept her eyes fixed on his and commented, "It seems like you’ve had quite a bit of practice to be able to move like this."

It was a soft, gentle inquiry, but the underlying question was direct, and Gavriel caught onto it right away.

"I do," he replied in a low voice meant only for her ears.

He then guided her into a smooth twirl, watching intently as her long hair flowed behind her and the hem of her crimson gown flared outward like a blooming rose.

A deep sense of satisfaction washed over him, a feeling he didn’t realise he could experience from something as simple as watching her completely own the dress he had chosen.

When she spun back toward him, he wrapped his arm securely around her waist once more, only this time, he pulled her a fraction closer into his chest seamlessly.

Aliana, however, hadn’t forgotten his answer.

She pressed further, asking, "Does that mean you have attended a lot of these gatherings before to be able to move like such an expert?"

Gavriel stared down at her as they continued to glide across the floor, leaning slightly closer as he replied, "I have."

"Really?" Her brows arched in surprise. "Well, that is unexpected. I didn’t take you for someone who would enjoy being surrounded by so many people," she commented, keeping her curious gaze fixed on him.

There was a hint of curiosity in her voice as she kept her gaze fixed on him, and he could tell she wanted to know more.

She was carefully treading into unfamiliar territory, silently hoping he would offer her answers of his own accord.

But Gavriel knew he could not. His past remained little more than a blur. As he thought about it, his brows drew together slightly as he searched for something, anything, hidden within the fog of his memories, but... nothing came.

"Gav?" as she called him softly through her alluring voice, he focused back on her once again.

Instead of answering, he simply let his fingers press lightly against the exposed skin of her back.

Aliana’s breath immediately faltered.

Yet he didn’t stop there.

Leaning closer until only she could hear him, his gaze darkened ever so slightly.

"So soft," he murmured. His fingertips traced the same spot once more before he added in a low whisper, "Makes me want to bite it."