Matteo gave a slow shrug. "She'll adjust," he said. "Just like you did."

Arabella's smile wavered for the briefest second, then steadied.

"Yes," she said softly. "Just like I did."

Matteo gave a slight nod, his hand brushing briefly against her arm as they walked toward the grand ballroom. They moved in sync, his steady presence just behind her like a constant reminder that she was never truly alone in the dangerous world she inhabited.

The ballroom loomed ahead, its light spilling through the tall, gilded doors, soft strains of music trickling out into the hallway. Arabella's heart beat a little faster, not from nerves, but from the weight of the moment. Tonight marked a turning point—one she couldn't undo.