41 : Run From You?

VERENA

My heart thunders loudly in my chest as I meet his sharp gaze. Just watching him from afar brings back a wave of emotions that I've tried to keep buried in my heart for so long.

His other arm is being held by none other than Nixie, the same woman who had banished me. This night can’t get any worse.

I feel a light nudge on my hand and turn to Carlisle. His face is unreadable, but his voice is calm. "Remember what I told you," he says with a smile.

I nod with a smile and raise my chin as we walk ahead. We enter the main hall, and despite my heart racing wildly, I plaster a look of absolute confidence on my face. I knew he’d be here, but I still attended the exhibition because I didn’t want to hide. I am not affected by him–at least that's what I want to show him. But I can feel his gaze on me like a hawk, pricking my back.

The room is bathed in a warm, golden glow, and in one corner, a small orchestra plays beneath a canopy of twinkling lights. The classical music weaves through