16

Williams POV.

As I stepped into the shower, the hot water cascading over my shoulders, I scrubbed myself vigorously, trying to wash away the tension and confusion of the night. Allison—or Seraphina, as I had known her—kept invading my thoughts. How many times had we crossed paths since she reappeared in my life? Too many to be mere coincidence.

I had been invited to Harrington's masked party, not expecting anything out of the ordinary. And then, there she was, moving through the crowd with an air of confidence that left me stunned. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her dress hugging curves I hadn't known she possessed. Every time I saw her, a pang of regret hit me hard. It was like some cosmic payback for all the things I had done to her.

I couldn't get the image of her dancing with another man out of my mind. The way she moved, so skilled and graceful, it nearly drove me nuts. How could she have changed so much in just a year? The Allison I knew was a loving wife, always supportive,