Upon entering the ballroom, Anna's eyes swept across the crowd in search of William. That was when their gazes met—and held.
A strange sensation washed over her, her body reacting in a way she could not quite explain, like the stirring ache one feels when confronted by a former lover.
Breaking the connection, she quickly turned away, resuming her search for William. She spotted him at last, standing beside Tonia, who was smiling sweetly at something he had just said.
Their eyes met, and William offered her one of his charming grins—one she had not seen since her return to the castle after his accident.
He seemed in good spirits, looking striking in his navy regalia, the same attire he had worn the day they first met. Anna felt a soft smile touch her lips as the memory resurfaced—both their fathers present, William smiling at her and offering to give her a tour of the castle.
