Jayden's POV
The ballroom pulsed with life around me, but I might as well have been watching it through glass.
Crystal chandeliers cast dancing shadows across silk gowns and polished marble floors. Laughter echoed from every corner, wine glasses clinked in endless toasts, and the orchestra played with practiced perfection. Yet none of it registered beyond the periphery of my awareness.
Every detail of tonight had been orchestrated by my hands. From the seating arrangements to the menu selection, I had controlled each element with surgical precision. All for one purpose.
To have Jasmine beside me.
The moment my parents granted their approval for the evening's guest list, I hadn't moved forward with my plans until securing Ebony's blessing. This was her celebration, after all, and I refused to let my personal desires overshadow her moment.
