Chapter 466

Evening had fallen, and the Larson family banquet was already in full swing. Clusters of relatives gathered in twos and threes as they exchanged idle chatter under the warm glow of chandeliers. Serena finally seized a quiet moment to slip away from the clinking glasses and constant buzz of conversation. With a gentle flush on her cheeks, she wandered toward the empty terrace. The open air greeted her with a breeze that stirred the loose strands of hair around her face, offering a welcome breath of coolness and clarity. Her wine-clouded thoughts finally stilled, if only for a moment. She leaned against the railing with a lazy grace. That was when Hugh appeared. Broad-shouldered and sharply built, he placed his half-finished glass of champagne aside and strode toward her. For a brief second, it looked like he was going to tuck the hair from her face, but he paused—hesitated—and let his hand fall. "You've had a long day," he said. Serena's eyes, half-lidded from the alcohol, flutt