CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN – SHE’S NOT LIKE US

As they left the club and headed back to the car, Marco squeezed her hand. "You did well in there," he murmured. Jasmine managed a small smile. "Thanks. But I feel like I've just watched a high-stakes poker game where I didn't know all the rules." Don Cesaro, overhearing, chuckled. "That's not far from the truth, my dear. But remember this – in our world, it's not always about winning. Sometimes, it's about finding a balance that everyone can live with." As they drove back into the city, the lights reflecting off the car windows, Jasmine pondered Don Cesaro's words. She had entered a world far more complex than she had ever imagined. But as she looked at Marco beside her and thought of the bistro rising from the ground, she knew that despite the challenges, she wouldn't have it any other way. The next morning, as Jasmine arrived at the construction site, she saw Vincent across the street, supervising his own project. Their eyes met, and for a moment, understanding passed between th