CHAPTER SEVENTY SEVEN –WHAT ARE WE DOING?

As she made her way to her room, Karina felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation. They had taken a huge step tonight, admitting their feelings for each other. But the road ahead was still fraught with complications. Tomorrow, they would have to put their masks back on, play the parts of the perfectly engaged couple for the board and the public. But tonight, in the privacy of their own thoughts, they could revel in the knowledge that their feelings were real, even if their engagement wasn't. The afternoon sun filtered through the heavy curtains of Miguel's study, casting long shadows across the room. Karina stood on her tiptoes, reaching for a book on the top shelf. As her fingers grazed the spine, she accidentally knocked over a small, ornate box hidden behind the volumes. The box tumbled to the floor, its lid popping open on impact. A cascade of yellowed envelopes spilled out, scattering across the polished hardwood. "Oh no," Karina muttered, kneeling to gather the fallen lett