CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT – THE CLAP BACK

Kayla's eyes shimmered with grateful tears as she melted into his embrace. "You wonderful, wonderful man," she whispered fervently. "This is...it's everything I could have hoped for. Thank you." The lavish concert proved to be every bit as transporting as Kayla had imagined. Cocooned in the plush orchestra seating, she allowed the soaring melodies and sweeping crescendos to whisk her away into a realm of purer beauty and escapism. A realm where she was simply a woman enraptured, not a pawn in Barbara Storm's vindictive games of status and high society cruelty. As the final, thunderous notes reverberated through the grand halls, Kayla turned to Lance with eyes shimmering with exhilarated rapture. "That was...I don't even have words to describe it," she said, clutching his hand with a fervent squeeze. "You've given me such an incredible gift tonight, my love." Lance lifted her knuckles to his lips, his own expression awash with tenderness and awe. "You deserve all the beauty and won