Ash’s POV
"So, I have a special announcent for tonight," Dominic’s dad said, raising his voice to demand the whole room’s attention.
The crowd quieted. Glasses clinked faintly. Soone coughed.
Next to him, Dominic shifted....his hand went to his tie, fingers tugging at the collar like it was suddenly choking him. His jaw flexed. I could tell he already hated whatever was coming.
"In honor of my son," his dad began, smiling too wide for it to be genuine, "and in honor of the Vale family legacy... I am officially announcing my candidacy for Mayor of Estrella."
Gasps. Murmurs.
—Mayor?
—Wait, what did he say?
—He’s running for Mayor?
People were already pulling out their phones, whispering into each other’s ears. So clapped, others just stared, unsure whether to cheer or not.
Dominic’s shoulders tensed. His expression stayed unreadable, but I saw the tiny flicker in his eyes. He rolled them, and hissed his teeth.
He hated this.
And honestly? I didn’t bla him.
His dad.... Hudson Vale, was still talking, pacing the small stage like a man who’d been waiting all his life for this mont.
"I’ve served this community in many ways... through business, through education, legacy."
"The Vale...one of the founding families of Estrella. And now, I believe it’s ti for to serve politically. I want to make Estrella a city of innovation and opportunity. A city where values still matter..."
His words blurred after a while. It sounded like every campaign speech I’d ever heard online.
People around kept whispering:
—"He’d make a good mayor, though. He’s got the money, the influence."
— "Still... on his son’s birthday? Couldn’t he wait till tomorrow? That’s selfish."
— "It’s classic Hudson... everything’s always about him."
The murmurs got louder, mixing with the sound of clinking glasses and cara clicks.
Dominic just stood there, frozen. His eyes flicked to the floor, his jaw tightened, that storm quietly ford behind his calm face.
I wanted to reach for him.
Say sothing.
But I knew that look. The one that said don’t touch right now, or I’ll break.
Hudson kept going. "Of course, that’s not the only announcent tonight."
A hush spread again.
Wait, not the only one?
He smiled wider, a politician’s smile.
"This is only one piece of good news. The real announcent is sothing I’m sure will bring both our families even closer together, and help this great nation."
My stomach twisted.
"This can’t be good," I whispered under my breath.
Dominic straightened, turning to face his dad.
Mr Vale stood tall on stage, pointing to Dom.
"My son, Dominic Vale, will be getting engaged to the daughter of the Mayor of Phillis."
I swear, the words hung there for a second before anyone even processed them.
No one spoke.
Then, all at once....
Gasps.
Cara shutters.
A few people whispering, "Wait, engaged? Did he say engaged?"
I blinked. My ears rang.
Engaged?
No.
No, that couldn’t...
I turned to look at him. His face went pale. His jaw dropped.
"Dad," he shook his head. "You’re joking, right? Tell you’re joking."
His mom just stood there, smiling at her husband.
People were recording, still whispering.
Dom looked small up there...the sa boy who hated spotlights being forced under the brightest one in the room.
His dad didn’t even move.
He just gestured toward the front of the room.
"Please welco my son’s fiancée....Gwen."
The glass doors slid open.
A woman stepped in. Tall, composed, in a black satin dress that caught the light with every step. Her heels clicked against the marble floor. A tiny purse dangled from her fingers like an accessory.
And she was beautiful. Effortlessly, painfully beautiful.
The whole room erupted.
It felt like the world tilted slightly, everything was spinning too fast.
Dominic’s hand dropped from his tie. He just stood there, staring at her like the floor had been pulled from under him.
"You’ve got to be kidding ," he muttered.
My throat tightened.
This couldn’t be happening.
Not after what just happened between us upstairs.
Not after the way he looked at . The way he kissed .
The music had stopped. Everyone’s focus was on them....Dominic’s dad nodding proudly, Gwen standing beside him with that practiced, polite smile.
Soone behind whispered,
"She’s gorgeous."
"The Dexters and the Vales? That’s powerful."
"He’s so lucky."
"Such a thoughtful move by his father. Brilliant politics."
Another voice snorted softly,
"Who announces their campaign and their son’s engagent at his birthday? Besides, he’s still in high school."
Another behind whispered. "They make a perfect match."
My stomach flipped.
Perfect.
I forced my gaze away from Dominic, even though every part of wanted to keep looking.
To see if he’d look back. To see if he felt what I felt....the sting, the disbelief, the ache.
But he didn’t look at .
He was staring straight at his father.
Like the Dominic I thought I knew had just vanished.....replaced by the version his father built.
Hudson Vale kept talking, of course.
"This union represents more than just two families. It’s about unity between Estrella and Phillis. A promise of growth, connection, and a bright future...."
My stomach twisted.
I wanted to scream.
None of this sounded like Dominic.
It sounded like his dad’s dream, not his.
Then the crowd started pushing forward, all talking at once....
"Dominic, how long have you two been together?"
"They make a beautiful couple!"
"This will strengthen both cities, it’s genius!"
"Your dad is such a visionary!"
"Aren’t you still in high school?"
"Do you love her, Dominic?"
That last question made him glare. He had the expression I’d never seen before.
His face hardened.
Dominic’s lips parted.
For a mont, I thought he’d force a smile, play along like he always does.
But then...
He snapped.
"Fuck all of you," he pointed to everyone, and shook his head.
The whole room froze.
The sound of soone whispering, "Did he just curse....?"
Before anyone could react, Dominic turned and stord off the stage.
People tried following, calling after him, but Ren, Ian, Casper, and Jasper moved fast, closing in behind him like a wall.
Ian threw a glare so cold it shut everyone up.
Ren placed a hand on Dominic’s shoulder, steering him toward the doors.
Casper and Jasper spread out, blocking anyone from trailing them.
My heart was pounding so loud I could barely hear over it.
The flashes, the noise, the whispers....it all blurred into one dizzy, ugly ss.
Then I felt a hand grab mine.
June.
Her eyes widened, her face went pale.
She squeezed my fingers tight, holding tight. When I felt like I could shatter. I turned around and hugged her tightly.
"Do you know about this?" she asked, even her voice trembled.
I opened my mouth.... but no sound ca out at first.
Then, barely,
"No," I whispered.
It cracked halfway through.
Because it was true. I didn’t know.
I didn’t know anything.
My chest burned. My throat stung.
And before I realized it, tears had started blurring my vision.
June’s grip tightened.
"Ash, you need to go after him."
"Bu... the people..." I stamred, looking around at the hundreds of staring eyes, the caras, the lights.
She didn’t even hesitate.
"We’ll go together," she said firmly.
She intertwined her fingers with mine and pulled through the chaos.
Through the whispers, the flashes, the stares.
The glass doors opened again.
We stepped outside, the noise faded behind us.
How could sothing so perfect an hour ago crash this fast?
How could a kiss that felt like the start of everything... suddenly feel like the last thing I’d ever get?
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