My palms wouldn’t stop sweating as I stepped out of the car.
Security tried to guide forward, smiling like they didn’t see shaking.
Soone shoved a microphone toward : "Mr Vale! Any words before the speech?"
I kept my gaze down. If I made eye contact with anyone, I might fall apart.
"Don’t let down again," my dad whispered, patting my back. "Control yourself. No emotions."
Right.
Control.
Like I wasn’t dying inside.
Inside the hall, the pressure didn’t disappear. It multiplied.
The bright lights overhead were too bright, like they were burning through every lie I’d rehearsed.
Soone clipped a mic onto my jacket.
He talked fast, but I didn’t hear a single word. My brain was too busy replaying that text I sent to Ash.
I love you so much, Ash. I’m sorry. Please don’t ask why.
The thought alone nearly sent spiraling again.
The curtains parted.
When I looked around, all I saw were hopeful eyes.
They don’t know.
They don’t know what I’m about to do.
They don’t know I’m about to ruin my entire life.
"Dominic," my father said again, with that smile plastered on his face for the voters watching. "Ready, son?"
No.
God, no.
But I nodded.
Because saying no was not an option.
My father waved like the proud man he pretended to be, knowing he had cornered.
They all believe I’m doing this for peace.
For unity.
For the future.
But the truth?
My father already traded away like so political bargaining chip....promised to the mayor’s daughter from the next state.
Soone I’ve never even spoken to.
Soone I could never love.
And the one person I do love...
I’m being forced to lose.
My heartbeat was racing so so loud in my chest, I almost didn’t hear when they called to the stage.
Ti for to give my speech.
The one my dad shoved into my hands in the car.
The one I was supposed to deliver like a good little puppet.
My throat burned as I leaned toward the microphone, giving them the smile. Convincing, charming, and completely fake.
"Good evening," I said.
My voice shook and a few faces frowned.
"I..." The word caught, choking on everything it carried.
How do you stand in front of a whole town and admit you’re about to destroy the heart of the person you love most?
"I ca here today to... apologize," I finally pushed out. "Last night, I let my emotions control . I lashed out at people who were only trying to celebrate . I didn’t realize how much harm it would cause."
My fingers dug into the podium, hiding the way they trembled.
The crowd shifted uneasily.. sensing the real confession building beneath my words.
My eyes blurred.
One tear escaped before I could catch it.
"I also want to apologize," my voice thinned, "to soone I love. Soone who deserves the world. Soone I won’t be able to explain this to... and I know that makes it worse."
The mic picked up the crack in my voice.
I sniffled, trying to steady myself.
My father’s face went dark. He looked furious.
This wasn’t in the script.
"This isn’t goodbye," I smiled softly. "I just need ti... to fix sothing."
My chest felt like it was collapsing from the inside.
My father stepped one foot forward, fisting his hands.
"Are you out of your mind?" I read his lips.
Yeah.
Probably.
Confusion spread through the hall.
Who was he talking about?
Why is he shaking?
Why is he crying?
My lungs felt too small for my chest.
I stepped back..
because if I stayed another second, I would fall apart in front of everyone.
The applause that followed was hesitant, like they were clapping through uncertainty, waiting for soone to explain what the hell was happening.
Security moved closer.
Voices called after , demanding clarity...
But all I could think was:
Ash.
Ash.
Ash.
His na was the only thing keeping from collapsing.
I felt my father’s presence before he reached .
He leaned close enough for his words to slice straight through :
"Go through with the plan,"he hissed.
"Or you know exactly what happens."
I forced a smile.
"As long as you don’t hurt Ash," I whispered back.
He didn’t respond.
I already knew the threat.
So I turned, and walked towards Gwen, the mayor’s daughter.
She sat in the front row, hands clenched in her lap, looking terrified.
She didn’t deserve this either.
I dropped to one knee before I could hesitate. Caras exploded with flashes.
Ash, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
I stretched out a hand toward her.
Forced a gentle smile.
"Gwen," I said softly, "will you do the honor... of helping unite our families... and our towns?"
Her breath hitched. Tears filled her eyes.. but not happy ones.
She wasn’t blind to the lie we were stepping into.
Still... she nodded.
Because she had no choice either.
Her hand slid into mine.
I lifted it and placed a careful kiss to her knuckles...the picture-perfect gesture for the caras.
Soone scread:
"Oh my God! So beautiful!"
The crowd, needing sothing to believe in...erupted into applause.
Fake applause.
For a fake fairytale.
What if Ash was watching this right now?
On his phone.
In his room.
Alone.
What if he saw kneeling?
What if he thought I never loved him at all?
My chest kept aching so bad.
But I kept moving.
Because stopping ant losing him permanently... in the worst way. And I can’t bare that.
Gwen stood beside as we walked back to the podium.
I could feel her shaking.
I squeezed her hand once.
Turning back to the crowd, I raised the mic again... clearing my throat to steady my voice.
"I want to publicly apologize to Gwen and her family... for my behavior last night," I said.
"She is kind, brave and beautiful. And she deserves respect... not the chaos I caused."
A cara zood in on Gwen’s tearful smile.
My father’s expression softened in triumph.
They all thought this was a victory.
But my heart...
My heart was sowhere miles away.
With the boy who had no idea that I was breaking both of us to protect him.
Ash... please wait for .
Please believe I never wanted this.
"Oh wow... they look so good together."
"They’re such a perfect pair."
"When’s the wedding?"
"Kiss her! Kiss her!"
I felt Gwen shiver beside .
She didn’t want this any more than I did.
But the crowd wanted a show.
A pretty picture.
A lie wrapped in a love story.
I kept my eyes forward... anywhere but the caras, because if I looked up, they’d see it:
This wasn’t love.
This was a prison built out of expectations.
My dad returned to the stage, grinning like this was his coronation. He shook the mayor’s hand and clapped my shoulder like he was proud of .
He stepped up to the podium, clearing his throat like the hero of the night.
"Ladies and gentlen," he began.
"Tonight... I am the proudest father in this town."
He paused for applause.
They gave it willingly.
"My son, Dominic Vale, has shown great maturity today. He has chosen duty... chosen peace... chosen what is best for our community."
My heartbeat stuttered.
Chosen.
Like I had a choice.
He spread his arms as if he was gifting them the sun.
"I raised my son to put others before himself," he continued. "To carry the future on his shoulders. And tonight, I believe he proved himself worthy."
A woman in the front row wiped a tear.
Caras zood in.
The town believed every word.
"I stand before you once again," my father said, "as a candidate for mayor... not for power...but for all of you."
Applause thundered.
Chants started:
"Vale! Vale! Vale!"
He placed a hand over his heart... like he even had one.
"I want this town to thrive. To be safe. To be united. And I will fight for your happiness... for your families... for your children. All I ask..."
He smiled wide, triumphant.
"...is that you support in this engagent... as we take the first step toward a stronger future."
The audience shot up to their feet, cheering.
Like he was the savior they were waiting for.
anwhile my chest was caving in.
My hands kept shaking behind my back.
And every pulse in my body scread the sa na:
Ash.
Ash, didn’t deserve any of this.
Ash, might hate forever for what I just did.
Gwen glanced sideways at ... looking sad too.
She whispered so only I could hear:
"I’m sorry."
I nodded.
Because sohow... she understood.
Sohow... she saw the heartbreak buried under the performance.
The cheers grew louder.
If only they knew...
They weren’t cheering for love.
They were cheering for a tragedy.
Cheering for soone’s sadness.
I hate my dad!
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