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00:00Mi fiancé's girl best friend stole my student ID, burned through my dining dollars all over campus,
00:05then called me a gold drigger in the locker room.
00:07So I logged into the portal and shut her card off.
00:09That same afternoon, she walked up to the register and got declined.
00:14Three times.
00:15In front of the whole lunch rush.
00:17She was dragged to the student affairs deem's office for an entire hour for theft.
00:22Then came the all-school notice.
00:24Dominic Ashfield, my fiancé, found out, and said absolutely nocted like it was just another Tuesday.
00:29Then, on my 22nd birthday, Dominic took me to Oak Hall, Westbrook's most exclusive restaurant, and said he'd planned a
00:35surprise.
00:36The table was already set when we arrived, with everything I liked.
00:39Every dish.
00:40He said he had something special to grab.
00:42Be right back.
00:44I waited until the dining room closed.
00:49He never came back.
00:51I pulled out my card to cover the bill.
00:53The cashier scanned it, paused, and slid it back across the counter.
00:57I'm sorry, Ms. Sinclair.
00:59Your card is showing as invalid in the system.
01:02Invalid?
01:03I stared at the card in my hand.
01:05My fingers went cold.
01:06This was the card Dominic had given me right before we left.
01:11After we got engaged, he'd added me to the Ashford family meal plan.
01:16Every purchase on campus, charged to the family account, billed directly to them.
01:21But tonight, right before we walked out the door, he'd reached into my bag and taken the card.
01:27He'd said, kissing my forehead.
01:29This one's on me.
01:32It's your 22nd.
01:34Dominic wasn't picking up.
01:3512 calls.
01:3712 voicemails left.
01:38The cashier drummed her fingers on the card reader.
01:41Ms. Sinclair, do you have another form of payment?
01:44We don't do tabs here.
01:45And I'm sure you remember last month's incident.
01:48I remembered.
01:50Last month, Dominic's childhood best friend, Bianca Harlow, took my dining dollars and treated her entire Pi Beta chapper to
01:56a $2,000 dinner.
01:57Then went and ran her mouth in the girls' locker room.
01:59I was a clout haster with a pretty face.
02:01Dominic's gonna drop her the second he's bored.
02:03So I logged into the portal and killed her access.
02:05The next day, she stepped up to the register and got declined.
02:09Once.
02:10Twice.
02:11Three times.
02:12The line behind her stretched to the door.
02:14Her face went beet red in front of her sisters.
02:16She never forgave me for that.
02:18Now I stood there, phone in a death grip, and my knuckles turned white.
02:24Then the doors swung open.
02:26Bianca walked in, tucked under Dominic's arm.
02:29Chin up.
02:30Blue eyes absolutely glowing with satisfaction.
02:34Behind them, 14, maybe 15 people.
02:37The entire inner circle of Westbrook College.
02:41Phi Kippa's executive board.
02:43Pi Beta's social chars.
02:45Every single one of them was already staring.
02:48Dominic let go of Bianca's arm and walked toward me.
02:50The light caught his pale blonde hair.
02:52He looked every bit the Ashverned air, which, honestly, wasn't far off.
02:55The Ashverns were East Coast old money.
02:56The oldest kind.
02:57And Dominic was their only son.
02:58President of Phi Kapper.
02:59The guy Westbrook was basically built around.
03:01And right now, he was looking at me in a way I had never seen before.
03:03Elena.
03:04He said.
03:05Low.
03:06Measured.
03:06Loud enough for every table in Oak Hall to hear.
03:09You get a real kick out of sabotaging people on the low, huh?
03:11Freezing someone's card?
03:13Making them stand at a register and choke in front of everyone?
03:15So, now you know how it feels.
03:17The room cracked open.
03:18Wait, is he serious?
03:20It's her birthday.
03:20They've been together three years.
03:22Why would he-
03:22Three years doesn't mean anything.
03:24Bianca's known him since they were kids.
03:25And Elena?
03:26She transferred from the West Coast.
03:28Nobody can even find her people.
03:29She's here on a scholarship, right?
03:31Like, a full ride?
03:32That's what you get for clout chasing.
03:34When Domic's done with her, she won't even have a seat at the table.
03:36I dug my nails into my palm.
03:39Exactly what I thought.
03:40He'd set this whole thing up.
03:42On my birthday.
03:43Just to get back at me for Bianca.
03:45Dominic walked Bianca to the table.
03:47And Nguanga pulled out her chair.
03:49Like I wasn't even in the room.
03:51Bianca.
03:52His voice was quiet.
03:52But the whole room heard it.
03:53Whatever she did to you, I'm returning it.
03:55Every bit of it.
03:56Bianca's face broke open.
03:57She leaned over and kissed the corner of his mouth.
03:59Thank you, Dom.
04:00Then she looked at me.
04:01Getting the picture now, Elena?
04:02That account belongs to the Ashford family?
04:03You're not family yet.
04:04What gave you the right to touch my access in the first place?
04:06She dropped her bag onto the table.
04:08Then shoved it.
04:09Hard.
04:09My water glass tipped liquid spilled across my shoes, seeping through the fabric.
04:13She said, covering her mouth.
04:15Oops.
04:16Slipped.
04:16Sorry about that.
04:17Though those shoes weren't worth much anyway, right?
04:20Scattered laughter from behind her.
04:21Dominic didn't look at the spill.
04:23Didn't look at me.
04:23He just slipped his arm around Bianca's waist and looked straight at the cashier.
04:26Whatever Bianca orders tonight, put it on the Ashford account.
04:29Then he looked at me.
04:30That smirk, wide open, not even trying to hide it.
04:33As for her, if she can't pay, go buy the book.
04:36I stood there.
04:37The room shrank.
04:38Inch by inch.
04:39Dominic stood up.
04:41He wanted to make sure I had nowhere left to go.
04:43He swept the room with one slow, deliberate look.
04:46Then pulled out his phone, typed something, and held the screen up for everyone to see.
04:50The Phi Kappa group chat.
04:51Anyone who helps Elena Sinclair tonight is out.
04:54All event access?
04:55Gone.
04:56Everyone in that room knew exactly what that meant.
04:59Cross Dominic Ashvin, and you were done.
05:01No party invites.
05:03No frat events.
05:04No senior gala.
05:06Full stop.
05:06A few people who actually knew me.
05:08I watched something flicker across their faces.
05:10One girl actually reached into her bag.
05:12Bianna caught it.
05:13She stared that girl down.
05:14Hard.
05:15The hand slipped back out.
05:16Empty.
05:16I looked at Dominic.
05:18Three years of feelings.
05:19Gone.
05:20Just like that.
05:21Dominic Ashforth?
05:22You really want to do this?
05:24He held my gaze without blinking.
05:26When you froze her card and humiliated her in front of everyone, what did you think was
05:30going to happen?
05:32This is your lesson.
05:34Remember it.
05:34She's mine.
05:36Engaged or not, you don't get to come after her.
05:39She's mine.
05:41Those two words hit like a knife.
05:43Straight in.
05:44Three years ago.
05:45I just transferred to Westbrook.
05:46Bumped straight into him on the steps outside the student union building.
05:49Full collision.
05:50Books everywhere.
05:51He spent the whole next semester on my case.
05:54Every morning he'd be waiting outside my dorm with an oat milk latte from the campus
05:57cafe.
05:57My exact order.
05:58Every time.
05:59On rainy days, he'd pull off his own hoodie and drop it over my head, then sprint across
06:04the entire football field in just a t-shirt.
06:06When a group of Pai Bada upper classes cornered me in the library hallway, I don't even know
06:11how he found out, but he showed up, walked straight through all of them, and put himself
06:15between me and the girl running her mouth, looked her dead in the eye and said,
06:19She's with me.
06:21I was gone after that.
06:22Not because of his last name, because I actually believed him.
06:26And now he'd just use those same words for her.
06:28So what's it going to be?
06:30Bianca's voice pulled me back.
06:31She leaned back.
06:32Legs crossed.
06:34You going to call someone to bail you out?
06:36Or...
06:36She let it hang.
06:38Eyes dragging slowly over my dress.
06:40I felt myself shrink.
06:42Nice piece.
06:43Couture.
06:44Right?
06:45Maybe the boys can auction it off right here.
06:49Piece by piece.
06:50To cover your tab.
06:51The room lost it.
06:53Dominic really said this is for Bianca and meant it.
06:55Elena is cooked.
06:57I told y'all, Cinderella stories don't exist in real life.
07:00The Ashvins were never going to bring home a girl with no pedigree.
07:02Bianca's always been their people.
07:03The higher they build you up, the harder you fall, sis.
07:06That's just how it goes.
07:08The Phi Keper core, the ones clustered around Dominic, were watching me with that specific look.
07:14A few of them already had their phones out.
07:16My whole body was shaking.
07:19Before we'd left, Dominic had taken my dining dollars.
07:22On purpose.
07:25Right now, I had nothing but the dress on my back.
07:28And my phone had just died.
07:30Battery gone.
07:32That's when it hit me.
07:34My phone.
07:35My card.
07:36The reservation.
07:37The timing.
07:38None of it was an accident.
07:40And Degard the Sotrand.
07:42He didn't forget my birthday.
07:45He planned it.
07:47Bianca moved toward me, smiling like she'd already won.
07:50It's getting late, Elena.
07:51The cashier's waiting to close out your tab.
07:53Don't tell me you're actually broke.
07:56Because a tab this size, if you can't cover it, this goes straight to the student conduct committee.
08:01I felt it in my stomach.
08:03The student conduct committee at Westbrook College.
08:06The one line nobody crossed.
08:07One formal strike, and I could lose my scholarship, lose my housing, get pulled from the honors track, or get
08:13kicked out for good.
08:15Dominic didn't just want to humiliate me.
08:18He wanted to erase me.
08:22Bianca took another step forward.
08:23Close enough that I could smell her perfume.
08:26She tilted her chin up and looked at me like I was already done.
08:28There is one other option.
08:30That smile ale never moved.
08:32Say please.
08:33Mean it.
08:34Maybe I'll make this easier for you.
08:36She reached out and poked my shoulder.
08:39Dom listens to me.
08:41Always has.
08:42I reached up and blocked her hand.
08:45Just that.
08:46Bianca reacted like she'd been hit by a truck.
08:50Grabbed her cheek and screamed.
08:52She hit me!
08:53I watched Dominic's eyes shift.
08:56No, that's not what...
08:58He grabbed my shoulder and shoved.
09:00Hard.
09:02I went down backward.
09:03Caught the corner of the table on the way.
09:06The pain shot straight up my spine.
09:08The edge caught my arm.
09:10Sharp, clean.
09:12And I felt the warmth before I saw the blood.
09:14I hit the floor and looked up.
09:17Furious.
09:18For just a second, something moved across Dominic's face.
09:21Then it was gone.
09:23Elena.
09:24You hit her in front of everyone.
09:26That doesn't just go away.
09:27Bianca gets that back.
09:29He jutted his chin at two FICUP members standing nearby.
09:32Both of them built like they belonged on the offensive line.
09:36They grabbed my arms, one on each side, and hauled me off the floor.
09:41Bianca walked toward me slowly.
09:43Suddenly, my heart murmured.
09:46Not from fear.
09:47From disbelief.
09:49The Ashfords hadn't always been East Coast royalty.
09:52Dominic hadn't always been untouchable.
09:55Because of me.
09:56I was the one who'd convinced my dad to use our family's connections to open every door for them.
10:01Rivals who would have gone after the Ashfords backed off because nobody stepped to my dad.
10:05I'd planned to tell Dominic tonight, on my birthday.
10:08Tell him I wasn't some scholarship girl from the West Coast with no pedigree.
10:12I was a St. Clair, the sole heir to a West Coast dynasty that made the Ashterns look like new
10:16money.
10:17I was going to take him home to meet my family.
10:19I just didn't see this coming.
10:20I'd read him wrong.
10:21Bianca turned to the table and picked up a heavy plate of lobster marinara.
10:25The exact dish Dominic had ordered for me.
10:28She stepped right into my space, raised the plate, and didn't hesitate.
10:32Splash!
10:32A wet, sickening sound echoed across the dining room.
10:35She had flipped the entire plate directly over my head.
10:37Scalding pasta hit my crown.
10:39Thick red sauce slid down my hair and clinged to my cheeks.
10:42The empty plate slipped from her hand, hitting the hardwood floor with a sharp crack and shattering at my feet.
10:47Rich tomato sauce dripped from my eyelashes, bleeding rapidly into the pale fabric of my couture dress.
10:54I didn't flinch.
10:55I didn't even lift a hand to wipe my face.
10:57I just dug my nails into my palm and looked straight through the mess at Dominic.
11:01No anger.
11:02No tears.
11:03Dominic, this is on you.
11:05When the Ashfords go under and everything you've built comes crashing down, remember, you chose this.
11:17Girl, you've been watching too many dramas.
11:20Look at you.
11:22First out laughing, look at you.
11:24What, you think you're some secret rich heiress?
11:26She might actually be losing it.
11:28Like, brah.
11:29Dominic looked at me like I was wasting his time.
11:32Cold.
11:33Checked out.
11:35Drop the act.
11:36The Ashford's going bankrupt?
11:38That's cute.
11:39Figure out how you're covering this bill.
11:43Miss Sinclair, it's late.
11:44I got places to be.
11:45I looked around the room.
11:46Every person who'd sat next to me in class, studied with me in the library, heads down.
11:51All of them.
11:52One girl, someone I actually considered a real friend, snuck a glance at me, then looked away
11:56the second our eyes met, scared of being seen.
11:59Nobody moved.
12:00The Ashfords ran this campus, the board of trustees, the student conduct committee, the entire
12:04Greek council.
12:05And outside?
12:06City Hall, the banks, every law firm that mattered.
12:09Cross Dominic Ashford and you'd cross the entire East Coast Old Money Network.
12:12I walked toward that girl.
12:14She saw me coming, shot up from her seat, and backed away.
12:17Elena, don't!
12:18I can't help you pay!
12:19I'm not asking you to pay, I said.
12:21I just need your phone.
12:23Five minutes.
12:24I need someone to come down here.
12:26She's still fronting.
12:27Dom already put the word out across every frat on campus.
12:30Who's coming to save you?
12:33Let her call.
12:35Twenty minutes.
12:35She still can't cover it.
12:37The dress comes off.
12:41Clock's ticking, princess.
12:43Can't pay up?
12:44Time to strip.
12:48Bianca turned toward the guys who'd been watching a little too, too eagerly.
12:53The girl hesitated.
12:56Looked at Dominic.
12:58Looked back at me.
13:02Then she held out her phone.
13:06I dialed the number I knew by heart but had never once called.
13:10Every second felt longer than the last.
13:13Less than ten minutes left.
13:14Bianca was done waiting.
13:16She stood up.
13:17I'm such an idiot.
13:19I actually believed you.
13:22Nobody's coming for you, girl.
13:24Hey!
13:25She turned to the cashier.
13:26Have your guys hold her down.
13:28Nobody's risking the ashrams over this girl.
13:29The guards moved in.
13:31Big.
13:32Mean.
13:33Done with waiting.
13:34I put my hand up.
13:35Wait.
13:36There's still time.
13:37Someone's coming.
13:39Bianca laughed.
13:40Still?
13:41Okay, bet.
13:42Someone walks through that door in time.
13:45I'll eat everything on this table.
13:48And I'll step down from Pi Bita.
13:50The president's seat is yours.
13:53You sure?
13:53I looked at her.
13:55Everyone in this room is a witness.
13:57Absolutely.
13:58She didn't even blink.
13:59Something lit up dappens me.
14:01She had absolutely no idea what she'd just walked into.
14:04With a few minutes left on the clock,
14:06one of the Phi Keeper guys,
14:08big, sloppy,
14:10clearly had too much to drink,
14:12reached over and grabbed at my dress.
14:14I smacked his hand away.
14:16Yo, Dominic.
14:17Your fiancé's got a temper.
14:19Dominic smiled and swirled his wine,
14:22completely unbothered.
14:24She can't fair game.
14:25Have at it.
14:26I stared at him.
14:27Something inside me went completely cold.
14:30This was my fiancé.
14:32Watching other men put their hands on me.
14:35And he didn't even flinch.
14:36He caught my eyes and shrugged.
14:38Don't look at me like that.
14:39I'm not helping you.
14:40I just want Bianca happy.
14:43That was all they needed to hear.
14:44They grabbed me, arms, shoulders,
14:46and started pulling at my dress.
14:49I fought back hard.
14:50Every scream just hyped them up more.
14:53I looked at every single face.
14:55Every one of you who touched me,
14:57I remember faces.
14:59Not one of you.
15:00Bianca didn't even look up.
15:02Phone out, already recording,
15:04waiting to put this all over the internet.
15:06Time's up.
15:06Take it.
15:08Bang.
15:09The heavy oak doors were practically kicked off their hinges.
15:12Every head snapped toward the entrance.
15:14And the second they saw him,
15:16the whole room locked up.
15:17Wait.
15:18Is that Nathan Thorne?
15:20Why the hell is the board sheriff here?
15:21Dominic and Bianca shot to their feet,
15:23completely thrown.
15:25Bianca actually rubbed her eyes,
15:26like she couldn't trust what she was seeing.
15:28Nathan Thorne walked in,
15:30wearing a navy blazer,
15:31tie slightly crooked,
15:33like he'd dressed on the way here.
15:34President Wiltmore was behind him.
15:37Mr. Thorne,
15:38President Whitmore,
15:39what are you doing here?
15:40Nathan didn't look at him,
15:42didn't look at Bianca.
15:43He walked straight to me.
15:45I apologize for the delay,
15:47Miss St. Clair.
15:49Mr. Sterling is on his way.
15:51He asked me to come ahead and handle things.
15:54He took one look at my torn dress,
15:56the dirt on my hands,
15:58the cut on my arm.
15:59He swallowed it.
16:00Then he turned around slowly.
16:02The whole room felt it.
16:03He kept his voice level
16:04when he spoke to the president.
16:05Shut this down.
16:06Tonight.
16:07And I want a full explanation.
16:08One I'm actually satisfied with.
16:10Otherwise,
16:10the board will be reassessing
16:11its investment in West College Fect immediately.
16:13The president went white.
16:15Speechless.
16:16Oak Hall,
16:17which 30 seconds ago
16:18had been loud enough
16:19to rattle the windows,
16:20went dead.
16:21The whole room.
16:23Locked up.
16:24Nobody even knew
16:25what they were looking at.
16:27They all knew the name,
16:28name Nathan Thorne.
16:29The Ashfords were East Coast royalty,
16:32sure.
16:33But the network behind Nathan Thorne,
16:35it could swallow
16:3610 Ashford families' hold.
16:40People had always wondered
16:41how the Ashfords pulled it off.
16:43How a fading old money family
16:45suddenly rocketed
16:45to the top of the East Coast
16:47in just a few years.
16:48They never knew new.
16:49The answer was me.
16:52When I take over
16:53as the Ashford heir
16:54and rebuild this family,
16:56I'm putting a ring on it.
16:59That's a promise.
17:01I was so gone for him,
17:02I asked my dad
17:03to quietly back the Ashfords.
17:05New contracts.
17:06Big ones.
17:07Every door they needed opened.
17:09And just like that,
17:10they climbed.
17:12I'd been about to tell him everything.
17:14Then tonight happened.
17:15Nobody whispered.
17:17Nobody moved.
17:18Just blank stares.
17:20Then it hit Bianca.
17:22She flinched.
17:23Like something just clicked.
17:25Went white.
17:26Lips shaking.
17:27She actually...
17:28She actually called someone?
17:30My bet!
17:31No.
17:31No way.
17:32How is the board chair
17:33even friends with her?
17:34That's not possible.
17:35Nobody answered.
17:36Nobody breathed.
17:37The guys who'd been grabbing
17:38at my dress
17:39had already vanished
17:40into the crowd.
17:42Nathan looked straight
17:43at Bianca.
17:44Cold.
17:45The injuries on Miss St. Clair,
17:48you ordered that?
17:49Bianca's knees gave out.
17:51Dominic caught her.
17:52Hey, I got you.
17:54And just like that,
17:55Bianca straightened up,
17:57shoulders back.
17:59Right.
17:59The Ashherds run the East Coast.
18:01Even the board answers to them.
18:04Dominic looked at me.
18:05That smirk was back.
18:07I don't know what you
18:07and Nathan Thorne have going on,
18:09but let me be clear.
18:10At Westbrook,
18:11the Ashfords run things.
18:12With all due respect,
18:14Mr. Thorne,
18:15this is a private matter.
18:16Stay in your lane.
18:17At Westbrook,
18:18the Ashfords pull the strings.
18:20Nathan smiled.
18:21Cold.
18:22Practiced.
18:22The kind you can't fake.
18:23Bold words,
18:24Mr. Ashford.
18:25If it weren't for Miss St. Villet,
18:26your family would have been
18:27eaten alive a long time ago.
18:29Everything the Ashfords have today,
18:30she handed that to you.
18:31And you didn't even know it.
18:33Dominic scoffed.
18:34I was done.
18:35Done with the room.
18:36Done with his voice.
18:38Done with all of it.
18:39While Nathan was talking,
18:40I'd already called my dad.
18:42Told him everything.
18:43The Ashfords had no idea
18:44what was coming.
18:45Nathan walked to the cashier
18:47and handed over his card.
18:48Miss St. Clair's tab is on me.
18:50Miss St. Clair,
18:51no more dining dollars.
18:52Your account has been upgraded.
18:53Face ID access only from now on.
18:55No spending cap.
18:57Half the room actually stepped back.
18:59I took the tablet,
19:00confirmed my info,
19:02and looked up at Bianca.
19:04Bianca,
19:04that bet you made,
19:05you remember that, right?
19:07She grabbed his arm,
19:08forcing herself to look calm,
19:10but her voice gave her away.
19:11So what if I lost?
19:12You got the board chair
19:14to show up for you.
19:15You've been playing him
19:15this whole time.
19:17Who the hell did you screw
19:18to get the board chair
19:19to show up for you?
19:21His jaw tightened.
19:22I could see it in his face.
19:23This had gone further
19:24than he meant it to.
19:25He'd wanted to humiliate me,
19:26not lose control
19:27of the whole night.
19:28Elena,
19:28last chance.
19:29Apologize to Bianca.
19:30Do that,
19:31and tonight never happened.
19:32Don't,
19:32and I'm calling off
19:33the engagement.
19:34I smiled,
19:35colder than the room.
19:36You really think
19:36I still want to marry you?
19:37And while you're at it,
19:38call your father.
19:40Ask him how Ashford Group Stock
19:41is doing right now.
19:42His eyes sharpened.
19:43He pulled out his phone.
19:44Is she actually losing it?
19:46The Ashfords would never...
19:47The laugh died in her throat
19:49because his screen lit up
19:50with an internal family alert.
19:52The air stopped moving.
19:53His fingers froze midair.
19:55He called his father.
19:56Dad,
19:57what's going on?
19:58Why are we dropping?
19:59You absolute idiot!
20:01You crossed the St. Clairs,
20:02didn't you?
20:03The St. Clair family,
20:04West Coast,
20:05every fund they control
20:06is shorting us right now.
20:08All of it.
20:08If this doesn't stop,
20:09Ashford Group files
20:10for bankruptcy in three days.
20:12St. Clair.
20:13The name hit the Oak Hall
20:15like a grenade.
20:16The arrogant sneers vanished,
20:19replaced by sheer terror.
20:21The St. Clairs weren't just old money.
20:24They were the kind of name
20:25that made the Ashfords look new.
20:28Bianca's smile dissolved.
20:29The color drained from her lips.
20:32Dominic's hands started shaking
20:34around the phone.
20:35Dominic snapped his head up
20:37and looked at me
20:37and for the first time
20:38all night,
20:39fear.
20:40You...
20:41you're actually...
20:43I smoothed out my dress.
20:46The one they'd grabbed at.
20:48Slowly.
20:50Nathan stepped forward.
20:52Composed.
20:53Respectful.
20:54Get the names of every student
20:56in this room
20:56who touched her
20:57or participated.
20:58The Student Conduct Committee
21:00will be calling their families
21:01first thing tomorrow morning.
21:04She wanted a public humiliation.
21:06Fine.
21:06I gave her one
21:07she'd never recover from.
21:09That's how old money plays it.
21:11Before Nathan even finished speaking,
21:13hurried footsteps echoed outside.
21:15Then the doors flew open again.
21:17Edward Ashford stumbled in,
21:19shirt untucked,
21:20tie loose,
21:21with several stone-faced
21:22family aides behind him.
21:23His eyes swept the room,
21:25the mess on the floor,
21:26the cut on my arm.
21:28One look at Dominic
21:30and Edward looked like
21:31he could have killed him right there.
21:33Edward's shoulders slumped.
21:35The arrogant billionaire
21:36practically shrunk in front of me,
21:37his hands shaking slightly
21:39as he stepped forward.
21:40Miss St. Clair,
21:42my son is an embarrassment.
21:44The Ashford family
21:44owes you a formal apology.
21:46Please,
21:47let us make tonight right.
21:48The butler stepped forward
21:49and opened a velvet box,
21:51pink diamond necklace,
21:52the Ashford family heirloam.
21:54Mr. Ashford,
21:55that's not necessary.
21:56Edward didn't even flinch.
21:57I glanced at it.
21:58I just want what you took
21:59from me tonight.
22:00My dignity.
22:01Edward's expression hardened.
22:03He looked at Bianca
22:04still crumpled on the floor,
22:05then back at his son,
22:06like he couldn't believe
22:07what he'd raised.
22:08Dominic,
22:08I have never been more ashamed
22:10of you in my life.
22:11You turned on your own fiancé
22:12with outsiders.
22:13How am I supposed to trust you
22:14with this family after tonight?
22:15Edward swung.
22:17His knuckles connected
22:18with Dominic's jaw.
22:19Dominic hit the floor,
22:20tasting blood,
22:21but didn't dare make a sound.
22:23Effective today,
22:24you are no longer
22:25the Ashford heir.
22:27I'd sooner leave everything
22:28to a kid I've never met
22:29than hand it to you.
22:30He turned to be Ionca.
22:33And the Harlow family,
22:34every West Coast partnership,
22:37is done.
22:38See how long you last without us.
22:40Bianca dropped to the floor,
22:42grabbing at Dominic's pants leg,
22:44sobbing.
22:46Dominic, please!
22:47If my dad finds out about this,
22:50I'm dead!
22:51I am so dead!
22:53Dominic looked down at her.
22:54Something moved across his face.
22:56Complicated.
22:57Distant.
22:57With his entire inheritance
22:59on the line,
23:00whatever this was
23:01didn't matter anymore.
23:02Bianca,
23:03you ruined me.
23:06She completely fell apart.
23:08Edward turned back to me.
23:09He helped Dominic up,
23:10carefully,
23:11and pushed him toward me.
23:12Miss St. Clair,
23:13my son knows he was wrong.
23:14He let Bianca manipulate him.
23:16You're above this.
23:17Please,
23:17give him one more chance.
23:18Whatever it takes.
23:19Name it.
23:20He will spend the rest
23:21of his miserable life
23:21making this up to you.
23:23Dominic looked up at me.
23:24His eyes were full,
23:25like he was one word
23:26away from breaking.
23:27Elena,
23:28I'm sorry.
23:28I was wrong.
23:29I was so wrong.
23:30I never should have doubted you.
23:31Never should have let her
23:32lay a hand on you.
23:32Just forgive me.
23:33Please,
23:33we'll get married.
23:34I'll make this right,
23:35I swear.
23:35He reached for my hand.
23:36I turned away before he could.
23:38I looked at his face.
23:39No hate.
23:39No tears.
23:40Just quiet.
23:41The kind that comes
23:41after something dies.
23:43You know what actually
23:43destroyed me?
23:44When I spoke,
23:45the whole room heard every word.
23:46Not the slap.
23:47Not any of it.
23:48It was when they had me pinned down
23:49and you looked me dead in the eyes
23:50and said,
23:50I just want Bianca happy.
23:52I meant less to you
23:53than her ego.
23:54Love runs out.
23:56You burned through
23:56all of mine tonight.
23:57I took one step back.
23:59Nathan was already beside me.
24:01I turned,
24:02unhurring.
24:02I'm not interested
24:03in the Ashford future anymore.
24:05And us?
24:06We're done.
24:07Bianca stood in the middle
24:08of the room
24:09like someone had cut her strings.
24:11Then,
24:12the doors opened again.
24:14The air changed.
24:16He walked in
24:17wearing a dark green
24:18varsity jacket
24:19with the St. Paul's crest
24:20stitched over the chest.
24:22Half a head taller
24:23than Dominic.
24:24Broader.
24:26Jawline like something
24:27out of a Renaissance painting.
24:28He didn't look at Dominic.
24:30He walked straight to me,
24:32glanced down at my wrist,
24:34and frowned.
24:36You're bleeding.
24:38He pulled a perfectly folded
24:40white handkerchief
24:41from his pocket
24:42and pressed it gently
24:43against my wrist.
24:46Then,
24:48only then,
24:49he turned
24:50and seemed to notice Dominic
24:51for the first time.
24:53Ah,
24:53you must be Ashford.
24:55He extended his hand,
24:57but not to shake.
24:58He just casually
24:59straightened his cufflinks.
25:01Sebastian Sterling.
25:02Elena and I grew up together.
25:04She transferred here.
25:05The corner of his mouth lifted.
25:08To get away from me.
25:09Like it was an inside joke.
25:12Looks like she trusted
25:13the wrong family.
25:15Dominic's lips were trembling.
25:17Sterling?
25:17You're a Sterling?
25:19He finally looked
25:20at Dominic directly.
25:21No.
25:22I'm the one
25:23who's gonna pull
25:23every Sterling capital asset
25:25from your father's
25:26next board vote.
25:27He turned,
25:28and his arm settled
25:29around my waist
25:30like it belonged there.
25:31Let's go, Elena.
25:33Your father's plane is waiting.
25:34At the door,
25:35he stopped.
25:36Didn't turn around.
25:38One more thing, Ashford.
25:40That plaque by the entrance?
25:42Ashford Family Banquet Hall?
25:44You should take it down yourself.
25:47The crew we send
25:48to remove it
25:49will charge you
25:49for the trouble.
25:52He followed me out.
25:54I could hear him.
25:54The uneven footsteps,
25:56the way he was
25:56half running,
25:57half stumbling.
25:58Elena!
25:59I stopped.
26:00Didn't turn around.
26:01Elena,
26:01I had no idea.
26:03I swear,
26:03I had no idea
26:04you were a St. Clair.
26:06If I'd known
26:06from the start...
26:08Then what?
26:08Looked him dead
26:09in the eyes.
26:10You would have
26:11treated me better?
26:12He opened his mouth.
26:13Nothing came out.
26:14Or,
26:15if I were still
26:16just the scholarship girl,
26:18would all of that
26:19have been okay?
26:20Freezing my meal plan?
26:22Letting Bianca
26:23slap me?
26:24Letting those guys
26:25tear my clothes off?
26:26No,
26:27that's not what I meant.
26:28Then what did you mean,
26:29Dominic?
26:30Silence.
26:31Sebastian stood behind me.
26:32No rush.
26:33Just waiting.
26:34Arms crossed,
26:35like he had all night.
26:37Dominic,
26:37listen to me.
26:38I built the Ashford's up.
26:40I can tear them down
26:41just as fast.
26:43We're done.
26:44As of right now.
26:46I turned and took
26:47Sebastian's arm.
26:48I don't know it's...
26:52Let's go.
26:53Behind me,
26:53Dominic's voice
26:54came out horsey,
26:55broken,
26:56like he was already crying.
26:58Elena,
26:59if none of this had happened,
27:00if I hadn't let Bianca,
27:01would you have ever
27:02brought me home?
27:04Introduced me
27:05to your family?
27:06I didn't answer.
27:08There was nothing
27:09left to say.
27:11Some questions
27:12don't deserve one.
27:17The Oak Hall doors
27:19closed behind us.
27:20The hallway was quiet.
27:21Just our footnaps.
27:25Your taste in men
27:26is awful.
27:28Shut up.
27:29I'm being serious.
27:30What did you even see
27:31in that guy?
27:33Sebastian.
27:34Yeah?
27:35Thanks for coming.
27:36He didn't say anything
27:37for a second.
27:38Then he reached over
27:39and messed up my hair.
27:40Stop running from me.
27:42There are plenty of good schools
27:43back home, you know?
27:44I didn't say anything,
27:46but I smiled.
27:48First time all night.
27:50Come on,
27:51let's go home.
27:52Let's go home.
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