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