- 15 hours ago
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00:00My 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.
00:06So 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, in 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, every dish.
00:40He said he had something special to grab. Be 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.
01:3612 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
01:55a $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.
02:02So 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.
02:19Now 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.
02:33Behind 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, the oldest kind.
02:57And Dominic was their only son, president of Phi Kapper.
02:59The guy Westbrook was basically built around.
03:00And right now, he was looking at me in a way I had never seen before.
03:03Elena.
03:04He said, low, measured, loud enough for every table in O'Call to hear.
03:09You get a real kick out of sabotaging people on the low, huh?
03:11Freezing someone's card, making 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?
03:19It'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 Dominic's done with her, she won't even have a seat at the table.
03:36I dug my nails into my palm.
03:38Exactly 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, and Nguanga pulled out her chair.
03:49Like I wasn't even in the room.
03:51Bianca.
03:52His voice was quiet, but 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.
03:58Thank 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.
04:31Wide open.
04:32Not 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.
05:17I 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.
05:33Remember it.
05:34She's mine.
05:36Engaged or not, you don't get to come after her.
05:39She's mine.
05:40Those two words hit like a knife.
05:43Straight in.
05:44Three years ago, I 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, every 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 Bata upperclasseds 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.
06:17Looked 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 gonna be?
06:29Bianca's voice pulled me back.
06:31She leaned back, legs crossed.
06:34You gonna call someone to bail you out, or...
06:36She let it hang, eyes 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, piece by piece, to 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 gonna 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,
07:11were 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 to Gerd the Sojournerant,
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,
07:57if you can't cover it,
07:59this 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,
08:08and I could lose my scholarship,
08:10lose my housing,
08:11get pulled from the honors track,
08:12or get kicked 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.
08:49Grabbed 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.
09:44My heart mummered.
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
10:00for 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
10:16new money.
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, the exact
10:26dish 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 cling to my cheeks.
10:42The empty plate slipped from her hand, hitting the hardwood floor with a sharp crack and shattering
10:47at my feet.
10:47Rich tomato sauce dripped from my eyelashes, bleeding rapidly into the pale fabric of my
10:53couture 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.
11:10Remember, you chose this.
11:17Girl, you've been watching too many dramas.
11:20Look at you.
11:22Purs out laughing.
11:23Look at you.
11:24What, you think you're some secret rich heiress?
11:26She might actually be losing it.
11:28Like, bruh.
11:30Dominic 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
11:56away the 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
12:04entire Greek Council.
12:05And outside?
12:06City Hall, the banks, every law firm that mattered.
12:08Cross Dominic Ashford and you'd cross the entire East Coast Old Money Network.
12:12I walked toward that girl.
12:13She 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.
12:25Haha, she'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.
12:40Clock'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.
13:12Less 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 Aschams over this girl.
13:30The 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.
13:52You 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, one of the Fi Keeper guys, big, sloppy, clearly had too much
14:11to drink, reached 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, completely unbothered.
14:24She can't fare game.
14:25She can't fare 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.
14:41I just want Bianca happy.
14:43That was all they needed to hear.
14:44They grabbed me, arms, shoulders, and started pulling at my dress.
14:48I fought back hard.
14:50Every scream just hyped them up more.
14:52I looked at every single face.
14:55Every one of you who touched me, I remember faces.
14:59Not one of you.
15:00Bianca didn't even look up.
15:02Phone out, already recording, waiting to put this all over the internet.
15:06Time's up.
15:07Take 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, the 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, completely thrown.
15:25Bianca actually rubbed her eyes, like she couldn't trust what she was seeing.
15:28Nathan Thorne walked in, wearing a navy blazer, tie slightly crooked, like he'd dressed on the way here.
15:35President Wiltmore was behind him.
15:37Mr. Thorne, President Wiltmore, what 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, Miss 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 when 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, the board will be reassessing its investment in West College Effect immediately.
16:13The President went white.
16:15Speechless.
16:16Oak Hall, which 30 seconds ago had been loud enough to rattle the windows, went dead.
16:21The whole room.
16:23Locked up.
16:24Nobody even knew what they were looking at.
16:27They all knew the name named Nathan Thorne.
16:30The Ashford's were East Coast royalty, sure.
16:32But the network behind Nathan Thorne?
16:35It could swallow 10 Ashford families' hold.
16:40People had always wondered how the Ashford's pulled it off.
16:43How a fading old money family suddenly rocketed to the top of the East Coast in just a few years.
16:48They never knew new.
16:49The answer was me.
16:52When I take over as the Ashford heir and rebuild this family, I'm putting a ring on it.
16:59That's a promise.
17:00I was so gone for him, I asked my dad to quietly back the Ashford's.
17:05New contracts.
17:06Big ones.
17:07Every door they needed opened.
17:09And just like that, they 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, she actually called someone?
17:30My bet?
17:31No, no way.
17:32How is the board chair even friends with her?
17:34That's not possible.
17:35Nobody answered.
17:36Nobody breathed.
17:37The guys who'd been grabbing at my dress had already vanished into the crowd.
17:42Nathan looked straight at Bianca.
17:44Cold.
17:46The injuries on Miss St. Clair, you ordered that?
17:49Bianca's knees gave out.
17:51Dominic caught her.
17:52Hey, I got you.
17:54And just like that, Bianca 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 and Nathan Thorne have going on, but let me be clear.
18:10At Westbrook, the Ashford's run things.
18:12With all due respect, Mr. Thorne, this is a private matter.
18:16Stay in your lane.
18:17At Westbrook, the Ashford's pull the strings.
18:20Nathan smiled.
18:21Cold.
18:22Practiced.
18:22The kind you can't fake.
18:23Bold words, Mr. Ashford.
18:25If it weren't for Miss St. Villet, your family would have been eaten alive a long time ago.
18:29Everything the Ashford's have today, she 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, I'd already called my dad.
18:42Told him everything.
18:43The Ashford's had no idea what was coming.
18:45Nathan walked to the cashier and handed over his card.
18:48Miss St. Clair's tab is on me.
18:50Miss St. Clair, no 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, confirmed my info, and looked up at Bianca.
19:04Bianca, that bet you made, you remember that, right?
19:07She grabbed his arm, forcing herself to look calm, but her voice gave her away.
19:11So what if I lost?
19:13You got the board chair to show up for you.
19:15You've been playing him this whole time.
19:17Who the hell did you screw to get the board chair to show up for you?
19:21His jaw tightened.
19:22I could see it in his face.
19:23This had gone further than he meant it to.
19:25He'd wanted to humiliate me, not lose control of the whole night.
19:28Elena, last chance.
19:29Apologize to Bianca.
19:30Do that, and tonight never happened.
19:32Don't, and I'm calling off the engagement.
19:34I smiled, colder than the room.
19:36You really think I still want to marry you?
19:37And while you're at it, call your father.
19:39Ask him how Ashford Group Stock is 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, because his screen lit up with an internal family alert.
19:52The air stopped moving.
19:53His fingers froze mid-air.
19:55He called his father.
19:56Dad, what's going on?
19:58Why are we dropping?
19:59You absolute idiot!
20:00You crossed the St. Clairs, didn't you?
20:03The St. Clair family.
20:04West Coast.
20:05Every fund they control is shorting us right now.
20:08All of it.
20:08If this doesn't stop, Ashford Group files for bankruptcy in three days.
20:12St. Clair.
20:13The name hit the Oak Hall like a grenade.
20:16The arrogant sneers vanished, replaced by sheer terror.
20:21The St. Clairs weren't just old money.
20:24They were the kind of name that made the Ashfords look new.
20:27Bianca's smile dissolved.
20:29The color drained from her lips.
20:32Dominic's hand started shaking around the phone.
20:35Dominic snapped his head up and looked at me.
20:37And for the first time all night, fear.
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 in this room who touched her or participated.
20:58The Student Conduct Committee will be calling their families first thing tomorrow morning.
21:04She wanted a public humiliation?
21:06Fine.
21:06I gave her one she'd never recover from.
21:09That's how old money plays it.
21:11Before Nathan even finished speaking, hurried 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 family 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 he could have killed him right there.
21:33Edward's shoulders slumped.
21:35The arrogant billionaire practically shrunk in front of me.
21:37His hands shaking slightly as he stepped forward.
21:40Miss St. Clair, my son is an embarrassment.
21:44The Ashford family owes you a formal apology.
21:46Please, let us make tonight right.
21:48The butler stepped forward and opened a velvet box.
21:51Pink diamond necklace.
21:52The Ashford family heirloam.
21:54Mr. Ashford, that's not necessary.
21:56Edward didn't even flinch.
21:57I glanced at it.
21:58I just want what you took from me tonight.
22:00My dignity.
22:01Edward's expression hardened.
22:03He looked at Bianca still crumpled on the floor, then back at his son,
22:06like he couldn't believe what he'd raised.
22:08Dominic!
22:08I have never been more ashamed of you in my life.
22:11You turned on your own fiancé with outsiders.
22:13How am I supposed to trust you with this family after tonight?
22:15Edward swung.
22:16His knuckles connected with Dominic's jaw.
22:19Dominic hit the floor, tasting blood, but didn't dare make a sound.
22:23Effective today, you are no longer the Ashford heir.
22:27I'd sooner leave everything to a kid I've never met than hand it to you.
22:30He turned to be Bianca.
22:32And the Harlow family, every West Coast partnership, is done.
22:38See how long you last without us.
22:41Bianca dropped to the floor, grabbing at Dominic's pants leg, sobbing.
22:45Dominic, please!
22:47If my dad finds out about this, I'm dead!
22:51I am so dead!
22:53Dominic looked down at her.
22:54Something moved across his face.
22:56Complicated, distant, with his entire inheritance on the line.
23:00Whatever this was, didn't matter anymore.
23:02Bianca, you ruined me.
23:06She completely fell apart.
23:08Edward turned back to me.
23:09He helped Dominic up, carefully, and pushed him toward me.
23:12Miss St. Clair, my son knows he was wrong.
23:14He let Bianca manipulate him.
23:16You're above this.
23:17Please, give him one more chance.
23:18Whatever it takes.
23:19Name it.
23:20He will spend the rest of his miserable life making this up to you.
23:23Dominic looked up at me.
23:24His eyes were full, like he was one word away from breaking.
23:27Elena, I'm sorry.
23:28I was wrong.
23:29I was so wrong.
23:30I never should have doubted you.
23:31Never should have let her lay a hand on you.
23:32Just forgive me, please.
23:33We'll get married.
23:34I'll make this right, I 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 after something dies.
23:42You know what actually destroyed me?
23:44When I spoke, the whole room heard every word.
23:46Not the slap.
23:47Not any of it.
23:48It was when they had me pinned down and you looked me dead in the eyes and said,
23:50I just want Bianca happy.
23:52I meant less to you than her ego.
23:54Love runs out.
23:56You burned through all of mine tonight.
23:58I took one step back.
23:59Nathan was already beside me.
24:01I turned, unhurring.
24:02I'm not interested in the Ashford future anymore.
24:05And us?
24:06We're done.
24:07Bianca stood in the middle of the room like someone had cut her strings.
24:11Then, the doors opened again.
24:14The air changed.
24:16He walked in wearing a dark green varsity jacket with the St. Paul's crest stitched over
24:21the chest.
24:22Half a head taller than Dominic.
24:24Broader.
24:26Jawline like something out of a renaissance painting.
24:28He didn't look at Dominic.
24:30He walked straight to me, glanced down at my wrist, and frowned.
24:36You're bleeding.
24:38He pulled a perfectly folded white handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it gently against
24:44my wrist.
24:47Then, only then, he turned and seemed to notice Dominic for the first time.
24:52Ah, you must be Ashford.
24:55He extended his hand, but not to shake.
24:58He just casually straightened 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 the wrong family.
25:15Dominic's lips were trembling.
25:16Sterling?
25:17You're a Sterling?
25:18He finally looked at Dominic directly.
25:21No.
25:22I'm the one who's going to pull every Sterling capital asset from your father's next board
25:26vote.
25:27He turned, and his arm settled around my waist like it belonged there.
25:31Let's go, Elena.
25:33Your father's plane is waiting.
25:34At the door, he 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 to remove it will charge you for the trouble.
25:52He followed me out.
25:54I could hear him.
25:55The uneven footsteps.
25:56The way he was half running, half stumbling.
25:58Elena!
25:59I stopped.
26:00Didn't turn around.
26:01Elena, I had no idea.
26:03I swear, I had no idea you were a St. Clair.
26:06If I'd known from the start...
26:08Then what?
26:08Looked him dead in the eyes.
26:10You would have treated me better?
26:12He opened his mouth.
26:13Nothing came out.
26:14Or, if I were still just the scholarship girl, would all of that have been okay?
26:20Freezing my meal plan?
26:22Letting Bianca slap me?
26:24Letting those guys tear my clothes off?
26:26No, that's not what I meant.
26:28Then what did you mean, Dominic?
26:30Silence.
26:31Sebastian stood behind me.
26:32No rush.
26:33Just waiting.
26:34Arms crossed.
26:35Like he had all night.
26:37Dominic, listen to me.
26:38I built the Ashford's up.
26:40I can tear them down just as fast.
26:43We're done.
26:44As of right now.
26:46I turned and took Sebastian's arm.
26:48Tell no, Esther!
26:52Let's go.
26:53Behind me, Dominic's voice came out horsey.
26:55Broken.
26:56Like he was already crying.
26:58Elena, if none of this had happened, if I hadn't let Bianca...
27:01Would you have ever brought me home?
27:04Introduced me to your family?
27:05I didn't answer.
27:08There was nothing left to say.
27:11Some questions don't deserve one.
27:17The Oak Hall doors closed behind us.
27:20The hallway was quiet.
27:21Just our footnaps.
27:24Your taste in men is awful.
27:28Shut up.
27:29I'm being serious.
27:30What did you even see in that guy?
27:33Sebastian.
27:34Yeah?
27:35Thanks for coming.
27:36He didn't say anything for a second.
27:38Then he reached over and messed up my hair.
27:40Stop running from me.
27:42There are plenty of good schools back 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.
27:52Let's go home.
27:53Don't they say anything you can sit down.
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