- 21 hours ago
اخرج من حياتي يا خائني
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Short filmTranscript
00:02My 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 Deem'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.
00:32Then, on my 22nd birthday, Dominic took me to Oak Hall, Westbrook's most exclusive restaurant, and said he'd planned a
00:38surprise.
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.
00:45Be right back.
00:47I waited until the dining room closed.
00:52He never came back.
00:54I pulled out my card to cover the bill.
00:56The cashier scanned it, paused, and slid it back across the counter.
01:00I'm sorry, Ms. Sinclair.
01:02Your card is showing as invalid in the system.
01:05Invalid?
01:06I stared at the card in my hand.
01:08My fingers went cold.
01:09This was the card Dominic had given me right before we left.
01:14After we got engaged, he'd added me to the Ashford family meal plan.
01:19Every purchase on campus, charged to the family account, billed directly to them.
01:24But tonight, right before we walked out the door, he'd reached into my bag and taken the card.
01:30He'd said, kissing my forehead.
01:32This one's on me.
01:35It's your 22nd.
01:37Dominic wasn't picking up.
01:3912 calls.
01:4012 voicemails left.
01:41The cashier drummed her fingers on the card reader.
01:44Ms. Sinclair, do you have another form of payment?
01:47We don't do tabs here.
01:48And I'm sure you remember last month's incident.
01:51I remembered.
01:53Last month, Dominic's childhood best friend, Bianca Harlow, took my dining dollars and treated her entire Pi Beta chapper to
01:59a $2,000 dinner.
02:00Then went and ran her mouth in the girl's locker room.
02:02I was a clout haster with a pretty face.
02:04Dominic's gonna drop her the second he's bored.
02:06So I logged into the portal and killed her access.
02:08The next day, she stepped up to the register and got declined.
02:12Once.
02:13Twice.
02:14Three times.
02:15The line behind her stretched to the door.
02:17Her face went beet red, in front of her sister's.
02:20She never forgave me for that.
02:22Now I stood there, phone in a death grip, and my knuckles turned white.
02:27Then the doors swung open.
02:29Bianca walked in, tucked under Dominic's arm.
02:32Chin up.
02:33Blue eyes absolutely glowing with satisfaction.
02:37Behind them, 14, maybe 15 people.
02:41The entire inner circle of Westbrook College.
02:44Phi Kippa's executive board.
02:46Pi Beta's social chars.
02:48Every single one of them was already staring.
02:51Dominic let go of Bianca's arm and walked toward me.
02:53The light caught his pale blonde hair.
02:55He looked every bit the Ashverned air, which honestly wasn't far off.
02:58The Ashverns were East Coast old money, the oldest kind.
03:00And Dominic was their only son, president of Phi Kapper.
03:02The guy Westbrook was basically built around.
03:04And right now, he was looking at me in a way I had never seen before.
03:06Elena, he said, low, measured, loud enough for every table in Oak Hall to hear.
03:12You get a real kick out of sabotaging people on the low, huh?
03:15Freezing someone's card, making them stand at a register and choke in front of everyone.
03:18So, now you know how it feels.
03:20The room cracked open.
03:22Wait, is he serious?
03:23It's her birthday.
03:23They've been together three years.
03:25Why would he-
03:25Three years doesn't mean anything.
03:27Bianca's known him since they were kids.
03:28And Elena?
03:29She transferred from the West Coast.
03:31Nobody can even find her people.
03:32She's here on a scholarship, right?
03:34Like, a full ride?
03:35That's what you get for clout chasing.
03:37When Domic's done with her, she won't even have a seat at the table.
03:39I dug my nails into my palm.
03:42Exactly what I thought.
03:43He'd set this whole thing up.
03:45On my birthday.
03:46Just to get back at me for Bianca.
03:48Dominic walked Bianca to the table, and Nguanga pulled out her chair.
03:52Like I wasn't even in the room.
03:54Bianca.
03:55His voice was quiet, but the whole room heard it.
03:56Whatever she did to you, I'm returning it.
03:58Every bit of it.
03:59Bianca's face broke open.
04:00She leaned over and kissed the corner of his mouth.
04:02Thank you, Dom.
04:02Then she looked at me.
04:04Getting the picture now, Elena?
04:05That account belongs to the Ashford family?
04:06You're not family yet.
04:07What gave you the right to touch my access in the first place?
04:09She dropped her bag onto the table.
04:11Then shoved it.
04:12Hard.
04:12My water glass-tipped liquid spilled across my shoes, seeping through the fabric.
04:16She said, covering her mouth.
04:18Oops.
04:19Slipped.
04:19Sorry about that.
04:20Though those shoes weren't worth much anyway, right?
04:23Scattered laughter from behind her.
04:24Dominic didn't look at the spill.
04:26Didn't look at me.
04:26He just slipped his arm around Bianca's waist and looked straight at the cashier.
04:30Whatever Bianca orders tonight, put it on the Ashford account.
04:32Then he looked at me.
04:33That smirk.
04:34Wide open.
04:35Not even trying to hide it.
04:36As for her, if she can't pay, go buy the book.
04:39I stood there.
04:40The room shrank.
04:41Inch by inch.
04:43Dominic stood up.
04:44He wanted to make sure I had nowhere left to go.
04:46He swept the room with one slow, deliberate look.
04:49Then pulled out his phone, typed something, and held the screen up for everyone to see.
04:53The Phi Kappa group chat.
04:54Anyone who helps Elena Sinclair tonight is out.
04:57All event access?
04:58Gone.
04:59Everyone in that room knew exactly what that meant.
05:02Cross Dominic Ashvin, and you were done.
05:04No party invites.
05:06No frat events.
05:07No senior gala.
05:09Full stop.
05:09A few people who actually knew me.
05:11I watched something flicker across their faces.
05:13One girl actually reached into her bag.
05:15Bianna caught it.
05:16She stared that girl down.
05:17Hard.
05:18The hand slipped back out.
05:19Empty.
05:20I looked at Dominic.
05:21Three years of feelings.
05:22Gone.
05:23Just like that.
05:24Dominic Ashforth?
05:26You really want to do this?
05:27He held my gaze without blinking.
05:29When you froze her card and humiliated her in front of everyone, what did you think was
05:33going to happen?
05:35This is your lesson.
05:37Remember it.
05:37She's mine.
05:39Engaged or not, you don't get to come after her.
05:42She's mine.
05:44Those two words hit like a knife.
05:46Straight in.
05:46Three years ago, I just transferred to Westbrook.
05:49Bumped straight into him on the steps outside the student union building.
05:52Full collision.
05:53Books everywhere.
05:54He spent the whole next semester on my case.
05:56Every morning, he'd be waiting outside my dorm with an oat milk latte from the campus
05:59cafe.
06:00My exact order, every time.
06:01On rainy days, he'd pull off his own hoodie and drop it over my head, then sprint across
06:06the entire football field in just a t-shirt.
06:09When a group of Pai Bata upperclasseds cornered me in the library hallway, I don't even know
06:14how he found out, but he showed up, walked straight through all of them, and put himself
06:18between me and the girl running her mouth.
06:20Looked her dead in the eye and said,
06:22She's with me.
06:23I was gone after that.
06:25Not because of his last name, because I actually believed him.
06:28And now he'd just use those same words for her.
06:31So what's it gonna be?
06:32Bianca's voice pulled me back.
06:34She leaned back, legs crossed.
06:36You gonna call someone to bail you out, or...
06:39She let it hang, eyes dragging slowly over my dress.
06:43I felt myself shrink.
06:44Nice piece.
06:46Couture.
06:47Right?
06:48Maybe the boys can auction it off right here, piece by piece, to cover your tab.
06:54The room lost it.
06:55Dominic really said this is for Bianca and meant it.
06:58Elena is cooked.
06:59I told y'all, Cinderella stories don't exist in real life.
07:03The Ashvins were never gonna bring home a girl with no pedigree.
07:05Bianca's always been their people.
07:06The higher they build you up, the harder you fall, sis.
07:09That's just how it goes.
07:11The Phi Keper core, the ones clustered around Dominic,
07:14were watching me with that specific look.
07:16A few of them already had their phones out.
07:19My whole body was shaking.
07:21Before we'd left, Dominic had taken my dining dollars.
07:24On purpose.
07:27Right now, I had nothing but the dress on my back.
07:31And my phone had just died.
07:32Battery gone.
07:34That's when it hit me.
07:36My phone.
07:37My card.
07:38The reservation.
07:39The timing.
07:40None of it was an accident.
07:42And to Gerd the Sotrand.
07:44He didn't forget my birthday.
07:47He planned it.
07:49Bianca moved toward me, smiling like she'd already won.
07:52It's getting late, Elena.
07:53The cashier's waiting to close out your tab.
07:56Don't tell me you're actually broke.
07:58Because a tab this size, if you can't cover it,
08:01this goes straight to the student conduct committee.
08:03I felt it in my stomach.
08:05The student conduct committee at Westbrook College.
08:08The one line nobody crossed.
08:09One formal strike, and I could lose my scholarship, lose my housing,
08:13get pulled from the honors track, or get kicked out for good.
08:17Dominic didn't just want to humiliate me.
08:20He wanted to erase me.
08:24Bianca took another step forward.
08:26Close enough that I could smell her perfume.
08:28She tilted her chin up and looked at me like I was already done.
08:31There is one other option.
08:32That smile ale never moved.
08:34Say please.
08:35Mean it.
08:36Maybe I'll make this easier for you.
08:38She reached out and poked my shoulder.
08:41Dom listens to me.
08:43Always has.
08:44I reached up and blocked her hand.
08:47Just that.
08:48Bianca reacted like she'd been hit by a truck.
08:52Grabbed her cheek and screamed.
08:54She hit me!
08:55I watched Dominic's eyes shift.
08:58No, that's not what...
09:00He grabbed my shoulder and shoved.
09:02Hard.
09:04I went down backward.
09:06Caught the corner of the table on the way.
09:08The pain shot straight up my spine.
09:10The edge caught my arm.
09:12Sharp, clean.
09:14And I felt the warmth before I saw the blood.
09:17I hit the floor and looked up.
09:19Furious.
09:20For just a second something moved across Dominic's face.
09:24Then it was gone.
09:25Elena.
09:26You hit her in front of everyone.
09:28That doesn't just go away.
09:30Bianca gets that back.
09:31He jutted his chin at two FICUP members standing nearby.
09:35Both of them built like they belonged on the offensive line.
09:38They grabbed my arms, one on each side, and hauled me off the floor.
09:43Bianca walked toward me slowly.
09:46My heart mummered.
09:48Not from fear.
09:49From disbelief.
09:51The Ashfords hadn't always been East Coast royalty.
09:54Dominic hadn't always been untouchable.
09:57Because of me.
09:58I was the one who'd convinced my dad to use our family's connections to open every door for them.
10:03Rivals who would have gone after the Ashfords backed off because nobody stepped to my dad.
10:08I'd planned to tell Dominic tonight, on my birthday.
10:10Tell him I wasn't some scholarship girl from the West Coast with no pedigree.
10:14I was a St. Clair, the sole heir to a West Coast dynasty that made the Ashterns look like new
10:19money.
10:19I was going to take him home to meet my family.
10:21I just didn't see this coming.
10:22I'd read him wrong.
10:23Bianca turned to the table and picked up a heavy plate of lobster marinara.
10:27The exact dish Dominic had ordered for me.
10:30She stepped right into my space, raised the plate, and didn't hesitate.
10:34Splash!
10:35A wet, sickening sound echoed across the dining room.
10:37She had flipped the entire plate directly over my head.
10:40Scalding pasta hit my crown.
10:41Thick red sauce slid down my hair and cling to my cheeks.
10:44The empty plate slipped from her hand, hitting the hardwood floor with a sharp crack and shattering at my feet.
10:50Rich tomato sauce dripped from my eyelashes, bleeding rapidly into the pale fabric of my couture dress.
10:56I didn't flinch.
10:57I didn't even lift a hand to wipe my face.
10:59I just dug my nails into my palm and looked straight through the mess at Dominic.
11:03No anger.
11:04No tears.
11:06Dominic, this is on you.
11:07When the Ashfords go under and everything you've built comes crashing down.
11:12Remember, you chose this.
11:20Girl, you've been watching too many dramas.
11:22Look at you.
11:24First out laughing, look at you.
11:26What, you think you're some secret rich heiress?
11:28She might actually be losing it.
11:32Dominic looked at me like I was wasting his time.
11:35Cold.
11:36Checked out.
11:37Drop the act.
11:38The Ashfords going bankrupt?
11:40That's cute.
11:41Figure out how you're covering this bill.
11:45Miss Sinclair, it's late.
11:46I got places to be.
11:47I looked around the room.
11:49Every person who'd sat next to me in class, studied with me in the library, heads down.
11:53All of them.
11:54One girl, someone I actually considered a real friend, snuck a glance at me, then looked away
11:59the second our eyes met, scared of being seen.
12:01Nobody moved.
12:02The Ashfords ran this campus, the Board of Trustees, the Student Conduct Committee, the
12:06entire Greek Council.
12:08And outside?
12:09City Hall, the banks, every law firm that mattered.
12:11Cross Dominic Ashford and you'd cross the entire East Coast Old Money Network.
12:14I walked toward that girl.
12:16She saw me coming, shot up from her seat, and backed away.
12:19Elena, don't!
12:20I can't help you pay!
12:22I'm not asking you to pay, I said.
12:24I just need your phone.
12:25Five minutes.
12:26I need someone to come down here.
12:28Ha ha!
12:28She's still fronting!
12:30Dom already put the word out across every frat on campus.
12:33Who's coming to save you?
12:36Let her call.
12:37Twenty minutes.
12:38She still can't cover it.
12:39The dress comes off.
12:43Clock's ticking, princess.
12:45Can't pay up?
12:47Time to strip.
12:51Bianca turned toward the guys who'd been watching a little too, too eagerly.
12:55The girl hesitated.
12:58Looked at Dominic.
13:00Looked back at me.
13:04Then she held out her phone.
13:09I dialed the number I knew by heart but had never once called.
13:12Every second felt longer than the last.
13:15Less than ten minutes left.
13:17Bianca was done waiting.
13:19She stood up.
13:20I'm such an idiot.
13:22I actually believed you.
13:24Nobody's coming for you, girl.
13:26Hey!
13:27She turned to the cashier.
13:28Have your guys hold her down.
13:30Nobody's risking the Aschams over this girl.
13:32The guards moved in.
13:34Big.
13:35Mean.
13:35Done with waiting.
13:36I put my hand up.
13:38Wait.
13:39There's still time.
13:40Someone's coming.
13:41Bianca laughed.
13:43Still?
13:44Okay, bet.
13:44Someone walks through that door in time.
13:48I'll eat everything on this table.
13:50And I'll step down from Pi Beta.
13:53The president's seat is yours.
13:55You sure?
13:56I looked at her.
13:57Everyone in this room is a witness.
13:59Absolutely.
14:00She didn't even blink.
14:02Something lit up dappens me.
14:03She had absolutely no idea what she'd just walked into.
14:07With a few minutes left on the clock, one of the Phi Keeper guys, big, sloppy, clearly
14:12had too much to drink, reached over and grabbed at my dress.
14:17I smacked his hand away.
14:19Yo, Dominic.
14:19Your fiancé's got a temper.
14:22Dominic smiled and swirled his wine, completely unbothered.
14:26She can't fair game.
14:28Have at it.
14:28I stared at him.
14:30Something inside me went completely cold.
14:33This was my fiancé.
14:35Watching other men put their hands on me.
14:37And he didn't even flinch.
14:38He caught my eyes and shrugged.
14:40Don't look at me like that.
14:42I'm not helping you.
14:43I just want Bianca happy.
14:45That was all they needed to hear.
14:47They grabbed me, arms, shoulders, and started pulling at my dress.
14:51I fought back hard.
14:53Every scream just hyped them up more.
14:55I looked at every single face.
14:57Every one of you who touched me, I remember faces.
15:01Not one of you.
15:03Bianca didn't even look up.
15:04Phone out, already recording, waiting to put this all over the internet.
15:08Time's up.
15:09Take it.
15:11Bang.
15:11The heavy oak doors were practically kicked off their hinges.
15:15Every head snapped toward the entrance.
15:17And the second they saw him, the whole room locked up.
15:20Wait.
15:20Is that Nathan Thorne?
15:22Why the hell is the board sheriff here?
15:24Dominic and Bianca shot to their feet, completely thrown.
15:27Bianca actually rubbed her eyes, like she couldn't trust what she was seeing.
15:31Nathan Thorne walked in, wearing a navy blazer, tie slightly crooked, like he'd dressed on the way here.
15:37President Wiltmore was behind him.
15:40Mr. Thorne, President Whitmore, what are you doing here?
15:43Nathan didn't look at him.
15:44Didn't look at Bianca.
15:45He walked straight to me.
15:48I apologize for the delay, Miss St. Clair.
15:52Mr. Sterling is on his way.
15:54He asked me to come ahead and handle things.
15:56He took one look at my torn dress.
15:58The dirt on my hands.
16:00The cut on my arm.
16:01He swallowed it.
16:03Then he turned around slowly.
16:04The whole room felt it.
16:05He kept his voice level when he spoke to the President.
16:07Shut this down.
16:08Tonight.
16:09And I want a full explanation.
16:10One I'm actually satisfied with.
16:12Otherwise, the board will be reassessing its investment in West College Effect immediately.
16:15The President went white.
16:17Speechless.
16:19Oak Hall, which 30 seconds ago had been loud enough to rattle the windows, went dead.
16:24The whole room.
16:25Locked up.
16:26Nobody even knew what they were looking at.
16:29They all knew the name-name Nathan Thorne.
16:32The Ashfords were East Coast royalty, sure.
16:35But the network behind Nathan Thorne?
16:37It could swallow ten Ashford families' hold.
16:42People had always wondered how the Ashfords pulled it off.
16:45How a fading old money family suddenly rocketed to the top of the East Coast in just a few years.
16:50They never knew.
16:51The answer was me.
16:54When I take over as the Ashford heir and rebuild this family, I'm putting a ring on it.
17:01That's a promise.
17:03I was so gone for him, I asked my dad to quietly back the Ashfords.
17:07New contracts.
17:08Big ones.
17:09Every door they needed opened.
17:11And just like that, they climbed.
17:14I'd been about to tell him everything.
17:16Then tonight happened.
17:17Nobody whispered.
17:19Nobody moved.
17:20Just blank stares.
17:22Then it hit Bianca.
17:24She flinched.
17:25Like something just clicked.
17:27Went white.
17:28Lips shaking.
17:29She actually...
17:30She actually called someone?
17:32My bet!
17:33No.
17:34No way.
17:34How is the board chair even friends with her?
17:36That's not possible.
17:37Nobody answered.
17:38Nobody breathed.
17:39The guys who'd been grabbing at my dress had already vanished into the crowd.
17:44Nathan looked straight at Bianca.
17:47Cold.
17:48The injuries on Miss St. Clair.
17:50You ordered that?
17:51Bianca's knees gave out.
17:53Dominic caught her.
17:54Hey.
17:55I got you.
17:56And just like that, Bianca straightened up.
17:59Shoulders back.
18:01Right.
18:01The Ashherds run the East Coast.
18:04Even the board answers to them.
18:06Dominic looked at me.
18:07That smirk was back.
18:09I don't know what you and Nathan Thorne have going on, but let me be clear.
18:12At Westbrook, the Ashford's run things.
18:15With all due respect, Mr. Thorne, this is a private matter.
18:18Stay in your lane.
18:20At Westbrook, the Ashford's pull the strings.
18:22Nathan smiled.
18:23Cold.
18:24Practiced.
18:24The kind you can't fake.
18:26Bold words, Mr. Ashford.
18:27If it weren't for Miss St. Villet, your family would have been eaten alive a long time ago.
18:31Everything the Ashford's have today, she handed that to you.
18:33And you didn't even know it.
18:35Dominic scoffed.
18:36I was done.
18:37Done with the room.
18:38Done with his voice.
18:40Done with all of it.
18:41While Nathan was talking, I'd already called my dad.
18:44Told him everything.
18:45The Ashford's had no idea what was coming.
18:47Nathan walked to the cashier and handed over his card.
18:50Miss St. Clair's tab is on me.
18:52Miss St. Clair, no more dining dollars.
18:54Your account has been upgraded.
18:56Face ID access only from now on.
18:58No spending cap.
18:59Half the room actually stepped back.
19:01I took the tablet, confirmed my info, and looked up at Bianca.
19:05Bianca, Bianca, that bet you made, you remember that, right?
19:09She grabbed his arm, forcing herself to look calm, but her voice gave her away.
19:13So what if I lost?
19:15You got the board chair to show up for you.
19:17You've been playing him this whole time.
19:19Who the hell did you screw to get the board chair to show up for you?
19:23His jaw tightened.
19:24I could see it in his face.
19:25This had gone further than he meant it to.
19:27He'd wanted to humiliate me, not lose control of the whole night.
19:30Elena, last chance.
19:32Apologize to Bianca.
19:33Do that, and tonight never happened.
19:34Don't, and I'm calling off the engagement.
19:36I smiled, colder than the room.
19:38You really think I still want to marry you?
19:39And while you're at it, call your father.
19:42Ask him how Ashford Group Stock is doing right now.
19:44His eyes sharpened.
19:45He pulled out his phone.
19:46Is she actually losing it?
19:48The Ashfords would never...
19:49The laugh died in her throat, because his screen lit up with an internal family alert.
19:54The air stopped moving.
19:55His fingers froze mid-air.
19:57He called his father.
19:58Dad, what's going on?
20:00Why are we dropping?
20:01You absolute idiot!
20:03You crossed the St. Clairs, didn't you?
20:05The St. Clair family.
20:06West Coast.
20:07Every fund they control is shorting us right now.
20:10All of it.
20:10If this doesn't stop, Ashford Group files for bankruptcy in three days.
20:14St. Clair.
20:16The name hit the Oak Hall like a grenade.
20:19The arrogant sneers vanished, replaced by sheer terror.
20:23The St. Clairs weren't just old money.
20:26They were the kind of name that made the Ashfords look new.
20:30Bianca's smile dissolved.
20:32The color drained from her lips.
20:35Dominic's hand started shaking around the phone.
20:38Dominic snapped his head up and looked at me.
20:40And for the first time all night, fear.
20:42You... you're actually...
20:46I smoothed out my dress.
20:48The one they'd grabbed at.
20:50Slowly.
20:52Nathan stepped forward.
20:54Composed.
20:55Respectful.
20:57Get the names of every student in this room who touched her or participated.
21:00The Student Conduct Committee will be calling their families first thing tomorrow morning.
21:06She wanted a public humiliation?
21:08Fine.
21:09I gave her one she'd never recover from.
21:11That's how old money plays it.
21:14Before Nathan even finished speaking, hurried footsteps echoed outside.
21:18Then the doors flew open again.
21:20Edward Ashford stumbled in.
21:21Shirt untucked.
21:22Tie loose.
21:23With several stone-faced family aides behind him.
21:26His eyes swept the room.
21:27The mess on the floor.
21:28The cut on my arm.
21:31One look at Dominic, and Edward looked like he could have killed him right there.
21:36Edward's shoulders slumped.
21:37The arrogant billionaire practically shrunk in front of me,
21:40his hands shaking slightly as he stepped forward.
21:42Miss St. Clair, my son is an embarrassment.
21:46The Ashford family owes you a formal apology.
21:48Please, let us make tonight right.
21:51The butler stepped forward and opened a velvet box,
21:53pink diamond necklace, the Ashford family heirloam.
21:56Mr. Ashford, that's not necessary.
21:58Edward didn't even flinch.
22:00I glanced at it.
22:01I just want what you took from me tonight.
22:03My dignity.
22:04Edward's expression hardened.
22:05He looked at Bianca still crumpled on the floor,
22:07then back at his son, like he couldn't believe what he'd raised.
22:10Dominic, I have never been more ashamed of you in my life.
22:13You turned on your own fiancé with outsiders.
22:16How am I supposed to trust you with this family after tonight?
22:18Edward swung.
22:19His knuckles connected with Dominic's jaw.
22:21Dominic hit the floor, tasting blood, but didn't dare make a sound.
22:25Effective today, you are no longer the Ashford heir.
22:29I'd sooner leave everything to a kid I've never met than hand it to you.
22:33He turned to be Bianca.
22:35And the Harlow family, every West Coast partnership is done.
22:40See how long you last without us.
22:43Bianca dropped to the floor, grabbing at Dominic's pants leg, sobbing.
22:48Dominic, please.
22:50If my dad finds out about this, I'm dead.
22:53I am so dead.
22:55Dominic looked down at her.
22:57Something moved across his face.
22:58Complicated.
22:59Distant.
23:00With his entire inheritance on the line, whatever this was didn't matter anymore.
23:04Bianca, you ruined me.
23:09She completely fell apart.
23:10Edward turned back to me.
23:11He helped Dominic up, carefully, and pushed him toward me.
23:14Miss St. Clair, my son knows he was wrong.
23:16He let Bianca manipulate him.
23:18You're above this.
23:19Please, give him one more chance.
23:21Whatever it takes.
23:21Name it.
23:22He will spend the rest of his miserable life making this up to you.
23:25Dominic looked up at me.
23:26His eyes were full, like he was one word away from breaking.
23:29Elena, I'm sorry.
23:31I was wrong.
23:31I was so wrong.
23:32I never should have doubted you.
23:33Never should have let her lay a hand on you.
23:35Just forgive me.
23:35Please, we'll get married.
23:36I'll make this right, I swear.
23:38He reached for my hand.
23:39I turned away before he could.
23:40I looked at his face.
23:41No hate.
23:42No tears.
23:42Just quiet.
23:43The kind that comes after something dies.
23:45You know what actually destroyed me?
23:47When I spoke, the whole room heard every word.
23:49Not the slap.
23:50Not any of it.
23:50It was when they had me pinned down and you looked me dead in the eyes and said,
23:53I just want Bianca happy.
23:54I meant less to you than her ego.
23:57Love runs out.
23:58You burned through all of mine tonight.
24:00I took one step back.
24:02Nathan was already beside me.
24:03I turned, unhurring.
24:05I'm not interested in the Ashford future anymore.
24:07And us?
24:08We're done.
24:09Bianca stood in the middle of the room like someone had cut her strings.
24:13Then, the doors opened again.
24:16The air changed.
24:18He walked in wearing a dark green varsity jacket with the St. Paul's crest stitched over
24:23the chest.
24:24Half a head taller than Dominic.
24:27Broader.
24:28Jawline like something out of a Renaissance painting.
24:31He didn't look at Dominic.
24:32He walked straight to me, glanced down at my wrist, and frowned.
24:38You're bleeding.
24:41He pulled a perfectly folded white handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it gently against
24:46my wrist.
24:49Then, only then, he turned and seemed to notice Dominic for the first time.
24:55Ah, you must be Ashford.
24:57He extended his hand, but not to shake.
25:00He just casually straightened his cufflinks.
25:03Sebastian Sterling.
25:05Elena and I grew up together.
25:06She transferred here.
25:08The corner of his mouth lifted.
25:10To get away from me.
25:12Like it was an inside joke.
25:14Looks like she trusted the wrong family.
25:17Dominic's lips were trembling.
25:19Sterling?
25:20You're a Sterling?
25:21He finally looked at Dominic directly.
25:24No.
25:24I'm the one who's gonna pull every Sterling capital asset from your father's next board
25:29vote.
25:30He turned, and his arm settled around my waist like it belonged there.
25:34Let's go, Elena.
25:35Your father's plane is waiting.
25:37At the door, he stopped.
25:39Didn't turn around.
25:41One more thing, Ashford.
25:43That plaque by the entrance?
25:45Ashford Family Banquet Hall?
25:47You should take it down yourself.
25:50The crew we send to remove it will charge you for the trouble.
25:55He followed me out.
25:56I could hear him.
25:57The uneven footsteps.
25:58The way he was half running, half stumbling.
26:01Elena!
26:02I stopped.
26:02Didn't turn around.
26:03Elena, I had no idea.
26:05I swear, I had no idea you were a St. Clair.
26:08If I'd known from the start.
26:10Then what?
26:11Looked him dead in the eyes.
26:13You would have treated me better?
26:14He opened his mouth.
26:16Nothing came out.
26:17Or, if I were still just the scholarship girl, would all of that have been okay?
26:22Freezing my meal plan?
26:24Letting Bianca slap me?
26:27Letting those guys tear my clothes off?
26:29No.
26:30That's not what I meant.
26:31Then what did you mean, Dominic?
26:32Silence.
26:33Sebastian stood behind me.
26:35No rush.
26:36Just waiting.
26:37Arms crossed.
26:38Like he had all night.
26:39Dominic, listen to me.
26:41I built the Ashwoods up.
26:43I can tear them down just as fast.
26:45We're done.
26:46As of right now.
26:48I turned and took Sebastian's arm.
26:50Don't know it's...
26:54Let's go.
26:55Behind me, Dominic's voice came out horsey.
26:58Broken.
26:59Like he was already crying.
27:00Elena, if none of this had happened, if I hadn't let Bianca...
27:04Would you have ever brought me home?
27:07Introduced me to your family?
27:09I didn't answer.
27:11There was nothing left to say.
27:14Some questions don't deserve one.
27:20The Oak Hall doors closed behind us.
27:22The hallway was quiet.
27:24Just our footnaps.
27:27Your taste in men is awful.
27:30Shut up.
27:32I'm being serious.
27:33What did you even see in that guy?
27:35Sebastian.
27:36Yeah?
27:37Thanks for coming.
27:39He didn't say anything for a second.
27:40Then he reached over and messed up my hair.
27:43Stop running from me.
27:44There are plenty of good schools back home, you know?
27:47I didn't say anything.
27:48But I smiled.
27:51First time all night.
27:53Come on.
27:54Let's go home.
27:55Come on.
27:57Let's go home.
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