LOGINEllie POVDominic stepped into our space with ease. He was smiling, the air changed immediately, the way it does when a predator enters a room and everyone pretends they don’t notice.I couldn’t help but shrink as his hand closed over mine, as if he could feel the tremor running through my fingers.
Lucas’s jaw tightened at the last word, and for a moment something in his expression flickered—almost softness, almost regret.Then it was gone.He nodded once, slow.“Yeah, well,” he said. “You never really needed it, so don’t worry about it. You’re exactly where you want to be, right?”My fists cu
Ellie POVThe first time I laughed, it surprised me.It slipped out before I could catch it, bright, totally unguarded, and the sound felt unfamiliar in my own throat, as if my body had forgotten how to make it without flinching afterward.For a second I expected the room to turn sharp again, for so
Ellie POVMy mother rushed past me like I wasn’t even there.For a moment, I just stood frozen, watching the hem of her deep purple gown sweep across the floor as she dropped to her knees beside Vivian, her white-gloved hands hovering helplessly over Vivian’s cheek, which was already swelling an ugl
He didn’t speak.He just stood there, staring at me with an expression I couldn’t fully name, something wounded and furious and heartbreakingly human all at once. His fingers twitched at his sides, curling and uncurling like he wanted to reach for me and didn’t trust himself to try.I felt this shar
Ellie POVYou know, I expected this.Even after everything Dominic had done these past few weeks, after the contract and the quiet promises and the way he had looked at me lately as if this arrangement was something fragile and real instead of something written in ink and obligation, a part of me ha
She steps forward, chin up, eyes blazing. “Oh, shut up. You don’t get to judge anyone!”“Watch you’re tone! I think I do—”“Really?” she cuts in, voice sharp enough to gut me. “I couldn’t wait five minutes?! You could wait two seconds! What about your video, Dominic?”I blink. “What video?”“The one
Dominic POV “Ellie,” Lucas said with that stupid bow. “Will you be my partner?”And that alone sent my world into orbit. The room tilts,, and for a second my brain just… stalls.This isn’t right. None of this is right.She didn’t even look at me.Vivian gasps beside me. “Oh! Well… I guess that sett
“What!” Tyler deflates instantly. “Aw, man. Makes sense though. They look stupidly good together.” He sighs like a tragic poet. “Must be nice. Walking in already knowing you’re getting a guaranteed hottie. Destiny served on a silver platter.”He and Marcus fist-bump like absolute idiots.I roll my e
Dominic POV I honestly don’t know how I ended up here.Actually, that’s a lie. I do.It started with me yelling at my Betas to shut their mouths about Ellie. Maybe I thought backing her publicly would fix… something.It didn’t.But it wasn’t my fault. Ellie was ticking me off — letting Lucas, of al







