Chapter 61 A Night to Remember
The energy in the grand banquet hall was electric—a mix of victory, disbelief, and barely concealed amusement crackling in the air after Hallie's very public downfall.
Jason was the first to break the silence, exhaling loudly as he swirled his drink. "Well, that was a performance. Might be the best birthday party I've ever been to. Solid ten out of ten, Sabrina. Highly recommend."
Roxanne smirked over the rim of her glass. "Missed opportunity, though. Should've brought popcorn."
Lily shot Ryder a look, arms crossed. "You look suspiciously relieved."
Ryder, rubbing a hand over his jaw, let out a breath before flashing a crooked grin. "Not gonna lie, thought I was about to get roasted alive. Turns out the universe decided Hallie deserved center stage more."
From the bar, Scarlett glanced his way before focusing on her drink. Sabrina, who had been observing Ryder with an unreadable expression, suddenly turned toward Scarlett, heels clicking purposefully across the marble floor.
"If you're about to tell me to forgive Ryder, don't waste your breath," Scarlett said, her voice even.
Sabrina shook her head. "Not my place to tell you that. I just wanted to say..." She exhaled, her confidence dimming just slightly. "This was my idea. Daniel and I set this up—not for revenge, or at least not just for that. It was about stopping Hallie before she could hurt anyone else."
Scarlett studied her, fingers tapping against her glass. "And now you want what? A round of applause?"
"No," Sabrina said simply. "I want to apologize. And if you think I deserve public humiliation for it, I won't argue."
For a long moment, Scarlett said nothing. Then, finally, she shook her head. "No need. I'm still divorcing Ryder, but... I guess we can start over. As friends."
From a few feet away, Ryder practically lit up. "Friends? Oh, hell yes, I'll take that!" He clapped a hand over his chest. "I swear, I will be the best friend you've ever had. I'll even buy you coffee. No strings attached."
Scarlett rolled her eyes, but a smirk played at her lips. "We'll see."
Across the table, Chase turned to Daniel, eyebrows raised. "Alright, Mercer. Spill. How exactly did this whole thing come together?"
Daniel leaned back, looking every bit the calculated strategist. "Hallie and I... had a brief history. Nothing serious. But when I stopped returning her calls and later mentioned to a producer that she wasn't fit for a role, she didn't take it well. A few months ago, she drugged me at an afterparty—nothing dangerous, just enough to make sure I wouldn't remember much."
Jason let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's unhinged."
Daniel's smirk was razor-sharp. "Oh, it gets better. When I came to, I started digging. Turns out, I wasn't the only one she had played. So I reached out to Sabrina, who I was still..." He tilted his head toward her. "Let's just say I was still fighting for her. And when she found out Hallie had been kissing Chase—"
Sabrina cut in, smirking. "Let's just say I was very open to collaboration."
She turned to the group. "And it wasn't just us. Lily, you kept Hallie distracted long enough for us to get real proof. Roxanne, you made sure the right people in the industry caught wind of her behavior. Chase, you being completely oblivious to her games actually worked in our favor—she got sloppy. And Jason?"
Jason grinned, leaning back lazily. "Kept everyone entertained so no one suspected a thing?"
Sabrina lifted her glass in mock salute. "Exactly."
Scarlett arched a brow. "And what about me?"
Sabrina hesitated before answering. "Your ordeal with Ryder helped expose just how far Hallie was willing to go. Without it, we wouldn't have pieced everything together in time."
Scarlett considered this, then shrugged. "Well. If I had to be dragged into a mess, at least it ended with her downfall."
Daniel reached for Sabrina's hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "And that, my dear, is why we make an excellent team."
Jason laughed, shaking his head. "This is some next-level Hollywood drama. Someone should write a script."
Lily raised her glass. "To Hallie's downfall and the best damn revenge plot I've ever seen."
Glasses clinked, laughter bubbled through the air, and the weight of the past finally began to lift.
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As the evening stretched on, Emilia stepped onto their balcony, craving a moment of stillness. The soft hum of the city lay beneath them, distant and unobtrusive, while a gentle breeze stirred the air. She exhaled slowly, letting the quiet settle over her.
Yet, something lingered—an unshakable sense of anticipation, a whisper of something just beyond her reach.
Arms wrapped loosely around herself, she gazed up at the night sky, lost in thought. Then, warmth. A familiar presence beside her.
Henry.
Without a word, his fingers brushed against hers, the touch grounding, certain. She turned to find him watching her, eyes filled with something she couldn't quite name.
"Come with me," he murmured, his voice a quiet promise.
Emilia hesitated only a second before slipping her hand into his.
And just like that, the night—and whatever awaited—belonged to them alone.
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As the laughter and clinking glasses began to settle, Sabrina felt a hand slip into hers beneath the table. She glanced sideways to find Daniel watching her, his usual sharp confidence softened by something quieter—something just for her.
"You did good," he murmured, voice low enough for only her to hear.
She exhaled, the weight of the past few weeks finally catching up with her. "We did," she admitted, squeezing his hand.
Daniel studied her for a moment before bringing her hand to his lips. "No regrets?"
Sabrina hesitated, then shook her head. "None."
A few feet away, Scarlett stood near the bar, swirling the last of her drink as she let the evening sink in. [This story is exclusively available for free on Wattpad. If you see it anywhere else, it has been stolen.] The air around her felt lighter, freer, as if she had finally stepped out from under a shadow she hadn't even realized was there.
Ryder lingered a few steps away, watching her carefully, but for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel the familiar sting of resentment. Just... acceptance.
She set down her glass and turned to him. "Friends, huh?"
Ryder grinned, hands in his pockets. "Best damn friend you'll ever have."
Scarlett let out a small, almost disbelieving laugh. Maybe, just maybe, she could believe it.
Across the room, Sabrina lifted her glass one last time, meeting Daniel's gaze with a knowing smirk.
"To new beginnings," she said.
And this time, it wasn't about revenge. It was about finally letting go.
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Henry led Emilia through the winding pathways of the island, his hand warm in hers. She clutched the bouquet of roses he had given her, their soft petals brushing against her fingers as she glanced up at him with amused suspicion.
Henry stepped closer, slipping an arm around her waist and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "That obvious, huh? Guess I'll have to try harder to be mysterious."
She laughed, the sound light and melodic. "You? Mysterious? Please."
He grinned before pulling a small envelope from his pocket. "Well, since you think you have me all figured out, let's see how good you are at scavenger hunts."
Emilia raised an eyebrow, taking the envelope. "A scavenger hunt?"
Emilia tore open the envelope, smoothing out the card inside.
Love leaves a mark on the shore, shimmering like a treasure in the sun. Find the emerald spark where the waves whisper secrets.
She glanced at Henry, who simply gestured toward the private beach. Shaking her head with a chuckle, she kicked off her sandals and made her way down the wooden steps. The warm sand slipped between her toes as she scanned the shoreline.
Then, something caught her eye.
A heart, outlined in smooth emerald-green pebbles, lay near the water's edge. At its center rested a small velvet pouch.
Emilia knelt, picking it up. Inside, a delicate necklace gleamed—a heart-shaped emerald, her name engraved on the back. Her breath caught as she traced the letters before pressing it to her heart.
"Henry..." she whispered.
Another envelope was tucked inside the pouch. She unfolded it.
Where dreams take flight and stories unfold, a hidden world waits among the trees. Find what dances in the moonlight.
Frowning slightly, Emilia scanned the area. Then, she spotted it—a wooden structure nestled between the thick branches of an ancient tree. A treehouse.
"You've got to be kidding me," she murmured, lips twitching in amusement.
Climbing the wooden ladder, she stepped inside. A beautifully crafted music box sat atop a small table, her name carved into the lid. She lifted it, and a tiny ballerina spun gracefully as a soft melody played. Inside, resting on a velvet lining, was a keychain.
Emilia picked it up, turning it over in her palm. A single silver key dangled from the ring.
"Umm... Cayden?" she called down, holding it up. "What exactly is this for?"
Cayden, leaning against the car below, smirked but only shrugged. "You're asking the wrong guy. Better keep looking."
Emilia huffed, heart pounding with anticipation.
Then, she noticed it— a winding pathway of grey bricks leading into the trees. Taking a deep breath, she followed the trail, stepping deeper into a secluded grove bathed in golden twilight. The air smelled of fresh earth and blooming jasmine, birds chirping softly overhead.
Then, she saw it.
A crystalline castle stood at the end of the path, shimmering like something out of a dream. Ivy wrapped elegantly around its towering columns, golden lanterns flickering along the carved archways. It looked almost... otherworldly.
And in the center of it all stood Henry.
Emilia clutched the music box against her chest, her heart racing. "Henry... what is this place?"
He smirked. "I was aiming for something subtle, but I might've gone overboard."
She let out a breathless laugh. "This is... unbelievable."
Henry stepped closer, his gaze warm, steady. "Open the door, sweetheart."
With trembling hands, Emilia fit the key into the lock. As the door swung open, her breath hitched.
A single velvet box sat atop a pedestal, bathed in candlelight.
Her pulse quickened.
Then, Henry dropped to one knee.
"Emilia," he murmured, voice thick with emotion, "will you marry me?"
Emilia clutched the music box against her chest, her heart racing. This moment—this man—it was everything she had ever dreamed of, and yet somehow, it felt even bigger.
She thought of the winding journey that had led them here, the late-night whispers, the stolen glances, the quiet promises made in the spaces between words. Henry had been her constant, her safe place, the one who saw every part of her—flaws and all—and still chose her.
Tears filled her eyes, her breath catching. How could she ever have imagined a life without him?
Then, as if there had ever been any doubt, she smiled—a radiant, breathtaking smile.
"Yes," she whispered. "A thousand times, yes."
And just like that, their forever began.