Chapter 12 #2
"I don't need smart. I need someone who will stand up for me without calculating the cost." She looks at Ivy. "I want to go."
"Wait. Isla, please. Let me explain—"
"Explain what? That you had to weigh whether I was worth losing your father's approval?
That you had to think about whether your family legacy was more important than me?
" She's crying again, but her voice is steady.
"You don't have to explain. I understand perfectly.
When it came down to it, you chose being a Thornhill over choosing me. "
"I didn't—"
"You did. Even if it was just for thirty seconds. Even if you eventually landed on the right choice. That hesitation showed me everything I need to know." She starts walking toward the door. "The contract is over. The five dates are complete. We're done."
"Isla—"
Ivy steps between us. "She said she's done. Respect that."
They leave. Isla never looks back.
I stand alone on the balcony, watching the girl I love walk away, and I can't breathe.
I fucked up. In the one moment that mattered most, I hesitated. And that hesitation destroyed everything.
My phone buzzes. My father.
Father: It's 11:30. I assume you've made the right choice?
I stare at the text for a long moment.
Then I call him.
"Sebastian—"
"You lied about her. Someone fed you false information, and you used it to manipulate me. To threaten her."
"I was protecting you—"
"You were controlling me. Like you've controlled me my entire life.
" My voice is shaking. "But I'm done. You want to give your donor speech at midnight?
Fine. But I'm going up there first. And I'm going to tell everyone exactly what happened.
How you came here to destroy a girl whose only crime was seeing something good in me.
How you believed lies because they fit your narrative.
How you gave me an ultimatum because you can't stand that I might choose something other than the legacy you've planned for me. "
"You wouldn't dare—"
"Try me. Thornhills protect their own, right? Well, Isla is my own now. And I'm protecting her. From you. From this world. From everyone who thinks she doesn't belong."
I hang up before he can respond.
But it doesn't matter. Doesn't change the fact that Isla is gone. That I hesitated when I should have been certain. That I let my conditioning override my heart for even a second.
I head back inside. Find Marcus.
"I need a microphone and everyone's attention."
"What are you doing?"
"Something I should have done two years ago. Being honest."
I take the stage. The microphone screeches as I adjust it. People turn to look, conversations dying down.
My father is in the back, his face thunderous.
I don't care.
"Hi. For those who don't know me, I'm Sebastian Thornhill.
Legacy Council president. Fourth-generation Thornhill student.
Exactly the person you'd expect to see up here giving some rehearsed speech about tradition and excellence and carrying on the family name.
" I pause. "But that's not what I'm here to do. "
The room is completely silent now.
"Two weeks ago, I bid a thousand dollars on a girl at the charity auction.
Isla Monroe. And everyone assumed I did it to humiliate her.
To play some cruel game. To exercise my privilege over someone with less power.
" I find my father in the crowd. Hold his gaze.
"They weren't entirely wrong. I've spent two years being cruel to Isla because she saw through me and I couldn't handle it.
Two years of proving I was exactly the heartless asshole she called me. "
Murmurs ripple through the crowd.
"But these past two weeks? These five dates?
They showed me who I could be instead. Someone real.
Someone honest. Someone who doesn't hide behind a legacy and a last name.
" My voice breaks slightly. "Isla made me want to be better.
And tonight, someone tried to destroy that.
Fed my father lies about her. Forced me to choose between my family's legacy and the first real thing I've ever had. "
My father starts moving toward the stage. Security moves to intercept him at my signal, Marcus is good at anticipating what I need.
"I hesitated. For just a moment, I hesitated.
And that was enough to lose her." I look directly at where Isla was standing earlier, though she's long gone.
"So this is me not hesitating anymore. Isla Monroe is the best person I've ever known.
She's brilliant and strong and deserves better than this school, this world, and definitely better than me.
But I'm going to spend however long it takes proving I can be worthy of her. Even if she never forgives me."
I set down the microphone and walk off the stage.
The room erupts. Some people applaud. Others look shocked. My father looks like he's having a stroke.
I don't stay to see the aftermath. Just grab my jacket and leave.
I drive to Isla's dorm and sit in the parking lot for an hour, hoping she'll come back. She doesn't.
Finally, I text her: I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry. You were right about everything. But you were also wrong about one thing—I do choose you. I will always choose you. Even if you never want to see me again.
The text doesn't deliver.
She blocked my number.
I deserve that. Deserve everything that's coming.
But I meant what I said on that stage.
I'll spend however long it takes proving I can be better.
Even if it takes forever.
Even if she never gives me another chance.
Because losing Isla Monroe is the worst thing I've ever done to myself.
And I'm not going to make that mistake twice.