Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
Grace
The stadium was alive.
The moment Olivia and I stepped inside, the energy hit me like a wave—loud, electric, pulsing with excitement.
Tens of thousands of people filled the arena, voices blending into a deafening roar, the flashing lights from phones and glow sticks painting the crowd in streaks of gold and silver.
The bass vibrated through the floor, syncing with the quickening rhythm of my heartbeat.
And Olivia?
Olivia was losing her goddamn mind.
She was already crying, her hands gripping my arm in a death hold, shaking me violently as she shrieked, “THIS IS HAPPENING. WE ARE HERE. brEATHE WITH ME, GRACE.”
I groaned, trying to pry her off. “You need to get a grip.”
“I CAN’T. I’M IN THE PRESENCE OF LEGENDS.” She dramatically wiped her tears, only for more to fall immediately after.
I rolled my eyes, but even I had to admit…
This felt different.
I had seen them perform before—back when I was part of their security team. I had watched them rehearse, had been there for their biggest shows, had stood at a distance, always focused on threats rather than the music.
But now? Now I was seeing them through the eyes of the fans.
And it was unreal.
The moment the lights dimmed and the opening beats of the first song hit, the entire arena exploded. The screens lit up, showing flashes of each member before the main stage illuminated, revealing them.
DreamCrest.
They stood in a perfect formation, dressed in sleek, all-black outfits, microphones gripped tightly in their hands. The crowd screamed, an ocean of voices calling their names, and then?—
Then, Dominic stepped forward.
And just like that, he owned the entire damn stadium.
His voice wrapped around every note, smooth, powerful, filling every inch of the air like he was made for this.
His presence was undeniable, his golden-boy charisma shining through as he smiled into the camera, as he let the crowd feed off him.
His movements were fluid, calculated, yet effortlessly natural—like he didn’t even have to try.
And the others?
Ezra, wild and unpredictable, getting the crowd hyped with his intense energy.
Riley, flirtatious and completely in sync with the audience, blowing a kiss that sent people swooning.
Jaden, quiet but commanding, fingers flying over the keys of his instrument.
And Theo, anchoring the group with his smooth control, balancing them all.
They were unstoppable.
And for the first time, I wasn’t watching them as a job.
I was just watching them.
I was just feeling it.
Olivia, beside me, had fully ascended into another dimension, tears streaming down her face as she clutched my arm. “THEY’RE SO PERFECT, I CAN’T DO THIS.”
I snorted, shaking my head. But even I had to admit—seeing them like this, seeing them own this world, made something tighten in my chest.
Then, suddenly?—
The music faded.
The crowd quieted just enough for Dominic to step forward, gripping his mic, scanning the stadium.
“There’s something I need to say before we end the night,” he said, voice steady, carrying through the speakers like a command.
My stomach dropped.
I knew that voice.
That was his serious voice.
The one he used when he was about to do something reckless.
I stiffened, heart hammering, as Dominic walked forward, eyes searching the crowd.
But I already knew.
He was looking for me.
“I had someone watching my back for a long time,” he said, voice deep, controlled. “Protecting me, protecting all of us.”
I froze.
Oh, no. No, no, no.
“But what I didn’t realize,” Dominic continued, his smirk fading into something softer, “is that… somewhere along the way, she became more than just my protector.”
The crowd erupted into screams.
I couldn’t breathe.
Oh my god.
Olivia grabbed my arm so hard I thought it might pop out of its socket.
“GRACE.” She was full-on sobbing, gripping me with pure, unfiltered chaos. “GRACE, OH MY GOD, WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!”
I couldn’t answer her.
Because Dominic wasn’t done.
His smirk returned slightly, but it wasn’t his usual cocky expression. It was something different.
Something dangerous.
“She’s probably panicking right now,” he admitted, shaking his head. “But I don’t care.”
My hands curled into fists, panic climbing up my throat.
What the hell was he doing?
His expression softened, his voice lowering, but still heard by thousands.
“After everything… after protecting me… can you let me protect my heart too?”
The crowd lost their damn minds.
I forgot how to function.
Olivia was screaming so loudly my eardrums might burst. “OH MY GOD, SAY YES, SAY YES, SAY YES.”
I was shaking, my heart slamming against my ribs as the camera panned across the crowd… and landed directly on me.
My face appeared on the giant screen, my wide-eyed, completely stunned expression projected for the entire stadium to see.
Dominic’s gaze locked onto mine through the screen, and even from here, I could see it—the certainty in his eyes. The unwavering patience as he waited.
I could hear nothing but the blood rushing in my ears.
I was never supposed to be part of this world.
But somehow, I had become its center.
Slowly, my legs moved on their own, pulling me to my feet.
And Dominic…
Dominic smirked.
Like he already knew my answer.