Standing at the entrance of the high school, I welcome wealthy families as they arrive at the establishment. My facade of a smile hides the growing ball of stress within me with each passing second. The evening began an hour ago, and so far, everything seems to be going perfectly.

Luxury cars parade in without interruption, and I direct the parents and their children, who are likely to be the next students of the school, to the main hall. The internal tension mounts as the flow of people never seems to end. Lin manages the servers with remarkable efficiency, Ruby ensures everything remains impeccably in place, Kieran, our friend, is with the DJ, and the rest of the team, now serene, enjoys the evening without worry. At this moment, the success of this event rests entirely on our shoulders.

This evening represents the ultimate step before obtaining my recommendation for Oxford, a crucial moment where I am ready to put in all the necessary effort. Every little detail counts, as not only my future is at stake, but also Ruby's. I am determined to make everything go perfectly.

After spending another half-hour welcoming all the guests, I dedicate the rest of the evening to meticulously monitoring every detail, ensuring to avoid any risk of disaster that could jeopardize our chances. I am everywhere, making sure every aspect of the event runs smoothly, aware that even the slightest misstep could have repercussions on my future and Ruby's.

I smile at everyone and politely respond to those who are too busy or simply too lazy to serve themselves a glass of champagne, suppressing the urge to tell them that the bar is just a few meters away.

I cross paths with Ruby and Lin in the middle of the evening as we navigate through the lively crowd. Their warm smiles are like rays of sunshine in the palpable tension of the event. We exchange knowing glances, a silent communication of support and encouragement.

"The evening is going perfectly so far." Ruby whispers, her eyes sparkling with optimism.

Lin nods with determination. "We're going to make it, girls."

I respond with a confident smile and a nod. "Everything is going as planned." I say, taking a deep breath to relax for a moment.

We stick together, aware that every carefully managed detail brings us closer to our common goal. Despite the potential challenges that may arise, we are united in our determination to make this evening a resounding success.

After a few minutes of discussion, we resume our roles as organizers, separating to continue our respective tasks. As I move from one point to another, I find myself in front of a screen displaying photos of the lacrosse team. Suddenly, one image catches my eye: a boy with blond hair and blue eyes, whose mouth I have admired many times during our last altercation, appears at an angle that makes him look like a Greek god. A shiver runs down my spine as I gaze at the photo. Shaking my head to dispel these thoughts, I quickly head to the back of the room where some disorganized documents catch my attention, trying to suppress the forbidden feelings I experienced a moment ago.

I quickly grab a file, close it carefully, and place it back in its original position. As I prepare to leave again, my attention is caught by the shadow of a figure approaching behind me, immediately grabbing my attention.

Professor Sutton approaches me hesitantly, his face marked by a troubled expression. He seems unsure, almost uneasy, before stammering, "Um... could I talk to you for a moment?"

I pause in my movements, focusing my attention on him, and stare at him. A slight hesitation creeps over me. I'm not sure if I really want to discuss this with him. The situation seems as embarrassing for me as it does for him. He's probably afraid that I might reveal what I saw. Even though I hinted to James that I wouldn't hesitate to disclose everything, that's far from my intention. Professor Sutton is old enough to know what risks he faces, and this whole affair doesn't concern me.

I take a deep breath, trying to hide my discomfort, and decide to respond, "Of course, Professor Sutton. What is it about?" I keep my voice as calm and neutral as possible, hoping he doesn't sense the turmoil I feel inside.

Professor Sutton nervously glances around before nodding toward a slightly secluded corner. Curious, I follow him to this quieter spot. Once away from others, he waits a few seconds, visibly uncomfortable, before speaking.

"I... I wanted to apologize if I caused you any discomfort." he begins, avoiding my eyes. "What you saw was completely inappropriate." he adds, leaning closer to speak over the music, making me uncomfortable with his proximity.

I look at him, somewhat surprised by his tone. "Professor Sutton..."

"Please let me finish." he interrupts, taking a deep breath as if searching for the right words. "It's just that... Miss Beaufort and I, we knew each other long before I became your teacher. We were already acquainted..."

His concern seems genuine, but I can't help but think of Lydia, caught kissing our professor. That wasn't right, and even if their feelings were genuine, I was deeply upset by their recklessness. If someone other than me or Ruby had caught them, it could have ruined his career and seriously tarnished Lydia's reputation. What worried me most was the possibility that her father might have severely reprimanded her, with potentially serious consequences.

"Listen, Sir." I say calmly. "We both know this doesn't concern me. But... that doesn't change the fact that this situation could have significant consequences for both of you."

He nods, his face betraying palpable nervousness. "I understand your concerns, but I assure you this won't happen again." he replies firmly. "I also wanted to say to you and your friend Ruby that I sincerely regret involving you in this unfortunate situation..." His voice lowers as he is interrupted by the principal calling out to us, abruptly ending the conversation.

Mr. Sutton nods slightly to the principal, then gives me a look filled with an indefinable emotion before walking away. I find myself alone with the man whose decision could shape my future. My heart beats so loudly I feel it reverberating throughout the reception hall, filling the air with its irregular pounding.

He sits next to me, his expression unreadable, as if he's assessing every detail around him. Then he turns his head toward me and gestures toward the crowd. "My compliments. This is exactly what I had in mind." he says, a satisfied smile on his face.

A surge of pride swells in my chest. I am proud of my work and especially that of my team and friends. The weight that had been on my shoulders until now seems to lift away. I smile at the principal and glance around. The room is now filled to its capacity, and the music, soft and soothing, creates the perfect atmosphere: present enough to be enjoyed, yet discreet enough to allow everyone to converse without raising their voices. But most importantly, the people present are laughing and seem to be having a great time.

I turn back to the principal and thank him. "Thank you, Sir."

He nods with a satisfied look, and I believe I see a glint of pride in his eyes. He prepares to leave so as not to disturb me any longer, but suddenly, the calm music transforms into a more aggressive and louder beat, grabbing everyone's attention and unpleasantly surprising us.

The crowd, bewildered by this abrupt change, starts murmuring and exchanging perplexed glances. The DJ, focused and impassive, adjusts her turntables as if nothing has happened, seemingly unaware of the surrounding confusion. My companion, visibly annoyed, squints and turns to me. Without a word, he leaves me and strides to the front of the room where a commotion is drawing attention, with the crowd pressing forward to see what's happening.

The palpable tension in the air starkly contrasts with the relaxed atmosphere just moments ago. I navigate through the crowd and rush forward. As my eyes land on the unfolding scene before me, a wave of panic washes over me. Half-naked dancers are grinding against the guests, evoking varied reactions: some are visibly horrified, while others seem strangely pleased.

I feel utterly lost, unsure of what to do next. The situation, which I thought I had perfectly under control from A to Z, has inexplicably slipped away from me. Events are taking a turn I had never anticipated, and I feel control slipping inexorably from my grasp.

My panicked eyes scan the room in a desperate attempt to find help. Every face I meet looks as bewildered as mine, adding to my panic. Suddenly, a burst of laughter cuts through the ambient noise, drawing my attention. My gaze locks onto the top of the grand staircase leading upstairs, where I spot silhouettes, clearly amused by the chaotic scene unfolding below.

I realize in an instant that it's Beaufort's little group of friends, recognizable by their suppressed laughter and mischievous demeanor. When my eyes meet James's sparkling blue eyes and the satisfied expression on his face, I instantly realize he orchestrated this troubling situation. A mix of anger and despair washes over me, causing my heart to race and a heat to flush over my skin.

I knew his revenge would be fierce, but despite our disagreements and my recent teasing towards him, I never imagined he would go this far. He may not realize that his actions have likely ruined my future and that of my best friend. However, that in no way justifies what he has done, nor the fact that he is playing with my emotions like this. I glare at him intensely, my eyes flashing with disdain and anger. His satisfied expression doesn't waver as he responds with a haughty nod. He lifts his flask to his lips for a sip before bursting into laughter with his friend, openly mocking the situation they caused.

I roll my eyes in exasperation and hurry towards the principal, who glares at me angrily. With determined steps, he moves towards two dancers to stop them, but unexpectedly, they force him to sit forcefully on a chair. A wave of dismay washes over me as they begin to dance around him, in a scene increasingly shocking for a place like Maxton Hall. Wide-eyed, I freeze for a moment before rushing forward, determined to intervene and put an end to this absurd situation.

However, a dancer intercepts me and presses me against his chest, pushing me back onto another chair where he forcefully sits me down. He starts grinding against me, a situation that would normally be extremely uncomfortable for me, but my anger and astonishment are so intense that I struggle to understand what is really happening.

I glance towards Lin, Ruby, and Kiernan. I notice Lin gently nudging Kiernan forward, silently encouraging him to come to my aid. As soon as Kiernan manages to push the dancer away slightly, I leap up from the chair, leaving my friend to take my place involuntarily.

I catch the panicked looks of my friends as I abruptly stop to talk with them, quickly seeking their advice on the best way to handle the chaotic situation unfolding around us.

"What's happening?!" Ruby exclaims, her eyes wide open.

"It's James. That's what's happening." I reply, raising my voice so she can hear me over the ambient noise.

"What do we do?!" Lin asks in a panicked tone, looking around anxiously.

I shake my head, swiftly assessing our options. We're all equally at a loss. After a brief moment of consideration, I make a decision and rush towards the DJ. I lift my head, doing my best to ignore James's insistent gaze as he stands his ground.

I make a sweeping gesture towards the DJ, urging her to immediately stop the music. Unfortunately, she doesn't notice me at all. I start shouting and gesturing frantically, persisting until she finally notices me and cuts the music.

I take a deep breath, struggling to hold back tears. Turning my head towards the staircase, I notice James and his group descending, their laughter and lively conversation echoing in the air. With determined steps, I advance towards them, my heart pounding. With a swift motion, I grab James's wrist just as he's about to slip away. His friends, surprised, exchange perplexed looks, but I see Alistair taking charge of them and leading them outside, their confused murmurs fading as they move away. I am inwardly grateful to him, as it gives me the opportunity to confront James one-on-one.

"Hey, Martin. What's up?" James exclaims, feigning surprise that I immediately sense is false.

He probably expected me to intercept him.

"Do you realize what you've done?" I yell, my voice trembling with anger. "The effort people put into organizing this party?!"

James steps back slightly, falsely surprised by my outburst, while I clench my fists to contain my rage.

"Remember when you turned down my strip-tease? So, I thought maybe one of these guys would be more to your liking."

I'm bewildered. I feel my eyes welling up as he approaches me, a cruel smile on his lips, tilting his head.

"This party is just a brief introduction to what I'm capable of making you endure if you ever dare to speak out." he says coldly.

We lock eyes intensely, and for the first time since we started talking again, I'm completely speechless. I feel drained, humiliated, and desperate, and these emotions suffocate me to the point where words fail me. The tears I've been holding back finally break free and trickle down my cheeks, but despite it all, I keep my head held high.

I notice his mischievous and taunting expression briefly fade, replaced by an unexpected tenderness as he brushes a finger against my cheek to wipe away a tear.

His touch lingers on my cheek for too long, and while I sense some gentleness in the gesture, my anger is too intense for me to appreciate it. I react swiftly, pushing his hand away.

"Satisfied? Do you really think your threats will work after what you've just done?" I retort, my voice trembling with contained anger. "You've just given me more reasons to hate you, James." I add after a brief silence.

His gaze hardens, his brows furrowing as he stares intensely at me.

"You're so trapped in your little world of ignorance that you don't even realize the consequences of your actions!" I shout, my frustration finally bursting forth. "You just..."

I don't get a chance to continue, as Mr. Sutton's voice interrupts abruptly. "Miss Martin, Mr. Beaufort. Lexington wants to speak with you."

I freeze, my heart pounding. James and I exchange a quick glance, the animosity between us still present but now tinged with concern. Why does Lexington want to talk to James? I understand I'm summoned to his office, but why him too? What could this possibly mean?

We follow Mr. Sutton in silence, the tension between us palpable. As we approach Lexington's office, I feel a mix of fear and determination. I don't know what awaits us, but I'm ready to face whatever comes next.