🎶Welcome to the final show, hope you're wearing your best clothes ~ Harry Styles

●Tara Afua Henrie●

"So!" Alana sat down before I did, clasping her hands on the table with a curious gleam in her eyes. "How are things between you and Shaun? I know there was this drama between you and your bandmates some time back, but you seem good now."

"Uh yeah," I hesitated for a second, not sure I wanted to talk about the band right now, given everything that had happened. But Alana’s expectant gaze was hard to resist, and something about her open, friendly demeanor made me feel at ease.

"I mean, it wasn't easy navigating all that confusion and misunderstanding, topped up with the public's opinion. But I think me, Shaun, Jax and Eden, we're all in a better place now," I said, offering a small smile. "We've all gone our separate ways, trying to make the best out of our lives."

"Yeah, I can imagine." Alana nodded, her expression softening. "When you guys broke out onto the music scene, Jax was my favourite person in the band. He seemed like a great guy. Always so put together, like he’s got everything under control, regardless of his badboy outlook."

"Oh the badboy outlook was just for show, trust me," I responded with a laugh. "He tries to act tough and scary, but he's not always as rough as he seems on the outside."

"Aww." Alana tilted her head, smiling. "It's nice that you still have good things to say about him, despite everything that happened between you guys."

"Yeah, well." I shrugged. "Although things ended badly between us, we did have some good times too, and I'm grateful for it all."

There was a brief pause as Alana sipped from her glass of water.

I felt like the conversation was shifting, and my curiosity got the better of me. "If you don’t mind my asking," I began, unsure of how to phrase it delicately, "how did you and Declan meet?"

Alana's face lit up with a soft chuckle. "Oh, it's quite the story," she said with a sigh. "We met at one of those ridiculous high-society parties that his family throws. You know, the kind where everyone's there to see and be seen."

I nodded, already getting the picture.

"He was charming, no doubt about it. Came right up to me, offered me a drink, and within minutes, we were talking like old friends. He had this way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room." Her voice softened like she was remembering that initial spark.

"But," she added after a brief pause, "it wasn’t long before I realized that charm was... well, not always sincere. About a year into our relationship, I found out he'd been cheating on me. It was with some woman from his work—a colleague or something. At the time, I was completely devastated."

My previous relationship came flashing before my eyes, and I shook my head, remembering how I felt. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Alana. That must’ve been terrible."

She waved it off with a shrug, though there was a flicker of pain in her eyes. "It was. But, you know, I wasn't exactly surprised. I think part of me always knew there was something off, but I ignored it because, well... Declan’s Declan. He’s rich, he’s handsome, and he can be very persuasive when he wants to be."

"Did he ever admit to it?" I asked.

"Oh, he did," Alana said, rolling her eyes. "Eventually. He came crawling back, all apologetic, saying he’d made the biggest mistake of his life and that he wanted to make things right. At first, I didn’t want to hear it. I was ready to walk away for good. But then... well, he was persistent."

"Persistent how?"

"He kept showing up at my place, sending me flowers, gifts, even writing me these long, dramatic letters. Honestly, it was a bit much." She chuckled, shaking her head. "But he wore me down. I guess I was still in love with him, or maybe I just didn’t want to let go of the idea of who I thought he was."

"That must have been hard," I mumbled, imagining how draining that must’ve felt.

"It was," Alana admitted. "But I gave him another chance. And for a while, it seemed like he’d changed. He promised he’d be better, and for the most part, he was. But, you know..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Declan’s a complicated guy. He means well, but he’s always fighting his own demons. Even when he’s trying to be the perfect husband, there’s always something holding him back."

As Alana spoke, I realized something. Declan wasn’t the towering, intimidating figure I’d made him out to be in my mind. Sure, he was wealthy and powerful, but beneath all that, he was as flawed and messed up as anyone else. Maybe even more so.

The faint sound of metal striking glass echoed around us, pulling me out of the conversation with Alana. I’d been so engrossed in her story that I’d almost forgotten we were at a party.

"Damas y caballeros, may I have your attention, please?" An elderly man stood on a raised platform, tapping a glass with a fork until the crowd quieted down.

"Ah, eso es mejor," he said, setting the glass and fork aside. "Thank you for your attention, everyone. We are all gathered here today to make history. The history of a very important vehicle that is going to make Mexico proud in the automobile industry." A smirk crept onto his face as he spoke. "Ladies and gents, in collaboration with my humble company, Vargas Automobiles, and the great Perez Inc, we bring to you..." He gestured dramatically to the side. "The Rompero Cruiser!"

On cue, a group of men pulled the tarp from the large object, revealing a sleek black four-wheel drive, perched on a sloping platform. Applause and cheers erupted around the venue, and I joined in the clapping. Cameramen swarmed the vehicle, capturing every available angle.

The elderly man on the stage continued in a voice brimming with pride. "A beauty, isn't it? The Rompero Cruiser’s 5.7L V8 engine, 8-speed transmission, and robust suspension make every corner of the world worth exploring. It comes equipped with..."

I stopped paying attention. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Shaun. He and Declan had been gone for a while now, and I was a little bit worried.

My gaze flew around the premises. Instead of Shaun, I saw Carlos, wide-eyed and snapping pictures of the car like a kid on Christmas morning. Refugio sat nearby, completely uninterested in the car, happily devouring a plate of shrimp. Not far off, Mr. and Mrs. Cordoso congratulated Shaun's father, likely celebrating Perez Inc's role in the collaboration.

As the applause for the car began to die down, the man on the platform raised his hand. "I know we’re all excited about this fantastic car," he said with a grin. "But can we quiet down for another amazing announcement?"

The crowd hushed, though the air was still thick with murmured curiosity. I sat up straighter, trying to catch every word.

"It is with great joy," the man continued, licking his lips as if savoring the moment, "that I announce today, my beautiful daughter, Lucero Adelmira Vargas, is now a member of the Perez family."

I glanced at Alana, her expression just as stunned as mine, before my gaze instinctively darted back to the platform. Just who the hell was Lucero Adelmira Vargas?

Just then, the man gestured to the side of the stage. "Lucero, come join us, querida."

From the shadows, she emerged—Lucero Adelmira Vargas—dressed in a shimmering silver, form-fitting gown that hugged every curve. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, and her large, watermelon-sized breasts stretched against the fabric of the gown as she confidently made her way to the stage. My breath caught in my throat the moment I saw her.

I knew her. From the day the band and I went on the tour of El cielo de los niños.

Right before we started, she was there, at the orphanage, looking for Shaun. I remembered the look of scorn and disdain she sent my way as if I was beneath her. I remembered it all, as clear as crystal.

Lucero reached the stage, her silver gown sparkling under the lights. She gave a radiant smile, then lifted her hand to show off a massive diamond ring that glinted on her finger.

The crowd gasped in admiration, and a round of applause soon followed. But I was frozen, my mind racing, trying to comprehend what was happening.

Lucero's father continued without hesitation. His voice boomed with excitement through the microphone. "We are thrilled to announce that Lucero and Shaun’s wedding will be taking place on the 25th of September. Everyone here is invited to celebrate this joyous union with us!"

A loud cheer erupted from the crowd, but it was like white noise to me. My heart felt like an anchor. It was heavy, thudding painfully in my chest as reality crashed down.

Shaun...engaged? To Lucero? How? Why didn’t he tell me?

As if on cue, Shaun and Declan suddenly emerged from the otherside, walking toward the stage. Lucero's father waved them over. "Shaun, my boy, come up here and join your beautiful fiancée!"

Shaun stopped dead in his tracks, his face pale as a sheet. By some miraculous intervention, his eyes immediately found mine in the crowd, wide with guilt and shock. He looked like a man who had just been told that he was going to be executed.

I could feel my hands trembling, and the sting of tears pricked at my eyes.

No. This couldn’t be happening.

Without thinking, I shot up from my seat, my legs moving on autopilot as I headed for the exit. The murmurs of the crowd blurred into white noise around me.

I didn’t care about the rising whispers or the eyes that followed me. I just knew I had to get out of here. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. My feet stumbled, and I nearly tripped in my heels, but I kept moving, making my way towards the exit.

"Tara! Wait!" Shaun’s voice called after me, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. Tears streamed down my face, and I blinked rapidly to clear my vision as I neared the door. But just as I reached the exit, Shaun appeared in front of me, blocking my path.

"Tara, please, let me explain!"

The moment his hands touched me, I jerked back, my heart pounding.

"Explain?" My voice trembled with raw anger. "Explain by telling me that it's not true! That everything Lucero's father just said is a lie!"

Shaun's mouth opened, but no words came out. His silence was all the confirmation I needed.

More tears spilled down my cheeks as I shook my head, my voice cracking. "So it's true. You're engaged to her? And you didn’t tell me?"

"Tara, I—" Shaun reached for me again, and I stepped back, shaking my head in hurt and disbelief.

"Why?" I demanded. "Why the fuck did you bring me here? Why did you string me along like this?"

He ran a hand through his hair, looking as if he wanted to tear the world apart. "Look, I didn’t know they were going to announce it tonight. Tara, please, you have listen to me. It all happened years ago. I didn’t know what I was doing. There’s a whole story to this, you have to let me explain. Please. Let me take you back to the penthouse, we can talk there—"

"No." I rapidly shook my head, wiping away the tears with trembling hands. "I don’t want to hear it, Shaun. I don't want to hear another lie. And I never, ever  want to see you again." My voice cracked, but I forced the words out, ignoring the way my heart broke with every syllable that left my mouth.

It all felt like my past again. The hurt and betrayal I thought I'd left behind with Sheeda and Cudjoe had manifested into something else. Something that hurt twice as much because I loved Shaun. I loved him so much.

"Tara!" Suddenly, Refugio, Carlos, and Alana appeared beside me, their expressions filled with concern. It wasn't long before security guards emerged from the path Shaun had used to catch up with me.

"Señor Perez, come. We have to take you back to the party." One bulky guard tried grabbing Shaun, but he quickly resisted, pushing them away, his eyes locked on me.

"Tara, please!" Shaun shouted. "You have to listen to me."

But the guards cut in again, this time with more force that Shaun’s attempts to pull away did nothing. "No! Get the fuck off me, you assholes!"

Tears clouded my vision, and I dropped to the ground, crying my heart out. Flashes of everything he had said before the party and the kiss crossed my mind's eye and I began loathing myself for believing him, for thinking all those things were true.

A steady hand found its way onto my shoulder, and soon, Carlos' voice followed. "Come on, Tara, we’re taking you home."

******