I walked straight to my parents, ignoring the chaos behind me. My mother’s eyes were wide with panic, as if I had just destroyed my future. My father’s hands shook, not from shame, but from the shock of being defended so publicly. I took their hands and kissed them both, feeling years of swallowed pride finally loosen from my chest.

Behind us, Celeste tried to regain control, insisting this was a misunderstanding, that emotions had simply run too high. Victor followed, begging me to “talk privately,” promising that we could fix it, that appearances could still be salvaged. I looked at the man who had once sworn to protect me and saw only someone terrified of losing status, not love. I chose my parents. I chose myself. We walked out of the ballroom together, leaving the chandeliers, the gossip, and Victor’s shallow world flickering behind us.