FOREVER WITH YOU IN IT

CHAPTER 4 - BROKEN VOWS

The ballroom gleamed under crystal chandeliers, the air thick with perfume, polished smiles. Women shimmered in gowns that looked sewn from moonlight, men in sleek tuxedos clustered in small circles of conversation, and waiters drifted silently with trays of champagne.

At the center of it all stood Jessica Stones, her satin gown flowing like liquid silver. Every head seemed to turn toward her, some with admiration, others with envy. Tonight was meant to be the pinnacle of her family’s legacy and the formal announcement of her engagement to Henry, heir of a rival empire.

And yet Jessy felt the suffocating weight of it pressing down on her chest.

Henry, standing at her side, looked immaculate: his tuxedo crisp, his posture sharp. But his grip on his champagne flute felt more like the grip of a man closing a deal than committing to forever. He leaned toward her, whispering, “Smile wider, Jessy. Remember, appearances are everything.”

She forced her lips into a practiced smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

The master of ceremonies cleared his throat and clicked his glass with a spoon, saying, "Attention, everyone, The moment we have all waited for is finally here." preparing to announce the formal engagement. Before the MC could speak, a steady, unbroken voice broke through the silence.

Brian: "Stop!"

Everyone in the room turned to look at Brian Sprouse,Jessy’s unexpected acquaintance, the architect whose sincerity had unsettled her carefully built walls—stood near the back of the room. His gaze was locked firmly on Jessy.

Henry: "You've got to be kidding me."

The MC looked flustered, caught between protocol and the audacity of the intrruption. Murmurs from the guests filled the whole room.

Brian’s voice carried clear and even, unfaltering: “I don’t crash auctions,” he said, stepping forward, his eyes never leaving Jessy’s. “But I’ll crash this if it means stopping a mistake.”

Brian: “I don’t crash auctions,” Ethan said evenly, stepping forward. “But I’ll crash this if it means stopping a mistake.”

The crowd is chattering.

Gasps filled the room. Jessy’s heart thudded against her ribs.

Henry set his glass down with a sharp clink. “This is pathetic. Security!”

But before anyone could move, Sir Luke Stones, Jessy’s father, raised a hand. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes flickered with something Jessy hadn’t seen in years. She could read doubt written all over his face.

“Henry,” Sir Luke said slowly, his voice cutting through the whispers. “When was the last time you looked at my daughter the way he just did?”

Henry faltered and his jaw tightened. “Sir, with all due respect”

Sir Luke: “No. Respect is exactly what’s missing.”

The room became silent.

“No,” Sir Luke interrupted, his tone firm. “Respect is exactly what’s missing.”

The hush that followed was absolute. Even the quartet had stopped playing. Jessy’s chest tightened, her father’s words echoing through her like a lifeline she hadn’t expected.

Henry’s mask of composure cracked. He muttered something under his breath, shoved his glass into a waiter’s hand, and stormed toward the exit. His departure left behind a trail of awkward glances and hushed voices.

For a moment, Jessy couldn’t move. Her world, carefully structured by loyalty and duty, felt like it had been split open in front of an audience.

Brian didn’t rush to her. He didn’t claim her hand or make a spectacle. Instead, he stayed where he was, his gaze steady, calm offering reassurance without words. It was as if he was silently saying: Your story isn’t over yet.

Jessy let out a shaky breath, relief and fear colliding in her chest.

The whispers began.

“Did you see the way that man looked at her?”

“Scandalous, breaking off an engagement in public!”

“Perhaps the Stones family has lost control after all…”

Sir Luke cleared his throat, commanding attention again. “Thank you all for honouring our invite with your presence. I am sorry, but today's announcement will be… postponed,” he said carefully. His eyes softened as they met Jessy’s. “My daughter deserves more than appearances.”

Applause didn’t come, but neither did protest. The guests exchanged looks, some intrigued, others scandalized but the tension in the air was undeniable.

Jessy wanted to sink into the floor. Her reputation, her family’s legacy, even her heart. It all seemed precariously balanced on the edge of something she couldn’t yet name.

She glanced at Brian. He gave her the smallest nod, as though reminding her she wasn’t alone. For the first time in years, she felt like someone truly saw her, not as an heir, not as a bargaining chip, but as Jessy.

But then, just as she allowed that fragile relief to bloom, her eyes caught sight of Henry again.

He hadn’t left.

Half-hidden by the archway near the exit, Henry stood watching, his expression carved in shadow. His jaw was clenched, his eyes sharp, and though he no longer stood beside her, Jessy felt the weight of his glare like a storm gathering on the horizon.

His gaze sent chills down her spine. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

The orchestra struck up again, trying to mask the chaos, and the guests shifted back into uneasy chatter. But the night had already been shattered.

Jessy stood in the middle of it all, her heart pounding, knowing one thing for certain: whatever came next, life would never return to what it was before Brian had spoken that single word.

And from the shadows, Henry’s presence lingered, a warning that the true storm had only just begun.