In the relentless spotlight of fame, Jocelyn West (rising pop princess) and Paige Bueckers' fiery romance ignites, but their struggle with toxic tendencies threatens to consume BOTH their careers, and each other. Who knows if they'll come out alive.
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Dove burst through the front door of Jocelyn's house, her eyes wide with panic. "Tell me it's not true," she said, her voice trembling.
Jocelyn was in the kitchen, brewing a fresh pot of coffee. She looked up, her face pale, and slowly raised her hand to reveal the engagement ring, her expression a mixture of sadness and resignation.
Dove's eyes filled with tears. Without another word, she crossed the room and enveloped Jocelyn in a long, tight hug. "Oh, Jocelyn, I can't believe this," she whispered, her voice muffled against Jocelyn's shoulder.
Jocelyn clung to Dove, taking in the comfort of her presence. When they finally pulled apart, Jocelyn looked down at her hands, feeling the weight of the ring. "It was all so overwhelming. I felt like I couldn't say no in front of everyone. It wasn't even my decision."
Dove nodded, her face a mix of anger and concern. "Connor did this publicly on purpose. He wanted to trap you, make sure you couldn't back out. You don't have to go through with this, you know. It's not too late."
Just as Dove said that, Julia strode into the kitchen with an air of smug satisfaction. "Yes, it is too late," she said coolly, holding a large, beautifully wrapped box. "I came to deliver an engagement present."
Jocelyn's face paled further. "Julia, what are you doing here?"
Julia's demeanor was icy. "I'm here to make sure everything goes according to plan. You can't back out now. It's a done deal."
Dove shot Julia a furious look. "You can't just force her into this. This isn't right."
Julia ignored Dove, focusing her attention on Jocelyn. "You should be grateful. Connor is trying so hard to make things work. He's doing this because he loves you."
Jocelyn's voice was barely above a whisper. "But I don't know if I'm ready for this. This isn't what I wanted."
Julia's gaze turned steely. "It's not about what you want. You've made a commitment. You need to see it through. It's too late to back out now."
Dove's frustration boiled over. "Jocelyn, this is your life. Don't let anyone else decide it for you. You need to stand up for yourself."
Julia's eyes narrowed, her tone condescending. "You'll find it's not as simple as you think. If you call it off now, you'll create a mess that's not easily cleaned up."
Jocelyn's shoulders slumped, her resolve crumbling. She glanced at Dove, her eyes pleading for guidance. "What do I do now?"
Dove squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We'll figure it out. We'll take it one step at a time. But first, where's Connor? Why isn't he here?"
Julia's expression shifted slightly, revealing a hint of irritation. "Connor is busy with business matters. He's not here right now because he trusts that everything is being handled properly."
