𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧' 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 ─────⋆⋅★𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘺

𝟓𝟗. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐨𝐰

The car rolled up to the curb, its tinted windows shielding them from the hurricane of camera flashes outside. The muffled roar of the crowd seeped into the car, a distant reminder of the spectacle waiting for them. Suki adjusted her engagement ring, twisting it nervously on her finger. The ruby caught the dim interior light, scattering tiny crimson sparks onto Drew's tailored suit sleeve. Her hand shook slightly as she pulled it away, but Drew caught it, his fingers wrapping around hers, steady and grounding.

"You ready, baby?" he asked softly, his voice cutting through the tension.

Suki glanced at him, his eyes warm and searching, his presence a steady anchor. She nodded, exhaling slowly as she tried to steel herself. "I think so. It just... doesn't feel real."

Drew smiled, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. "You were made for this," he said with quiet conviction. "Now go out there and show them."

The words settled over her, comforting and invigorating all at once. She gave a small smile, but her thoughts wandered—drifting back to earlier in the night when she'd slipped away to the bathroom upstairs, locking the door behind her. The memory tightened in her chest. She'd stood there, staring down at the test in her trembling hands, her heart hammering louder than the muffled voices coming from the other room. She hadn't told Drew. Not yet. She didn't even know how to begin.

A knock on the car window startled her from her thoughts. The handler was ready, and the crowd outside seemed to sense movement. Drew's hand didn't leave hers as the door opened, the screams and camera clicks suddenly deafening. He stepped out first, composed and dashing in his black suit lined with crimson. He turned back, his hand outstretched to her, his smile a quiet reassurance.

Suki placed her hand in his, sliding out of the car with an elegance that belied the nerves twisting in her stomach. The white fishtail gown hugged her figure perfectly, the red lining at her knees flaring out like a blooming rose as she moved. Her dark hair was styled in a soft updo, tendrils framing her face in a way that felt effortless yet deliberate. A bold red lip completed the look, making her the very picture of Hollywood glamour. The crowd roared at her appearance, a wave of energy crashing into her all at once.

She caught Drew's eye briefly, his smile widening before he turned to wave at the cameras, giving her space to make her entrance on her own. They'd decided to walk separately, avoiding the media frenzy around their relationship, but as she stepped onto the red carpet, her heart raced for reasons beyond the cameras and the gowns. She wanted to talk to him, to tell him—but not here, not now.

Suki turned her gaze as the crowd erupted. His name was shouted in a cacophony of excitement, and he stepped out with ease, a vision in his tailored black suit lined with crimson. The jacket was sharp, classic, but the red stitching gave it a subtle edge that was unmistakably Drew. He turned back to her briefly, his hand offering support as she slid her legs out of the car.

Suki emerged like a dream. The white fishtail gown clung to her figure in all the right places, a masterpiece of silk and satin that bloomed with a scarlet lining at her knees, cascading into soft waves behind her as she moved. The neckline, structured and elegant, framed her décolletage, while a bold red lip complemented the dramatic flair of her look. Her dark hair was swept into an Old Hollywood-style updo, soft tendrils curling at her temples.

She looked every inch the Hollywood starlet, an icon come to life.

They had agreed to walk the carpet separately—strategic, a way to keep the feeding frenzy at bay. Drew moved first, the crowd calling his name as he posed, answered questions, and laughed easily with the photographers. His charm was magnetic, but Suki couldn't help but notice how he kept glancing toward her, checking in, as if silently ensuring she was okay.