Expected (18+)

16

uh I don't remember if Ezra's dad is dead, I know his mom is but if I did say his dad was I take it back. He was out of town and is back now !

Valentina's POV

Today was the day of the ball—the night stitched together with glitter and music, where everyone was supposed to be radiant, untouched by regret. And yet, all I could think about was him. Ezra. The one person I didn't want to see, and the only one I couldn't stop thinking about.

I told myself I was ready. That the gown, the smile, the carefully chosen words would be enough to shield me. But deep down, I knew the moment our eyes met, every lie I told myself would unravel thread by thread. Because seeing him again wasn't just inevitable—it was fate twisting the knife just a little deeper.

He wasn't here yet—but I was. Standing in a sea of laughter and champagne, eyes skimming the crowd for a face I swore I didn't want to see. And yet, I searched for him.

Because no matter how much distance time had tried to put between us, he still haunted the corners of every room I entered. And tonight was no different. I didn't want to need him—but I did. And I hated how much I wanted him to look for me too.

Every new arrival my head rose as I looked for his tall figure in a dark black suit, but it wasn't him- I waited because I knew eventually he would walk through that door and my heart would start racing.

I knew I looked desperate sitting here waiting for him to walk through the door his jaw ticking with annoyance as he looked around, he hated these things.

So I stood up and walked over to the bar and sitting in a chair that didn't face the giant double doors leading into the building.

I stared down at my freshly manicured nails avoiding the world around me, I was already dreading being at this ball.

Woman walking up to me saying how much I've grown and how they used to hold me as a baby even though I didn't recognize any one of them.

I looked amazing tho, the silver dress making me stand out with the way the diamonds glimmered with every graceful step I made.

I had on subtle but sexy makeup, black eyeliner around my eyes making my boring brown eyes pop and a red lip highlighting the rest of my face.

I looked hot, as usual. The kind of effortless, practiced beauty that turned heads and stirred whispers—but none of it mattered. Not really. Not when the only pair of eyes I wanted on me hadn't arrived yet.

The dress clung to me like a secret, heels clicking against the marble floor with purpose I didn't quite feel. My makeup was flawless, smile sharp enough to cut, and yet underneath it all, I was a storm barely held together by lipstick and pride.

I was growing bored sitting at the bar still occasionally turning towards the door and waiting for him to walk through them capturing all the looks from thirsty woman.

Standing up, I turn ready to walk back over to my father but the sound of the doors opening stopped me in my tracks.

And as I looked longer, there he was—walking in behind his father like a scene carved out of memory.

Ezra.

The room didn't change, not really. The music played on, the lights stayed dim and golden, and the crowd kept buzzing. But for me, everything stilled. He moved through the entrance with that same quiet confidence, shoulders squared, jaw set, like nothing could touch him.

He didn't see me—yet. But I saw him. And in that moment, I wasn't the girl in the perfect dress or the practiced smile. I was just the one who still looked for him when she swore she wouldn't.

He looked amazing. Unfairly so. Like time had only sharpened him, made his suit fit better, his presence heavier, his smile more rare and dangerous. His hair was a little messier than I remembered, like he'd run his fingers through it on the drive over, and his eyes... God, those eyes. Still dark, still unreadable, still capable of undoing me with a single glance.

It was infuriating, really, the way he could walk in and command the room without trying. People moved aside for him, smiled too wide, laughed too easily. And I stood there, frozen.

It broke my heart a little, because he didn't even look broken at all - unlike me.

"Valentina, you look amazing." His father speak grabbing my hand and kissing its smoothly, I laugh not turning my head towards Ezra who is walking over to us.

I feel his eyes all over me, freezing my whole body with just one look.

"I didn't know u were back in town Mr. Solvano" I get out, looking up at him "Just got back in this morning, couldn't miss this." He smile brightly.

"Ezra told me a while back how close you two have gotten, why haven't u two spoken?" He says and before I can get anything out he's calling over Ezra who looks like he's about to fall asleep.

"Ezra, come—tell her how beautiful she looks," Mr. Solvona said, his voice warm, teasing, unaware of the storm swirling beneath the surface.

Ezra's gaze flicked toward me then, slow and deliberate, like he already knew I'd been watching him. And when our eyes met, the air shifted—thick with everything we hadn't said, everything we'd buried and tried to forget.

He stepped forward, calm and composed, but there was something in his eyes—something sharp and flickering like a match just before it burns out.

"You do," he said, voice low, smooth. "You look... beautiful."

I smiled, politely, like I hadn't been waiting to hear those words from him all night. And then I did the only thing I could. I looked away before the truth showed on my face.

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I feel like this chapter is horrible and I didn't put enough sentences being said in it, I was trying to show you guys how she was feeling 😔.

But there will obviously be another part still at the ball

I just don't know when because again, my writer block
Is so bad but I'll try and get it out soon, I gave u guys 2 tonight to make up for not updating for 6 months.

Anyways, bye goodnight!