Moon Sets, Stars Awake Chapter 1

To appease the girl who stole my life, my brother deliberately announced the wrong name at our engagement gala.

In front of all of Port Sterling's elite families, he declared that I was to marry a waiter.

The city’s high society pointed and laughed.

"The precious Aurora Ashford, marrying a server! How the mighty have fallen!"

I stood frozen on the stage, a wave of humiliation and fury washing over me.

My brother, Jackson, felt no remorse. "This is what you get for stealing Sophie’s spotlight at the dance competition. She was heartbroken for days. Think of this as a little lesson."

"She’s just a spoiled kid, a bit dramatic. Don't take it personally," he added, his tone dismissive. "It's just a joke, anyway. Dad and I would never actually let you marry him."

…

Whispers and stares followed me from every corner of the ballroom.

Jackson cleared his throat, his expression unchanged as he addressed the crowd again. "Just a bit of fun, everyone. Aurora is still young. We'll make a formal announcement about her engagement another time."

He glanced at Sebastian Vaughn, who stood near the stage.

It was supposed to be our engagement they were announcing tonight. Everyone in our circle knew our families had arranged it ages ago, that we were childhood sweethearts, destined for each other.

My heart clenched, waiting for him to speak, to fix this.

But Sebastian’s eyes held a chilling, indifferent distance, as if he were a mere spectator to my public execution.

"An announcement is an announcement," he said, his voice smooth and cutting. "The Ashfords are a respectable family. You can't treat something like this as a game."

He smirked. "Besides, the waiter looks thrilled. You wouldn't want to break his heart in front of everyone, would you?"

His words struck me like a physical blow.

Jackson's face hardened. He stared at Sebastian, bewildered. "What are you talking about? You love Aurora more than anyone. Why would you say that?"

Someone in the crowd snickered. "Doesn't everyone in Port Sterling know? Mr. Vaughn only has eyes for your other daughter, Sophie. I heard he just bought her a limited-edition sports car to win her favor."

Every word was an icicle piercing my heart.

My eyes burned with unshed tears. I strode forward and took the microphone from my brother's hand.

"Since the announcement has been made," I said, my voice ringing with a conviction I didn't know I possessed, "it is most certainly not a joke."

"This waiter," I declared, turning to find him in the crowd, "I'll marry him!"

Jackson’s eyes widened in shock. "Aurora, what the hell are you talking about?!" he hissed. "You are an Ashford! You can't marry a waiter!"

I looked at him, my expression a mask of cold fury. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Isn't this exactly what you wanted, Jackson? Are you happy now?"

He was stunned into silence for a moment, then his voice rose in frustration. "Aurora, you're still competing with Sophie, even now? Don't you realize how much she's already been through..."

I couldn't bear to hear another word of his defense for her.

I dropped the microphone with a thud and walked off the stage. All eyes were on me. As I passed Sebastian, he grabbed my arm.

His tone was low and laced with reprimand. "Aurora, why must you be so stubborn, even now? When will you learn to just back down?"

He pulled me closer, his voice softening into a deceptive caress. "Stop being so childish. Go and apologize to Sophie properly. For the sake of our history, I'll smooth this over for you. You don't have to throw away your happiness just to prove a point."

I looked up at him and sneered. "Our history?"

"Admitting you're a backstabbing coward would be more honest than this pathetic act of yours. At least then you wouldn't make me sick."

His face went pale.

I ripped my arm from his grasp and walked toward the corner where the waiter stood, shell-shocked.

Jackson was frantic, shouting from the stage. "Aurora, don't do something you'll regret! Get back here!"

Sebastian watched me go, his hands clenched into tight fists.

I ignored them both, my focus entirely on the man in front of me.

"Will you marry me?" I asked softly.

The waiter’s mouth opened, a flicker of an emotion I couldn't decipher crossing his face.

After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice smooth yet crisp. "Miss Ashford, I'm just a server. Are you sure you won't regret this?"

"I never regret anything."

"Alright," he said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I'll marry you."