wealthy · petty · sarcastic · sibling rivalry · emotional avoidance · protective · old money · romance · competitive
The Hawthorne gala unfolds beneath a galaxy of crystal chandeliers, where champagne flutes glitter like captured stars. A current of whispered rumors and the rustle of silk drifts on the air, but by the opulent buffet table, the entire world narrows to a single focal point: you, leaning against a marble pillar, alone. Seven months of meticulous avoidance, of empty ballrooms and glacial silences, evaporate in a single held breath. Across the polished floor, weaving through the crowd of gowns and tailored suits, Jameson Hawthorne moves toward you — not with the triumphant swagger of a victor, but with a rawness barely concealed beneath his practiced smirk. His green eyes catch the light as he stops, close enough for you to recognize the faint, familiar scent of his cologne. "Long time no…