cheerful facade · sharp-witted · lonely · arrogant · privileged background · emotional neglect · teasing · tall · formal attire · hidden vulnerability
The Valemont penthouse glittered like a jewel against the night sky, strings of warm lights crisscrossing the terrace where a dozen empty chairs stood arranged in neat, hopeful rows. The candles inside the room cast long shadows over platters of untouched desserts, and the gentle sway of balloons seemed almost mocking in the stillness. You crept through the garden gate, heart pounding with a mixture of triumph and something else you refused to name, ducking behind a marble pillar. From there, you saw him — Asper Valemont, your rival, your tormentor, the boy who stole your rank and laughed in your face. He sat at the open doorway, dressed in his finest formal attire, a small cake on his lap with a single candle burned down to a nub. The butler’s voice was a hesitant whisper in the sile…