The Dimitri's Mansion
Before the Party
The room was quiet.
Too quiet for a birthday.
Esmeralda stood at the doorway, fingers clenched tightly against her dress.
"…Mom?"
Mrs. Elena Dimitri didn't look up.
Papers. Phone. Work.
Always work.
"I'm busy," she said flatly.
Esmeralda forced a smile. "…Do you know what today is?"
Silence.
Typing.
"…No," her mother replied.
That word, Simple. Careless.
It shattered something.
Esmeralda laughed.
"Of course you don't."
Mrs. Dimitri sighed, clearly irritated now. "Esmeralda, I don't have time for games"
"You never have time for me."
Her mother paused.
Esmeralda stepped forward, eyes already glistening.
"But maxim you remember everything about him."
A tear slipped free.
"His favourite food… his schedule… his meetings… his likes and dislikes…"
Her voice cracked.
"But me?"
A step closer.
"You don't even remember the day I was born."
Mrs. Dimitri finally looked at her but not with guilt.
With impatience.
"Esmeralda as I said, I don't have time for your nonsense."
"I have too much in my brain right now and you are not even at the bottom list of it."
That was it.
No apology. No softness. Nothing.
Just dismissal.
"…Please leave."
Esmeralda stood there.
Still.
Then she nodded slowly.
"…Of course. Mrs Elena Dimitri"
She turned and walked out
And the moment the door shut
She broke.
Her steps were fast. Unsteady.
Tears blurred everything.
"…Why…?"
Her voice trembled.
"…Why is it always him…?"
"Why does she always neglect me."
A soft knock on the door.
"…Esmeralda?"
Mr. Sergei Dimitri stepped in.
Smiling.
Holding a small cake.
"Seems you are busy so I will just drop this on the bed."
"Happy birthda—"
He froze.
She was sitting on the floor.
Crying.
That smile disappeared instantly.
"…What happened?"
He rushed to her.
She didn't answer immediately.
Then quietly
"…She forgot."
That was all it took.
His expression darkened.
"I'll talk to her"
"No."
She grabbed his sleeve.
He stopped.
"…Don't."
Her voice was small.
Fragile.
"…Please… don't."
He looked at her.
And sat down beside her instead.
"…Then tell me what you want."
A pause.
"…Anything."
His voice softened.
"Half my properties." "My companies." "My world."
"…Just say it."
Esmeralda shook her head.
Tears falling again.
"…I don't want anything."
A whisper.
"…Just…"
She hesitated.
Then slowly
"…hug me."
Silence.
Mr. Dimitri's face broke.
He pulled her into his arms instantly.
Tightly.
Like he was afraid she would disappear.
Mrs. Jenkins Residence
Andre stood still in the mirror.
The suit fit perfectly.
Too perfectly.
Like he was the host of the party.
"…You clean up well."
Mrs. Jenkins leaned on the doorframe.
Arms folded.
Eyes softer than usual.
Andre adjusted the collar.
"I'm good looking and you know it."
Mrs Jenkins gave a soft laugh.
"Which girl told you that lie."
She tossed him a phone.
"You'll need it."
He caught it easily.
"…Thank you."
She paused.
Then smiled faintly.
"You remind me of him."
Andre stiffened.
"…Your son?"
She nodded.
Silence lingered.
Then she wiped her eyes quickly.
"…Now go before I start crying properly."
Andre turned to leave.
"…I'll go have fun but I will be back early to check on you."
She smirked.
"You better."
The Dimitri's Mansion
The mansion pulsed with life.
Music thundered through crystal halls.
Lights shimmered like artificial stars.
Laughter, wealth, extravagance everywhere.
A cake stood at the center
The size of a castle.
Marco's jaw dropped.
"…This is insane."
Maria stared in awe.
Andre remained quiet, absorbing everything before he spotted her. She shone just like the spotlight she is.
Esmeralda.
She moved gracefully among her guests, radiant, commanding attention effortlessly.
Yet
She didn't notice them.
Marco sighed.
"As expected. The poor don't get recognition."
Hugo raised a brow.
"I'm not poor, genius."
Marco frowned.
"…Right."
"Maybe," Hugo added casually,
"She's just busy."
"The Dance has begun"
Music played
Pairs formed.
Music softened.
Movements began.
Hugo held Misheals hand and gave Andre a pat on the back
"Well I have taken my bride."
Marco chuckled
"Time to go find my self a partner."
Leaving Maria and Andre alone.
Andre leaned slightly toward Maria.
"You look beautiful tonight."
Maria nearly stopped breathing.
Her face turned crimson instantly.
"Mmmm, Andre I know you don't like social things but I don't know."
"Yes I will dance with you."
"Really"
"Yeah"
Andre held her hand as he walked her to the dance floor
"You're nervous."
Maria forced a small smile.
"…Is it that obvious?"
"To me, yes."
She looked away, embarrassed.
"It's just… this place, these people…"
Andre tilted his head slightly.
"You feel don't belong here?"
Maria shook her head faintly.
"No… I just feel small."
Andre studied her quietly.
Then, without ceremony
He extended his hand.
Maria froze.
"…What are you doing?"
"Fixing that feeling."
Her heart nearly stopped.
Slowly, she placed her hand in his.
Andre's grip was warm.
Steady.
Grounding.
Andre pulled her closer as Maria felt every nearby gaze turning toward them.
But strangely…
She didn't care.
Not with the way he looked at her.
Not with the calm confidence in his movements.
As they began to dance, Andre spoke softly:
"You're not small."
Maria swallowed.
"You just don't know how brightly you stand."
Her cheeks ignited instantly.
She nearly lost her step.
Andre caught her smoothly.
"…Careful."
Maria laughed nervously.
"You're… unfairly smooth, you know that?"
"I've had practice."
"With girls?"
Andre gave a faint, unreadable smile.
"…With time."
Maria didn't understand the answer.
But something about it made her heart race.
The Music signaled the switch of partners
Partners rotated.
Hands slipped away. And found new ones.
Andre turned and suddenly Anastasia was in his arms.
Perfect timing. Perfect positioning.
Like she planned it.
She smiled up at him.
"Hi again."
Andre didn't react much. Just adjusted his hold slightly.
"…You look good, what's the secret."
She tilted her head.
"Im i dreaming or did you just say something friendly."
"Maybe you are."
Then they moved smoothly with the rhythm.
Graceful. Controlled.
But her eyes never left his.
Then she spoke
Soft. Direct.
"You know she likes you, right?"
Andre frowned slightly.
"…Who?"
Anastasia smiled.
"Maria."
A beat.
Then
Andre let out a small laugh.
Quiet. Genuine.
"…We're just friends."
Anastasia studied him closely.
"Are you sure?"
No answer.
Just movement.
Then
She leaned a little closer.
"…What about me?"
A pause.
"Am I your friend?"
Before Andre could respond
The music shifted again.
Second Switch
Hands separated.
Bodies turned.
And
Poppy landed in Andre's arms.
"…Oh wow," she grinned, "I hit the jackpot."
Andre said nothing.
Not even a glance.
Poppy didn't mind.
She talked anyway.
"You're the famous quiet one, right?"
Silence.
"I heard about you."
Nothing.
"You're actually cuter up close"
Still nothing.
She laughed awkwardly.
"…Do you talk at all?"
Andre's expression didn't change.
The music slowed.
Then
Shift.
Time to switch again.
But
Poppy didn't move.
She tightened her grip slightly.
"…Let's just stay like this."
Andre looked at her hand.
Then gently removed it.
"Excuse me."
And he walked away to the edge of the Hall
Away from the lights.
Away from the dance.
Then
Voices.
Familiar.
Carlos.
Andre stilled.
"Is that Carlos's voice."
Hidden behind laughter and music
"I'll drug her."
Andre froze.
"What's this dude up to."
Carlos continued, grinning cruelly.
"Have my way with her…"
"…then dump her like every other girl."
His friends laughed.
"She thinks she's special."
"I'll break that pride of hers."
A pause.
"I'll break her completely."
Another voice laughed.
"She's obsessed with image, take that away and she's nothing."
Carlos smirked.
"She thinks she's in control."
A beat.
"She's just a pawn."
Andre's eyes darkened.
Slowly
He pulled out his phone.
And recorded everything.
Back to the dance the music shifted again.
Then
Pacho stepped forward, right into the center with a glass and a spoon .
"Hey—hey—hey!"
He hit the spoon on the glass
The crowd slowed.
Turned.
Focused.
Carlos blinked as he came closer to the crowd.
"…Is he really going to do it?"
Buck smiled as he put his hand on Carlos's shoulder.
"This should be good."
Rihanna turned toward Pacho.
Confused.
"…What are you doing?"
Pacho swallowed.
Hard.
His hands were shaking.
"…I said I had a surprise."
The crowd leaned in.
Phones came out.
Whispers spread.
"…Is he serious?"
"…No way…"
Pacho dropped to one knee.
Gasps exploded across the hall.
Carlos lost it.
"OH MY GOD HE DID IT"
Henry slapped his arm.
"Keep your cool bro!"
Pacho looked up at Rihanna.
Heart racing.
"…I don't have perfect words."
A breath.
"But I know one thing."
His voice steadied.
"When I'm with you… everything feels right."
"Awwwwwwwn." The crowd roared in excitement then back to silence.
"…So…"
He pulled out a ring.
"…Will you marry me?"
Rihanna froze.
Completely.
Her hands trembled.
"…You're serious?"
Pacho nodded.
"…Completely."
"Say yes."
"Say yes."
"Say yes."
"Say yes."
The crowd roared non stop.
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
The crowd held its breath.
Then
She laughed through tears.
"You idiot…"
A step closer.
"…Of course I will."
Cheers exploded.
LOUD.
REAL.
She pulled him up
And hugged him tightly.
Then kissed him.
Soft. Emotional.
The crowd went wild.
Carlos lost it hugging his friends
"He did it!!."
Buck laughed
"I have never seen him this happy."
Then someone at the edge of the party threw a tumbler to the ground
Maxim
At the edge of the hall
Smile gone.
Eyes dark.
"…No."
His fists clenched.
"…No."
The cheering echoed like mockery.
The kiss burned into his mind.
Something snapped.
He turned
And stormed out.
Pushing past people.
Ignoring everything.
Rage boiling over.
"…This isn't over."
Pacho smiled at Rihanna
"Someone has lost it."
Rihanna kissed pacho again
"Don't mind him."
Back to Andre
In the shadows.
Andre watched everything.
Quiet.
Still.
Phone in hand.
Recording saved.
One truth captured.
One explosion waiting.
And somewhere in the crowd
Esmeralda laughed.
Unaware.
That her world…
Was seconds away from breaking.