Glass Hearts [BL]-Chapter 240: The Lie They Applauded[Dominc’s POV]

My palms wouldn’t stop sweating as I stepped out of the car.

Security tried to guide me forward, smiling like they didn’t see me shaking.

Someone shoved a microphone toward me: "Mr Vale! Any words before the speech?"

I kept my gaze down. If I made eye contact with anyone, I might fall apart.

"Don’t let me down again," my dad whispered, patting my back. "Control yourself. No emotions."

Right.

Control.

Like I wasn’t dying inside.

Inside the hall, the pressure didn’t disappear. It multiplied.

The bright lights overhead were too bright, like they were burning through every lie I’d rehearsed.

Someone clipped a mic onto my jacket.

He talked fast, but I didn’t hear a single word. My brain was too busy replaying that text I sent to Ash.

I love you so much, Ash. I’m sorry. Please don’t ask why.

The thought alone nearly sent me spiraling again.

The curtains parted.

When I looked around, all I saw were hopeful eyes.

They don’t know.

They don’t know what I’m about to do.

They don’t know I’m about to ruin my entire life.

"Dominic," my father said again, with that smile plastered on his face for the voters watching. "Ready, son?"

No.

God, no.

But I nodded.

Because saying no was not an option.

My father waved like the proud man he pretended to be, knowing he had me cornered.

They all believe I’m doing this for peace.

For unity.

For the future.

But the truth?

My father already traded me away like some political bargaining chip....promised me to the mayor’s daughter from the next state.

Someone I’ve never even spoken to.

Someone I could never love.

And the one person I do love...

I’m being forced to lose.

My heartbeat was racing so so loud in my chest, I almost didn’t hear when they called me to the stage.

Time for me to give my speech.

The one my dad shoved into my hands in the car.

The one I was supposed to deliver like a good little puppet.

My throat burned as I leaned toward the microphone, giving them the smile. Convincing, charming, and completely fake.

"Good evening," I said.

My voice shook and a few faces frowned.

"I..." The word caught, choking on everything it carried.

How do you stand in front of a whole town and admit you’re about to destroy the heart of the person you love most?

"I came here today to... apologize," I finally pushed out. "Last night, I let my emotions control me. I lashed out at people who were only trying to celebrate me. I didn’t realize how much harm it would cause."

My fingers dug into the podium, hiding the way they trembled.

The crowd shifted uneasily.. sensing the real confession building beneath my words.

My eyes blurred.

One tear escaped before I could catch it.

"I also want to apologize," my voice thinned, "to someone I love. Someone who deserves the world. Someone I won’t be able to explain this to... and I know that makes it worse."

The mic picked up the crack in my voice.

I sniffled, trying to steady myself.

My father’s face went dark. He looked furious.

This wasn’t in the script.

"This isn’t goodbye," I smiled softly. "I just need time... to fix something."

My chest felt like it was collapsing from the inside.

My father stepped one foot forward, fisting his hands.

"Are you out of your mind?" I read his lips.

Yeah.

Probably.

Confusion spread through the hall.

Who was he talking about?

Why is he shaking?

Why is he crying?

My lungs felt too small for my chest.

I stepped back..

because if I stayed another second, I would fall apart in front of everyone.

The applause that followed was hesitant, like they were clapping through uncertainty, waiting for someone to explain what the hell was happening.

Security moved closer.

Voices called after me, demanding clarity...

But all I could think was:

Ash.

Ash.

Ash.

His name was the only thing keeping me from collapsing.

I felt my father’s presence before he reached me.

He leaned close enough for his words to slice straight through me:

"Go through with the plan,"he hissed.

"Or you know exactly what happens."

I forced a smile.

"As long as you don’t hurt Ash," I whispered back.

He didn’t respond.

I already knew the threat.

So I turned, and walked towards Gwen, the mayor’s daughter.

She sat in the front row, hands clenched in her lap, looking terrified.

She didn’t deserve this either.

I dropped to one knee before I could hesitate. Cameras exploded with flashes.

Ash, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

I stretched out a hand toward her.

Forced a gentle smile.

"Gwen," I said softly, "will you do me the honor... of helping me unite our families... and our towns?"

Her breath hitched. Tears filled her eyes.. but not happy ones.

She wasn’t blind to the lie we were stepping into.

Still... she nodded.

Because she had no choice either.

Her hand slid into mine.

I lifted it and placed a careful kiss to her knuckles...the picture-perfect gesture for the cameras.

Someone screamed:

"Oh my God! So beautiful!"

The crowd, needing something to believe in...erupted into applause.

Fake applause.

For a fake fairytale.

What if Ash was watching this right now?

On his phone.

In his room.

Alone.

What if he saw me kneeling?

What if he thought I never loved him at all?

My chest kept aching so bad.

But I kept moving.

Because stopping meant losing him permanently... in the worst way. And I can’t bare that.

Gwen stood beside me as we walked back to the podium.

I could feel her shaking.

I squeezed her hand once.

Turning back to the crowd, I raised the mic again... clearing my throat to steady my voice.

"I want to publicly apologize to Gwen and her family... for my behavior last night," I said.

"She is kind, brave and beautiful. And she deserves respect... not the chaos I caused."

A camera zoomed in on Gwen’s tearful smile.

My father’s expression softened in triumph.

They all thought this was a victory.

But my heart...

My heart was somewhere miles away.

With the boy who had no idea that I was breaking both of us to protect him.

Ash... please wait for me.

Please believe I never wanted this.

"Oh wow... they look so good together."

"They’re such a perfect pair."

"When’s the wedding?"

"Kiss her! Kiss her!"

I felt Gwen shiver beside me.

She didn’t want this any more than I did.

But the crowd wanted a show.

A pretty picture.

A lie wrapped in a love story.

I kept my eyes forward... anywhere but the cameras, because if I looked up, they’d see it:

This wasn’t love.

This was a prison built out of expectations.

My dad returned to the stage, grinning like this was his coronation. He shook the mayor’s hand and clapped my shoulder like he was proud of me.

He stepped up to the podium, clearing his throat like the hero of the night.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began.

"Tonight... I am the proudest father in this town."

He paused for applause.

They gave it willingly.

"My son, Dominic Vale, has shown great maturity today. He has chosen duty... chosen peace... chosen what is best for our community."

My heartbeat stuttered.

Chosen.

Like I had a choice.

He spread his arms as if he was gifting them the sun.

"I raised my son to put others before himself," he continued. "To carry the future on his shoulders. And tonight, I believe he proved himself worthy."

A woman in the front row wiped a tear.

Cameras zoomed in.

The town believed every word.

"I stand before you once again," my father said, "as a candidate for mayor... not for power...but for all of you."

Applause thundered.

Chants started:

"Vale! Vale! Vale!"

He placed a hand over his heart... like he even had one.

"I want this town to thrive. To be safe. To be united. And I will fight for your happiness... for your families... for your children. All I ask..."

He smiled wide, triumphant.

"...is that you support me in this engagement... as we take the first step toward a stronger future."

The audience shot up to their feet, cheering.

Like he was the savior they were waiting for.

Meanwhile my chest was caving in.

My hands kept shaking behind my back.

And every pulse in my body screamed the same name:

Ash.

Ash, didn’t deserve any of this.

Ash, might hate me forever for what I just did.

Gwen glanced sideways at me... looking sad too.

She whispered so only I could hear:

"I’m sorry."

I nodded.

Because somehow... she understood.

Somehow... she saw the heartbreak buried under the performance.

The cheers grew louder.

If only they knew...

They weren’t cheering for love.

They were cheering for a tragedy.

Cheering for someone’s sadness.

I hate my dad!