Camila sat at the edge of the ballroom, her fingers tapping against her champagne flute as she watched Shawn and Avery sway together on the dance floor. Avery’s radiant smile and Shawn’s obvious adoration were enough to make her blood boil. Her earlier schemes had failed, but she wasn’t about to let the night end in Avery’s triumph.
She leaned over to the DJ booth, where a bored-looking young man scrolled through his playlist. Sliding a crisp bill across the counter, she leaned in close, her voice dripping with malice.
“I have something for you to play,” Camila whispered, sliding a USB drive onto the table. “During the next slow song. Trust me—it’ll bring the house down.”
The DJ raised an eyebrow but pocketed the money without hesitation. “You got it.”
Satisfied, Camila straightened her gown and cast one last icy glance at Avery. “Let’s see how perfect you look when everyone remembers who you really are.”
On the dance floor, Avery and Shawn moved in sync, their footsteps light and effortless. The silver gown shimmered under the soft glow of the lights, and Avery couldn’t help but feel as though she were floating.
“You’re not bad at this,” she teased, looking up at Shawn with a grin.
“Not bad?” Shawn echoed, feigning offense. “I’ll have you know I’m a phenomenal dancer. You’re just lucky I didn’t bring out the spins yet.”
Avery laughed, a sound Shawn couldn’t get enough of. “I think I’ll pass on the spins, thank you.”
The music shifted, and Shawn’s expression softened. “You know,” he said quietly, his voice almost lost under the melody, “I wasn’t sure if tonight could be saved. But looking at you now… I think it’s the best night I’ve ever had.”
Avery’s cheeks flushed, and she couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her lips. “I think so too.”
As the song swelled, Shawn tightened his hold on her waist, leaning closer. “You’re incredible, Avery. Don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise.”
Her heart swelled, and for a moment, the rest of the room seemed to blur into nothingness. It was just her and Shawn, together in a perfect moment.
Unnoticed by the couple, the DJ inserted Camila’s USB into his laptop, scrolling through the files. His eyes widened slightly at the contents—a collection of unflattering “before” pictures of Avery from her pre-transformation days. Photos of her at school events, wearing oversized clothes, and sitting awkwardly in group shots filled the screen.
“You sure about this?” the DJ asked Camila as she loomed nearby.
“Just play it,” she snapped. “During the next dance.”
With a shrug, the DJ queued the slideshow, timing it to start at the height of the ball’s main event.
Camila returned to her table, her smirk widening as she watched Avery and Shawn share another laugh on the dance floor. “Enjoy it while it lasts,” she muttered under her breath.
Avery rested her head briefly against Shawn’s shoulder, the warmth of his presence grounding her in a way she hadn’t expected. The tension and humiliation from earlier had melted away, leaving her in the moment.
“Do you ever stop worrying about what people think?” Shawn asked, his voice soft but direct.
Avery looked up at him, surprised by the question. “I’m working on it,” she admitted. “It’s hard, though. When people like Camila are always waiting for you to mess up, it’s…” She hesitated, searching for the words. “Exhausting.”
Shawn’s green eyes darkened. “Forget Camila. She’s irrelevant. What matters is how you see yourself. And I see someone amazing.”
His words sent a shiver through her, but before she could respond, the music began to fade, signaling the transition to the next part of the evening.
“Looks like they’re about to do something,” Shawn said, glancing toward the DJ booth.
Avery turned her head, her smile fading slightly as the lights dimmed and a projector screen began to lower at the front of the room.