I made my ultimate decision.

Yesterday, I phoned my lawyer and agreed to use my remaining money to pay off the paparazzi. My dream restaurant might've been placed on hold, but I had an entire lifetime to achieve that. The only dream that truly mattered was my future with Davina, and if I had to go to prison, it would only pull us apart.

I asked Mr. Hart for my job back since in a few months, I wouldn't have enough to afford my living situation. Milo really fucked me over, but I never backed down without a fight. Twenty years from now, I'm going to have the biggest restaurant in the state, and Milo would've nothing but wonderful things to say about it.

My body was drenched in sweat as I tore off wooden planks and chipped wallpaper. Since I couldn't afford to pay employees to demolish everything, I had to go ahead and do it myself. At the end of the day, it would make me appreciate my restaurant more since my blood, sweat, and tears went into it. It might take twenty, thirty, maybe forty years to finish, but I will make my dream a reality.

It's one of the few things I'm good at.

The bell jingled as the door opened, letting in a swift breeze that felt like a relief against my steamed skin. My eyes quickly glanced over to find my sexy goddess of a fiance walking in a black and white knitted set and a beige turtleneck underneath. The only bare skin was her gorgeous, delicious thighs coordinated with high knee boots.

"It's fucking hot in here!" Davina complained, dropping her Chanel purse on the ground.

"Maybe you should get rid of some layers," I teased, slipping my hands to her waist, right above her ass.

Davina smirked. "You like that, wouldn't you?"

"I would love it more if we weren't in my restaurant in front of the full-scale windows where anyone in a twenty-meter radius could see us," I said, placing a quick peck on her forehead before returning to my demolishment.

Her eyebrows pinched together. "Why are you ripping the restaurant apart again?"

"Because I don't think red and black tiles would create the homely feel I'm going for," I responded with a 'duh' tone.

She rolled her eyes. "Smartass. That wasn't what I meant. I meant why don't you hire people to help you?"

My eyes widened a fraction. "My money is still tied up for the time being, so I'm putting in the groundwork for whenever I'm able to hire staff."

"Well, don't work too hard! I want to celebrate tonight after my big win!" Davina wiggled her brows as a pearly white grin snuck on her lips.

"Don't worry. You're my personal charging station." I dusted my dirty palms on my pants and roamed toward Davina like a magnetic. My arms stretched around her waist as I sank my head into the crook of her neck. "I'm feeling recharged already."

"Are you going to be able to make it?" Davina asked, raking her fingers through my knotted hair, feeling like pure love. "Do you really have to work at Shimmery Harmony? I just... It's selfish of me, but I really want you to be there. Win or lose, everything will be okay if you're there. I don't usually get nervous, but I am, I didn't even realize how badly I want this win until I was getting ready. But I also don't want to put my whole heart into it and take an amazing opportunity from Wes."

I lifted my head from the comfort of her shoulder and used my fingers to tilt her face towards mine. "The world would have to be falling apart if it wants to keep me anywhere except by your side. I already told Mr. Hart about it, so we're closing early and I'm going to be there to snuggle the shit out of you regardless of the result. D, you should do what you think is best... if you want the win go for it. Just because you're more privileged than the rest of us doesn't mean you don't deserve it."

"I just can't seem to figure out what's the best option." She licked her lips. "And it's extremely hard to think straight with the way you're looking at me."

"Really?" My eyebrows arched. "Then how would you like me to look at you?"

"A way that doesn't seem like I'm your whole world."

I smiled. "But you are."

Her cheeks bloomed pink. "That's not helping."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I can't tell you what to do. I can only give you advice and love you unconditionally."

She pouted. "Can't you just tell me which way is right?"

"There's no wrong or right way, D. If you feel it in your heart that you rather have Wesley win then go ahead, but if you want it then fucking win the whole thing, baby. I'll be with you, regardless, I'll be your number one fan cheering on the sidelines! Just make sure to be looking for this messy head of hair."

Davina dug her fingers in my curls. "I love that hair."

"Good because I do too. So, stop pulling on it so hard when I go down on you," I teased, picking at the eyelash off her cheek.

Davina's olive cheeks became red. "It's not my fault. My hands just naturally go there."

I kissed her nose. "I'm kidding. I'll let you do anything to me."

She smirked. "Good!" Her fingers trailed down my chest, stomach until she stopped at my buttoned jeans. "Because I have a treat for you tonight. But I'm debating over celebrating early since you look so sexy."

"I guess Jayden was telling the truth when he said girls dug when guys got all rusty and dirty," I said, taking a waft of my woodsy deodorant.

"It's a guilt pressure." Davina narrowed her eyes in a flirtatious manner. "At least for me."

I leaned down and kissed her lips softly. Our lips moved like an insane rollercoaster. The kinds that brought a variety of emotions with it. Davina's lips were like a magic spell that I never wanted to stop being under. Like an intoxicating siren call, mermaids sang to entice a sailor into falling for it, except Davina wasn't a trick.

She was the real thing.

We pulled apart to the sound of Davina's ringtone in the background and a groan slipped from both our mouths. She glanced at the number and clicked the ringer for it to stop going off.

"It's Milo. I forgot he was driving around while I talked with you, but I have to start getting ready. So, I'll see you there?"

I nodded. "Of course. Nothing can keep me away from supporting you."

Shimmery Harmony had gotten a slight upgrade since my last visit. It wasn't any of interior design since Mr. Hart always kept his restaurant up to scale, but rather the menu and outdoor patio. My exposure to the show also indirectly brought Mr. Hart's business, which contributed to the restaurant being packed from five to eleven.

For the first time, I had the reins, and was the head chef for the night, controlling everyone and everything. It was exhilarating to be behind the grills again, and I couldn't help but envision my own dreams slowly coming to life. I haven't had a genuine male figure in my life, but Mr. Hart was a person I wished to be like.

He went after his dream and achieved it.

Now it was my turn.

Customers were pouring in twenty minutes before closing, but I couldn't risk another minute here. I had an hour to take a quick shower, change, and drive over to the studio to watch the ending of the competition. It's more apparent I show up more than ever with Davina's nerves on a rise.

I left my sous chef in charge and drove through three red lights to get to my apartment. Sweat beaded down my forehead as I jogged from the parking lot to the elevator, almost tripping over a baby dancing in the lobby. The elevator took hours to transport me to level fourteen. I regretted not using stairs.

Digging for my key in my pocket, I halted, nearly tripping on my own foot when I saw a long-haired, brown girl sitting criss-cross applesauce in front of my door. My eyebrows pulled together in confusion. It wasn't until she lifted her face; the green swirls in her hazel irises engrossed in tears, her mouth quivering.

My stomach sank. "Lana?"

She rocketed from the spot, wiping her tears, and enclosed her arms around my shoulders, forcing my body to meet her height. Clusters of turmoil ran through my mind, listing different kinds of things that could lead to Lana coming to my apartment.

"Lana, is everything okay?" I asked, her sobs growing stronger.

"It's me and Declan," she croaked. "We got in a big fight, and I told him I wanted a divorce."

My brain short-circuited. "Wait? What? I thought Declan was going to fix things after he visited me last week."

"I don't know." Lana shrugged. "But I-I can't do it anymore."

Animosity crawled through my skin like an unwanted bug. Declan was a fucking idiot. How could he hurt Lana like this? This girl loved him more than a person needed air, and he still took it for granted? I didn't have a full grasp on the situation, but I knew Lana wouldn't want to leave him if it wasn't for something serious.

"It's going to be okay, Lana. I'll get back at him." I consoled, rubbing the back of her head in smooth rhythms. "I told him he'd better not make you cry anymore. Should I call him? He's probably looking for you."

"No!" Lana shouted, removing her head from my shoulders, and her doe-eyes ridden with sadness. "He doesn't care what I do or how I do it." Tears dropped as she blinked, trailing a path down her reddened cheeks. "Please! Don't tell him I'm here. I..." Her eyes fell to the ground. "Can't go home."

I rubbed her head, dishevelling her bangs even more. "Gosh, Lana. How am I supposed to lie to him? If Davina and I got in a fight, I would be searching high and low for her and wouldn't be able to sleep, not knowing she's safe."

"Yeah," Lana sniffled, "But Declan isn't anything like you. He doesn't care about me anymore. He's probably sleeping while I'm here crying like an idiot."

I sighed, wandering over to unlock my door and let Lana enter before I closed the door behind us. The only light source was my lamp on the desk, producing the world's lowest light barely enough to shine past the couch. Lana collapsed on the couch, stuffing her face in the pillow, and wept.

"Do you want tea?" I asked, pulling out my teapot from the cabinet.

"No, but I'll have some vodka," Lana said, muffled through the pillows.

"I'm not giving you any alcohol in this state," I responded.

"What happens if I stop crying? Will I get vodka then?"

"No," I glanced at my options in the bin. "You can either have hot chocolate, coffee or tea."

Lana sighed. "Hot cocoa, please."

"Good." I filled the teapot with tap water and glanced at my oven clock, noticing I wasted twenty minutes consoling Lana. "I'm going to let the water boil while I shower and get ready."

"Huh?" Lana sprung upright from the couch. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to meet Davina," I confessed.

"Oh."

My throat went dry. "Are you going to be okay to be alone? It's just a few hours, then you'll have me to yourself."

Lana nodded silently, drying her tears. "Ye-ah. Actually, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shown up randomly outside your house. I was so upset I forgot to think about you, and how Davina isn't here. I don't want to intrude. I'll go see if I can get a hold of Cata or Meadow."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "O-kay. My apartment is open if you need it to crash for the night. Just let me know."

"I will. I'll see you later," Lana said, a forced smile on her face as she went out the door.

Marriage tugged on the harshness of reality in a relationship. From my parents to Lana's relationship, marriage seemed like anything but the American dream. It didn't crush my desire to walk down the aisle with Davina, but I worried about the strain our relationship could handle. However, marriage isn't the problem it's the individual in the relationship failing to communicate with each other.

That always was the main problem in their relationship and it's sad to see it tearing them apart. But Declan wasn't like an animal; he couldn't be trained by being fed treats. If he wanted to keep Lana, he had to re-elevate himself and decide what was important.

His ego or his marriage with Lana.

After shutting off the stove, I stripped off my clothes and jumped into the shower. Being a boy had amazing benefits in times like these because I changed in under ten minutes, leaving me about fifteen minutes to arrive at the studio. Even if I'm a few minutes late, it's alright as long as I got there and offered Davina my support.

Once I grabbed my car keys, I opened the door only to have every inch of my body scream in concern and drop to my knees, to a fainted Lana. Putting my ear by her lips, her breaths came out shallow, and her cheeks were paler than usual. I placed my hands under her head and legs, carrying her over to the couch.

Lana's eyes blinked half-open, her irises crossed-eyed like she was focusing on regaining oxygen. My heart chipped away like a dirty, old crusty toenail watching her in this hopeless state. Quickly, I grabbed a bottle of water and used my empty hand to lift her head to meet the water.

"You haven't been eating, have you?" I asked, licking my lips.

Lana remained silent.

In my life, I haven't had the privilege of being around selfless people. Lana and Davina were really the only two individuals I've seen with my two eyes. Even without knowing, Davina valued others' emotions before her own and would go to lengths to support another. Same way with Lana. Even in her broken state, she was going to leave because I had to go be with Davina. If her body hadn't given out, I wouldn't even know that she was lying.

She wanted me to stay.

But Davina needed me there.

I pulled at my scalp as I weighed the pros and cons, watching Lana's eyes roll back, causing my heart to thump in panic like a drum. The decision shouldn't be this difficult, but I felt like no matter what way I went in, everything would be okay.

So I did what I thought was best.

So... what do you think Ambrose decided to do? What would you guys do in this situation? If two people that you really cared about depended on you? 👀👀 can't wait to see what you guys say...

Love you guys and I'm so excited to see what everyone has to say!!