The four bolted through the grand hall, heels and footsteps clashing against polished floors.

"WHAT DID YOU DO, HAIDER?!" Ethan shouted over the chaos.

"Forget that—where's Lorenzo?!" Zuri yelled back, struggling to keep up.

Behind them, the crowd shifted in confusion as guards began pushing through the guests.

⸻

The night felt like a blur.

Giggling under lavish tables that stretched across huge rooms and running around the empty halls of the manor were none other than Lorenzo Rossie and Evangeline Santos.

Lorenzo actually found himself smiling at how bright Evangeline was.

Her wit.

The way she bit back at him with questions just as quick as he answered them.

Lorenzo had almost forgotten all about the responsibilities he carried on his shoulders.

Almost.

Of course, nothing gold like this could stay for too long.

"LORENZO ROSSIE!!"

Lorenzo's head snapped up immediately when he heard the faint call of his name.

"I have to go," he said sharply.

He hesitated for only a second.

Then he turned—his eyes landing on Evangeline.

After everything that had happened tonight... leaving her didn't feel right.

His hand lifted toward her.

"Come with me," he said quietly.

Evangeline blinked, surprised. "What?"

Lorenzo nodded once. "I can't just... leave."

"You're insane. I have a family here." Evangeline shot back.

"Do you truly?" Lorenzo shot back with a small smirk tugging at his lips and his eyes narrowing.

This girl was full of lies.

And he was ready to unravel every single one.

A small, sharp smile tugged at Evangeline's lips—like she was deciding something dangerous.

Then she took his hand.

"Alright then."

⸻

They ran.

Corridors flashed by in streaks of gold and light as they followed the distant shouting.

"This way," Evangeline said quickly, leading them through the hallways with surprising confidence.

"LORALIE ROSSIE!" Lorenzo called out.

"LORENZO?!" came the distant reply.

It didn't take long before they collided back together in a rushing mess of movement.

"What's going on?!" Lorenzo asked, breathless as he took in Haider's injury and everyone's panic.

"Haider picked a fight with the fucking prince and now the guards are after us!" Loralie blurted out while still running.

"And who's that?" Haider asked sharply, nodding toward Evangeline.

"I'm Evangeline," she said smoothly, even while running. "Lorenzo's friend. We met at the ball."

There was a beat of chaos, of running footsteps and heavy breath.

Then—

Ethan exhaled something like a laugh.

"Welcome to the gang, Evangeline."

A few tired laughs slipped through the group as they kept moving, breathless and half-panicked, half-united.

"That was painfully corny even for you, Ethan." Zuri commented with a breathless laugh.

And just like that, they ran until they found the exit of labyrinth of a manor and escaped.