I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “You’re right. Let’s do it.”
She handed me a small microphone, and I tapped it lightly to get everyone’s attention. The chatter in the room gradually died down as people turned to face me, their expressions expectant and supportive.
“Hi, everyone,” I began, my voice a little shaky at first, but gaining strength as I continued. “I just want to thank you all for being here today. This gallery has been a dream of mine for so long, and seeing it come to life with all of your support means the world to me. I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you.”
The crowd responded with warm applause, and a surge of gratitude washed over me. “Now,” I said, smiling, “we’re going to do the raffle draw. Good luck to everyone who entered!”
Ivy held up the bowl filled with raffle tickets, giving it a good shake before holding it out to me. I reached in, my fingers brushing against the crinkled paper before pulling out a ticket. I unfolded it and smiled as I read the name aloud.
“And the winner is . . . Laura Stevens! Congratulations!”
Laura, the friend of Caroline’s whom I’d met several times, stepped forward with a broad smile, her eyes lighting up with excitement. She was a familiar face in the community, always warm and welcoming, and it felt fitting that she’d win. The crowd clapped and cheered as she made her way up to claim her prize.
“Thank you so much, Vinnie!” she said, beaming as she accepted the prize.
“I’m so glad you won, Laura.” The crowd applauded again as she thanked me, clearly thrilled.
I stood before the laptop. “And now,” I said, my voice carrying over the soft hum of conversation, “we’re going to select the winner of our online fundraiser. Thank you so much to everyone who donated.”
I glanced at the laptop screen, where hundreds of names of the donors were ready for the draw. Although the crowd couldn’t see the screen, Amelia was live-streaming the event for those who couldn’t make it, her phone pointed at me as I prepared to announce the winner. I took a deep breath and clicked the button to start the random selection.
The digital wheel spun, the names flashing by in a blur, and my heart raced along with it, the anticipation filling the air. As the wheel began to slow, the names flickering one by one, I found myself holding my breath. Finally, the wheel stopped, and the winning name appeared on the screen as my heart dropped into my stomach.
Sebastian Sterling.
My hand froze on the mouse, the smile faltering on my face, and I quickly cleared my throat, trying to mask the shock that was threatening to overwhelm me. “Looks like we have a little technical difficulty,” I said, forcing a lightness into my tone. “Let’s try that again.”
I clicked the button once more, and the wheel spun again. But, as it slowed, the name on the screen was the same.
Sebastian Sterling.
My pulse quickened as my mind raced, and a low murmur ran through the room as I stared at the screen in disbelief, my heart pounding in my chest. It felt like the universe was playing a sick joke on me. I clicked the button one last time, hoping desperately for a different result, but when the wheel stopped, it was the same name again.
Sebastian Sterling.
My mind raced, struggling to comprehend what was happening, but Ivy quickly stepped in, her voice smooth and confident. “And the winner is . . . Danny Clark!” she announced, effortlessly faking the name as if it had been on the screen all along.
The crowd cheered, none the wiser, as Danny, beaming with excitement, stepped forward to claim his prize. Ivy handed it over with a smile, skilfully diverting attention away from the unsettling situation.
I forced a smile, trying to keep my composure while glancing at the screen one last time before shutting the laptop. My mind was spinning, and the shadow of Sebastian’s name lingered in the back of my thoughts. But I knew I couldn’t let it ruin this day, not with so many people here to support me.
As Danny waved to the crowd, the cheerful atmosphere began to settle back in, and I did my best to shake off the unease. Ethan, standing nearby, met my gaze with concern, but before I could get too lost in my thoughts,the pops of confetti from everyone around me brought me back to the present.
This day was about celebrating everything I’d worked so hard to achieve. And I wasn’t going to let anything take that away from me.
Chapter 24
THE WARMTH OF THE BONFIRE flickered against my skin, a welcome contrast to the crisp October breeze that had begun to settle in. Dinner at Ethan’s parents’ house had been just what I needed—full of laughter, delicious food, and filled with easy conversation that made me feel like I truly belonged with his family. Now, we were all gathered outside around the fire, the flames crackling and dancing in the night air.
Ethan’s aunt and uncle had joined us, along with their kids, who were now chasing each other around the yard, their laughter echoing through the cool night. I was wrapped up in a fluffy jacket, with Ethan’s arm draped comfortably over my shoulders, his warmth seeping into me and grounding me in the moment.
The weirdness from the gallery opening a few days ago had started to fade, but it still lingered in the back of my mind, like a shadow that refused to fully disappear. I had told Ethan about Sebastian’s name popping upduring the raffle draw, expecting him to laugh it off as a bizarre coincidence. And he had, at least on the surface, brushing it aside with a casual remark about how the universe worked in strange ways sometimes. But I could sense a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, a hint of something unspoken that had settled between us.
That night, after the gallery had closed and the guests had gone home, we’d talked about it. Ethan had asked more about Sebastian, wanting to know the full story, and I’d told him everything. How my relationship with Sebastian had started out passionate, but had spiralled into something unhealthy and painful. How leaving Cresden had been the hardest thing I’d ever done, but also the most necessary. Ethan had listened quietly, his hand never leaving mine and, when I’d finished, he’d pulled me close, kissing my forehead with a tenderness that made my heart ache.
As I gazed into the fire, my mind drifted back to that conversation with him. I could still see the flicker of doubt in his eyes, and the way he’d hesitated before telling me he trusted me. I knew he did, but I also knew how hard it was for him to push past that lingering fear—that what we had could somehow be overshadowed by someone from my past.
Ethan hadn’t outright said it, but I could sense the unease that had settled between us since that day. It wasn’t just the strange coincidence of Sebastian’s name appearing in the draw. It was more than that. Our relationship had blossomed so quickly, moving from a tentative beginning to something deep and intense in what felt like no time at all. For me, it felt right—like everything had fallen into place exactly as it should. But I could tell that for Ethan, the speed of it all left him with a sense of uncertainty.
