CHAPTER FOUR: A Dance We Shouldn't Have Shared
"Winter!"
Ace's voice echoed through the house. "Winter, hurry up or we'll be late for the Luhans' party!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Winter's voice trailed from upstairs.
She rushed down the staircase, carefully lifting the hem of her ball gown. Her long raven hair had been straightened, soft curls cascading down her back from a high ponytail. The shimmer of her black gown caught the light from the chandelier above, sparkling with every step she took. Around her neck gleamed the crimson fire of the red diamond Jason had given her — the necklace alone outshined every gem in the room.
Ace stood frozen at the bottom of the stairs.
"My God…" he muttered. "You look… beautiful."
Winter smiled shyly, brushing a stray curl behind her ear. "Thank you, dear brother. You don't look bad yourself."
Ace laughed. "Come on, let's go before you make us any later."
She giggled and took his extended hand as he led her outside to his car. But just before they entered, she paused.
"Wait — where's Mom and Dad?"
"They already left. You were running late, as usual," Ace teased.
"Don't guilt-trip me," she muttered under her breath as they slid into the car.
---
The Luhans' estate was glistening with light and laughter when they arrived. The grand banquet was in full swing, chandeliers flickering against polished marble floors, while waiters floated around with trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres.
The moment Winter stepped into the hall, a hush rippled through the crowd. Heads turned. Conversations stalled. Every eye traced her every step.
She leaned closer to Ace and whispered, "Seems like you look quite handsome today."
Ace blinked and scoffed, "You think I'm grabbing all the attention? Trust me, you're the star tonight. They're staring at you, not me."
Winter blushed and quickly looked away, but her heart fluttered.
Across the room, Jason sat at the mini-bar, quiet and trying very hard not to be obvious. But the moment he laid eyes on Winter, his breath hitched.
She's… stunning.
That wasn't even a strong enough word. Her smile, her effortless grace, the way the gown hugged her — she looked like she belonged on the arm of royalty.
Jason gripped the rim of his glass. He couldn't let himself go there. Not tonight. Not ever.
Ace's warning still echoed in his head like a siren: "If you touch her, I'll forget we were ever friends."
So he sat still, nursing a drink and keeping his eyes on her from a distance. Watching her laugh as she greeted guests. Watching her dance with her father. Then Ace. Then Jeremy.
At this point, he had a mental list of every guy winter has as much as smiled to. And each time, his chest tightened a little more. And when he noticed her wincing... likely from the heels... he was the only one who noticed her scanning for an empty chair.
She made her way to the bar and sat beside him quietly, her shoulders sinking with relief.
He allowed her to sit for a while. No words, just resting and allowing her to rest.
"You dance well," Jason said after a while, eyes focused on his drink.
"Thank you," she replied softly. "It was fun."
He hummed. "You're good at it."
"Thanks… again. And… for the jewelry. It's really beautiful. I owe you one."
Jason chuckled. "Really now?"
"Really."
He turned, finally meeting her eyes. "Then why don't you pay up now?"
Winter blinked. "With what?"
He stood and extended his hand. "I believe you've rested a bit. Can I have this dance?"
Winter stared at him in disbelief, her lips twitching.
Jason never asked. Not once. He always swooped in and stole her from whoever she was dancing with. But now… he was asking.
The music shifted just then — a slower, softer melody — almost as if the universe itself was daring her.
She took his hand.
They stepped onto the dance floor, and to their surprise, the crowd naturally gave them space, parting like the Red Sea. Just the two of them, swaying under the golden lights.
"I can't dance to this," Winter said, suddenly nervous with everyone watching them like a hawk. "This is way too slow…"
Jason gently placed a hand on her waist and whispered, "Just follow my lead."
She nodded.
The air around them changed. It wasn't just dancing. It was something else. A shared silence filled with glances, glimmers, and unspoken truths.
"You look…" Jason hesitated, then said barely above a whisper, "…breathtaking."
Winter's cheeks flushed. She tried to look away, but Jason reached behind her and tugged her headband just before twirling her. Letting her hair flow along with the breeze in a magical spin before catching her.
"Jason!" she whisper-shouted.
"Keep your hair down," he said, voice low and firm. "It looks better this way."
She tried to hide her smile, but couldn't.
This wasn't like the other dances they had shared — filled with playful teasing and sassy remarks. This one was slower, deeper… intimate. She found herself focusing on his touch, his scent, the steady way he moved. It was unnerving.
Unconsciously, his face inched closer… almost too close… . And just before anything could happen, sounds of clapping cut through the moment.
Applause thundered across the room.
They jolted apart, as if the moment shattered into reality. Liliana rushed in to pull Winter into a tight hug, gushing over her beautiful performance. Jason disappeared into the shadows like smoke.
---
Behind the bar, Jason poured himself another drink. He was shaking.
Then he heard Ace's voice.
"Where's Jessica?" Ace asked, startling him.
Jason turned around too fast. "She's… she's not here. This isn't really her crowd."
Ace grabbed a drink, his eyes sharp. "I saw you, Jason."
Jason stiffened.
"I saw the way you were looking at my sister."
Jason tried to stay calm. "And how exactly was I looking at her?"
"Don't play dumb. You know what I mean."
Jason looked away. "You're wrong."
Ace leaned in. "I hope I am. I hope I am"
Jason didn't reply. And Ace just nodded, raised his drink, and walked away.
---
Jason left the party early.
Everything felt like too much. He drove in silence, replaying every moment on the dance floor.
The way she smiled at him.
The way she looked at him like she didn't hate him for once.
The way it almost — almost — felt like she could fall for him too.
"F*ck... What do i mean by 'too'. I've not fallen for her." He thought to himself.
---
The next morning, the school parking lot buzzed with students. Jason was leaning against his car, talking to his younger brother, when Ace and Winter arrived. Winter was still asking him what had gotten over him.
"Thank God you're here," Ace said urgently, pulling the group into a quiet corner while ignoring Winter.
"What's wrong?" Jason asked, suddenly alert.
"Have you checked the top searches this morning?"
Jason frowned. "No…?"
They each pulled out their phones.
Winter's jaw dropped.
> Are Jason and Winter getting married? >The Luhans and Rodgers A Secret Union? >Arranged Marriage Between Elite Heirs!
The clip of their dance had gone viral.
Winter burst into laughter. "What the hell? Who's putting this stuff out there?"
She scrolled again and gasped, laughing even harder. "Me? Married to Jason? That'd be a disaster."
Jason winced.
She looked back at her brother, giggling. "Ace, is this why you've been acting weird all morning?"
"Winter, it's—"
"Relax." She rolled her eyes. "Let's go, Jeremy. And Ace… let it go. This will never happen."
She turned her back and walked away.
Jason stood frozen, the words ringing in his ears.
> This will never happen.
His heart dropped — not because of the gossip, not because of the dance… but because she said it so easily. Like it didn't — couldn't — mean anything.
Jason cleared his throat, trying to control himself as he turned to Ace. "See? Even she thinks the idea is ridiculous."
Jason tried to continue. His throat went dry. "Winter and I… there's nothing going on. Even if I were interested, which I'm not, she doesn't feel the same. You don't have to worry. She's like a sister to me"
Ace sighed, realizing he was thinking too much of things... "you're right. I overstepped, I'm sorry bro"
"Don't apologize Ace"
He gave Jason a quick pat on the shoulder and left for class. He believes that upon everything, their friendship comes first, so even if he was feeling something, Jason wouldn't betray their friendship.
Jason stayed behind. He sat on a low bench near the garden path, staring at his phone screen.
> She'll never fall for me. And even if she did… I can't have her.
His hands trembled slightly as he ran them through his hair.
"I've fallen for Winter Rodgers," he whispered to himself, almost like a confession. "And I'm down hard."
He looked up at the sky, exhaling.
He was doomed.