The night of the annual Winter Gala arrived—a grand event held at Luciano's family estate where society's elite gathered to celebrate wealth and status. Luciano attended out of obligation but felt hollow inside as he watched his family mingle among guests while his heart longed for Benjamin.
After hours of forced laughter and polite conversation, Luciano slipped away into the gardens, seeking solace beneath the stars. As he wandered through the snow-dusted paths, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him.
"Luciano!" Benjamin emerged from the shadows, breathless and radiant against the backdrop of twinkling lights.
"What are you doing here?" Luciano exclaimed, his heart soaring at the sight of him.
"I couldn't stay away," Benjamin replied, stepping closer until their breaths mingled in the cold air. "I needed to see you."
They stood together beneath a canopy of stars, their hands intertwined as they shared whispered confessions and dreams for a future together—one where love could flourish without fear or judgment.
But just as they leaned in for a kiss, a figure emerged from the darkness—Luciano's father. The man's face twisted in fury as he confronted them.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, eyes blazing with rage.
"Father!" Luciano gasped, pulling away from Benjamin as shame washed over him.
"You disgrace our family!" his father spat. "You will not associate with this… this common artist!"
"Father, please!" Luciano pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice. "He means everything to me!"
"Enough!" His father thundered. "You will end this nonsense immediately or face dire consequences."
With those words hanging heavily in the air like a death knell, Benjamin stepped back, pain etched across his face. "I can't do this anymore," he whispered before turning away and disappearing into the night.