~ Jack’s POV

As I stood on the dais, the crown's weight on my head felt heavier than I had imagined. It wasn’t just the physical weight of the ornate silver and gold that rested on my brow; it was the responsibility, the expectations, and the reality of what had just happened. But what weighed on me the most was the memory of Isabella, her face etched with hurt and humiliation, as she ran away from me moments after my rejection.

The way her face crumbled, the way her eyes filled with tears ...