Chapter 201: Hope POV
The loud cheer of celebration echoed across the rooftop lounge as Hope raised her glass alongside her crew. They had just wrapped up the last shoot of the season, and it had gone better than anyone expected. The relief in the air was almost tangible, like a weight lifted off all their shoulders. With her signature radiant smile, Hope clinked her glass against Ariah's.
"To a job well done!" Ariah toasted, her eyes sparkling beneath the neon lights.
"Cheers!" everyone chorused.
Hope took a sip of her cocktail and leaned back against the plush seat. Her skin still glowed faintly under the residue of stage makeup, but her body was beginning to relax. It felt good. The long days, the constant pressure—it was all behind her, at least for now. She deserved to celebrate.
The rooftop bar-slash-club-slash-hotel was buzzing with life. Music boomed from the overhead speakers, and the city skyline stretched in the distance like glittering diamonds. Around her, everyone was laughing, drinking, letting loose. It wasn't often Hope let herself be surrounded by this kind of chaotic joy, but tonight she gave in.
Ariah nudged her. "You look like you're deep in your head again."
"I'm just... processing," Hope replied with a small laugh. "It's been a long few weeks."
Ariah gave her a knowing smirk. "No thinking tonight. Tonight is for fun."
Hope raised her brows. "Fun, huh? That's a dangerous word in your mouth."
"Oh, please," Ariah giggled. "We worked our asses off. Don't we deserve to let go just a little?"
Hope didn't argue. She let herself be pulled to the dance floor when the beat shifted to something with a heavy bass. The lights dimmed and changed color, creating a dreamy haze around the dancing crowd.
As the music thumped, Hope moved in rhythm, her limbs finding freedom in the melody. For a while, she let it all go—the pressure of her career, the expectations placed on her as a Blackwood, the feeling that eyes were always watching. She danced like no one knew her, and for the first time in a while, she actually felt… normal.
An hour later, sweaty and breathless, she returned to the table with Ariah. One of the stylists passed them a new round of drinks. The girls took their seats with laughter that felt like it came from somewhere young and unburdened.
"I might actually sleep all weekend," Hope said as she sipped her drink.
"You? Sleep?" Ariah teased. "That'd be a miracle."
Hope rolled her eyes. "I'm serious. I just want to curl up and not see anyone for two days."
A familiar voice interrupted them. "You know you'll get bored before the day ends."
It was Jordan, one of the photographers. He pulled a chair and joined them, placing his beer on the table.
Hope shook her head. "I really won't. I've been running on caffeine and hope. My body's ready to shut down."
They laughed again. The night continued with food being served—mini sliders, wings, fries. The kind of greasy joy Hope rarely allowed herself during workdays. But tonight, she didn't care. She was surrounded by people she trusted, the crew that had been with her through sleepless nights and impossible deadlines.
At one point, Ariah dragged her to the hotel balcony. The view of the city was breathtaking.
"You really love it, don't you?" Ariah asked, leaning against the railing.
Hope followed her gaze. "I do. Even the exhaustion. The chaos. It's like… I was made for it."
Ariah smiled. "You were. You shine in front of a camera. Even when you're tired and annoyed, you give your all."
Hope looked down at the glittering traffic far below. "Sometimes I wish I wasn't a Blackwood. That I could just… be someone else."
Ariah bumped her shoulder gently. "You're Hope first. Not anyone's legacy. Don't forget that."
Hope smiled faintly. "Thanks, Ariah."
They stayed there in silence for a moment before someone called them back inside for a group photo. Hope joined them, flashing her bright smile. As the shutter clicked, she wrapped an arm around Ariah and thought—for the first time in a while—that maybe she didn't need to carry everything on her shoulders all the time.
When the clock struck two, people started filtering out. Some went up to their hotel rooms, others ordered rides home. Hope checked her phone. A few missed calls from her manager, but nothing urgent.
She slipped off her heels and sighed. "I'm officially done for the night."
"You want to head home or crash here?" Ariah asked.
Hope hesitated. "Let's just stay. I'm too tired to drive."
"Perfect," Ariah replied. "Slumber party with champagne?"
"Only if there's room service too."
They both laughed again as they walked toward the elevator.
Hope didn't notice anyone in particular as they passed through the crowd. No mysterious men, no intense gazes, no cryptic run-ins. She had no lingering thoughts of the man she once bumped into weeks ago—her mind was blank and at peace. For once, she wasn't analyzing or overthinking. She was just… living.
And she liked it.
As they reached their hotel suite, Ariah flopped dramatically onto the bed while Hope peeled off her jacket and sat by the window. The city lights twinkled back at her like tiny promises.
Her phone buzzed with a message from her mom: "Glad you visited. Come by again soon. Love you."
Hope smiled.
Maybe tomorrow, she'd start worrying about what came next. But for tonight, she would just exist in the calm she fought so hard to earn.