Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 60

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The pink lettering vanished, and immediately a woman strode in from the perimeter toward the stage. She was dressed flamboyantly–pink fur, a skimpy top, a mini skirt, sheer black tights, and knee–high boots. 

Ava took one look at her and, despite the change of outfit, immediately recognized her as the Awakened lady who had caused a scene not long ago. 

She looked at the newly crowned champion onstage and felt a rare twinge of pity sneaking up. 

The sudden turn of events drew nearly every eye in the venue. 

On the livestream, viewer numbers skyrocketed as discussions reached a fever pitch. 

The young woman approached with an air of superiority. Once she was close, she slowly sized Skyler up from head to toe. 

“Skyler, I’m very fond of you,” she said bluntly. “I’d like to marry you. Will you agree?” 

Such a direct, no–frills public proposal drove the audience wild. 

Ava quietly poked Asher. 

“That’s her,” she whispered. “The bully I told you about earlier. I didn’t expect an arrogant prick like her to set her sights on a racing driver.” 

That explained it. 

The reason this lofty Awakened even showed up wasn’t the race at all, but a man. 

“Still,” she murmured, “he doesn’t look happy about it.”” 

Skyler still wore a smile, but it was rigid. 

He seemed stunned, not delighted. If anything, he looked frightened. 

True love involved mutual consent, but a power–backed proposal like this felt like straight–up coercion. 

Asher watched the scene with a faintly mocking smile. “Some people think status makes them untouchable, and that it gives them the right to trample others.” 

“He clearly doesn’t want this,” Ava said, troubled. “Can she really pressure him into marriage? That poor guy is being cornered. What a nightmare of a fan.” 

“She’s within her rights,” he explained. “An Awakened woman may propose marriag 

to a man she favors. If he doesn’t have protection, power, or a partner, refusing her will come with consequences.” 

“Skyler’s just an A–rank mental power user,” he added. “With his level, most people would say he’s lucky she noticed him at all.” 

Ava found it utterly absurd. This was coercion disguised as affection, plain and simple, yet because the 

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Chapter 60 A Forced Proposal 

woman was an Awakened, people called it an honor. 

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Once again, her understanding of this world was shaken. She had thought women suffered most here; now she realized men could be crushed just as easily. 

The crowd quickly started urging Skyler to say yes, as if his answer existed for their entertainment and they were entitled to it. 

It was pure insanity–a deep, collective sickness. 

To be fair, her move landed brutally effective. There was no way to dodge it, leaving Skyler no room to 

resist. 

Under public scrutiny, even the smallest reaction was exposed. 

Skyler knew her–a self–proclaimed fan who had once stalked him to his apartment. After discovering her status, he had avoided her since, until she cornered him now. 

Humiliation and resentment gnawed at him. Two voices battled inside him–fear urging surrender, pride demanding resistance. 

The trophy shook in his grip. His face drained pale, despair plain as day. 

Skyler wanted nothing to do with the woman in front of him, but he couldn’t afford to offend her. 

Jolene Palmer eyed him like prey. She had coveted him for ages, yet he remained just out of reach. His defiance infuriated her. As an Awakened, she was used to getting whatever she set her sights on. 

Skyler was nothing more than an A–rank mental power user, a civilian at that. Jolene never truly regarded him as worthy. She had deigned to take an interest, yet he had rejected her again and again, shamelessly. 

Oh, the audacity. 

He clearly didn’t know his place. 

Fine, then. 

Jolene didn’t mind giving him a lesson–if he wanted to act up, she would straighten him out. She decided she would have a little fun with him first, then drop him once she was done, letting reality humble him. 

“So, Skyler,” she demanded, mounting the stage, “what’s your answer?” 

“Say yes!” came the crowd’s roar. “What are you waiting for?” 

“What’s wrong with him? A woman’s proposing to him in public, and he’s just standing there like a fool.” 

“Seriously, why him and not me? Life’s so unfair–some people have nothing while others get everything.” 

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