Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 40

Posted by Adminj, ? Views, Released on January 7, 2026

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Chapter 40 The Weight of Being Chosen

“Tone it down.” Ava snapped, scrunching her face. “Drop the velvet–radio–host thing before I actually throw up.”

Keith laughed, completely unfazed. “That one doesn’t work for you? No problem. I’ve got options. Plenty of them. One of these days, I’ll run the full lineup and see which one lands.

Midway through the sentence, his voice shifted–lower, smoother, and deliberate.

Ava had not braced herself for that.

“Seriously,” she muttered, shaking her head. “You should cash in on that–voice acting, podcasts, or audiobooks. You’d make stupid money.”

“Keith! Mom’s been calling you. Didn’t you hear?” Lila jogged over, breathless. “Ava, dinner’s ready.”

Ava gave a small nod.

Before she could take another step, Lila lunged forward and grabbed her hand, fingers tight, possessive in the way only kids ever got away with.

Keith’s grin flickered for half a second. He followed behind them, unhurried and calm. He looked like someone who believed the long game was already his.

Lila absolutely did not share that confidence–not while she was here. Ava belonged to her.

Lunch at the Holcomb Residence dragged on longer than expected, polite and carefully paced. Jane eventually suggested they head out.

Everyone understood the circumstances, so no one pushed for more time.

Before Ava left, Claire clasped her hand and stated apologetically, “We didn’t have much time to prepare today. Next time you visit, I’ll make it up to you properly.”

The words hit Ava like a freight train.

This felt uncomfortably close to meeting–the–family territory. Her back straightened without permission. It wasn’t unfamiliar territory, but something inside her had shifted, and that made the whole thing heavier.

They entered the light armored vehicle while Keith remained outside, waving as it drove off.

Claire turned her head, unimpressed. “Satisfied?”

“Yes,” Keith replied without hesitation. “I found someone I want to protect. You’ll support me,

won’t you?”

Light caught in his eyes, bright and unguarded.

She hadn’t seen that look in years.

He had spent his entire life trying to be flawless. People praised her parenting, applauded the Holcomb

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11:13 Wed, Jan 7

Chapter 40 The Weight of Being Chosen

Corporation for raising a model heir..

Claire knew the truth.

Perfection had never made her son happy.

“You have my blessing,” she told him gently. “Your happiness matters more than anything. I love you.”

Inside the hovercar, Ava rested against the window, drained to the bone, as she watched the city skyline fade by.

Jane broke the silence. “So, what’s you

read on Keith?”

Ava watched the buildings streak by and answered quietly, “He checks every box. Good family, strong resume, stable career, looks decent, and temper’s fine. If this were real dating, I don’t know if it would last.”

“Impressive, huh?” Jane sounded unconvinced.

Just a few days earlier, Ava had wanted no part of this setup. If she had her way back then, this whole meet- and–greet wouldn’t even be happening.

“I never called him perfect,” she replied.

Keith looked like something buffed until it gleamed–smooth on the surface with fragile underneath.

Jane laughed. “That still counts as high praise from you. His reputation’s clean. Aunt Claire and Uncle Samuel are solid. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be another daughter.”

“There used to be an older brother,” Louis added, voice slow and careful. “Much older. An accident changed everything. When he died, it wrecked the family. He was a prodigy. Everyone expected greatness from him. The Holcombs poured all their hopes into that one child.”

“Just the two of them?” Ava asked. Something doesn’t add up. Mrs. Holcomb’s marriage looks solid, stable, the kind of people who build families on. If she chose to have another daughter, why stop there?

“Only two,” Louis confirmed. “It traces back to an old mess. Aunt Claire used to be Uncle Samuel’s student. Both Holcomb brothers were engaged back then. She fell for Uncle Samuel anyway. The fallout was brutal. He cut ties with the family over it.”

Jane scoffed. “The scandal was massive. Teacher–student nonsense. Rumors everywhere. Someone filed a

complaint with the education board, and Uncle Samuel lost his job. When the family disowned him, they left him with next to nothing.

“None of it stuck. Look at him now. His net worth eclipsed the main Holcomb branch years ago. Gavin Holcomb never stood a chance against his younger brother.”

Ava frowned. “Teachers and students dating is that big of a deal?”

“It wasn’t the rule,” Jane replied. “It was the optics. Those situations attract heat. The age gap didn’t help either. Aunt Claire was barely twenty while Uncle Samuel was pushing seventy. He already had a fiancee- older than him, close to eighty, with half a dozen spouses lined up.

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“It was a political marriage with zero affection. Back then, people lost their minds over things like that Aunt. Claire chased him first. If I were in his shoes, I would’ve picked her too.