DISCLAIMER: If I owned the Phantom story and all of the musical rights, I wouldn't be writing fan fiction, I'd be sitting in my library eating truffles and being filthy rich.

Thanks to: All of my lovely readers and my equally lovely, if not more lovely, reviewers.

Angelica stared at the hopeful LeJolie blankly. She felt as if everything was coming to her at a slow motion. 'What should I say' she thought to herself. The words of her father echoed in her mind repeatedly before she finally gave a motion. All she could do was smile.

"I knew it...I knew. I love you, Angelica." Gareth said pulling her into an embrace.

"Gareth, I can't accept...Yet."

The look of joy on Gareth's face disappeared as fast as it came.

"What?" he said dumbfounded.

"It's hard to explain. Give me some time."

"Please, just tell me why you're doing this."

Angelica couldn't lie to him. But she also couldn't tell him everything.

"R-Ri'chard..He-" she muttered aloud.

"RI'CHARD!" Gareth shouted angrily.

Angelica was shocked and frightened by his tone.

"The stable boy?" he asked again, now pacing around the stage.

"Yes."

"Oh, honestly, Angelica! That little street vermin."
"Don't call him that! Don't you EVER call him that!"

"You don't mean to say, Mademoiselle, that you have feelings for that filth!"

Angelica just stared at him. She was angry, and yet she felt as if she might cry.

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" he said, now inches from her face. "Well, if you are having the trouble choosing between me, and a worthless vagabond, then you are just as low as he."

Angelica felt as if her heart was being brutally maimed. She couldn't understand now why she had agreed to even court Gareth. This man, who once showed her what a future filled with love, luxuries, and happiness could be...She now loathed.

"What happened to you?" she finally said, looking him in the eye.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You heard. What happened to you, Gareth? I thought you loved me. If you did you wouldn't have hurt me like you just have."

His angered expression faded and turned to sympathetic.

"Angelica-" he said, trying to touch her.

"Don't. I've heard enough. You can't go back."

"How could I have hurt you?"

"Ri'chard is a dear friend. He has never once insulted you, or anyone at all. And it hurts...That you would call someone I care for, such terrible names."

"Angelica, I lov-"

"No! No...You don't love me, Gareth. You love your perfections and yourself. How could I be so blind?"

Gareth stepped back from Angelica and placed his face in his palms. 'The truth was wretched' he thought.

"Before I didn't know what I should do. Now it's clear."

"What is clear?" Gareth said, now sniffing slightly.

"That I indeed, Monsieur...Belong with Ri'chard. He isn't vermin, he isn't street rubbish, nor am I. I love him."

And with one last nod to the teary eyed boy, Angelica turned on her heel and walked off the stage, the sapphire diamond still on her finger.

Didn't I say that reviews make me write faster? Ha ha. I've had time lately to write, so I want to post them as soon as I finish. I hope this chapter is alright. Not my best, as usual. Enjoy, my lovelies and R&R!