It was Valentine's Day in the small town of Lovelock. The town was buzzing with excitement, the bakery was filled with heart-shaped cookies, and the flower shop was echoing with the fragrance of roses. Everybody was preparing for the town's annual Valentine's Day Ball.

In the heart of the town, there was an old, grand mansion, belonging to a man named Jonathan. He was the town's most eligible bachelor, known for his charming personality and striking good looks. Every year, he would throw the Valentine's Day Ball at his mansion, and every single woman in town would hope to be his chosen Valentine. Little did they know, Jonathan held a dark secret.

As the clock struck eight, the ball started. The mansion was beautifully decorated with red roses and twinkling fairy lights. Laughter and music filled the air. One by one, the women arrived, each hoping to be Jonathan's Valentine.

Among the crowd was a young woman named Lily. She was new to town and had heard tales of Jonathan's charming personality. Lily was beautiful, and her innocence attracted Jonathan. He chose her as his Valentine, and they danced the night away, lost in each other’s eyes.

As the night grew darker, Jonathan led Lily to a secret room in his mansion, a room no one knew about. It was filled with eerie portraits and ancient artifacts. In the middle of the room was a large, red, velvet-covered altar. Jonathan told Lily that it was a Lovelock tradition to swear eternal love on Valentine’s Day.

Lily, smitten by Jonathan, agreed. He asked her to lay on the altar and close her eyes. Jonathan then reached into a hidden drawer, pulling out a ceremonial dagger. His charming demeanor switched, his eyes now glowing with a sinister gleam.

As he raised the dagger, Lily's eyes flew open. Fear paralyzed her, but she managed to roll off the altar just in time. The dagger plunged into the velvet instead. Lily ran from the room, but the mansion was a maze of secrets.

Jonathan chased after her, his laughter echoing through the mansion. Lily stumbled upon a room filled with photographs of numerous women, all previous Valentines, with their heart ripped out. It was then she realized the horrifying truth - Jonathan was a heart collector, literally.

The chase continued, and Lily managed to find the main hall. She screamed for help, alerting the guests. The town sheriff quickly apprehended Jonathan, revealing his dark secret to the town.

In the end, Lily escaped the clutches of the charming bachelor, bringing his horrifying Valentine's tradition to an end. The town of Lovelock would never be the same, and the Valentine's Day Ball became a chilling tale of horror told to every newcomer.