"Yeah," I replied lightly, forcing a small smile. "You always left with half my wardrobe."
"Oh, co on, I gave so of it back!" She grinned, giving a playful shove. "And besides, you had so much back then. It’s not like you even noticed half the ti."
I held back a retort, instead nodding as if the mories were pleasant. In truth, the weight of what I knew stung more than I could admit. The late nights, the whispered secrets I’d once thought were real... all while she’d been taking more than just clothes from . She’d been taking my trust, one calculated lie at a ti.
Jessica sighed dramatically, shifting closer. "And now, things have... changed, haven’t they? I an, with you relying on Gabriel, of all people. If I’d known you two would end up together, I would have fought harder for him." She laughed, a hollow sound. "But seriously, Kiara, maybe it’s ti you stopped playing gas with him. Breaking up is... let’s just say, not your best move."
I closed my eyes for a mont, her words dredging up an image of every ti she’d inserted herself into my life, twisting every situation to her advantage. There were the "helpful" whispers in high school, the endless advice that always seed to benefit her more than . And later, every supposed act of support with Gabriel—all just another layer of manipulation.
Jessica’s voice snapped back to the present. "I’m just saying," she continued, oblivious to the storm brewing inside , "Gabriel’s the best you’ll find. Maybe not perfect, but he’s reliable. At least he... takes care of you, right?"
I forced my eyes open, eting her gaze. "You think he takes care of ?"
"Well, he’s been with you through thick and thin. You really shouldn’t be so quick to throw that away, Kiara," she said, her smile barely masking her satisfaction.
I bit my lip, forcing myself to stay calm, to play along. "Thanks for the advice, Jessica."
"Anyti," she replied breezily, standing up and stretching. "I’ll go make us so pancakes."
She left the room, and I took a slow, deep breath. My mind buzzed, a thousand mories crashing together. Every sleepover, every whispered confidence, every lie. Knowing it had all been a facade left a hollow ache in my chest. But I wasn’t about to let her see that.
Once I heard her in the kitchen, I stood up, forcing myself to smile as I called out, "I need to use the bathroom!"
"Down the hall on the left!" she replied, her voice bright.
"Nah, I’ll find it myself," I answered quickly, already heading in the opposite direction.
I moved quietly, slipping down the hall and trying each door as I passed. Jessica had always been like a ghost, even in my past life—slipping through without leaving a trace, always a step ahead. But tonight, I would find the truth she hid behind those pretty smiles.
Finally, I reached a locked door at the end of the hall. I glanced back, ensuring the coast was clear, then fished a hairpin from my pocket and knelt by the lock. A few quick turns, and it clicked open.
I stepped inside, pulling the door shut behind as my eyes adjusted to the dim light. The room was small, with black curtains pulled tightly shut. But it wasn’t the darkness that caught my attention.
It was the wall.
Photos lined the walls—photos of . So of them were harmless, pictures from school events, work functions, even a few shots I recognized from my social dia. But as I scanned further, my stomach dropped. There were photos of in my most private monts, monts she should never have seen.
Masks hung from pegs on the wall, grotesque and bizarre, as if for so twisted costu party. And tucked in the corner was a small table, a computer humming quietly beside it. I moved closer, my gaze flicking over the screen.
A photo of Lola stared back at , and not just any photo—her nude photo, the one that had circulated after that night at the hotel. My blood ran cold, and a chill settled in the pit of my stomach. Jessica was behind it. She’d orchestrated Lola’s downfall the sa way she’d done to .
I reached for my phone, snapping pictures of everything—photos, masks, the computer screen. Anything that could serve as proof of her deceit, her obsession, her calculated destruction of others.
As I took the last picture, I heard a voice behind .
"What exactly are you doing here?"
I turned slowly, my heart hamring as Jessica stood in the doorway, her face unreadable, eyes dark with barely hidden anger. She took a single step inside, crossing her arms as she surveyed , her gaze flicking to my phone.
"I asked you a question, Kiara," she said, her voice low and icy. "What are you doing in here?"
I forced a calm smile, slipping my phone into my pocket. "Just... looking for the bathroom. Guess I got lost."
Jessica’s lips twisted into a mock smile. "You think I’m that stupid?"
"Stupid?" I replied, feigning innocence. "No, Jessica, I think you’re very... resourceful." My gaze drifted back to the photos on the wall, each one a silent testant to the lies she’d crafted, the lives she’d ruined.
Her expression faltered, a flash of sothing uncertain crossing her face. "You have no idea what you’re dealing with."
"Really?" I took a step forward, not breaking eye contact. "Because it looks like I know exactly what I’m dealing with."
Her jaw tightened, her hands clenched into fists. "You’re out of your depth, Kiara."
"Maybe," I replied, my voice steady, "but at least I’m not the one hiding in the shadows, pretending to be soone I’m not."
Jessica’s face twisted, anger flaring in her eyes. "You have no idea what I’ve done for this, what I’ve sacrificed. And you? You’re just a leftover, clinging to whatever scraps you can get."
"Funny," I said, leaning in slightly. "Because it seems to , Jessica, you’re the one who can’t let go."
Her face fell for a fraction of a second before she forced a smile, cold and brittle. "We’ll see how long you last, Kiara. When everyone realizes who you really are... you’ll be the one left with nothing."
"Maybe," I replied, a smirk tugging at my lips, "but you’d better hope I don’t decide to share what I’ve seen here."
Jessica’s eyes flickered, fear creeping into her gaze, but she masked it quickly, retreating a step. "Get out."
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