Alina stared at the glowing screen.Daniel's name felt like poison now.Five years ago, she would have texted him back in seconds.
Today? She let the phone ring twice before answering.
"Babe," his voice oozed through the line, too smooth, too confident. "Meet me at the café after school. I have a surprise."She almost laughed. She knew exactly what that "surprise" was the beginning of her slow, humiliating downfall.
But not this time."Sure," she said sweetly. "I can't wait."She hung up before he could hear the steel in her voice.
Alina caught her reflection in the mirror.
The girl she used to be soft, trusting, easily broken was gone.Now she had knowledge. She knew who would betray her, when it would happen, and how far they'd go.And she wasn't going to stop it quietly.
Her first step wasn't Daniel.It was her sister.Pulling on a leather jacket, she left the house and walked into the crisp morning air. The city felt different now, alive with possibilities.
At the school gates, she spotted Emma laughing with her friends, pretending to be innocent.Alina's gaze lingered until Emma noticed and froze.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Emma asked, frowning.Alina smiled slowly. "You'll find out soon."
Before Emma could reply, a shadow fell across them.A tall man in a black suit stood at the gate, scanning the crowd until his eyes locked on Alina.
He wasn't from her past.She had no memory of him.But he was walking toward her like he knew her and like he wasn't going to let her walk away.