Chapter 6

Jenny’s POV

The words I’d overheard rang in my ears, each syllable cutting deeper than the last. I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt tight, my vision blurry as the world tilted around me. A bet. I was nothing more than a bet to him.

Rex, the boy I had trusted with my heart, the one who had turned my quiet, lonely life into something beautiful, had been playing me all along.

I stumbled back inside, the music and laughter of prom muffled as if I were underwater. My legs carried me on autopilot, weaving through the crowd until I spotted him near the dance floor.

He stood tall, exuding confidence in his crisp tuxedo, his friends laughing at something he’d said. His hand rested casually in his pocket, but when his eyes met mine, his carefree expression faltered.

“Jenny,” he said, concern lacing his voice as he stepped toward me. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” I repeated, my voice trembling. “Why don’t you tell me, Rex?”

He froze, his brow furrowing. “I don’t understand”

“Don’t you dare lie to me!” I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. Heads turned, but I didn’t care. Let them watch. Let them all see the girl who had been made a fool of. “How long were you going to keep it from me? How long were you going to pretend to care?”

“Jenny, what are you talking about?” he asked, his voice soft, but there was a flicker of panic in his eyes.

“I heard them, Rex,” I said, my voice cracking. “Your friends. They were talking about a bet. About how you only got close to me because of some stupid challenge.”

His face paled. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“It’s true, isn’t it?” I pressed, tears streaming down my face. “Everything we had… everything I thought we had… it was all a lie.”

“No,” he said quickly, reaching for my hand, but I pulled away as if his touch burned me. “Jenny, listen to me. It started that way, but it’s not what you think. I—”

“Not what I think?” I interrupted, my voice rising. “Do you have any idea what it took for me to trust you? To let you in? And you used me. You made me feel like I mattered, like I was worth something, just to win a stupid bet!”

“Jenny, please,” he said, his voice desperate now. “I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t know how much you’d mean to me. I swear, I—”

“Stop,” I said, holding up a hand. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart, but I refused to let him see how deeply he’d broken me. “I don’t want to hear it. Whatever excuses you have, whatever lies you want to spin, save them. I’m done.”

“Jenny, don’t do this,” he pleaded, stepping closer. “I love you.”

I laughed bitterly, wiping my tears. “Love? You don’t know the meaning of the word. If you did, you would never have done this to me.”

“Please,” he whispered, his voice breaking.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the ache in my chest. “Stay away from me, Rex. Don’t call me, don’t text me, don’t come near me. As far as I’m concerned, we’re done. Forever.”

His face crumpled, but I turned on my heel, refusing to let him see me break any more than I already had. I walked out of the venue, my vision blurred with tears.

Vanessa was waiting for me at home; she left prom early. When she saw me, she jumped up from the couch. “Jenny! What happened? You’re crying!”

I shook my head, collapsing onto the couch. “He lied to me, Vanessa. All of it was a lie.”

She sat beside me, pulling me into a hug as I sobbed into her shoulder. “Rex?” she asked gently, and I nodded.

“There was a bet,” I choked out. “He only got close to me because of some stupid challenge with his friends. I meant nothing to him.”

“Jenny, no,” Vanessa said, stroking my hair. “I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve this.”

“I was so stupid,” I whispered. “I let myself believe… I let myself hope. But it was all a game to him.”

The next day, I stayed in bed, too drained to face the world. My scholarship letter from Stanford sat on my nightstand, the edges worn from where I’d clutched it so tightly.

I should be happy. This was my dream coming true. But the thought of leaving felt hollow now. Rex had taken something from me, something I wasn’t sure I could ever get back.

The following week, I saw him waiting for me outside school. He looked dishevelled, his usual confidence replaced with desperation.

“Jenny, please,” he said, stepping in front of me.

I didn’t stop. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“I’ll do anything,” he said, his voice breaking. “Just give me a chance to fix this.”

I turned to him, my expression cold. “Some things can’t be fixed, Rex. You should have thought about that before you played your little game.”

As I walked away, his voice stopped me. “Do you think I don’t love you, Jenny?”