Revenge begins

Elena ~

Our lips met, and for one impossible heartbeat the world stopped I didn't breathe, didn't think, just felt the heat, the shock, the wrongness of it crashing through me until reality hit like ice water.

What the hell was I doing?

I just kissed my ex's brother yes, ex, because after what Alex did I couldn't call him my boyfriend anymore, I was ending it right here in my head.

I pulled back fast, my chest heaving.

"I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

But Adrian's gaze held mine, dark and unreadable, searching deep

until some man ran up shouting, "Boss! He ran away!"

Adrian's whole expression shifted cold in an instant.

"You're in danger," he said flatly. "Go home. Now."

I wanted to ask why but his tone shut down everything. He ordered one of his men to follow me, make sure I got home safe, then gave me one last look that burned with warning and something else I couldn't name.

The drive home blurred into lights and noise and silence, all churning into a storm inside me, my heart tangled up in betrayal and confusion while Alex's kiss with that girl replayed like poison I couldn't shake.

By the time I reached my room I collapsed on the bed, staring at the ceiling as everything crashed down two years of my life wasted on lies, on waiting for someone who never deserved me, on believing his promises while he laughed behind my back.

I wasn't going to let him destroy me. Not like this.

I wouldn't crumble into some broken girl crying over a cheater I was stronger than that, always had been, and this pain was waking something fierce inside me, something that refused to stay quiet.

No more tears for Alex.

No more pretending he was worth it.

I was done being the fool he'd pay for making me feel invisible, but first I had to pull myself together, had to remember who I was before him.

"He cheated on me," I whispered to the empty room, sitting up slow as that cold resolve settled in my bones.

"He thought I wouldn't find out? Let's see how that feels."

Because I wasn't the girl who just broke I was the girl who rose from the ashes, who made them regret ever crossing me.

Morning came too fast I hadn't slept much but the fire inside kept me going, and by dawn I'd gotten what I needed: Alex's assistant spilled everything, her name, her address.

Now here I was face-to-face with the girl who ruined it all, her door opening to eyes going wide, face paling when she saw me.

"Elena…" she stammered. "Please, I didn't mean—"

"How long?" My voice cut sharp. "How long were you sneaking behind my back?"

She shook her head, trembling with some weak excuse about his drunk friends challenging her, how everything "spun too fast" but her words were just venom that couldn't erase what he'd done.

"Challenge or not," I stepped closer, "he kissed you. You let him."

My hand moved fast the slap cracked through the silence.

I grabbed her hair, forcing her eyes on mine.

"You think I care about your stories? You helped break something sacred."

She whimpered but the anger had me now I pulled the chili powder tin from my pocket.

Her eyes panicked wide.

"Now taste betrayal."

I shoved it against her mouth she gasped, choked, screamed as tears burned down her face.

Her pain fed the fire in me.

"Play with fire?" I hissed low. "Then burn."

I stepped back through her sobs, a dark satisfaction blooming this was just the start.

At home I gathered every trace of Alex, piling gifts and photos high before lighting the match flames devoured two years of lies until only ash remained.

Staring into the inferno, my voice hardened.

"Now revenge begins."