Ophelia Martins was once the girl everyone wanted to be—charming, magnetic, untouchable. But when betrayal rips through her inner circle and the ones she trusted most reveal their darkest sides, her world shatters. From best friends turned enemies to ex-lovers hiding cruel secrets, Lia is left to rebuild her life from the ruins of public humiliation and heartbreak. As she struggles to find her footing, Tyler Reed, her childhood friend with a mysterious past, steps in. But Tyler’s return isn't just timely… it's calculated. Beneath his easy smile lies a vendetta years in the making, and Lia might be the one piece in a revenge game she doesn’t even know she’s playing. Secrets run deep in Crestwood High. Everyone has something to lose. Everyone has something to hide. And just when Lia thinks she’s taking back control, a buried truth about her identity threatens to unravel everything. Love. Lies. Legacy. In a world where betrayal feels like love and revenge wears a charming face, can Lia survive the truth long enough to reclaim her own story?
View More"Ugh, back to this God-forsaken school," Trudy said as she stepped out of the car.
"For someone who is very smart, you sure do hate school a lot," Lia, her best friend, followed behind her.
Unlike Trudy, Lia was excited about the new semester as they walked through the school hallway. However, her enthusiasm quickly faded when her gaze fell on Asher, who was kissing Harper in front of his locker. It was supposed to be her, or at least it used to be.
"Hey, are you okay?" Trudy interrupted her thoughts.
"Yeah," Lia replied, forcing a smile that Trudy could see right through.
"You will be alright. Look, nobody cares anymore..." Trudy waved her hands dismissively. "...it's a new term; we're forgetting about the past and moving forward." She put her arm around Lia’s shoulders.
Lia only nodded and headed to her next class. Could she really forget what had happened? After all, it had taken place right in this classroom.
Six Months Earlier
Classes had just ended, and Lia hurried to Asher's class, carrying their anniversary cake, accompanied by a group of people who would sing an acapella, along with a videographer to capture the moment. It was supposed to be a priceless memory, and her followers had already started commenting online, "We are sure gonna win homecoming next year," she thought excitedly.
As they reached the classroom entrance, she said, "Get ready." But in an instant, her entire world came crashing down. The cake slipped from her hands and fell to the floor as she witnessed her boyfriend kissing her best friend.
"Harper!" Lia yelled as she marched toward them. They broke their kiss, startled.
"Oh, come on, Lia. Just tell me you didn't see this coming," Harper said, pulling closer to Asher's chest.
"When did you? Why would you do this me?" Lia stammered. She wasn’t expecting her boyfriend, whom she had been with for three years, to cheat on her with her best friend, whom she had known all her life. She was at a loss for words. "....babe?" The word came out more like a question; it felt as if the walls were closing in on her as her gaze met with his.
"I was going to tell you, but damn! You were all over me, and I didn’t want to break your heart. But, well, now you know," he said, wrapping his arms around Harper's waist. The words pierced her heart.
"This has been going on for a while now; you would have realized it if you weren't so delusional," Harper said, walking away while holding Asher's hand.
Tears filled Lia's eyes. She didn’t know how to process what she felt, hurt? hate? regret? embarrassment? betrayal? maybe even fear. But above all, she felt heartbroken. She placed a hand on her chest, struggling to breathe. In a daze, she looked up.
"Cut the goddamn video!" she shouted, pushing past the videographer as she ran out, covering her face with her hands.
Present Day
Trudy and Lia were having lunch together in the cafeteria when Trudy spotted Asher walking toward them.
"Don’t panic, but Asher is coming over," Trudy whispered.
"What? Why!?" Lia exclaimed, already in a state of panic.
"Chill out. If he does anything funny, I'll break his nose," Trudy said, trying to calm her friend down.
"Hey, ladies," Asher said as he reached them.
"What do you want?" Trudy asked, glaring at him.
"Relax. I just came to return your bracelet," Asher replied, extending a purple bracelet toward Lia.
"It's yours; I don’t need it," Lia said nervously, forcing herself to look him in the eyes. She had made that bracelet for him because he loved the color purple.
"Yeah, I don’t like it anymore, and Harper says it's not really my color," Asher stated.
"So you just do everything Harper says? Like a mindless zombie?" Trudy mocked.
"And do you have a problem with that?" Harper chimed in from behind, stealing a piece of Lia's fries.
"Just throw it away or give it away. I don’t care. Can both of you just leave?" Lia snapped.
"Fine, let’s go, sweetie," Harper said as she pecked Asher on the cheek and took his arm. "Lighten up a little, Lia. It's not the end of the world," she chuckled as they left, taking her minion with her.
"Are you okay?" Trudy asked, concern etched on her face.
"Yeah, I’m fine," Lia replied, forcing a smile. She stole a glance at Asher; he was smiling with Harper. A surge of frustration washed over her, and she wished she could smash their smiling faces together. But deep down, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had failed as a girlfriend. Did Harper make him happier than she ever did?
"Write a letter," Trudy suggested between bites of her meal. She noticed that Lia kept spacing out or stealing glances at Asher.
"What?" Lia asked, a confused expression on her face.
"Yes, you’re a good writer, and you always express your emotions well in writing. You should write down how you feel," Trudy encouraged.
"I'm not going to write a letter to my ex," Lia blurted out.
"Not for him, Goodness! Eww. For yourself," Trudy emphasized.
"You think so?" Lia's expression brightened.
"Yes, it would make you feel a lot better," Trudy replied with a warm smile. Lia nodded genuinely.
As the last class of the day began, Lia struggled to focus. She tore a piece of paper from her notepad, took out her pen, and began tapping her foot against the floor in contemplation. Finally, she started to write.
Dear Asher,
You broke my heart. I hate you, and I pray you die of a heart attack.
"Ughh," she ripped the paper in frustration and grabbed another to begin again.
Dear Asher,
This letter isn't easy to write, but it comes from a place of clarity, strength, and acceptance, things I didn’t always have, but have slowly come to find.
We've been through so much together: the laughter, the late-night conversations, the quiet moments, the fights, the apologies. But every time I look back, I ask myself—was that all a lie? For a long time, I held onto the hope that somehow you would find your way back, that you would tell me it was a mistake and you never meant to leave. But I am tired of waiting.
There were days I couldn’t imagine a life without you in it. However, over time, I realized it hurt more to hold on than to let go.
So this is my goodbye. Not out of anger, not out of resentment, but from a quiet, aching place that understands this was never a love story. I’m not waiting anymore. I’m not looking back. I’m choosing to move forward with open hands and a heart that’s tired but still willing to believe in something new.
I want you to know that I don’t regret a single moment, but this is where things finally end. I wish you peace. I wish you healing. I hope someday you find the kind of love that holds you the way you need to be held. As for me, I’m learning to hold myself now, and that’s a beginning I’m ready for.
– Lia
She ended the letter with her signature and smiled to herself.
"Ophelia Martins?..." The teacher called her full name, causing Lia to jerk up and misplace the paper.
"Do you mind telling us why you are smiling, or would you rather pay attention?" Mrs. Laura stepped forward.
"The latter sounds good," Lia replied, offering a short smile. As Mrs. Laura resumed the lesson, Lia felt a familiar flutter of anticipation in her stomach as she quickly scanned the room for the letter but couldn't find it. No one around her appeared suspicious, but anxiety stirred within her. "Shit!" she muttered under her breath.
The following day Lia arrived at school early but when she opened her locker she discovered a note waiting for her. It read, "You deserve more than a goodbye. Meet me at the bleachers after school tomorrow." Her mind raced as she turned to scan the hallway, desperate to find the sender, but the hallway was empty and the note bore no signature. The thought hit her "Did Asher get a hold of the letter?" Panic surged within her.
Lia settled into the bleachers, her heart racing with excitement as she watched the boys compete on the ice. Tyler stood out, gliding effortlessly across the rink with a grace that left her in awe. It was as if he had been destined to play hockey from the moment he could skate. With each swift movement, he danced around his opponents, demonstrating a skill that took both Lia and the crowd by surprise, especially when he outmaneuvered Asher, a player known to be the king of hockey in Crestwood.As the game reached its climax, an electric buzz filled the air, the spectators torn between who to cheer for. Yet, through it all, Lia's voice rang clear, as she chanted Tyler's name, her support unwavering.After the final buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game, Lia approached Tyler with an impressed smile. "You didn’t tell me you were that good at hockey," she said, playfully patting his shoulder, her eyes sparkling with admiration.Tyler chuckled, a hint of modesty in his tone. "Been
"It was a long time ago," Zayn began, running a hand through his hair, an anxious gesture that betrayed the weight of his words. "You broke my heart, and I was furious with you..." He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with regret. "...I wanted you to feel the same pain I felt. I’m sorry," he concluded, his voice barely above a whisper.Lia, struggling to keep her composure, shot back, "And then you came back acting like you care? Forgetting to mention you had hands in humiliating me.""I do care, please, Lia," Zayn pleaded, desperation showing in his tone. "I was really angry at the time. I know it doesn’t justify what I di
Asher’s fury boiled over as he grabbed Tyler by the collar, "You son of a bitch, how dare you?" His breath was heavy with anger.Tyler, defiantly smirking, lifted his chin and met Asher's glare with an cold stare. "You might want to take your hands off me, princess," he taunted, with a hint of mockery in his voice."I'll kill you," Asher growled, his fist clenched and ready to start a fight."I dare you," Tyler shot back, unfazed, a hint of challenge in his tone.Just as Asher's fist was about to connect, Lia surged forward, stepping between the two boys. "Stop it, both of you! You're causing a scene, and if you don’t want to get expelled, I suggest you back off!" She pushed Asher away firmly, the reality of her words crashing down on him. He stumbled back, reluctantly releasing Tyler.Asher spat out, "See you around, pretty boy," before storming off, tension followin
Lia was puzzled. "I don't understand..." A familiar pain surged through her. "...Was that why you encouraged me to write it?" Lia was devastated; she couldn't comprehend the situation. "Yes, I made you write the letter because that’s what you always do, Lia. You do what everyone tells you to do. It's like you don't have a mind of your own. I'm not a fan of Harper, but you’re just as pathetic," Trudy spat, the words pouring out of her like she had been holding them in for a long time. Lia couldn't understand why all of this was happening to her. She felt the tears building but bit her lower lip to hold them back. "Why me? What did I do to deserve this? I thought you were my best friend," it was taking all the strength Lia had not to break down. "Oh please, quit acting like the victim. Not
"What do you mean he doesn't have the letter? Then how does he know the content?" Trudy asked while driving. They had left the school environment and were headed home."Apparently, he read it over my shoulder in class," Lia explained."Okay, but still, that's an invasion of privacy," Trudy pointed out."That’s not the point! Who has the letter now? I can't let it land in the hands of someone who hates me!" Lia was starting to panic; she couldn't go through what she went through last semester, not again. Not ever."Just relax, okay? We will sort it out. It's probably not a big deal," Trudy tried to calm her down."Okay," Lia sighed."And what's with Tyler, anyway?""He’s going to help me move on from Asher, and I'm going to help him confront a girl he’s secretly in love with.""Really? Didn't he have a crush on you in middle school?" Trudy said out of the blues."That was a long time ago! He must have go
“Mum! I’m home!” Lia announced as she stepped into the familiar warmth of her house, her voice echoing slightly in the entryway.“In the kitchen!” came the cheerful reply from Mrs. Stacey, Lia's mother, the sounds of pots and pans clanging together barely masking her delight.Curious and drawn in by the comforting aroma, Lia made her way to the kitchen, her heart lifting at the sight of her mother’s beaming smile as she stirred a large pot on the stove. “What’s cooking?” Lia inquired, settling onto one of the stools at the counter, her knees bouncing slightly in excitement.“Spaghetti and meatballs,” Stacey replied, her eyes sparkling with joy. She knew how much Lia loved this dish. “How was school today?”Lia hesitated, the words catching in her throat as she tried to suppress the turmoil brewing inside her. “School is okay,” she managed to reply, her voice quiet an
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments