The Black Swan's Final Revenge Pirouette: The 99th Game Was Mine All Along by Kylie Homme

Chapter 2

Her mother’s excited voice immediately came through the phone: “That’s fantastic, sweetheart! We’ll start the paperwork right away–once it’s done, there’s no turning back. It’s a point of no return.”

She gripped her phone tightly, fingertips trembling, but her voice remained unshakeable “I won’t change my mind.”

Her mother was about to hang up but hesitated, cautiously asking: “What about that boyfriend of yours? Didn’t you chase after him forever? I thought you were head over heels for him.”

The word “boyfriend” felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

Ariana’s mind instantly flashed back to the hospital room–the cruel laughter, Luigi sprawled carelessly on the bed scrolling through social media, his friends‘ vicious mockery, and the devastating realization that he’d wasted three years dating her solely to execute some twisted revenge plan for Leila Brown

Her heart constricted so violently she could barely breathe, like someone had reached into her chest and was squeezing it with bare hands.

“I’m done with him,” she heard herself say, her voice raw but eerily steady. “Completely done. Forever.”

After hanging up. Ariana stood motionless on the sidewalk, letting the bitter wind whip through her hair. She stared up at the bleak gray sky, drew in a deep breath that burned her lungs, and turned toward what she had foolishly called “home.”

The moment she pushed open the door, the familiar scent punched her in the gut.

Ariana froze in the entryway, staring at the living room she knew so well, feeling like she was trapped in someone else’s nightmare.

This was Luigi’s apartment–the one he’d casually tossed her a key to after finally acknowledging her feelings.

That day, he had leaned against the doorframe with that trademark smirk and shrugged: “Wanna shack

up?”

Back then, she’d blushed like an idiot, heart soaring with joy, believing it was the beginning of their love story rather than what it actually was–convenient access for his ongoing psychological torture campaign.

dreaming about their future wedding in this very living room, picturing their children running around,

memories were like acid in

together? Just another calculated move to maximize her pain

years of his life with someone he despised, to live

build the perfect illusion before destroying her

so much as text Luigi at the

locked herself in the apartment and systematically purged every trace of him from her

she’d documented her pathetic crush–a thick, worn notebook with every page filled

Luigi in the library today!!! White button down those jeans DYING. Had to pretend to read because I

but I swear

He said YES. ME. Luigi Maggiore is dating MF. Is this real life?? I’m literally shaking writing this!!!”

page, tears streaming down her face, each drop

tore through the plastic, her hands shaking with anger–at him, but mostly

gifts she’d spent

that cost more than her rent. Each item representing months of sacrifice

the dozens of photos she’d secretly taken and printed

Luigi giving campaign speeches for student president, dominating the basketball court, holding court in hallways surrounded by admirers–each one had once made her heart flutter like a trapped bird.

methodically erasing every

delusion.

Ariana had finally purged the

the now barren living room, she felt a strange lightness wash over her, like shedding a skin that had grown

the front door swung open and

“What the hell did you throw out?” His tone was sharp,

gaze without flinching: “Nothing