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.

in this very living

were like acid in

calculated move to maximize her pain when the

years of his life with someone he despised, to live with her, to sleep

perfect illusion

Ariana didn’t so much as text Luigi at

purged every trace of him from her life.

found the journal where she’d documented her pathetic crush–a thick, worn notebook with every page filled with lovestruck

today!!! White button down those jeans DYING. Had to pretend to read

Just asked me to pass his coffee but I swear our

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

cringe–worthy page, tears streaming down her face, each drop burning like

threw the journal into a garbage bag with such force it tore through the plastic, her hands shaking

gifts she’d spent thousands

overnight to purchase. The designer jacket that cost more than her rent. Each item representing months of sacrifice and planning on her

dozens of photos she’d secretly

dominating the basketball court, holding court in hallways surrounded by admirers–each one had once made her heart

trash, methodically erasing every

delusion.

the third day, Ariana had finally purged the last

room, she felt a strange lightness wash over her, like

front door swung open and Luigi walked

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

flinching: “Nothing