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

were like

in together? Just another calculated move to maximize

his obsession with Lella–to waste three years of his life with

perfect illusion before destroying her completely.

the next three days, Ariana didn’t so much as text

apartment and systematically purged every trace of him from

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

saw Luigi in the library today!!! White button down those jeans DYING. Had to pretend to read because I couldn’t stop staring!”

ME TODAY!!! Just asked me to pass his coffee but I swear our fingers touched and there was a MOMENT. Haven’t washed my hand yet

CANNOT BELIEVE IT. He said YES. ME. Luigi Maggiore is dating

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

force it tore through the plastic, her hands

she’d spent

watch she’d stood in line overnight to purchase. The designer jacket that cost more than her rent. Each item representing months of sacrifice and planning on her part, probably

secretly taken and printed

president, dominating the basketball court, holding court in hallways surrounded by admirers–each one had once made her heart flutter like a trapped

into the trash, methodically erasing every physical reminder of her

delusion.

Ariana

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

then, the front door swung open and Luigi walked

as he surveyed the noticeably emptier space. “What the hell did you throw out?” His

his gaze without flinching: