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

Chapter 3

Before Ariana could refuse, Luigi had already grabbed her wrist and practically dragged her to his Tesla.

The car pulled up outside The Box, Manhattan’s most exclusive members–only club. After parking. Luigi circled around to her side and opened the door with a theatrical flourish that once would have made her

heart flutter.

Ariana gave him a flat, empty stare as she stepped out.

The moment they entered the dimly lit space, Ariana’s attention was immediately drawn to a familiar

figure.

Leila Brown.

She wore a champagne silk slip dress with a dangerously high slit, Louboutins, and just enough. diamonds to look effortless. Her glossy hair fell in loose waves, and her calculated smile drew everyone in as she held court in the VIP section, cocktail in hand.

Leila had been Luigi’s childhood friend. Though they had grown up together, during the years Ariana had dated Luigi, the two women had never crossed paths.

So she’d never suspected that Luigi had been obsessed with Leila all along.

When Leila spotted them, her eyes flickered with recognition, then narrowed into the slightest smirk–a look that confirmed everything. She’d been in on the 99–part revenge scheme all along.

This is revenge #97, Ariana realized with stomach–turning clarity. Coming here

was a setup.

Luigi also noticed Leila’s presence. His fingers tensed around Ariana’s before he abruptly dropped her hand like it had burned him.

He leaned in, his breath hot against her ear: “Gotta take this call. Network with people or whatever. Back

in five.”

Ariana stood frozen, watching Luigi’s retreating figure, a cold emptiness spreading through her chest. The casualness of his dismissal felt like another slap in the face.

was already gliding across the room with runway precision, following directly in

around a corner, no doubt heading somewhere private.

Chapter 3

on what they might be doing together, as Luigi’s

her.

isn’t Luigi’s favorite charity case! Tyler’s voice boomed as he

firmly. I

buzzkill,” Blake sneered. “What’s wrong, afraid Daddy Luigi will

exchanging knowing glances.

glass toward her lips. Tittle Mi Perfect probably gets wasted

her path. “Either

break free, Tyler gave

“Ah-

and

freezing water engulfed

swim. Her limbs flailed desperately, but her clothes quickly became waterlogged,

her down.

and mouth, burning her lungs. The club lights above the surface blurred and distorted as her consciousness began to fade, darkness closing in until everything went black

next opened her eyes, she found herself back in the bedroom of Luigi’s apartment. Her head pounded with each heartbeat, and her body burned as if she

her vision and saw Luigi sitting by the bed, holding a glass of water

burning up. Take these,” Luigi said, his voice soft with what might have seemed like concern–if she didn’t

accepted the pills and swallowed them with

to think clearly, she only registered that her throat felt like she’d swallowed glass and her body seemed to have turned

closed her eyes, wanting to escape back into unconsciousness, but her temperature kept climbing.

Chapter 3

through her veins.

hours, she couldn’t tell–she forced her

was gone.

bitterly. He can’t even

sit up, touching her

any longer. She needed medical