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

Chapter 17

Just as Ariana turned to leave, a loud thud stopped her mid step.

Turning back, she found Michael Luigi’s executive assistant–staring at her with shock etched across his face, his dropped briefcase scattered across the hospital floor.

“Mrs… Maggiore?” he stammered, face draining of color. “Is that really you?”

Escape, it seemed, wouldn’t be so simple. Michael recovered quickly, positioning himself between Ariana and the exit with newfound determination.

“Please,” he implored, lowering his voice. “You can’t just disappear again. You have no idea what he’s been through since the fire. The man hasn’t slept through a single night in a year. Even if you want nothing to do with him now, at least stay until he’s out of surgery. He literally just took a car impact for

you.”

Ariana regarded him coolly, her expression betraying nothing of the calculations happening behind it.

“First,” she stated with clinical precision, “I am not Mrs. Maggiore. That person died in a fire last year–a fact your boss publicly confirmed.”

“Second, I’ll stay until he’s stable, but I’m leaving immediately after. My company has a performance

tomorrow.”

“Third, I have zero interest in rekindling any connection with Luigi Maggiore. Our relationship ended the moment he orchestrated my death.”

With each statement, Michael’s professional facade cracked further, revealing genuine distress, but he eventually nodded in reluctant agreement to her terms.

They settled into the antiseptic waiting room chairs, silence stretching between them as surgery continued behind closed doors.

hours had elapsed–the operating room doors finally

but surprisingly conscious. His unfocused gaze swept the waiting area until it found her,

The word escaped like

her the moment the medical staff departed, his

17:23

Revenge Pirouette: The 99th

12.24

whispered, voice breaking. “I was sure I’d hallucinated you. I kept telling them to make sure

as if expecting her to evaporate at any moment.

perfectly still within his grasp, her voice

clouded his features.

her hands from his grip, stepping back with

to me, Luigi, was when everyone believed I died.” Her tone was conversational, as if discussing the weather.

“Not many people could experience ninety–eight calculated humiliations from the person they trusted most and

as

nearly tearing out

her. “It wasn’t–it started that way, but things

tomorrow that requires my

pleaded, grabbing her wrist. “I can’t lose you again. Not when I’ve just

of me.” Her voice remained level.

can’t.” He shook his head frantically, his

direct confrontation wouldn’t work, Ariana changed tactics. Her expression shifted subtly, taking on a weariness that

tomorrow. Twenty–eight dancers and thousands