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

Chapter 20

Staring at the man before her, his expression hovering between devotion and derangement, Ariana felt nothing but bitter irony

“You stand there claiming you love me,” she said, each word razor sharp, “but where was this love when Leila accused me? Where was it during those ninety eight humiliations? Where was it when you literally left me to burn alive?”

Her voice remained controlled despite the fury building beneath. “Don’t bother with excuses. I gave you a chance that night in the fire when I asked if you were coming back for me. I thought. If he turns around right now if he pulls me out–I could forgive everything Every single thing you did to me.”

She held his gaze unflinchingly. “But what did you choose, Luig

Her accusations were met with uncomfortable silence. The fire had happened so long ago that Luigi struggled to recall the specifics.

Yet one memory remained crystal clear–that critical moment when he’d hesitated at the door, then walked away without looking back.

“You left me in the flames without a second thought,” Ariana concluded quietly. “So explain to me why you think I’d stay with you now?”

She attempted to step around him, but this time Luigi’s reflexes were faster.

“Block the gates,” he instructed the security team, his voice unnervingly calm.

Ariana spun back toward him, genuine shock registering on her face. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

She had actually believed that some vestige of basic human decency might prevent him from physically forcing her to stay.

Luigi approached slowly, his fingers finally making contact with her cheek in a gentle caress that made

her skin crawl.

“I’ve spent a year in hell without you. Why can’t we move forward together? I know

“No.”

away from his touch as if burned, disgust and disappointment

Revenge Pinnuste:

#lupter 20

Are you really so self absorbed

attempt?”

actually die before you finally

into unnerving resolve. “I will

this lifetime.”

Ariana found herself effectively held captive, albeit in the

reappearance to Boston society, Luigi orchestrated an elaborate press conference at the Maggiore corporate

Ariana had never actually died–she had merely staged her death after a relationship dispute, needing space and time for perspective. After more than a year of persistent devotion on

Ariana sat beside him on the stage, wearing a designer dress she hadn’t

chosen.

clinical detachment as he delivered his romantic

word of this epic reconciliation story.

moment, she considered grabbing the microphone and exposing everything–the calculated revenge plot, the

year’s absence, her credibility was microscopic compared to the Maggiore empire’s influence.

public displays of devotion. For the next month, she accompanied

rehabilitation.

celebrated her “homecoming” with custom fireworks that cost more than most people’s. homes, illuminating the entire harbor

she had