"Do you, Christopher Thomas Byrnes, take Y/n to be your lawful wedded wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in poor and riches. 'til death do you part?"

"I do."

This is how your perfect marriage began — March 7th, 2015. A beautiful spring afternoon, the beginning of your perfect forever.

"And do you, Y/n, take Christopher Thomas Byrnes to be your lawful wedded husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in poor and riches. 'til death do you part?"

"I do."

"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

The cheers erupted as you shared your first kiss as a couple. Christopher holding you by your waist, bringing you into a deep kiss. One that declared his love for you. One that took your breath away, as he did the first time you met.

You turned to the audience, big smiles plastered on your faces as you raised your intertwined hands up, showing off your rings.

The cheers got louder, petals thrown in the air and-

"Alright, time to sleep you two," you said, finally closing your wedding photobook.

Your two children whined, not having had enough of the tale. You'd tell them the story of how their mom and dad met almost every night. To them, it was a fairytale romance. Always better to hear than Snow White, Cinderella and all the sorts.

That was because you and Christopher Byrnes were in love. Perfectly in love.

So in love that when Christopher would come back from wherever he was at this late hour, you would smile while greeting him from a distance. You'd catch a whiff of booze and perfume on his clothes from the moment be pulls into the drive way but you'd never say anything.

Not when your family was perfect.  Not when your children were happy and certainly not when your family was well fed by the money you made by being with him.

In your world that was enough to excuse a few misconducts from your husband.

The bell to the café rang above your head, a cozy coffee smell hitting your nostrils, the warmth of the building replacing the coolness of the outside.

It wasn't busy, you noted, realizing that there are only three other people here besides you. Not a barista in sight.

Frowning, you went to the counter, ringing the bell waiting to be served.

Nothing.

You rang it again.

Still nothing.

You sighed, tapping your fresh manicure on the table, annoyance creeping up on you.

"Alright, alright. I heard you the first time," you heard.

It came from behind the espresso machine. The voice smooth, deep with a hint of amusement, "I'm sorry, I don't know where the cashier went."

You look up, following it's direction and see him. Your heart did that thing. That thing that it once did when you first laid eyes on Christopher. Only except it wasn't just your heart this time.

"I'm sorry. I should've said something," he said, a charming smile spreading across his face, catching your breath in your throat.

You blink, collecting yourself. "No. No, I—. It's okay." You stuttered, taking a deep breath afterwards. You forgot how to speak, eyes scanning his face instead of finding the right words.

He had warm dark eyes, the smile lines around his cheeks. His hair, brown with blonde tips adding that edge to him. Your eyes travelled down, taking in his muscular body, arms straining against his white shirt and his chest against his apron.

"—order," he broke you out from your trance.

"Oh- uhm sorry. Uh," you stumble over your words again, "I'll have a hazelnut latte, please. Large with a blueberry muffin and two croissants," you finally get out, making him flash you a polite smile.

You couldn't believe that he could get any hotter but that smile.

God, that smile.

"Noted, regular milk?" You almost melted there and then.

You cursed yourself.

He was just listing ingredients and here you are thirsting over something so trivial.

"Yes please," you responded, voice airy and cracking here and there.

"Coming right up. Order name?"

"Y/n."

"A gorgeous name for a gorgeous woman."

Your insides churned. You turned away, warmth creeping up your cheeks as a smile unwilling made its way onto your face.

"Thank you," you politely replied, taking your receipt after paying, waiting by a cushion near the counter.

You open your phoned, scrolling about aimlessly, trying not to look at him. You flip through your settings and email application for a few minutes when finally:

"Y/n."

You heard and what you would give to hear that again.

And again.

And again.

Something about the way your name just rolled down his tongue felt so right. A bit botched, with a bit of an accent but, did that not add to the charm.

"That's me," you say as you get your order, thanking him as he passed you the cup and pastries. In the process, you notice him slipping a serviette with a ten digit number scribbled messily on it.

"I'm Johnny."

You then realize something. He's young. Way too young.

"I'm forty. You're too young." You said, eyes widened in horror, face flushed from embarrassment.

Not "I'm married".

Not ignoring him.

But "I'm too old".

He pushed the paper closer to you, "I didn't ask."

You were stunned at how forward he was, “Oh, yeah no. This," you gestured between the both of you, “No."

"Why, are you married?"

"Yes."

"Happily?"

You hesitated.

"What? Yes. Oh my- I'm leaving. Thanks for the coffee."

"My pleasure, beautiful. Call me." He said as you're leaving.

Outside, you noticed that you still had that serviette, it was practically burning through your palm. Scoffing, you crumble it up and stuff it in your tote bag, right now the most important thing was your croissant.

"Babe, have you seen my wallet?"

"No, where did you last have it?" Your husband asked, not looking up from is laptop.

It was the following day, your children were having breakfast, your husband doing whatever it was he was doing. Probably work related.

You were in the middle of signing your child's indemnity form when you realized your wallet went missing.

"I was at—," your eyes scanned the back of your head for answers,"the café," you chirped followed by a groan, “I’ll get it later. Sophia, Xander. Let's get going," you said to your children. They got up, left their empty breakfast bowls on the table and left to fetch their bags.

You kissed your husband goodbye and took your children to school. You kiss them goodbye, wishing them a good day at school and get to work. Routinely.

The beauty of being married to a man like Christopher, was you could do whatever you wanted for work. He handled all the bills, and you get to be free to do whatever you wanted. He actually insisted on you being a stay at home wife but you couldn't help yourself, you needed to be someone besides someone's mom and wife. So there you were, at a photography studio. One of your oldest passions turned into work.

Around two in the afternoon, you left work to pick your children up from school, driving to the café on your way home to pick up the wallet. It was also convenient as the children loved a little snack after school so you could get them a treat as well.

That cozy smell of coffee hit you again as you entered. This time, there were slightly a few more people in the café including you and your children.

"Good afternoon. What can I get for you?" A barista asked, one that was definitely not the same one from yesterday. You were kind of disappointed not to see him behind the counter, but brushed it off because a married woman shouldn't be thinking of such.

"I forgot my wallet here yesterday. I was hoping you'd have it. It was blue with a gold rose embroidery. "

The cashier hummed, “Oh right, I'll check it in the lost and found for you."

You waited for a few minutes, and she came back with nothing, “I’m sorry. Do you remember who was working when you were here? Maybe they know where it is?"

"Uhm, a guy. I think his name was Johnny," you responded, uncertain, but it seemed to help because the cashier nodded with recognition flashing over her features.

"Okay, do you mind waiting for a bit? He should be here to replace me in ten minutes or so?"

"That's fine."

"Can I get you anything while you wait?"

"Yes, we'll have a hot chocolate, hazelnut latte, and a milk tea. With a chocolate muffin and a butter croissant."

"Mommy, can I have this one instead?" Your son said, pointing to a lemon cheesecake.

Raising your eyebrow, you shook your head. "Honey, it's sweet. You don't like sweet things." You responded, but he was as stubborn as his father, so three eye bats in, you obliged.

"Alright, a butter croissant for me and a slice of lemon cheesecake for him."

You paid the bill and took a seat in the corner of the café. Your children sat across from you and immediately started talking about something from a TV show they both love.

Their orders came momentarily, and just like you said, Xander did not like the cheese cake.

You watched in amusement as he chewed the dessert, disgust all over his face, and how he tried to chase the taste away with his milk tea. On the other hand, the croissant sat before you, untouched as you watched him begin to eye it.

"Mommy." He called, giving you his best puppy eyes. Usually, you'd give your baby anything in a heartbeat, but this time you raised a smug eyebrow.

"What did I tell you?"

He hung his head low, “I don't like it," he said, picking on the cheesecake, “May I have that one, mommy."

You hummed again taking a moment before agreeing, “You can have it." You couldn't let your baby suffer.

About 5 minutes later, the bell rang, catching your attention. Stumbling into the shop was Johnny with wet hair, panting heavily as if he'd just run a marathon. You raised curious eyebrows.

"Rebecca. Water." He said, eyes closed, panting in between his words. He doubled over in heavy breaths, his face pinched into discomfort.

Rebecca, the barista who'd helped you earlier, threw him a bottle of water, not before teasing about his appearance.

You couldn't exactly remember what she'd said because your focus was on the water dripping down Johnny's chin as he greedily chugged down the water bottle.

He wore a tank top today, and sometime during his endeavours, he got so wet it stuck to his chest, so there was no hiding what he had going on under that top. His large chest against his shirt, perfectly sculpted by the soft cotton material. His arms, flexing as it held the water bottle up.

Have adam's apples always looked so—

"Oh, you're back." You've been to this café a million times. How'd you miss someone like him.

You shook your head, clearing your throat, "Yeah. Hi," you stood up, telling your children to quickly finish their treats, “I forgot my wallet yesterday. I was hoping you had it."

He frowned, “I thought I'd put it in the lost and found," he said under his breath, “Follow me," he said, dropping his bag and phone on a table nearby and lead you to and office-like room with a huge basket in the corner.

You both dug through the pile of lost items in search of the wallet, but it was nowhere to be found.

"I'm so so so sorry," the younger man apologized," I don't know where it could be. Unless someone else claimed it this morning?" He told you, scratching the back of his hand; something he'd done a couple of times since he arrived.

"No, it's fine. I was a bit irresponsible," you replied frowning, but there was only so much you both could do.

You were already dreading applying for a new ID and all the sorts.

Just as you turned to leave—

"Oh wait. I think I know where it is."

He opened one of the lockers, which you assumed to be his, dug around for a moment. There it was, behind an apron.

"I must've gotten distracted and left it here. Here you go." Johnny handed the wallet to you.

As he gave you the wallet, you couldn't help but notice the way his arm flexed when he stretched it out. He looked so strong. You wondered if he worked out.

Of course he does.

"Pardon?"

You unintentionally voiced your thoughts, “I mean, thank you."

"Can I offer you anything to make up for the inconvenience? A coffee, perhaps? On me."

"No, it's fine, I already have one. Thank you so much though."

"Actually, I insist," he stopped you, a gentle but serious expression on his face, “Doesn’t have to be today."

You bit your lips, eyes scanning his face wearily. He definitely had to have an ulterior motive to be proposing such, and you didn't like beating around the bush, “What do you want?"

"You."

A simple reply.

You try to hold a firm stare, but your stomach does that thing again as you notice that look in his eyes. You notice how close he is to you, and only then do you notice how much taller he is than you. His hair was still wet from a wash —you could smell the coconut and soapy scent coming from him— and the water made the spikes more defined. It looked really good on him. He was undeniably sexy but—

"Bye Johnny."

You couldn't do that to your marriage. You couldn't stoop to the same level as Christopher.

Not for him but for your children.

Cut to the present.

Your friends drag you to a club.

The children are with your parents, and your husband is away on a "business" trip.

The business trip with blonde hair and a spicy perfume. You wouldn't hear from him until he decides to come back.

After weeks of venting, your friends finally had enough and thought you needed a night out.

Thus, forty-year-old you is currently at a club in a dress you'd last seen in your twenties.

When you enter, a drink is immediately thrust into your hand as you subtly dance across the floor to get to your reserved table.

You and your friends dance in your seats as laughter and conversation flow around you. You begin to feel lighter. Your husband's endeavours quicky forgotten.

"Cariño mío, quédate aquí, no te vayas."

"Oh! This is my song! Let's dance," one of your friends exclaims, rushing to the dance floor. You quickly down your drink, spilling some over the table as she drags you with her.

You start dancing with one another, swaying to the music, singing with the sea of sweaty and drunken bodies.

You hold your friend by her hips as you both whine your hips, grinding, and completely stun the dance floor. She spins you around, reversing your position so you now face the little crowd that formed around you two, cheering and hooting at the gorgeous ladies on the floor.

It was probably the dress. Gold, metallic, loose fitting with two slits of the sides that barely hid your best assets. The way you moved in it, and it moved with you seemed to draw more attention. That and the way it reflected the light in a glittery manner.

You're about to leave the circle, you make eye contact with the DJ who seemed to have been mesmerised by you.

You would recognise those eyes anywhere.

It's only been a few days, but you were already familiar with those dark eyes. You couldn't miss them even if you tried because you were certain Johnny was undressing you with them.

You decided to stay.

Your eyes don't leave his intense gaze as you raise your hands, nudging your hips to the side, making your dress ripple with your ass. The crowd got louder, hollering at all that fluid, hypnotic movement.

You are doing something right because you notice him lick his bottom lip, holding it between his teeth for a second before giving you an impressed smirk.

He changes the tempo, slowing the song down as if presenting a challenge.

Suddenly you don't mind putting up a show, don't mind the challenge; getting low throwing your ass back as you get up, stopping halfway to give a cheeky jiggle. The dress moves with you, the looseness of it making your movements look more fluid.

Your hands go on your knees, and you start arching your back and dropping it to the beat. All with a little roll of the hips.  You knew you were doing something right when you looked up, and saw him hungrily lick his bottom lip, eyes locked on you. Only you. Almost forgetting that he was at work.

An entire song or two later, and you leave the dance floor laughing and out of breath. Your friends cheer you on, so do the people who saw you dance. You reject a man or two who try to buy you a drink as you approach your table with your friends cheering you on.

"Still got it," you laugh, clinking your glass against your friend's.

"Girl, you never lost it."

The night continues, and you're three margaritas in when you decide to stop drinking. As the designated driver, you allow yourself to sober up for the rest of the evening. You didn't mind, still enjoying yourself and the company of your friends. It was nice to let loose with them.

"Hey," you hear call over the crowd, which caught the attention of your friends who send you curious looks. You dismiss them, turning to Johnny, who had his eyes only on you. His hair spiked like usual, in a well fitted brown top.

Emphasis on the well fitted because it deliciously hugged his chest and his muscles.

"Oh, he is mighty fine." You hear from beside you.

"Hi," you respond. You figure he'd retired as the DJ for the night.

"Dance with me?" He asks you, his bottom lip slipping in between his teeth. You could see his eyes struggle to look at your face as they kept finding their way to your dress.

"I'm with my friends," you respond and hear scoffing from beside you, probably your friends rolling a set of eyes or two.

He turns his gaze towards the five of them, "Good evening, ladies," he flashes them that dashing smile, “Mind if I steal her from you?"

Your friends didn't hesitate— them practically shoved you out of the booth, waving you goodbye.

"I guess that answers that," you mumble as you stumble into his arms, your friends giving you cheeky smiles.

"Bye boo."

Johnny leads you to the dance floor. At first, you just vibe with the music, just swaying side to side, a bit of distance between the two of you. Testing the waters, he places his hands on your waist, feeling up the metallic material of the dress you wore.

"Johnny-"

"I didn't know you could move like that."

"You were watching?" You reply, feigning ignorance.

He tightens his hold on your waist, pulling you into him at the drop of the beat, “I had a VIP view. I know you saw me."

You looked up at him, your hands finding his biceps. He leans down, his forehead meeting yours, his lips just a breath away. The air between you two is heavy but surprisingly comfortable.

He flips you around, pressing your back against his chest. His one hand rests on your belly, the other on your waist, swaying your hips to the beat. "You're so sexy, you know that?"

"Of course I am," you let him take the lead, moving the both of you around, your bring yiur hand back, loosely hooking it around his neck. He leans forward and rests his chin on your shoulder.

"Yeah, you're irresistible. That dress, I want to fúck you in it."

"Johnny-"

"I want you, Y/n." You almost moaned, practically melting at the way he whispered your name into your ear. Your heart is racing, and the area where his hands rested feels like it's burning at his touch. You felt your cunt clench around nothing, excitement brewing in the pits of your stomach.

He presses himself against you in a way that made you release a gasp that was drowned out by the music, “Let’s get out of here."

You're pushed against a wall.

Not hard.

Just enough to get a soft gasp out of you. His lips trail down your neck, hands rubbing circles on your waist, that motion lifting the front of your dress a little.

You wrap your arms around his neck, feet almost leaving the ground as hang onto him.

"You're so hot," he whispers against your neck, sending a shiver down your spine.

He slips his knee between your thighs, rubbing it against you. He is so close to touching you, the only thing separating you being the front half of your dress and your g-string.

He kisses down, all around your collarbones, careful not to leave any marks on you as much as he craved to mark you as his.

He kisses up your neck, your cheeks, and finally, lips met yours in a hungry kiss.

It was starting to get hot. Too hot. His hands with handfuls of your ass, kneading the muscles. His tongue exploring your mouth, his thigh still pressed against you.

You were losing air, focus.

It was overwhelming.

You pull away, panting heavily. "Wait- wait. Johnny."

You look up into his eyes, glassy and dark, his chest heaving. A thin strand of saliva clung to his lip from that unholy kiss, which he sweeps away with his thumb and licks clean.

You swallow, gaze melting into his lips.

“Yeah?” he asks, voice low, eyes locked onto yours.

But you forgot what you were going to say.

Everything blurred—right, wrong, consequences.

All you could think of was that this younger man was making you feel things you hadn’t felt in years.

Alive.

Desired.

Wanted.

It's silent amongst the both of you, just the sound of your heavy breathing and music in the distance.

"Fúck."

It was all a blur, but your lips found each other again. This time, you kiss him just as hungry as he was. Burying your finger in his hair, tugging at the strands.

He kisses down your neck, calling your name in the neediest way you've never imagined was possible, "I want you." He whispers as his hands trailed lower, creeping around your thigh.

"May I?" His eyes search yours for any hit of discomfort.

You nod.

"Words, please." He says, pausing all movements, still scanning your eyes for reassurance.

"Yeah," you breathe out, biting your lip and sucking in a deep breath when he gently grazed you over your underwear.

"You sure," he asks, teasing.

"Hnn— mhm, I'm sure." Your voice came out breathy and broken.

Johnny slides his hand in between the warmth of your thighs, pulling your underwear to the side. He spreads your lips with his ring and middle finger, using his ring finger to rub small, lazy circles over your clit.

You squirm, your crotch pushing out, begging to feel more than just a tease.

You bite your lip, holding back the urge to vocalize your begging as Johnny slid his index finger front and back, spreading the wetness you created.

"You're so wet for me, baby," he whispers against your neck. He sticks his tongue out, licking up to your ear which he took in between his teeth.

"I want to make you feel good," he whispers, his free hand pulling the top of your dress down, freeing your breasts from your bra. He presses soft around your chest, on your collarbone and breasts, as if trying to savour every last bit of you.

His tongue teases your areolas, circling, coating it in his saliva. The coolness of the night and his saliva harden the buds, which he takes into his mouth.

You look down as he devoured your breasts while his hand worked you, pressing on your clit, his movements no longer teasing. Now intentional.

You sigh, pressing the back of your head against the wall, eyes fluttering shut. It felt good. Really good.

The warm buzzing feeling of his mouth on your breasts, sucking on them as though they were delicious fruit. His free hand toying with the other, holding handfuls as he pinched and tugged at your hardened nipple. The pleasure that bubbled up in your crotch, causing your hips to jut out, desperate for more.

His touch.

His breath.

His dark eyes, watching you as he satisfied his curiosity with your body.

It was good. Too good.

He then slides his fingers to your entrance, rubbing it, no intention of entering you just yet.

You whine, pressing yourself into his fingers, trying to feel more, giving him the satisfaction of seeing you hot and bothered.

You could see the smug look in his face as he pulls your legs slightly apart, granting him better access to you. Looking up at you with that lazy looking in his eyes. It makes your insides clench against his fingers that were sliding into you.

You moan at the intrusion, the stimulation from your chest and cunt burning in the pits of your stomach.

"This feel good?" He asks against your breasts.

"More," you respond, tugging at his blonde spiked hair more into your chest before psuhing him harder into your chest, as if that would escalate the pleaure your were feeling.

Johnny obliges, sucking harder, thrusting his thick fingers in and out of you slowly, making you moan, rolling your hips against his fingers.

The pleasure was getting to your head. The sounds of your pleasure getting louder, and you'd slip his name in here and there. Long forgotten was you telling yourself to make no noise.

He moves to your other breast, giving it the same love and affection. Nibbling and sucking on it, making you arch your chest into his mouth. It was ridiculously good. Something so simple had you squirming uncontrollably. Until—

"Ah- ow," you gasp, pushing your palm agaibst his forehead, pushing his mouth off of your breast, sensitive from the overstimulation.

Johnny looks up, worried eyes and a guilty smile, "Sorry baby. I got carried away," he apologizes, pressing a soft kiss on your breast, then your cheeks and your lips.

He takes his fingers out of you, making you whine at that sudden empty feeling.

"Relax baby, I'm not done yet."

Your dazed eyes watch him sink to his knees, looking up at you from between your thighs.

"What are you doing," you breathe out as he kissed in between your thighs, the feeling of his soft lips sending tingles up your legs, “No...mmhmm, Johnny I didn't— I haven't shaved." You try to push his head away, making him swat your hands away, pinning them to your sides.

The way he looks up at you had you almost cumming there and then. Like you were denying him heaven.

"I don't care," he says against your skin, biting the inside of your thigh. Your hands tense against his, and a squeal coming from you, “Now behave," he says, letting your hands go.

He has other things to worry about.

He puts one of your legs over his shoulder, opening your legs for him to devour you like an inmate on death row with last meal.

He flattens his tongue, taking a fat lick up your entrance to your clit, teasing the bundle of nerves with his tongue. He repeats the motion a couple of times before latching his mouth around it, suctioning your clitoris.

That drew a half moan half yelp from you, making your press your head against the wall, relishing in the feeling.

He looks up at you, licking you up with eyes locked on yours. His stare unwavering.

Your eyes flutter shut. "That feels good," you sigh, arching your back, greedily trying to get more from him. A need builds up in you, and you're almost willing to do whatever to get that release you've been craving.

Johnny hums against you, “Look at me," he says, the vibrations of his voice making your insides clench in want.

"Y/n," he calls again, this time sterner.

You obey him.

Opening your eyes, you look down and make contact with his glossy, focused pair. Anything to prolong this feeling.

He slips his tongue into your pussy, the coolness of his tongue making you squirm, trying to get away but feel more of him at the same time. You take a deep breath with your stomach, your toes curling over his shoulder.

"Johnny~."

Unable to help yourself, you grab his hair, doing your best to maintain that eye contact, which was a near impossible task. It was sending you on edge. That feeling of climax building up in your abdomen.

"Mmm- fúck- Johnny," you cry, making him hum against your cunt, the vibrations of his deep voice going directly to you clit, "F-fe-ahhh~. Oh god. It feels so good."

At this point, you're riding his face, rolling your hips, fúcking yourself against his tongue. Oddly but pleasurably enough, this made his nose start rubbing against you, stimulating your clit in the most delicious way possible.

You feel your orgasm building up, hips quickening against his tongue, mouth, fingers that made their way back in, stimulating you from every direction possible. Your desperation growing the closer you were.

"Johnny~ I'm cuh-. Oh god, I'm cumming."

He's now fúcking you with his tongue and fingers. He didn't bother go slow because he had a point to prove. He was now fúcking you with intent. Showing you that bit of pleasure was all you needed from you. That he could give you this and more. That all you could do was submit to him.

It was too much. But good. So damn good.

"I'm cumming. I'm cumming. I'm- oh FÚCK!"

Your body doubles over.

You're gasping. Leg locking him place, forbidding him from moving as if he would even think of doing such.

Pleasure rushes through you, shooting up your body like a lightning strike, causing you to twitch, trembling at the sparks flying through you.

Your eyes are glossy and dazed, your vision blurry. You lean against the wall, catching your breath, thinking it's over and about returning the favour.

But he doesn't stop.

No, he doesn't stop just because you came because, as stated before, he has a point to prove.

He looks at you, puts your other leg on his shoulder, and stands up with you on his shoulders.

His arms link around your thighs, locking you in place.

"Johnny! Put me do-" You squeal as the ground got farther from your feet, “J-Joh- ahhhh~"

He cuts you off, licking you all over again. Now it was all tongue, no hands as they were occupied. Yours still buried in his hair.

You tighten your legs around his neck, which forced his tongue deeper into your pussy.

"Johnny," you breathe out, “It’s too much. Oh god." You were indecisive. You cried trying to push his head away, but your legs tightened around his head.

Johnny ignored you, as long as you hadn't told him to stop, he was free to devour you as much as he needed. Which he did.

He was lapping, licking, sucking like you bore the sweetest juice known to man.

You were overstimulated so much that you'd forgotten that you were quite literally on a wall, being held up by a man much younger than you. A man quite literally devouring you, not letting even a drop of your juices past his lips. That definitely didn't stop the feeling of climax from building up again.

"Joh- Juh- ahh~ Johnny!" You try to push him away. Your toes curling, back arching, pussy clenching around him.

You finally understand he had you in the air now. Why he pinned you the way he did. It wasn't just to hold you—it was to trap you.

And God, it worked.

You were entirely at his mercy.

This man—years younger than you—had taken control so easily, unravelling you without hesitation or doubt. You could barely remember your own name, let alone where you were. Every nerve in your body buzzed with sensation.

You climax, screaming his name again. Your head hits the wall, your chest rising and falling rapidly. Your vision blurred, and you shuddered uncontrollably. Your thighs lock around his head as you ride out your orgasm.

Johnny finally looks up, satisfaction clear as day over his eyes. You were certain that this was the first breath of air he'd taken since he went down on you.

Was he trying to die?

"You're crazy," you say in between your pants, eyes wide and dazed.

"And you're delicious." He replies, his tongue lapping up the wetness that dripped down the side of his lips.

He carefully brings you down from the wall. Your legs nearly cave when your feet touch the ground, but luckily, he was still holding onto your waist, “Was that good?"

You don't respond. Just lean in and kiss him. You can taste yourself on his tongue, but you didn't mind.

Your hands travel down to the front of his jeans, ready to return the favour, but he takes them away, resting them on his chest instead, “I’m okay."

You don't question it. Frankly, you didn't have the energy to do that. You just nod, stepping back to fix yourself.

Your phone buzzes, breaking your focus on him, and it's one of your friends calling you. It was probably time to leave.

"I should leave." You say, but don't make a move to leave. You don't know whether to thank this man or what because was that not the best thing you've experienced in a while.

As if reading your mind, he grabs you by the waist, pulling you in for one last kiss. As deep and hungry as the last ones, “I’ll see you around, beautiful."

As you walk to your friends, they give you smug and knowing grins.

"Say anything and you're all walking home."

yeah...lol

Taking the private elevator to the penthouse, Jaehyun gazes at you softly, analyzing your face. You are still reeling from the botched birthday fiasco. Your body was weary with the revelation that Stella would do anything to weasel her way out of any trap you set. You still couldn’t believe people took her side with evidence presented plainly in their face. The best thing that did come out of that showdown was Jaehyun’s unwavering support. You still don’t understand it. What makes him so drawn to you? He had been so keen to take Estella’s side previously. But now… well, the best way to describe it would be that he regards you like you hung the stars and the moon. You suppose that was a bonus. 

Later that night, after getting settled, you divulge to him how you believe something bad is going to happen to you. You don’t go into details immediately when you say it, just easing him into the mindset behind why you recoiled from him so vehemently. After all, you were responding to his question regarding why you initially hated him so much. He asks you how you know this to be something that will come to pass. 

Hesitantly, you answer. “I’ve seen it.”

Silence hangs between the two of you before he responds. “Like… premonitions, psychics, and all that other woo woo stuff?”

“Don’t call it woo woo stuff. It’s real.” You snort.

“Hey,” he holds his hands up placatingly. “I never said it was fake. A little far fetched, yes. But if you believe it as strongly as you do, then so do I.” Swallowing hard, you try to keep the emotions that overcome you at bay. This is all you ever wanted from him. Acknowledgement. And it’s coming at a time when so much is at stake. You don’t even realize it until his hand is reaching towards you that a tear has escaped, trailing down your cheek slowly. Jaehyun stares intently into your eyes as he brushes it away.

“Tell me about your experience. What did you see? What happened? Who’s after you and why?” 

“Are you sure you can handle it?”

Chuckling darkly, he fixes you with an unreadable stare. “If I can handle you running away from me all this time, then I think I can handle what you’re about to say.” You nearly choke at the heaviness of his words, his penetrating gaze, and the tension in the air. Clearing your throat, you prepare yourself for the story.

“Cute.” He mumbles cheekily under his breath. 

Arming yourself with courage, you recite to Jaehyun your entire journey up until this point. He listens quietly without any interruption. At some point, his gaze drifts off as if he is seeing without really looking at what’s in front of him. From start to finish, you relay the past life, how you encountered Stella, the sequence of events, how her betrayal and your death set off a chain reaction of strolling down memory lane before you were dropped off in your body two years earlier. Then you relay every action you had taken since waking up in your younger vessel. 

“Um… I tried to go against the plot and lay my own ground rules, but… somehow, all roads still point back to you. And Stella is resisting way more than I realized she would.”

Eyes coming back into focus, Jaehyun adorns you with a tormented gaze. “I did all that? You suffered that much because of me?” 

“You didn’t know.” You try to soothe. Albeit a lame attempt. 

Cupping your face gently, he fixes you with somewhat of a reprimanding stare. “But it still hurts you all the same.”

“Yeah.”

“And you never forgave me.” You nod your head once again at his statements. Standing, he pulls away from you to look at the twinkling skyline riddled with lights from the city down below. 

“That person you saw, that isn’t me. At least not now. Never again.” Turning back, he faces you with a newfound conviction. “If you’ll have me, I want to help you however I can. Please let me take care of you.” 

There he goes again, making declarations that unfortunately cause your heart to bloom. But who were you kidding? He’d already kissed you earlier in the night. And his devotion to winning your affection these past few months already makes you attracted to his tenacity. It’s really not hard to make your heart do weird things you weren’t used to in the last years of your previous life. You agree to his request once again. His next words, however, halt the thoughts swirling in your brain.   

“Another thing. You briefly touched on it earlier, and that’s what I initially planned on talking to you about. Tonight also further confirmed my suspicions. While recanting your story, however, you omitted a portion of it. Why?” You blanch at the accusation. There’s no way he’s saying what you think he means. Is he? Seeing what you can get away with, you choose to lie.

“What do you mean? I think I covered everything.” Jaehyun stares at you in silent disappointment. It makes you antsy because you are for certain you know what circumstance he is referring to. 

Chuckling humorlessly, the blonde makes his way back to the couch before stopping in front of you. Nervously, your seated form glances up at him. Grasping your chin lightly, he tuts at the fib that easily spilled from your lips.

“You know, Stella told me something interesting at the Wang’s mansion. And it makes so much sense regarding your story. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what made you think I was so bewitched by Estella before. But seeing as you purposefully omitted information, I’m still able to fill in the gaps. In the previous timeline, you said something happened at the dinner party which caused me to lose confidence in you and solidify my fate tied to Stella. You also stated that a public debacle occurred between you and myself that left a spectacle for others and a bad taste in my parent’s mouth. I suppose now I’ve figured it out. Would you like to guess what that is?”

Swallowing thickly, you continue to hold his gaze. “Go on then, Detective Holmes.” He smirks at your sass before diving back into his analysis.

“When I was a kid, I had a pen pal. An eleven year old girl.” You wait with baited breath as Jaehyun continues. 

“We wrote to each other for a while, until something happened. One day, she stopped writing me letters. I figured something had to be wrong, so I kept writing. Even sending my new address for when I moved overseas. But the girl stopped writing to me completely.” By now, tears are spilling from your lashline as he gently still holds onto your chin. “After a while, I stopped writing to her too. And I walked around with a hole in my heart trying to fill it with menial things that teenage boys liked. Fast forward years later to that damned dinner, and all I can think about at this point is you, the girl who stormed into my office just to reject a proposal I never wanted in the first place. Imagine my surprise though when Stella crosses my path and tells me something interesting. Ask me what that is.” 

“What did she tell you?” You croak, already knowing how this plays out. 

“She claims to be that very same penpal.”

“You don’t believe her?” You question.

Scoffing, the male lets go of your face before stepping back. “Come on, Y/N. You know where I’m going with this.”

“Spell it out.” You mumble, tears a steady stream down your face. 

“I know it wasn’t her because I met the actual person behind the moniker earlier that night. ‘I want to be buried in the scent of lilies so it’s something people can remember me by.’ That’s what the little girl always used to say to me when we’d write to each other. It stuck with me because I always found it an unusual thing to say. That night, those words scratched a part of my brain I hadn’t revisited in years. By the time late July came around… I already knew. And tonight, when Stella had her ‘allergic episode,’ only one person mentioned lilies being their favorite flower. Besides, Stella couldn’t have been that little girl anyway because she seems like the type to always have everything handed to her. But not this little girl. No,” he shakes his head to emphasize the point. “My penpal had this lingering sadness about her. Almost like she was used to sacrificing comfort for the sake of others. There was always a sadness there. Even now, I see some of that same sadness in her eyes years later.”

“And?” Your tiny voice echoes in the open space.

He steps closer to you to cup your face again. “Are you gonna deny it any longer?”

“Depends.” You shrug defiantly. Part of you still had to try and keep an upper hand with him. This entire re-do, you were constantly proving that you were in charge of your own fate. Not anyone else. Keeping an upper hand proves that you’ve far outgrown the version of yourself used to sacrifice.Your cheeky response does its job at rage baiting Jaehyun. The hand on your jaw slides lower to lightly grasp your throat. Leaning over your form on the couch, his thumb brushes the side of your neck. Goosebumps run up your flesh.

“The little girl, tell me her name.” He commands, fingers tracing your lips.

“Toothless.” You whisper breathlessly.

“And the boy?”

“Jeffrey.” Jaehyun’s body breathes out in relief, dispelling the apprehension from his body into the air.

“Don’t withhold information from me again.” He begs pleadingly, before consuming you with a kiss. 

Making out with Jaehyun on his couch wasn't on your to-do-list; you’ll count it as an accomplishment nonetheless. As the moment of passion dwindles, the young CEO pulls away from you. The fire in his eyes fades as his dark gaze lightens. Gone was whatever domineering presence took over the last half an hour. Leaving the charming casanova back in his rightful place. He pulls you into him as you both lay across the couch.

“In the past timeline, you tried to tell me, didn’t you? But Estella beat you to it. Thus causing public embarrassment for you and launching the start of your public alienation. I’m willing to bet that’s why that version of me blew up at you. Because that woman already sank her claws into me.”

Lifting your head to gaze at him you nod in confirmation. He kisses your forehead before you rest against him once again. “When you omitted that part of the story, you said she had sneakily earned my favor but you didn’t discover the betrayal until the supposed wedding day. You found something that pointed to years of lies, breaking the foundation of the relationship. What was it that you found?”

“The missing letters.” You rasp. Now it’s Jaehyun’s turn to pull back to look you in the eyes. 

“Wait… all this time she—”

“The letters you sent over the years, it’s not like I was ignoring them. I just hadn’t received them. Because Stella got to them first and hid them from me. I still wrote to you. For a long time too. When I turned fourteen, I just… stopped. Thinking you no longer wanted to talk to me.”

“No, sweetheart, that wasn’t true. I always wanted to talk to you.” He whispers so softly. “I was so disappointed when I didn’t hear from you. To think that all this time— well, it doesn’t matter anymore. We’re here now and I’ve got your back. Nothing will come between us ever again.” His confidence made you believe in him. So, you decide to trust him with your whole heart.

The next morning, Jaehyun makes the both of you breakfast before dropping you off at Jeongyeon’s. You intend to stay with her for a couple of days until the uproar dies down. On the way, Jaehyun buys you a new phone, seeing as Stella’s mindless puppet shattered it without so much as a care in the world. You would’ve denied him financing the device if the blonde man didn’t insist on it being compensation for putting up with previous Jaehyun’s mess. Well… you couldn’t quite argue with that. 

Once set up, your new phone begins pinging nonstop with erratic messages from Stella and your parents. Somehow, a few of Stella’s little friends had gotten ahold of your number too and took to harassing you for damaging Stella’s social reputation. Go figure. You’re certain Stella was the one who leaked it. Oh well though. Not your circus, not your monkey. 

Arriving at your friend’s complex, Jaehyun puts his number in your phone. Then he texts himself so he can confirm that he has yours. Opening your door for you, he leans down to unbuckle your seatbelt, all while sneaking a kiss on your lips. You push him back in embarrassment as he smirks back at you endearingly. He only drives away after you’ve made it safely into the building. 

“Oh my god,” Jeongyeon smirks gleefully with the realization when she sees you. “Jeong Jaehyun kissed you, and you liked it.” 

“Were you looking out the window?” You scold playfully.

“Yes.” She grins mischievously. 

Staying with Jeongyeon gives you some reprieve. But trouble boils over when you next make it home. Your parents scold you for leaving the house like you did. “Where the hell have you been?!” ‘Wow, this is fun.’ You can’t help but think with sarcasm. They even berate you for apparently bullying Stella. Stella, not so shockingly, devotes herself to this role of innocence.

“Aunt, Uncle. Don’t be too hard on her. Y/N didn’t mean to push me into the pool. It was all a misunderstanding.”

“Watch your words Stella,” you glare coolly. “You and I both know what really happened. I never pushed you anywhere.” 

“Really?” Your mother questions icily. “Do the word and bond of four heirs to the other twelve families just evaporate into thin air? Because according to them, everyone saw with their own eyes what really occurred.” 

Internally, you scoff at the antics. This was their last stronghold of power over you, and it was crumbling with every altercation that went by. “Where’s the evidence then?” You question.

“Excuse me?” Your mother rebuts venomously. Beside her, your father shifts with uncomfortability. ‘Cowardly lion.’ 

“I asked where the evidence is to prove your claim. Because as far as I’m concerned, the real evidence lies with me. Doesn’t it Stella?” Then you fix her with a knowing gaze. You can practically see the gears shifting in her head as she panics. You understand her body language for what it is. She doesn’t want them to see that footage because it’s clear as day. Although your phone had been shattered, the SIM card with all the evidence had still been retrieved. That too was also courtesy of Jaehyun. 

“I-I-I—” the conniving woman stutters.

“And another thing,” you start, setting your bags down on the living room couch before plopping yourself into a side chair. “How will you compensate me for damage to personal property?”

Your mother, or at least the woman who gave birth to you, scoffs at the question. “What on earth are you talking about? This conversation is about you, not anything else. Don’t drag Stella into our own mess.” She rubs the latter on the arms trying to console her from this supposed bullying you are enacting upon her. Truthfully, they haven’t seen anything yet. Their time will come though.

“Why mother, listen to the facts before jumping to conclusions." You comment slyly. It fed you great pleasure to see her nearly blow her top at your bold behavior. 

“You—” 

“Enough.” Your father finally speaks up. ‘Wow, finally donning the cape as man of the house.’ “Y/N, elaborate.” 

“There was an incident involving myself, Stella and… Charlotte Barboroux the night of the party. Stella, I believe you know where I’m going with this.” Antsy, she rushes forward and practically drops to her knees at your side as she grabs your arm. 

“Y/N, let’s not be so hasty. It was an accident.”

“Oh Stella, darling. Get up.” Your mother soothes. “Don’t let her coerce you.”

You lift an eyebrow at that. “Coersion? Interesting how you would say that when Charlotte Barboroux destroyed my phone by purposely throwing it on the ground. For Stella no less. So,” you state, shifting your gaze back onto the nervous woman. “How will you compensate me?”

Your mother chooses to respond for her. “Really? All this over a phone? Like Stella said, I’m sure it was an accident. Besides, your father bought you that phone anyway. So it’s not really your property is it? Therefore, you can’t make demands regarding compensation. Isn’t that right Leonard? She should chalk it up as a loss and move on.” 

Leonard, your non-biological father, he will definitely have a heart attack with that discovery when you drop the bombshell on him later, splutters. ‘Now where did all that confidence go?’ Clearing his throat, he fiddles with the collar of his dress shirt. “Well, it’s just an object. We can get a tax write off and get you another one.” 

“That’s the route you want to take?” You hum humourlessly. Your father pauses briefly, eyes flickering across your overconfident form. He can’t help but feel suspicion that a catalyst has just been put in place for something bigger down the line. 

“Stop sassing your father and get back to the topic at hand. When will you stop mistreating Stella? Especially after all she’s done for you. She hosted that party, inviting all your classmates, her teammates, and her friends because you don’t have the active social life she does. She felt sorry for you, and this is how you repay her?” No, this is how Stella repays you all these years after you convinced your own mother and father to take her in. There is no grateful bone in this girl’s body. 

“Mommy, are you calling me a liar?” You ask with calculated timidity. Her cold gaze flits over your face. 

“What else should I address you as?”

Chuckling under your breath, you fix all three with a contemplative look. “Would you say the same about my fiancé? After all, Jaehyun, who I spent the last few days with," A little white lie never hurt anybody. “He saw the whole ordeal. And trust me Estella, he knows exactly what the truth is.” 

Your father turns to stare at the trembling girl, gaze demanding answers from her. She can’t give him any. You’re delighted to know you’ve now raised his suspicions of her. 

“So, mom and dad. Are you willing to go against him?” 

After the absolute masterclass you’ve just performed, they shut up for a while. But you know silence is just as dangerous as it is a sure sign. Stella is cooking up some scheme behind your back; that much is for certain. Because one thing she cannot do is let you beat her. In anything. 

After that disastrous party weekend, you take pride in seeing some of Stella’s mindless sheep stop flocking around her. A handful of her devoted followers evidently cease in glorifying her, thinking her actions at the birthday party weird. To your surprise, even some of her teammates seem to be put off from it. Her social status is now starting to feel the effects of her lies. 

Albeit hilarious, it was also grounds for annoyance, seeing as the plummet in her reputation forces her to latch onto you like a leech anywhere you go. Performative as always, she’s doing her best to stick to the whole ‘the charity case is my best friend and you’ve all misunderstood our deep bond, so I’ll show you with perfectly timed actions that tooootally look natural to prove how close we really are’ vibe. It cramps your style. Jeongyeon agrees, irate with having to split your time with someone as sneaky as Stella. You do your best to placate her though. Citing Stella’s gleaning behavior as a means to siphon energy from you to boost her back to the top of the social ladder. 

“She’s spiraling, Yeonie. Which means, she’s about to do something drastic that adds more ammunition to our armory. Just watch.”

And watch, you do. October comes with the knowledge you had been sitting on for weeks. Stella was cracking, angry at the whispers that followed surrounding her controversy. She couldn’t believe you humiliated her with the Jaehyun situation. By now, everyone knew that the CEO was smitten with you. Courting you publicly for all to see. And the fiasco with your birthday? For some of the people with critical thinking skills who were there, they started gossiping around campus about Stella’s involvement. According to her, they were all baseless rumors. Just misinformation. But she needed to find a way to get back at you and reverse the roles so people could see that. 

Desperate to control the narrative, she crafts up a genius plan. The footage you had recorded on those security cameras can be doctored up. So, she hires a tech guy to tap into the feed, pulling up the evidence you had against her. Then, she edits the video to where it cannot clearly be identified what occurred. Only looking like you pushed her from a specific angle. She even kept the point where she had a bloody nose climbing out of the water and you admitting to purposely kicking her.

“There,” she smirks. “That’ll teach her. Then she’ll go right back to being beneath me. After all Y/N, you need to remember your place as my stepping stone.” 

Then, she is curating an email. ‘To Whom it may concern, it has been brought to my attention that I have incriminating evidence against one of your projected attendees...’

You find out all about it days later from your piano teacher Professor Kim. A video had been submitted to the conservatory, sparking bullying allegations and a revoking of your acceptance into the workshop program. You wish you could say you were surprised. But Stella did exactly what you predicted she would. It was just the same as the last timeline. Except, she didn’t utilize footage from an attendee in the crowd, evidently, she used your own security footage against you. You find that out too when the professor shows you the anonymously submitted email. That then led to a conversation defending your honor regarding the false allegations and shameless lies. 

“‘I’m being targeted on purpose. It’s slander.” You said.

“I know.” He replied back. “Do you think I don’t know the integrity of one of my most esteemed students? The matter at hand is that they revoked your invitation; it’s my job to help you clear your name and get it back. Don’t worry though, I have a way to vouch for you.” 

Just like your past life, Professor Kim cooks up a counterscheme to save the career Stella jeopardized. Except this time, it’s in the form of a meeting. Apparently, he had set up dinner with two of the Resonance National Conservatory’s board members and another influential figure in high society. “I have connections in a few high places.” He had whispered amusedly to you that night as you walked through the doors of that private dinner hall. 

Conversation had started that night without the last guest of honor present. Something about running late, according to Professor Kim. Suspicious. In your past life, you never thought to look into who it was the professor utilized in his network to vouch for you. His reputation being your saving grace. Thus, he led the conversation with board members Mrs. Abbott and Dr. Abernathy, explaining the situation to them. Engaging with them as well, you inform them that it was all a misunderstanding meant to frame you. That’s when the final guest of honor decides to join the party. 

“Oh, the last piece to the puzzle has arrived. There he is.” Professor Kim states, standing up to greet the final man. Imagine your surprise when Jaehyun’s cheeky, dimpled smile comes into view.

“Hyung.” He mumbles, shaking the older man’s hand. Then he is greeting the other table guests before his eyes land on you. “Hi sweetheart.” He comes around the table to kiss your forehead. 

The two outsiders present seem to be startled by the display of affection, being completely in the dark that the blonde CEO was courting you. Professor Kim— Doyoung, according to Jaehyun, is not. “We go way back.”

That’s how you discover that Jaehyun and Doyoung have been friends for a while. And that Doyoung’s big plan was to strong-arm Mrs. Abbott and Dr. Abernathy into dismissing the false allegations against you via intimidation from Jaehyun. “Professor Kim, you can’t just do that.” You lecture after the meeting. 

“Eh, it was Jaehyun’s idea.” 

The male holding your waist smiles with faux innocence. “I’m Hyung's favorite. He goes along with what I say pretty easily.” 

“I didn’t go along with it for you.” Doyoung comments dryly, indicating that his need to see you, as his student, succeed far outweighed his association with Jaehyun. Who, funnily enough, acted like such a younger brother to your otherwise straight-laced teacher. 

“But you can’t deny that my charm is convincing.”

“Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Mr. Jeong.” You tease. Clearly the man appreciates the playful banter if the look on his face is anything to go by. 

“I can’t help that I was born this way, Mrs. Jeong.” He replies flirtatiously. Your eyebrows practically lift to your hairline at this. 

“Mrs? I never said I would marry you.” Obviously, there is no heat behind your response. Jaehyun smirks before stepping closer to you. Hands planting comfortably upon your waist, he fixes you with a keen stare.

“As if you have the option to deny.” Doyoung clears his throat just then, interrupting… whatever this was before it could get started.  

Anyway, that had been a wild discovery. 

So, with your life now back on track, you push forward in tempting fate to continue with its plot. Following the old timeline for the sake of forcing it to progress, you play into the act of forgiving Stella and telling her about how someone had tried to frame you and submitted slanderous lies to the conservatory. 

“But luckily, someone had my back and vouched for me.” That night, you go to sleep knowing that Stella took the bait. In the next room, Stella throws a fit at you coming out of that debacle unscathed. Punching her pillows with rage, she orchestrates the ultimate plan to destroy you. Permanently. 

By November 5th, you know the day of reckoning is upon you. The day Stella enacts vengeance so horrible, neither one of you can come back from. For her, she thinks it’s another day where she will be set up for success. For you, you know it’s the last day that you have to pretend to be her friend. All bets were off from this moment forward. 

The day starts off as it should, with harassment. Stella’s boring friends supposedly have had enough of you tarnishing her reputation. Claiming that the only true bully is you. “Stella has suffered enough because of you. You think we don’t know that you spread those rumors months ago?!”

“What rumors, Kelly?” You snort disinterestedly. By now, a crowd is starting to form. Of course, the individual these lackeys are pushing so hard to defend isn’t around. She always made herself scarce in these situations. Casting stones while hiding the hand. You really wished she would stop sicking these mangy mutts onto you. 

“You know exactly which ones she’s talking about!” Eunyoung exclaims.

“How can anyone understand anything when you guys are yelling like banshees?” Jeongyeon scolds. You chuckle beside her. Hana whips her neck towards Jeongyeon viciously. 

“No one asked you, freak! Stay in your lane and mind your business.” 

“Then why are you minding mine?” You question heatedly, stepping forward threateningly at the horrible remark made towards your friend. You’d do anything for Jeongyeon really. Hana shrinks a bit and stumbles back at the fire blazing in your eyes. 

Kelly pushes her way back to the front, bumping your shoulders so you back away from Hana. “We know you tried to frame Stella from what happened at the party. Her reputation has plummeted because of you! We also know you seduced Jaehyun when he was promised to her from the beginning!” That had made you giggle.

“How would you know any of that for sure, Kelly?” You trill gleefully at the spectacle this pack of hyenas is making of themselves. 

“Because Stella told me!” The dumb girl fumes. 

“Right.” You goad. “You also had a C- in LIT101 freshman year. Seeking outside knowledge isn’t exactly your forté.” Did you call her dumb to her face? Absolutely. Is she livid at that? Also, yes. Did she lack the critical thinking to understand the depth of what you meant? It would appear so. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” The three women screech.

“Ladies, if you can’t even decipher what I mean, then perhaps… a dog really should not be left off a leash without its owner.” Then you laugh, backing up with Jeongyeon as a full blown meltdown ensues.

“BITCH!!!” 

Granted, you didn’t taunt them the first go around, this derailment did speed up the plot in the current timeline. Which is how you find yourself “tricked” into meeting up with the stooges to talk it out later that night. According to Hana, who texted you, Stella didn’t want you all to fight. She wanted everyone to get along, as the ‘sweet girl’ she deluded everyone into thinking herself to be. So, the rest of the burn book possé decided to bury the hatchet in person. At an abandoned skate park. 

Honestly, seeing the plan for what it is now, you really cannot fathom how you allowed yourself to be tricked like this last lifetime. The stench of this plan reeked of a temu ripoff villainous storyline. Walking into a trap should not have been so easy for you. But alas, that’s what happened previously. Which is how you lost the ability to play piano forever. 

Luckily, this time Jeongyeon has your back. She wasn’t that far behind you, hiding behind a nearby ramp. Believing you to have fallen for the trap, Stella’s three friends step out in your line of sight with several other girls in tow. A few holding a weapon of some kind. A steel pipe, a bat, and a golf club. “Um,” you fake an inflection of fear in your voice. “What’s all this?”

Hana steps forward. “God, you really are a dumb bitch. Did you really think we wanted to make amends? Why would we ever want to befriend you? I don’t care what Stella says. I’m no longer playing nice for a fucking broad who thinks the world revolves around her.”

“Yeah!” Kelly speaks up. “We’re so sick and tired of you walking around like you own everything just because your parents have money and you managed to steal Jaehyun from Stella. You don’t deserve nice things with the way you’ve treated her!”

Eunyoung makes her presence known next. “You think you’re so high and mighty? Well, tonight is gonna be payback for years of tormenting Stella.”

“Is this the whore who’s been getting around with my man?!” The leader of the gang of other women yells.

“Yeah, that’s her!!!” Hana points. “She’s the one that’s been texting your boyfriend for weeks. Of course she’s a slut, she stole her best friend’s fiancé too!” 

It really pained you to see just how gullible women could be regarding a man. It also became increasingly more obvious how far idiocy could rear its ugly head to prove a moot point. These ladies would truly ruin their own lives for the sake of doing Stella’s bidding. How they didn’t see themselves as pawns was baffling to you. Deplorable really. But victory would be oh so sweet. Because not only was Jeongyeon hiding somewhere recording this as evidence for all to see. Her god-uncle, a commissioner for the police department, had several cars surrounding the place waiting for the action to begin. 

Apparently Little Miss Leader of the Pick Me Brigade, was a delinquent at her school for inciting riots and fights. Serving a stint in juvie, this conniving scheme violated her parole. Thus, grounds for arrest. Sighing, you look on with disinterest. Completely dropping your charade of fear. This was lowkey hilarious. They actually gave one of those villain speeches like from the movies. 

“Wow, that was pathetic.” Your statement garners looks of confusion. “Thank you for airing out all of your dirty laundry to me. That really helps implicate you further.”

The Three Musketeers squint. “What’re you talking about?” 

“Nothing, sorry. Getting too ahead of myself. By all means, continue. You were about to beat me up, right? Should I stand like this? Or turn this way?” Clearly your humor is not in high demand, as it does nothing more than anger the women you are mocking. Instead of playing along, they just jump straight to action, irate at your spoiling of their plans. 

“SLUT, I hear you’ve been chatting with my man! Get ‘er!” Then the crazy leader of the Pick Me gang and her friends are charging at you. 

“Uh oh,” you exclaim as one girl tries to take a bat to your face. You dodge as another lunges at you. Tripping her, you come face to face with the psycho leader. Admittedly, you are so annoyed at having to play this out again. Especially knowing that this crazy person was used as a pawn by the trio of stupidity, who were even bigger pawns themselves. All to fuel Stella’s agenda. Quite literally, the moment the fight broke out Stella’s sheep stepped off to the sidelines to watch everything erupt. Unbelievable really. But you were about to light a match to set this whole thing ablaze. 

“Jeongyeon, NOW!” You scream just as juvie girl raises the steel pipe. A blowhorn echoes in the empty skatepark. Jeongyeon steps out holding a megaphone to her mouth, halting all action. 

“Thanks for starring as extras! We got that allllll on camera. There’s a lot of people watching this too. Now, who wants to see the next act?” Jeongyeon’s last sentence addressing the audience she amassed via social media live. “They’re ready for you, uncle!” Several cops step out from their respective hiding places, blue and red lights now invading the scene. 

“DROP THE WEAPONS AND PUT YOUR HANDS UP!” 

Obviously they have to do this the hard way as weapons drop and bodies scatter. The police round them up anyway, despite their futile attempts. Even Hana, Kelly, and Eunyoung are caught. The best clip from this live recording will probably be where they fight tooth and nail from the cops, dropping to their knees with declarations that they did all of this for Estella. That didn’t make it better though, instead further fanning the flame that they, and Stella by adjacency, were crazy. Thus, grounds for carting them away to the station for further questioning. 

After the scene has settled, you’re sitting in an ambulance getting a check up as the police take your statement. The evidence is handed over to prove this was a coordinated attack. Jeongyeon is with you through it all. She was fiercely loyal. The only reason she didn’t beat them up for messing with you is because she had to let them attack first. Specifically to get undeniable proof to incriminate all women involved in inciting violence. No surprise; it was part of the plan. What did come as a shock was Stella’s presence at the scene of the crime. 

Viewing the ordeal on social media, and probably trying to warn her friends that it was a setup, she appears. Though she is much too late, her psychotic breakdown arrives right on time. She clings onto you, obviously amping up to deliver an award winning performance on the events that just transpired. Too bad you see the truth. She’s spiraling.

“Y/N, I have no idea what’s going on. I saw everything on social media. My phone kept blowing up with notifications from people tagging me and accusing me and— OH! It was just so horrible.” She cries. “I had no idea my friends felt that way about you. I’m so sorry. But I really had nothing to do with it! They acted on their own accord. I told them that I wanted both sides to get along. Who knew they would do this?!” She wails dramatically. 

‘You did.’ You can’t help but think. 

Calmly, you remove her hands from your body. “Stella, do you really believe every word you say?” 

She grabs at you once again. You were getting really sick and tired of her doing that. “What do you mean? I can’t believe they would do this! I’m not a monster Y/N. You know this. We grew up together. I’m so scared at the nasty names people are calling me on social media. I didn’t tell them to do this!” She pleads desperately. God, she really was sick in the head. You pitied your past self for being duped all this time. Not to worry though; vengeance was yours. Removing her hand once again, you push her away. 

“Stells, the jig is up. Now play the game with your real face.” You smirk meaningfully before walking away from the ambulance. 

“Y/N!” She screams, making her way after you. Jeongyeon blocks the way. 

“There’s no time to talk anymore.” She announces defensively.

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Stella grits her teeth before pushing past your friend. Grabbing ahold of you for the last time, because you were no longer putting up with this shit she spins you around frantically. ‘Trying to save face and control the narrative are we?’

“It’s so unfair that you’re treating me like this!” She shakes. “We’ve been best friends forever. How could you let people think this about me? It’s not my character. You know it’s not true!” 

By this point, tears and snot are running down her face. Truly a sight for sore eyes. Stepping closer, you direct your steely gaze onto her. She flinches at the wrath swirling beneath your eyes. “You know what I think?” You whisper in her ear. “I think… you’re batshit crazy.” 

Pulling back, you smile at her trembling form and clenched fists. “Stay away from me you psychopath.” Then you are walking away. From her and the house of lies she built. 

At home, tensions run deep as everyone tiptoes around one another, waiting for some kind of exhale. Well, you aren’t tiptoeing. Not really. But your mother and father are on eggshells. For the first time ever, you see them furious with the knowledge of what Stella has done. The video of her friends' confessions going viral. Social media lit her up with vitriol, her darling facade fading away. It definitely bruises your father’s ego to know that his business is being affected by this. The Jeongs, who he so desperately needs a partnership with, even go as far as to threaten said partnership for the sake of defending you, their future daughter-in-law. That had tickled you pink a little bit, especially knowing Jaehyun definitely had something to do with that. It was interesting seeing your father grovel.

The other families too had many things to say about the scandal. Gossip spread quick and far. Word on the street is, the four heiresses who spent most of their time with Stella were now to steer clear of her for the foreseeable future. After all, Stella’s friends from school were considered criminals, and they wanted no association with that neck of the woods. Stella had pitched a fit at that and nearly tore up the place at her reputation being tarnished. Your father looked on edge like he wanted to choke some sense into her. 

Then came the case of your mother, she was mad alright. But more so at the fact Stella had gotten caught rather than what she did to you. Because of her adopted daughter’s careless, malicious actions, her husband’s business was starting to suffer. Which meant her status in society was starting to wane. Her fury had nothing to do with rebuking Stella’s treacherous actions, but rather that she didn’t keep it under control. That much is discovered when you overhear her consoling Stella in her room one night. That had caused a showdown between mother and daughter early at breakfast the next morning. You accused her of playing favorites and caring more about Estella than she did you. 

“For years, you treated her like my replacement!” You shout.

Your mother looks at you with an eerie type of calm that makes our blood run cold. “What’s there to replace when she is much more talented than you? Stella had a bright future ahead of herself. And it’s all been crushed because of harsh accusations. Now I need to help her build it up again.” There was your truth. Not that you needed it vocalized in the first place. This woman stopped loving you ages ago. So, you treat her the way she deserves, with an absence of warmth you hadn’t seen from her in eons anyway.

“Okay.” 

You move out of the house right then and there. Apathetically and silently grabbing your things. Your mother makes an offhand comment about being dramatic. Stella almost goes to say something herself, but thinks better of it at your glare. Her knowing that you’d absolutely place hands and feet on her now that her charade has reached its conclusion. You make sure to tear her room apart first before you depart, snatching the letters that were owed to you. Stella pales with the realization that you had figured out what she had done long ago, paranoid at how you had learned that secret. 

Your self removal from the house had set your father off all over again. You thought the man would have an aneurysm. That's what wedged a further divide between both of your parents. That and your mother’s clear support of Estella despite her deceptive character. While conflict didn’t bode well for the household you left. It certainly bode well for you. Because now, you have an in for your final act of revenge. 

You stay with Jeongyeon until you sort out your own living arrangements, much to the chagrin of Jaehyun who insists you live with him. “We’ll be married soon anyway.” 

“You just got in my good graces. Besides, we haven't even set a date or begun any planning for the marriage I barely agreed to.”

“Okay, but living with me would help you get used to the arrangement before we tie the knot. I’d love your company.” The man practically bats his eyelashes at you, pouting over something you believe to be trivial.

“It is not trivial when the woman of my dreams is homeless on the streets.” Now why would he say it like that? 

“Okay, one, I am not homeless. Jeongyeon is literally letting me stay with her.” Your friend nods her head in agreement with that statement. “Two, since when was I the woman of your dreams?” you ask amusedly.

“Since you walked into my office and told me no.”

“Pretty sure that’s a kink.” Jeongyeon mutters under her breath. That had pulled a laugh out of you. So now you know your future husband to be dramatic too. 

With Jaehyun and Jeongyeon by your side, the final piece to the puzzle locks into place. That night, Jaehyun lays his head on your chest as you both listen to the fan whir in the guest room of Jeongyeon’s place. You both had taken to going back and forth staying the night during the weekends. This time it was his turn to come to you. Playing with the hair at the base of his skull, you ask him the question that had been on your mind as of late. “Will you come with me tomorrow?”

Angling his neck to look up at you, your fiancé fixes you with a sleepy gaze. “You don’t even have to ask.”

The following day, you find yourselves sitting in Nicolette Wang’s private, luxury office. “Well, to what do I owe the pleasure Ms. L/N?” Then she turns to regard Jaehyun impassively, “Jeong.” Jaehyun smiles tightlipped at her clear show of interest in only entertaining you. He got the message loud and clear. This is a ladies' conversation. So, he’ll sit back and shut up, thank you very much. You swallow the laugh building in your throat. Yeah, Nicolette was still intimidating. 

“Hi Nicolette.” She smiles lightly at the way you drop formalities.

“Long time no see. You’ve appeared to have a busy last few months.” Her eyes brush over Jaehyun’s form once again. The man sits ramrod straight, like he is being assessed by a drill sergeant. You rub his arm to ease the tension. Nicolette notices this, the corner of her lip lifting briefly with humor. 

“Yeah. I have been.” You acknowledge. “If you don’t mind, I need a favor from you.”

Leaning forward conspiratorially, the otherwise stoic woman replies. “I’m all ears.”

December 12th brings forth your winter recital, “A Winter Wonderland.” The entire showcase goes by smoothly, Doyoung directing with a sharp precision that would keep anyone on their toes to avoid his wrath. By the end of it all, you are pleased with your performance for the night. Brushing the fake snow off your velvet, red dress, Jaehyun and Jeongyeon bombard you with celebratory flowers. A bouquet of lilies paired with poinsettias. You gush at how pretty they are. Jeongyeon, as you should've expected with how unpredictable she can be, pulls out a strand of mistletoe, holding it over both yours and Jaehyun’s heads. 

“Kiss.” She demands mischievously. Rolling your eyes, you comply. 

That’s how Doyoung approaches you, with scouts from the conservatory in tow. Pulling away, you realize it is Abbott and Abernathy, once again. This aligned with what was supposed to happen in your initial timeline before you were ambushed and lost dexterity in your fingers. Both commend you for a stellar performance and proposition you to a longer extension of work under the conservatory’s tutelage once their workshops with Laurent Símon Moreau cease. Ecstaticly, you agree.

A week later, you are preparing yourself for the day your final act is to be set in motion. December 19th, your mother’s art gala. Despite your grievances, and your desire to be no closer to Stella or your mother than Jupiter to Earth, you still attend. It could be chalked up to gentle coaxing from your father, trying to save face by maintaining this farce of familial ties. But you, Jaehyun, and Jeongyeon know the truth. By extension, Nicolette might know some degree of it too. When you had visited her in that office, you had asked the lone favor of her influence. 

Some of the other families publicly severed ties in some way to your family. To not offend the Jeongs, but also to avoid any public scrutiny that would affect their stocks or companies. But their estrangement wouldn’t fare well for your plan. Which is why you tasked Nicolette with convincing all the families from the Wang’s mansion to attend this special gala. Your plan would serve its purpose better if they were present. 

Stepping into the banquet hall, you take in the ambiance of the elegant winter theme. White christmas trees decorated the sides of the entrance, mimicking a forest laden with frost and snow. The open floor space leading to the stage resembled that of an ice rink. Figuratively of course. The floor was waxed with some material that made it appear as complex as ice. The shadow of a large snowflake fell upon the center of the floor via projection from the lights. Fake snow lined the stage and sat in heaps along the walls reminiscent of miniature snow dunes. The tables were draped with velvety blue tablecloths. The chairs were clear to resemble ice. Icicle decor hung from the ceiling. On the table stood velvet white trees with bare limbs atop a white fur centerpiece. Candles accented the piece. You have to admit, it did look beautiful.

Jaehyun places his hand on your lower back as he leads you to your assigned table. The one your parents would be at. Jeongyeon follows. Luckily enough, you were able to proposition your father for her attendance if you agreed to play nice for one evening to save appearances. But there would be nothing left to save after this. Steering you to your respective place, Jaehyun drapes your shawl along the back of your chair and places your purse on the table. He really was a gentleman. 

“My family should be around here somewhere. Evidently, we’ve been assigned to this table too. Probably so your father can butter them up.” He murmurs under his breath.

“More than likely,” you reply, brushing your hand along his jaw. “Go find them, baby. I’ll be fine for now. I’ve got Jeongyeonie with me.” Jaehyun smiles dopily at your use of a pet name for him. You were… trying out new things. Albeit there are still complications for you at times when you default back to your previous memories. Jaehyun however, ever the patient man, has no problem allowing you to find your footing in this relationship dynamic you both have curated. He cherished you deeply. 

Kissing your cheek, he goes off to find his parents mingling around somewhere. Grabbing Jeongyeon’s hand, you both wander around the room, extending formalities where they were due. Along the way, you run into the quartet of clowns who used to call themselves Stella’s friends. “Ladies.” You smirk at them in acknowledgement. “Thanks so much for attending my mother’s art gala banquet. I’m surprised there’s only four of you. Aren’t you missing one?” You question lightly, knowing good and well they were forced to disassociate themselves for Estella. Beside you, Jeongyeon squeezes your arm trying not to laugh at their predicament. 

Danielle Westwood rolls her eyes at you. “Like you don’t know.”

“Know what?” You press on with insincerity. 

Lawan scoffs at your tactics. “Nobody wants to be associated with the likes of Stella anymore. I know you’re slow, but you’re not that dense.” You almost reward her insult with a sarcastic reply, but Jacqueline steps up to the plate next.

“We couldn’t let her ruin our reputation! She fraternizes with criminals ya know. Mommy and daddy would totally disown us if we kept hanging out with that trash.” The twin grumbles.

Charlotte, however, takes the cake for the evening, “Don’t get it twisted though. Just because we dropped that bitch doesn’t mean we’ll befriend you.” She steps into your space. Jeongyeon tenses up at your side. “We saw you walking in with Jaehyun all over your arm. You must think you’re so special parading him around the room. Don’t think for a second that his status makes you untouchable. Anyone of us could have him today if we wanted.” She threatens.

Snickering, you smile at her coyly. “Is that so?” 

The other three women agree with her bogus statement as if it is their truth. As if delusions couldn’t be shattered with one look that would send your fiancé over the moon with longing and excitement. But what would be the point when they’ve already lost? After all, they had no more sting left in them when their little ‘It Girl’ Stella was exposed as a fraud. You didn’t reckon this girl group still held the same power they thought they did. 

So, patting Charlotte on the shoulder, you glance off to the side as a server comes around with a tray. “Hors d'oeuvres?” You offer. Then you and Jeongyeon are waltzing away with barely concealed humor at the presumptuous nature of it all. 

Playing around doesn’t last for long when you encounter your parents. Immediately, you are on high alert at seeing them. Your father flashes a strained smile as he ushers you into his arms. You pat his back stiffly. But you make no moves towards your mother or Stella. The girl who’s latched onto your mother since she came into your life. Your mother lifts a steely eyebrow at you before huffing at your lack of respect. “Mother. Estella.” You greet as politely as your pleasantries can go. 

“Mn.” Your mother acknowledges without saying a word.

Estella smirks briefly before playing up her role again. “Y/N, thank you so much for coming. I know you see it differently than we do. But this gala is Auntie’s pride and joy. It would’ve broken her heart if all of her family wasn’t here.”

You almost chuckle at how thickly she’s laying on this sweet act in front of your parents. As if all parties in her current microcosm haven't seen what she is capable of. “Is my mother incapable of speaking for herself?” At your questioning, your mother’s sharp gaze cuts through the air towards you. However, where you would’ve flinched prior to, you no longer do so. A brief look of agitation flits across your mother’s face at your refusal to submit with a cold glare. ‘That’s right mother. You can no longer silence me.’

“Are you incapable of behaving yourself for one day?” She hisses lowly.

Surprise jumps across your features. ‘Oh, she’s doing this publicly? Well, looks like I can finally match her pace.’ “You say that as if the primary offender isn’t hanging off of your wrist.” Your father chokes on the frosty blue drink he picked up from a passing waiter to ease his uncomfortability. 

Chuckling under her breath, Jeongyeon commends you for the quick comeback. By now, you think your mother might lose face. Disappointingly, she schools her features before you can get under her skin. “Getting so cocky as if I couldn’t disown you with the drop of a hat.” 

The statement liberates Stella to some degree as she preens at the barely concealed threat. Itching to respond, you are interrupted by your father’s exclamation of civility. “Mr. and Mrs. Jeong!” Just then, a hand brushes across your lower back before landing firmly around your waist. 

“Everything okay?" A low voice rumbles as the owner’s lips press a kiss to your temple. Jaehyun, with his parents at his side. Mr. Valentine, always on time. 

“Everything’s fine.” You mumble, as your father proceeds to peacock about. Trying to show your future-in-laws that investing with him is not a risk. 

Across the room, you catch the eye of the Wang heiress. There is an amused twinkle in Nicolette’s eye as she tips her glass of spiked eggnog at you. Ah, so she saw the whole debacle. Nodding back at her, you receive the message loud and clear. ‘I did my part. Now make this worth my time.’ All will be revealed soon.

As the night progresses, the opportunity presents itself in the form of your mother’s declaration of gratitude. She stands onstage giving a speech when she takes the risky route of trying to publicly embarrass you. “Estella? Y/N? Come up here with me.” You squint at the bad feeling bubbling in the pit of your stomach. Glancing at Jeongyeon and Jaehyun, both who look back at you warily, you make your way onto the raised platform. Stella was already eagerly waiting there.

“Ladies and Gentleman, these are my daughters. My lovely Stella, whom I adopted years ago, has recently been under fire for a misunderstanding amongst her friends and Y/N. If any of you here know Stella, then you know she is a bright young woman with a prominent future ahead of her.” Heart racing, you view your mother from what feels like an out of body experience. There was no way she was publicly about to shame you. Beside you, Stella releases her crocodile tears. “Estella is a talented tennis player whose career has now been jeopardized over asinine lies. Y/N has always had a grudge against her due to the lack of attention she received as a child once Stella came along.” Your face burned at the magnitude of her words. Whispers ring out around the room at her accusatory words. Both Jaehyun and Jeongyeon go to stand as your father hurriedly makes his way towards the stage. 

“Vivian,” he whispers. “What are you doing?”

“Hush, Leonard. I’m doing this for us.” Then she’s looking at you. 

“I suppose it’s my fault that this occurred. I didn’t do my best as a mother to discipline Y/N. But everyone here should know that Stella came from an unfortunate upbringing. I did what I could to utilize my resources to give her the same opportunities that my daughter received. Who would’ve thought that we’d discover such accomplished talent within Estella? From a high GPA to impressive skills on the tennis courts, she’s truly an ace. However, fostering proper love and care for her made Y/N feel neglected. Which in turn, lowered her self-esteem. Making her spiteful and bitter.” Your mouth dropped at the malicious weight of this confrontation. How dare she lie like this on Stella’s behalf? 

“Vivian,” your dad hisses again. “That’s enough.” But it was never enough for your mother. Not even close. She wanted to bury you to revive what Stella had lost. 

“The recent altercation involving my daughter and Stella online is simply a farce. It was a fabricated exaggeration where Y/N framed Estella for the actions of her friends. Stella wanted everyone to get along. But her friends chose a different route. Understanding this, Y/N and her friend Jeongyeon colluded with one another to find a way to throw Stella under the bus due to years of jealousy. I apologize if the false allegations have convinced you all to view Stella differently. But I am here to vouch for her today that those lies are not a testament of her character. She has always been a kind young woman. You can ask any of her classmates or team members. A lot of you in this room know this. However, my daughter Y/N has always been the black sheep, having a hard time fitting in. Against her better judgement, she created this slanderous campaign against Stella to boost her own ego. It was selfish of her. Today, I am here to right those wrongs and publicly ask for your forgiveness as we get our household affairs in order. Please forgive Y/N, as she will receive the proper reprimand for her actions.” 

Then she bows her head briefly as if she is asking for forgiveness from the attendees. The audience continues to murmur as your father finally makes it on the stage beside the three of you to snatch the mic away from your mother. Honestly, out of everything your mother had done, this is what you had expected the least. It was baffling how a woman could carry you for nine months, bring you into this world, just to tear you down in favor of catering to a child she had no blood relation to. It was sickening the lengths she and Stella would go to ruin your life. Looking out into the crowd, Nicolette looks on with an unimpressed gaze. When you make eye contact, she lifts a brow before tapping her wrist with the signature ‘time’s ticking’ gesture.  And she was right. You were wasting time running circles in your head trying to figure out where their audacity came from. So, with shaky hands, you step center stage to address the biggest elephant in the room of your twenty-two years of existence. 

“Do you ever get tired of yourself?” You question the older woman staring back at you. Sharing only blood, but no true relation that mattered to you. “Because I do.”

The crowd gasps at your daring rhetoric. You were through being the patsy everyone stepped on for entertainment. It didn’t matter how everyone felt. The only matter now was drawing the line in the sand. 

“See,” your mother starts. “This is who you are. Nothing but a callous girl full of disrespect.”

You scoff at her words as your father tries to pull you back from engaging with her. “Callous? You act as if I operate on the same playing field as you and Stella. Spoiler alert, the very same things you accuse me of are a projection of yourselves.” 

At this moment, Stella decides to make herself the leading lady of this shipwreck once again. “You have no right speaking to auntie that way! She’s just trying to help you do what’s right. Y/N, I know you probably hate me since your parents cater to my extracurricular activities. But I can’t help that I put the hard work into my success and they invested in me. Spreading malicious lies just to punish me is completely unfair. We’ve been friends since we were kids. I would never do this to you. I love you—”

“Love?” You cut her off. “What do you know about love other than vainglory for yourself? You don’t love me. You love what access to me has given you. From the moment we met, you conspired against me to steal my life. Me almost drowning as a kid? That was because of you! You pushed me into the pool. And you ran around acting like some glorious savior when you orchestrated every scheme imaginable against me.” The crowd murmurs with surprise at the accusations. 

“What?” Stella gasps. “Y/N, I would never.” She tries to grab onto your arm, but you slap her hand away.

“Do not touch me.” You seethe with rage.

Your mother rushes forward, but Stella holds her back. “How dare you hit her?! You owe her your life!”

“No mother, I don’t!” You exclaim in an angry outburst. “You know, I feel so sorry for you for believing her pathetic lies. That evil spawn tried to set me up multiple times. I almost drowned because of her. And you try to justify her conniving destiny swap because she supposedly saved my life? Are you serious? Not only was that attempted murder, but every accolade you believe her to deserve, she doesn’t. That GPA that you think she worked so hard for came from the result of her bribing other students to do work for her! She isn’t the saint nor the genius you think she is. For years, she has spread malicious lies about me which launched a bullying campaign against me. Everything you claim me to be is a direct reflection of her. I’m not like that at all!”

“Where is your proof?!” Your mother screams.

“Right here.” Jaehyun speaks up. Coming on stage, he regards your entire family with contempt. “If anyone is familiar with her lies, it’s me.”

“And me.” Jeongyeon exclaims, coming to stand on stage in support of you as well. Stella clams up at the truth that is about to confront her. 

“No. You don’t know anything.” She trembles with fear. 

“Don’t they though Estella? Was it not you who stole all the letters Jaehyun used to send me when we were kids and hid them from me? All while pretending to console me, as if you didn't steal my personal property. Or better yet, what about when you pretended to be me as a ruse to steal Jaehyun right from under my nose? Or the lies you spread in which you told the entire student body that Jaehyun was always destined for you? Did you, mom, and dad forget the sneaky conversation you tried to have behind my back to weasel your way into the betrothal spot between ours and the Jeong family? Weren't you the one who wanted to marry for love, thus forcing this arranged marriage onto me? But the moment you realized the history Jaehyun and I shared, you coveted it all the same. Just like everything else.” 

The young woman in question stutters at the knowledge you possess. ‘How could she possibly know that?’ Stella panics. “I-I-I—”

Expectedly, your mother shields her. Coddling her as she always has. “Stella, don’t listen to them. They’re paid out by Y/N. Of course they easily spread lies.”

“Lies?!” Mrs. Jeong’s voice rings out in the crowd. “Watch your mouth slandering my son, Vivian L/N.” 

Your father rushes to step in. “Mrs. Jeong, this is all a misunderstanding.” Then he turns to you. “Y/N, darling, everything that happened was to your benefit. I swear—”

Cutting your sharp eyes towards him, he stops in his tracks. “I wasn’t talking to you just yet. But don’t worry, addressing you will be the icing on the cake.” Then you turn back to your old childhood friend. “Why cower Estella? You know exactly what I’m talking about, right? Sabotaging me was your aim from the moment you met me. Because you hate the shitty life your drunkard father put you through. DUI after DUI, getting arrested. You were embarrassed of your life. So to feel better about yourself, you competed with me trying to ruin mine. If you won’t admit the truth about Jaehyun, let’s see if you admit it about Jeongyeon. You knew she was my only friend outside of you. You succeeded in getting every classmate we’ve ever had to turn against me. But not Jeongyeon. And you loathed being second place to her. Because not only do you hate and actively try to ruin my life. But you’re so obsessed with me, you want my attention to focus solely on you. You hate when I have a life outside of you. That’s why you tried to isolate me from Jeongyeon. You were the one who spread her secret around school. Then you framed me for the bullying she got, thus ending our friendship. On top of the psychological and emotional damage you enacted by manipulating me, you sought to alienate me. Which is another form of abuse. You’re sick. I can’t even stomach looking at you.”  

Stella shakily falls to the ground as the reality of her actions begins to circulate around the room.

“I didn’t know she was insane.”

“Holy shit, this family has some extensive lore.”

“The L/N family is untrustworthy. I wouldn’t do business with them.”

“Stella’s horrible. I can’t believe she tricked people all this time.”

“No. NO! I would never. You don’t know anything about me!!!” She cries. 

“But I do, don’t I?” you question, kneeling down to her level. “You despised it when every scheme against me stopped working in your favor once Jeongyeon came back into my life. So you decided to get even more crafty. You tried framing me at my birthday party, insinuating that I practically tried to drown you in the pool. Luckily, security footage discredited your wicked little lie. Then when that failed, you altered and submitted footage to the Conservatory to get me removed from their admittance list. When that also failed… you set me up to get jumped. Evidence which is all over social media by the way. And your little friends snitched too, so the police will definitely be knocking on your door soon. You did all of this, thinking you were slick, because you couldn't stand me. You are miserable, bitter bitch. And your precious aunt and uncle,” you glare at the people who raised you. “Enabled you.”

“Now wait just a moment.” Your father interrupts nervously. But your mother cuts him off, taking a swing at your face. Everyone recoils in horror at the slap that echoes throughout the room. Jaehyun pulls you back into his arms immediately to inspect your face after the assault your mother enacted upon you.

“Not once have you provided substantial evidence to support your claim! Y/N, you’re just acting up to save face. Tell them the truth!!! Otherwise, I’ll make you kneel in front of everyone today.”

Slowly, you lift your eyes back to your mother for the last time that you will acknowledge her as such. “Out of the last ounce of respect I had, I won’t physically retaliate. Just know that this is the last time you will ever have access to me.” 

“Please! Your empty threats mean nothing to me. You stand here boldly slandering us with your lies as if you won’t have to pay the price.”

“You know all about lies though, don’t you mother? After all, you’ve been keeping one for a long time.” The woman in front of you pauses briefly at your pivot. “I’ve been wondering about that for a while. What about you Dad?” You finally turn to address him. “You ever wonder about the lie mom has been telling you for the past twenty-two years?” Honestly, you have to say that it feels good to watch color drain from the face of the woman who brought you into this world. It dawns on her in that moment what exactly you’re getting at. Smirking, you analyze the confusion on your father’s face.

“Oh,” you drag out teasingly. “She didn’t tell you. Hm, how sad.” You pout.

“Y/N, what are you talking about?” He questions unconfidently. 

“Yes, you ungrateful child. What exactly is it that you’re alluding to?” False bravado. She was tough as nails ‘til the very end. You’ll give her that. But you were about to put a damper to her haughty demeanor. 

“Vivian,” you took pride in watching her face contort with your level of disrespect. “Now isn’t the time for another display of arrogance. Not when you’ve been keeping the biggest secret of your life. Would you care to guess what that is?”

Narrowing her gaze at you, she calls your bluff. “Impossible. You wouldn’t dare.” 

Little does she know, you love a good challenge. And this standoff is giving you exactly that. “Ah, but I would.”

Growing agitated with a secret only two of you seemingly possess, your father urges you to spit it out. “Y/N, what do you mean?”

Aiming to rip the bandaid off than spare his feelings, you drop the bombshell you’ve been sitting on for months. “I’m not your biological daughter.” Mouths drop at the shocking revelation. Your father staggers where he stands. Stella and the woman who gave birth to you rushes to hold him up. 

“Leonard!” Vivian exclaims.

Clutching his heart, he stares between the both of you aghast. “What’s the meaning of this?”

Rushing to mitigate this fallout, Vivian interjects. “Y/N is just using whatever means she can to throw a public tantrum. She’ll do anything to drag us under the bus. You know this Leonard. She’s always been so dramatic. Look at what she’s done to Estella.” 

“Shut up!” He jerks from their hold before setting his attention onto you. “Y/N, you’re going too far. I want an explanation now.”

“You know, it’s so interesting how you always sat passively on the sidelines watching Stella and Vivian mistreat me for years without so much as uttering a word about it. You let all of this happen under your roof while assuming I was your biological daughter. You never once questioned the two women at your side. Always believing me to be the problem. Now, with a truth staring you in the face, you demand answers from me as if I am the one who has been pulling the wool over your eyes for over two decades. You want the truth? Well here it is. Jaehyun?” The young CEO reaches into the coat pocket of his suit before procuring a neatly folded packet of papers. Grabbing a hold of them, you delicately smooth them out before finding the bold red line. 

“Match of DNA between Vivan L/N and Y/N L/N, 98.99%. DNA match between Leonard L/N and Y/N… 0.00%.” The audience gasps once again at the scene unfolding in front of them, news setting the hall up in a blaze of gossip. “The evidence is all right here. Tailored just for you.” Then you’re tossing the papers onto the ground. Leonard goes to grab the papers as Vivian tries to snatch them from him. 

“No, Leonard, don’t believe her!” She screams frantically, losing her composure. His hands shake as he verifies the truth of the results.

“See, Vivian had a little secret in her relationship with you. She cheated early on in the marriage. Then she got pregnant, hoping it was yours. But that hope was crushed as I matured and started looking more like the mystery man than you. That’s when her behavior towards me became more cold, distant. As if she blamed me for not sharing your blood when it had everything to do with her actions alone. For years, I had to bear the brunt of pain between her and Stella because they both couldn’t look themselves in the face. They couldn’t fathom the rot in their hearts. So instead of addressing it, they made me their scapegoat. Two women cut from the same cloth. Both more like mother and daughter than I’ll ever be.” You chuckle viciously. 

Glaring murderously, Vivian advances on you with a raised fist. “How dare you smear my name?!” But Leonard cuts her off before she could get to you.

“ENOUGH!” he screams, throwing her onto the ground. The woman freezes at the hand of his wrath. “Vivian, these results clearly indicate that what Y/N says is the truth. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Leonard I—,” grabbing at his legs, she tries to explain. “It isn’t true!”

Jerking his leg away, he points menacingly. “Don’t test my patience. The next time you open your mouth, it better be what I want to hear.”

Lips wobbling with the reality of her situation, Vivian spits at your feet before addressing him. “YES! So what if she’s the product of an affair?! It’s not like you noticed anyway. You were so busy trying to climb up the ladder of the business world. You didn’t care about us! Your interest was solely on building your company. The only time you started paying attention to family is when Estella came along. Then you were doting on us like crazy. Which meant that child,” she gestures towards you venomously, “was the cause of our plight. The rift between us disappeared when Stella came along to heal us. Now Y/N’s throwing dirt in our face to tear us apart once again. Can’t you see what she’s trying to do?” She clenches the fabric of his pantsleg between her fingers. His form vibrates visibly with animosity from being made a fool of all these years.

“You disgust me. I’m through with you.” His words slice through the tension of the air. 

“WHAT?!” Vivian and Stella exclaim with surprise as he turns from them. 

“I want the both of you out of my house immediately. From this point forward, Stella, I disown you. Vivian, I want a divorce.” After his public rebuking, he faces the audience with a carefully constructed mask. “Dear family, friends, and esteemed guests. I apologize on behalf of my family. I understand if this fiasco may affect our partnerships. However, I will do whatever I can to work within the best interest of my company to regain that trust. As for Estella and Vivian’s actions, I am fully prepared to compensate each and everyone of you for the toil and emotional damage either one has put you through. Feel free to partake in the rest of the food and drinks. I’ll have to excuse myself.” Then he is bounding out of the gala hall, Stella and Vivian chasing in his wake. You truly hoped to never see them again, severing all ties.

Deflating with the conclusion of this revenge tour, Jaehyun scoops you into his arms. “You were so brave sweetheart. So, so brave.” Kissing your temple, he pulls back so Jeongyeon can embrace you.

“It’s okay Y/N. It’s okay to cry.” You hadn’t even realized until she said it that tears were running down your face. 

“I’m just so tired.” You whisper. 

“That’s alright, love. You’ve earned the right to rest.” Your fiancé murmurs into your hair. Enveloping you once again in his arms. 

“He’s right dear.” Jaehyun’s father speaks up as he and his wife make their way towards the group. 

Smiling at you sadly, Mrs. Jeong brushes a tear from your cheek. “We’re your family now.” Believing the maternal energy radiating off of her, you nod with content. 

"Let's go home.” 

After the showdown, videos circulated online regarding the end to their abusive reign. Vivan is regaled as an irresponsible woman who never should've been considered a mother in the first place.  The close knit circle she developed over the years in the business world comes tumbling down with her dominos of deceit. Thus, prompting many wives of the influential families to distance themselves from her. Stella doesn’t fare any better. Completely losing her reputation, being expelled for falsifying school records, and losing her sponsorships as an up and coming tennis star. Both women blacklisted from all areas of their previously comfortable life, with no firm foundation to stand on to start over for themselves. It had served them right.

Leonard’s company did take a major hit after losing several investments due to the scandal. But he stayed true to his vow to rehabilitate his business with honest integrity. Despite having no relation to you any further, he did reach out. Meeting him for tea, he expresses his disappointment in himself for not seeing the writing on the wall ages ago. There had been signs after all. “I still see you as a daughter in my eyes.” That had meant nothing to you. Not really. So you divulge the contents of your heart.

“I don’t know if I see you as a father.” It is a bitter pill to swallow, but he understands. He didn’t protect you like a father should. He accepts your rejection for what it is. However, he does extend an olive branch months later at the prospect of paying for your wedding. And well… you can’t quite say no to that.

Your relationship with Jaehyun improves over time. Him being ecstatic to parade you around his company any chance he got. You’re pretty sure Jisung was aghast with Jaehyun’s severance from his previously aloof nature. As his secretary, it was intriguing to see the one eighty you had provoked in him. Haechan however, loved every ounce of it, eager to tease his boss over his heart eyes. The young male was ever the entertaining force in NCT’s workplace, often gossiping about the drama you presented him with. “Your life is such a movie.” He would whisper conspiratorially.

Obviously, you and Jeongyeon are thick as thieves, with your best friend accepting her role as your maid of honor, and as the only woman you wanted standing at your side on your wedding day. All was right with the world now. Even still, you can’t help but think about the version of yourself from the original timeline. All that abuse. All that pain. Just to be a token in someone else’s story. In this lifetime, you had successfully avenged her and reclaimed everything as it rightfully should be. 

“We did it Y/N. We got our happy ending.” You whisper out to the fading embers of the last life. Indeed, it was the happiest ending of them all. 

Epilogue

Waking up in the middle of the night, you make your way out to the balcony, gazing at the midnight scenery of the beach. The waves work as a calming melody against the shore as warm air brushes over your skin. The smell of salt water on the horizon eases tension in your shoulders while the moon wanes gently in the sky. You were on your honeymoon, Jaehyun and yourself tying the knot several days prior. Taking your leave for an island getaway was a reprieve to your exceptionally busy lives. 

Currently, the man in question is smothered in the silk bedding of your bridal suite. Still resting from the earlier excitement of the night. You, however, were restless. Dwelling on the events that led you here. Life had a sense of humor, dealing you a particular set of cards that gave you amnesty over your own life. Thinking back to how you were completely against associating with Jaehyun initially, you now find amusement in the ring adorning your finger. Mrs. Jeong. That's who you were now. 

Admittedly, the new title made you giddy. What can you say? You’re a sucker for underdog stories. And you were the epitome of just that. The underdog who came out on top. Reminiscing for way longer than intended, your husband pulls you from your thoughts. Sleepily, he comes to stand behind you. “I thought you were sleeping.” You whisper in the night air.

“Couldn’t sleep without you.” He mumbles into your neck, wrapping himself around your body.  Kissing your shoulder, he rocks you back and forth. 

“You’re so clingy.” You giggle at his antics.

“Maybe. Now, come back to bed, love. I miss you.” 

Humming softly, you turn to face him. “You just want to deflower me some more.” 

Smirking, he squeezes your waist, “I think there’s a few petals left to pluck.” 

“Such a funny guy.” You quip back jokingly. He chuckles before wrapping your arms around his shoulders. In this position, you can’t help but gaze at him in awe. Jeong Jaehyun, your husband. Who would’ve thought you’d finally end up here?

“What are you thinking about?” He interjects with a low murmur against your lips.

“You.” You whisper back. 

“Thinking about me when I’m right here? Obsessed with me, are you?”

Giggling, you push him back through the balcony doors before falling atop him onto the bed. “Hush, you chased me for months like a lovesick puppy. If anyone is obsessed, it would be you.”

His hands rest upon your thighs before sitting up to come face to face with you. “I’m not ashamed to admit what you do to me.”

Melting into the temptation of his heated gaze, your hands travel down the broad expanse of his bare chest. “What do I do to you?” 

“Let me show you.” Then he’s pulling the covers over you both for a long, sleepless night. 

P.s. if you see typos… no you didn’t 😫

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