Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Chapter 88: Eva’s Point of View

The restaurant buzzed with the low hum of conversations and the clinking of glasses. But at our secluded table in the corner, the energy was electric. The tension that had followed me for weeks, the weight of humiliation and betrayal, was finally lifting. Tonight, I allowed myself to smile, genuinely and without restraint.

Sally raised her glass of wine, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “To poetic justice,” she declared, her voice filled with satisfaction. “Sara’s finally getting what she deserves.”

“To justice,” I echoed, clinking my glass against hers.

The warm glow of the restaurant’s dim lighting reflected off the delicate crystal. For once, the bitterness in my chest had dulled, replaced by a sense of vindication. I glanced at my phone lying on the table. The notifications kept pouring in messages, articles, social media posts all documenting Sara’s public downfall.

“She brought it on herself,” Sally said, leaning back in her chair with a smug grin. “Did you see the comments? People are calling her a spoiled brat, a manipulative snake, a daughter of a mistress. Finally, the world sees her for what she is.”

I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “It’s ironic, isn’t it? She always thought she could control everyone, twist every narrative to suit her. But now...”

“She’s the one drowning,” Sally finished for me, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

A waiter approached, placing our entrées in front of us. The rich aroma of truffle pasta filled the air, but my appetite was more for the satisfaction of seeing Sara’s empire crumble than the food itself.

Sally leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “So, what’s next? Are we just watching the fireworks, or do you have something else planned?”

I took a sip of my wine, letting the warmth spread through me before answering. “This is only the beginning,” I said, my voice steady but filled with quiet determination.

The restaurant buzzed with the soft murmur of voices and the occasional clink of glasses, but our little corner felt like another world. The tension that had weighed me down for years humiliation, betrayal, and heartbreak was finally starting to fade. For the first time in ages, I smiled. A real, unguarded smile.

Sally, sitting across from me, raised her glass of wine, her eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and triumph. “To justice,” she said, her tone sharp and satisfied. “Sara is finally getting what’s coming to her.”

“To justice,” I echoed, raising my own glass. The gentle clink of crystal felt like a promise a promise of better days ahead.

I glanced down at my phone on the table, its screen lighting up with notification after notification. Articles, messages, and social media posts all painted the same picture Sara’s carefully crafted image was shattering, piece by piece. She was no longer the golden child everyone admired. Now, people saw her for who she truly was.

Sally leaned back in her chair, a smug grin on her face as she took a sip of her wine. “Did you see the comments? People are ripping her apart. Calling her a spoiled brat, a liar, a manipulative little snake, a whore, a mistress. She deserves every bit of it.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips, though I tried to hide it. “It’s strange, isn’t it? She spent so long controlling everyone around her, twisting every story to make herself the victim. And now...”

“Now she’s the one being torn apart,” Sally finished for me, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

The waiter arrived, placing our meals in front of us. The rich aroma of pasta mixed with truffle oil filled the air, but I barely noticed. My hunger wasn’t for food tonight it was for the justice I’d been waiting for, the justice I never thought I’d see.

Sally leaned forward, her voice low and conspiratorial. “So,” she said, a sly smile on her lips, “what’s next? Are we just sitting back and enjoying the show, or do you have something bigger planned?”

I swirled the wine in my glass, watching the deep red liquid catch the dim light of the restaurant. “This is just the start,” I said, my voice soft but steady, each word carrying a weight I knew Sally would understand.

Her grin widened. “That’s what I like to hear. She deserves everything that’s coming to her and more.”

I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I glanced at my phone again. Another headline popped up on the screen: “Actress Sara Brown’s Lies Exposed: The Truth Behind the Perfect Façade.”

The comments below it were brutal. She’s nothing but a fraud. I always knew she was fake. Good riddance!

For years, I’d been the one hiding in the shadows, swallowing my pain while Sara shone in the spotlight. But now, the roles had reversed. And while I wasn’t the kind of person to revel in someone else’s misery, this felt... right.

“She had this coming,” Sally said, breaking the silence. “You don’t get to hurt people and walk away scot-free.”

“She’ll never change,” I said, setting my glass down with a quiet clink. “Sara’s always believed she could do whatever she wanted and never face the consequences. But now... now the world is finally catching on.”

“And you’re the one who lit the match,” Sally said, her voice full of pride. “Don’t think I didn’t notice that little push you gave.”

I didn’t answer, but the slight curve of my lips must have been enough. Sally laughed softly, raising her glass again. “Well, here’s to the beginning of the end for her.”

I took a slow sip of my wine, letting the rich flavor linger on my tongue. “This isn’t just the end,” I murmured. “It’s the start of something new.”

Sally’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, she placed her fork down, fully captivated. “You’re serious? You’ve already set part two in motion?”

I nodded, a flicker of excitement sparking in my chest. “Sara’s always underestimated me. She thinks I’m weak, that I’ll fold under pressure. But she doesn’t realize that I’ve learned from her. She taught me how to fight dirty, and now it’s her turn to feel what it’s like to be cornered.”

Sally let out a low whistle, her admiration evident. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, Eva. You’re like a silent storm.”

The compliment caught me off guard, and I smiled faintly. “I’m just tired of being the victim, Sally. I’ve spent too long letting people like her walk all over me. It’s time to take back control.”

As we ate, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, but the undercurrent of our earlier discussion lingered. Sally kept glancing at her phone, reading updates aloud with a gleeful enthusiasm that was contagious.

“Listen to this,” she said, barely containing her laughter. “‘Sara Brown: The fall of the queen bee.’ Oh, and the comments are brutal! Someone wrote, ‘Karma has finally found her address. She had always bullied her sister calling her names never knew she was the daughter of a mistress, Sara is just like her mistress mom.”

I chuckled softly, shaking my head. “People are harsh online.”

“They’re honest,” Sally corrected, her eyes gleaming. “And right now, honesty is working in our favor.”

As the evening progressed, the restaurant grew quieter, the other diners slowly trickling out. But Sally and I stayed, savoring the rare moment of victory.

When the dessert arrived an indulgent chocolate lava cake I finally felt the tension in my shoulders ease completely. The rich, molten center oozed onto my plate, a perfect metaphor for the release of all the anger and pain I had bottled up inside.

“Eva,” Sally said, her tone suddenly serious. “Do you think she’ll try to retaliate?”

“She will,” I replied without hesitation. “Sara’s not the type to accept defeat gracefully. But that’s why I’m prepared.”

Her brow furrowed. “And Max? Where does he stand in all of this?”

My chest tightened at the mention of his name. “Max made his choice,” I said, my voice laced with bitterness. “He stood by her when it mattered. Now, he can deal with the consequences of being associated with her downfall.”

Sally reached across the table, squeezing my hand gently. “You’ve come so far, Eva. Don’t let anyone, not even Max, make you doubt yourself again.”

Her words struck a chord, and I nodded, grateful for her unwavering support. “I won’t,” I promised.

As the night drew to a close, I pulled out my phone and opened the folder labeled Phase Two. My assistant had sent over the final details earlier that evening, and everything was in place.

The night had stretched on, heavy with silence, but my mind buzzed with anticipation. I opened the sleek black folder marked Phase Two. The papers inside were crisp and precise proof of months of careful preparation. My assistant had sent the final details earlier, and now everything was set. Every loose end tied. Every angle considered.

I let out a steadying breath and leaned back in the chair.

“It’s time,” I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.

Sally looked up. Her sharp eyes glittered with interest. “Time for what?” she asked, setting her wine glass on the table beside her.

“To remind Sara that she’s not invincible,” I said, meeting her gaze with quiet determination. My voice was calm, but there was an edge to it a warning of the storm that was about to come.

Sally smirked, leaning forward as though drawn to the energy in the room. “You’ve been holding your cards close. Care to share what’s up your sleeve?”

I tapped my phone, my fingers pausing over the message that had been carefully drafted earlier. The words were simple but carried the weight of every sleepless night I’d endured, every moment of humiliation Sara had made me suffer. With one tap, it would all begin.

“Let’s just say Sara’s about to learn a valuable lesson,” I said, my lips curling into a faint smile. “Actions have consequences.”

Sally crossed her legs, her interest now fully piqued. “You’re not just fighting back, Eva. You’re taking over.”

I tilted my head, considering her words. “She started this war,” I said. “I’m just making sure I’m the one who finishes it.”

Without hesitating, I pressed send. A small confirmation icon appeared on the screen, and with it came a rush of exhilaration. It was as though a weight had lifted from my shoulders. No more waiting. No more enduring. It was time to take control.

Sally studied me, her expression softening into one of admiration. “You’ve changed,” she said after a moment. “A year ago, you wouldn’t have dared.”

I laughed, the sound low and almost bitter. “A few years ago, I was naive. I thought people like Sara could be reasoned with. That if I worked hard enough, proved myself enough, the world would be fair. But people like her… they don’t play fair, so why should I?”

Sally nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. The only way to win is to stop following their rules and start making your own.”

I stood, grabbing my coat as I prepared to leave the restaurant. The night was quiet, but the air carried an invigorating chill that seemed to wake every nerve in my body. Sally followed me, slipping her heels back on.

“You’re not scared, are you?” she asked as we stepped outside.

I glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Not anymore.”

For too long, I’d let fear dictate my life fear of losing, fear of failing, fear of standing up for myself. But now, standing under the cold glow of the streetlights, I realized something. The world had underestimated me for far too long. I’d let it.

“Let them think they’ve won,” I said quietly. “It’ll make my victory even sweeter.”

Sally grinned, her breath visible in the frosty air. “You’re not just rewriting the rules of the game, Eva. You’re burning the rulebook.”

I didn’t respond, but my smile grew wider. The old Eva was gone the one who cowered, the one who begged for scraps of kindness. Now, I wasn’t just taking back control.

I was writing my own story and my story will be brutal.