She opened it, stunning in a shimmering gown, her hair cascading in perfect waves. But her eyes—those beautiful green eyes—held something he couldn’t read.
Before he could ask, laughter erupted behind her. A group of her friends spilled out onto the porch, their cruel grins confirming his worst fear.
Ariel leaned in close, her whisper sharp as glass. “You’re nice, Lucas. But did you really think someone like me would go to prom with someone like you?”
The words cut deeper than any insult Derek had ever hurled at him. His face drained of color as the truth crashed over him. It had all been a joke, another cruel prank. Her friends’ laughter echoed in his ears as his world fell apart once again.
Without a word, Lucas turned and walked away, laughter chasing him out the door like a cruel echo. The weight of betrayal pressed on his chest, leaving him breathless. He couldn’t know then, but a day would come when he’d repay that cruelty—not with vengeance, but with strength.