Chapter 46

• Ester sat cross-legged on her plush sofa, the glow of her phone illuminating her face in the dim light of her apartment. She absentmindedly scrolled through social media when a post caught her eye—Damien and Charlotte, side by side, beaming at the camera with a warmth that struck her like a slap to the face. Their carefree smiles and easy proximity radiated a familiarity that twisted inside her, a tendril of rage coiling tighter with each glance at the images.
• A flood of comments appeared beneath the photos, complimenting the couple on their apparent happiness. “They look so good together!” read one. “What a perfect match!” said another. The words crawled beneath her skin, igniting a darkness inside her that had been simmering ever since she first encountered Charlotte. How dare they imply that this was something more than it appeared?
• Ester's grip on her phone tightened, her fingers turning pale as she suppressed the urge to hurl the device against the wall. In that moment, she was a tightly wound spring, ready to snap. The world outside dimmed, and all she could focus on was the triumphant glint in Charlotte's eyes—the same glint that had once dazzled Damien, a glint meant for her.