Page 109 of What Goes Around

I let their words wash over me, savoring them. Earlier, I’d sent a photo into our group chat, the dress Mom had chosen for Ashley. I made sure the narrative arrived before she did.

“It’s your party too,” one girl said. “Why would you let her show up like that?”

I sighed, letting my smile turn strained. Hurt. Noble.

“I tried to stop her,” I said quietly. “She wouldn’t listen.”

“Then she shouldn’t even come,” another girl scoffed. “She’ll ruin everything.”

I watched their expressions twist with disdain, and satisfaction settled neatly in my chest.

“She’s still my sister,” I said gently. “She graduated too. I can’t exactly ban her.” I hesitated, just long enough. “I just hope you don’t mind… whatever she does tonight.”

Then someone came hurrying over, eyes wide. “Ashley’s here.”

The group lit up instantly.

“Oh God.”

“I’m already cringing.”

“I should’ve brought sunglasses or a blindfold.”

“What kind of makeup do you think she did?”

“It has to be awful. Remember her dramatic phase?”

“She really shouldn’t be here. She’d fit better in a circus.”

They were laughing now, too absorbed to notice the odd hesitation on the messenger’s face.

“Wait,” she said slowly. “She looks… different.”

Someone snorted. “Different how? Worse?”

Laughter burst out again.

Then silence.

The room seemed to still, like someone had turned the volume down too abruptly. Conversations faded. Heads turned.

I followed their gaze to the entrance.

For a moment, no one spoke.

“Am I… hallucinating?” someone whispered. “She looks like Ashley.”

Another voice, uncertain now. “Is that really her? I remember how bad she looked at your birthday…”

Ashley walked in with grace.

Chapter 34: The Entrance

I spent the last two hours getting ready somewhere no one could interfere.

With the lottery money finally mine, I no longer had to compromise. I didn’t use the same hotel. I didn’t let Marissa’s people anywhere near me. Instead, I rented a private suite at a smaller luxury hotel across the river.

The room smelled faintly of citrus and clean linen. Soft music played as the makeup artist worked and the hairstylist moved around me.