The rain continued to pour.
Leo's hand slowly loosened around Lana's wrist.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The city lights reflected off the wet pavement beneath their feet, turning the street into a blur of gold and silver.
Lana looked at Leo one last time.
She wanted him to deny everything.
To fight for her.
To tell her the photo was fake.
But he didn't.
And that silence hurt more than any confession.
"You already lost the right to stop me."
The words hung between them.
Leo's expression darkened.
"Lana, please."
Please.
The same word he'd used countless times before.
Please stay.
Please trust me.
Please believe me.
But now it sounded empty.
Lana took a step backward.
Then another.
Away from him.
Away from the person she thought she knew.
Mick silently opened the umbrella over her head.
Neither of them noticed Leo clenching his fists.
Or maybe they did.
And simply didn't care anymore.
"Let's go," Mick said quietly.
This time Lana nodded.
Together, they walked away.
Leaving Leo standing alone in the rain.
The ride home was silent.
Mick drove while Lana stared out the window.
Her phone remained clenched tightly in her hand.
She had reread the photo a hundred times already.
As if somehow it would change.
As if the truth would suddenly disappear.
It didn't.
Nothing changed.
Nothing except her.
"Want me to break his nose?"
Lana blinked.
"What?"
Mick kept his eyes on the road.
"Leo."
For the first time that night, Lana almost laughed.
Almost.
"You'd go to jail."
"Worth it."
A tiny smile appeared on her face before disappearing again.
Mick noticed.
Good.
At least she wasn't completely broken.
Yet.
When they arrived at her apartment building, Lana stepped out of the car.
"Thank you."
Mick nodded.
Then he hesitated.
Which was strange.
Mick never hesitated.
"If you need anything..."
His voice trailed off.
Lana looked at him.
For the first time she realized something.
Mick had been there all along.
Through every fight.
Every celebration.
Every heartbreak.
Always somewhere in the background.
Watching.
Protecting.
Waiting.
The thought made her uncomfortable.
And strangely safe at the same time.
"I'll be okay."
Mick didn't look convinced.
Neither was she.
That night Lana couldn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the photo.
Leo smiling.
The other girl leaning against him.
The betrayal.
The lies.
At 2:13 a.m., her phone lit up again.
Unknown Number.
Lana sat upright immediately.
A new message appeared.
If you think that's bad, you don't know the half of it.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She typed back instantly.
Who are you?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally, a reply came.
Meet me tomorrow.
I'll show you who Leo really is.
Attached underneath was an address.
And a time.
11:00 a.m.
Lana stared at the screen.
Fear twisted inside her chest.
But another feeling burned even stronger.
Anger.
If Leo had been lying to her...
She wanted the truth.
No matter how ugly it was.
Slowly, Lana looked out at the dark city beyond her window.
The tears that had followed her all night were gone.
In their place was something colder.
Something dangerous.
And for the first time...
Revenge didn't sound like a bad idea.
To be continued... 🔥