MY REVENGE MY RULES

I'd been to Zora's place many times before I got imprisoned but the stairs felt different now.

Zora opened the door before I could knock, as if she was expecting me all along.

"Aria?” She breathed my name like she just saw a ghost. “Ariadne Morgan this really you?”

I shook my head quickly, then burst into tears again, hugging her tight. “I'm back, Zora. I'm really back”

“I thought I wouldn't see you again.” she sobbed into my hair.

The tears has nothing to do with Xavier and Britney, but seeing Zora again made me feel something different.

She was always the clingy one back from the days at college when we met, and she still was.

Zora sat me down on her couch, wrapped a blanket around my shoulders, and made tea. “You could have called me to pick you up. Why did you come here by yourself?”

I swallowed hard, wipping my face and sipped the tea. “I was foolish, Zora. But they showed me the other side of life now and I'm fine.”

“What do you mean?”

I told her everything about Xavier, Britney and thier wedding which falls on the day I was released.

Zora gasped in horror. “OMG Aria, Xavier did this to you? After everything you've sacrificed for him?”

“That's life, and I've accepted my fate.”

She bit her lips. “But still…”

“I need to get a job.” I looked at her. “I want to do anything in my power to avenge my parents and show Britney that I wasn't a convict!”

Zora was quiet for a moment. Then she held my hand. “I understand you, Ariadne. But how will you avenge your parents? They died on the tria day. I purposely didn't tell you during my visits because…” she stopped.

“I wasn't blaming you. I didn't blame my uncle who toon my parents wealth for himself either, I'm blaming myself.” the words tasted bitter. “I let them take me for granted. I killed Dad and Mum with my foolishness, Zora.”

“No, Aria. You didn't…”

“I did.” The tears came quietly. “I gave Xavier thier limitless card. Britney used my things. I did gave them that chance, Zora. BUT I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK!”

Zora stared at me for a long moment, as if she was studying me. “Alright, she got back to her feet. I'll support you. But….”

“But what?”

“I will not allow you to give your heart to any motherfucker”

I blinked. “I'm not marrying anyone, but…”

“No Buts” she sounds affirmative. “Men are snakes now. And we must kill them especially cheaters!”

I nodded in agreement. She went to her room, and came back holding an envelope. "Do you remember the investment? The Xiaoyao Ltd shares we both put money into before you left?"

“Yes?”

“It paid off” Zora said, fetching the papers in the file. “I managed both shares while you were inside. I didn't touch yours — not a single penny. I didn't even mention it during my visits because I didn't want to give you hope over something that could still fall apart. But the final payout cleared two weeks ago,” She gave me the file folder “So, You're not broke, Aria. Let's get the revenge started!”

My hands trembled as I opened the envelope. She spoke really fast, I couldn't follow her words but immediately I saw the figures on the statement, my heart dropped. “Wh…what?”

“I was also shocked when I saw the return amount, babe” she sat beside me.

Two years ago before the cases, I'd casually invested in Xiaoyao for fun and t satisfy Zoey who pestering me by then. Xavier said it was a waste of time, an Britney made me forget it with her procrastination.

Who knows this is how I make a break out?

“Zora, This is…"

"I know," she said again, smiling and pulling me to her chest. “You don't need a job. You need a fighter who will stand in front of you while you…”

“I shall fight for myself.”

I set the papers down on the table. Something moved in my chest — Hope.

Zora kept this all along, faithfully and diligently while the people I trusted with my life showed me to jail.

For Zora, For my parents, I shall fight this battle and win!

***

The next evening, Zora refused to let me ponder in peace.

"We're going for dinner," she announced, tossing a jacket at me. "Don't argue.”

I have no choice than to obey her. She could be stubborn too.

She took me to a rooftop restaurant in the city centre, of Xiaoyao projects in our city.

Zora loved partying, we danced, drank and ate. Almost making me feel human again.

During the second glass, two men approaches us.

“Hey, isn't this Ariadne?” Damien, Zora's brother asked.

I toasted with him, while Zora rushed over to join us.

The man beside him was not laughing, or replying the pleasantries as Zora tried to greet him.

He stood with a particular aura that made him interesting without trying too much.

I don't know why my heart suddenly feel like trusting him. Noticing my gaze, Damien pulled his arm. “Oh I forget to introduce, Meet Kingsley. My oldest friend. He's in the military.”

"Hi," Kingsley's tone was low, like he wasn't interested. “Nice to meet you”

Zora's laughter and excitement was over the moon. “What do you do with the company? Or aren't you the one leading your father's company?”

“I run it too.” His lips pressed to a tight smile. “It's… there.”

Damien and Zora left Kingsley with me when a call from home arrived. I don’t know why but I felt entitled and attached to Kingsley.

Swallowing my nervousness, I offereed my hand. “I'm Ariadne Morgan. Nice to meet you…Mr Garvin?”

“Kings” his cheeks moved this time but it wasn't a smile — it was a smirk.

We drank in silence while we waited for Zora and her brother. The tension was terse, I almosst fell asleep.

“Are you perhaps from a rich family?”

I frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“Your name sounds familiar…” he leaned closer and pulled my jaw. “Familiar to someone I badly want to kill right now.”

My heart seized. “What…do you mean?”

“Britney!” He leaned away, finished his glass with a hint of sadness. “Britney left me at the behest of her sister, Ariadne. And if you are that Ariadne, I'm sorry, I will not show you any mercy.”

Drowsiness drained from my eyes. I blinked to see him clearly.

How could I miss this?

“You…You're Britney's boyfriend?”