"Why is it that you take the fall for every mistake, while Haynes gets to just disappear and live his life unscathed?"


    Rachel''s grip on her phone tightened suddenly.


    Yeah, Haynes was the one who initiated the divorce. The house and the studio- he gave those up willingly. If he hadn''t wanted to, no one could have forced him. And yet, now she was the one left carrying all the me and public scorn.


    Joshua''s voice came through again. "Don''t you ever think about getting back at Haynes before you leave Aetheria for good? You''re leaving anyway-what''s left to be afraid of?"


    Revenge?


    Rachel felt the blood in her veins grow cold.


    Haynes had power, connections. He wasn''t someone she could just mess with and walk away unscathed.


    She hesitated, then said, "Getting back at Ste would be easier than going after Haynes... Maybe I should focus on her instead?"


    Joshua replied, “Ste''s got those bodyguards around her, and they''re no joke. Even I''d have a hard time getting close. Rachel, if you try and fail, you''ll end up in prison, and there''s not much I can do to get you out. If Haynes wants to prove his loyalty to Ste by making your life hell behind bars, I wouldn''t be able to stop him."


    Rachel shivered. "Then what do you think I should do?"


    Joshua answered, "Haynes and Ste are your enemies. Even if you''re leaving Aetheria, you can''t just let them ride off into the sunset together. After all this, Haynes is sure to chase after Ste, probably beg her to take him back. Everything you did was just some test of their rtionship-none of it mattered in the end."


    He paused for a moment, and then added, "By the way... the reason Ste went public with your dirtyundry was because Haynes had someone spread rumors about me that I was some rich woman''s ything, that I was sleeping with Ste. Ste was furious that Haynes would nder her like that, so she retaliated by leaking your secrets."


    Rachel clenched her teeth.


    Even before all this, Haynes had been obsessed with getting Ste back. Now, he''d only double down.


    Joshua was right. Even if she was leaving, she couldn''t let them get away with it.


    The thought simmered inside her, and Rachel began to form a n.


    She said to Joshua, "Give me a little more time. Let me settle the score with them before we leave Aetheria."


    After all, whenever she was ready,


    would take her away.


    before she left, she was


    city upside down. Conto


    After hanging up, Rachel called Jasper.


    Half an hourter, the doorbell rang.


    flip


    A cold gleam shed in Rachel''s eyes. She nced at the empty wine bottles scattered around the room? grabbed another from the table, and took a long, hard swallow. Only then did she stagger to her feet and open the door.


    "Rachel, why are you staying here—"


    Jasper stopped mid-sentence, catching the heavy scent of alcohol on Rachel.


    "Rachel, have you been drinking?"


    Rachel put on her best act, slurring


    she threw her arms around Jasper''s waist.


    J and stumbling. Without


    "Haynie... Haynie, you came..."


    Jasper startled, instinctively pushing her away. "Rachel, you''re drunk."


    But the shove knocked Rachel off bnce, and she tumbled to the floor. Jasper hurried to help her up.


    "Rachel, I''m sorry, I''m so sorry!"


    But as soon as Jasper got her back on her feet, Rachel pressed her lips to his in a desperate, hungry kiss.


    "Haynie... take me..."