Crowned In Envy
I never thought she’d hit me.
The sting on my cheek was sharp, but not nearly as painful as the silence that followed. Roxanne’s hand hung frozen midair, her breathing heavy — eyes glassy with something between anger and heartbreak.
For a moment, all I could do was stare at her. The room felt too small, suffocating, as if the walls themselves were listening. The smell of coffee and rain filled the air, but it did nothing to cut through the weight pressing on my chest.
“How can you not see it, Eve?” she said, voice trembling. “He’s using you.”
Ryan.
The name alone was enough to tighten my grip on the edge of the table. I shook my head, forcing out a laugh that sounded weaker than I wanted it to. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Rox. You never liked him from the start.”
Her jaw tightened, eyes flashing with something unreadable. “Because I see him for who he is! You’re just—” She stopped, swallowing hard. “You’re just too blinded to notice.”
That’s when I snapped.
I stood up, my voice rising without meaning to. “Why are you doing this? Are you that jealous of him? Or is this just your way of controlling me again?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I saw her flinch. Her eyes — those same eyes that once looked at me with quiet understanding — now looked shattered. “You really think that little of me?” she whispered.
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because part of me did believe it.
She exhaled shakily, tears threatening to spill but never falling. “You think I want to break you two up because I like Ryan?” Her voice cracked on his name, like saying it hurt her. “God, Eve, I’m trying to protect you.”
“From what?” I shot back, feeling my throat tighten. “From being happy?”
And that’s when she slapped me.
The sound echoed — sharp, final. The kind of sound that doesn’t fade from memory.
Her eyes were wide with regret, but she didn’t apologize. She just stood there, staring at me like she wanted to say a thousand things but couldn’t find the right one.
Then she turned and walked away.
And I let her.
Because at that moment, all I could think was that Roxanne wasn’t the person I thought she was.
She wasn’t my best friend.
She wasn’t my safe place.
She was the one who wanted to ruin everything I loved.
At least, that’s what I thought.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments