The Aftermath ❄️ Gabriella's Solitude on the Snowy Hill
The air in the cabin on the snowy hill was crisp and cold, even with the crackling fire in the stone hearth. Outside, massive pine trees stood silent, dusted with a fresh, glittering layer of snow. This was the luxurious resort , but for Gabriella, it felt like a cage of memories.
She was tucked beneath a thick, woolen duvet, a simple but elegant white silk nightgown clinging to her. She tried to close her eyes, to drift off, but the darkness was no escape.
Slap.
The sound echoed in her mind. Not the sound of the slap itself, but the shock of it. It was the moment, hours ago, at the after-night campfire, when Jake, the boy she was supposed to hate, had stepped between her and a screaming crowd. He hadn't just spoken; he had forcefully silenced Erica with a harsh, open-handed slap across the face, right in front of everyone.
He stood for me.
The realization was a sharp needle of confusion. Jake, her on-again, off-again enemy. He had risked everything—his reputation, a major scandal—to defend her honor. Why?
Every time her eyelids dropped, she saw Jake's fierce, protective glare, and the sudden, vulnerable sting in Erica's eyes. It was a chaotic storm of deep, conflicting emotions: a triumphant rush of validation, a sickening knot of guilt for the humiliation Erica suffered, and a confusing, undeniable warmth in her chest.
Don't diverted.
A voice whispered from the back of her mind, dragging her back to the original plan: Revenge.
Gabriella sat up, pulling the duvet tighter. She knew she was falling. Falling for the act, or worse, falling for him. She ran a hand over her face, the warmth of a tear tracing a path on her cheek.
I have a job to do. I won't lose focus.
🥃 Dona's Downward Spiral
Miles away, in a dimly lit, pulsing city club, the air was thick with the scent of cheap cologne and desperation. Dona sat alone in a secluded velvet booth. She looked small, swallowed by the thumping bass and the swirling, strobing lights. She wore a simple, distressed black mini-dress, her makeup smudged, reflecting her inner turmoil.
Glass after glass of some brightly colored, sugary drink disappeared. She was upset, but the alcohol couldn't drown out the toxic, repetitive thought: Why was her Webnovel contract rejected?
She was pouring her heart and soul—her future—into this passion project, and the cold, corporate world had just slapped it away. She leaned her forehead heavily onto the cool, sticky table, defeated.
Suddenly, a presence.
A perfectly chiseled hand gently tapped her shoulder. Dona slowly raised her head, blinking at the source. He was handsome, with piercing blue eyes and a confident, slightly arrogant smirk.
"Who are you?" Dona mumbled, confused and disoriented.
"Are you alone here?" the boy asked, his voice smooth.
Dona nodded, a slow, drunk movement.
"If you don't mind," he leaned closer, "shall you join a dance with me?"
Before she could form a reply, a hand, solid and possessive, landed heavily on her shoulder. Dona shot up in shock.
"What do you want?" a familiar, cool voice cut through the noise.
It was Ajax. He was effortlessly chic in a tailored black shirt, his presence like a sudden blast of cold air in the hot club.
The unknown boy faltered. "Are you..."
"She is my girlfriend," Ajax stated flatly.
Dona's eyes widened, a flicker of bewildered sobriety returning. Ajax leaned in, his lips brushing her ear, and gave her a quick, almost imperceptible wink. The stranger muttered a quick "Sorry," and quickly walked away.
Dona immediately turned to Ajax. "What did you say? Girlfriend?"
Ajax instantly removed his hand, his playful mask dropping to reveal a serious, worried expression. He snatched her glass. "Stop drinking. You can't see who is bad or right, can you?" he whispered urgently.
"I know," Dona muttered, still dazed and drunk. "You overreacted."
Before she could say more, Ajax saw the cute, pouting mess on her face—the one only a true friend would recognize. He melted for a second, then quickly moved his eyes away.
Dona stood up on wobbly legs. "I will drop you," Ajax insisted.
"No, I can drive myself," she slurred.
Ajax snatched her car key right out of her hand and started walking, leaving her with no choice but to follow.
A few minutes later, in his car, Ajax drove in silence. Dona suddenly started to cry, a painful, raw sound.
"What happened?" Ajax panicked, pulling over momentarily.
"I failed," she sobbed into her hands.
"Failed? Oh, is that why you're drunk? Which subject, History?"
"Idiot!" Dona cried.
"What? Me?" Ajax gasped, truly shocked.
"Yes! Listen properly! I failed... my parents were right. I didn't want to follow the same path, but I still did... but my full focus was on my passion... I wrote a novel, but almost all my hard work went..." She couldn't finish the sentence, dissolved in tears.
"Don't cry," Ajax asked softly, worried. "What happened?"
"My novel got rejected!"
Ajax didn't know how to confront this deep sorrow. He just worried, unsure how to fix something so fundamental. Dona suddenly leaned her head onto his shoulder, seeking refuge. He stiffened in surprise, glancing at her tear-stained face while still driving. He left her there, letting her cry.
💥 The Confrontation and the Truce
The next morning, the resort hotel was a flurry of activity. Workers hung shimmering banners and twinkling lights in preparation for the New Year's Eve gala.
Gabriella, dressed casually in dark jeans and a comfortable, oversized cream sweater, walked purposefully. She caught sight of Elisabeth near the entrance, looking perfectly groomed and smug.
Gabriella moved like a predator, grabbing Elisabeth's arm and slamming her against a pillar wall near a lavish floral arrangement. Elisabeth flinched for a split second, then saw it was Gabriella, and her face went cold.
"What do you want, Gabriella?" she demanded, unfazed.
Gabriella's eyes, usually a soft grey, were hard and demanded answers. "Why did you plan to kill me? Not once, but twice? I know it was you."
"Yes. Me," Elisabeth stated, a venomous smile curving her lips. "What will you do about it?"
Gabriella's grip loosened in disbelief. Elisabeth took the opportunity, pushing Gabriella away.
"Why?" Gabriella's face was serious.
Elisabeth chuckled, a sound full of malice. "Don't you forget. I won't allow you to live normally until you leave Jake."
Gabriella scoffed, the sound dripping with derision. "Because of that? Okay, then, take him. I don't want him. I am not fighting for him like some crazy girl."
Elisabeth smiled, victory already tasting sweet.
Gabriella leaned in, her voice dropping to a straight, ice-cold tone. "But... even if I leave him, he still won't accept you. Loser."
Elisabeth's smile vanished, her eyes blazing with raw anger. Gabriella smirked, the look of knowing contempt settling on her face, and calmly walked away.
A little later, outside in the lightly falling snow, Gabriella saw a small crowd gathered. A hush of panic hung over them.
She rushed to the circle. "What happened?"
"Someone fainted!"
Pushing past the students, Gabriella gasped. It was Lara, pale and collapsed in the snow. Gabriella immediately tapped her face.
"Lara? Lara!"
Ronnie appeared, breathless, carrying a small bottle of medicine.
"Where did you go? Why did you leave her alone?" Gabriella demanded, furious.
"I went to take her medicine!" Ronnie explained, helping a slowly reviving Lara swallow the necessary dose.
Lara slowly sat up. "Are you okay, Lara?" Gabriella asked, concern overriding her anger.
Lara's eyes, usually bright, were unfocused. Ronnie repeated the question. Lara nodded weakly.
"Lift her," Gabriella commanded. Ronnie scooped Lara into his arms.
Minutes later, in Lara's room, Gabriella sat on the bed beside her. Ronnie went out to get food.
"Are you still angry with me, Gabriella?" Lara asked, her voice quiet but normal.
"No," Gabriella sighed. "You're the one who ignored me since you were with your boyfriend."
Lara chuckled, a painful sound. "Are you saying that to me? Did you even listen when I tried to talk about Jake?"
Gabriella exhaled slowly. "Because... you didn't listen to me before so, I didn't."
Lara smiled. Gabriella looked closely at her friend's face. "Do you want anything?"
Lara thought for a moment. "Water?"
"No," Lara whispered. "I want you as my old friend. Old Gabriella."
Gabriella smiled, a genuine, warm smile. "I am still the same for you."
Lara suddenly hugged Gabriella, tears finally escaping. "You don't know how painful it was for me without talking to you."
"Me too," Gabriella murmured, holding her friend tightly. The armor of revenge cracked slightly under the weight of genuine friendship.
💥 The Final Act
That night. New Year's Eve. The Grand Hall of the hotel was throbbing with a DJ party. Couple of hours left.
Gabriella was in a stunning, form-fitting midnight blue dress that shimmered like a thousand tiny stars. She sat alone in a dark corner, the lights and noise a distant chaos.
Her phone buzzed: Ajax.
She answered, stepping out into a quiet, carpeted hallway. "Hello?"
"I can't hear you. Could you please come outside?" Ajax's voice was strained. "I need to tell you something important."
"What is it?"
"The video... the one of you kissing Jake on the Truth or Dare game, the one that leaked on the school forum when you first came to Brighton?" he hesitated. "That was done by Jake himself."
Gabriella froze. The cold hall suddenly felt colder. "What? Him?"
"I got the information," Ajax said, his voice low and serious. "The server logs show his phone ID."
"But..."
"I know you like him, but don't trust a wrong person who is acting against your backside," he warned.
Gabriella felt a confused whirlwind. "But... he was my enemy then, not now. He won't do anything... I believe him," she said, her voice turning cold and defensive.
"Gabriella, what if he planned the second incident too? To spread rumors about us?"
Gabriella shouted, "He wasn't!" Then, she forced a calm. "Sorry. But... I don't want to talk about it."
She hung up, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs.
She re-entered the DJ area. Across the hall, she saw Jake. He was handsome in a black velvet jacket, his smile warm as he met her eyes. She smiled back, a cold, empty gesture.
Suddenly, the DJ music cut out. All lights focused on the massive screen behind the stage.
A slideshow began, displaying joyful photos of Brighton wisdom school students from various festivals: Raina, Selina, Han, Ronnie, Lara... and on the opposite side: Erica, Harry, Anitta.
Gabriella counted down in her mind: 3... 2... 1...
Her lips curved into a tiny, knowing smirk, lit by the sudden spotlight.
Then, the final photo. It wasn't a photo. It was a video.
It showed Anitta and Harry kissing passionately in the pine forest at night.
Erica gasped, her eyes widening in total disbelief. Anitta and Harry panicked, looking like they'd seen a ghost. Every student murmured, and the hall filled with shocked whispers.
Jake's eyes snapped to Gabriella from across hallway. He whispered, a hint of admiration mixed with rage. "It's your plan, right?" He smirked.
Erica spun toward Harry and slapped him hard. Before she could slap him again, Harry grabbed her wrist. Erica was livid. She turned, ready to hit Anitta, but Harry stepped in front of his new lover.
"Are you protecting your secret lover?" Erica roared. "Why did you cheat on me?"
Harry's voice was cold. "You are the one who cheated on me. Weren't you chasing Han behind my back? Do you think I don't know?"
"I chased him before I dated you, not behind your back!" Erica screamed.
"Whatever," Harry said dismissively. "Anitta is my girlfriend. Not you."
Erica roared in fury, but Harry grabbed Anitta's hand and walked away, disappearing into the now-chattering crowd.
Erica stood like a statue, her face pale, her eyes burning red with humiliation. The crowd, forgetting the fireworks, gossiped about Erica, the Queen Bee dethroned.
Gabriella approached her target. She stood close and whispered in her ear.
"How are you feeling now? Humiliation?"
Erica's eyes locked onto Gabriella's. Gabriella walked a slow circle around the statue of pain.
"Your own boyfriend cheated on you," she stated coldly, looking straight at Erica's face. "This is why you have to focus on your own life rather than prying on others. Do you understand why? Because look at yourself: you lost what you considered most important in your life... your boyfriend."
She smiled, a cold, victorious curve of her lips.
Erica stared, unblinking, before finally speaking, her voice a hollow shell. "It was you, right?"
Gabriella leaned in, her voice husky and low, right next to Erica's ear.
"Yes. My New Year gift to you. Happy New Erica."
Erica's face went completely cold, void of all expression. Gabriella smiled one last time and walked away, blending into the crowd heading out to see the fireworks.
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To be Continued....
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