Chapter 10 SKYLA'S POV

My life had been going downhill, with no escape route. Right now, I was curled up on the makeshift vanity table Ed had placed in my room.

My mouth slightly parted on confusion as I watched Ed try to convince me to go to the annual ball after the incident with the mayor two days ago

I scoffed in disbelief, glaring at him. "You can't be serious, right?

I watched him clear his throat, his jaw ticking with frustration. "I am dead serious" he said in a firm voice, not backing down from my glare. "You need to make new connections, Sky. we are going under if you do not use this opportunity."

I hissed sharply, my nostrils flaring with anger as I watched him drop the invitation letter on my nightstand table.

A tight smile spreading on his face. "You don't have a choice, Sky. I would ring Steph, we need to make you look presentable"

And with that, he was gone, not even bothering to ask me if I was good. I mean Xavier's sea green orbs still haunted me.

I just needed a break from all of this, honestly. I needed a break from all the lies and deceit that had been woven into my life lately.

I just wanted my life back, honestly. I wanted to wake up in the morning and bask in nature while I ate a bag of chips while thinking of my next novel.

Now, even that wasn't mine again, it was fucking Tanya's, I clenched my jaw tightly, sparks of anger traversing down my veins.

I growled softly into my palm, running my hands aggressively through my hair.

I stared at the invitation card on my vanity, long after Ed had left, my mind travelling down several lanes as I gently traced my name that was embossed with gold lettering. Taunting me like a veiled omen.

The Annual Manhattan Gala

If you had asked me weeks ago what I thought about this event, I would have been giddy with excitement, happy that I could at least get to play dress up.

But now, I wasn't so sure I let out a shaky sigh, my hands stilling over the cursive lettering of my name.

The thought of walking into that ballroom, drowning in fake smiles, and whispered judgements made my stomach churn incessantly. I could already taste their deceit at the tip of my tongue, but I needed this anyway. If I ever wanted to get my life back, I had to. For Ed's sake, my mom's, and even mine.

I couldn't let one setback put my life on hold.

I also needed to show face, to prove to Xavier and his musketeers that I wasn't broken and wanted them to see that they could try.

But they would never break me.

The rumours hadn't even died down after several weeks. It has been relentless. My name was being dragged through the mud in ways I couldn't comprehend. Headlines twisted certain stories, painting me as the bad guy, social media turned cruel, and the friend's that I had once trusted with my entire life had already turned their backs against me.

I had spent weeks, weeks trying to put out the fire he started.

Xavier Anderson.

The man I had once loved more than anything in my entire world. The man who was now hell bent on destroying my life.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and reached for my phone, the chime of my notification, alerting me that I had one new message.

"Steph would be there in three, love Ed."

I groaned internally, gently running my hands through my hair. The tangled mess caused me to sigh out in frustration

A hurried knock sounded just outside my door, sharp, urgent, and consistent

"The door is open Steph" I called out, trying to pick out the perfect dress for the Gala.

But instead, it was Ed's panicked face that greeted me, a huge scowl painted in big letters across his face.

A fresh wave of anxiety gripped me, I couldn't deal with another problem. At least not now, not when I was barely just picking the shattered pieces of my broken life.

"Sky" Ed's voice came through, sharp and urgent.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my pulse racing

"It's Xavier, he knows."

My breath hitched, and I could already feel a migraine coming up. "Knows what?"

He paused, trying to get a read on my emotions, but I wasn't giving him any hint. "Everything"

The room spun. I gripped the edge of my vanity, my nails digging into the wood. "That's impossible. No one knows except........

"I don't know how, but he does. And he's not stopping Sky. He is taking this public."

My blood turned cold.

He was out for blood, and he was coming for me without even missing a bit. He knew where exactly to hit.

And he was doing a damn fucking good job.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to steady my breathing. "Where's Steph?

"Sky_?"

I snapped. "Where is Steph, I can't afford to go late for the Gala, can I?

He struggled for what to say, his eyes begging me to think this through. But I was done being weak if Xavier was hell bent on ruining my life even after all the pain his family had caused. Then, I was mistaken.

I was going to take my own pound of flesh, and I was going to make sure I took my own pound of flesh.

"Send Steph to my room when she gets here" I said in a voice, cold enough to slice through ice.

I was done with all of this, some with all the deceits, the lies, the..... the manipulations and whatnots.

I waited patiently for Ed to leave, his shoulder slumped like I had denied him candy.

I searched around for the note that I had taken from the gift Xavier's father had dropped the other day, my hands shaking slightly as I couldn't find it anywhere. The only thing I had in my possession as proof was missing.

But I didn't have time to fall apart, not now.

Not when I was about to walk straight into the lion's den.