Liana's POV:
I frowned; shock was maybe clear in my eyes. Before I could say a word, Ethilia somehow managed to shove me away and walk straight out of the theater room.
I ran a hand through my hair and leaned back against the couch, muttering under my breath, "What's wrong with her? Is something bothering her?"
The thought was unsettling for me. I wasn't ready for her to have any problem after she had finally found peace.... or at least I thought she had, and I wasn't ready to see her fall apart again.
With a sigh, I turned off the huge screen in front of me but stayed where I was. I just closed my eyes, trying to slow down my heartbeat, giving myself a moment to breathe.
A gentle hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see Laura and Char. Laura sat beside me, while Char dragged a chair and sat across from us.
"Care to share what's spinning in that mind of yours?" Laura asked softly, taking my hand and tracing lazy shapes on my palm.
I exhaled and ran another hand through my hair. "Yeah… Ethilia's been acting strange lately."
Char and Laura exchanged a look, then both smirked. Laura pulled her hand away and slung an arm around my shoulder. "Babe, besides being good in bed, are you really that naïve?" She was teasing, I can say it.
I crossed my arms and raised a brow, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Char cleared her throat, "No offense. Just facts."
I frowned. The way they knew where to hit was always annoying. I pushed Laura away and pointed a finger at her. "Just say it. What are you seeing that I'm too blind to notice?"
Just then, I heard the door open softly. Before I could react, Laura swiftly took the finger I was pointing toward her inside her mouth and closed her lips around it.
My jaw dropped at her audacity... What on earth was she even doing? She just looked at me, and I could clearly see she was trying to prove something.
I tried to pull my hand back, but she caught my wrist and actually sucked on my finger. A sharp gasp escaped me... not from excitement, but pure shock.
I turned to Char, wishing she would help, but surprisingly, she wasn't even looking at me. Her gaze was fixed on the doorway, a knowing smirk curving her lips.
My eyes widen as I realize maybe there was actually... Ethilia on the door. I swallowed hard and felt my body go cold.
I slowly turned my head toward the door, praying it wasn't who I thought it was. but my soul left my body, seeing her eyes locked on Laura's lips… and my finger.
Her fists clenched at her sides, her jaw tight enough to crack. Rage and hurt burned behind her eyes.
I could say she was ready to murder my lovely friend, whom I certainly wanna murder at this time too. But I was frozen. My mind wasn't registering anything, and maybe that was obvious.
I wanted to say something, anything, but before I could, she turned and slammed the door shut so hard the wall shook.
"Oi!" Char jumped up, catching the photo frame beside the door before it fell. "That costs more than a thousand dollars, damn it."
Laura finally let go of my finger, wiping her lips with a tissue like nothing had happened. She tossed one at me. "Wipe up, and hope your finger was clean."
I opened my mouth to say something, but no word came out. Char came back, plopping down in her chair.
"We're on the right track," she said casually. Laura hummed in agreement, a satisfied smirk on her face.
I slowly wiped my finger. I could feel my hands shaking, and my heartbeat pounding in my chest. Not because I was turned on by Laura, but because I was fucking terrified by the look in Ethilia's eyes.
I swallowed hard and pressed a hand against my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. Char and Laura were still laughing like idiots, and before I could even collect myself, Laura flicked my forehead.
"You know, Liana," she started, smirking, "when I found out that maybe I wasn't that much into you?"
I raised a brow and tilted my head, confused. My heart finally slowed a little as her words sank in. I honestly had no idea when or how she decided she wasn't in love, that it had just been attraction.
"When I heard about you and Ethilia," she said, walking to the window beside me and pushing it open. "It didn't make me jealous. I just… felt bad for you."
Moonlight filled the room, and it was beautiful... But also the heaviness didn't go.. It remained.
Char stepped closer and rested a warm hand on my shoulder. "You need to go back to town soon. Your fans are waiting for you. And this time," she said, quoting the word with her fingers, "we can't leave your love life hanging on a 'maybe.'"
That word hit me like a damn punch to the chest. Maybe.
I remember the last time I left, heartbroken and promising myself I'd never come back.
It was so sudden… seeing the woman I loved kissing someone else, right in the place I had decorated to make our night special. That memory never really left me.
Even now, it made my eyes teary and my hands go cold.. I was on my knees, holding a beautiful ring for her... Everyone was waiting with balloons and party poppers to celebrate. But then… Ethilia stepped back with that smirk.
"You think I'll accept you? Do you even deserve me? You're just a rich, spoiled bully. You're not even worth loving."
Her mocking laugh still echoed in my ears, the coldness in her voice broke me, my happiness and excitement, fully.
Then her so-called lover stepped forward, holding her hand proudly before announcing they were together.
They kissed right there, the very place I had decorated and prepared to make her mine. Everyone was left stunned.
Everyone except Char. She was the only one who came to me, held me when I couldn't even cry.
I remember her arms around me, her voice whispering something I didn't even catch. She pulled me out of that room, away from the humiliation, away from the heartbreak.
Now, just remembering it made my hands shake again. Char must've noticed, because she pulled me into a hug with her arms firm around me.
"Shh… I swear, I never wanted you back with Ethilia. Never," she said with a trembling voice. "When I heard you were helping her, I wanted her to suffer for what she did to you."
She pulled back and cupped my cheeks, her thumbs brushing away tears I didn't even realize were falling. "But how could I? She's a woman too… and seeing how her pain still hurts you.... I just couldn't."
Laura reached over and patted Char's shoulder. "Alright, drama queens. We're here to talk strategy, not trauma dumps."
I breathed out shakily, trying to steady myself. Laura caught my cold hands and rubbed them between hers, her tone turning teasing again.
"I swear, Liana's spent more money on psychologists than on skincare. Her therapist probably bought a new house with her cash. Maybe now, let her spend her money on herself instead of mental health, huh?"
I chuckled at her poor try to put humor in that and smacked her arm lightly. Char smiled softly, though it looked more sad than happy.
Wiping my face, I took a deep breath and hummed softly, "Hmm… so what were you guys even doing?"
Laura smirked, crossing her arms. "I was saying, jealousy only hits hard when you really love someone. It's the kind of jealousy you don't want to admit… but you feel it in your bones."
I narrowed my eyes at her. She was definitely speaking from experience.
"And that's exactly what we'll do," Char added, her smirk matching Laura's as she walked toward the door. She gestured for us to follow.
I honestly had no clue what the hell they were planning, but I knew one thing for sure: I could trust these two bitches with my whole life. Blindly.