LET'S BREAK THEM

CHAPTER 09: THE PROM TRAP

Step 1: Make them underestimate me.

Step 2: Cut off Ben’s reputation.

Step 3: Take everything Arya has.

Step 4: Make Ben have nobody left but me.

Step 5: Walk into their house and burn it down.

Step 6: Use what I found.

Step 7: Make him choose me.

Step 8: End it.

Prom night.

Crystal lights. Red carpet. Cameras flashing every 2 seconds.

The theme was "Midnight in Paris".

String lights. Eiffel Tower cutouts. Fake snow.

How fitting. A fake night for fake people.

Ben picked me up in a black suit. Tie perfect. Jaw tight.

Driver opened the door. No date. No Arya. No smile.

"Ready?" he asked. Voice low. Dead.

I was wearing white. Off-shoulder. The same shade Arya wore last year.

"Ready."

The gym was packed.

500 people. Every phone out. Teachers by the door.

And in the middle of it all... Arya.

Red dress. Diamonds. Hair done. Alone.

Eyes locked on me and Ben the second we walked in.

I saw her grip her clutch until her knuckles went white.

Good.

Let her watch.

Let her feel it.

Ben held my hand. His palm was cold. Shaking a little.

He walked me to the middle of the dance floor.

The DJ lowered the music. The bass cut out.

"Can I have everyone’s attention?" he said into the mic.

His voice echoed off the gym walls.

Silence. 300 people holding their breath.

Phones up. Recording.

"I just want to thank someone. For being there when no one else was."

He looked at me. Only me.

"Kudo."

People clapped. Slow at first. Confused. Whispering.

"Who is that?" "Isn't that the charity girl?"

Arya’s face went pale. Then red. Then pale again.

She knew what was coming.

This was it.

I nodded to Daniel in the back. My one friend. My backup.

Lights out.

Projector on.

Slide 1: Bank transfers. Arya paying 200k for "prom votes".

The numbers were huge on the wall. 200,000.00

Date. Time. Her account.

Slide 2: The diary page. Zoomed in.

"'Dating Ben for the merger. He doesn't know.'"

White letters on black. 3 lines. That’s all it took.

Slide 3: Video of Arya laughing at last year's charity gala.

Audio: "Money makes people loyal. Even boys."

Her voice. Clear. Drunk. Cruel.

Gasps. Phones recording.

Someone screamed. Someone dropped their drink.

"She bought prom queen?" "She used Ben?"

"Kudo," Ben whispered next to me. "What is this?"

His hand dropped from mine. Cold.

I turned to him. Looked him dead in the eyes.

And I smiled. Small. Sad.

"Happy birthday to me, Ben."

The same words he said when he ignored me a year ago.

In front of everyone.

"Who are you?"

Now everyone knew who I was.

Arya started crying. Loud. Ugly. No makeup left.

She grabbed her dress and ran out.

Heels clicking on the gym floor. Door slamming.

Gone.

Nobody followed her.

Ben stood frozen. Realizing.

Realizing I used him.

Realizing I was the one who leaked it.

Realizing he chose the wrong girl in front of 500 people.

I leaned close to his ear. So only he could hear.

"You asked me who I was.

Now you know."

"I'm the girl you forgot.

And I'm the one who ended you."

And I walked away.

Head high.

Back straight.

Didn't look back once.

Outside, the rain started again.

Heavy. Cold. Washing everything.

But this time, I had an umbrella.

Black. Dry. Mine.

I heard sirens in the distance.

Someone probably called the police.

Someone probably called his dad.

Let them.

Revenge complete.

Arya is ruined.

Ben is broken.

The school knows the truth.

But the war?

The war is just getting started.

Because now I have to deal with the Carters.

And they