My chest burned with frustration. “You really don’t see it, do you, Kelvin? You don’t see how she plays you—how she plays *everyone*.”
Patricia gasped, her hand over her mouth like I’d hurt her with my words. “Lucille, please,” she whispered. “I just want us to be close again. You were my best friend…”
I wanted to scream the truth, to make him see her for what she really was, but I knew it was pointless. Patricia had him wrapped around her finger, and no matter how much I tried, she’d made sure I’d only look like the villain.
AI let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head as I took a step back. “You know what? I’m done with this little game. “Believe whatever you want, Patricia. If lying about me helps you feel better about yourself, go right ahead.” I turned to Kelvin, feeling the sting of his betrayal like a knife. “But you, Kelvin… you don’t deserve to know the truth anymore.”
He frowned, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I took a deep breath, letting the weight of it all sink in. “It means I’m done. I’m done trying to prove myself to someone who never wanted to believe me in the first place.”