Chapter 86 - Fated Encounter

Peace and happiness were always shortlived.

Even though Prisana has chosen to abandon her old life and start anew with her life's hopes and dreams, life always came crashing down when you least expected it to.

When she spotted Dane's beastly form emerge from the golden doors to the VIP room, she quickly ran from Bailey and the devil to make her escape. She was grinning as she escaped but soon bumped into a girl in front of her and accidentaly knocked her purse down. Prisana bent down to retrieve it and hand it over to the girl but her smile faltered.

Her breath was nearly knocked away by life's surprises.

Erica.

Compared to the last time they met and were digging the other's throats out, she had dyed her hair a brilliant platinum blond.

She stood in front of Prisana with a deep and dark purple dress that hugged the curves of her slender waist and large bossom. The dress elegantly draped onto the floor in ruffles. Erica's dark eyes reflected the same amount of emotions such as surprise and complete uncertainty.

To Prisana's relief, Erica wasn't the man of her regrets but instead Erica held the arms of another man.

Erica and Prisana both stood there, each slowly taking the other in.

She whispered something into her date's ears and then walked over. But Prisana made the first bold move to turn away.

"Wait," came Erica's sad voice.

Prisana ignored her and kept walking, making sure to keep a low profile from the beast.

By now, Erica kept following her and she grew so frustrated she had to turn over and nearly hiss out, "What do you want from me?"

"I'm not with him anymore."

"Good for you," she tried to turn around again, thinking Erica was finished.

Erica caught her arm and pulled her to the side. "Listen to me. I need to tell you something."

"I don't care about you or Giovanni. I've moved on. Now let me go!"

"I'm sorry."

Her heart faltered. These words were like a sharp knife. Sweet yet deadly.

"...Too late."

"You don't have to forgive me but I want to confess my sins and move on too."

Prisana kept quiet, balling her fists to her sides.

In every story there was always the protagonist who seeked revenge. Revenge was too overused. She found her happiness in Dane and through her new school life that awaited. Her fists softened to her sides as she gazed at the woman she once loved, who would never become a part of her life in this lifetime.

She sighed wholeheartedly because she was simply tired.

Tired of her past that kept finding it's way back to her when she wanted to leave it all behind. It was like the universe was bent on having her face things left unfinished. There was still the senator and Giovanni but she was running away and she knew it.

The first step to facing her past would be to end things with Erica. This was it. She braced herself.

"I'll never forgive you but if we can end without any uneccasary face slapping, then confess your sins."

"I've always been jealous of you. Why did you have everything and I didn't? Even the man I loved, loved you. It was like I was your shadow. Truly, I was going to be content just being your shadow my whole life if my best friend and sister and the man I loved lived happily together. And yet...That night changed everything. It was when I found Gio passed out drunk. He was with one of my male friends so I recieved word since he knew I liked him. It was never my intention to betray you because I loved you both but Gio...That night, he was truly broken and he asked to hold me so I gave him everything and even now!...Even now, he still loves you. Giovanni loves you."

He loved her?

Lies.

Prisana's hand crept up to her face as she slowly shook her head, memories flashing back to Giovanni crying before her. "I-I don't believe it."

"Something happened that night. I don't know what but it has something to do with you. Since I've confronted him, I haven't talked to him since and found someone else..."

She patted Prisana's shoulders and bitterly smiled. "I wish the both of you happiness, I really do."

The three of them have known each other since they were kids. In a way, they all began as childhood friends. Things went downhill not becuase of that night. It was because of their betrayal. Prisana was still bitter but in away she actually smiled too.

Without that night that changed their relationship as Erica foretold it and without their betrayal, she would have never found Dane. She would have never been blessed with the husband and beast that consumed all of her heart so she could soar to her limits.

"...You too, Erica," she bitterly whispered and fought the words out so Erica couldn't hear as she walked away.

Maybe in another lifetime they could start over and be friends but the wound was still fresh and cut deep where she couldn't ever trust Erica again.

Prisana turned the other way as they walked separate paths.