Leah's pov:
As I watched Maddie crumble in front of me, her heart shattered by the fallout of our actions, my own guilt gnawed at me. Memories of how this all started, of the deal I made with Ruesha, flooded my mind in a sickening rush.
It had been a few weeks ago, in a quiet corner of a pub far from prying eyes. Ruesha had approached me with a proposal, her intentions clear from the start.
"I want Emily and Maddie to break up," she had said, her tone cold and calculating. "And I want you to help me."
I had stared at her, confusion and suspicion warring in my mind. "Why would I do that, Ruesha?"
"Because," she had replied, leaning in closer, her eyes gleaming with malice, "Maddie hurt you too, remember? She hurt a lot of people with her selfishness. This is your chance to get back at her."
The words had struck a chord. I remembered the pain Maddie had caused me in the past, the way she had manipulated and used people to get what she wanted. But even then, the idea of deliberately hurting her felt wrong.
"What exactly do you want me to do?" I had asked, wary but intrigued.
Ruesha's smile had been unsettling. "Make Maddie fall in love with you. And then, break her heart. But first, we need to get rid of Emily. I'll handle that part."
"And how do you plan to do that?" I had asked, skepticism lacing my voice.
She had explained her plan, detailing how she would bring up Maddie's past to stir up trouble, how she would create doubt and mistrust between Emily and Maddie. The final part of the plan was the kiss, something Ruesha had orchestrated to ensure Emily saw the betrayal firsthand.
"You need to kiss Maddie where I can get a clear picture," she had said. "Make sure she sees it. That's the final nail in the coffin."
I had hated the idea, every part of it. But I also remembered the hurt Maddie had caused, the manipulation and deceit. And a part of me, a small, vindictive part, wanted to see her pay for it.
Reluctantly, I had agreed. "Fine, I'll do it. But this ends with the kiss. I'm not dragging it out any further."
Ruesha had nodded, satisfied. "Deal."
Now, sitting beside Maddie, watching her break down because of what we had done, I felt a deep sense of remorse. I had let my own bitterness and Ruesha's manipulations push me into something cruel and heartless.
Maddie looked up at me, her eyes filled with pain. "Why did this happen, Leah? How did it get so messed up?"
I forced myself to maintain a comforting facade, though the guilt was overwhelming. "I don't know, Maddie. But we'll get through this."
Inside, I was torn. I wanted to tell her the truth, to confess my part in Ruesha's scheme, but the damage was already done. And admitting it now would only make things worse.
As Maddie's tears fell, I silently vowed to find a way to make things right, to somehow atone for my part in this mess. I had betrayed her trust, just like Ruesha wanted, but I couldn't keep lying to myself or to Maddie.
For now, I needed to be there for her, to help her navigate the fallout of our actions. And maybe, in time, I would find the courage to tell her the whole truth. But that moment of confession would have to wait. Right now, Maddie needed support, not more betrayal.
As I sat beside Maddie, trying to comfort her amidst the chaos of our situation, the guilt and confusion inside me grew more intense. Ruesha's manipulative plans had ensnared us both, and even though I knew what we had done was wrong, I felt trapped in the web she had spun.
