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444words2026-01-26 09:09

My best friend,Lily,invited me on an overseas trip to relax,but secretly brought her boyfriend along.
On a street in a foreign country,her boyfriend,Jake,used broken English to harass a blonde woman.
He didn’t realize he’d angered her drugged-up Black boyfriend,who pulled out a gun and pointed it at him.

Lily screamed,pushing me forward as a shield,thenshe fled into the crowd with Jake.
A bullet tore through my heart,killing me instantly.
My mother fought relentlessly overseas for justice,but Lily and Jake spread lies online,claiming I was shot for being racist.They profited from my death with their despicable narrative.
When I opened my eyes again,Lily was clinging to Jake,her face radiating fake sweetness.
“Emma,I’m so sorry,I brought Jake along and forgot to tell you.Don’t be mad,okay?”
Lily nestled coyly in Jake’s arms,not a trace of guilt in her eyes.

This wasn’t the first time she had gone back on her word.
In my past life,she’d brushed it off with the same insincere apology.
I’d warned her that Jake,a small-time social media influencer,was mooching off her money,but she ran to him,repeating everything I’d said.
Jake threatened to adandon me in a red-light district for meddling.

Lily laughed it off,saying he was joking,urging me not to take it seriously.
I smiled now.If you want to wallow in that mess,Lily,I’ll happily help you sink deeper.
Beaming,I said,“More people,more fun!Why would I be mad?”
Just like before,we traveled to the United States,staying in a hotel near the location of the previous incident.
This time,I was prepared.
My backpack was filled with pepper spray,a stun gun,and a dagger.
Lily came to my room,whining as usual—Jake’s wandering eye,his phone full of other women,always spending her cash.
Then she started her sob story,hoping to get some money from me.
In my past life,I was too soft-hearted,feeling sorry for her,lending money that she never paid back.
I’d genuinely advised her:Jake,an unstable influencer,was a two - timing freeloader and not husband material.
She nodded,took my money,then betrayed me to Jake,saying I looked down on him.
Jake,holding a grudge against me,egged Lily to squeeze me for cash,then spread vile rumors about me on his live streams.
Remembering all this,my smile Grew wider.
“Lily,Jake’s an influencer,raking in way more than me.No way he’s stingy—he’s probably saving up to propose to you!”
Lily’s lovesick mind was easily swayed, and she forgot all about asking me for money.
“Emma,what should I do?”
I smirked.Jake was a player,only with Lily because she was naive and easy to manipulate.
“Guys are slow when it comes to marriage.Keep dropping hints.Trust me,mention a ring,and he’ll be all over it.He loves you so much.”
I spun lies,watching her skip out of the roon happily.I laughed.