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802words2026-01-26 09:10

Staring at the unrecallable email, my palms were sweating. Was I doomed to repeat last life's fate? No, I wouldn't let her control me. Returning to my desk, Chloe was gone, my phone was on the table. My blind trust had ruined me.
"Emma, why are you so sweaty?"
Chloe's fake concern hid her malice. I wanted to strangle her, but seeing the dress box, I got an idea. Chloe, if you're heartless, don't blame me.

"No biggie, probably tired from trying on the dress."
She thought her plan was working. She grabbed my hand and smiled.
"Emma, you're like a real sister to me!"
I swallowed my urge to hit her and smiled back.
The gala started at 8 p.m. Everyone dressed to impress. I arrived last, Chloe was waiting at the entrance.
"Emma, finally! I've been waiting for ages. Why aren't you wearing that dress?"

Seeing me in different attire, her face darkened. I gave an embarrassed smile.
"I broke the zipper when I was trying it on—I couldn't wear it."
She shoved me, nearly tripping me, but someone caught me.
"What's that supposed to mean? Think my dress isn't good enough? Emma, I thought you were my friend, but you're two-faced!"

Her push stunned me. In the past, I'd have soothed her, pitying her struggles. But now, knowing her betrayal, why should I be nice? I had already died once—what was there to fear? As she kept ranting, I slapped her hard.
"Chloe, even if I didn't like your dress, you shouldn't push me!"
She froze, stunned. In my last life, I tolerated her tantrums, thinking she had a hard life. But now, I wasn't going to pretend anymore.
I turned to leave, curious what would happen if I skipped the gala. Though I had slapped her, she chased after me, apologizing.
"Sorry, darling, I got heated. You slapped me back, so we're even. Let's go in."
Her cheek bore my handprint, her forced smile barely hiding her rage. I felt a thrill, but this was just the beginning.
The prize draw came, and I won first prize again. Chloe congratulated me, but her eyes burned with envy.
"Darling, you're so lucky, snagging the big prize.I've never been abroad!"
She looked at me pitifully, clearly wanting to swap.
"Emma, you're visiting your family during the holidays, right? You've been to the Maldives. How about giving me this chance?"
She waited eagerly. It was true, I'd gone with my parents two years ago, so in my last life, I gave it to her out of kindness. But now, I only felt hate.
"Chloe, you want this prize?"
She nodded frantically.
"Let's swap.I'll do all the chores next year!"
I looked at her consolation prize—a towel worth a few bucks. Trading a$5,000 trip for that? She was so greedy.
"I could swap with you."
"Really!"
Her eyes lit up. How could I have missed her greed in my last life?
"Sure, but another colleague offered to swap for a new phone worth nearly$2,000. Even though we are friends, I can't ignore the money, right?"
Her face soured, but she kept trying.
"She's not as important as me—I'm your best friend!"
I nodded, feigning agreement.
"How about this: sell it to you for$2,000. We're besties, after all!"
Thinking it a steal, she gleefully transferred$2,000. I accepted without hesitation. Chloe, this covers the extra rent and groceries I paid. Whether you can enjoy the Maldives depends on your luck—because the real show's about to start.
…
In my last life, right after swapping, Chloe took the stage, grabbing the host's mic.
"It's the company gala, and I have something to expose!"
I sat down, smirking, looking at Chloe's triumphant face. Her confidence was a joke to me.
"Chloe, it's a celebration. What are you talking about?"
Daniel, feigning unhappy, questioned her. Their act was seamless, but I wanted to see how far they would go.
"Mr. Pierce, you don't know—Emma tampered with this morning's contract. It's a disaster—we'll have to pay 100 times the compensation. She colluded with the client to split the money!"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Emma has got guts!"
"She seems so nice—how could she do that?"
"Could it be a lie? She doesn't seem like that kind of person."
"Chloe's her best friend, she must know. It's probably true!"
Daniel walked towards me seriously.
"Emma, your best friend's accusing you. That's not a lie, is it? What do you have to say?"
I stood up calmly, snatching Chloe's mic. She stopped pretending and glared at me with hatred.
"Chloe, where's your proof the contract's my fault?"
Prepared, she brandished the morning's contract.
"Here's the proof!"
Daniel rushed forward. After reading it, his face turned pale.
"Emma, this contract's terms are completely different from what we discussed. You must've changed it!"