Jenna froze at the sound of the voice that made the hairs behind her neck stand up. She could recognize that voice anywhere.
"Scott!" Lily cried out, her voice pitching into a perfect, aggrieved tremor. She bit her lips looking small and fragile.
Jenna turned slowly. Scott Castilian. For a split second, the parking lot vanished, replaced by the memory of the boy who promised Jenna their own world together, he was always there for her when they were much younger, following her around.
"Jen, you're always reading. Come out and play." Jenna remembered his younger self always pestering her. "You don't have to work too much. I'll marry you and take care of you, Miss Smith." He said, smiling at her. "You'll be my Madam Jenna Castilian." His chest was puffed in pride, a teenage knight in shining armor.
The man standing before her now had killed that boy. The childish smiles were gone, replaced by a face carved from granite. He didn't even look at Jenna as he walked past her to stand by Lily.
Lily immediately grabbed his hand, her eyes welling with strategic tears.
"What's going on here?" His deep voice sounded with authority. "Are you hurt?" His tone softened when he looked down at Lily. Even his eyes held a tender gaze. A sight that made Jenna's heart ache.
Jenna watched them, a cold, bitter smile touching her lips. The boy, who had once promised her forever, didn't even care to look at her. Instead, he was acting as a shield for someone else, her best friend, or rather ex best friend. The woman who had dismantled her life.
"I'm okay Scott. Just… sad." Lily whispered, leaning into his embrace and biting down hard to prevent the tears from flowing. "I saw Jenna and it's been so long, I just… I didn't want to cause any trouble."
Scott's grip on Lily's arm tightened when he saw her wronged. He finally turned his gaze to Jenna. It wasn't the look of a former lover; it was the look of a man staring at a nuisance.
"Why are you here?" His voice was flat the warmth she once knew was long dead.
Jenna let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Why am I here? Last time I checked Mr. Castilian this city doesn't belong to you." She lifted her chin, refusing to let him see her heart fracturing.
Scott felt a pinch in his heart looking at the girl he once knew, she was different now. Her soft eyes had sharpened over time.
Lily's lips trembled, noticing Scott's lingering gaze on Jenna. She leaned closer to him. "Scott please," she whimpered. "I don't want to be the reason you fight. I know Jenna is still angry with me, I'll leave so that she doesn't hurt me… again." Her lashes fluttered slowly as she spoke making her look really pitiful.
'Again.' The word was a calculated strike.
Jenna stared at Lily, her so-called best friend, the one who used to swear they were sisters. Now she stood there painting her as a villain.
Scott shifted, putting himself in front of Lily like a shield. "You've done enough damage, Jenna. It wasn't Lily's fault that I chose to be with her. Stay away from her." His words were low but firm, every syllable meant to wound.
Jenna's breath caught, but she forced her body not to shake. "Damage? You have no idea what real damage is," she whispered, her voice cracking.
His jaw tightened, but he didn't answer. He simply turned, guiding Lily towards his car, his hand firm on her back. That small gesture twisted Jenna's chest like a knife.
As they drove away, Jenna stood there frozen, the weight of betrayal crashing into her all over again. The memory of that night flooded her mind, more vivid than the sun hitting the pavement.
Three years ago, Jenna had run to Scott's apartment, desperate for help with her father's case. She hadn't knocked as she had a key. She had a right to be there, or so she thought.
"Scott!" She called out, but the living room was empty.
Then, the bedroom door opened. Lily stepped out, wearing Scott's oversized shirt and nothing else.
"Lily?" Jenna's brain couldn't process the image.
"What are you doing here Miss Smith?" Lily mocked.
"I should be asking you that Lily. I'm here to see my fiancé. Why are you in his clothes?"
"Fiancé?" Lily scoffed, walking closer until they were inches apart. "Where's the ring, Jenna? Do you really think a Castilian is going to drag himself into the mud for a criminal's daughter?"
"How dare you, Lily! I treated you like a sister!" Jenna's chest rose with anger.
"Sister?" Lily's face contorted with years of suppressed spite. "Being friends with you only made me realize what I didn't have. I hated you every day. I spent my life wishing everything you had was mine. Well, I guess wishes do come true." She grinned, a predatory look in her eyes. "Roles have switched, Jenna. I'm the princess. You're the pauper. And your dad? He's just a low-life thief."
The slap echoed through the room before Jenna even realized she had moved.
Lily fell to the floor, but she didn't fight back. Instead, her face transformed. Her eyes went red, tears rolled down her cheeks, and her lips quivered as she began pleading with Jenna. "Jenna, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to, I love Scott, please forgive us. Don't hurt me please Jenna." She sobbed harder.
Jenna stood frozen, confused by the sudden shift. Her lips parted slightly but no words came out.
"Jenna!" Scott's voice rang out like a bell.
Jenna turned to look at him and then back at Lily. Lily's lips curled up into a smirk. She then understood that her facade was just for Scott to see.
He didn't look at Jenna with concern. He rushed to the floor, scooping Lily into his arms. "What's wrong with you Jenna?"
Jenna's face fell, her eyes reddened. She bit her lips to stop tears that were threatening to fall.
"Scott," Lily sobbed hard. "I…" she faked being lost for words.
"It's okay Lily, I saw everything. You did nothing wrong." His voice fell softer and calmer as he held her tighter.
Jenna kept still, watching her fiancé hold another woman in his arms. Her heart sank into her stomach. He was choosing to believe the lie.
Scott stood up, holding Lily close, and turned on Jenna. His eyes were shooting daggers, his face ashen with rage. He grabbed Jenna's arm, his fingers sinking into her skin with bruising force.
Scott turned to Jenna, his jaw set like stone and his eyes narrowing. He didn't look anything like he did when addressing Lily. Jenna stood frozen out of fear, her unblinking stare and ashen face.
"Why… did you hit Lily?" He growled, his voice low and guttural.