The morning after her conversation with Caleb, Tiara woke up feeling drained, as though the weight of the previous days had carved grooves into her soul. She hadn’t slept much, tossing and turning in the quiet of her bedroom. But somehow, the conversation with her brother had brought her a sense of peace, or at least the beginning of it. She didn’t feel as lost as she had the night before. Maybe it was the way Caleb had spoken to her—like she was still whole, still worthy of something better than the mess Taylor and Serena had made of her life.
But peace was fleeting.
She reached for her phone, already dreading the inevitable message that would be waiting for her. As soon as she unlocked it, there it was—a string of messages from Taylor. They had been coming in all night, and now they were relentless, each one more desperate than the last.
“Please, Tiara. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I never meant to hurt you. Please just let me explain. I love you.”
Her stomach churned, and she turned the phone face down on the bed. She couldn’t even look at it anymore. She didn’t want his words. She didn’t want his excuses. She didn’t want anything from him. All she wanted was to move forward, to reclaim the life she had worked so hard to build. But Taylor’s constant pleading felt like an anchor, holding her back, forcing her to relive the pain over and over again.
She needed to do something. Anything to regain some control over her life.
Tiara got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face in an attempt to wake herself up fully. Her reflection stared back at her—her eyes red from lack of sleep, her skin pale and tired. It wasn’t just the lack of rest. It was the grief, the heavy burden of betrayal that had hollowed her out.
But today, she was determined to move forward. It was time to stop letting the situation consume her. She couldn’t stay in this limbo forever.
As she made her way to the kitchen, her mind raced. She couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine. She needed to take control of her future. She needed to stop being the victim in her own story.
The doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Not at this hour. Tiara froze for a moment, her heart racing. Was it Taylor? Or was it Serena, showing up to beg for forgiveness?
She hesitated, but then walked to the door, opening it with a heavy sigh.
Standing in front of her was none other than her mother.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” Tiara asked, surprised, but relieved to see her mother’s familiar face.
Her mom, Louise, looked at her with soft, concerned eyes. “I’ve been trying to reach you, honey. Your father and I were worried. You disappeared yesterday, and no one heard from you. Is everything alright?”
Tiara looked at her mother, feeling her chest tighten. The last thing she wanted was to worry her parents. She had always prided herself on being the strong, independent one. The one who had it all together. But now, everything felt like it was slipping through her fingers.
“Yeah,” Tiara said, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Just needed some space, you know?”
Louise didn’t seem convinced. “Tiara,” she said gently, stepping closer. “I know you’re going through something. And I’m here for you, no matter what. You don’t have to face this alone.”
Tiara felt a lump form in her throat, and she quickly looked away, trying to hold it together. But her mother’s words hit her like a wave. She didn’t have to face this alone. Maybe that was the problem all along. She had tried so hard to handle everything on her own, convinced that she could make it through without asking for help. But now, all she wanted was someone to hold her, to tell her it was going to be okay.
Her mother, sensing the shift, reached out and pulled her into a hug. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re going to get through this. You’re strong, and you’ll come out the other side even stronger. But you don’t have to do it alone.”
Tiara let herself collapse into her mother’s embrace, her tears coming finally. She didn’t care anymore. She needed this. She needed her family. She needed the reminder that she wasn’t as broken as she felt.
After a few moments, Louise pulled away, wiping a tear from Tiara’s cheek. “I know you’re hurting, and it’s going to take time. But you have a choice, Tiara. You can let this situation define you, or you can take back control. You don’t have to let their mistakes define your future.”
Tiara nodded, feeling a small flicker of hope ignite inside her. Her mom was right. It wasn’t about forgiving Taylor and Serena right away—it was about forgiving herself. She couldn’t let their betrayal ruin the person she was becoming. She couldn’t give them that power.
“I’ll figure it out,” Tiara said, her voice stronger now. “I just need some time.”
Louise smiled, her eyes full of love. “Take all the time you need. And don’t forget that we’re here for you. We always will be.”
As Tiara watched her mother leave, she felt a wave of clarity wash over her. It was time to stop living in the past, to stop looking back at the wreckage of what had been. She wasn’t going to let the past dictate her future.
Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Taylor.
“Please just talk to me, Tiara. I can’t lose you. I love you.”
This time, she didn’t hesitate. She opened the message and, without looking back, pressed the block button.
It felt freeing. The chain that had been holding her to the past was finally broken.
Tiara took a deep breath and stood up, walking to her bedroom window. The sun was starting to rise, casting a warm golden glow over the city. The promise of a new day.
She wasn’t sure what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain: She was going to be okay.
And this time, she would be the one to write her own story.