From Now On, It’s Not About You Chapter 02

From Now On, It’s Not About You Chapter 02

That night, Ryan came to pick me up for the celebration dinner—the celebration for Willow stealing my guaranteed admission spot at Silver Moon Academy.

I reached for the passenger door.

Before I could, the window rolled down first.

Willow’s carefully made-up face appeared. Her smile was bright and sweet.

“Phoebe, Ryan said the front seat is reserved for the person who matters most. You don’t mind, right?”

I had gone with Ryan to choose this car.

It was supposed to be our gift to each other before attending Silver Moon Academy together.

When he first bought it, he’d decorated every inch with things I loved.

He even placed a sticker on the passenger seat that read, Luna’s Seat, swearing no other woman would ever sit there.

Now, my favorite plush keychain had been ripped off and tossed at Willow’s feet.

A clear footprint stained the white fur.

And sitting beneath that “Luna’s Seat” label was the person Ryan now called the most important one.

Ryan, however, acted as if nothing was wrong.

He pinched Willow’s cheek and laughed.

“Don’t make my little Phoebe out to be petty. She’d never fuss over such a small thing.”

I said nothing. He guided me into the back seat.

The entire ride, they flirted shamelessly.

Willow practically draped herself across him.

When she noticed how pale I looked, she turned around with a grin.

“Phoebe, Ryan already told me everything. Since you know now, I don’t have to hide it anymore.”

She deliberately tugged down her collar. Dark marks covered her collarbone.

The smug triumph in her eyes was impossible to miss.

“You have no idea how much Ryan can go at it in bed.”

“I cried myself hoarse, and he still wouldn’t let me off.”

“Is he that rough with you too?”

I looked at her. My eyelid twitched on its own.

It felt like I was meeting her for the first time.

The same girl who had followed me around for three years, sweetly calling my name.

The same timid girl who once gathered all her courage to warn Ryan never to bully me. Never to hurt me. Never to betray me.

And now, in just three short years, she was the one bullying me most, the one betraying me the worst.

And she wore her shamelessness like a joke everyone should laugh at.

A flicker of discomfort crossed Ryan’s face.

“Willow. Enough.”

Willow rolled her eyes. “Why? Phoebe isn’t a stranger.”

Then she smiled as though her plan made perfect sense.

“I’ve already got it all planned out.”

“After you two complete your bond, weekdays he’s mine, weekends he’s yours. Fair deal, right?”

Maybe I’d already seen enough of her audacity.

This time, I didn’t even feel a shred of pain.

Not until the car stopped.

Ryan took my cold hand, and I realized then just how hard I’d been trying to keep myself together.

I was wound so tight I thought I might break.

He gently stroked my fingers, his face full of concern.

“Little Phoebe, don’t listen to Willow. You’ll always be the one I love most.”

I pulled my hand away. A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

When we entered the private room, several of Ryan’s friends were already there.

Watching the way they greeted Willow so naturally… I finally understood.

Everyone already knew about them. All of them.

I was the only fool left in the dark, the only one still lost in all those empty promises of becoming their future Luna.

A few rounds of drinks later, Willow curled up in Ryan’s arms and burst into tears.

She said she’d finally made something of herself.

I couldn’t stomach another word. I stood to leave.

Her eyes immediately reddened.

“Phoebe, why won’t you congratulate me?”

“I worked so hard to earn my spot at Silver Moon Academy. Why do you still look down on me?”

Earned it? Even after I gave up my spot, Willow’s training scores were nowhere near good enough to be next in line.

The truth was written all over her face. She got in through connections.

And she still had the nerve to claim she’d earned it.

I was so furious I nearly laughed out loud.

But before I could speak, Ryan’s icy voice cut through the room.

“Phoebe. Today’s Willow’s big day. Don’t ruin it.”