107
Miranda's POV
For the first time in my life, I felt true satisfaction. Mara thought she could outsmart me, but I gave her a taste of her own medicine—no, I gave it back to her a hundredfold. What she had planned for me had backfired so spectacularly that even I hadn’t anticipated the depth of her humiliation. And tomorrow? Tomorrow would be even better.
But the irony of it all was her audacity to come home furious with me. Furious! As if I had done something wrong. Wasn’t this exactly what she had wanted for me? Wasn’t this the humiliation she had planned? Yet here she was, her face twisted in rage, her words flying like daggers meant to cut me down.
Her voice echoed through the living room as she screamed, “You did this to me! You caused me this pain! You humiliated me in front of everyone!”
I watched her with calm detachment, my arms crossed over my chest. “Oh, Mara,” I said, a smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? You wanted me bruised, broken, and humiliated. I simply gave you what you deserved.”
Her eyes blazed with hatred, her chest heaving as she tried to steady herself. “You’ll pay for this, Lila. I swear you’ll pay!”
I raised an eyebrow, my smirk never faltering. “Really, Mara? You’re blaming me for your own actions? You’re the one who plotted against me, who orchestrated this entire mess. If anyone is to blame, it’s you.”
Her face turned red with fury, and in an instant, she lunged at me. Her hand flew up, aiming to slap me, but I caught her wrist mid-air and pushed her back with enough force to send her stumbling onto the hard floor.
I stood over her, my hands on my hips, and watched as she struggled to get up. “You’re pathetic,” I said, my voice dripping with disdain. “You and your mother both. I’ve kept you under my roof, provided for you, and this is how you repay me? By plotting against me?”
Mara’s mother, Hamilton, rushed into the room, her face a mask of panic. She tried to grab me, but one of my bouncers stepped in, holding her back. She struggled, shouting obscenities at me.
“You’re a monster, Lila!” she screamed, her voice shrill. “A monster! You couldn’t just forget about it, could you? You couldn’t let it go!”
I tilted my head, feigning confusion. “Let it go? Oh, you mean let you humiliate me, ruin me, and get away with it? No, Hamilton. That’s not how this works.”
Mara, still on the floor, glared up at me with venom in her eyes. “You’re supposed to be the one suffering! You’re supposed to be the one beaten, raped, and humiliated! Not me!”
The venom in her words was like a slap in the face, but I refused to let it show. Instead, I crouched down to her level, staring directly into her tear-filled eyes. “You’re trending in the news, aren’t you?” I asked, my voice calm but laced with mockery. “Everyone’s seen your nakedness, your shame. But let’s not forget, Mara, you brought this upon yourself. Had you not plotted against me, none of this would have happened.”
Her face twisted in anger, and she screamed, “You ruined my plan! You ruined everything! I’ll kill you for this, Lila. I swear I’ll kill you!”
I straightened up, my smirk returning. “Kill me? Oh, Mara, you’ve already admitted to your crimes. You’ve admitted to everything in front of witnesses. And now you’re threatening me? How very predictable.”
Her struggles became more violent, and the bouncers tightened their grip on her. She was like a wild animal, thrashing and screaming, her voice growing hoarse. “I wish I’d killed you back then! I wish you had died!”
Her words didn’t faze me. In fact, they only fueled my resolve. “And there it is,” I said, turning to the onlookers. “She’s finally admitted it. She wanted me dead. She tried to kill me.”
The room fell silent, save for Mara’s desperate cries. I turned to the bouncers, my tone cold and commanding. “Throw them out. Both of them. I don’t want to see their faces in this house ever again.”
The bouncers didn’t hesitate. They grabbed Mara and Hamilton, dragging them toward the door. Mara continued to scream, her voice echoing through the halls. “Laila, I’ll kill you! Let me go!”
I followed them to the gate, watching as they were thrown onto the pavement outside. They landed in a heap, Mara sobbing uncontrollably while Hamilton tried to comfort her.
I stepped forward, looking down at them with a mixture of satisfaction and pity. “This will be the first and last time you set foot in my compound,” I said, my voice firm. “You’re not allowed here anymore, not without my permission. Now, get out.”
Mara looked up at me, her eyes filled with hatred. “You’ll regret this,” she spat. “I’ll make sure of it.”
I leaned in closer, my smile icy. “Suit yourself, Mara. But remember this—you’re the one who started this war. And I’m the one who will end it.”
With that, I turned on my heel and walked back into the house. I closed the door behind me, shutting out their cries and curses. “Gateman,” I called out, “don’t let them near this gate again.”
He nodded, his expression stoic. “Yes, ma’am.”
I walked to the living room, my heels clicking against the marble floor. As I sat down on the couch, I allowed myself a moment to breathe. The tension in my shoulders eased, but the fire in my heart burned brighter than ever.
Mara had played her hand, and she had lost. But I knew she wasn’t done yet. She would come back, more desperate and dangerous than before. And when she did, I would be ready.
For now, though, I allowed myself a small victory. I picked up my glass of wine, swirling the liquid as I stared out the window. Mara’s words echoed in my mind, her threats lingering like a dark cloud.
But I wasn’t afraid. If anything, I was more determined than ever. Mara had underestimated me once, and it had cost her everything. She wouldn’t get the chance to do it again.