Chapter 22: Isolated
Scarlett’s POV
Morning came with whispers and stares. When I walked downstairs, every conversation stopped. Marcus turned away in the kitchen. David stood up and left when I tried to sit at the breakfast table.
“Just ignore them,” Kai said, handing me coffee.
“Hard to ignore being treated like a serial killer.”
Madison appeared in the doorway. “Can I talk to you? Alone?”
Kai frowned, but I nodded. Better to face it.
In the library, Madison shut the door. “I’m leaving today,” she said. “The show’s basically over. With Jake arrested and Luna in the hospital, there’s no point staying.”
“Good for you.”
“But before I go, I wanted to tell you something.” She pulled out her phone. “Last night, I found something in Luna’s old room—her laptop. She forgot to wipe it before the ambulance took her.”
My heart jumped. “What did you find?”
Madison showed me a series of emails between Luna and someone called Anonymous Benefactor. Dozens of messages planning every detail of the show.
“She didn’t just plan to expose reality TV,” Madison said. “She planned everything—your casting, Kai’s, every confrontation.”
“But why?”
“Revenge.” Madison scrolled. “Look—six months ago she wrote: ‘Scarlett Rose ruined my life. Now I’ll ruin hers by exposing what she really is—a coward who destroys everyone she touches.’”
The words hit like ice. “Luna hated me?”
“For years, apparently. Something about a film school role you got? The emails don’t say much.”
I remembered—the student film. We both auditioned, I got the part, and she’d smiled, said she was happy for me. She’d been lying even then.
“So this whole time,” I whispered, “my best friend was my enemy.”
Madison nodded. “And now everyone thinks you two worked together. I was wrong to suspect you, but no one will believe me.”
“Then don’t try. Just leave.”
After she left, I sat alone, numb. Luna had built her entire show to destroy me. Pretended to love me, only to use me as content. The irony was sickening.
I found Kai in the gym, pounding a punching bag. “Madison showed me Luna’s emails. She planned everything.”
“I know,” he said. “She showed me too.”
“So you believe me now?”
“I always did. But belief isn’t proof. The others still think you’re guilty. Marcus wants to call the police. David says you should be arrested. And—” He hesitated.
“Ryan what?”
“He woke up. The hospital called. He’s claiming someone pushed him.”
My stomach dropped. “He remembers?”
“Just a figure in red by the pool.” Kai met my eyes. “Not proof, but it doesn’t look good.”
“So even with Luna’s emails, I’m still the suspect.”
“Unless we find who really pushed him.”
“Everyone already decided it’s me.”
Before he could answer, Marcus burst in with David and two others. “We need to talk,” he said coldly.
“About what?” Kai stepped forward.
“About her leaving. Today. We held a vote. Everyone agrees Scarlett goes first.”
“You can’t just kick her out,” Kai snapped.
“Actually, we can,” Marcus said. “The producers are gone, the show’s canceled, and we’re free to leave. Starting with her.”
“This is ridiculous,” I said. “You’re treating me like a criminal when I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Nothing except lie for five years,” David spat. “Nothing except bring chaos wherever you go.”
“That was Luna’s plan! She manipulated all of us!”
“Maybe,” Marcus said. “But you were her best friend. You expect us to believe you didn’t know?”
I saw it in their eyes—the verdict was already in. “Fine,” I said. “I’ll pack and go.”
“Scarlett—” Kai began.
“No. They’re right. I don’t belong here.”
Back in my room, I packed fast, hands shaking. This was really happening.
A knock—Kai entered. “You don’t have to go.”
“I do. Everyone wants me gone.”
“I don’t.”
“One person isn’t enough.” I forced a laugh. “Maybe I am toxic. Maybe everyone’s better off.”
“Stop.” He caught my hands. “You’re not toxic. You’re hurt. But you’re not what they say.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve seen you—past all the walls. You’re worth fighting for.”
Before I could reply, something slid under the door.
We froze. Kai grabbed it, opened the door—no one there.
He read the paper, face pale, and handed it to me.
LAST WARNING. LEAVE TODAY OR EVERYONE LEARNS YOUR DARKEST SECRET. THE ONE EVEN KAI DOESN’T KNOW.
My pulse pounded. “What secret? I’ve told you everything.”
“Have you?” he asked quietly. “Is there anything else? From before you left?”
My mind flashed to the past—pregnancy, miscarriage, the decision to leave. But no one knew about that. No one could.
“Scarlett?” Kai pressed.
“Nothing. There’s nothing else.” But my voice shook.
“They’re escalating,” Kai said. “First threats, now blackmail.”
“How do we stop it? Everyone already hates me.”
“I don’t know. But we’ll find out.”
We decided to catch whoever was delivering the notes. That night, Kai hid in my closet while I pretended to sleep.
Hours crawled by. Nothing. Then, around 2 a.m., footsteps in the hall.
Kai stiffened.
The footsteps stopped at my door. A shadow under the crack. Another note slid through.
Kai burst from the closet and yanked open the door. Empty hallway. Then—running footsteps.
“Come on!”
We chased the sound down the stairs, through the living room, and out to the pool.
A figure stood by the water. Watching. Silent.
“Who are you?” Kai demanded.
No answer.
The figure stepped into the light.
My breath caught. “Luna?”
She smiled, alive and radiant. “Surprised?”
“You’re supposed to be in the hospital—under arrest—”
“All fake,” she said lightly. “Did you really think I’d let myself get caught before the finale?”
“Finale?” Kai asked.
“The climax. When America learns Scarlett’s darkest secret.” She raised her phone. “The one that will destroy her completely.”
“I don’t have any more secrets!” I said.
“Don’t you?” She pressed play on her screen.
A video started—grainy security footage. I recognized the building instantly. My knees went weak.
“No,” I whispered.
“Can’t handle the truth?” Luna taunted. “The truth about where you really went after you left Kai? About what you really did?”
Kai grabbed my arm. “Scarlett—what is she talking about?”
But I couldn’t answer. Could only watch as the past I’d buried clawed its way back to life—proof that maybe everyone had been right about me all along.
That I really was the monster they thought I was.