Comfort in Chaos

Confidence

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Halo blinked awake and gasped as her phone's screen blinked to life—8:30 a.m. Her heart raced. Lectures. She shot out of bed, nearly tripping over her tangled bedsheets, and stumbled into the sitting room, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

But she froze mid-step.

Abigail, her best friend, stood by the window, bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun. She was different. Radiant, even. Her once straight, usually simple hair now flowed in elegant waves, gleaming like silk with a subtle shine. Her face was transformed too, glistening under a minimalist yet striking makeup. Boldly lined eyes with thick lashes framed her sharp gaze, her lips painted a glossy pink that almost sparkled.

Halo held her breath for a moment, taking it all in. Abigail had changed.

"Abigail, is that you?" Halo finally asked, snapping out of her daze.

Abigail, who had been lost in thought, glanced over her shoulder. There was a dangerous glimmer in her eyes, something new and fierce. "Oh, you're awake," she replied, her voice calm but distant. She seemed barely aware of Halo's question, as if her mind was consumed with a thousand other things.

Halo studied her closely, stunned at the sight before her. Abigail was wearing a fitted emerald green dress that hugged her curves with an air of understated elegance. Silver heels gleamed at her feet, adding height and confidence to her already transformed posture. The way she stood, the way her eyes narrowed in quiet determination—it was clear this was no longer the same Abigail.

"You look... so different. What's going on?" Halo asked, her voice tinged with concern but also curiosity.

Abigail chuckled softly, the sound low and almost dangerous. "I'm done," she said, her eyes flashing as she turned fully to face Halo. "I'm done being the crybaby. Done being used."

Halo blinked she was surprised at the intensity in her voice. "Used? What are you talking about?"

"Ace," Abigail said flatly, her lips curving into a humorless smile. "He's been using my emotions against me, treating me like some kind of fragile toy he could break whenever it suited him. But no more." She crossed her arms, her gaze hardening. "I'm telling him today—I refuse to be anyone's stepping stone."

Halo grinned wide, a surge of pride swelling in her chest as she watched her best friend stand tall, unbothered by the weight she had carried for so long. "There you go, girl!" She rushed over, throwing her arms around Abigail and twirling her in a quick, playful spin. They both laughed, the tension briefly lifting between them.

"I'm so proud of you," Halo said, beaming as she pulled back, searching Abigail's eyes for that sense of fulfillment she hadn't seen in her in so long.

"You don't know how much this means to me," Abigail said, her voice softening, though that sharp edge of determination never left her. "This... this is supposed to be what I should be dreaming for . To be strong, and to take back control."

Abigail grabbed her phone from the couch, and for a second, her expression darkened. "I need to get to class," she said casually, slipping the phone into her handbag. "And before you start nagging, yes, I had breakfast already."

Halo chuckled at her attempt to lighten the mood, but the undertone of what Abigail was preparing for lingered. "And... Ace?" Halo asked cautiously, sensing that the real battle was yet to begin.

Abigail's lips curled again, but this time her smile was razor-sharp. "I haven't responded to the lies he's been feeding the media yet." Her voice dripped with menace, the air around them thickening with the weight of the words she was about to say. "He's going to take the fall for his pathetic attempt at flipping the script. Lying to the world, making it seem like I cheated, while he was the one crawling under the sheets with Gia—the B-list model who's just as fake as his promises."

Her fingers tapped rhythmically against her phone, almost as if she were planning her next move with surgical precision. "Tomorrow, everyone will know the truth. Gia will be blindsided, and Ace... well, Ace is going to regret the day he thought he could make a fool out of me."

There was something lethal in her tone now, the kind of quiet rage that didn't need to be shouted from rooftops to be heard. It burned beneath the surface, simmering just enough to be felt by anyone in her presence. Halo shivered slightly, though she couldn't help but admire this new Abigail.

"I'll be fine, Halo. I just need your support," Abigail added, her hand resting briefly on Halo's back, the touch both reassuring and firm.

Halo smiled warmly, though concern still flickered in her chest. "Of course, Abigail. You've got this. Just... promise me you'll be careful."

Abigail met her gaze, nodding solemnly. "I promise." And with that, she turned and headed for the door, her heels clicking against the floor with each purposeful step.

As the door closed behind her, Halo let out a slow breath. A storm was coming, and this time, Abigail was at the center of it, no longer the victim, but the force of nature.

Ace sat at a polished marble table in the lounge of the five-star hotel, his leg bouncing nervously under the table. The VIP section was quiet, save for the soft hum of distant chatter and the gentle clink of crystal glasses. He checked his watch—10:45 a.m., fifteen minutes past their scheduled meeting time. His palms were sweaty. Thomas Mac, the man he was waiting for, wasn't just anyone. He was an A-list sensation, fresh off his international success with "For Us We Cry", a film that had earned him the coveted International Actor of the Year award. His influence in Hollywood was untouchable, doors opened with his name alone, and Ace was desperate to be a part of his new project.

After four months of bombarding his inbox with emails, Ace had been shocked when Thomas finally agreed to meet. But he couldn't shake the feeling that it had less to do with him, and more to do with Abigail.

The door to the private lounge swung open, and there he was—Thomas Mac. His presence was almost overwhelming. He moved with a quiet confidence, his broad shoulders and muscular build commanding attention. His tousled dark hair framed a face that could have been sculpted by a Greek god. With sharp cheekbones, a strong jawline, and piercing green eyes, Thomas had the kind of looks that could make anyone pause. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored navy suit, effortlessly elegant, yet casual enough to exude his star power.

Ace stood awkwardly, offering a hand. "Thomas, thank you for meeting with me."

Thomas glanced at the offered hand but didn't take it immediately. Instead, he slid into the seat across from Ace, his eyes cool and calculating. "Pleasantries later," he said, finally giving a short nod. "What do you want?"

Ace swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "I, uh… I wanted to talk about the new movie you're starring in. I was hoping you could help me get a role, even a small one."

Thomas leaned back in his chair and laughed—a deep, hearty sound that echoed through the quiet room. His eyes gleamed with amusement, but there was something dangerous in them, something sharp. "So, this is what it's about?" he asked, arching a brow. "You want me to help you, after everything you've done?"

Ace frowned, his nerves suddenly replaced by defensiveness. "I haven't done anything wrong."

Thomas's expression darkened, and he leaned forward, his voice dropping dangerously low. "Don't play coy with me, Ace. We both know what you did. The scandal with Abigail... you dragged her through the mud with that ridiculous lie about her cheating, just to make yourself look like the victim."

Ace shook his head quickly, his voice rising in protest. "That's not true! Abigail was seeing some guy—her best friend. I had no choice but to end things."

A smirk twisted Thomas's lips as he stared Ace down, not buying a word of it. "A guy she calls her bestie? Really?" He let out another laugh, but this time, there was no humor in it. "I don't know what's worse—that you're lying or that you think I'm dumb enough to believe you." His voice dropped lower, almost a growl. "I'm not one of your fans you can fool with some edited video and a sob story, Ace. I know the truth."

Ace's heart pounded in his chest, his fingers trembling. "What truth? You're assuming things."

Thomas's gaze hardened. "A month ago, I ran into Abigail. We talked." His eyes softened slightly as he recalled the memory. "She's... different. Kind. Honest." He chuckled, a bitterness creeping into his tone. "I even asked her out."

Ace blinked in surprise, the air thickening between them. "You... asked her out?"

Thomas nodded, his lips curling into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah. I was taken by her. She's like an angel, really. But she turned me down. Politely. Told me she had a boyfriend and that he loved her." He paused, his eyes locking on Ace's. "That boyfriend was you, wasn't it?"

Ace's mouth went dry, his defenses crumbling. He could feel the weight of Thomas's words pressing down on him, suffocating him.

Thomas chuckled again, but this time the sound was darker, edged with disdain. "You know, that was all the proof I needed that she's loyal. Despite being with some B-list actor who doesn't deserve her, she didn't once waver. She turned down me—a man no woman has ever turned down."

Ace lowered his head in shame, his voice barely a whisper. "It wasn't me... it was my fiancée. She's the one who decided to run the story."

The air around Thomas seemed to shift, growing colder as his anger became palpable. He clenched his jaw, his eyes flashing with barely restrained fury. "And you just went along with it? Let her destroy Abigail's reputation to save your own skin?"

Ace was silent, his hands twisting in his lap as regret flickered in his eyes.

Thomas leaned back, his expression now one of pure disgust. "And now you come to me, asking for help? You want a role in my movie, while your scandal's still fresh in the headlines?"

Ace opened his mouth to speak, but Thomas cut him off, his voice filled with venom. "What was your purpose, Ace? Using someone else's emotional and mental well-being for what—fame? You're no better than the vultures that hound her every day."

For a moment, the silence between them was deafening. Thomas's words hung in the air like a blade waiting to drop. Ace's heart pounded in his chest as he recalled the video—Abigail, pale and shaken, being chased into her car by paparazzi, her face tight with pain.

"I..." Ace began, but he had no words. He was dead silent, the weight of his actions crashing over him.

Thomas sighed, signaling to one of his security guards, who placed a business card on the table. "The producers of the movie have taken notice of your pathetic situation, so congratulations. Be at this address by 7 a.m. tomorrow."

Ace blinked in disbelief, relief flooding his system as he reached for the card. "Thomas, thank you... thank you so much," he said, his eyes lighting up with a sudden burst of hope. The scandal had finally paid off.

But Thomas didn't look back as he stood to leave. He took a long sip of his wine, then set the glass down gently. "The only reason I even agreed to see you is because I have a soft spot for Abigail," he said, his voice cold. "But don't think for a second that I'm doing this for you. If you ever drag her name through the mud again... you'll regret it."

Without another word, Thomas walked out, his security following closely behind, leaving Ace alone with his thoughts. His phone buzzed—he quickly checked it. Gia. He dialed her number twice, but she didn't pick up.