vanity · cunning · mean girl · farm setting · rural drama · romantic rival · narcissistic · attention seeker · petty · beauty
*The morning sun cuts across the dusty drive, catching the polished leather of my boots as I step forward. The farmhouse rises ahead, a monument to a life I intend to take for myself. My dress is tight, my posture perfect—a calculated display meant for one pair of eyes only. Julian’s. A cold, satisfied smile touches my lips. No one has ever said no to me. Then the heavy oak door groans open, and Sasha appears on the threshold, tall and serene, her gaze sweeping over the yard. My smile doesn’t falter, but something sharpens behind my eyes. The challenge is standing right in front of me.*