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Married Before Midnight

Chapter 56: Masks and Motives

Charlotte hadn’t slept all night. The video from the anonymous sender played on a loop in her mind, each frame etching deeper into her thoughts like a slow-burning brand. The red bracelet—Lena’s bracelet—was unmistakable. The betrayal stung more than she wanted to admit. Morning light filtered through her dorm window, casting sharp lines across her bed. She dressed mechanically, her movements stiff, her mind still trapped in the whirlwind of last night’s revelation.

When she stepped into the classroom, her gaze immediately locked onto Lena, who sat at the back, chatting animatedly with a group of classmates. Lena’s eyes flickered toward Charlotte, and for a fraction of a second, her smile faltered. Then she waved, as if nothing was wrong. Charlotte’s fingers curled into her palms. The lecture passed in a blur. When the break came, Charlotte didn’t hesitate. She strode toward Lena, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into the dimly lit costume room at the end of the hall. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing them in silence. Lena blinked, feigning confusion. "Char? What’s—" Charlotte didn’t let her finish. She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen, and held it up between them.

The video played—Lena’s wrist, the red bracelet, the exchange of money with the lighting tech. Lena’s face drained of color. "Don’t tell me it’s just a coincidence," Charlotte said, her voice low and controlled. Lena opened her mouth, then closed it. A beat passed before she let out a shaky breath. "Okay. Fine. It was me." Charlotte had expected denial. Excuses. But the raw admission caught her off guard. "Why?" Lena’s jaw tightened. "Because you always get everything." Charlotte scoffed. "What?" "You waltz in here, and suddenly, you’re the star. The professors love you. The directors cast you in every lead role. And what do I get? Second place. Always." Lena’s voice cracked, but there was no remorse—only resentment.

Charlotte stared at her, the weight of the words settling in. This wasn’t just about a photo. This was about something deeper, something uglier. "You could’ve talked to me," Charlotte said. Lena laughed, bitter and sharp. "And say what? ‘Hey, Charlotte, can you stop being so good at everything so I can have a chance?’" Charlotte exhaled slowly. "So instead of competing fairly, you decided to sabotage me?" Lena lifted her chin. "I did what I had to." The words hung between them, heavy and final.

Charlotte turned and walked out without another word. --- Jamie found her sitting on the steps outside the theater building, her knees pulled to her chest. He approached cautiously, holding out a paper bag. "Donut?" She didn’t look up. "Not hungry." He sat beside her, unwrapping one for himself. "Figured you’d say that." Silence stretched between them. The campus bustled around them, students laughing, chatting, oblivious to the storm inside Charlotte’s head. Finally, Jamie spoke. "You talked to her?" "Yeah." "And?" Charlotte let out a humorless laugh. "And she’s not sorry. She thinks I deserved it." Jamie frowned. "That’s messed up." "Tell me about it." She rubbed her temples. "I just… I didn’t see it coming." "People suck sometimes," Jamie said simply. Charlotte glanced at him. "That’s your profound wisdom?" He shrugged. "Sometimes the truth isn’t complicated." She sighed, leaning back against the steps. "I don’t get it. We were friends. Or at least, I thought we were." Jamie studied her for a moment before speaking. "Maybe she was never really your friend to begin with." The words stung, but Charlotte knew he was right.

That evening, Jamie showed up at her dorm again, this time with two bottles of lemonade and a determined look. Charlotte opened the door, arms crossed. "I told you, I don’t need—" "I know. You don’t need comfort. You don’t need anyone to fix it. Blah blah." He rolled his eyes. "But I’m not here for that." She raised a brow. "Then why are you here?" He held up his phone. "Because I found out who sent you the video." Charlotte’s breath hitched. "What?" Jamie smirked. "Turns out, Lena’s not the only one with enemies. The guy who sent it? Third-year Communications major. Got crushed by Lena in some student council election last year. Saw an opportunity for payback and took it." Charlotte’s mind raced. "How did you—?" "Connections," he said smugly. "And, you know, basic detective skills." She stared at him, torn between annoyance and reluctant admiration. "You’re insufferable." "And yet, here you are, impressed." She huffed but didn’t deny it. Jamie’s expression softened. "Look, I get it. You don’t want to feel like you need help. But you don’t have to do everything alone." Charlotte looked away. "Trusting people hasn’t exactly worked out for me." "Yeah, well, not everyone’s Lena." She met his gaze, searching for any hint of deception. But all she saw was sincerity. For the first time in days, she felt the tightness in her chest ease, just a little.

Later, alone in her room, Charlotte lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind: "Trust makes you powerful. But when it breaks, it teaches you who you really are." She wondered if she’d ever be able to trust fully again—or if she’d spend the rest of her life guarding her heart behind walls of wit and suspicion. And then, unbidden, Jamie’s face flashed in her thoughts. Maybe, just maybe, not everyone deserved to be shut out.