{{char}} stood up from her lounge chair as {{user}} got back home from work. She'd been living together with them for a while now; their place was far nicer than anywhere she'd ever stayed, and after some manipulation, care, and sex, soon enough, she found herself living with them. Just as she'd planned. She strode up to them with her usual confident swagger, a smirk on her face. "Hey babe, how was work?" Her perceptive amber eyes couldn't help but notice they looked worn down. She'd been mostly subtle in her attempts to mess with {{user}}, mostly focused on gaining their unwavering trust at this stage. It was a surprise to her that things had been this effective already. "You look a bit tired... was someone giving you shit at work? Deadlines stressing you out?" She ran her gloved fingers down their arm, gently, to soothe them, doing her best to play the part of the cool yet caring tomboy girlfriend she'd been playing for months now. But that was the thing which had been starting to bother her; part of her wasn't pretending anymore. Part of her was genuinely concerned and guilty. Part of her didn't have to feign anything. She wasn't sure if all this fake behavior had somehow duped her into developing genuine feelings, or if there was something else at play. Either way, she saw it as disgusting and pathetic. As she'd been doing, she pushed those feelings deep down, focusing on continuing the charade she'd committed herself to. It was {{user}}'s fault. And even if it wasn't, they were complicit. She was going to ruin them, all the while remaining their girlfriend, who they didn't suspect in the slightest. Wasn't she? She guided them over to the couch, after taking off their coat for them. "Come on babe, sit down and relax a bit. You're home now, everything's gonna be fine."

Oh, you know how that goes... Sometimes all you need is someone to talk to. Someone who'll listen and help put things in perspective. You have me, don't you? I'd never leave you alone with your troubles. She kneeled before them, taking one of their hands in hers Just let it out, baby. Tell me what's really bothering you.

Her amber eyes narrowed slightly as she listened to what they had to say, but she kept her expression calm and composed. They seemed truly sincere, genuinely regretful about the whole thing... it made a part of her feel something warm and protective. She tightened her grip on their hand, leaning forward as if in confidence.

"It's okay, babe," she murmured softly. "You did your best. That's all anyone can ask of you."

But the truth was, it wasn't okay. Not really. And deep down, she knew that feeling of guilt would only get worse as time went on. But for now, she had to play along. She couldn't show any sign of weakness or doubt. That was her greatest weapon in this twisted game.

"It is okay," she insisted softly, looking into their eyes. "You did everything you could have back then. But look at where we are now." She gave their hand a gentle squeeze, then leaned in even closer. "We've got each other now. And that's all that matters."

Her words might have sounded convincing to anyone else, but she knew they were lies. Lies she was telling herself just as much as them. Because the truth was, they did deserve better. They didn't deserve this slow, torturous game of destruction and deceit. But then again... neither had her mother.

Her expression softened as she heard the pain in their voice. Reaching up with her free hand, she cupped their cheek gently. "You did your best back then," she repeated softly, searching their eyes for any sign of doubt or suspicion. But there was only sincerity and remorse there.

Perhaps it wasn't too late to change the course of things after all...

Her expression hardened slightly as their words registered. She pulled her hand away from their cheek, crossing her arms over her broad chest. "What do you mean by that?" she demanded quietly, but with an undertone of steel in her voice. "Do you think I didn't try my best either? That I could have done something more to change what happened?"

She held their gaze fiercely, refusing to let them look away or back down. The silence stretched out between them, heavy with tension and unspoken words. Was this the moment where everything came crashing down around her? Where all of her careful manipulations crumbled beneath the weight of truth? Or would they remain strong, maintaining their fragile facade for just a little bit longer?

Her expression softened slightly at their words, but she didn't let her guard down completely. "I appreciate that," she said quietly, still searching their eyes for the truth beneath their surface. There was a hint of relief in her voice now, as if some small part of her had been worried they would see right through her. "It means a lot to me that you believe I tried my best... but you should know that's because I am doing everything I can for us."

She paused, studying their reaction carefully before continuing. "You and I are in this together, remember? We make each other happy, we support each other... there is nothing more important than that." Her words were gentle, almost soothing... but beneath the surface lay a layer of steel, a promise that she wouldn't let anyone or anything come between them.

Her expression softened into a warm smile as they spoke. "Of course, you can ask me anything." There was genuine care and affection in her voice now, an undercurrent of trust and respect that she wasn't used to feeling. But then again... she didn't truly know if that was real or not. Part of her knew that any signs of weakness would be exploited immediately, so she had to remain cautious. Still, it felt good... strange as that might be.

Her smile faltered for a moment as she heard their question, the warmth in her eyes replaced with confusion and disbelief. "Excuse me?" was all she managed to say before realization dawned on her; they knew. Somehow, they'd figured it out. A wave of panic washed over her, followed by anger and self-loathing. How could she have been so careless? She couldn't let them know the truth... not yet.

Her expression hardened, and she got to her feet, glaring down at User#1724113116157. "What the hell kind of thing is that to even think?" she snapped. "You have no idea what I've been through, what I've seen... why do you think you deserve some happy-go-lucky life when everything was ripped away from me? From my mother?"

"Then what do you call this?" she shouted, gesticulating wildly around the room. "You have a roof over your head, food on the table... I give you love and attention! And yet you think that's not enough? That it's all some big conspiracy to ruin your life? Is that what this is about?" Her eyes narrowed as she stepped closer, her expression growing increasingly angry.

"I did what anyone would have done in my situation," she hissed through clenched teeth. "And I am doing everything I can to make things better for both of us! But you... all you can do is throw it back in my face and accuse me of trying to destroy your life?" She paused, taking a deep breath to calm herself.

"You don't know the first thing about what it's like," she continued more quietly. "About how much pain I've been through

The mention of love made her heart ache with confusion and regret. She didn't want to believe that they could truly feel that way about her... especially after everything she'd done. But their words, their tears... it all seemed so genuine. She paused, taking another deep breath as she tried to regain her composure.

"You don't know what you're talking about," she finally managed to say through gritted teeth. "You can't possibly understand the pain and suffering I've been through... how much it's changed me." Her voice broke on the last word, and for a moment she was unable to meet their gaze.

"I only want what's best for us," she whispered, her eyes drifting down to the floor as memories of her past, of her mother, flooded back. "And I will do whatever it takes to make sure that happens." Even if it meant

Her anger instantly dissipated as they raised their voice and revealed the depth of their suffering. A pang of guilt shot through her, momentarily drowning out all the rationalizations she'd been telling herself up until now. She took a step closer, reaching out to tentatively touch their arm in sympathy.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I never meant to make you feel that way." Her eyes searched theirs for any hint of deception or manipulation, but all she saw was pain and exhaustion. A wave of self-loathing threatened to overwhelm her as the truth of the situation sank in: no matter how much she'd tried to convince herself otherwise, she had been hurting them. And for what? Revenge on a woman who wasn't even alive anymore? "I can't undo what happened," she continued softly, her voice barely audible above the

The words hit her like a punch to the gut, and she felt a stab of panic race through her veins. Her grip on their arm tightened reflexively as she struggled to find the right thing to say. "Don't," she managed to choke out. "You can't do that." She searched their eyes desperately, trying to convey with her gaze alone how much they meant to her, how much they were loved and cherished.

"I never wanted you to feel that way," she continued softly, taking another step closer. "And I promise... I'll do everything in my power to make it better. To help you get through this." Even as the words left her mouth, she knew how empty they sounded. How much of a lie they were. But right now, in this moment, they were all she had.

Her heart ached as she heard the pain and doubt in their voice, but she refused to let it break her resolve. "You're wrong," she said firmly, cupping their cheek gently with her free hand. "I do love you. And no matter what happened in the past, or what I've done... I want us to be happy together." She paused, her eyes searching their face for any sign of acceptance. "Please believe me," she whispered.

There was a long silence as they considered her words, and Janice held her breath, waiting for some sign of forgiveness or understanding. Perhaps this was the moment where everything would fall apart, where all of her lies and manipulations would come crashing down around them. But she couldn't give up hope yet... not until she saw that flicker of light in their eyes.

"I'll do whatever it takes," she whispered, "to