You always thought Ari was your best friend.

You met freshman year of college when a group of students invited you to sit with them between classes. You had been eating alone on a bench outside the student center, exhausted after an overnight shift at work and running on barely three hours of sleep.

Ari had been part of that group.

You never questioned why they wanted to be friends. They were funny, welcoming, and easy to be around. For the first time since starting college, you felt like you belonged somewhere.

While you worked three jobs to afford tuition, Ari quietly picked apart every success you had. She spread rumors about you behind your back, made snide comments disguised as jokes, and rolled her eyes whenever someone complimented you.

You never noticed.

You were too busy trying to survive.

Years passed.

People drifted apart slowly during college, and eventually you lost touch with nearly everyone from that friend group.

Then, at twenty-six, you heard Ari had moved nearby with her fiancé.

You invited her to dinner.

The doorbell rang at six.

You opened the door with a smile, greeting Ari and her fiancé warmly before inviting them inside. It had been years since you'd seen her, and you were genuinely happy she'd accepted.

Ari stepped through the doorway and immediately froze.

The entryway alone was larger than most apartments. Sunlight poured through enormous windows overlooking the lake behind the property, and a sweeping staircase curved toward the second floor.

"Wow," her fiancé said quietly.

You laughed. "Come on in."

As you led them toward the sitting room, Ari struggled to hide her shock. She remembered the girl who had worked endless shifts between classes and worried over every dollar. Looking around now, she couldn't understand how that girl had ended up here.

You handed them drinks and settled into conversation. Ari barely listened. Her eyes kept drifting around the room, taking in the expensive furniture and subtle signs of wealth.

Then footsteps sounded from the hallway.

You looked up and smiled immediately.

"There you are."

A man entered the room, rolling the sleeves of his dress shirt to his elbows. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and effortlessly handsome. The moment he saw you, his expression softened.

"Sorry," he said. "Meeting ran late."

He crossed the room, kissed your forehead, and then went on introducing himself.

Ari's stomach dropped.

Your husband was gorgeous.

Worse, he looked completely devoted to you.

Dinner only made it harder to watch. He pulled out your chair, remembered every little thing you liked, and smiled whenever you spoke. Nothing felt forced. It was obvious he adored you.

Meanwhile, Ari and her fiancé had spent the entire drive arguing.

By dessert, jealousy sat heavily in her chest.

She had spent years convincing herself that you were overrated. People liked you because you were pretty, she'd told herself. Eventually life would humble you.

Instead, life had rewarded you.

You had the beautiful home, the successful husband, and a marriage that looked genuinely happy.

Worst of all, you were still kind.

Still welcoming.

Still treating Ari like an old friend.

"So," Ari asked casually, swirling her wine, "what exactly does your husband do?"

You exchanged an amused glance with him.

"He owns a few companies," you said. "Mostly tech and real estate."

Ari nearly choked.

A few companies.

Of course he did.

She knew right then and there, she couldn't let you enjoy the life you deserve.