Harper stood in the doorway, waiting.
Naomi sat stiffly on the edge of Sofia's bed, eyes wide but silent — as if any sudden movement might make things worse.
And Sofia… Sofia felt like she was sinking.
"I'm waiting," Harper said quietly. "Tell me what's going on."
Sofia finally looked up. Her eyes were glassy. "You're not going to like it."
Harper's voice didn't waver. "Try me."
Sofia took a breath that shook her whole frame. "It was me. The person Ian's been talking to online — Clara. That was me."
Harper blinked.
"I made the profile," Sofia said, words tumbling now. "I used your pictures. I used your favorite quotes. I created this person — Clara — and I pretended to be her. And Ian… he found her. He started messaging."
"You… pretended to be me?" Harper's voice was a whisper now. Not angry. Just stunned.
"I didn't use your name," Sofia rushed to explain. "But I used your face. From public posts. I didn't think he'd believe it. I didn't think anyone would. It was supposed to be a trap. A stupid, awful plan to make Dad doubt you—"
Harper stepped back like she'd been slapped. "Wait. What?"
Naomi stepped in, her voice quiet but firm. "Sofia thought if she could make it look like you were cheating—"
"Naomi—" Sofia warned.
"No," Naomi said. "She needs to know."
Harper stared at Sofia. Her voice dropped low. "You tried to break us up."
Sofia's eyes welled. "I didn't know what else to do. I hated that you were here, in our house, like you belonged. I blamed you for everything. And I thought if I could just push you out—"
"So you set a stalker on me?" Harper's voice cracked.
"No!" Sofia cried. "I didn't know he was like that. I didn't know he'd find you. I just wanted to mess with you, not… this. Not him. I tried to stop when I saw how far it was going."
Harper's arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her expression wasn't angry. Not yet. Just completely gutted.
"You used my face," she whispered. "To create someone. And now that someone is following me. Talking to me. Thinking he's in love with me."
"I know," Sofia whispered. "I know I messed up. I'm sorry."
Harper sank into the chair beside the desk, eyes distant.
Naomi placed the USB in her hand. "We saved everything. Every message. We've got enough for a report. But you needed to know first. You deserved that."
The room fell into silence.
Harper stared at the flash drive like it was toxic. Her voice came quieter than either of them had ever heard it.
"I trusted you."
Sofia opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Harper stood slowly, face pale and unreadable.
"I'm going to the police," she said. "We'll deal with Ian. Then I'll decide how to deal with this."
She left without another word.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Naomi turned toward Sofia, who sat frozen, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"I ruined everything," Sofia whispered.
Naomi didn't argue.
Because for the first time since it started—
Sofia believed it.