The day started like any other: tense silence, awkward breakfast, and the usual question of "who's going to snap first today?"
Ren was mid-bite when the door opened.
No chime. No announcement.
Just wind, heels on tile, and a voice that hadn't been heard in two years.
"What? No welcome hug for your favorite mistake?"
Everyone turned.
There she was.
Madison Rayne.
Tanned. Flawless. Designer shades on her head. Tank top. Gold bangles. And a smirk so confident it nearly knocked Zoe off her stool.
"Who the hell invited her?" Brooke muttered.
Emily blinked. "Wait… they weren't actually—"
"They weren't," Naomi answered. "But she always acted like they were."
Ren stood slowly.
"Madison…?"
She walked up to him, tapped his chest with one perfect acrylic nail, and whispered:
"You left me on read for a week, ghosted our almost-first kiss, then said 'maybe we're better as friends.'"
He froze.
She smiled.
"Guess we're not friends now, huh?"
The host's voice finally chimed in:
"Introducing surprise contestant number nine — Madison Rayne!"
Madison blew a kiss to the cameras.
"Don't worry. I'm not here for drama."
Then she turned to Vanessa.
"…Unless someone makes the mistake of thinking they've already won."
Vanessa didn't move. But her jaw clenched just slightly.
Madison walked past Ren, hair swinging, and claimed the empty seat at the center of the group.
She crossed her legs, smiled sweetly, and said, "So. What did I miss?"
Ren's head throbbed.
Because if there was one thing worse than ex-girlfriends…
…it was the one who thought she should've been one.