The Wrong Woman

"What about social media? Why did you block me?" Sienna inquired.

"Sorry, Sienna. Why exactly did you call me?" Jane's response left Sienna somewhat resigned, a sense of foreboding settling over her. Such was the way of supposed lifelong friends. Sienna had no interest in maintaining one-sided emotional investments in friendships. Cutting straight to the chase, she asked, "Jane, did you write 'Into the Light'?"

There was silence on the other end.

For Sienna, this silence was deafening. She couldn't believe it. Her heart clenched with a mix of sorrow and indignation. "So, 'Into the Light' is really your work?"

"Yes." Jane's voice, though slightly hollow, carried an air of entitlement. "I've already bought the book's copyright and secured a film contract."

Sienna let out a wry smile, her eyes moistening. "I never imagined that my best friend would steal my book. I-"

Before Sienna could finish, Jane cut her off, her tone assertive, "Sienna, my book was published three months before yours. Who copied whom? It's pretty clear, isn't it?"

Sienna sighed bitterly. "Jane, do you know the meaning of shame when you speak like this?"

Jane fell

She took a deep breath and

of words for this book and stored it on my laptop. I never thought that even with all precautions, my best friend could still

Considering

them, and as long as you compensate me privately and issue an apology,

our relationship so much and considered our bond. But too bad, it seems I'm more ruthless than

Sienna hung

was seething. The mere thought that Jane could be behind the plagiarism

Phoenicia, Sienna wasted no time and began preparing the materials for the lawsuit. She also got her company to hire a lawyer. Despite days of tireless preparation, the

for the impending lawsuit. The

a long shot,"

engineers who could retrieve the timestamps of my book's creation? Perhaps we could trace the exact

hand on the table. "That might work. It's a strong play. But where would you find such