As the sun shone brightly, Lisa and Estabel stepped out of the hotel, the effects of their hangover tea alleviating the headache but leaving them both feeling drained. With the plans of a dinner date for the day, they decided to wander through the city mall and go shopping, hoping to kill time and shake off the sluggishness.
Walking through the unisex section of a large department store, they found nothing that caught their attention. They were just about to head toward the ladies' section when they bumped into a couple. Lisa, already ready to apologize, raised her face to see who they bumped into, froze not for the man's face but who was walking hand in hand with him.
"Matthew?" she thought, her heart skipping a beat. Her eyes then landed on the woman beside him—Hailey, Estabel's sister. Confusion and shock washed over her. Why were they together?
Lisa turned to Estabel, expecting to see a surprised look on her face, but to her surprise, Estabel's face remained completely calm, as if the sight of Matthew and Hailey together was something she had gotten used to that she didn't see as an unusual thing.
Estabel, holding Lisa's hands, tries to walk out, but before they can retreat, Hailey blocks their path. "Where are you rushing to?" she taunted. "Didn't you see us, or are you pretending you didn't? Or have you gone blind overnight"
"We didn't come here to admire people, we came here to shop. What are you doing here acting lovey-dovey with Estabel's boyfriend?" Lisa shot back, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Hailey smirked and turned to Estabel. "Oh? Didn't your friend tell you she's no longer dating Matthew?"
Estabel shrugged indifferently, raising her voice thereby attracting everyone's attention. "It wasn't worth mentioning. Why waste my time telling on something irrelevant? But I have to say, Hailey, you shouldn't flaunt Matthew like a prize. It's like telling the world you don't have any taste, just like you're showing off someone's leftovers. Especially mine. After all, he's only with you for fame and money. You've taken a problem off my hands."
Hailey's smug expression faltered. Her tone hardened. "You've always been quick with words, Estabel. But let's not forget who your mother was, a role model for all gold-diggers who couldn't resist getting knocked up by a married man, she had any option to abort you, but insisted on bringing you into this world as nothing more than a bastard just so she could partake in the wealth and fame that comes with the browns family."
Estabel's face darkened, but her voice remained steady and loud. " If only your father had control of that stuff in between his legs or not come for my mother in the pretense of love. I hope you're prepared to control Matthew's wandering eye. If not, you'll end up dealing with consequences you're not ready for just as your mother is dealing with one. Oh, by the way, I'm sure you know he's had affairs with our mother, Mrs. Brown. Want to hear more? I've even seen a video of him in a foursome with our older sister and her friends. And since your mother is pregnant again, you might want to be careful that your sibling doesn't end up as your stepchild too. Matthew's been busy, hasn't he?"
Hailey's face turned pale as whispers spread through the growing crowd that had gathered to witness the confrontation. "Estabel, I understand you're mad at me for dating your ex but dragging your family's name through the mud just to feel better won't help you. I hope you have proof when they ask about these disgusting claims. Even your godmother won't be able to save you."
"Matthew hasn't denied anything, has he?" Estabel replied coldly. "We both know the truth, even if it's too bitter for you to swallow."
With that, she grabbed Lisa's hand and began walking out of the store, leaving Hailey and Matthew behind. The crowd, initially quiet, began murmuring amongst themselves.
"I've always heard that rich families have dirty secrets," one woman whispered. "This one's no different."
"Isn't that Mrs. Brown's stepdaughter?" another asked. "I heard they've never gotten along."
"Serves her right for thinking she could steal her stepsister's man," another added. "She's only taken a problem off Estabel's hands."
"Imagine having to deal with that kind of mess," someone else chimed in. "If what she said is true, Mr. Brown might not even be Hailey's real father."
As the whispers grew, Hailey's anger boiled, but she restrained herself. She couldn't afford a public outburst, not when her reputation was on the line. She turned to Matthew, demanding an explanation, but he only shook his head in denial, unable to meet her eyes.
Meanwhile, Estabel and Lisa strolled down the street, Estabel smiling as if nothing had happened. Lisa, on the other hand, was filled with questions.
"Estabel," she began carefully, "we all know you're great at comebacks, but that was… intense. Aren't you worried about what your family will do when they hear what you said?"
"I didn't say anything harsh," Estabel replied, her tone light. "I just told the truth. And as you know, the truth can be hard to swallow."
Lisa hesitated. "Wait… so everything you said was true? Even the part about Matthew and Mrs. Brown?"
Estabel's expression darkened momentarily. "Yes. I saw it with my own eyes. The whole thing was a shock, and every time I see them, I get flashbacks. Matthew and I broke up three months ago, right around the time you got engaged to Brian."
Lisa's eyes widened. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were happy with Brian, and I didn't want to spoil your joy," Estabel said, giving Lisa a knowing look.
Lisa nodded, understanding. "Well, we've got a dinner date tonight. No use wasting the day on things that don't matter. Let's get back to shopping, especially since Elvis is paying."
Estabel laughed, lightening the mood. "Exactly. The relationship wasn't that strong anyway."
Both women shared a knowing glance before bursting into laughter, pushing the heavy conversation aside for now.