章 4: Jealousy Brewing
Isabelle's stomach twisted as her heart hammered, each beat echoing the wounds she thought she'd buried. She took a slow breath, forcing herself to stay calm, and turned, carefully arranging her face into a mask of composure.
Across the room stood Sonia, tall and poised, an effortless confidence radiating from her as she watched Isabelle with an all-too-familiar smirk. The sight sent a hot spark of anger through Isabelle, but she pushed it down. That gaze, once enough to make her falter, was powerless now. Raising her chin, Isabelle allowed a defiant smirk to cross her lips, meeting Sonia's eyes with newfound strength.
"Excuse me?" Isabelle's voice was steady, laced with the perfect blend of challenge and nonchalance. "I think you've mistaken me for someone else. My name isn't Ruby."
Sonia's expression shifted, her smirk dissolving as shock washed over her face, followed quickly by an awkward flush. She stammered, her confidence cracking. "Oh… I just… I thought you looked familiar, from the back, like a... friend."
Isabelle raised a brow, feigning concern. "Oh? You didn't sound very friendly just a moment ago. Did this friend do something wrong?"
Sonia flinched but brushed off the question with an uncomfortable laugh. "Haven't you... haven't you seen the news?" She fumbled, changing the subject with a flicker of unease in her eyes.
Ignoring the question, huh? Isabelle thought, suppressing a smirk as she extended her hand.
"I'm new around here. Isabelle Slade."
After a hesitant pause, Sonia took her hand. "Sonia," she said, her voice softening as she shook Isabelle's hand, her gaze growing distant.
Her face fell, and she took in a shaky breath.
"She was my best friend. But she lost her way. Made some mistakes, and then... then she got into an accident. Died." Her voice trembled, and her eyes grew glassy, as if she were holding back tears.
"When I saw you from behind, it was like she was still here."
"We were never best friends. You are such a good actress tho," Isabelle thought, keeping her expression neutral.
Out loud, she remarked, "Oh, I'm so sorry. Life can be cruel sometimes." The words slipped out effortlessly, carrying just the right mix of sympathy and irony.
Sonia dabbed at her eyes. "Talking about it helps, even if it's just a little." She sighed.
"Talking about it just brings me so much joy," Sonia thought with a twisted satisfaction. Knowing she's already rotting in hell. Her face, however, stayed soft, eyes glistening as if she were still caught in sorrow, expertly hiding the venom lurking beneath her calm expression.
Isabelle's smile was smooth, concealing her awareness of Sonia's act.
However, i am also very good at acting
"How about we grab a coffee sometime? I'd be willing to listen if you need someone to talk to," she offered, her tone warm.
Sonia's eyes lit up, and she clasped her hands together as if touched. "Really? You'd do that?" she replied, her voice dripping with sugary sincerity. "That's so thoughtful of you."
Sonia's gaze lingered on Isabelle's face, taking in the dark red hair and the flawless skin that seemed straight out of an advertisement. Her eyes narrowed slightly as jealousy flared, but she forced a warm, sugary smile.
"You're absolutely stunning," Sonia said, her voice dripping with sweetness—almost too much. "You should be a model."
Isabelle flashed a smile, the kind that barely touched her eyes. "Actually, I'm an aspiring model."
Sonia's eyebrows shot up in what seemed like genuine surprise, but there was a subtle gleam in her eyes. "Oh, really?" she said, sounding both impressed and calculating. "You're in luck, then. I'm actually pretty connected in the modeling scene around here. I'd be delighted to introduce you to a few people."
A flicker of interest crossed Isabelle's face, though inwardly, she smirked. Two can play this game, Sonia.
She held Sonia's gaze with a hint of gratitude, a warm smile forming on her lips. "Are you serious? That would be amazing. Thank you, Sonia."
Sonia's smile held a trace of envy. "It's what I do," she replied lightly, though her voice betrayed a hint of resentment.
Isabelle sensed the bitterness simmering beneath Sonia's facade. "I know she is probably thinking of how to ruin me. I will like to see you try," she thought, her gaze steady.
"Let's exchange numbers," Sonia offered, pulling her phone out. "I'm here with friends. Maybe we can all meet up."
"Of course." Isabelle pulled her own phone out, her movements steady and poised. Behind them, Sonia's gaze flicked over Isabelle's clothes on the rack, her eyes tightening at the designer tags and the luxurious fabrics.
"Trying those on?" Sonia asked, forcing a smile as she looked over the outfits.
Isabelle gave a small nod. "Needed a wardrobe refresh."
Sonia's fists clenched as she ran a hand over the silk fabric. Not only is she beautiful, but she's got money too. This is too much.
"That's wonderful" She said as she looked through the clothes on the rack, each more expensive than the last, which pissed her off.
"She is probably fake." She can't buy everything here." She thought.
Her nails dug into her palms as she feigned interest. "They're gorgeous… Are you buying them all?"
Isabelle nodded, her smile calm. "Yes."
Sonia's smile froze. "Oh…"
Before she could respond further, a voice called out, "There you are!" Catherine approached, flanked by two other women. "We've been looking for you everywhere!"
Sonia looped her arm through Isabelle's, her grip just tight enough to make Isabelle's skin crawl.
"I've just met the sweetest person," she said, flashing her friends an angelic smile. "Everyone, meet Isabelle. She's an aspiring model, so make her feel welcome."
Catherine shook Isabelle's hand, her eyes darting over her with thinly veiled curiosity. "Any friend of Sonia's is a friend of ours."
"Oh, I feel so welcome already," Isabelle replied, though inwardly her skin prickled at the sight of the people who'd tried to destroy her life, most especially the sister she loved with all her heart. She forced a smile, though a cold sweat crept down her back.
"Shall we head to the register?" Catherine asked, glancing at the luxurious clothes Isabelle had gathered. "Coming?"
Isabelle turned, catching a store assistant's eye. "Yes, actually. I'll need some help with all of these."
"You're paying for... all of them?" Catherine's eyes widened.
Isabelle gave a simple nod, hiding a glimmer of satisfaction as she saw the disbelief on their faces.
At the register, Catherine kept glancing at Isabelle's haul with a forced smile, her thoughts far less friendly.
"How can she just buy those clothes with ease? I am going to savor the moment when her card declines," she scoffed and went to the register.
"Sorry, miss," the cashier said, looking at Catherine. "Your card's declined."
"What?" Catherine's voice rose, her face reddening. "Run it again!"
After two more attempts, the cashier looked apologized. "Ma'am, it's still declined."
Catherine's face flushed with anger, her voice sharp and cutting.
"Are you telling me I can't afford to buy these pathetic, cheap things you all picked out?" she hissed, her words carrying through the store. "How dare you disrespect me like this?" Her outburst immediately attracted the attention of other shoppers, and heads turned in their direction.
Sonia, unfazed, stepped forward with a calm demeanor, her voice smooth and collected. "Please calm down. I'm sure she didn't mean it that way," she said, before handing her card to the cashier with an almost rehearsed sweetness. "Let me take care of this for you," she added, her words laced with false gentleness.
The cashier, visibly relieved, let out a soft breath. "No problem, ma'am," she muttered, grateful to avoid any further confrontation.
Catherine gritted her teeth, fighting back the urge to lash out again. She hated feeling so humiliated, but what stung the most was Isabelle, standing right there, witnessing everything.
I can't believe this is happening with her watching, Catherine thought, barely holding back the irritation bubbling inside her.
Isabelle noticed her gaze. Her eyes gleaming with hidden amusement. "I'm sure it's just a bank issue. You should check it out," she said, her tone deceptively sweet.
Catherine, her insides simmering with rage, forced a tight smile. Is she actually implying I'm broke? Her teeth clenched, and her hands trembled with the effort to stay calm. Unbelievable. The nerve.
Isabelle's lips curled into a small, smug smile as she observed Catherine's struggle. When she was Ruby, she was the one giving Catherine her allowance every week, just to keep up with her reckless spending. Her modeling career? Nowhere near as excellent as her. Yet her parents kept comparing her to Catherine.
Now that I'm "dead," I guess she'll be clinging to Sonia like a lifeline.
The thought made Isabelle's satisfaction grow, and a quiet laugh echoed in her mind.
When Isabelle's turn came, she smoothly pulled out a sleek black card, and the women exchanged shocked glances.
"You... do you have a black card?" Catherine stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief. The thought of Isabelle having a card that was prestigious was a slap to her pride.
Isabelle, maintaining her composed air, glanced at Catherine with a slight smirk. "It's not mine. It's my husband's," she replied, her voice light and nonchalant, as if the card itself wasn't as important as the power behind it.
"You're married?" Sonia asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise. The question hung in the air like an unexpected twist in a familiar story.
"Of course." Isabelle's answer was simple.
The woman at the register, too, was taken aback as Isabelle handed over the Black Card. Once the transaction was complete, she handed it back to Isabelle, her hands a little too careful. "Thanks for shopping with us," she said with a forced politeness.
Isabelle nodded graciously, offering a small, practiced smile while a few workers began to pack her new clothes into bags.
As they left the building, Sonia leaned in slightly, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness. "Your marriage must be lovely... seeing that your husband spoils you."
"You're such a lucky girl," she added, her eyes scanning Isabelle, now calculating. It won't be hard to seduce her husband. After all, no man can resist me.
Isabelle gave a soft, almost imperceptible laugh inwardly, but her face remained calm. "I'm sure we'll get to meet him one day."
"Will you ever introduce us?" Sonia pressed, her tone too eager, a hint of something darker beneath the surface.
"He's a very busy man." Isabelle's answer was polite, but her lips tightened slightly, aware of Sonia's ulterior motive. She felt her phone vibrate in her bag, the sudden ping of the message cutting through the tension.
[Mrs. Slade, I am your personal driver. [I am coming to pick you up from your direction.]
As Isabelle read the message, she looked up just as the unmistakable roar of an engine cut through the air. A sleek black Lamborghini glided to a stop in front of the building, and the driver, dressed in a sharp suit, stepped out and approached Isabelle.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Slade. I've come to drop you home." His voice was respectful and formal.
The workers, who had been helping Isabelle with her purchases, now scurried to load her bags into the car. The women watched in stunned silence, their eyes flicking between the car and Isabelle, with a mixture of surprise and jealousy.
"Your husband must be quite wealthy." Catherine remarked, her voice barely masking the jealousy boiling inside her.
Isabelle didn't miss the look in her eyes, but she chose not to respond, instead offering a polite smile. "I'll introduce you all one day. But for now, this is where we part ways. I hope we meet again soon."
"Of course we will," Sonia replied, her smile wide and full of sweet intentions, though her eyes glinted with something far less innocent.
Once Isabelle slid into the car, the door closing behind her, the sleek vehicle sped off, leaving the women standing in the quiet aftermath.
The moment the car disappeared from view, Sonia's demeanor shifted, her smile evaporating into a tight line of coldness.
"I can't believe that bitch. Flaunting all of that in front of us like we're nothing." Catherine remarked, her voice dripping with resentment.
Sonia's expression tightened, her gaze cold as ice. "Don't call her that," she said firmly. "She's our friend now, and we will be here to help her with everything she needs... right?"
Catherine's eyes flickered with understanding, a sinister smile tugging at her lips as she caught the meaning behind Sonia's words. "Yeah, we'll give her a 'wonderful' welcome," she replied.
Sonia's lips curled into a small, calculated smile as her thoughts darkened. Enjoy it while it lasts, Isabelle. Because soon, everything you've worked for, everything you've built, will be mine.
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