Chapter 105: Make Her suffer

ISABEL.

As Lucas skillfully guided the Rolls Royce through the streets, you couldn't help but feel a hint of satisfaction.

Though my mother’s ire was something I hoped to avoid, I was pleased to know that Mavis feared to disappoint his father too.

The thought brought a smile to my face as I replayed the scene from the mall in my mind. While the situation had certainly caused its fair share of chaos, I must admit that seeing Estelle's pride and joy brought so low was satisfying.

Searching for updates on my phone, I found that Estelle's social media followers were rapidly diminishing. While some of her fans were lashing out at her for her misbehavior, others were simply waiting to see what would happen to her next.

In the world of online fame, Estelle’s fall from grace was swift and brutal. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of her losing the popularity she so desperately craved

The backlash from Estelle's incident was spreading far beyond just her own reputation. Mavis, too, was now feeling the weight of her actions, his name and image tarnished by association.

Even Eric had reached out to me via direct message, expressing his concern that Mavis had accompanied Estelle to the mall with malicious intent.

In the absence of any solid facts, bloggers were free to conjure up their own narratives about the incident, crafting fabricates.

Especially because Estelle was refusing interviews they were quick to fill in the blanks with their own imaginations.

One group claimed Mavis had been the instigator, coercing Estelle into committing the crime, while another faction posited that he had been the one who stole the necklace, with Estelle merely playing a supporting role.

The whole situation was spiraling out of control, and I knew that if I wasn’t careful, my name could become collateral damage in this messy scandal given that some people knew we were step-siblings.

I had to come forward and reveal myself as the owner of the Mall, taking control of the narrative before it spiraled any further. If I played my cards right, I could even win over some of Estelle’s disillusioned fans.

Funny enough, I still have my own evidence of how both people tried to bribe their way into my business. I couldn't wait to use their assertion against them soon, especially for Estelle.

The irony of the situation was not lost on me. After Estelle had tarnished my reputation with her lies, I held the true power with evidence from the video footage and my recorder.

The idea of using their words against them filled me with a certain glee.

I couldn’t wait to see the look on Estelle’s face when I revealed the truth that she and Mavis had tried to bribe their way into my business. The thought of watching her squirm as the tables turned brought a wry smile to my face.

As I arrived at my home, the unexpected sight of Bennett waiting for me came as a pleasant surprise. Not only had she managed to find her way without any trouble, but she’d also taken the liberty of showing up unannounced.

We embraced in a gentle hug, mindful of the precious life I was nurturing within.

With our arms still linked, we made our way into the house, directly to the heart of the house, my kitchen. As I opened the fridge to gather some refreshments, I turned to Bennett with a smile. "How is your man?"

Bennett giggled. "He's doing well. He walked me all the way to the airport, worried that I might get lost."

Bennett continued, still laughing, "He even called me after I left to make sure I wasn't lost! I told him, 'Don't worry, dear. As long as I have an address and Google Maps, I'm good to go!'"

We shared a good chuckle at her man's concern. It was always heartwarming to see couples who cared so deeply for each other.

When I turned around with the tray in my hand, her eyes widened as she took in the sight of my burgeoning bump. "You're positively radiating, Isabel! The new man must have been treating you well," she exclaimed, the statement bursting forth before she could stop herself.

I shushed her with a playful finger to the lips. "Let's not mention him here. Besides," I added with a mischievous glint in my eye, "He knows about Mavis, he is just my neighbor."

Bennett's gaze shifted to one of intrigue as she processed my words.

"He knows about Mavis?" Bennett's eyes widened in shock. "Why would you tell him? You know how that can make him lose interest in you, don't you?"

I let out a sigh, "A lot has changed, Bennett. My mother has disappeared, and Eric stepped up to help me when I needed it the most. Keeping something like that from him would have been impossible."

"Come forward and let me hug you again, Isabel," Bennett said, welcoming me into another gentle embrace. "You've been through a lot, but you're stronger than you know." As we held each other close, she continued, "And guess what? I’ve come with gift items or rather, evidence against Estelle."

"Oh?" I responded, curious about what she had uncovered.

"I checked my browser history and found that she had used it to log into her Instagram account at one point.

"Okay?" I said, becoming more intrigued.

Bennett’s eyes grew serious as she revealed, "Estelle boasted to her friend about how she got you drunk and coerced you to remove your panties, which she then planted in Jackson's pocket during the party." The words hung heavily in the air as I struggled to remember my past.

"Oh my goodness," I gasped, the shock and betrayal coursing through me like a chill.

I shook off the feeling of hurt immediately, "Bennett, you haven’t seen the news yet, have you?"

Bennett gave me a quizzical look. "I caught up on the news this morning before leaving for the airport. Was there something specific that caught your attention?"

"Oh yes, and it’s quite the scandal. Apparently, a famous social media influencer was caught shoplifting at a Mall in San Francisco! It's been all over the local news."

Bennett squinted her eyes, " That's a big shame! Pass me my phone and let me check out for myself,"

I did pass her phone, and she didn't search for too long when Bennett's infectious laughter rang out, and I couldn't help but join in. "Oh my God! It's indeed Estelle," She said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Oh my goodness, this is just too good," Bennett said, still chuckling. "She deserves to pay for her misdeeds. What are you planning to do with her? She deserves to suffer." Her eyes gleamed with anticipation as she awaited my response.