Chapter 321: Servers her right

Ella’s POV

The air in the mall seemed to thicken as Amanda, Bea, and I stood there, locked in a tense, silent standoff. Amanda’s chin was tilted up, her eyes glinting with a smug, almost combative arrogance, like she was sizing me up for a fight she’d already decided she’d win.

Bea, on the other hand, looked caught off guard, her dark eyes wide with a mix of surprise and something heavier—regret, maybe. It had been over five years since I’d last seen her, and the weight of our past hung between us like an unspoken apology.

She hadn’t changed much—her short, curly black hair still framed her face in that same carefree way, her babyish features and laid-back style unchanged. But now, she held the hands of two small children, a boy and a girl, who clung to her with shy curiosity. They had to be her kids with Rowon.

“Ella?” Bea said, her voice hesitant, almost disbelieving. “I didn’t expect to see you here…”

“Same here, Bea,” I replied, keeping my tone even. I’d thought that seeing her or Rowon again would reignite the anger I’d felt all those years ago, when I learned they’d known about Marcus’s affair with Vanessa and kept it from me. That betrayal had cut deep, severing friendships I’d once thought unbreakable.

But standing here now, with Lily’s hand in mine and Celeste at my side, I realized something surprising: my heart felt lighter than I’d expected. The resentment I’d carried for so long had dulled, replaced by a clarity that maybe, just maybe, it was time to let go of the past.

I glanced down at the children, who were peering up at me with wide, curious eyes. I smiled, kneeling to their level. “And who are these two?” I asked, softening my voice.

Bea’s expression warmed, though the unease didn’t entirely leave her eyes. “This is Mavie,” she said, gently nudging the little girl forward, “and this is Rafael. My kids with Rowon.”

“They’re beautiful,” I said, meaning it. Mavie had her mother’s curls, and Rafael had Rowon’s sharp, inquisitive eyes. Knowing Bea and Rowon had built a life together, a family, after all these years—it stirred something bittersweet in me. I was happy for them, genuinely, even if our history was complicated.

Before I could say more, Amanda’s voice cut through the moment like a blade. “Bea, we need to go,” she said sharply, tugging at Bea’s arm. Her eyes flicked to me, cold and dismissive. “It’s not good to let the kids get too close to Ella. She’s bad luck.”

The words hit me like a slap, but I didn’t flinch. Lily’s hand tightened in mine, and I could feel Celeste tense beside me, her protective energy practically crackling. I straightened, meeting Amanda’s gaze head-on. “That’s rich, coming from you,” I said, my voice calm but edged with steel. “I feel sorry for you, Amanda. Clinging to those small, petty ideals of yours.”

Amanda’s face flushed, her lips parting in outrage. “You think you’re something special, don’t you?” she snapped, stepping closer, her voice dripping with venom. “You’re nothing, Ella. Just a desperate woman chasing after rich men to feel important.”

I raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “And yet, between the two of us, I’m the one wearing a doctor’s coat,” I said, my tone cool but pointed. “You call me a failure, but look at you, Amanda. What do you have to show for all your scheming?”

Celeste let out a low, mocking laugh, stepping forward with a glint in her eyes. “Wow, I didn’t know I was walking into a full-on showdown,” she said, her voice laced with amusement. “But let me make one thing clear, Amanda—if you come for Ella, you’re going to have to deal with me too.”

I glanced at Celeste, a surge of gratitude warming my chest. She was fierce, unapologetic, and in that moment, I realized just how much I could rely on her. She wasn’t just a friend—she was a force, someone who’d stand by me no matter what.

Amanda’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes flashing with barely contained rage. She opened her mouth, no doubt to hurl another insult, but seemed to think better of it. Instead, she muttered something under her breath, venomous and low, before turning on her heel. “Let’s go, Bea,” she said, her voice tight as she stormed off.

Bea hesitated, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Ella, I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice low, almost pleading. “I didn’t… I mean, that wasn’t okay.”

I shook my head, offering her a small smile. “It’s fine, Bea. Really. I’m just glad to see you again.” I paused, glancing at Mavie and Rafael, who were watching the exchange with wide eyes. “Your kids are adorable. You and Rowon… you’ve built something good.”

Her eyes softened, a flicker of relief crossing her face. “Thanks,” she said quietly. “It’s been a wild ride, but… yeah, we’re happy.”

An impulse hit me, one I didn’t overthink for once. “Hey,” I said, “Lily’s birthday is this weekend. I’m throwing her a party at the apartment. Why don’t you bring Mavie and Rafael? I’d love for them to come, and I know Lily would too.”

Bea’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked like she might tear up. “Really?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion. “That’d be… I’d love that, Ella. Thank you.”

“Of course,” I said, squeezing Lily’s hand. “We’re family, right?”

She nodded, a small smile breaking through. “Yeah. We are.”

Bea gathered her kids, promising to text me about the party, and then followed Amanda out of the mall, her steps slower, more hesitant. I watched her go, a strange mix of emotions swirling in my chest—relief, hope, and a lingering ache from the past. But mostly, I felt lighter, like I’d taken a step toward healing something I hadn’t realized still needed mending.

Celeste turned to me, her expression a mix of accusation and amusement. “Well, damn,” she said, crossing her arms. “I thought you were always Miss Polite, all prim and proper, never getting into petty fights. What was that?”

I shrugged, a small smirk tugging at my lips. “Sometimes you have to give certain people exactly what they deserve,” I said, my voice light but firm. “Amanda’s been asking for it for a long time.”

Celeste laughed, throwing her head back. “That’s my girl,” she said, looping her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s get that ice cream you promised Lily. She’s earned it after all this drama.”

Lily tugged at my hand, oblivious to the tension that had just unfolded. “Can I get chocolate, Mommy?” she asked, her eyes bright.

“You got it, sweetheart,” I said, smiling down at her. As we headed toward the food court, Celeste’s arm still linked with mine, I felt a quiet strength settle over me. Amanda’s words had stung, but they hadn’t broken me.

I had Lily, Celeste, Shawn, and maybe even a chance to rebuild something with Bea. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was standing on solid ground.

We reached the ice cream stand, and Lily practically vibrated with excitement as she pointed at the chocolate flavor. Celeste and I exchanged a glance, her eyes twinkling with that familiar mischief, and I knew she was already plotting something—probably another way to meddle in my love life.

But for now, I was content to focus on this moment: Lily’s smile, the weight of the shopping bags in my hand, and the promise of a weekend filled with love and celebration.

As we stood there, waiting for our ice cream, I caught sight of Amanda and Bea across the mall, their figures growing smaller as they headed toward the exit. Amanda’s posture was stiff, her head held high, while Bea glanced back once, her expression unreadable.

The tension from our encounter lingered, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the warmth of Lily’s hand in mine and the laughter bubbling up between us.