Chapter 98: The Plot

MAVIS.

Resting on a hospital bed, with a bandage around my head, I was trying to recover from the wound inflicted on me. Just when I thought I was alone, the door opened, revealing Estelle. Her eyes didn't leave my head for a second as she walked to the bed where I lay.

"Hey, Mavis," she said. "I heard about what happened through the driver that conveyed us to the hotel. So, she did this to you? How dare Isabel? I should have gone with you."

In my weakened state, I mustered a rueful response. "I doubt Isabel was directly involved, but her new beau sure has a violent streak."

"The audacity of some people," Estelle fumed. "I can't believe he would stoop so low as to have you attacked."

"He doesn't know how to handle a remorseful man."

"Unacceptable!" Estelle's eyes flashed with indignation. "Apologizing? For what?" Estelle's voice dripped with incredulity. "Mavis, you deserve so much better than that. You're worth more than being used and discarded by a woman who's so clearly unfaithful."

"But, what if she's pregnant with my child?" I reasoned, despite the throbbing in my head. "Wouldn't that change things?"

Estelle's expression darkened as her gaze bore into me. "And what about the affair? She betrayed your trust and your friendship by sleeping with your best friend. That's an act of ultimate betrayal. What a shame!"

"Jackson didn't do it, I spoke with him. I trust him, he didn't touch Isabel but about the panties? I'm totally confused,"

"So, Jackson has been exonerated? That's ridiculous!" Estelle's tone was that of disgust as she digested my words. "The mystery of the panties still lingers, doesn't it? It's difficult to make sense of all this."

She paused, weighing her thoughts carefully. "Isabel's behavior has been far from trustworthy. Even if she might be innocent of the affair, she's still been acting erratically, manipulating you and creating problems. Can you truly trust her, after all that's happened?"

"I'm certain my father would be ashamed of my actions," I confessed, a heavy weight pressing down on my shoulders."Estelle, you don't understand. My father was always adamant that I take care of Isabel. She's my step-sister, my responsibility."

"You've slept with her, haven't you?" Estelle's words pierced through the veil of my silence. "She might try to pin a child on you, a child that might not even be yours. I don't want to see you tied down to someone like her. Let me help you, Mavis. Let me fight for you."

My eyes met hers, "You say you want to fight for me? How do you mean?"

Estelle's eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity as she revealed her plan. "I'll see to it that she's abducted and brought to a place where we can...take care of the situation. A simple surgery and that bastard will be out of her womb, out of your life."

I stared at her, my mind racing. "Estelle...is that even legal? See, I'm not a party to anything that would hurt Isabel."

"Is the wound inflicted at the back of your head by her new lover legal?" She retorted but I kept mute.

Estelle's went again. "Perhaps not. You've been wronged and I'll see to it that you receive justice." Her fierce gaze held mine.

The idea of another man swooping in and stealing Isabel away after one small misstep filled me with indignation. My thoughts darkened as I envisioned the man's smug face, gloating over his victory.

How could Isabel have forgotten about me so thoroughly, and how could this new man have the audacity to interfere in my life?

"If there's anything I want you to do, it's to get hold of the man, I don't care who he is and I want you to abduct him instead. What are your plans on this?"

Estelle nodded, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. "Precisely. When one holds a position of influence, others are quick to believe in your innocence, even in the face of contrary evidence." She sat back in her chair, her confidence oozing into her posture.

"With the right connections, we can manipulate public perception to suit our needs. The key is to remain vigilant and calculated, ensuring that our actions are never linked back to us." Her voice was low.

"Great idea, I'll personally reach out to someone on this matter, I want Isabel to return to Los Angeles at the end of everything. That man should be the reason why she moved here to stay."

Estelle's eyes flashed with frustration as she snapped, "Don't be so naive, Mavis! What has Isabel ever done to earn your loyalty or love? She's betrayed you, abandoned you, and now flaunts her new status with some upstart." She leaned forward again.

"You must stop deluding yourself with sentimental notions of family. Isabel doesn't care about you, not anymore. But, I do. And I won't let her make a fool of you. Don't let her make you sit in the dust."

"Mavis, listen. Once you are out of this bed, you are going to help me secure a position at TABOO TREASURES AND ALL WHATNOT Mall in the main town. And once you do, you can bet that I'll be the envy of everyone on social media including the couple who did this to you. You'll be proud to be my friend, and I'll make sure everyone knows it."

The faintest smile appeared on my lips, despite the lingering pain. "And wouldn't that be a kick in the pants for that new boyfriend of hers?"

"That's right, I can't wait to get started on this. Soon, Isabel and I wouldn't be in the same league, she would be astounded to see that I just came into the city and I'm already noticed. Seems the Mall is owned by a very rich man, imagine how much attention it has pulled to herself in only two days." Estelle said, nodding to herself.

"This county is filled with influential people just like ours, you never can tell, a child of an established man may own the Mall."

"I'm waiting for you to start up yours, you have to get back your bank cards ASAP. Don't worry, leave that to me."