FIRST SHOWDOWN
1456 Words
FIRST SHOWDOWN
ARIA’S POV
The door swings open, and time seems to move in slow motion.
Everything stills as I come face-to-face with Lora—my nemesis since the day my father brought her and her mother into our home, just weeks after my own mother’s death.
She was a poisonous green snake, a liar who tries at every turn to snatch away everything my mother left me. She even extended her claws to my ex-boyfriend.
“Here she is,” Jessica says scornfully, breaking the icy tension.
Her eyes drag over me with disdain. “You should have seen her outside, Lora. If you had come earlier, you would have seen the shameless red-carpet walk she pulled with Mr. King.”
As Jamie’s little sister, she spent years making my relationship with her brother miserable. Now, she hovers beside Lora like a loyal shadow.
So, this is the ‘type’ of sister-in-law she wants? No wonder I wasn't enough no matter what I did. I must say they truly deserve each other.
I once despised this pair more than anything in the world, but seeing them now doesn't cause a single ripple in my chest.
I am no longer the girl they can hurt. I have grown over the years. I'm no longer seeking validation or trying to please everyone.
They are rabid dogs, and there’s no need to engage them.
I turn to leave, gesturing for Alexis.
"Where do you think you're going, you shameless b***h?" Jessica’s voice spikes, instantly drawing the attention of the other women in the powder room.
Her eyes brim with unconcealed hatred. "After climbing into my brother's bed, you went straight for his best friend? Have you completely lost your mind and your morality?"
I still don't get where her hatred for me stemmed from.
Years ago, my mother treated her like a daughter, and I loved her like a younger sister, buying her luxury gifts and taking her out.
She would beam at me with a sweet smile, only to tear me down behind my back.
Jamie would constantly accuse me of things I hadn't done, causing endless rifts in our relationship.
The day I caught her lying to him, claiming I had bullied her, was the day I drew the line.
And she stopped pretending after that.
"What... what are you looking at?" Jessica sneers, crossing her arms defensively.
"Don't think you can intimidate me with that gaze. Just because you're wearing one of the latest piece of Aureline design and the Southern Sea Pearl diamond necklace, don't think we don't know exactly what you did to get it. Opening your legs everywhere, just like you used to."
A laugh bubbles up in my throat, and I let out a sharp snort.
She sounds so ridiculous. I wonder if she will faint from jealousy if she knows I own the brand she speaks fondly about.
"You spent years ruining my relationship with your brother every chance you got, Jessica. I left that gold-digging precious brother of yours four years ago, yet here you are, still obsessed with my life. You really need to grow up. It’s pathetic."
Jessica is a little psycho, obsessed with her brother. I established that fact a long time ago, so I don't need to waste my breath on her.
Lora, on the other hand, stands quietly behind her, her chin tilted up like an immortal looking down on peasants.
Yet, i noticed her tracking me from the corner of her eye, assessing.
The hypocrisy is sickening. she simply lets Jessica do her dirty work for her.
The murmurs become bolder, and I can hear some of the women snidely commenting to each other about how some sisters always seem to want to be their brother's wife.
“What do you all know?” Jessica snaps angrily at the crowd. “I like Lora as my brother's girlfriend, and she will become his wife one day! She is loyal, unlike some people who sleep around with different men.”
“Aria,” Here we go. The greatest actress of all time.
Lora steps forward, her voice dripping with fake pity to make me look like the aggressor.
“Can you stop this? Why are you bullying her? Can't you concede for once, since you're older than her? You have always been like this—impulsive, stubborn, and refusing to listen.”
Wow. As expected.
But I won't let them ruin my reputation. Not anymore. It isn't just mine anymore.
I have my son, my brand, and my family in Paris to protect.
“Who are you to tell me what to do? By what right? On what level?” I fire back, my voice cutting through the room.
“How do you even dare open your mouth to talk to me? You're a relationship-wrecker who slept with her sister's boyfriend, just like your home-wrecking mother.”
Lora’s face turns bright red, embarrassed as the whispers of the surrounding women pivot toward her.
“What about you? Sleeping with your boyfriend's best friend?” Jessica chimes in, rushing to Lora’s defense. “How does that make you any different? We all know how you got here.”
“Do you?” I ask calmly.
I step closer to her, almost laughing as she hurriedly takes steps back. “If you’re going to make accusations, at least make them sound intelligent. That’s the least you can do.”
A few people nearby move, trying to choke back their laughter.
“You—” Jessica’s face burns a furious scarlet, while Lora’s embarrassment turns even deeper.
Alexis smiles sweetly. “I almost thought you were talking about Mr. King. That would have been very … unfortunate for you of course. Defamation tends to have consequences, you know.”
Silence.
“Especially when everyone here knows your brother doesn’t even exist in his world.”
Jessica’s mouth opens but Alexis is not done.
“And sleeping with his girlfriend's sister? Can it get lower lower than that? Tch.”
It surprises and warms my heart how fiercely Alexis comes to my defense, considering we have only known each other for less than three hours.
Jessica turns into a tomato red. Her mouth opening and closing like a stranded fish.
You... you...” Jessica stammers, her voice trembling. “I will tell my brother, Aria! I will inform him! Now he will see who you truly are!”
Lora’s composure cracks, as the onlookers speculation grew wilder. She grabs Jessica's arm and drags her out of the powder room to escape their burning not before giving me a ‘you will regret what you did, today look.’
Who is scared of who?
“Show's over, ladies. What are you still looking at?” Alexis asks, turning her sharp gaze on the remaining onlookers.
They instantly scramble away. Alexis clearly holds power here.
"Come on, Aria," Alexis says, looping her arm through mine and turning her back dismissively on the exit. "Let's go find Charles and Noah. The air over here is starting to smell a bit cheap."
I smile, walking away without a single backward glance.
As we walk out of the powder room and back into the hallway, Alexis squeezes my arm.
“You handled that so well,” she murmurs, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “They looked ready to combust.”
“You too. You looked powerful in there,” I reply, smiling happily at her.
For the first time in a long while, facing my past doesn’t feel devastating. I feel... taller.
Alexis grimaces playfully. “Please don't say that anywhere near Charles. I'm a sweet baby. A damsel in distress. I am not…powerful.”
I laugh, thoroughly amused.
“And besides, they are only scared because of my parents,” She adds lightly.
“That's why they panicked. They could be chased out of here and lose their chance of climbing the social ladder. It had nothing to do with me. I'm a sweet, helpless girl, don't you think?”
“Sure,” I chuckle, falling into her easy rhythm. “Your boyfriend won't hear a word about how capable you are. Just cute and helpless."
“Yeah, exactly. Why should I be powerful? What is he there for? I would literally be stealing his role.”
Our conversation flows natural after that, the last remnants of our earlier distance completely fading away.
The moment we re-entered the ballroom, Noah’s possessive gaze locks onto mine immediately from across the crowd.
The lingering knot in my chest loosens completely.
Whatever storm those two tried to stir, it is already fading into nothing as I remember Noah's promises for the night.
Oh help me, Lord!
- Writer
