Arla had already been holding back tears, and my words seemed to hit the release valve. She finally let everything out.
“I was just out shopping with my girlfriends when we ran into Alicia and her little lapdog. It was fine at first, and we stayed out of each other way. But then, no matter what I picked up to buy, she had to grab the same thing.
“I couldn’t take it anymore, so I said something That’s when her little lackey snapped back with, ‘If your mom’s willing to give her family heirloom to Alicia, it just shows the Guzman family means nothing to us. They’re just a bunch of desperate bootlickers trying to kiss up to the Zimmer family!“”
The moment those words left her mouth, Mr. and Mrs. Guzman both turned pale.
Sure, they had been going out of their way to please Alicia for Jonathan’s sake, but at least they had kept up appearances. That kind of comment, though? Saying it out loud in public was like slapping them across the face.
Alicia seemed to realize she’d gone too far. Her face dropped as she looked nervously toward Mr. Guzman, like she was about to explain.
“Mr. Guzman, I didn’t mean it like that…”
She hesitated, then pivoted quickly. “I never said anything like that.‘
“Oh, you didn’t?” Aria’s voice rose. “I heard you clearly. Don’t even try to deny it!”
Alicia’s irritation finally surfaced as she scowled. “I already said I didn’t say it! What do you want me to do–admit to something I never said? Sorry, not happening.”
Aria’s eyes widened with fury. Her voice cracked as she hissed through clenched teeth, Shameless!”
11
Alicia let out a cold laugh. “You’re just trying to stir things up for Elise. That’s what this is really about, isn’t it? I want to hear it from her. Elise–what exactly have I done to you?”
And just like that, she turned the spotlight on me again.
Of course. She hated that I was still Jonathan’s wife, so any chance she had to drag me down with her, she’d take it.
I ignored her and looked at Aria instead. “Where exactly did this happen?”
“At the mall,” she said without hesitation. “Where else? We were shopping.”
Her eyes were red from crying, and she wiped her tears off.
I nodded slowly. “Okay. Don’t get upset. Malls usually have security cameras, right?”
The room fell into silence.
Alicia’s face froze. Het lips pressed into a tight line as she suddenly stopped talking.
Aria’s eyes lit up. “Right! Of course, they have surveillance. This just happened – the footage has to still be there!”
“There’s no need for that,” Alicia said quickly, forcing a strained smile. “Let’s just say it was my fault. I’ll apologize…
I raised an eyebrow. “Say it was your fault? Just like that? That sounds like you’re trying to sweep it under the rug.”
My voice was calm, but pointed.
Alicia shot me a glare. “Don’t push it, Elise! I already said I’d apologize–I’m just trying to save everyone the embarrassment.”
“It’s fine. I’m not afraid of a little embarrassment.”
This time, Aria finally caught on to what I was doing and stood firmly by my side. “Let’s pull the footage,” she said. “If you said those things, you apologize. If you didn’t, I’ll apologize to you–and I’ll stay out of your way for good and never bother you again.”
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