Janie’splexion shifted like the turbulent sea. Estre, cool as a cucumber, reached into her bag,
pulled out her smartphone, and flicked through the gallery before presenting it to Janie with a nudge.
“Isn’t that Hunter in the photos?”
With a skeptical nce at Estre, Janie took the phone, her fingers brushing against the cool screen.
“Just swipe left and right for more,” Estre prompted with a hint of mischief in her voice.
Janie looked up, then back at the screen, her eyes scanning the images that would shatter her world.
In a heartbeat, her face turned ghostly pale, and her body began to tremble, the phone in her quivering
hand nearly slipping to the floor.
The photos depicted Hunter, strolling through town with Ruby, dining in quaint cafes, shopping for
trinkets, and more importantly, with a pair of twin boys who looked about five or six years old. The
images painted a picture-perfect portrait of a happy family of four.
Janie flicked through more photos, each one a knife into her heart – Hunter with Ruby, with her and the
children, all taken in foreignnds. Her mind was a whirlwind of disbelief and betrayal.
Hunter and Ruby? Impossible. How could this be?
Ruby was more than just her best friend. She was Janie’s younger cousin, a decade. younger than her.
Ruby was always so gentle, and willing to listen to Janie’s advice. Ruby had even imed to be a die-
hard bachelorette, swearing off marriage for life. Yet here she was, already having yed house with
Janie’s husband, coveting Janie’s very life..
With shaky hands, Janie turned to confront Ruby, who was also there, having been invited. to this
fateful gathering.
Ruby, caught under Janie’s furious gaze, swallowed hard and asked with trepidation, “Janie, what’s
wrong?”
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The moment Ruby finished her question, Janie flung Estre’s phone at her. “You home-wrecker, you
bitch! To think I trusted you like a sister, and you… you seduce my husband. How could you betray
me!”
Janie’s voice quivered with rage and disbelief.
Damita and the others were stunned, frozen in ce until they snapped out of it and rushed to Janie’s
side. “Janie, what’s going on? What happened?”
Pa, too, was beside herself with worry, grabbing hold of Janie. “Mom, what’s happening? You’re
scaring me.”
Janie, barely able to control her trembling finger, pointed usingly at Ruby. “This woman
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seduced your father, and they’ve had twins behind our backs!”
“Ruby, you won’t get away with this.” Janie spat out, her voice seething with venom.
The thought of Hunter’s betrayal, let alone with Ruby, was too much for Janie to bear. Even with her
ir for drama, this revtion was beyond her control.
Pa, upon hearing her mother’s words, grabbed the discarded phone and, without a second thought,
lunged at Ruby. “You bitch! I’ll tear you apart!”
The memory of her strange conversation with Estre came flooding back, the cryptic hints about what
she and her brother would inherit. Everything clicked into ce.
“Pa, you have to listen to me. Let me exin!” Ruby pleaded, covering her face with her hands.
“Bitch! How could you do this to my mother?” Pa cried out, her anger mixing with her mother’s,
Janie, unable to swallow her pride, joined in, pping Ruby across the face”
you or your sons off the hook, Ruby.”
will not let
“Through her tears, Ruby insisted, Janie, I never meant to hurt you. Hunter and I truly love each other. I
never intended to break up your family. I was just envious of your happiness, and Hunter was such a
good man. I only wanted to be a part of your lives.”
But her exnations only fanned the mes of Janie and Pa’s fury, and the beating intensified.
The onlookers, witnessing the chaos, hesitated to intervene, murmuring among themselves about
Ruby’s betrayal and ingratitude. Only Damita remained calm, attempting to pull mother and daughter
aside. Janie, Pa, whatever it is, can wait until after the Lamont Corporation’s annual g.”
But Janie and Pa were beyond reason, blinded by their rage as they continued to unleash their fury
on Ruby. Theirmotion drew the attention of the entire assembly, turning the g into a spectacle.
The press, sensing a story juicier than any corporate announcement, turned their lenses toward the
unfolding drama..
Damita, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, sent Melinda to fetch Hunter
and Erin.
Hunter and Erin arrived to a scene of chaos, pulling the brawling family members apart. Erin, with a
face like thunder, barked, “Can’t this wait until after the celebration? Must you ruin tonight’s event?”
He had been wary of Estre causing a stir, but instead, it was Janie and Pa who had lost their
composure.
Pa, tears staining her cheeks, turned to Erin, “Ein, this woman seduced Dad! She even had twins
with him.”
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Erin’s face darkened with fury, but heposed himself, sternly saying, “We will discuss this at home.”
With Erin and Hunter’s intervention, the drama concluded as abruptly as it had begun. But. the damage
was done. The Lamont family’s festive night ended in shambles, their dirtyundry aired for all to see,
thanks to the unstoppable tide of gossip flooding social media.
Estre, humming a tune and apanied by Jesse and her parents, descended the stairs, a spring in
her step.
Witnessing Estrelle’s satisfaction, Autumn scolded her. “I knew it. You were up to no good. Look at the
mes
you’ve made of the Lamont family’s celebration. Indeed, Estre had promised a surprise, and she had
delivered nothing short of a bombshell.
Estre sighed, the exasperation clear in her voice. “Mom, I swear this has nothing to do with me. I
didn’t push Hunter to chase skirts, nor did I egg Janie and Pa on to throw punches. As awyer, I’m
all about letting the truth shine for everyone to see.”
Autumn shot back, her tone a mix of weariness and frustration, “Whatever you say, you’re always right.
I can’t win against you.”
From the sidelines, Jesse chimed in, trying to bring peace to the fray. “Estre’s in the clear tonight.
Besides, it was Janie and Pa who started poking the bear. If there’s any me to pass around, it’s
on them for not keeping their cool.”
Estre had Janie and Pa’s number, alright. She didn’t need to lift a finger to make the Lamonts the
talk of the town. Those two were doing a bang-up job all on their own.
Autumn thought about it and realized that it was indeed the case. Estre provided them with evidence,
and how this matter would unfold and conclude was entirely up to them.
As the group made their way to the parking lot, Estre’s phone erupted from her bag. She fished out
the device, her face clouding over as she checked the screen.