âIâm Ms. Lauren, the daughter of Javier Beckett. Why do you listen to Betty but not me? Go, now!*
Lauren growled.
The butler scurried off to get her a car with a sullen look.
The city shimmered with the glow of night lights. In a luxury lounge in ACE, Zoe and a few rich kids in Solana City drank alcohol and smoked. She looked more like a female gangster than a young lady from an esteemed family.
Zoe went to Yoarkley for her studies after graduating junior high. She didnât have many friends left in Solana City, The ladies and gents that night were from the same social cli to bully Lauren, âHowâs Lauren these days? I havenât seen her since we graduated profile for a Beckett?â someone wondered aloud.
in her junior high class and her lackeys Isnât she keeping an unusually low Another gossiped, âHey, I heard from my mom that Laurenâs mentally challenged. Thatâs why Madam Sophia doesnât parade her around.â
âSeriously? No wonder she always seemed dumb and slow in junior high. Looks like sheâs a retard!â a third one commented callously.
âHey, hey, thatâs rude,â Zoe interjected. She crossed her legs and took a drag. âThey call it âautismâ
now.â
âHa! Itâs the same as retarded! Hahaha!â
Everyone erupted in laughter. Zoe snickered gleefully amid the mocking laughs.
The loungeâs door swung open. A waiter led Betty in.
A hushed silence fell on the crowd, who exchanged confused glances upon Betty Beckettâs arrival.
âRelax. Just keep going. Betty is one of our own,â Zoe introduced and beckoned at someone. A rich guy promptly handed her a crystal ashtray, into which she tapped the cigarette ash.
Betty couldnât help but gape at the scene. She thought that Liana was the master of duplicity, but it turned.
out that Zoe was equally adept at wearing different masks.
She wondered if Landon would be mad after seeing his usually elegant and well-bred sister acting like a âEh, Betty, did you not bring Lauren along?â Zoe looked annoyed when she saw Betty alone. âSigh, itâs going to be less fun tonight.â
âMy sister is getting more rebellious as she ages,â Betty complained and sighed. Then, she flashed a mischievous grin and waved a teddy bear. âBut, Zoe, donât worry about it. Sheâll show up if I have this.â
âWhy? Are you going to try some new tricks tonight?â Zoe raised a brow.
âHaha. Just wait and see.â
Laurenâs car arrived shortly after Betty entered ACE. The extravagant entrance of the nightclub and the tremendous flow of traffic and people triggered Laurenâs social anxiety. Her lips trembled, and her face paled.
She hastily retreated to her car and dialed Bettyâs number.
âWhatâs wrong, dear sister?â Lauren could discern the malice in Bettyâs tone amid a noisy background.
âG-Give my teddy bear back!â Lauren stammered, her face now flushed with anxiety.
âYou mean that dirty thing? Iâve hidden it.â
âWhere?â Tears welled up in Laurenâs eyes as she panicked.
âSomewhere in ACE. Tsk, itâs not much of a âhideâ if I reveal the location,â Betty grumbled in a sickly swe and wicked voice.
She continued, âMy dear sister, I have not played with you much, Why donât we play a game tonight?
Find your teddy bear. It must be feeling quite lonely, abandoned in some forgotten corner. Hahaha!â
Rage surged in Laurenâs eyes. Bettyâs demonic laughter made her hair stand on end. Even during moments when Betty had belittled and bullied her, Lauren had never experienced such intense hatred.
With teary eyes, she bit the bullet and dashed into ACE like a rocket.