Leanna

[Family]

"Hello Estela, it's been a while."

Our attention flicked to Holley with Sophia, Nixon, Rowan, and a bunch of girls and boys who were approaching us. Some of them were our classmates.

I ignored them, didn't want to ruin my good mood. Zoe too did the same.

Estela's face remained cheerful. "Hello Holley and everybody."

"Estela, it's been a long time. Why don't you join us so that we can catch up?" Holley asked with her angelic voice.

"That's right, Estela. Associating with folks with questionable background and unrefined character will damage your reputation," said a girl in their group.

We remained quiet, ignoring their provocation.

Estela sweetly smiled, complete with narrowing lids. "Ohh~ you don't have to be so concerned with my reputation. I'm sure it's not so badly damage as yours."

The girl lost her color, but she didn't dare retort back. The crowd was stunned, yet they remained tight lip.

As expected of the Fay's, no one wants to be their enemy.

Holley's smile never wavered. "Estela, can I have a moment with you?"

Estela tilted her head. "Is it a secret? If it's not, then tell it to me now. After all, we're all friends here~!"

Holley's smile froze. "Estela, are you sure about your choice?" she said slow and calm, not hiding the threat in her tone.

Estela propped her chin and grinned. "I'm very sure, just like my brother's choice."

Holley's expression fell right off her pale face. Whispers buzz which added to the discoloration of her skin.

"Is Cain Fay the one who broke the engagement first?"

"But the news said that it was a mutual choice between families."

"Shhh . . . That's a sensitive topic."

Holley's face was dyed red in anger and embarrassment. She didn't want to be reminded of Cain breaking their engagement, especially not coming from his little sister's mouth.

The whole matter regarding the broken engagement was covered up. Saying it was the decision of both families. Not disclosing any information. Only notifying the public that it was a private affair for both families, saving the Goldwood, especially Holley, from humiliation.

The whole matter got complicated when Estela came into the picture. Now, Holley couldn't openly do something to Leanna because of Estela's presence.

Estela, who was also elusive just like her brother. Who Holley tried so hard to befriend in the past five years to no avail, and yet befriended Leanna after they just met?

That only confirmed that Cain really likes the country bumpkin which made Holley so angry that her hatred radiated from her no matter how hard she masked it. She couldn't accept Cain loving another woman. She would go through lengths to get him back no matter what the cost.

Cain is mine! I won't let that bitch steal him from me!

"Estela, it's my eighteenth birthday next month. I'll be handing out invitations next week. I hope you can attend," Sophia said after a long moment that Holley remained silent.

"I'll take a rain check first," Estela replied. Her tone was innocent as the smile on her face.

. . .

. . .

Sensing that the silence was turning awkward, Sophia pulled Holley's hand.

"Well then, we will leave you all with your meals," she said with a forced smile before they went away and sat on an empty table together with their minions while secretly glancing in our direction from time to time.

"Are you sure that you wanted to be with us? Your image will be defiled," I teased.

Estela looked at me funny like I was telling a joke. "I want to see them try. Besides, you're my sister. I always take the side of my family."

My lips kicked a smile on its own.

I like the sound of 'family.'

----

[Debut]

"Argghh . . ."

Zoe slumped on the table, looking dejected.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked.

"I forgot! This year is the most bothersome of all years," Zoe said, dragging her words like it weights thousands of pounds.

"What do you mean?" I probed.

Zoe puffed a weak sigh. "Can't you see?"

I raised an eyebrow, ignorance written all over my face.

"Debuts year!" she exclaimed. "Many girls in high society will turn into a woman this year! Including me, Holley, and Sophia! It's like, the battle of the birthdays!"

"So?"

Zoe gaped at me. "Lucky for you, you won't be forced to attend, but for me? My father will drag me from heaven to hell to attend that party."

"Then say you're sick and can't go," I suggested.

"I can't." Zoe sighed, blowing her fringe. "I have to go, or my father will beat me into going. He doesn't care what I do, but if it comes to his image, he'll spare no one."

"What so important about it anyway?" I asked with a scowl on my face.

Zoe and Estela glanced at each other.

Estela straightened her back and looked me in the eye. "Well, if it's any other birthdays, it won't be a big deal. But you see, this year is special. All the magazines, newspapers, different entertainment media were all preparing for this event years ago. Not one, but many of the world's richest will be having their debuts. Me, Zoe, Holley, Sophia, and even Emery, to name a few. It will be a battle of whose birthday will be the grandest of them all."

I stared at them with mouth hanging open.

I don't understand rich people.

If it were me, I'd eat my favorite food while playing my favorite game and watch my favorite movies.

Arranging a party and exhaust yourself attending to the guests and be the center of attention all day?

A nightmare!

"See where my dilemma is?" Zoe butt in. "Estela has it nice with loving parents and a delicious, sexy brother like Cain Fay . . . but that's not the point."

MY dead eyes zeroed on her.

Zoe sighed, ignoring my dead look. "I'll be humiliated again this year. I'm sure Sophia will have it all while my birthday will just be a cake. I'm lucky if there really will be a cake." She sighed again more burdensome than the last.

"You know. You can't exactly blame her. With this list of high profile birthdays, it's your bad luck that you are born the same year." Estela patted Zoe's head, comforting her while her eyes locked on me.

"Is Cain going to attend?" I kept my face even but failed to conceal the anxiety in my voice.

Estela threw a knowing smile my way. "My brother and I don't want to. Then again, if the one inviting us belongs to the same status as us, we have to give them face."

"Oh," was all I could say.

"You don't have to worry. With my brother's inborn cold personality, no woman would dare approach him," she said with absolute confidence. Then she wrinkled her nose. "Except Holley of course. That girl is crazy in love with my brother."

I shot her a sarcastic smile. "Thanks for the comforting words."

"You don't trust my brother?" Estela pressed her hand against her chest, eyes wide in fake disbelief.

"I trust Cain. It's those women I don't trust."

Estela giggled. "If you're so worried, you might as well come with us."

I opened my mouth, then closed it. Hmmm . . .

"Guys . . . ," Zoe called, voice lethargic as her expression. "Go ahead and worry about that walking aphrodisiac. Leave me, your friend, with her troubles and let her be humiliated in front of so many people."

Estela and I glanced at each other and laughed.