Chapter 5 - The Confrontation at Oak Street
The viral video ruined Wendy socially, but it made her desperate financially.
Three days after the video went viral, I was leaving a high-end bakery on Oak Street where I had been picking up a custom cake for my mother’s birthday.
As I walked toward my car parked along the curb, a dark grey Mercedes pulled up abruptly beside me. The door swung open, and Wendy Vance stepped out.
She looked ghastly. Her hair, usually styled in flawless salon waves, was pulled back haphazardly. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she wasn't wearing her usual pristine makeup.
"You," Wendy hissed, stepping into my path before my personal driver could step around the vehicle. "You little monster."
"Stay where you are, Wendy," I said coldly, holding my box firmly. "You’re breaking your bail conditions just by approaching me."
"You ruined my life!" she shrieked, oblivious to the pedestrians turning their heads along the busy shopping street. "My husband's business partners canceled their contracts this morning! My charity board kicked me out! People are leaving trash on my front lawn! All because of your stupid, arrogant little trap!"
"My trap?" I laughed bitterly. "I didn't force you to lift that glass of wine, Wendy. I didn't force you to call me trash. You did that all by yourself because you thought you were powerful enough to get away with it."
"You dragged Luca into your disgusting game!" she spat, taking a step closer. Her fingernails dug into her leather purse. "He moved his things out of our house yesterday! He won't answer my calls! You turned my own son against me!"
"Luca turned against you the moment he saw who you really were," I replied, standing my ground. "He saw a woman who valued fake status over his happiness. He saw a mother who wanted to use his marriage as a corporate bailout."
Wendy’s face contorted into a mask of pure rage. "You think you’re so smart because your daddy has money? You’re still nothing! A glorified servant who serves food to real people! Luca will wake up one day and realize he married beneath him!"
"I am the Vice President of Operations for Sterling Group, Wendy," I said clearly, letting every word land like a hammer. "I’ve worked every job in my father’s company so I could run it with authority and respect. I know what hard work is. You’ve never worked a day in your life, yet you spend every second looking down on the people who make the world run."
At that moment, a second car pulled up—a sleek black SUV.
Luca stepped out of the passenger side, followed by my father's head of security, Marcus.
"Mom!" Luca yelled, stepping between Wendy and me. His face was filled with absolute disgust. "What are you doing here?! Are you trying to get sent to jail today?!"
Wendy’s tone instantly changed. She pulled her hands back, forcing tears into her eyes. "Luca! Oh, thank God! Darling, she’s harassing me! She staged this! She knew I was on this street!"
"Stop lying!" Luca shouted, his voice echoing down Oak Street. "Marcus tracked your car because we knew you were following Maya! You’re sick, Mom! You need help!"
"Luca, I’m your mother!" she wailed, reaching for his arm.
Luca pulled back violently, as if her touch burned him.
"You were my mother," Luca said, his voice dropping into a terrifyingly cold register. "But a real mother doesn't try to destroy the woman her son loves. A real mother doesn't lie, steal, and humiliate people to cover up her own failures. I am done with you, Wendy. Don't call me. Don't come near Maya. If you come near my family again, I will personally testify against you in court."
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Wendy stood on the sidewalk of Oak Street, her mouth open, completely frozen as Luca turned his back on her, opened the passenger door for me, and ushered me safely inside the SUV.
As we drove away, I looked through the rear window. Wendy Vance was standing alone on the crowded street, surrounded by shoppers who were holding up their phones, recording her final, pathetic breakdown.
