The next morning at Mrs. Lola Cruz's villa, Jessie had just finished packing up her stuff into her luggage.
She sighed and wondered if Bruno and Beauty had decided to stay back in Puerto Rico. It was the departure day, and they were not yet back! G "I will kill them! Leaving me alone with that annoying bitch. And speaking of annoying, she is fucking out of her mind recently. Something is definitely wrong with her, and I don't give a damn!"
She groaned and pressed her luggage so it could take all her stuff in.
Just then, she heard loud cheers and excited chatter through her open window.
Curiosity sparked.
She let go of the luggage, walked to the window, and peeked to find the source of the commotion.
Beauty and Bruno were back from their romantic getaway, and everyone at the villa was welcoming them like some newlyweds.
Especially Mrs. Lola Cruz.
Beauty's cheeks were flushed, and her smile seemed brighter than usual, while Bruno kept a steady hand at the small of her back, like some royal prince protecting his princess.
"Look at them acting all innocent. I know something naughty happened," Jessie said to herself and walked toward them.
"¡Bienvenidos, mis amores! (Welcome, my loves!)"
Mrs. Lola exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
"Look at you two-¡parecen recién casados! (You look like newlyweds!)"
Beauty's cheeks flushed instantly.
"Mrs. Cruz, no, please! It's not-"
"Shhh, no arguments!" Lola interrupted, wagging a finger in mock admonishment.
"You don't have to stress it. I am sure Bruno has some good plans!" She winked at Bruno, who chuckled, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Bruno placed a hand over his heart and said warmly,
"Gracias, Mrs. Cruz. We'll be sure to send you the first invite-when the time comes."
Bruno finished with a playful wink at Beauty, who shot him a wide-eyed glare of disbelief.
"Bruno!" she hissed under her breath.
"Oh, hush now!" Mrs. Cruz interrupted, throwing her hands up as if to silence any protest. "In my mind, I've already packed up your things and moved you both into a happily ever after!"
As they continued discussing, a group of young models couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"I still can't believe it," one of them said, her voice low and cautious.
"Bruno picked her? A plus-size over the standard model look?"
"I mean, she's pretty, but still... isn't she a little too fat? No offense," another whispered.
Before anyone else could add fuel to the fire, Kathy, who had been quietly observing from a corner, stepped forward.
"You know that's the CEO's son, right? Maybe you rats should reconsider before saying a word about his woman. Just warning y'all."
The girls were startled when she cut into their discussion but even more confused that she made such a statement!
The stunned silence that followed was almost comical. The models exchanged wide-eyed looks, mouths slightly agape, as though they couldn't believe Kathy, of all people, had come to Beauty's defense.
"So, Kathy," one of them began cautiously, "you're really okay with this? Bruno and Beauty, I mean."
She paused abruptly, letting her facial expressions do the rest of the talking.
Kathy's gaze swept over the group of models, her expression unreadable. One by one, they grew more nervous as she made eye contact. The two girls in her so-called fan club and they had always shipped Kathy and Bruno together.
Kathy herself had once made it clear she was the one for Bruno.
However, would she even call them her fan club? None of them truly cared about her. They only tagged along because of her popularity and influence.
Kathy had a hard time suppressing the emotions building inside of her.
Finally, she sighed with a frown, arms folded.
"I'm over Bruno," she said simply.
The girls gasped dramatically.
"If I weren't, I'd still let him go. He belongs to someone else now. And honestly? He's exactly where he's supposed to be. I think they're made for each other. He's not the last good man on earth... Maybe you girls should get busy with something else instead of idolizing a man who will never be yours."
The models exchanged stunned looks, clearly not expecting such composure from Kathy.
"That speech sounds nothing like the Kathy we once knew," one of them whispered.
Finally, one of them managed to speak out.
"Wow. That's... really mature of you. You're so cool, Kathy!"