Miguel was frowning and thought Lucia was being rude , as he was about to take few steps forward to stop her, he saw Elisa turning around with a cold look on her face as she looked at Lucia.
The crowd was dumpstamped, as they held their breath, transfixed by the unfolding drama that felt more like a twisted soap opera than a celebratory occasion..
That frozen moment, Elisa seized Lucia's arm and yanked her towards the edge of the grand swimming pool that shimmered under the moonlight.
Lucia, suddenly reduced to a helpless creature, blinked up at Elisa, confusion and fear mingling in her wide eyes.
In a swift movement, Elisa held Lucia's chin with a fierce grip and delivered a sharp slap that echoed through the crowd, leaving the imprint of her fingers on Lucia's pale cheek.
"Aaah!"
Lucia let out a shriek that pierced the stillness, her voice a mixture of disbelief and agony.
But before anyone could react, Elisa pushed her into the crystalline waters of the pool, making a big splash that sent water cascading like a silver curtain, and for a moment, time seemed to stop.
Suddenly, Lucia's scream began to fade as she struggled in the waters. She never expected that of Elisa, that wasn't the girl she once knew, who could not speak up for herself, and this, was another version of her.
Elisa let her to nearly drowning, just like what Lucia did to her earlier, then she pulled her hand and held Lucia's.
"Hope you have not forgotten what occurred in this same pool earlier? What did you think was going to happen? That you could drown me in your schemes and still go scot– free? Huh?" Her voice cold and calm as she continued. "And by the way, you accused me of a crime l didn't do in the dressing room, but now, l admite to what have done."
Lucia's reaction was different from when she hit her head and accused Elisa,
The crowd had turned into a confused audience, waiting for someone to pull the two women apart, but everything felt surreal, as if they were part of a spellbinding.
Miguel stood rooted to the spot, shock etched across his face.
He barely recognized the woman he had once married, the gentleness was gone, replaced by a fierce resolve he had never witnessed before.
Lucia knew how to swim, but at first she pretended to be drowning, but as she saw, no one was coming to help her out, she the began swimming.
As she was about to step out, she felt a cold iced liquid Falling on her head, slowly she raised her head. It was Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 1945 - worthy $600,000. Falling onto her, Lucia's dignity was instantly crushed .
Elisa's eyes were cold and sullen with unbridled contempt as she poured a bottle of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 1945 on Lucia.
"Tararara..suprise....! Don't be in a hurry to leave yet, mistress Reynolds, l still have a better suprise for you."
Elisa left the scene, all the guests looked at Lucia with contemn.
"She's good at acting, she pretended to be righteous," the crowd began to whisper.
Elisa was so calm and confident in whatsoever she was doing.
The crowd all saw that Lucia began the whole thing.
"Miguel.." Lucia's voice trimbled as she called the man standing infront of her, just glancing at the whole drama quietly.
Jealous led Lucia to where she was at the moment. Lucia hated the fact the Elisa took every attention, as soon as she appeared at the banquet.
And now, Lucia was so afraid of what other trick Elisa was plotting, all she wants was to leave the banquet before everything goes worse.
Lucia's heart raced, embers of humiliation igniting. She turned to miguel, her voice trembling.
"You know me, you wouldn't think I could—"
But as her words faltered, his expression turned steely. "You hit yourself, didn't you? In the dressing room." He questioned, his voice hollow, an anchor that weighed heavily in the air.
Lucia felt desperation clawing at her throat.
"Of course not! Why would I accuse her wrongly? Elisa just wants to tarnish our names!" Tears brimmed in her eyes, fear trickling through her bravado. "You've known me for so long. would l do such a thing?"
Miguel's gaze was so deep as he scrutinized Lucia. His intimidating eyes made her to tremble.
" Let me send you back."
At that moment, Lucia felt a bit of relief, as she was about to trek out, they heard a shout,
"look up stairs ..."
All eyes shifted to the second floor. There stood Elisa, a vision of elegance, leaning against the railing with a black medium leather suitcase at her side, a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of Bordeaux in the other.
As she sipped, the smoke curled around her like a wisp of shadow that made her elegant and enchanting that the crowd could not help but stare the her beauty.
Lucia watched as Elisa casually took out bundles of ten thousand dollars notes, her heart shuddered as Elisa threw the bundle one by one insouciantly, the bills gliding through the air like leaves in a whimsical dance and fell on the ground and at the pool.
She continued throwing the notes that both the waiters and even some guests excitedly picked up the notes , everyone was shocked of the scene, but not as shocked as Lucia.
Still Elisa wasn't satisfied, the bandles weren't reducing from the bag, she then carried out the whole bag leaned at the railing and poured it down.
Just like that.
The $50 million cash, eloquently cascading like confetti down towards the floor on the people below, including Miguel and Lucia.
"This was triple ten times the amount you paid me for my blood in seven year, Miguel Reynolds. Now that l have paid you back, we're even. You owe me nothing now!"
Elisa declared, her voice calm yet dripping with an edge so sharp it could cut glass.