Esmeralda's Jealousy

•• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ •• Chapter 7 •• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ ••

Esmeralda stepped into the grand ballroom, her entrance commanding attention as always. She was dressed in a striking gown, designed to turn heads and ensure all eyes were on her. The evening was meant to be a showcase of glamour, and Esmeralda was determined to steal the spotlight.

The event was abuzz with excitement, influencers and celebrities mingling and engaging with their fans. Esmeralda’s sharp gaze swept across the room, her eyes landing on Lorenze and Marina at a nearby table. Marina, in her elegant gown, was receiving admiring glances and compliments from those around her. Esmeralda’s smile faltered for a split second as she took in the scene.

“Why does she get all the attention?” Esmeralda muttered under her breath, her perfectly manicured fingers tightening around her clutch. She had heard whispers about Marina’s latest videos and the mysterious cream that had made waves on social media. From the sidelines, Esmeralda watched as Lorenze, her former acquaintance, and current target, interacted closely with Marina. It was clear they shared a connection that Esmeralda found increasingly irksome.

Esmeralda’s jealousy simmered beneath the surface. She had always prided herself on being the center of attention, the queen of social events. Marina’s sudden rise and the evident chemistry between her and Lorenze were a direct challenge to Esmeralda’s carefully curated image. She had tried to dismiss it as irrelevant, but the more she observed, the more it gnawed at her.

With a steely resolve, Esmeralda decided to make her presence known. She approached Lorenze and Marina with a carefully practiced smile, her voice smooth and dripping with feigned warmth. “Lorenze, darling, it’s so good to see you,” she said, her gaze briefly flickering towards Marina. “I was just thinking about how much I’d love to catch up. Maybe at my villa sometime soon?”

Lorenze seemed momentarily caught off guard. “I appreciate the invitation, Esmeralda,” he replied, clearly polite but not particularly enthusiastic. “I’ve got a packed schedule, though. Maybe another time?”

Esmeralda’s smile tightened, but she maintained her composure. “Oh, come on. It’s been ages. Surely you can find a moment for old friends.”

Lorenze shifted uncomfortably, clearly trying to deflect the conversation. “I really have to pass for now. Thanks anyway.”

Esmeralda felt a surge of frustration. The dismissive way Lorenze had rejected her invitation stung, and seeing Marina beside him only intensified her irritation. The sight of Lorenze’s polite but firm refusal fueled her jealousy. Esmeralda’s attempts to re-establish her connection with Lorenze had failed, and Marina’s presence was a constant reminder of her slipping influence.

As Esmeralda turned away, she couldn’t help but cast a final, resentful glance at Marina. The sight of Marina enjoying the attention, paired with Lorenze’s apparent closeness to her, only deepened Esmeralda’s feelings of inadequacy and jealousy.

She knew that this rivalry with Marina was becoming more than just a personal annoyance—it was an obstacle to her dominance in the influencer world. The more she saw Marina’s success and the more she observed Lorenze’s interactions, the more determined Esmeralda became to regain control and assert her place at the top.

As she moved through the crowd, Esmeralda’s mind churned with strategies and plans. The evening was far from over, and she was not one to back down from a challenge. If Marina was going to be a thorn in her side, Esmeralda was prepared to make her presence—and her discontent—known in ways that would ensure she remained the queen of the social scene.

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