CHAPTER 61: BITCH WAS UNHINGED

After trying on the outfits in the fitting room, they walked out of The Row boutique. Just as they stepped into the corridor lined with other luxury shops, two familiar figures emerged from the boutique next door.

"Erisia?" Soraya’s voice reached them just as Erisia and Rita turned toward another display window. Both women turned around in surprise.

Erisia’s eyes lit up. "Soraya, Ciara — what a coincidence." She smiled brightly, genuinely pleased. "I was just about to call you both so we could meet tomorrow."

"Really?" Ciara laughed, her bracelets softly clinking as she adjusted her bag strap. "Well, lucky for you, huh? How have you been?"

"Great, thank you. What about you two?"

"We’re both doing fine." Ciara’s gaze shifted to Rita. "And who’s this?"

Erisia placed a hand lightly on Rita’s shoulder. "This is my friend, Rita. Rita, these are Soraya and Ciara."

Ciara extended her hand with an easy grin. "Nice to meet you."

Rita shook her hand politely. "Hello, I’m Rita. It’s nice to meet you." Then she turned to Soraya, who offered a warm smile and shook her hand as well.

"It’s nice to meet you too," Soraya said.

Ciara tilted her head. "Since you’re Erisia’s friend, that makes you ours too. Right?"

Erisia shrugged, exchanging a knowing look with Rita. "Sure."

Soraya turned back to Erisia. "Are you done shopping? We just got here. If you’re not finished, we can look around together — and you can tell us what you wanted to meet about."

"That works," Erisia said, glancing at Rita, who nodded with a smile. "Let’s do that."

"Perfect," Soraya replied, gesturing toward the racks inside. "We’re heading to the fitting rooms after this anyway. It’ll be easier to chat there."

⸻

Inside the boutique, the air was cool and lightly scented with jasmine and clean cotton. Soft instrumental music played in the background while two attendants folded designer coats near the entrance. Rita was in one of the fitting rooms trying on the dresses she’d picked, with Ciara helping her adjust the fit through the curtain gap.

Erisia and Soraya sat on the low cream-colored couch nearby, a glass coffee table between them holding neatly arranged lookbooks, an untouched bottle of sparkling water, and Erisia’s iced latte.

"So, I heard some news," Soraya began, her tone careful.

"What news?" Erisia asked, absently scrolling through her phone — headlines and gossip threads flashing across the screen about upcoming film shoots, industry rumors, and a few viral scandals.

"It’s about Sierra," Soraya said hesitantly.

Erisia looked up from her phone, her expression unreadable. "It’s okay, you can say it."

"Alright," Soraya said with a small sigh. "I think it’s just a rumor, but it’s been going around that Sierra was taken to a hospital. When I first heard it, I thought she was just sick or something, and I didn’t understand why my neighbor and her friends were whispering about it — until they said it wasn’t a hospital." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "They said it was... an asylum."

Erisia’s lips curved into a faint smile. "You want to ask if it’s true? No need — it is."

Soraya blinked. "Really?"

Erisia locked her phone and set it aside. "Yes. In fact, I was the one who suggested sending her there. Because she..." Her gaze flicked briefly toward the fitting rooms before returning to Soraya. "She’s not only the reason Adrian Hoffman tried to kill me, but also behind a lot of other things — setting me up against the Wrendfords, framing me, and even trying to kill me herself. Everything she did could easily put her behind bars, but I don’t have the patience for court procedures. So I decided to send her somewhere more... suitable."

Her tone was calm, almost detached, as she continued. "My family agreed. So no, it’s not a rumor — and you can tell anyone who asks."

Soraya’s brows shot up. "Oh wow... that’s a lot to take in."

Just then, the curtain rustled and Ciara stepped out, helping Rita smooth down the hem of a pale lilac dress. "What’s a lot to take in?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Soraya’s stunned expression.

Soraya exhaled, half-laughing. "Apparently Sierra’s not in a hospital — she’s in a mental facility. And Erisia confirmed it."

Ciara froze mid-step, her eyes darting to Erisia, who was calmly sipping her latte again. "You’re serious?"

"Very," Erisia said mildly, setting her drink down on the table with a soft clink. "She crossed too many lines. I just made sure she wouldn’t get the chance to do it again."

Rita turned toward her with an approving grin. "You did the right thing. That bitch was unhinged — anyone could see it from a mile away."

Soraya let out a breath, shaking her head. "I mean... I get it. Honestly, after what you said she did, I don’t think anyone would blame you. But I’m still surprised you handled it that way."

Erisia tilted her head slightly, her voice quiet. "What way should I have handled it? Let her run free and wait for her next little attempt at my life?"

That earned a startled laugh from Soraya. "Okay, fair point."

"I don’t blame you," Ciara added after a moment, her expression softening. "You look a lot calmer than I thought you’d be about it."

"Oh, I am calm and happy," Erisia said with a faint smile, crossing her legs. "Mostly because I’m done letting her mess with my life. She’s where she needs to be. I can finally breathe."

For a moment, no one said anything. The low hum of the boutique’s playlist filled the quiet.

Then Rita twirled in her dress, breaking the tension. "Okay, someone tell me if this looks too much like a bridesmaid dress. Because I swear, I’m not trying to look like one."

Soraya grinned immediately. "You actually look stunning."

"Agreed," Ciara said. "But maybe add a belt, just to break up the color. Right, guys?"

Erisia tilted her head, giving the dress a quick once-over. "It’s not too bridesmaid-y, but Ciara’s right — add a belt. Maybe something metallic or jeweled, to keep it from looking too soft."

Getting their approval, Ciara was already dragging Rita toward another rack of accessories while one of the boutique attendants smiled and followed with a few belt options draped over her arm. Soraya leaned back on the couch beside Erisia, shaking her head with a smile.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side," she muttered under her breath.

Erisia chuckled softly. "I don’t think you can."

"Right..." Soraya smirked, turning slightly toward her. "So, you said you wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Yeah," Erisia said, setting her latte aside and leaning back slightly. "Something a bit different this time. I wanted to ask you about the industry — acting, to be exact."

Soraya blinked. "Acting?" she echoed, sounding half surprised, half intrigued. "As in... you’re thinking of getting into it?"

"Not thinking," Erisia corrected with a faint, knowing smile. "Deciding. I’ve already made up my mind. But I want to start smart — not walk in blind."