Beyond The Envy

Cara paced back and forth, her arms tightly folded. "Ikaw kasi, Carter!" she exclaimed, jabbing her finger accusingly at him, her frustration evident. "Kung hindi mo ako pinigilan, we wouldn't be looking for Hester right now!" Carter glanced at Cara incredulously. "Wag ako, Cara. It's obvious that I did the right thing," he retorted, narrowing his eyes. Dr. Colbar stood motionless, his patience wearing thin. Just then, amidst the thick tension, Claudia suddenly spoke up from behind Carter. "And what are we fighting about this time, darlings?" she inquired, a slight grin forming on her lips. "I'm afraid nobody wants to see you right now, Blackwood," Dr. Colbar responded through gritted teeth, his brow arching slightly as the corners of his lips twitched. "We can't find Hester anywhere," Cara explained desperately, casting Claudia an exasperated glance, her brows furrowed. "You look adorable when you're desperate," Claudia teased, giving a small wink. Cara grunted in frustration as she abruptly ceased pacing, glaring angrily at Claudia. "But, I suppose I can help..." Claudia added, nodding slightly as she gazed into the distance, already contemplating the various possibilities of Hester's whereabouts.

"I'll scout around. I have a couple of spots in mind," Claudia announced, taking a step back. "And are we just going to let Claudia Blackwood roam the mall without knowing if she'll actually be helpful?" Dr. Colbar questioned suspiciously, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Dr. Colbar, with all due respect, if Claudia can navigate through the mall most of the time without getting caught, chances are that she knows a lot of hiding places located in your mall. She's our biggest shot at finding Hester." Cara reasoned, doing a lot of talking for someone who was usually aloof and careless.

Claudia turned around, pausing thoughtfully. "Hm," she hummed, lost in contemplation. "What is it?" Cara asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. Had Claudia already figured it out? "Tell me, what exactly made Hester run away?" Claudia questioned, her tone laced with suspicion. Cara's breath caught, and the group fell silent. Dr. Colbar stood stoically, his lips pressed into a thin line. Carter was speechless, his steady gaze fixed on the two girls. Cara straightened, her mind racing back to the events leading up to Hester's sudden departure. Claudia faced away from the group, taking a deep breath before exhaling. "We don't know what exactly caused Hester to run away," Cara said, her fists clenched at her sides. Suddenly, Dr. Colbar spoke up, glancing down at his golden rose pin nonchalantly. "She stood up right after I told her about the corruption in the city. Maybe she felt overwhelmed." Claudia scoffed. "Felt so overwhelmed she had to run off? Seems a bit far-fetched. Where were you guys?" Cara glanced at Dr. Colbar. Hester had led them away so abruptly that she hadn't noticed the restaurant's name. "It was the newly opened Pearl & Petal," Dr. Colbar interjected, nodding towards its general direction. "I see. The one with the tea and fish filet?" Claudia asked, recognizing the place. "Exactly," Dr. Colbar confirmed. "I think I may just know where the girl is," Claudia muttered, staring off into the distance.