Astrid had been against Brandon's relationship with Irish ever since they started dating.
She had become an enemy to their relationship, constantly expressing her disapproval and trying to convince Brandon that Irish wasn't good enough for him.
She was also the reason, Irish caught Brandon cheating behavior and Irish was somewhat gratitude.
Irish had a pale smile on her face as she stood up immediately.
"Well, good day, madam. How may I help you? "
Behind Astrid were some well-off students in the school.
Irish could easily guess why they came – they came to confirm the post Eleanor had posted online.
Astrid stood tall, her long blonde hair cascading down her back like a golden waterfall.
Her piercing blue eyes sparkled with amusement as she gazed at Irish, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"From the hot pan into the fire – how fitting for someone like you. "
She was dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit – a white button-down shirt tucked into a black skirt that fell just above her knees. Her feet were clad in black stilettos, adding to her already impressive height.
Astrid turned to her friends, a group of well-off students from school who were all staring at Irish with curiosity and mockery.
They were all dressed in similar outfits, their designer clothes and accessories.
A stark contrast to Irish's simple uniform.
"Look at her clearly – can you recognize who she is? "
The girls feigned innocence, pretending to think before responding.
One of them, a tall brunette named Sophia, spoke up first.
"Yes, yes – isn't she Irish Thompson? The girl who was dating Brandon? "
Another girl, a petite redhead named Olivia, chimed in.
"Such pity – from dating the hottest guy in school to working in a place like this. What a downgrade."
Astrid smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement.
Downgrade is an understatement – this is a complete collapse. From a potential lawyer to a salesgirl in an adult store. "What happened, Irish? Did Brandon leave you for someone better?"
One of the girls, a quiet one named Ava, spoke up.
"I heard Eleanor is with Brandon now. Is that true, Astrid? "
Astrid smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"Maybe. Maybe not. But even if she is, it's not like Irish has a chance with him anymore. "
The girls laughed, their eyes scanning Irish's face. Irish felt her heart sink, her anger and embarrassment boiling over.
"You know, Irish, you should really consider yourself lucky," Astrid said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Lucky? Irish thought. "How am I lucky? "
"Yeah,lucky," Astrid repeated. "You got to experience dating the hottest guy in school, even if it was only for a little while. Most girls can only dream of that. "
The girls nodded in agreement, their eyes still fixed on Irish. Irish felt her face grow hotter, her anger and embarrassment reaching a boiling point.
Irish felt like she had been punched in the gut. Her mind was reeling, her thoughts racing with memories of her and Brandon.
She had loved him with all her heart, and he had betrayed her in the worst way possible.
Astrid's words cut deep, bringing back all the pain and anger Irish thought she had left behind.
She felt like she was reliving the moment she found out about Brandon's infidelity, the moment her heart shattered into a million pieces.
But as she stood there, facing Astrid's mockery and her friends' laughter, Irish felt something else too – determination.
She was not going to let them get to her, let them see her pain and her weakness.
So she stood up straight, looked Astrid straight in the eye, and said,
"You know, Astrid, I'm doing just fine. I'm moving on with my life, and I'm happy. "
Astrid raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by Irish's response.
"Oh yeah?" she said.
"Yeah," Irish said, her voice firm and confident. "I'm starting a new job tomorrow, and I'm excited for the future. "
The girls looked at each other, seemingly unsure of how to respond. Astrid's smile faltered for a moment, before she regained her composure.
"Well, good for you, she said. I'm sure it's not as good as dating Brandon, but it's a start."