Chapter 278 A Perfect Plan
Back at her place, Jessica gave those earrings a good scrub.
Seeing them all shiny and new, she finally let out a big sigh of relief.
Then she tossed them in a box and handed it over to Gabriel. "Here you are. Check 'em out."
Gabriel didn't even reach for them. "Didn't we just agree? They're a gift for you."
"If you don't want them, then I..."
Gabriel snatched the box and acted like he was gonna chuck it.
Jessica freaked out, grabbed his arm, and yelled, "Gabriel, don't be crazy! When did I say I didn't want them? I want them, okay? I accept."
Only then did Gabriel chill out and stuff the earring box into the big pocket of Jessica's down jacket.
He grabbed her hand and started heading outside.
"Where are we going?" Jessica asked, all confused.
"Taking you home," Gabriel said.
Jessica was totally surprised.
"But didn't you say you were hungry and wanted me to bake you a cake?"
"I'm not that heartless to make you bake a cake for me so late while you're sick. Anyway, there'll be plenty of chances in the future. But when I want cake, you gotta come over anytime."
Jessica went quiet.
Yeah, she knew Gabriel wouldn't let her off that easy; there had to be strings attached.
Back home, it was already midnight. Jessica took a hot shower and crashed into bed.
...
After a few days' rest, Diana was doing pretty well with Sarah's care.
As long as she didn't do anything crazy like hiking, she could walk just fine.
Seeing her getting better, Sarah finally felt like all her hard work paid off.
"Diana, this is awesome! You can actually walk now. I bet Jessica's no match for you now," Sarah said, all excited.
But Diana shook her head. She wasn't as cocky as before; she seemed super calm. "Sarah, you're wrong. Even though I can walk now, Gabriel isn't the same Gabriel from a few years ago. Jessica's spot in his heart isn't the same either."
"How is that possible? Diana, what do we do now? You're so smart; you must have a plan."
Sarah was freaking out, and Diana said, "Our old tricks don't work anymore. Instead of making Gabriel feel sorry for us, appearing vulnerable would just piss him off. So, I came up with another perfect plan."
Sarah leaned in, all eager. "What plan?"
With a cold smile, Diana pulled out a packet of medicine and put it in front of Sarah. "This stuff, just slip it into Gabriel's drink. Once he drinks it, we'll have a shot. If I sleep with him and get pregnant, do you think Jessica will still have a chance to compete with me for the Walton family matriarch spot?"
Sarah listened but shook her head like crazy. "No way, Diana. Your idea is good, but it's too risky. If it fails or my brother finds out, he'll kick me out of the Walton family, and I'll have nothing."
Diana knew Sarah was a scaredy-cat, but she was crucial for the plan. Without Sarah, she couldn't get close to Gabriel, let alone spike his drink.
"Sarah," Diana said, turning her around and laying it on thick. "I get it, I really do. Your brother's got a thing for Jessica, and this is our last shot. If I don't lock down the Walton family matriarch spot now, we're toast. The longer we wait, the deeper his feelings for Jessica get. By then, we're totally screwed. But right now, we've got this tiny window. We gotta grab it."
Diana knew exactly how to play Sarah. When it came to mind games, Sarah was out of her league.
"Diana, I get what you're saying, but how can you guarantee it'll work? What if it bombs? What if you don't get pregnant? Then what?"
Sarah might talk big sometimes, but she was always a chicken when it came to Gabriel. If it wasn't for Diana pushing her, she wouldn't even dream of pulling something like this.
"Sarah, trust me, if you follow my plan, it'll work," Diana said confidently.
"Even if everything goes smoothly, who can guarantee you'll get pregnant? The odds of hitting the jackpot on the first try are slim, Diana. It's still too risky," Sarah replied.
Diana kept her cool, "Sarah, I get your worries, but you don't know Jessica like I do. She loves your brother and can't stand any shady stuff. If she catches me and your brother in bed, even if nothing happens, even if I'm not pregnant, their relationship is toast. Got it?"
Sarah had to admit, Diana had a point. "Diana, I see what you're saying, but I..."
"No buts." Diana snapped, losing her patience. Then she softened her tone, "Have you forgotten the crap you and your mom have been through all these years? The scorn, the ridicule? Even if not for yourself, isn't it worth taking a risk for your mom? She lived in luxury most of her life. Can you stand to see her in poverty?"
Diana added, "I promise, if I pull this off, I'll give you back your shares. You won't have to manage anything, just sit back and collect the big annual dividends, living the good life again."
This time, Diana's words hit Sarah right in the feels.
Without thinking too much, she looked at Diana and nodded seriously. "Okay, Diana, I'm in. I'll do what you say."
"Good. Keep this packet of medicine safe. In the next few days, find a way to get Gabriel over. I'm in my ovulation period," Diana said.
Sarah thought for a moment and shook her head, struggling. "Diana, it's almost Grandpa's death anniversary. Gabriel's gonna be busy with the memorial service. There's no way he'll come over in the next few days."
"Gabriel's holding a memorial for his grandpa?" Diana thought for a moment and then smiled. "Perfect. On the day of the memorial, I'll go to the Walton family. I want everyone to see me and him in bed together."
