Chapter 182 I'll Help You
Grace didn't quite catch on, "Huh?"
Lynda let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Isabella had simply drowned her sorrows in a bar.
But when Sebastian received the call, despite just having taken his medication and his illness barely stabilized, he rushed off to find Isabella without even a single thought for his own well-being.
So, if she drank, would he be just as anxious?
Or maybe... he'd scold her.
"It's nothing." Lynda looked up at Grace. "Miss Turner, you seem even more beautiful than I had thought."
"Hah, what's the use of beauty, or a good family background? After all, when it comes down to it, it doesn't compare to you."
Lynda chuckled, "It's kind of funny when you think about it. We were at each other's throats; we couldn't stand the sight of each other and would have been happy to see the other drop dead. And here we are now, sharing a meal."
Grace had seen Lynda as a rival when both were vying for Sebastian's attention.
They had each set traps for one another several times.
Grace, the heiress, naturally had no love for Lynda, a sickly orphan with no family name or background to speak of.
But there were no eternal enemies.
Now, they shared a common adversary: Mrs. Lawrence.
Grace smiled too, "I knew from the moment I heard you were back in town that we'd end up here one day."
"Been busy," Lynda replied, "Only just got the chance to take you out for dinner."
"It's an honor."
"Drop the formalities," Lynda said. "It was you who brought the Watson family to me in the first place, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Grace nodded, owning it. "And it turns out I was right about you. You were the only one who could take down Bob from Sebastian's clutches and wipe that smug grin off Isabella's face."
Lynda felt a twinge of pride at that.
Indeed, she had pulled off what no one else could.
And she did it with style.
But... Isabella's counterattack was already underway.
Lynda knew she couldn't afford to take her lightly; Isabella was no ordinary foe and demanded careful handling.
And Sebastian's growing interest in Isabella was not a good sign.
"I just helped the Watsons," Lynda said casually, "and had a bit of a tussle with Isabella."
"Sure, but among New York's high society, despite someone else officially being Mrs. Lawrence, you're the one everyone actually sees as Mrs. Lawrence."
Being seen as Mrs. Lawrence by everyone... This was music to Lynda's ears.
"Yes, it's ironic. After all the fighting between us, in the end, Isabella ended up benefiting."
Grace asked, "It's strange, isn't it? I never heard much about Isabella, and then suddenly she's everywhere. Is there something behind the curtain?"
Lynda gave her a look, "Some things are safer not known."
"That makes sense," Grace conceded, swirling her red wine before taking a sip. "So, what's up? Why did you want to meet?"
"Let's have dinner," Lynda chuckled. "After all, we've known each other for years."
"Cut to the chase, Lynda. I don't enjoy guessing games."
Lynda just smiled.
Grace fixed her gaze on her, "You don't trust me?"
"I've heard that the Turners have been keeping a tight leash on you lately."
The Turners were a prominent New York family with hands in both politics and business; they didn't want to get on the wrong side of the Lawrences.
"Yes, but what's that got to do with anything?" Grace replied. "If you think I'm not a good fit, why invite me to this dinner?"
"For old times' sake."
"Well, I'm not interested."
Lynda looked down and slowly sliced her steak. "What... do you want to do?"
Grace gritted her teeth, "I want Isabella out of New York for good! I want her humiliated beyond recovery—never able to show her face around me again!"
"Why?"
"Have you not heard about her kicking me into the water?"
Lynda raised an eyebrow slightly, "I heard, but thought it was just gossip, so I didn’t believe it. I mean... pushing is already bizarre, kicking is just absurd!"
"It's true!" Grace insisted. "From that day on, Isabella and I became sworn enemies!"
"My God," Lynda feigned surprise, "has she really gotten that brazen?"
"Yes! So, Lynda, let's be straightforward. I'll help you take down Isabella. I want to watch her become the laughingstock of New York's elite."
"Why help me?"
"Because you can beat her," Grace said. "I've chased Sebastian for years to no avail. I... I just can't do it."
Lynda drew out her words, "I see..."
"Because of Isabella, I've been grounded by the Turners, rejected by Sebastian, and after her stunt, I became a laughingstock in New York. How can I swallow this humiliation!"
Before Isabella entered the picture, Lynda and Grace had been arch-enemies.
One was the woman closest to Sebastian.
The other, an heiress notorious city-wide for her pursuit of him.
Lynda had no power, no status, not even parents anymore. But her life's story only fueled men's desire to protect her.
Moreover, she knew exactly when to advance or retreat and understood what sort of girl a man like Sebastian would fancy.
If not for Lynda's illness holding her back, she would've already been part of the Lawrence family.
And there would have been no room for Isabella.
Now, Grace was willing to help her...
"I get where you're coming from," Lynda said as she looked at her. "But even if I can't stand Isabella and don't want her anywhere near Sebastian, there's nothing I can do to push her away."
"Solutions can be found," Grace simply stated.
"Do you... have any good suggestions?"
Grace fell into a deep thought.
Meanwhile, Lynda continued to meticulously slice her steak, savoring each bite slowly.
But her mind was racing just as fast.
It had been nearly half a month since she returned, yet besides staying in that sprawling mansion, she felt powerless.
Sebastian's visits had been few and far between.
Lynda was anxious, but she couldn't concoct any schemes to frame Isabella.
Since the incident with Bob, she had lost the initiative and gained a sense of impending crisis.
To let Isabella continue her brazen ways... the consequences were more than Lynda could bear.
"I've got it," Grace suddenly declared.
Lynda paused, knife and fork in hand, and looked up to meet her gaze. "What?"
"Before Isabella married Sebastian, she was engaged to someone else."
"Who?"
"Marcus."
The corners of Lynda and Grace’s lips curled into sly smiles, and they shared a knowing glance.
What was one thing a man couldn't stand the most?
Naturally... it was a woman's betrayal.
Half an hour later, Grace left the restaurant first, and then Lynda discreetly made her exit, heading straight to the car parked curbside.
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