Chapter 198 She Finally Understands the Plan
Grace had only meant for the hired thugs to intimidate them, to make the scene more believable.
If, in the process, it could be proved that Marcus would risk his life to protect Isabella and that she would brave danger for his sake, that was enough for her.
Who would have guessed that a couple of foolish brutes would take things too far and actually draw weapons? Fortunately, they didn’t hit anything vital. Marcus was out of the OR and moved straight to the hospital room, bypassing the ICU altogether.
Otherwise, this could have escalated out of control.
Sebastian's gaze fixed steadily on Grace. "So, you're saying Marcus's injury was outside of your control?"
"Yes."
"It wasn't your people?"
"I... even if I could find such individuals, I wouldn't dare," Grace admitted. "If I had, you wouldn't let me off the hook, the Cooper family would have my head, and my reckless actions would drag the Turner family into this mess as well. There was no upside for me."
Sebastian pressed his lips together fleetingly.
What Grace said made sense.
Injuring Marcus, or even Isabella, brought no advantage to her. She had no motive for such actions.
He looked at Isabella, "How did Marcus get injured?"
Isabella was stunned, frozen in place.
She listened to the exchange between Sebastian and Grace as a chill ran through her.
She realized that the situation was far more complex than she had imagined.
Grace wasn't plotting against her in secrecy; it was out in the open! No disguises, no evasions!
What... what should she do?
"I asked you how Marcus got hurt," Sebastian said. "Cat got your tongue?"
"Weren't you there? Didn't you see what happened?"
Isabella could still picture Sebastian standing at the street corner.
Tall and imposing, the decrepit and barren backdrop did nothing to diminish his presence.
"When I got there, I only saw you and Marcus," he replied. "The assailant was nowhere to be seen."
Grace internally breathed a sigh of relief.
Those two had enough sense to run away in time.
Otherwise, with Sebastian's influence, identifying them would have been all too easy.
Isabella answered, "I was about to leave Ivy Lane when two guys with knives stopped me. Marcus was not far behind me; he saw what happened and rushed in."
"That's it?"
"Yes," Isabella nodded, but quickly added, "That doesn't rule out Grace as a suspect! Nor does it prove she's unconnected to those two!"
Grace retorted instantly, "Do you have any evidence that I'm associated with those thugs?"
Isabella was left speechless.
It was a trap that had been meticulously planned.
She had fallen into it, and to think she could climb out unscathed was impossible.
Had Marcus been hurt for nothing, while the real culprit remained at large?
Even worse, Grace stood boldly before her, admitting she orchestrated everything, and the actual crime was just an accident?
How could such coincidences exist?!
"We have to be careful with our words," Grace said, seeing Isabella at a loss, "Otherwise, we might strain the relationship between the Cooper family and the Turner family, and I can't take responsibility for that!"
Isabella bit the tip of her tongue.
Using this pain to keep herself calm and clear-headed.
"What the hell is going on here?" She asked, looking at Sebastian. "Why were you at Ivy Lane?"
He didn't answer but glanced at Grace instead.
Grace turned and faced Isabella, "Why were you going to Ivy Lane?"
"I got a strange text message signed Cooper."
"That was from me," Grace admitted with a certain smugness. "I pretended to be Marcus to lure you out."
"You sent it? What are you talking about?"
"Yes. Meanwhile, I filled Sebastian in on... my entire plan."
Isabella's eyes narrowed. "What plan?"
"I had to show there was something unresolved between you and Marcus. To prove your heart wasn't true to Sebastian - that Marcus still had a place in it!"
"And?"
"I had someone track Marcus. Knew he had a meeting with a client at 79 Ivy Lane this morning," Grace bragged on, "I knew you'd go there and run into him. He's been eager to see you, and I made a bet that you couldn't keep your hands to yourselves..."
Isabella just stared at her. "That's it?"
"That’s it. I mean, if a mysterious text with just the last name 'Cooper' gets you racing over there, doesn't that say it all? You still carry a torch for him."
Isabella fell silent.
Now she grasped the full scope of their scheme.
Quite the ruse...
She had seriously underestimated Lynda and Grace.
This kind of double-cross wasn't something just anyone could dream up.
Isabella now realized why she bumped into Sebastian on her way to see Marcus.
Reflecting on it, his expression was off.
But Isabella, in her haste, hadn't noticed then.
She now understood that practically at the same moment, Sebastian had received a text from Grace as well, which laid out the whole plot without holding back.
So, when Sebastian came to her, and she fumbled with her feeble excuses, dodging the question, he didn't press her - he just nodded and let her go...
Sebastian must have felt ice-cold then...
Their entire ploy seemed clumsy and riddled with holes. If they'd actually tried to play Sebastian, he would’ve seen right through it from the start.
Instead of cornering him, Lynda and Grace might have just landed themselves in hot water.
But the plan's brilliance lay in its transparency!
They held nothing back from Sebastian, ensuring he knew every last detail.
They wanted Sebastian to witness firsthand how Isabella would ditch him to meet Marcus and to see the lengths to which Marcus would go to protect her.
Applause broke out, the sound of hands coming together echoing through the room.
"That's how it is, huh?" Isabella chuckled, pulling her hands back. "Grace, the lengths you've gone to frame me... You've really outdone yourself."
"I just can't stand it. You're married to Sebastian, and you're supposed to love him wholeheartedly and live a good life. So, why are you still tangled up with Marcus, huh? It's just not right."
"Grace, today I was caught off guard; I was unprepared and, honestly, I deserve this... I truly do."
"Is this your way of admitting fault?" Grace asked, a flicker of accusation in her voice. "Because you don't seem one bit sorry. You just think you weren't cautious enough, not that you shouldn't have other feelings for Marcus in the first place?"
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