Chapter 469 Grace's Downfall
"You still won't confess?" Ariel, seething with rage, raised her hand again to slap Grace, who appeared utterly indifferent.
Grace seized her wrist with a firm grip, her gaze meeting Ariel's fearlessly, her demeanor shifting to something more menacing. "So, the tables turned momentarily in your favor. And now, what, you wish to strike me again?"
Ariel stared in disbelief, as if truly recognizing Grace for the first time. She was aware of Grace's past malevolence, her spitefulness. Yet, Grace had always maintained a veneer of pleasantry, vying for their favor and empathy. Now, it seemed, she had discarded all pretenses, willing to sever ties completely.
Observing Ariel's stunned silence, Grace pressed on, "And what of Patricia merits such allegiance from all of you? She ensnared my fiancé, and you did nothing to aid me; instead, you embraced their union. So I attempted to harm her—was that not a defense of my love? And appropriating her designs was to enhance the Koch family's prestige. Imagine, another feather in our cap—a knack for jewelry design. Doesn't that sound appealing? Yet, you harp on my every fault. Grandpa falls victim to her machinations, but rather than confronting her, you turn against your own kin. What are you all thinking? How has she bewitched you?"
Ariel, incensed to the point of speechlessness, finally managed to retort, "The Kochs uphold principles. How did we ever spawn someone as despicable and unashamed as you?"
Grace withdrew her hand, retorting, "The shamelessness lies not with me, but with your blindness, favoring an interloper over your sister. Remember, I am Elise's daughter; she's the true outsider here."
Ariel, dumbfounded by Grace's brazenness, chose to end the conversation there.
In that instant, Riley delivered a stern slap to Grace, his expression icy, his words terse, "Obstinate and unrepentant."
Grace responded with a derisive laugh. "Ha! Cast your judgments! I stand by my actions!"
Was defending her interests and love so wrong? The fault was theirs for not supporting her, for showing partiality towards Patricia, leading to her current plight.
Riley's temple throbbed with the intensity of his mounting ire.
Sebastian, sensing Riley's tolerance for Grace had evaporated, feared that even a mere glance at her might mar his disposition.
He advanced, addressing Grace with calm precision, "Five years ago, Dr. Kyle was a renowned psychologist, later convicted for exploiting numerous women through hypnosis. His fall from grace was precipitous, resulting in a three-year incarceration."
The mention of 'Dr. Kyle' nearly caused Grace to falter.
Sebastian, noting her distress, couldn't help but smirk. "Grace, to think you'd stoop so low."
A flicker of panic crossed Grace's visage, yet she remained in denial. "I have no clue what you're implying. Dr. Kyle? He's a stranger to me."
Sebastian countered, "A stranger, you say? It seems he's quite acquainted with you." He flung a sheaf of papers before Grace, adding, "Peruse at your leisure! He's confessed, and here lies his statement."
Grace's hands quivered as she caught the documents that brushed against her face, unfolding them to reveal their contents.
The first image that greeted her was a photograph of Kyle, seated in a dimly lit chamber, with only a desk lamp casting a soft illumination that threw his face into partial shadow. He appeared to be in distress, sprawled on the floor, his head tilted back, eyes wide with a desperate plea, staring straight into the camera lens, his arm extended as though in search of deliverance.
A sinking feeling overwhelmed Grace as she set the photo aside to find Kyle's testimony laid bare before her. It meticulously chronicled their acquaintance, detailing the method of their communication and their sinister conspiracy to eliminate Shane and subsequently pin the blame on Patricia.
Sebastian's voice, tinged with disdain, broke through, "With just this statement, there's ample evidence for a conviction. We held onto a faint hope, wishing Kyle's accusations were mere slander, that you hadn't orchestrated your grandfather's murder, that perhaps you harbored some semblance of remorse. But now..." He chuckled derisively. "Grace, you truly never cease to amaze, do you?"
Grace, frantic to deflect the blame, retorted, "Patricia must have bribed Kyle to tarnish my reputation... I've never met the man! The bank transfers, they're fabrications by Patricia!" Until this moment, her instinct had been to cast Patricia as the villain.
Sebastian's frustration was palpable, nearly driving him to tears, "Patricia was in Mexico until a few days ago, before that, in Canada! How, pray tell, could she impersonate you and slander your name?"
Sebastian swiftly cut off any potential fabrications, "Kyle's no simpleton; he possesses more than mere bank records. He's kept recordings of your telephonic exchanges. Shall I play them for you?"
A cold dread enveloped Grace, akin to being plunged into icy waters.
"And there's more," Sebastian pressed on, "I have video evidence of every rendezvous between you two. Did you truly believe your actions were beyond reproach? That no one would uncover your guilt? Grace, the truth invariably prevails; there's no eluding it. As for me, I'm not merely a lawyer. My forte lies in compiling incontrovertible evidence. We orchestrated the news of Patricia's apprehension to lull you into a false sense of security, to coax you into contacting Kyle."
Grace was dumbfounded.
He continued, relentless, "Must I inundate you with all the proof to elicit a confession? Today's trap was set because we've gathered all the evidence we need. Despite recognizing your culpability and the depth of your depravity, your presence here was never our wish. Your arrival was almost too much to endure."
Confronted with the irrefutable evidence, Grace felt her world collapse. Her once indomitable spirit and facade of defiance disintegrated as she sank to her knees, desperately clinging to Riley's legs.
"Riley, please, I'm truly sorry. I've erred grievously, blinded by jealousy over Patricia's affection from everyone. It skewed my judgment, leading me down a horrific path. Grant me one last opportunity for redemption—forgive me this once. I vow to reform, to genuinely transform," she pleaded.
Sebastian never had much affection for her. Now, with his trousers stained with her tears, his disgust was palpable. Fighting back the impulse to shove her away, he extricated himself from her grip and shouted, "Officers, take her into custody!"
The hospital room's door swung open anew, allowing two police officers to enter.
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