Chapter 439
“Isabel, shut up! You’ve pined after Lyman for years, only to have some stranger swoop in and steal him away. Pathetic!”
Grace knew exactly how to hit Isabel where it hurt. Isabel felt so furious she could barely breathe.
“What’s your problem, Grace? Back when I liked Lyman, you never stopped belittling me, always saying I was a nobody chasing after someone out of my league. Now that he’s married to someone else, you’re here to mock me again? What’s the deal? Had a sudden change of heart? Decided I’m not so bad after all?”
Grace let out a sharp laugh. “Wow, Isabel, you really do love flattering yourself. You honestly think you’re someone special? Who do you think you are?”
“Grace, just stop! Why did you even call me? If you have something to say, spit it out already!”
“How crude,” Grace sneered with obvious distaste.
Isabel’s eyes darkened. Even now, Grace just couldn’t resist trying to show off.
“I’m going to count to three. Three… one!”
“Have you lost your mind, Isabel? Did you swallow two?” Grace snapped, her voice rising with irritation.
Isabel shot back, “No, I skipped two, because you’re the fool in this conversation.”
Grace was momentarily speechless.
“You know, Isabel, you’re only brave enough to mouth off to me. Your precious Lyman got taken by someone else, and you still have the nerve to strut around like you’re in charge.”
“So what’s your point?” Isabel’s patience was wearing thin. If Grace kept this up, she’d just hang up.
“Fine, I’ll get to it. I can’t stand Effie,” Grace said bluntly.
Isabel wasn’t surprised. She’d half-expected Grace to say that. “Grace, I have to wonder-why do you hate every woman around Lyman? Are you some kind of creep, secretly obsessed with your own brother?”
“Shut up, Isabel! If I ever wanted Lyman, you think you’d stand a chance?” Grace hissed, practically grinding her teeth.
Her secret-only Annabel knew.
Isabel frowned thoughtfully. She had to admit, Grace had a point. If Grace were really interested in Lyman, she would’ve made her move long ago; Effie never would’ve had a shot.
“So, what do you want?” Isabel’s tone grew calmer.
“I just don’t like Effie. Anyone good enough to be Lyman’s wife should be the best of the best.”
Isabel agreed Effie wasn’t good enough for Lyman, but Grace’s perfectionism was
a bit much. Who in the world was ever that flawless?
“Let’s hear your plan,” Isabel said.
If Grace was calling to complain about Effie, she definitely wanted Isabel’s help to get rid of her. If Grace wanted to use her, Isabel could play the same game. In the
end, they’d see who was the sharper knife.
sŵnovel
“Good,” Grace replied. “Glad to see you’re on board. Once I’ve got the perfect plan, I’ll be in touch.”
“Fine,” Isabel replied, a sly smile curling at her lips. “I’ll be waiting for your good news.”
When Lyman woke up, the first thing he heard was the babbling of a small child downstairs, accompanied by a deep, husky voice carrying on a gentle conversation.
The sound made Lyman instantly alert. He swung his legs over the side of the bed
and hurried downstairs.
Clay, hearing the footsteps, instinctively looked up toward the stairway.
And finally-he saw Lyman.
Lyman saw Clay, too.