"Grandma..." Anna's voice cracked. She had poured every ounce of emotion into her performance, and it infuriated her that Kiera still didn't believe her.
Resentment and bitterness choked her throat.
That bitch Serena was practically a witch!
How had she managed to sink her claws so deeply into this family?
Kiera used to dote on Anna, spoiling her rotten. Yet now, just because of Serena, Anna was groveling on the floor looking absolutely pathetic, and her grandmother hadn't even flinched!
Anna clenched her fists tightly, forcing fresh, agonizing tears to spill over her cheeks. "I know I caused Serena so much pain. It's okay if you don't believe me right now, Grandma. Just give me a chance to prove I've changed!"
"Is that so?"
Holden suddenly spoke up, his stern, unyielding gaze locking onto Anna. "If you're truly sincere, then you can stay."
Anna's eyes lit up instantly, practically vibrating with excitement as she looked at him. "Thank you, Grandpa, I—"
"But I have one condition," Holden cut in, his voice like cracking ice. "When Serena gets back, you will stand before her and offer a sincere, public apology until she forgives you."
All the color drained from Anna's face in an instant.
An apology? To Serena?
And her staying was contingent on that bitch actually forgiving her?
Her grandfather was humiliating her on purpose!
Holden let out a cold, dismissive scoff. "What? Unwilling? I distinctly remember that when you were egging Serena on to race, you were screaming for her to grovel for your forgiveness. I assumed you preferred that style of apology."
Anna's face turned a shade paler.
So this was it. Her grandfather was making a stand for that wretched girl.
Digging her nails into her palms, she bit her lower lip hard enough to feel the sting, forcing a trembling smile onto her face. "I'm willing... I am. It was my fault, and I owe Serena a proper apology."
Holden let out another low scoff.
The sound was unreadable.
Anna couldn't tell what exactly he found so amusing.
But all that mattered was that she was allowed to stay in the suite until Serena returned.
She had to execute her plan before that happened!
There was absolutely no way she was ever going to apologize to Serena!
Playing the role of the devoted, reformed granddaughter, Anna hovered around the two elders, fussing over their comfort, pouring them water, and playing the perfect picture of contrition.
It looked for all the world like she had genuinely come to make amends.
But the moment their backs were turned.
She slipped a hand into her pocket, her fingers brushing against a tiny vial no thicker than a pinky finger. A sharp, malicious gleam flashed in her eyes.
She had secured this little prize from Augus right before she shadowed the servant to the medical center, taking advantage of a brief window to meet him out of sight content
All her grandfather had to do was inhale a fraction of what was inside...
His heart rate would spike, and his blood vessels would violently constrict.
It wouldn't kill him, but it would mimic the symptoms of a critical, life-threatening emergency.
At worst... her grandfather would suffer for a little while.
But to get rid of Serena for good.
To save her place in the Vinton family.
Her grandfather was just going to have to endure it!
Anna rolled the smooth glass between her fingers, whispering silently in her mind,
*Don't blame me, Grandpa.*
Waiting until the two elders were
distracted, she swiftly poured the contents of the vial directly into the room's humidifier. *If you want to blame someone, blame Serena She forced my hand!* 'FindNovel.net
With the deed done.
Anna slipped into the adjoining bathroom, flushing the empty vial down the toilet to completely destroy the evidence.
She hummed a light tune, riding the high of her impending victory as she casually strolled back into the main room.
But the second she stepped through the door, her blood ran cold. The private suite was suddenly swarming with frantic medical staff.
The room was completely consumed by the deafening, urgent shrieks of the heart monitor's alarms...