fake tears

After their grandmother was taken to her room to rest, the rest of the family also retired to their rooms.

But Isabella had other plans. Quietly, she slipped out and made her way down to the kitchen. She grabbed an onion, peeled it quickly, and squeezed the juice into her eyes. Tears welled up instantly, streaming down her cheeks. She blinked a few times, adjusting her expression until she looked utterly heartbroken.

Taking a deep breath, she hurried down the hallway and knocked on her grandmother’s door.

The old woman opened it with a warm smile—only for that smile to vanish the moment she saw Isabella’s tear-streaked face. Concern replaced joy, and she quickly ushered the girl inside.

“Child, what’s wrong?” Grandma said, guiding Isabella to sit on the bed. She cupped her hands around Isabella’s trembling shoulders, her voice soft but urgent.

Isabella buried her face in her palms and sobbed. “Grandma… I’ve lived such a miserable life in the orphanage with Lilian. And when I came back home, I saw my sister Isadora in the same miserable condition.”

Her grandmother’s eyes widened in shock. “You mean Matteo has been treating Isadora badly?”

Isabella nodded through her staged tears.

The old woman’s expression hardened, and she immediately rose to her feet. “That boy! I must give him a lesson right now—”

But Isabella quickly caught her hand. “Please, Grandma, don’t go yet. There’s more.”

Grandma stopped, her fury simmering, and gently sat back down. “Then tell me, child. What else?”

Isabella sniffled and spoke again. “On top of everything… they never even sent Isadora to school. She has never studied, Grandma. And now, since Lilian and I returned, Uncle is trying to give Lilian’s hand in marriage—yet she doesn’t want it.”

Her grandmother’s face turned cold with anger. “I never knew I gave birth to such a son,” she muttered.

“Grandma,” Isabella pressed on, “the suitor is even coming today.”

“What?” Grandma snapped, her voice sharp with outrage.

“Yes,” Isabella said quickly, “but I don’t want Lilian to be forced into marriage. She doesn’t want it, Grandma.”

The old woman softened, reaching out to touch Isabella’s trembling hand. “Don’t worry, child. I won’t allow it.”

But Isabella shook her head. “Even if Uncle doesn’t do it while you’re here, Grandma, he’ll try again when you’re gone.”

Her grandmother paused, her brows furrowing in thought. At last, she gave a slow nod. “You’re right.”

Then she asked in a low, serious tone, “So… do you have a suggestion?”

Isabella wiped her cheeks and nodded eagerly. “Yes, Grandma. At first, I only wanted me, Lilian, and Isadora to go to school together. But… can you send them abroad to study instead? I’ll stay here.”

Her grandmother’s eyes softened. “That’s simple for me to do. But what about you, Isabella? Aren’t you going with them?”

Isabella stood slowly, her chin lifting with determination. “No, Grandma. Originally, me and my sister were supposed to inherit our father’s properties. But Uncle has been in charge all this time, treating Isadora badly. I want everything back.”

Her grandmother gazed at her proudly. A faint smile tugged at her lips. “You sound more like your father than Matteo ever did.”

Then she asked gently, “Is there anything else you want me to do?”

Isabella hesitated, then whispered, “Yes, Grandma. I want you to give us some money—me, Lilian, and Isadora too. We’ll need it.”

Her grandmother chuckled lightly. “Of course. Why not?”

She pulled out her phone, asked for Isabella’s account number, and with a few taps, transferred $100 million.

Isabella’s mouth fell open. Her breath caught in her throat. From a poor girl with nothing… to a millionaire in an instant.

“Thank you, Grandma,” she breathed, still in shock.

Then she looked up and asked, “But why did you agree to help me so easily?”

Her grandmother’s expression hardened, her tone turning serious. “The reason I came back was because I heard Matteo has been mishandling your father’s businesses. That is a dangerous thing for our family. And now, hearing all these things from you only adds to my anger.”

Isabella’s heart leapt. Her grandmother was truly on her side.

Seizing the moment, she quickly confessed, “I even asked Uncle for the documents to my father’s companies, but he refused to give them to me.”

Her grandmother scoffed bitterly. “Of course he refused. None of those businesses belong to him in the first place.”

Just as those words left her lips, the rumble of cars echoed outside the mansion.

Isabella rushed to the window, peeking through the curtains. “Grandma—i think Riccardo is here. He’s here.”

Her grandmother’s face turned grim. She stood immediately. “I’ll handle it.”

Storming out of the room, Isabella trailed behind her.

By the time they reached the sitting room, Riccardo and his parents were already seated with Matteo, Vivienne, and Sophia. The atmosphere was thick, the tension sharp enough to cut.

Vivienne leaned close to Sophia and said firmly, “Go and call Lilian.”