Chapter 71

Chapter 71

The day after returning from South Downs, Grace immediately went to Lady Blackwood’s residence to air her grievances.

“Grandmother, Thalia seems to dislike me greatly, and I don’t understand why. That incident at the riding grounds was merely a misunderstanding–I was mistaken about her, but I’ve already apologised. She still doesn’t seem to have forgiven me.”

Sitting beside Lady Blackwood in the drawing room, Grace’s eyes were red–rimmed, her voice trembling “She has this inexplicable hostility toward me. I don’t know why she’s always targeting me.”

Seeing her granddaughter’s tearful state, Lady Blackwood was deeply concerned. She took Grace’s hand. “My dear child, tell me how the Winters girl has been mistreating you.”

Grace sniffled, her voice breaking. “Perhaps she feels I’m taking away some of brother’s affection, so she constantly excludes me. At the base camp, when we were resting, I made some beef stew for brother, but Thalia wouldn’t let him eat what I’d prepared. She took the bowl and ate it herself, then claimed my cooking was dreadful.”

Lady Blackwood frowned. “Did she really?”

“That’s not all,” Grace continued pitifully. “When I became tired from walking and asked brother to carry my backpack for a while, she refused to allow it. She declared that as brother’s girlfriend, he could only carry her things. Grandmother, please tell me if this is fair–I’ve grown up with brother since childhood, I’m his sister. Is it unreasonable to ask him to help with my backpack?”

Lady Blackwood’s frown deepened, her face clouding with displeasure. “This Winters girl is completely out of line. She’s not even properly married into the family yet, and she’s already acting like the lady of the manor, trying to establish dominance over you.”

“Exactly! I was utterly mortified. Not only that, but when we were crossing the stream, she wouldn’t let

brother help me across. I nearly fell into the water!”

Lady Blackwood gasped, tightening her grip on Grace’s hand. “How dreadful! This Thalia Winters is absolutely appalling! Grace, dear, were you hurt anywhere?”

Grace continued sniffling. “I was injured.”

She lifted her skirt slightly to reveal the wound on her ankle.

10:04 O

Your Gold Digger is Actually A True

Chapter 71

What had been a minor scrape the previous night had almost healed overnight, with a scab forming. To elicit Lady Blackwood’s sympathy, Grace had deliberately rubbed the area against the ground that morning to create a fresh wound, enduring the pain to achieve her goal.

Now her ankle displayed a large patch of broken skin. To maximize impact, Grace had neither cleaned nor bandaged the wound, deliberately exposing the bleeding area to Lady Blackwood to gain her sympathy.

The tactic proved immediately effective.

Lady Blackwood was distraught and quickly summoned the servants to clean and dress Grace’s wound.

viewing

mid–sentence, dissolving into

flashed with anger, her tone hardening. “What did she say?”

said that as an adult, I should maintain distance from brother–that we needed boundaries.

that she would soon marry into the Blackwood family and become its mistress. She declared that

keep my

his help

was furious. “She hasn’t even officially joined the family and already she’s throwing her weight

“you

next family dinner, I shall certainly

the day of the Blackwood family

to bring her to

arrived, Lady Blackwood found an excuse to send Asher away.

Lady Blackwood and

10:04

Digger is

Chapter 71

subtle makeup and

with pearl earrings. She looked graceful and refined, every gesture reflecting her upbringing as the daughter of a

Lady Blackwood

“These modern designer outfits simply don’t have the elegance of traditional British attire. In my opinion, a proper English lady looks her

eyes respectfully, responding softly:

into the family. No need for such formality. Please address me

Catherine was startled by

attitude toward Thalia seemed decidedly off.

settled matter? There was nothing wrong with her addressing Lady Blackwood formally. Why would

Thalia was her future daughter–in–law–how could she be treated like

faltered

had taken issue with her.

sight of Grace’s smug expression beside Lady Blackwood, Thalia

poisoned Lady Blackwood

responding demurely: “Of

with a smile: “Mother, Thalia is Asher’s fiancée and will be

toward

turning a cool gaze Lady Catherine. Her tone was unyielding: “The engagement ceremony

10:04

is Actually A

Chapter 71

It’s too premature for her

What game was

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255