Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress by Vera Fiore

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.

couldn’t walk, I asked brother to carry me to the viewing platform to see the meteor shower. Thalia refused to allow it.

broke off mid–sentence, dissolving

her tone hardening. “What did she

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

friends that she would soon marry into the Blackwood family and become its mistress. She declared that she was brother’s future wife, and he could

should I really keep my distance from brother? Am

for his help when I’m

even officially joined

Grace sobbed, “you

next family dinner, I

the

Thalia to bring her

Blackwood found an excuse to send Asher away.

room with Lady Blackwood and

10:04

is Actually

Chapter 71

meticulously for the occasion, wearing subtle makeup and an elegant high–necked tea dress in

a neat chignon, adorned with pearl earrings. She looked graceful and refined, every gesture reflecting her upbringing

Lady Blackwood was displeased.

looked Thalia up and down, her brow furrowing slightly. “These modern designer outfits simply don’t have the elegance of traditional British attire. In my opinion, a proper English lady

lowered her eyes respectfully, responding softly: “You’re absolutely right, Lady Blackwood.”

Blackwood raised an eyebrow. “You’re not yet married into the family. No need for such formality. Please address me

startled by

attitude toward Thalia seemed decidedly

was nothing wrong with her addressing Lady Blackwood formally. Why would she insist that Thalia address her

Catherine felt displeased. Thalia was her future daughter–in–law–how could she be treated like

also faltered

Lady Blackwood had taken issue with

Grace’s smug expression beside Lady

clearly poisoned Lady Blackwood against her.

maintained her composure, responding demurely: “Of course, ma’am.”

watch this. She intervened with a smile: “Mother, Thalia is Asher’s fiancée and will be a Blackwood. Proper address is perfectly appropriate. ‘Ma’am‘ seems far

toward

a cool gaze Lady Catherine. Her tone was

10:04

is

Chapter 71

too premature for her to

game was the old