Isha had overheard Anna and her friends. She knew what the plan was but now that Aaron and Rhea have already had the drink, she didn't know what could happen.
*I have to do something to protect my daughter and her husband*.
Just then she saw Valet coming in.
*Valet? What is she doing here? I better get to her*.
Isha waited and when everyone was distracted, she dragged Valet to a corner.
'Who....
Isha quickly covered her mouth.
'Don't scream Valet, I need your help'.
'Auntie? Why and how are you here'.
'Listen, I will tell you later but let me ask you something. You work for Isabelle right?'.
'Yes I do auntie, why do you ask?'
'You have to help me with something '.
Just then, Kaira walked towards them.
'Auntie? Do you know this person?'.
'Yes, she was my daughter's childhood friend, Valet'.
'Your daughter Lucy?'.
'Yes'.
'But how can she help us and what will she help us with '.
'I've found out Anna's plan Kaira '.
'Really?'.
'Really?'. Valet also asked.
'Yes and we have to act fast'.
'But wait Auntie, how are you involved in all these?'.
'I'll explain everything later Valet but please do as I say'.
'Okay'.
***
Valet saw Isabelle and Aaron with Ava so she waited for them to come back before she talked to them.
'Isabelle, I already know about Anna's plan'.
'Really? What is it?'.
Valet whispered in Rhea's ears and she was shocked.
'What do we do? Aaron, we have to make her pay for her disgusting plan'.
'Yes, you're right. What if we give her a taste of her own medicine '.
'Great idea.'
***
ISABELLE
Isabelle followed the old man as he left. Everyone was puzzled and wondered why she followed him.
'What does Rhea think she's doing?.'
'Instead of worrying about that, why don't you worry about what I'll be doing to you Margaret '.
'Let's see then'.
Isabelle followed the old man to the garden. She had already entered before she realized that it was the same garden Margaret warned her not to ever enter. She sighed
*I was bound to break the rules anyway. I just hope the old man is not angry at me *.
'What are you doing here?.'
Isabelle was startled, it was the old man, he sat down with a photo frame in his hands.
'Well grandfather, I thought you might need someone to cheer you up. Seems like you are very disturbed by something '.
The old man sighed.
'You know, apart from Bella, you're the only one to check up on me to see if I was alright. I guess I made a wise choice by allowing you stay'.
'I hope you're not angry that I came in here without your permission, I heard it was for grandmother '.
'Yes, my wife, Mary loved plants a lot. She tended to them every day and ever since she left me, I never allow any of my children step foot here but i'll allow you'.
'Thank you grandfather '.
'It's okay dear, sit down with me over here'.
Isabelle obeyed and sat down next to him. He passed the photo frame to Isabelle, it was the picture of a middle aged woman with a very beautiful smile. A smile that leaves a lasting impression on someone.
'This is.....
'That's Mary, my wife. She's beautiful isn't she?'.
'Yes grandfather. She is beautiful'.
'You know Rhea, I've made a lot of mistakes. Charlotte would have told you about it earlier if you both had met before'.
*She did tell me but I can't tell grandfather that I already know about it*
'Rhea, do you know the mistakes I made?'.
'No grandfather'.
'I'll tell you. But please don't hate me after I tell you'.
*I already know it but I don't know if I hate grandfather or not*
'I won't hate you grandfather'.
'Thank you dear. It all started when my eldest son, Ethan was twenty years old. My father had just died then and I was scared my brothers would take my father company from me, it didn't help that I had fallen ill then, I couldn't manage the company. I had to get Ethan married but he was still very young, I had no choice as my father's lawyer wouldn't give the company to a young Ethan'.
The old man stopped to see if Rhea was listening.
'I had to seek help from one of our very rich partners who had a young daughter. Their daughter was Charlotte and she was very young then, I begged her parents to allow Charlotte marry Ethan even though she was not ready for marriage. Their condition was that there will be nothing between them till they're both of age. Mary didn't agree to it but i didn't listen to her as I didn't want to lose the company. Everything was going well and Ethan had taken over the company, I was also helping him but then one day, I made him go for the annual CEO's party. He got drunk and came home, I asked charlotte to help him to his room and you can guess what happens next. we later found out that his drink had been spiked at the party'.
'What happened then grandfather?'.
'Punishing the offender wasn't enough as Charlotte got pregnant. She gave birth to Alex but the pressure was probably too much for Ethan. He ran away from home when Alex was three years old and Charlotte was too busy looking for Ethan to care much about her son. Alex is like this today because of me, he had an accident abroad when he went to look for his dad. He wasn't the only one in that accident though, there was a girl.....she died'.
'Girl?...'.
'Rhea dear, there's no point in talking about the past . Forget it, you're married to Alex now'.
*It must be the girl I saw in that secret room. Alex never mentioned her, why would he though?, this marriage is fake after all*
'So Rhea dear, you probably don't like me anymore right?'.
'No grandfather, although the method you used was too...never mind, you had no choice and if you hadn't done that, you probably won't be able to provide for your family'.
'My wife suffered a heart attack after Ethan left and she died, that's one of the reason why I forbid anyone to talk about Ethan today'.
Rhea finally understood everything.
'Grandfather, if you really regret everything , why don't you just explain everything to your children .'
'It's too late now Rhea, they all don't believe me anymore and Charlotte probably still hates me. Margaret will never learn and Jane is too naive for all these situations. I won't live for too long and everyone will surely go against Alex, I don't know what to do anymore'.
'It's alright grandfather, I can help you. I'll help you bring the family together again'.
'Thank you Rhea, thank you so much. I'm glad that Alex found a good wife.'
*I wonder what he will do if he finds out I've been lying to him*
'It's okay grandfather, let's go now'.
'Alright'.
*** THE PARTY
Rhea was standing by the pool when she felt someone coming.
'Isabelle, you look beautiful tonight'.
Rhea smirked because she was expecting the person. She slowly took her phone and recorded discretely.
'What do you want Felix ?'.
Felix clenched his fists. Isabelle had always had a look of admiration on her face for him before, now all he could see was disgust.
'Why are you acting this way?'.
'What do you mean Felix?'.
'You were not like this Isabelle'.
'People change Felix and I don't think it's right for you to be here with me. We don't want awful rumors circulating'.
'Listen Isabelle, I regret everything I did to you. I came back to my senses after you were taken to the hospital the other night, I'm really sorry Isabelle. I want to fix things, I want us to get back together'.
'You must be joking'.
'I'm not Isabelle, I realize now that I actually still love you'.
'What?!'.
'A....Aaron?'.