Hope Williams was once again overwhelmed with helplessness. She assisted Alitzel Williams to sit down first, then poured her a cup of warm water. "Here, drink some warm water to warm up."
It was evident that Alitzel Williams was in a hurry. She was truly worried about Grace Gray and had completely forgotten about what happened at the café.
Grace Gray was adept at playing the victim.
"Little Hope, can you forgive Grace? I believe she didn’t mean to hurt anyone."
"If I forgive her, she’ll get up. Mom, don’t you think she’s putting on this act to force you to come to me?"
"Grace really knows she’s wrong..."
Hope Williams, taking a towel, began to dry Alitzel Williams’ wet clothing, speaking with resignation, "Mom, you’re usually so rational about things, why can’t you see through what’s happening with Grace Gray?"
Gripping her teacup a bit tighter, Alitzel Williams said, "Little Hope, I really do like Grace. She’s a sensible girl. Waylon and Wyatt, since they were young, have always made up their own minds about things and seldom stayed by my side. And Christopher, that ungrateful man, not to mention... But Grace often stays with me, cheers me up. Little Hope, can’t you understand your mother’s feelings?"
Hope sighed helplessly. "Mom, forgive me for speaking frankly, but I really can’t understand your viewpoint. Regardless, I can’t interfere with your decisions. Now that she’s manipulated you into pleading with me, what else can I say? If I say I won’t forgive her, you’ll surely see me as heartless and become angry with me. That’s exactly what she wants."
Alitzel fell silent, then after contemplating, asked, "You mean Grace is doing this on purpose, to drive a wedge between us?"
Hope nodded slowly, "It seems that way for now. Just think about it, ever since she came into our home, how many things have happened. Is that normal?"
Alitzel couldn’t understand, "Why would she do that? What benefit is there for her? Little Hope, are you sure you’re not mistaken? Grace doesn’t strike me as someone with ulterior motives."
"It’s understandable that you don’t believe me. All I can say is, time will show a person’s true nature." Hope left it at that, without further explanation.
But Alitzel’s brows furrowed, her mind replaying the day’s events at the café and Aria Richardson’s words.
"Mom, how about this? When you go back, tell her I won’t forgive her. Let her keep kneeling and see how she reacts. I bet she will put all the blame on herself, asking you not to be mad at me for not forgiving her. Then if you leave her to continue kneeling, she’ll faint pretty quickly. If you don’t believe it, try and see."
Taking Hope’s words with a mix of doubt and belief, Alitzel returned to the old mansion.
Grace Gray was still kneeling in the rain, nearly an hour had passed.
As Alitzel approached Grace, Hope’s words echoed in her mind.
Hopeful, Grace looked up at Alitzel, "Mom, has my sister-in-law agreed to forgive me?"
"Grace, Little Hope still isn’t willing to forgive you."
As soon as Alitzel finished her sentence, Grace’s shoulders slumped, and tears began to spill from her reddened eyes, "Mom, don’t be angry with my sister-in-law. It’s all my fault. It’s normal for her not to forgive me. Mom, please ignore me and let me keep kneeling."
Alitzel’s heart softened for a moment, but then she recalled Hope’s words and slowly withdrew her hand, saying, "If I can’t dissuade you, then keep kneeling."
Grace looked up in shock, surprised that Alitzel hadn’t immediately tried to persuade her to stop.
Alitzel steeled herself and turned to leave, thinking that if Grace continued to kneel, she was truly remorseful, but if she faked fainting, then it was as Hope had predicted.
Deep down, Alitzel hoped for the former.
But in the next moment...
"Miss Gray, what’s happened to you?" The servant holding an umbrella for Grace cried out in shock.
Alitzel’s heart skipped a beat, and she turned to see Grace lying on the ground.
Alitzel could hardly believe it and had someone carry Grace inside and called the family doctor.
After the doctor checked on Grace, Alitzel stepped forward and asked, "Doctor, how is she doing?"
The doctor put the electronic thermometer back in the medicine box and said, "Miss Gray has a fever, 38 degrees."
Looking at the extremely weak Grace lying in bed, Alitzel felt some of her doubts easing.
It seemed she had fainted because of her fever.
The doctor shook his head, "This isn’t right. Does Miss Gray have any other medical history?"
Growing anxious as the doctor asked, Alitzel replied, "No, what’s wrong?"
"A fever of 38 degrees is not enough to cause fainting. This is abnormal."
Startled, Alitzel’s sharp gaze caught a slight movement from Grace on the bed.
In that moment, Alitzel understood something.
After taking a shower, Hope was sitting on the bed reading when Alitzel called.
Everything had turned out just as she had anticipated.
Without someone to persuade her, Grace had no way out. But how could Grace allow herself to continue suffering in the rain? Pretending to faint was the best option.
Hope curled her lips into a smile.