Amanda was practically buzzing with excitement, her eyes shining with joy.

To an outsider, it looked like she was thrilled about her brother's recovery. In reality, she was ecstatic about his imminent death. She had waited for this day for so long.

"Of course, Miss Amanda," Scales replied with a respectful nod.

Amanda hurried upstairs. As she walked away, Scales pulled out his phone and sent a text to Keira.

[Miss Amanda was overjoyed to hear the master is waking up.]

At Gonzales Manor, Keira felt a wave of relief as she read the message. She knew it. Her daughter wasn't behind this. If Amanda had truly been the one to harm her son, she wouldn't be so happy now. She would be terrified.

Thank God. The one thing Keira feared most was her children turning on each other.

She put down her phone and turned to her companion, Dahlia, with a smile. "Stuart is waking up soon. Dahlia, what should I wear?"

Though she saw her son every day, in a way, they hadn't truly seen each other in twenty years. She wanted to look her best for him when he opened his eyes.

"What you have on is lovely," Dahlia said.

Keira was wearing a beautiful brick-red silk dress that complemented her graceful manner.

She glanced in the mirror and shook her head. "Perhaps it's a bit too red."

"Why don't you wear the new suit Miss Caitlin bought for you?" Dahlia suggested. Caitlin had excellent taste; the clothes she chose were always stylish and comfortable.

Keira's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes! That one is perfect."

She went into her dressing room to change. She put on the suit from Caitlin, along

with the shoes Caitlin had personally selected for her.

Upstairs, Amanda found Ann's door closed and knocked.

Ann, who had been napping, called out, "Who is it? What's wrong?"

"Ann, it's me."

"Come in, Mom."

Amanda opened the door to find Ann sitting up in bed, her hair a mess. "Ann, why are you sleeping in the middle of the day?" Amanda frowned. Ann's expression was sullen. "What else am I supposed to do?"

Her leg was crippled. After the incident with Celia, her reputation was in ruins. Everywhere she went, she was the object of ridicule. All she could do was lie in bed.

Amanda sighed, then a smile spread across her face as she sat on the edge of the bed. "Ann, I have some good news for you."

"What good news?" Ann asked listlessly.

Amanda's eyes gleamed. Even with the door closed, she lowered her voice. "Your uncle is on his last legs."

Ann's eyes flew open. "Really?"

If Stuart died, Caitlin was finished. The Gonzales family, and everything in it, would be hers. This was the best news she had heard in a long time. Finally, she could crush Caitlin once and for all.

"Of course, it's true," Amanda said. "Would I lie to you about something like this? Get up. We're going to Gonzales Manor to see him off on his final journey."

Ann threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. "Since we're sending him off, should I wear white?"

It would suit the occasion.

"No," Amanda said, a sneer in her voice. Ve should dress as festively as possible."

"Why?" Ann asked. "If we do that, won't everyone know what we're really thinking?"

Amanda explained the situation.

When Ann heard that Scales was downstairs and that Caitlin had claimed Stuart

would wake up today, she burst out laughing.

*Insane! Caitlin is completely insane!*

"Mom, did that country bumpkin really say that?"

"She did."

Ann's eyes narrowed. "To make a claim like that, she must be truly

Grandr

finished. Grandma trusts her so much; she must be expecting miracle

When Unele Stuart de...

today, Grandma will probably follow him to the grave!"

And then, she would be the sole heir to the Gonzales family fortune.

The thought made Ann giddy with excitement. She couldn't wait to get to the

manor and see the look on Caitlin's face when everything came crashing down. It was going to be a spectacular show.

"Hurry up and get changed," Amanda said. "Scales is waiting downstairs."

"I know." Ann headed for her closet. "Just give me a minute, Mom."

To play along with Caitlin's story, Ann put on beautiful makeup and a stylish tweed suit. Amanda also changed into a new outfit. For them, this was a day of rebirth, a day for new clothes and a new life

Half an hour later, they went downstairs.

Amanda smiled apologetically at Scales. "Im so sorry to keep you waiting Scales. Ann was so excited to hear her uncle was waking up that she insisted on dressing up to make a good impression on him.