Rural Belle & Three Heirs

Hilary, tipsy from the alcohol, started unloading her frustrations on Chloe.

"Yeah, Mr. Martin pushed her out to international waters," she slurred.

"But she is so sneaky. I have no idea how she managed to seduce Perry. My husband, who usually doesn't give a damn about women, can't stop thinking about her."

"Perry, that jerk, keeps jetting off and hooking up with Lucy."

"Just recently, I heard from my sources that Lucy's gone missing."

At Hilary's words, Chloe's expression sharpened like honed steel. She'd never truly considered Lucy a rival-those underhanded schemes of hers reeked of gutter tactics. When they'd exiled Lucy to international waters, Chloe assumed the chapter was closed. Yet now came this bitter revelation: somehow that venomous spider had spun her web around Perry's heart from half a world away.

"A healthy person just vanishing? Could she be dead?" Chloe wondered aloud.

Hilary waved her hand dismissively. "No way. Perry treats her like she's gold. He wouldn't let anything happen to her. I bet she's back in the country."

Hilary's words put Chloe on edge. What kind of hold did Lucy have over Perry-this venomous allure strong enough to make him risk fracturing ties with the Martin family itself, all to to bring Lucy back?

It looked like Chloe might have to deal with Lucy again in the future.

While Chloe was talking with Hilary, her phone rang. It was Grant.

"Chloe, I'm feeling down. Can you come keep me company?" Grant's voice sounded off.

"Where are you?" Chloe asked.

"I'm at a bar," Grant replied.

Grant was usually so disciplined, not the type to drown his sorrows in alcohol. He almost never went to bars.

Hearing he was feeling down and drinking at a bar, Chloe didn't waste any time. She said goodbye to Hilary and headed straight to the bar where Grant was.

Grant was slumped in a corner, ordering drink after drink.

He looked awful. Every time the waiter brought him a drink, he knocked it back in one go. His face was starting to change color.

Isidora, lurking in the shadows, saw Grant drinking alone and thought this was her chance.

She touched up her makeup and hurried over to him.

"Grantie, you've had enough. You should stop," Isidora said, sliding into the seat next to him and trying to take the drink from his hand.

But Grant shoved her away. "Get lost."noveldrama

Grant was ice-cold towards Isidora. After pushing her away, he downed another drink.

It seemed like only the alcohol could quench the fire inside him.

Despite Grant's coldness, Isidora didn't give up. She leaned in again, pressing herself against him. Grant pushed her away once more.

"Grant, you should stop drinking. Your stomach can't handle this much alcohol," she pleaded. "Listen to me, stop drinking, okay?"

As Isidora tried to take the drink from Grant, she practically pressed her body against him.

Grant was getting annoyed. "Back off, Isidora. I have a girlfriend. You need to remember that and know your place" Grant snapped, pushing her away with more force, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground.

Isidora started crying softly, playing the victim card. "Grant, I know you have a girlfriend, but I just want to take care of you. I don't want you to drink so much."

"We were college classmates. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Grant, do you really want me to pour my heart out to you?"

Seeing Isidora like this only made Grant more irritated.

Everything had been perfect with Chloe-until Isidora's calculated arrival shattered the illusion. First she'd slithered into the Martin Group through Giselle's naivety, then weaponized Anissa's hospitality to take root in his own home. Grant's fingers tightened around his whiskey glass.

What fresh venom would she inject into their lives next? The real question chilled him: how could anything resembling sincerity exist behind those serpentine eyes?

She thought he didn't care about their college friendship, but when she was causing chaos in his life, did she ever consider that the little bit of college friendship had already been ruined by her?

"I don't want to talk to you anymore. Leave now." Grant directly told Isidora to leave. But Isidora came tonight determined to win Grant over.

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After crying for a while, she stood up and moved to the small table where Grant's drinks were. She said, "Fine, I'll leave. But Grant, you should drink less..."

Taking advantage of Grant not paying much attention to her, Isidora discreetly dropped a small white pill into Grant's drink.

Grant had already had several strong drinks and was slightly intoxicated.

After Isidora stopped bothering him, he picked up the drink and downed it in one gulp.

As he downed the drink without hesitation, the corners of Isidora's lips curled upward subtly, revealing a meaningful smile. Her plan was unfolding step by step exactly as intended. She sat there waiting, waiting for the drug to take effect on Grant.

Once the drug took effect, she could take Grant away. If they had sex, Grant would be hers.

Even if Grant didn't marry her as the Martin Family's mistress, he would have to give her a reasonable arrangement.

As for Chloe that aloof and ethereal woman who acted like she was above worldly affairs-Isidora had long since deciphered her personality. Chloe couldn't tolerate the slightest imperfection in her relationships; the moment she discovered Isidora and Grant had been intimate, she would undoubtedly leave without looking back. Isidora's scheme, much like the wine glass in her hand, was crystal clear yet laced with deadly poison. Now, she stood merely one step away from triumph.

Sure enough, as she expected, a few minutes later, Grant's face turned red, and his eyes showed a seductive light.

Standing next to him, Isidora could clearly feel the desire emanating from Grant.

"Grantie, what's wrong with you?" She reached out to grab Grant's arm. "You've had too much to drink. Let me take you home."

With that, Isidora leaned her body against Grant's, soft and warm. She didn't believe that Grant could resist her.