Chapter 134 Best Part
ISABEL'S POV
After I got kicked out of the house, I finally had time to slow down and think. Not the kind of thinking I used to do back then, the reckless kind fueled by anger and bitterness, but real thinking. The kind where you sit with yourself long enough to see your own mistakes staring back at you.
When I first came up with my plan, I didn’t think it through at all. I was blinded by rage, by jealousy, by the burning need to get what I wanted no matter the cost. All I cared about was making Anna feel the same pain she made me feel. I didn’t care if everything collapsed later. I didn’t care if the plan blew up in my face. As long as she suffered, it was enough for me.
But now, things are different. Being pushed out of that house forced me to face reality. Forced me to sit alone with my thoughts, replaying everything from the beginning until now. And in doing that, I saw clearly where I messed up the most. I rushed. I trusted emotions instead of logic. I tried to do everything on my own.
That was my biggest mistake.
Working alone only gets you so far. No matter how smart you think you are, there’s always a limit when you don’t have people on your side. I needed leverage. I needed access. I needed puppets.
So far the only ally I’ve managed to get that still looks very useful is Melissa, the little time I stayed at Austin’s place, I found out that he’s even more useless to me than a bottle of water.
Yes, he helped me when I was in need. I am not going to deny that fact, but as a man, he has zero strategizing skills, he makes no effort to plan.
When we both agreed to take down Anna, I had thought that he had his plans, his ideas that I could bring together with mine, what’s that saying, two heads are better than one.
I had imagined we would be the ultimate team since we both have the same desire but all he does is sit around and wait for me to come up with something.
Sometimes I wonder how he’s even the CEO of Greenleaf Med and if he’s even personally making any changes to the company.
I didn’t want to drag around dead weight, I needed someone with whom we could both plan together, not someone who only waits for me to do the planning and agrees with everything I say.
That’s basically the main reason why I left his place, and even though I left comfort, I still don’t regret it.
That aside.
My current plan required me to be back inside my family’s house, or at least close enough to it. That family, whether I liked it or not, was still the center of everything. Without them, my plans were useless. For days after I was kicked out, I kept cracking my brain, trying to figure out how I was going to get back into their lives. How was I going to make them look at me again, listen to me again?
There were moments I almost gave up. Moments where I told myself the truth, that they were done with me for good. After what I did, after the lies, the betrayal, the mess, why would they ever want to see me again?
Then it happened.
Out of nowhere, the one person I never expected to hear from reached out to me.
My mom.
When I saw her name on my phone that day, I froze. I read the message over and over again, just to be sure I wasn’t imagining it. After everything I had done, after betraying her trust, after nearly destroying the relationship she had with Anna, she was the one checking up on me.
That was when I knew.
This wasn’t luck. This wasn't a coincidence. It was a sign. Even the heavens were clearly on my side. This time, I was going to bring Anna down properly, and I was going to win.
From the way my mom sounded when we spoke on the phone later, I could tell she missed me. Truly missed me. And honestly, that surprised me. I thought once I left, I would be completely forgotten since they have their lost daughter by their side. I thought my mom would pour all her love and attention into her precious biological daughter and erase me from her heart.
But she didn’t.
That single phone call changed everything. After that day, I knew I had to be careful. I couldn’t afford to make the same mistakes again. This plan had to be clean.
Mom was going to be my way back in. My bridge. My entry point. Whether she realized it or not, she was going to be one of my puppets. If I could get her to soften up completely, if I could make her believe I had changed, she would do the rest of the work for me.
I knew acting like my usual self wouldn’t work. Even though I personally see nothing wrong with who I am, they do. To them, my behavior is unacceptable. Too bold. Too sharp. Too much.
They want me to be like Anna. Naïve. Gentle. Soft-spoken. Stupid.
And that’s exactly what I’m going to give them.
At least on the surface.
I’ll act remorseful. I’ll act broken. I’ll act like I’ve turned a new leaf and realized my mistakes. I’ll speak slowly, lower my voice, and choose my words carefully. I’ll tell her how much I regret everything. How lonely I’ve been. How much I miss my family.
Dad can hardly say no to Mom. That has always been the case. And mom still has a soft spot for me, no matter how much she tries to deny it. I’ll press on that weakness. I’ll guilt-trip her without her even realizing it. I’ll make her want me back in the house.
Once she does, she’ll convince Dad. She always finds a way.
And before anyone knows it, I’ll be back.
Another mistake I finally admitted to myself was distraction. I wasn’t focused before. Not completely. I kept letting my emotions get in the way, especially when it came to Ryan.
A part of me truly believed that Ryan and I could still work things out. Maybe, he would remember everything we had and choose me in the end. That hope made me careless. I wasted time thinking about him instead of refining my plans.
But now, that chapter is closed.
I’ve accepted the truth. Nothing will ever happen between Ryan and me again. I’m tired. I’m done.
He made his choice when he stood by Anna. When he defended her, protected her, and looked at me like I was the problem. I was there for him long before Anna ever showed up, yet he still chose her.
That tells me everything I need to know.
Anyone who stands with Anna is my enemy. No exceptions.
Dan made his choice too. That one hurt more than I expected. Dan and I were close. For him to throw all that away and stand with someone he has only known for a few years instead of me, someone he’s known since childhood, tells me he never really cared about me. Not the way I cared about him.
So now, he’s an enemy too.
Even mom and dad fall into that category. I understand that Anna is their biological daughter, but they never once stopped to think about how I felt when she came back into this family. From that moment on, everything revolved around Anna. Her feelings. Her comfort. Her happiness.
Mine didn’t matter.
They tossed my emotions aside like trash, just to keep her pleased. And for that, they’ve earned their place on my list.
Things have changed now. I’m not just fighting Anna anymore. I’m fighting the whole family.
And the best part? They won’t even see it coming.
In a few minutes, I’ll be seeing my mom. I already know how this meeting will go. I’ll hug her tightly. I’ll keep my voice soft. I’ll let my eyes water just enough. I’ll tell her how hard things have been since I left. How lost I’ve felt without my family.
If this works, and I know it will — getting back into that house is only a matter of time.
And when I do return, I won’t come empty-handed. I’ll bring little presents for Dan and Ryan.
But those gifts won’t be peace offerings.
They’ll be reminders.
Reminders that I never forget. That I never forgive. And that anyone who crosses me eventually pays for it.
They’ll all have their hands full.