Chapter 27 Plans
ISABEL’S POV
I shifted in my seat, resisting the urge to roll my eyes as I watched Mom go on and on with Mrs. Cole. They’d been talking for what felt like forever — seriously, how long can someone just stand there and keep talking at a burial? My legs were stiff, my patience exhausted, and honestly, I was already sick of pretending to care.
If it were up to me, I’d be on my phone right now, scrolling through my feed or replying to the more important messages waiting for me. But what kind of person would I look like if I sat here tapping away while everyone was mourning Uncle Larry? Not that I was actually mourning, but appearance needed to be maintained. And since Uncle Larry was now buried, I expected this whole thing to wrap up already. But nope. People loved being jobless, clinging to the heaviness of grief as an excuse to loiter around.
What annoyed me the most, though, was how Mrs. Cole handled everything earlier. She saw me standing right next to Mom, perfectly poised and obviously the Quinns’ daughter, but instead of acknowledging me, she went straight to Anna first.
Anna. Like seriously? And she had the nerve to say Anna looked a lot like Mom. So what? Did she need to announce it out loud, making it a public statement? The way she said it made it sound like it was something magical, some kind of deep connection between them.
Well, congratulations to Anna for winning that little round. I could practically feel her smugness from across the room. My jaw clenched a little as I squeezed my hands tight at my sides, trying to keep the irritation from showing too much. The more I thought about it, the more it stung. Why did everything have to shift the moment Anna came into the picture?
And what made it worse? What really pissed me off was what Mom and Dad were doing now. I get it, they were Uncle Larry’s closest friends. But they had already shown up, already given their condolences. That should’ve been it. But no. They stayed. Kept giving Mrs. Cole some unnecessary encouraging words, dragging out this emotional display. Completely wasting everyone’s time, especially mine.
We should’ve been home by now, preferably seated at the dining table, discussing that absolutely fucked-up decision Dad is planning to make. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. What had gotten into him? He actually believed it was okay to—ugh. I didn’t even want to think about it.
I had plans. Plans that involved that company. Everything had been set in motion. The wealth behind that company was supposed to fund my lifestyle. My lavish lifestyle. The allowances Dad gave me weren't even enough to buy a house, they were no match for the real money I needed to live the way I deserved. And now, all of that was in jeopardy.
I had made it very clear before: I would not sit back and watch her — Anna take over something that rightfully belonged to me. This was what I’d feared the moment Mom told me she found her biological daughter. I knew it. The affection would shift. The love, the attention. Suddenly, I’d be the second option. The replacement. A stand-in for the real daughter.
Well, I wasn’t going to let that happen. Anna had to go. No matter what it took. She didn’t belong here. Not in this family. Not in this life. And I’d make sure she was out before she could even realize what hit her.
My eyes scanned the gathering again. The outfits blurred, people shifting around, and then I spotted him. Ryan. I hadn’t spoken to him properly in a while even though every time I saw him, he seemed to get even more handsome. Broad-shouldered, calm, always giving off that quiet confidence. He was one of the main reasons I came here today. The fact that he was grieving didn’t escape me, sure, but I also knew grief made people more vulnerable. And vulnerable people needed comfort. And I was the perfect person for that.
I pulled out a small mirror and pretended to check something casually, applying a quick layer of lipstick. Then I checked my makeup, still flawless, as always. I tugged up my gown a little, adjusting the push-up bra I’d worn just for today, subtly showing off some cleavage I knew he wouldn’t ignore.
Rising from my seat, I straightened my posture, making sure every step I took was intentional, poised, and graceful. Then I walked over to him, settling quietly beside him on the bench. The silence hung between us for a while. It wasn’t awkward, it was just heavy, respectful. The mood was somber, which was expected. But this was my chance.
“You know…” I began softly, letting my voice sound just a bit emotional, “I can still remember the first time I met Uncle Larry.”
Ryan turned to me slightly, his face calm, listening. Good.
“He and my dad came home so late that night,” I continued, “and my mom scolded them both right there in the living room. I didn’t fully understand what was happening back then, I was still just a kid. But it felt… special. Like I was getting to see a different side of them.”
Of course, it was all a lie but it didn’t matter. He didn’t need to know that. It sounded sweet. Genuine. Emotional enough to spark a connection. I held his gaze for a moment, waiting for his response.
“You never know the value of something until it’s gone,” Ryan finally said, his voice low, carrying a sadness beneath it. Even now, filled with grief, he managed to sound so effortlessly sexy. That voice alone could melt half the girls in here.
“At least we know that wherever your dad is now, he’s at peace,” I said quietly.
“Thanks, Isabel,” Ryan replied, looking at me with a gentle nod. “I appreciate you guys coming here.”
“Of course,” I said, touching his arm lightly. “I’ll always be here for you. I’m just a phone call away, no matter what.”
He gave me a small smile. “First your sister Anna made me smile. And now you’re saying all the right things. Thank you.”
Wait.
My smile froze. My breath hitched.
Did he just say Anna?
My head turned slightly as the words settled. How did they know each other? She’d already spoken to him before me? First?
A rush of heat crept up my neck, and the annoyance returned stronger.
That little snake.