Pampered By Power: The True Heiress Returns

Chapter 331

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Elysia’s brow furrowed. “Let you go?” She shook her head. “Grace, you don’t get to call the shots here. | said if

you talk, | won't shut you up for good. But if you clam up, things won't end well for you.

“Why should you cover for someone who can’t do a damn thing for you? Think about it-but don’t take too long.

My patience isn’t endless.”

Grace's heart skipped a beat. She’d known for a while what she had to do. No matter what Elysia did to her, she

was going to point the finger at Bianca.

Bianca was just as guilty, yet Grace was the only one suffering. Bianca had cooked up the whole plan, and her

obsession with messing with Elysia had landed Grace in this situation.

Grace looked up at Elysia and said, her voice steady, “Bianca toldto do it.”

“Bianca?” Zane’'s eyebrows shot up. He knew that nall too well. She was the one who'd spread those fake

rumors online last time, dragging Elysia’s nthrough the mud.

He couldn't believe she was still causing trouble. ‘Maybe | haven't given the Janssen family enough of a warning.

Well, Denzel, you've really raised a daughter,” he thought.

Elysia wasn’t surprised by the nat all. Even before Grace spoke, she’d already had a hunch.

She was certain someone as timid as Grace couldn't be the mastermind. Among the possibilities, Bianca made

the most sense. She had the smarts to be the ringleader, but Elysia couldn't understand why she'd choose

someone as clueless as Grace to do her dirty work.

Elysia squatted down, narrowing her eyes at Grace. With the Janssen family’s money troubles, it made sense:

Bianca couldn't afford a real hitman. She must have thought Grace was the best she could get.

“How much did she promise you?” Elysia asked, keeping her voice steady.

Grace stared back, stunned. ‘How did Elysia know about that?‘ she thought to herself.

Elysia raised an eyebrow. “Not gonna talk?” she pressed, her tone sharp.

Grace's eyes widened in fear, remembering Elysia’s threat to sew her lips shut. She blurted out, “One-fifty. She

promisedone-fifty thousand dollars once it was done.”

“Just one-fifty thousand? Wow, Bianca's really something. She thinks my life isn’t worth much, or if she just

doesn’t have more to offer?” Elysia said, shaking her head and looking back at Grace. “Did she even give you a

deposit?”

“N-no deposit,” Grace mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

“No deposit?” Elysia’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. She realized that Bianca had never planned to pay a cent.

Only someone as naive as Grace would fall for her tricks.

She shook her head again, a small smile playing on her lips. “You're seriously naive, working for her without any

guarantee. Aren't you afraid she'll just disappear without paying?”

Grace's head snapped up, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and confusion.

“She never planned to pay you at all,” Elysia went on. “You've been working your butt off, and you don’t even

realize you've been played.”

Grace's face turned red with anger, and he cut in sharply. “That's nonsense!”

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“Nonsense?” Elysia shook her head with a soft laugh. “If Bianca had the money, why wouldn't she just hire a

killer? Why settle for you?”

Grace stayed silent, her mind spinning. She didn’t know anything beyond what Bianca had told her-that if she

didn’t take the job, someone else would jump at the chance.

Elysia leaned in, her eyes squinting. “The Janssen family in Sivro? They're small potatoes, barely staying afloat.

They're tangled up in legal messes and can’t even handle their own problems. Where would they get the money

to pay you?

“Remember how Bianca lived at school? Nothing fancy. There’s no way she’s got 150 grand just sitting around.”

Elysia’s words made it crystal-clear. Grace finally understood why Bianca had been so vague about paying a

deposit. It was because she didn’t have the money.

Grace was broke. That's why Bianca's words had gotten to her, and she hadn't stopped to think. All she cared

about was the money. She clenched her fists, feeling betrayed. ‘How could Bianca playlike this?’

Elysia saw the regret on Grace's face and smiled faintly. She could tell Grace was feeling really messed up inside.

“What do you plan to do with me?” Grace asked.

Elysia leaned in, her voice low and daring. “What if | said I'm going to kill you?”

Grace's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to stay calm. “There are laws in Clusia. You can’t just kill

a,

“I can’t?” Elysia laughed softly. “Grace, what kind of joke are you making? You tried to kill me, so why can’t | do

the same? This place is deserted. | could get my revenge without anyone noticing.”

Grace's heart raced as she twisted and turned, trying to break free from the woman in black. But the harder she

struggled, the tighter the grip got.

Her eyes scanned the surroundings until they landed on a building nearby. She saw the words “Arcanum House”

and felt a flicker of hope.

Earlier, she'd been so focused on getting to Elysia that she hadn't paid attention to the sign above the door.

She'd thought it was her place, but it was actually Arcanum House.

Grace knew the Owner of Arcanum House was unpredictable and dangerous. If Elysia tried anything here, it

could backfire. Grace just needed to scream loudly enough to get the owner's attention and maybe they'd save

her.

Grace thought to herself, ‘Elysia is from the Evans family, so what? Everyone in Clusia knows Arcanum House is

a big deal, and even the Evans have to tread carefully.

‘If the owner steps in to spare my life, the Evans family won't dare make a fuss. Elysia won't risk her family’s

reputation by going too far. Wealthy families are too concerned with appearances to let things spiral out of

control

With that in mind, Grace took a deep breath and shouted, “Owner of Arcanum House, someone's about to stir up

trouble right here. Aren't you going to do something about it?”

Then, in a last-ditch effort, she added, “Owner of Arcanum House, please save my life. | will never forget your

kindness. If you ever need me, I'll do anything for you.”

Everyone was staring at her, eyes wide with disbelief. ‘Is she seriously begging for help from the person who

wants to kill her? Has she lost it?* they wondered.

Elysia shook her head, genuinely baffled. ‘She hasn't recognized who | am by now? She has to be even more

clueless than I thought, she signed inwardly.

“Elysia, did she get her head stuck in a door or something?” Alice asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

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“I don’t think so,” Elysia replied.

“Why?” Alice asked, confused.

“Or maybe her head's just full of water,” Elysia simply replied.

Alice gave a thoughtful nod, like she was considering a real possibility. “What a fool, she muttered.

“Hey!” a voice cut through the noise. “Stop shouting, will you? It's drivingcrazy!”

Grace, thinking her wailing was working, screamed even louder.

Elysia wiped her ear and looked over at the gate. “Are you guys just gonna hide out there all day?” she shouted.