Chapter 90

Grace's genes were anything but ordinary-a handpicked blend of the brightest and strongest the elite world had to offer.

From her earliest days, she outpaced other children by leaps and bounds, mastering skills before most could even talk.

Still, all those years working in the shadows for her country had turned her into more of a tool than a person, moving through life without a hint of emotion.

Joining the Holden family marked a turning point-now, she was wrapped in genuine affection. She became personal and human.

Beatrice's voice trembled as she stammered, "I...I haven't done anything! Quit making up stories! If you've got something on me, then prove it!"

But the more she turned it over in her mind,the more she convinced herself-Grace must be bluffing. If there were real evidence, Grace wouldn't waste time with threats. She'd have already exposed her to Johnny. Clearly, this was just a psychological play-a classic move to spook her into making a mistake.She'd never let herself be caught that easily.

"Fine then, bring out your evidence. I doubt it would matter-Johnny would take my word over yours any day," Beatrice retorted, her earlier nerves fading,arrogance taking root again.

Watching Grace keep her composure only fueled Beatrice's sense of triumph. Her smirk grew wider,convinced she'd seen right through the game.

With her usual hawk-likeattention, Grace noticed Johnny striding across the lawn, heading straight for them.

Talk about timing-he couldn't have shown up at a better moment. Beatrice had been itching for an excuse to put Grace in her place for ages.

"If you'd just stayed out of things, Grace, I wouldn't have wasted a second on a nobody like you. You're just a stray with no real family. Honestly, you don't even belong in my world! But since you decided to poke the bear... well, whatever happens next is on you."

In a flash, she lifted her hands and delivered two dramatic, echoing slaps to her own cheeks.

Grace stared, taken aback.

Was this the latest twist-threats giving way to a solo slap show?

A voice cut through her thoughts, and everything clicked into place.

"Beatrice? What are you doing out here?" Johnny's voice rang out, worry laced through every syllable.

The moment he'd heard Beatrice wasn't feeling well,he'd made a beeline for the infirmary, only to spot her here by a bench and come rushing over.

But as he drew closer and caught sight of her reddened cheeks, he stopped in his tracks."Beatrice...what happened to your face?"

Instantly, Beatrice's eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling with expertly practiced distress. "Johnny...thank goodness you're here. I don't know what I did wrong-your sister just attacked me for no reason...I only wanted to talk, that's all."

"Grace did this to you?!" Disbelief clouded Johnny's face, his features hardening as he tried to process the accusation.

With a trembling voice, Beatrice continued, "| just thought... since she's your family, I should try to make peace. But she... she wouldn't even let me finish a sentence-"

Her words faded away, but the insinuation lingered heavily in the air.

"Grace, have you completely lost it? Who hits someone out of nowhere like that?" Johnny's voice rang out in sharp accusation.

A sliver of doubt gnawed at the back of his mind-random violence didn't sound like Grace at all.

But loyalty had a funny way of clouding judgment,and with Beatrice looking so pitiful, heknew which side he'd take.

Before Grace could get a word in, she calmly lifted her arm and, with practiced ease, landed two stinging slaps right across Beatrice's cheeks.

The faint marks from earlier instantly flared into angry red welts, hot and throbbing.

Shocked into stillness, Beatrice could do nothing but gape, her face burning and swelling beneath the sudden blows.

Grace wasn't built like the average girl. Even holding back, her strikes left a memory Beatrice would feel for days.

"I didn't lay a finger on her before. But since she's so determined to pin the blame on me-and I can't prove otherwise-l figure I might as well live up to her story." A casual shrug accompanied Grace's words.She'd never tolerated being falsely accused. Rather than waste breath arguing, she'd rather make the accusation a fact and end the farce right then and there.

Beatrice pressed a trembling hand to her cheek,staring in disbelief. "Did you really just hit me?I can't believe you actually went through with it!"

Grace tilted her head, her voice dripping with mock cheer. "Weren't you just claiming I struck you for no reason? Now I'm only doing what I'm told. You ought to be grateful, honestly."

Usually, Grace kept to herself, but in that moment,she wielded her words like a blade, tearing into Beatrice without hesitation.

Johnny could only gape, frozen on the spot. Several seconds ticked by before Beatrice let out a pitiful whimper, tears beginning to spill, which finally snapped him out of his daze. He stepped forward, outrage coloring his tone."Grace, have you lost your mind? Why would you go after her like that? What did she ever do to deserve this?"

Grace offered a dismissive shrug. "I've already explained it. She hit herself, then tried to pin it on me.I just figured I might as well play along and give her something real to cry about."

Locking eyes with him, she watched his reaction.Her gaze held steady, cold and unblinking, as though daring him to challenge her version of the story.

He had been preparing a tirade, but when faced with that unflinching stare, the words dried up before they could leave his mouth.

A heavy silence lingered. He could do nothing but stare.

Grace's voice turned airy, almost indifferent."Whether you believe me or not, that's your call."With that, she spun on her heel and strode off,unaffected. The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and now a small crowd of students drifted past, pausing to watch the spectacle with wide-eyed curiosity.