Filed To Story: The Scarlet Vengeance: Justice of a Framed Beauty Novel (Grace & Jason)
He paused slightly when he saw her smile. ‘When did I start to enjoy seeing her smile more and more…’
After dinner, Brian went downstairs and drove off alone. A figure slowly emerged from a hidden corner when the car pulled out of the apartment compound.
It was a face 80 percent similar to Grace’s. Even her hair and dressing were similar to Grace’s.
If Brian were still around, he would be able to recall the woman’s name… Whitney Cooper.
However, Whitney Cooper’s beautiful face was twisted due to jealousy.
Brian had saved her from poverty and gave her hope when she was abroad.
He kept her around as his secretary but never let her get near him.
She later learned about Grace and knew that the woman was the person Brian loved. She also understood why Brian saved her.
Therefore, she tried hard to be more like Grace, even if she was just a substitute.
‘But why… Why does Brian have a girlfriend now, but that girlfriend isn’t me? The woman named Valda Theller is nothing like Grace!’
Remembering how Brian had told her to go to a company branch overseas and warned her not to overthink, Whitney Cooper’s heart churned.
It was all right if Brian did not love others for Grace.
However, she could not accept him falling in love with someone else!
If Brian wanted to fall in love with anyone, it should be her. She looked like Grace the most!
The next day, Whitney Cooper came to Valda Theller’s studio. After seeing Valda Theller, she said, “Do you have a minute? There’s something I wanted to talk to you about, Miss Theller.”
“You…” Valda Theller looked at her suspiciously. At first glance, she mistook her for Grace, but she could see their differences on closer inspection.
Grace was now pregnant and resting at home, but the woman in front of her was slim and had a flat belly.
“I’m Whitney Cooper, Brian’s secretary abroad. There’s something about Brian I wish to tell you. Don’t you want to find out?” said Whitney Cooper.
Valda Theller frowned. ‘She’s addressing Brian by his first name. Is she close to Brian?’
Jealousy spread in her heart as she thought of it.
“No thanks, I’ll ask Brian myself if there’s anything I want to know about him. I don’t need others to tell me. Miss Cooper, please leave if there’s nothing else,” said Valda Theller.
“So you’ve asked Brian about Grace yourself?” Whitney Cooper asked suddenly.
Valda Theller froze, and the expression on her face changed. What she knew about Grace and Brian was from online, other people, or her speculation. She had never asked him herself.
Grace was like a taboo topic between them. It was an elephant in the room, but she could never ask about it.
Whitney Cooper smiled at this. “It seems you’ve never asked about it. In that case, I can tell you some information. If you don’t want to go outside with me, I can say it here.”
Valda Theller frowned. “I said I’ll ask myself if I want to know.”
Whitney Cooper walked casually to the bookshelf nearby. She flipped through the comics on the bookshelf and said, “You must be smug these days. Brian spent 100 million dollars on your portrait. Do you think he loves you? How funny. Do you know how deep his feelings for Grace are?”
Valda Theller pressed her lips tightly. ‘Of course, I know. How can I not know?’
“Grace likes purple gowns, so he never lets the women around him wear purple gowns. The food he likes is also food that Grace likes. He has Grace’s photos on his phone, so no one is allowed to touch his phone. He’ll also remember everything Grace has said to him for the rest of his life.”
Whitney Cooper said and turned to look at Valda Theller. “I don’t think you’ve worn a purple gown in front of him before, nor have you looked through his phone.”
‘…” Valda Theller quivered subtly. “What are you trying to say? Are you trying to sow discord to ruin our relationship?”
Whitney Cooper said, “I just want you to recognize reality. Don’t you think I look like Grace? Because of my face, he didn’t hesitate to save me when I was in trouble and made me his private secretary.”
Whitney Cooper said with a smile on her lips as if she was recalling the good old days. “He used to fall into a trance when he looked at me. He would even… hug me and tell me about his past and obsession with Grace, which he probably never told you about!”
Whitney Cooper seemed to be provoking her with every word she said. Valda Theller only felt her chest being stuffy.
“So? What are you trying to say?” Valda Theller took a deep breath and said, not wanting to show weakness in front of this woman. “If you think you’ll cause any conflict between Brian and me and affect our relationship by saying this, it’s just wishful thinking.”
“I want to clarify that you don’t look like Grace! He won’t love you at all! I don’t know why Brian wants people to think you’re his girlfriend, but I think there must be a reason for this. Don’t you want to know?” Whitney Cooper said. All she had to do today was plant a seed of doubt.
Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict!
Valda Theller asked rhetorically, “So, are you smug because you look similar to Grace? It’s not surprising that two people look similar, but you’re even trying to copy her hairstyle and fashion sense.
Are you trying to imitate her and become her substitute? Do you think Brian would love a substitute?”
“So what if I’m a substitute? I love Brian, and I don’t mind being a substitute for him!” Whitney Cooper said.
“I’ll never want to be a substitute when I love someone. If you’re a substitute, what’s so great about getting temporary affection? You’re only taking advantage! You’re nothing when the real deal appears,”
Valda Theller said bluntly.
Whitney Cooper’s expression became ghastly. She had wanted to embarrass Valda Theller, but now it seemed like she was the embarrassed one.
“What do you know? Brian loves Grace so much that he’ll never fall in love with anyone else! Do you know how hard Brian cried and hugged me when he woke up in the middle of the night when we were abroad? Do you know how he begged me not to leave him-”
“That’s enough! Whitney Cooper, since when did you have the right to meddle in my affairs?” A shout interrupted Whitney Cooper.
Whitney Cooper and Valda Theller turned around to see Brian standing at the studio’s entrance. Whitney Cooper froze. “Brian, what are you doing here?” Today was a work day. She came here early to avoid him and meet Valda Theller alone.
Brian said coldly, “Why wouldn’t I be here? And what are you doing here?”
“… I just… learned online that Miss Theller is your girlfriend. I came here to have a look because I was curious.” Whitney Cooper tried hard to make her expression look more like Grace’s. “Brian, you won’t blame me, will you?”
“Why wouldn’t I blame you? What nonsense did you tell her?” His dark phoenix eyes were cold.
Whitney Cooper bit her lip, looking pitiful. “Brian, I… I just told Miss Theller that I like you very much.
I’m willing to do anything as long as I can stay with you!”
She said as she timidly went over to pull the hem of Brian’s shirt.
“Brian, I missed you so much when I was abroad. That’s why I came here to look for you. I want to stay by your side as your secretary, can I?”
Brian’s eyes flickered with confusion. Whitney Cooper already looked similar to Grace to begin with, and she looked even more like Grace with her hair, outfit, and makeup.
It was as if Grace was saying these words in front of him. ‘Grace…’
The thought of the woman he loved made his heart ache again. If only Grace wanted to stay by his side.
“Brian…” Whitney Cooper called out softly.
The confusion in Brian’s eyes thickened.
Just then, a pair of arms grabbed his arm.
Valda Theller said, “Brian is my boyfriend! If you’re only Brian’s secretary, Miss Cooper, I hope you’ll keep your distance. Even if you like him, you should know he has a girlfriend now.”
Her voice woke him up. He looked blankly at Valda Theller standing next to him with half of her body almost attached to his arm.
vict Whitney Cooper clenched her teeth in hatred. She could have fooled Brian if it were not for Valda Theller.
“I’m free to like Brian, Miss Theller. You have no right to interfere,” said Whitney Cooper.
“It’s your freedom to like someone. But there’ll be a problem with your integrity if you destroy people’s relationships! Miss Cooper, if you’re here to steal my boyfriend, I have to say that I don’t welcome you here. Please leave!” Valda Theller said unceremoniously. Whitney Cooper choked. Her face with delicate makeup was almost distorted.
“Didn’t you hear her?” Brian turned to look at Whitney Cooper. “You’re not welcome here. Besides, I already told you it’s never going to happen between us! If you don’t want to work abroad, you can resign. Hart Group doesn’t support idle people!”
Whitney Cooper pressed her red lips tightly. She could tell Brian was angry. “I… I’ll leave. Brian, don’t be mad at me. I know it’s my fault. I’m sorry I upset Miss Theller.”
She solemnly said to Valda Theller, “Miss Theller, I’m so sorry.”