Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
“That’s right! We were all tricked! Betsey was the one who led us here!” the children echoed.
Betsey? That name rang a bell for some folks in the crowd. Wasn’t she the one who’d gained notoriety for fraudulently obtaining sponsorships? So, these kids had been lured here by her?
Pury ignited in the hearts of everyone present. “Unbelievable! How could someone be so utterly shameless? She lost her spot because of her own rotten character, and then she tricked the villagers into extorting money? How can anyone be so heartless?”
“Using Isabella’s generosity and then throwing her under the bus? Damn, people like that deserve to be locked up!”
Jada felt completely crushed, her meticulously crafted scheme unraveling before her very eyes.
A police officer said coldly, “Don’t worry, Betsey Grimes will be arrested too!”
The children wailed as they were led away. The onlookers couldn’t help but sympathize with Isabella. “Miss Patton, you’re far too kind! We nearly fell for their tricks!”
“Absolutely, Miss Patton! Too much kindness can easily make you a target!”
Isabella let a faint smile slip onto her lips as she turned her gaze toward Jada. “Jada, did you hear that? Being overly kind can really put a target on your back!”
All eyes quickly shifted to Jada, who had dashed in to assist the individuals without grasping the full story, inadvertently leading them to misjudge Isabella. A flicker of disdain crept into their expressions.
Jada felt the heat rise to her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Isabella. I had no idea they were scheming to extort money together. I truly didn’t mean to get it all mixed up.”
“It’s all right. Just learn from your mistakes. Next time, don’t aid and abet the wrongdoers,” Isabella’s warm smile earned her approval from everyone around.
“No wonder Isabella is hailed the Charity Angel. Her kindness shines through, and she won’t let the mistakes of others ruffle her feathers.”
“Absolutely, she’s simply marvelous.”
Jada clutched her clothes tightly in frustration. This had always been her go-to trick, yet here she was, on the receiving end of the very scheme she’d mastered? A deep sense of injustice washed over her, and Betsey was in no better shape.
Betsey was lounging in Jada’s office, relaxed with her iPad in hand, savoring the quiet moment. Out of nowhere, the door flew open, and a group of police officers stormed in, jolting her up from her seat. “Are you Betsey Grimes? You’re under arrest for leading a group involved in extortion. Come with us!” one of the officers said, snapping handcuffs onto her wrists before she could even process what was happening.
A chill ran down Betsey’s spine. “You’ve got the wrong person! I didn’t do anything like that!” she protested, her voice shaking.
But her words did nothing. The police didn’t stop, and she was taken away, helpless.
The evidence against her was strong, and soon after, she was found guilty. Her name quickly hit the news, spreading online like wildfire.
At the hospital, Jada and Isabella were walking out together. Jada glanced at Isabella, unsure if she knew the truth—that she’d been part of the plot against her.
“Isabella, I’m so sorry! I never thought they would be so vicious. I was just trying to help you out,” Jada said, her frustration showing. “But these people, they’ve gone too far. They’ll get what’s coming to them.”
Isabella gave a small smile. “Yes,” she said softly. “Bad people always get what they deserve.”
Jada’s heart skipped a beat as guilt tugged at her. She glanced into Isabella’s bright eyes, feeling uneasy. Desperate to shift the mood, she forced a smile. “By the way, I noticed you seem interested in racing. Want me to teach you a few tricks?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
“No, thank you,” Isabella declined.
“Don’t hesitate to ask for my help. I started racing when I was twelve. Not many people can keep up with me now. I’m also the top female racer in our club. I could definitely help you get good!” Jada added with a hint of pride.
“And hey, girls who can race? They’re special. Andrew would totally see you differently,” she nudged Isabella.
Isabella shook her head again, her voice steady. “I don’t race,” she said simply.
Jada shrugged, not entirely convinced. She thought Isabella probably just felt embarrassed to ask for help. “Alright then,” Jada said, backing off. “The national racing competition’s coming up soon. If you’re interested, come watch me race.”
“Sure,” Isabella replied, her tone flat but polite.
They each drove off in their cars. Isabella headed straight for the racetrack, where Waylon had been practicing for days. She knew she had to get some laps in as well.
The rest of the team wasn’t sure about Isabella joining them. Waylon, buzzing with excitement, got her approval and eagerly told everyone, “You have to trust me, guys! My friend is incredible! Every trick I pulled in the last race was thanks to her tips!” But the team still looked doubtful.
Finally, the captain let out a sigh. “Let’s see what she’s got.” He handed Isabella the keys. “This car belongs to the injured racer. Take it for a spin.”
Isabella gave a nod and climbed into the driver’s seat.
The team stood around, watching without much enthusiasm. One of them muttered, “Never thought we would fall on such hard times. The HB Club is definitely going to laugh at us.” He was just about to say that the HB Club would laugh at them, but before the words left his mouth, the car shot forward like a rocket. Their best lap time was 5.8 seconds, but in what felt like an instant, the car had already flown around the track and crossed the finish line.
The captain’s hands shook as he clicked the stopwatch: 3.1 seconds! The guy who had spoken stood frozen, mouth wide open. “The HB Club is going to freak out! She’s a total genius!”
As soon as Isabella stepped out of the car, the team erupted. They lifted her off the ground, tossing her into the air, cheering like kids.
“We’re gonna win this thing!” someone shouted. “You’re unbelievable! If you weren’t this young, I’d think you were Rosemarie!”
Isabella felt her stomach turn as they kept tossing her. When they finally set her down, people crowded around, firing questions left and right. Noticing her discomfort, Waylon quickly jumped in, pushing them back. “Alright, alright! Give her some space! I told you she was awesome, but none of you believed me!” he said, standing tall with a grin.
He had also just realized how incredible his sister was. With her joining in the competition, they had a real chance at taking first place!
The captain immediately made a decision. “We’re putting her in the lead. The rest will back her up to make sure we take first!” Originally, the plan was for Waylon to lead the team.
Isabella agreed but added, “On one condition.”
“Anything! Just say the word, and we’ll agree!”
“I need to keep my identity a secret.”
They practiced well into the night, the sounds of revving engines and screeching tires still buzzing in their ears as Isabella and Waylon finally made their way home. On the way, Isabella’s phone lit up with a call from Andrew.
“Hey, sweetheart, are you still working late?” he asked, his voice warm and familiar.
“Yeah, just trying to finish up. You should go home and get some rest,” Isabella replied, a pang of guilt tightening in her chest.
“Do you want me to come pick you up?” he offered, concern evident in his tone.
“No!” she said, her response a little too quick.
Realizing she sounded defensive, she quickly added, “I might end up crashing at the office. Don’t worry about me. Just get some sleep.”
“Okay, but don’t overwork yourself, alright?” he urged.
“I won’t, I promise. I’ll rest once I’m done,” she said reassuringly.
After convincing Andrew to hang up, Isabella released a deep sigh, the tension ebbing away. Waylon couldn’t help but laugh. “Who was that? You looked so nervous and even lied.”
“It was Andrew,” she said, shooting him an annoyed glance.
Waylon’s expression changed to one of understanding. “You can’t let him find out.”
“Why not?” she asked, genuinely confused.
Waylon sighed and leaned back in his seat, recalling the past. “Andrew, Zahir, and I have known each other for years. We used to race together and did quite well. But then one day, Zahir had a terrible accident. Andrew has blamed himself ever since and hasn’t raced again.”
“Why does Andrew believe that was his fault?” Isabella asked. They had switched cars that day, and Zahir was protecting Andrew back then. Waylon’s voice became somber as he recalled the past. “But I feel I have to win the championship for him.”
Isabella fell silent, her eyes focused on the dark night outside the window. When they reached their destination, they went back to different villas. Isabella noticed the lights were still on in Andrew’s villa. Was he still awake? She briefly considered knocking on his door but opted to head back to her room to rest instead.
In his villa, Andrew stood quietly by the window on the second floor, his eyes on the roadside. The night seemed to engulf the entire city until the villa too was swallowed by darkness.
Over the next couple of days, Isabella was tied up with work and practice since the national racing competition was fast approaching. Eventually, she found a bit of free time and realized it had been days since she’d shared a meal with Andrew. She decided to invite him to dinner.
As she arrived at the restaurant entrance, she spotted Andrew standing beside a familiar face.
“Isabella, please help me! I have nothing to do with Betsey!” Jada’s voice was thick with sobs as she hurried over and clutched Isabella’s hand.
Isabella frowned. “What’s happening?”
“You don’t know?” Jada asked, surprised.
“No, I don’t,” Isabella shook her head.