There was solely place I felt protected, and this time I used to be sporting higher sneakers. Harmful or not, I used to be heading again to Pinnacle Level to consider this weird flip. Shoving my mane of curls behind my ears, I took off.

It took me longer than I anticipated to succeed in the cleft within the rock that delineated the key path. I’d seen Ian’s tall, lean type within the distance, so I knew he wouldn’t disturb me, and I believed I acknowledged the majority of the person who’d been watching me, far sufficient away that he’d be no hazard to me. There was completely nobody to disturb me as I adopted the winding path via the scattered stones to succeed in the clearing on the high. Nobody to ask me pointed questions. I used to be protected…

“What took you so rattling lengthy?” a strident voice demanded after I reached the highest of the outcropping. “I’ve been ready right here perpetually.”

Bella.

Chapter Eighteen

I froze in disbelief. She seemed magnificent, after all. White silk pants and jacket, a superb flash of colour for a high. There was a smudge of dust alongside her arm, and a disgruntled expression on her stunning face, however I nonetheless couldn’t think about how I’d managed to idiot anybody into considering I used to be this dazzling creature.

“What are you doing right here?” I demanded.

She ignored the query. “Inform me in regards to the will—I do know they have been studying it this morning. How did I make out?”

I didn’t hassle to ask how she knew. “Penniless,” I mentioned briefly.

She stared at me in shock, and she or he not seemed so gorgeous. “Don’t be ridiculous—Granda adored me. He by no means would have lower me out of his will!”

“He lower everybody out. He left Mariposa and every thing else to Katherine Whitehead.”

I’d seen Bella look sunny and charming, I’d seen her annoyed and offended, however I by no means as soon as suspected that I’d see her trying murderous. “You bitch!” she spat.

The change in her was unnerving, and I shook myself. “I had nothing to do with it. He thought I used to be you. Consider it or not, I’ve managed to idiot everybody.” After which I all of the sudden realized what her reappearance meant. “What are you going to inform everybody?”

She was nonetheless me with hatred in her eyes. “I’m not going to inform anybody something. Do you suppose I can simply waltz again in after you’ve been passing your self off as me? The resemblance is floor—facet by facet, anybody would know the distinction. And it seems like I’ve no motive to come back again, now does it? You’re engaged to my boyfriend, you’ve taken all the cash…”

“I’m not engaged to anybody!” I shot again. “I agreed to a faux engagement to make Granda comfortable, that’s all. And so far as Granda knew, he was leaving his cash to somebody he hadn’t seen in over twelve years.”

“I’d prefer to consider you, Podge, however I’m not as gullible as everybody else.” She ran her eyes up and down my rumpled look. “I don’t know that you simply fooled anybody. You don’t actually look that very similar to me.”

Dealing with her, I needed to agree. Even in certainly one of her rages, she seemed angelic, and she or he was proper, I used to be simply poor outdated Podge, slightly thinner, slightly older, however all the time a pale copy.

“What I need to know,” she mentioned in a biting tone, “is what you propose to do about this debacle. You’ll refuse the cash, after all.”

“In fact.” There had by no means been any query of it. I wasn’t going to take Mariposa from Ian, and I actually wasn’t going to take a fortune based mostly on a lie. I’d way back given up the concept that Granda was going to depart me something—I wouldn’t be any worse off than I had been after I’d began this mess.

“And simply how are you going to try this?” Bella’s tone was icy.

I checked out her, at stunning, charming Bella who was eying me like a skunk, and one thing lastly snapped. “I’ll handle,” I mentioned in an equally chilly voice. “Within the meantime, you’d higher make up your thoughts. Somebody’s going to see you and then you definitely’ll don’t have any selection however to clarify your self. You’re proper—facet by facet we’re not that a lot alike. However nobody’s going to consider I got here up with such a ridiculous concept within the first place.”

“I don’t suppose you’d need me coming clear, Podge. In spite of everything, that might out you because the heiress, after which nobody would have your again. I consider you if you say you didn’t manipulate Granda, however the others may not be so type.”

“Then go away,” I mentioned wearily. “I’ll determine a method to get us out of this mess.” This mess she had instigated, however I wasn’t going to disclaim my accountability. I’d been idiot sufficient to say sure.

It was odd how such excellent options may look nearly ugly. Her eyes have been narrowed, her full mouth twisted in mistrust. “It is best to return residence.”

“I’ve been making an attempt to, ever since I’ve arrived!”

“Strive tougher,” she mentioned coldly.

I’d by no means been the item of Bella’s rage and scorn earlier than, and it was deeply unnerving. I’d been an excellent larger fool than I’d realized, letting myself be manipulated by her sugary sweetness. The sense of betrayal overruled every thing, and I wished to scream at her. As an alternative, I bit my lip.

“Granda left a letter for you,” I mentioned, abruptly remembering. “You’re the one one he did.” I dug in my pocket and handed it to her, and she or he snatched it, ripping it open.

It was lengthy, two pages value in Granda’s spidery script, and she or he glanced via it earlier than folding it again up and pushing it into the white Hermès purse she’d introduced along with her. For some motive, the sight of that priceless accent was the ultimate straw, the final veil falling from my eyes as I checked out my egocentric, venal cousin.

“What did he say?” I requested, figuring out full properly she wasn’t going to inform me.

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