The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming

Chapter 212 Inherited Grace's Ways Grace sobbed uncontrollably, her voice hoarse and desperate. "I know you've misunderstood me. I know you're angry at me. Blme if you want-just me- but don't drag the Langley family into this, okay?" "Please, Nattie," she continued with a pleading tone. "I'm begging you. Remember all the times I saved your life, how I took care of you when you were sick. Please don't take revenge on the Langley family.

"I'm old now. I've lived well these past years thanks to you, and honestly, I wouldn't have any regrets even if I died today," Grace said, her voice trembling. Her tears blurred her vision as she occasionally clutched at her chest.

Natalie said nothing, staring at Grace in silence. The tension in the room grew heavy and oppressive, making Grace increasingly anxious.

Earlier that day, Kevin and a few other shareholders had visited Grace. They had politely mentioned their plans to sell their shares in Langley Group, saying they wanted to retire and spend their remaining years with their children.

Grace understood what they meant. In the past, she had Natalie secretly handle Langley Group's affairs, ensuring the reports always looked impressive. Even during crises, Natalie had managed to keep everything under control.

But now, Natalie was determined to leave the company, and Walter had decided to leave with her. The Langley Group's future looked bleak.

Grace knew she was too old to raise another Natalie. She had always believed she could manipulate her-using her kindness and soft heart to tie her to the Langley family forever.

After all, Natalie had grown up under her care. She had never expected that Natalie would change, turning colder, more ruthless, and unyielding.

Grace was getting older, and she knew that once she passed away, Victor would be powerless to hold Langley Group together. Even so, Natalie was not their own blood.

Whenever Grace was in a bad mood, she would let Victor and Diana treat Natalie like their punching bag. It was a pattern-Victor and Diana would hit her with harsh words or worse, and Grace would offer her ssweetness afterward.

It had worked for years, with no real issues. But everything began falling apart after Natalie found her biological parents.

Grace felt a chill deep in her bones as Natalie's piercing gaze bore into her. Their relationship, built over so many years, suddenly felt like a cruel joke.

Natalie's sacrifices seemed just as laughable. However, she was not going to let it continue.

After a long silence, Natalie finally stepped forward and gently pulled the blanket up over Grace. Her voice was calm and emotionless as she whispered, "Take care of yourself, Grandma. I'm the person you raised. You should know that deep down, I inherited sof your ways," she added calmly.

Grace froze, her mind racing. She had taught Natalie so many things over the years that she could not recall which ways she was referring to.

Without another word, Natalie turned and walked out of the hospital room. As soon as she stepped out, her phone buzzed with a new message. She opened it and saw a video from an anonymous number, with all zeros.

The video showed footage from the day she had gone to the mountains to paint and gotten trapped in a landslide. Natalie's eyes widened as the scene unfolded.

In the video, she was stranded on the mountain. Meanwhile, a man wearing a hat and mask stood behind Grace at the base.

The man spoke respectfully to Grace and reported, "Mrs. Langley Senior, Ms. Langley is stranded alone on the mountain. As per your instructions, the surrounding scene has been set up." "When you head up there, all you need to do is put on a show of risking your life to save her." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Everything is ready. Ms. Langley won't suspect a thing." Grace nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, that's exactly what I want-Natalie to feel eternally indebted to me, to think she owesfor life." The video ended abruptly. Natalie stared at the mysterious number made up entirely of zeros. It was the snumber that had sent her the footage of Grace and Victor arguing in the hospital about the forced blood draws.

She had tried tracing the sender before, but whoever it was had hidden their tracks well. This person seemed to be slowly exposing Grace's true colors. Every tGrace used emotional manipulation against her, the mystery sender would counter with undeniable evidence.

Natalie wondered who they were. Were they a friend or an enemy? "Natalie." Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

Diana stood nearby, her expression more complex than before. The intense hatred that usually filled her eyes was gone, replaced by something softer and more conflicted. She asked, "Do you have a moment to talk?" Ten minutes later, the two of them sat in a café across the hospital. Diana ordered an iced espresso and got Natalie a cappuccino.

As they waited for the drinks, Diana broke the silence. "I've known you weren't my biological daughter since you were very young." "I talked to Victor about it, and we secretly did a DNA test to confirm it," Diana continued, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "We were right-you're not related to us. Blood relatives can't donate blood directly to one another, after all."

"Victor knew. Mom definitely knew too," Diana added, her voice hardening slightly. "Mom always opposedtaking blood from you. But I was filled with resentment. Why should my real daughter be missing while you lived a life of luxury in the Langley family?" "Mom constantly scolded us for how we treated you. Nothing was ever good enough for her when it cto you," Diana said with a sarcastic chuckle. "You weren't the only one being lied to all these years, Natalie. I was too." Her tone grew sharper. "Victor and I have been married for years, and he's always known exactly what kind of woman his mother is. But he kept it hidden from me." "I was such a fool to think Victor and I were on the sside. Who would've thought the Mrs. Langley Senior, who pretended to dote on you, was really a two-faced snake?" Diana laughed bitterly. "Honestly, she's worse than I am."

Natalie sat quietly, listening without expression. Diana had always worn her cruelty on her sleeve, making it easier to guard against her. On the other hand, Grace had deceived Natalie for years under the guise of love and care. That betrayal cut deeper than anything Diana had done. "Natalie, I know you hate me. I accept that," Diana said, her gaze softening slightly.

"But Selena is innocent. She's suffered so much all these years. She didn't have a proper education or anyone to guide her. No one taught her basic decency, and it shows." "She's crude, unstable, even vicious. But as her mother, I can't blher for any of that," Diana remarked with a sigh. "The fact that she survived out there and made it back tosafely is more than I could've hoped for." "From now on, I just want to make up for all the love and support Selena was deprived of," Diana continued, her voice heavy with emotion.

"I know Selena has targeted you-slandered and plotted against you and I was the one one who allowed and encouraged it. You found your biological family, and I didn't feel happy for you. I only thought you deserved to suffer the way Selena had." mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1