3. Evil plans lurking.

"Wait a minute!"

Belle immediately turned her head as she removed her hand from the chokehold of someone behind the woman. She froze as she came face to face with the figure of Lionel, who was already in this house.

Belle had heard that Grandfather William's grandson had returned to Russia last night. She knew it from some of the servants who were talking about the man, praising his good looks while discussing the many benefits of attracting the attention of a Lionel Traitor Dawn.

"You're my grandfather's nanny, aren't you?" He looked Belle over from head to toe as if examining her, but there was nothing unusual about the young woman's physique.

"Yes. How can I help you, sir?" Although this was the first time they had crossed paths, Belle tried to be casual or hide her nervousness as much as possible.

Lionel had time to pay attention to the surrounding situation, and he hoped that no servant or anyone else would see him. After that, Lionel again touched Belle's hand before pulling her to another place.

"Come with me for a moment. And I want to discuss something with you."

Belle did not respond but still followed Lionel's wishes. They ended up in a corridor on the side of the backyard that rarely showed human activity.

"You must have heard the request from my grandfather, right?"

Belle nodded. "Yes."

"Grandpa also told me that you had rejected it, so can you make more of an effort to continue rejecting it using your best excuse so that he can release you from that ridiculous request?"

"I already—"

"You'll be in big trouble if you accept Grandpa's wishes, one of which is Uncle Tomy's refusal. If you refuse your grandfather's request, you can leave this house and live peacefully. Don't get yourself buried in a sea of trouble."

"Is it that terrible?"

"Yes. I don't want to go into details but believe me, my uncle and aunt won't be happy to hear something like this. Did grandfather tell you about dinner?"

Belle shook her head.

"He'll tell you right away, at that moment, explaining his refusal and the best reasons in front of everyone. My uncle and aunt will also be there. Do you understand, Belle?"

"Yes, I think."

"Good. I'm counting on you for a normal life." Lionel hurried away while Belle narrowed her eyelids when she noticed the back of the young man in his early thirties shrinking due to visibility.

Belle exhaled a rough breath. "I knew this would happen, so being calm when facing him was the best response. I thought he would yell or be rude to me like the rejects I saw in movies, but Grandpa William's grandson is quite gentle."

***

An hour before the dinner, Tomy Dawn and his wife had appeared in this mansion, but their two sons did not come. Belle had met them, and they were younger than Lionel, maybe Belle's age.

The servants did not know that the big dinner would be the crucial moment when William announced to his youngest son that he intended to match Lionel with Belle.

The woman with long brown and wavy hair had already gotten the information from William's lips. Although Belle tries to prevent it, she does not influence to thwart tonight's agenda.

"Why would Lionel go home? Hasn't he lived comfortably for years in America? Do you know the reason, dear?" Maria and Tomy were in a room, but they had forgotten that the door was not closed tightly so that anyone passing through the room could hear their voices from outside.

"I don't know, Maria. Father didn't explain when he called yesterday, and he just asked us to attend the banquet here."

"I'm starting to get suspicious."

"Suspicious about what, Maria?"

"What if your father has prepared something big for Lionel without our knowledge? The older man has written a will and intends to give the lion's share to a useless boy like Lionel. I want to get rid of him, and he's become the biggest obstacle in our lives."

After hearing such a hateful voice, Belle's steps stopped by the door. She gulped, realizing that Lionel's uncle and aunt had evil intentions.

"What? I don't think so, and Lawyer Tedd hasn't said anything to me yet. If father had indeed made a will, surely Lawyer Tedd would have told me immediately."

"Are you sure? It could be that the lawyer is deliberately keeping it from you. After all, he's not on our side. I'm terrified that if Lionel replaces the CEO seat you temporarily occupy, I don't want you to lose such a big position, darling."

"No." Tomy shook his head, and he sat back on the sofa as he put his feet up on the surface of the table while Maria stood in front of her husband, her arms crossed over her chest with a worried look on her face.

"Why not?"

"It would be funny if Lionel took my place, even though it's temporary because father can't directly manage the company, but what can a boy like Lionel do, huh? He's only busy with girls, and he doesn't care about his grandfather or how he should take care of the company. Besides, when it comes to wills, aren't they all easy to forge?" Tomy laughed softly, feeling that he had encountered no significant difficulties.

"Don't relax too much, Tomy. Anything can happen while your father and Lionel are still around. If your father had died on the spot back then, our lives would have been very peaceful because we had everything, and Lionel would be living as a bum out there. He was just a useless orphan boy, and he should have died too."

Belle was even more shocked by the horrible confession, and she had to close her lips to keep from making a sound. Belle's eyes glared.

She expected her hearing to be problematic, but the voices in the room were too explicit.

"Honey, did you forget to close the door?"

Belle panicked. She quickly took off her shoes before walking backward and disappearing like the wind at the end of the room. Maria checked outside to ensure no one had heard the conversation, then closed the door.

Belle's heart racing, she tried to calm her nerves as she stood in front of the bathroom sink. She washed her face with cold water in a small attempt to calm the commotion in her head.

"What is this, Belle? Why would anyone have such an evil mind, huh? Why did I only find out tonight?" He spoke in front of the mirror, his expression full of anxiety.

Belle chuckled. She looked down as she rested a pair of palms on the side of the sink. She was annoyed with herself and the hostile situation.

Belle had thought of the best reason to refuse William's request. She was going to say it in front of everyone, but knowing that many bad things were lurking in William and Lionel—made Belle's confidence.

The woman began to doubt and wonder what she should do next. She needed the best guidance.

"Should I say something of this magnitude to Grandfather William? Will he believe my words?" She felt frustrated. "But, isn't it unreasonable of me to interfere in this family affair? People will hate me and see me as a disrespectful human being, but Grandpa William... argh!"

Belle was very anxious and in a dilemma at the same time; she was also afraid that something terrible would happen to William.

"Grandpa William has never been far from my reach. Please think of the best decision in your head, Belle. This moment is so urgent, I want to explode!"

***