Cecilia Gu’s words instantly stripped away all of Helen Jiang’s pretenses.
A look of fear and unease immediately appeared on Helen Jiang’s face.
No one knew about Helen Jiang’s secret crush on Eric Jiang—except herself!
How did Cecilia Gu figure it out?
Looks like I was right! Cecilia Gu sighed. "Now I get why you’re so obsessed. Actually, it doesn’t matter who I resemble. As long as Eric Jiang has paid attention to a woman, you’ll see her as your enemy, won’t you?"
"I..." Helen Jiang was instantly thrown into confusion.
"Put the knife down first, let’s talk." Cecilia Gu gently soothed Helen Jiang. "We’re in your room, no one will come in or notice. I’m pregnant, I’m not your match. Why don’t we have a proper conversation?"
Helen Jiang’s grip on the fruit knife shifted slightly, then she became wary. "What tricks are you trying to pull now?"
Cecilia Gu let out a bitter laugh. "I just want to explain things clearly. There’s no need for us to be so hostile. I swear, there’s absolutely nothing between me and Eric Jiang!"
Seeing Helen Jiang still unconvinced, Cecilia Gu pressed on: "I don’t like Eric Jiang, and he would never fall for his own sister-in-law! So, I’ll keep your feelings for Eric Jiang a secret. There’s no conflict between us, right?"
Helen Jiang, still unsure, moved the fruit knife aside. "Are you serious?"
"Of course I’m serious!" Cecilia Gu tried to look as earnest as possible, slowly gaining Helen Jiang’s trust. "The man you like isn’t the same man I do, so why would we have any conflict? Think about it—isn’t that true?"
The anger in Helen Jiang’s eyes slowly faded.
What Cecilia Gu said actually made some sense.
"Then why did my brother suddenly take you to the Grant Flower Pavilion today? Why did he give you flowers? Don’t you know, no one else has ever been allowed in there?" Helen Jiang’s hostility returned as she thought about the flower pavilion. "You’re lying to me!"
Cecilia Gu’s relief was short-lived; her heart suddenly raced again.
"Of course not!" Cecilia Gu silently cursed Eric Jiang—if she’d known the Grant Flower Pavilion would cause trouble, she would never have gone!
Seeing Helen Jiang about to lose control again, Cecilia Gu quickly tried to calm her. "Really, there’s nothing! I didn’t know no one had ever entered that pavilion before. If you’re upset, I won’t keep the flowers—I’ll give them all to you, okay? I truly know nothing about this. Besides, Charles loves me so much, if I want flowers, he’d get me anything. Why would I need to take them from here?"
Seeing Cecilia Gu desperately distancing herself from Eric Jiang, Helen Jiang’s expression finally softened.
Cecilia Gu leaned back against the wall, just able to take in the view outside.
And now, no one had come—just her luck!
Wendy had been gone so long—why hadn’t she come back yet?
Cecilia Gu could only stall for time, making sure this madwoman didn’t hurt her child.
Just when Cecilia Gu thought she’d convinced Helen Jiang and was temporarily safe, Helen suddenly received a message.
Helen Jiang glanced at her phone, and her expression instantly changed!
The fruit knife was pressed against Cecilia Gu’s face again, Helen’s features twisting with rage. "Cecilia Gu, you lied to me!"
Cecilia Gu was stunned.
What was even happening?
When had she ever lied to Helen?
You still claim you have nothing to do with my brother? He even gave you Dad’s treasured collection! Helen Jiang snarled, moving closer to Cecilia Gu. "No one but my brother could touch Dad’s collection. I begged for it for so long, and he never gave it to me—but he gave it to you!"
Cecilia Gu almost spat blood in frustration!
What was happening now?
Eric Jiang, what the hell did you give me this time?
I don’t want it!
Calm down! I really don’t know anything!" Cecilia Gu quickly explained, "No matter what Eric Jiang gives me, I’ll refuse, okay? I don’t want anything, is that enough?"
Helen Jiang’s gaze swept over Cecilia Gu like a venomous snake, her voice icy. Cecilia Gu shivered. "Cecilia Gu, you won’t get away today! If I ruin your pretty face, everything will be over. I won’t bother you again, and my brother won’t look at you anymore. No matter what he gives you, I won’t care. How about that?"
Cecilia Gu drew a sharp breath!
Helen Jiang really was crazy!
Just when Cecilia Gu was out of ideas, she saw someone moving outside the window!
Wait! Someone’s coming! If you hurt me now and I scream, people outside might hear. Your room isn’t soundproof, right? Even if you accuse me of drugging you or hitting you, that’s no reason to slash my face with a knife!" Cecilia Gu was out of options and took a risk. "But if you put the knife down, I promise I’ll never see Eric Jiang again! Wherever he goes, I won’t show up. Is that good enough?"
Cecilia Gu felt she was being truly sincere.
She’d already backed down this much!
What more did Helen want?
At that moment, there was a knock on the door outside.
Eric Jiang’s voice came from outside. "Helen, are you in there?"
Cecilia Gu finally breathed a sigh of relief! She’d never wanted Eric Jiang to show up so badly.
Just as Cecilia Gu was about to speak, Helen Jiang suddenly reached out to cover her mouth.
Cecilia Gu turned her head and lowered her voice. "When I came earlier, my assistant knew I was bringing you lunch. If I’m right, she should be back soon. If she finds I’m not in the guest room…"
Helen Jiang’s face suddenly turned ugly.
Eric Jiang is right outside. You can tell him I bullied you! That way, he’ll change his opinion of me and hate me. Isn’t that what you want?" Cecilia Gu continued quickly in a low voice, "Your real goal is for Eric Jiang to dislike me. If you tell him I bullied you, that’ll do it! But if you really hurt me, it’ll tear the Yin and Jiang families apart. Even if you’re called the Jiang family’s eldest daughter, you’re not really their daughter! If the Yin family finds out you hurt me, whose side will they take—mine or yours? Will the Jiang family protect you or make you take the blame? You’re still young, you have plenty of chances. Don’t be impulsive!"
Seeing her words had swayed Helen Jiang again, Cecilia Gu pressed her advantage. "All you care about is Eric Jiang. Lucky for you, I have zero interest in him! The Yin and Jiang families may be related, but it’s not like I need to see him. I’ll avoid him at all family gatherings, and I’ll never meet with him privately! I have no reason to. In the Yin family, I lack nothing. My husband is my greatest support—I have no need for outside help! Eric Jiang is outside right now, and my assistant knows I’m here. If he gets the wrong idea and starts ignoring you again, wouldn’t that be a loss for you?"
Sure enough, Cecilia Gu’s words worked.
Helen Jiang put away the fruit knife, her eyes full of suspicion. "You’re really willing to cooperate and put on a show?"
"Absolutely!" Cecilia Gu replied, almost thumping her chest. "When he comes in, I’ll pretend to bully you. You go complain to him—make it as dramatic as you want, so he’ll hate me even more!"
Helen Jiang eyed Cecilia Gu suspiciously. Cecilia nearly nodded her head off to show her determination.
"I can act really well!" Cecilia Gu said seriously. "I’ll make Eric Jiang hate me as much as possible!"
"Fine, I’ll trust you this once! If you let me down..." Helen Jiang started to threaten, but Cecilia Gu quickly promised, "That will never happen! I swear on my reputation!"
Helen Jiang finally let go of Cecilia Gu. Cecilia immediately raised her hand and slapped Helen across the face!
Helen Jiang was about to get angry, but Cecilia Gu quickly said, "It’s just acting! Hurry!"
Helen Jiang immediately caught on and cried out, "What are you doing?"
Cecilia Gu immediately raised her voice, pointing at Helen Jiang and shouting, "From the moment I arrived, you’ve been against me every step! Helen Jiang, what’s your problem? Are you deliberately trying to provoke me? Any woman who dares to challenge me never ends well!"
Helen Jiang cooperated, collapsing to the floor and sobbing.
Sure enough, the next second the door burst open and Eric Jiang rushed in.
Eric Jiang took in the scene as soon as he entered.
Cecilia Gu had slapped Helen Jiang, leaving a clear handprint on her face as she lay on the ground, sobbing.
Cecilia Gu kept shouting, "What kind of heiress are you? You’re just the Jiang family’s adopted daughter. What right do you have to compare yourself to me?"
Helen Jiang’s face darkened slightly, but she knew even if Cecilia Gu’s words hit her sore spot, she had to keep acting!
Otherwise, her sacrifice would be for nothing!
"Cecilia, Helen, what’s going on here?" Eric Jiang was completely confused by the scene before him.
Cecilia Gu deliberately put on a fierce expression and said, "Ever since Yin Siyang’s birthday, your sister has been inexplicably against me! Today, in front of everyone, she humiliated me. How could I let that slide? Cousin, we can’t just let this go!"