Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 60

Grace's eyes welled with tears as she looked pleadingly at Lady Blackwood. "Grandmother..."

Lady Blackwood glanced between Asher and Grace before exhaling deeply. "Very well. Grace, since you claim it was merely a misunderstanding, please explain yourself properly in front of everyone. I'm certain Gabriella isn't unreasonable."

With Lady Blackwood taking this position, Grace had no one left to shield her.

She sniffled, her expression a portrait of wounded innocence. "That day at the stables, I asked Gabriella to teach me riding. Everything was fine until the horse suddenly went wild. I... I was thrown and injured."

Everyone already knew this much, but Asher's tone suggested there was more to the story. They maintained a tactful silence, waiting for her to continue.

Grace darted a nervous glance at Asher. His piercing gaze made her shrink back. She stammered, "It was just a misunderstanding, really. I thought Gabriella disliked me and deliberately spooked the horse to hurt me. But later they found a wound on the horse's neck—it must have been injured before being brought out. I must have accidentally pressed against it, causing the horse to bolt."

She turned to Gabriella with carefully manufactured contrition. "I'm sorry, Gabriella. I misjudged you. I shouldn't have assumed the worst. Can you forgive me?"

Gabriella's brow furrowed as she regarded Grace silently.

Lady Blackwood spoke reproachfully, "Grace, how could you think such things about Gabriella? She would never hurt you."

Lord Blackwood also appeared displeased. "If you wanted to learn riding, why not take proper lessons? Not only did you end up injured, but you've created this ghastly misunderstanding with your brother's fiancée."

At the mention of "fiancée," a surge of jealous rage burned through Grace's veins.

She managed to keep her voice steady. "I know I was wrong, Father, Mother."

Asher's gaze remained glacial. "That day, didn't you explicitly claim that Gabriella had kicked the horse, causing it to bolt? Why have you conveniently omitted that detail now?"

Without waiting for Grace's response, Asher turned to his parents. "Mother, Father, who exactly has been responsible for Grace's upbringing? How has she become like this—full of lies and manipulations?"

Lord and Lady Blackwood exchanged meaningful glances.

Lady Blackwood frowned. "Did you actually lie, Grace?"

Tears instantly streamed down Grace's face in well-practiced anguish. "I... I was wrong, Mother..."

Lady Blackwood's expression hardened. "Grace, you told me it was a misunderstanding, but you never mentioned that you lied. Is this what your education has taught you—to falsely accuse others?"

The Rodriguez had caught on to what had happened.

Randolph's voice carried a frosty edge. "Lady Blackwood, Lord Blackwood, my daughter would never harm anyone deliberately. Your ward has falsely accused Gabriella—surely you owe us an explanation?"

Victoria added firmly, "Indeed. Gabriella is our daughter. While our family may not wield the same influence as yours, she has integrity and kindness. She would never stoop to such behavior."

Gabriella felt unexpectedly moved hearing her father and stepmother defend her so staunchly.

Though her relationship with them had been strained for years, it was clear they genuinely cared for her. Victoria had proven her care through actions over the years, even if Gabriella hadn't been able to overcome her emotional barriers.

Grace's sobbing intensified. She stood and bowed formally to Gabriella. "I'm sorry, Gabriella. I was wrong. I shouldn't have lied about you. I'm truly sorry..."

Lady Blackwood sighed. "Gabriella, what Grace did was certainly wrong, but she's apologized now. Couldn't you find it in your heart to forgive her?"

Gabriella frowned slightly.

There was something distinctly impatient in Lady Blackwood's tone, as if withholding forgiveness would somehow reflect poorly on Gabriella rather than Grace.

Just as she opened her mouth to respond, Asher intervened. "Grandmother, I must say, that's rather unfair. Whether to forgive or not is entirely Gabriella's decision. No one should pressure her either way."

Lady Blackwood's eyes flashed with displeasure. "Asher, are you reproaching me?"

"Not at all," Asher replied, his expression carefully neutral. "I'm simply asking that Gabby not be pressured."

Seeing Asher stand up to his grandmother for her sake, Gabriella quickly interjected, "It's fine, really. I accept her apology."

As she spoke, she cast a subtle glance at Asher, reaching for his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, signaling him not to pursue the conflict with his grandmother.

Her sleep quality was poor at the best of times, with insomnia a frequent issue. She'd finally fallen into a pleasant dream, only to be rudely awakened by Drake's drunken call.

She had work tomorrow, for God's sake!

Her first instinct was to hang up immediately.

But the fury bubbling inside her demanded release. She was absolutely livid, and couldn't end the call without venting her rage.

"Drake, what the hell is wrong with you? If you're miserable, just die! Don't call me with your bloody meltdowns! If you're mentally ill, get treatment. If you can't be treated, go jump off a building. Stop making me sick with your pathetic behavior. Just sod off!"

Despite her verbal assault, Drake didn't take offense. He even chuckled. "Gabriella, I think there is something wrong with my brain—it can only think about you and nothing else. I want to die too. Not having your love makes me want to die, but if I died, I'd never see you again."

"You're completely mental!" Gabriella snapped before ending the call. She immediately switched her phone to silent mode, flipped it face-down, and tried to resume her sleep.

At the bar, Drake was completely drunk.

Two provocatively dressed women sat on either side of him, both persistently pressing against him.

"Darling, you're drunk. Let me take you somewhere to rest," the woman on his left purred, running her hand over Drake's chest.

"Spend the night with me, won't you?" the woman on his right whispered seductively, pressing her soft curves against him.

This was the scene Sienna walked in on.

"Fuck off!" Sienna was furious. "Both of you, get the hell away from him! Stop trying to seduce my man!"

Seeing her fury, the two women feared confrontation with the "official girlfriend" and quickly stood up, hastily departing.

Sienna looked at Drake's intoxicated state with barely controlled anger. After taking several deep breaths to calm herself, she finally helped him to his feet and led him out of the bar.