Chapter 9 Plan A Strategy

• Gwen dabbed her eyes carefully with a handkerchief, so she wouldn’t smear the mascara. Then, after letting out a sigh, she pouted at Jacob. “Is this how you treat the one who will help you?”
• “Help me?” Jacob wrinkled his forehead. “How can you help me?”
• Gwen smiled prettily, then sat on the couch. She waved at Jacob, gesturing for him to come and sit next to her. He finally relented and sat next to her. She scooted to sit nearer to Jacob and reached out to hold his hand. “Jacob, before we will start planning everything, I want to make a confession.”
• “A confession?” He raised his eyebrows. “What is it about? That you only pretended to be Amy’s best friend to stab her?”
• “No!” She shook her head. “Of course not! It’s about you!”
• “Me?” He frowned. “What is it?”
• Gwen bit her lower lip. Then she lifted her eyes shyly to stare at him. “I have fallen in love with you for a long time, even before you knew Amy.”
• Jacob widened his eyes. “But why have you never approached or showed your feelings to me?”
• “I don’t know.” She shrugged, biting her lower lip again. “I guess I just realized my feelings when you asked Amy to be your girlfriend.”
• He patted Gwen’s hand. “I’m sorry. I thought you didn’t have any feelings toward me.” Then he nodded. “That’s why you didn’t express joy when Amy told you I was his boyfriend.”
• “True.”
• “Now, why did you want to help me break up with Amy? She is your best friend!” Jacob emphasized each word. “How can you hurt her?”
• “Well, after knowing her parents’ death, I felt sorry for her. But then, as she won’t be the heir of her parents’ business, and her uncle will take over everything, I feel pity for you.”
• Jacob raised his eyebrows. “Me? Why?”
• “Because I know your mother won’t approve of your relationship.”
• “Hold on. Why did you know about it? How long have you known my mother?”
• “My mother and yours are good friends. They have wanted us to have a relationship for a long time. However, since you have shown no interest in me, I gave up. But as soon as I heard about Amy’s downfall, it’s my chance to be with you.”
• “Gwen, you will hurt her deeply. You have been her friend for three years. She truly cares for you. Don’t you think it will be too cruel for you to join me in the plan of breaking up with her?”
• Gwen shook her head. “It depends on our perspective. I can let you do it all by yourself, but then, you won’t have a heart to do it. Later, both of you will drag it longer than necessary.” She shrugged. “I know your mother well, and with her strong personality, Amy and you won’t be happy if you insist on keeping your relationship.”
• Jacob stood and walked to the window. He looked outside without a specific desire to see anything. It was too much, since he didn’t want to hurt Amy. But he also knew Gwen was right. His mother was also right. If he was stubborn to stay with Amy, not only he couldn’t support her but also he would lose everything. Jacob rubbed his throbbing temple. What started as an innocent and sweet love now turned out to be a complex and an obstacle to his future.
• She approached him from behind and hugged his waist. “I will help you forget her. I know it will take a while, but I don’t mind. As long as you want to let her go, I’ll be there for you. You won’t be alone.”
• Jacob turned his body to face Gwen. She looked so sweet and nice. So, he bent his head and kissed her forehead. “Thank you ….”
• Gwen wrapped her arms around his nape and brushed a tender kiss to his lips. He closed his eyes and kissed her back. That’s when the door opened. Both of them created a distance right away. However, Jacob’s mother saw what happened and grinned, as her plan worked well.
• “Well, what do you have in mind, Son?” Tanya asked.
• Jacob nodded. “I’ll do it, but let me choose the time. Don’t you dare to do anything to hurt her more, Mom!”
• “Of course! Why should I interfere? It’s your business, anyway.” Then Tanya patted Jacob’s back. “I’m proud of you. Finally, you can see the bigger picture and choose to do the right thing.” She took Jacob and Gwen’s hands, then joined both hands together. “I will call your mother soon, Gwen. She will be so happy to know that we will be in-laws!”
• “Mother!” Jacob protested. “Gwen will help me in breaking up with Amy, but that’s it.”
• Tanya shook her head. “I disagree. Son. It’ll be better for you to have Gwen as your new fiancee. You will forget Amy faster.” Then she took Gwen’s other hand, that didn’t hold Jacob’s hand. “Besides, look at her! Gwen is pretty too. She is smart and nice. What else do you want?”
• Jacob didn’t reply to his mother because he knew whatever he said couldn’t change his mother’s decision. When she had already made her mind, nothing could change it. But the more he thought about it, though he hated to admit it, Jacob agreed with his mother’s opinion.
• Gwen was stunning. She was sexier than Amy, and for him, she was willing to even hurt her best friend. With her by his side, surely he could achieve many great things. While Amy, she couldn’t do anything to support him now. She would be more of a burden to him.
• “You are still too young to live regretfully, Son. If you haven’t decided it yet, think about it in a few days. When you have calmed down, you will know I’m right.”
• He let out a long sigh. “You are right, Mom.”
• Gwen gasped. She stared at Jacob with a hopeful gaze. It was unclear yet if Jacob agreed with her to help him, or he wanted her to be his girlfriend—or even better, as his fiancee. But Gwen waited with heart beating fast.
• “So? What do you think?” Tanya asked.
• “I’ll accept Gwen’s help, and after what she will do for me, it will be heartless for me to do nothing for her. I agree to have her as my new girlfriend.”
• Tanya raised an eyebrow. “Only as a new girlfriend? You knew her for years. Why did you ask Amy to be your fiancee after only three months of knowing her?”
• However, Gwen shook her head. “It’s okay, Aunty. I know Jacob will need more time, and I won’t push him to do what he doesn’t want to do.”
• Tanya let out a sigh. “See? How good is my future daughter-in-law?” She pulled Gwen and gave kisses to Gwen’s cheeks. “You will be a perfect daughter-in-law, sweetheart. I know it!”
• “Oh, Aunty!” Gwen blushed, but was too happy to protest. “You are too kind!”
• “So, what is the plan?” Tanya asked again. “Have you two decided what you will do to end Jacob’s relationship with Amy?”
• “Not yet, Mom.” Jacob shook his head. “Let me think.”
• But Gwen smiled and held Jacob’s hand. “I have already thought about it. I think it will be perfect.”
• “Oh?”
• Gwen glanced at Tanya and blushed again. “But I don’t know if it’s a good idea to let Aunty Tanya hear about it.”
• “Please, let me hear about it. I’m sure your plan is great.” Tanya sat on the couch, waiting for Jacob and Gwen to join her.
• Then, after all of them sat, Gwen finally revealed her plan. “So, here is my plan.”