Chapter 70 Plan

• Isabella and Marta sat across from each other in the room, deep in discussion. They were strategizing how to execute the plan to pass Christian off as Bella's husband in front of her parents. It wasn't going to be easy; Bella struggled with pretence, and the thought of facing her mother, whom she still feared, made her nervous. And then there was her father, Santiago – she couldn't bear to deceive him. Just a glance from him and he could see through her lies, prompting her inevitable confession.
• "I'm telling you, Marta, it's not going to be easy," Isabella said, visibly nervous as she paced back and forth across the room. "First, we have to convince Grandpa. I doubt he'll agree to be part of this charade just to fool my parents! He's not one to cower; he's perfectly capable of throwing them out, and that would be dreadful for Mima."
• "I'm confident that once he understands the purpose, he'll agree," Marta replied assuredly. "Don't be a coward. Let's go talk to him. The worst he can do is say no. There's nothing to lose by trying."