Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 241: The Bet

Chapter 241: The Bet

Henry’s lips trembled in anger. "Shut up! You keep accusing my mother of being deceitful and manipulative, but where’s your proof?"

"Proof? How about the fact that over a decade ago, she was in bed with James, driving my mom to jump off a building to her death!" Eric spat.

"That’s your mom’s problem! Just because men cheat, does every woman have to jump off a building?" Henry retorted, trying to control his breathing. Despite his anger, his heart ached. Grace’s dark past was something that would never be erased.

"No matter how you twist it, you always defend her, Henry! Since you don’t believe me, let’s make a bet. If you win, I’ll treat your mother with respect from now on and won’t target her again. But if you lose..." Eric paused, a cruel smirk curling at his lips, "all I ask is that you stay away from my woman."

Eric stared coldly at Henry. "So, Henry, do you dare take this bet?"

Henry, confident in his belief in Grace, couldn’t imagine his own mother being involved in anything improper. As her son, how could he not know what kind of person she was?

"What kind of bet?" Henry asked, narrowing his eyes.

Eric clapped his hands, and one of his bodyguards brought in a small leather case.

Opening the case, Eric revealed a pair of ruby earrings, their brilliant red gleaming in the light—clearly priceless.

"You’ll give these bugged earrings to your mother. If within seven days she doesn’t engage in any shady behavior, I lose the bet," Eric explained, his smirk never leaving his face.

Henry frowned, confused. "What... what are you implying? Do you think my mom is involved in some improper dealings?"

"You’re the one who wants to know, right? You’re convinced she’s some kind of saint. So what’s the matter? Afraid to take the bet now?" Eric mocked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Henry thought of Grace’s gentle, loving face. She had always looked out for both him and Eric. There was no way she could have any hidden secrets.

"Fine, let’s bet!" Henry replied with a cold laugh. "But when you lose, you’ll never target my mother again!"

"A gentleman’s word is his bond," Eric said, raising an eyebrow. "And if you win, I’ll have no interest in going after a so-called saint."

Henry took the ruby earrings and gave Eric a hard look. "I have no intentions toward Ella. I just don’t like seeing those women harass her..."

"You don’t need to fix her problems. Focus on the task at hand, and then come talk to me," Eric interrupted coldly, cutting off any further conversation.

He could see right through Henry’s attempts to justify himself.

Henry got out of the car, watching as Eric drove away. It was almost time for class.

Carefully, Henry tucked the earring box away, along with a receipt—a legitimate purchase receipt, to avoid arousing Grace’s suspicion.

That evening, when Henry returned home, he immediately presented the earrings to Grace, along with the receipt. "Mom, I’ve seen how hard you’ve worked for me all these years. I’ve never bought you anything, so when I saw this beautiful pair of earrings online, I thought you’d like them. If you do, please accept them as a gift."

Grace’s eyes sparkled as she opened the box. The rubies shimmered seductively under the light, their allure impossible for any woman to resist.

Grace was overjoyed. After all, this was the first time Henry had ever given her a gift.

"Oh, my dear boy, you’re so thoughtful! You’ve grown up, you’ve really grown up! I can’t believe you got me such a lovely gift. I love you so much!" Grace laughed heartily, her eyes crinkling into slits as she gleefully put the earrings on.

"Do they look nice?" Grace asked happily after putting on the earrings.

"They look amazing, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world!" James chimed in with a smile from the side.

Henry felt a pang of discomfort. After all, this gift wasn’t given with pure intentions, and if Grace ever found out about it, she’d be furious. But the thought of seeing Eric forced to swallow his pride in front of his mother made it feel worth it.

"Mom, wearing these earrings makes you look like an unbeatable eighteen-year-old!" Henry added, rare sweetness in his voice.

Grace beamed at the compliment, while James looked curiously at his son. "I’ve noticed you’ve been unusually happy lately. Have you fallen in love?" he asked with a gentle smile.

"Come on, Dad, don’t tease me," Henry muttered, shaking his head, though his face flushed with warmth.

A slight bittersweetness filled his heart. He had indeed fallen for someone, but the reality was that he and that woman could never be together.

Grace patted his shoulder softly. "Son, if you like someone, be brave about it. Don’t hide your feelings in your heart, or how will she ever know you care?"

Henry’s gaze darkened, and he nodded silently.

"Your mother is right," James added, speaking seriously. "When a man likes a woman, he has to be bold and take the initiative. After all, you wouldn’t be interested in the type of woman who chases after you, would you?"

Henry smiled faintly but didn’t say much more. His reserved nature often left him feeling inadequate, especially for the business world. However, he had the intellect, and that gave him some hope for success.

Grace adored the earrings and wore them every day. For five days, Henry didn’t hear anything suspicious through the hidden listening device. Of course, whenever Grace went to the bathroom or had moments of privacy, Henry respectfully turned the device off. After all, she was still his mother.

By the sixth day, there was still no unusual activity. Feeling victorious, Henry’s mood lifted as the seventh day, a Sunday, approached.

Alone at home, Henry browsed the internet, still wearing the earpiece. Tomorrow would be the eighth day, and he could return the device to Eric, having won the bet.

Opening his phone’s gallery, Henry scrolled through the photos in his folder. One after another, pictures of a girl’s different expressions flashed before him—smiling brightly, deep in thought, lost in a daydream.

The girl in the photos was none other than Ella during her high school years.

It was back then that Henry had first noticed Ella, all because of Eric. And before he knew it, he had fallen deeply for her, unable to stop his feelings from growing.

As Henry gazed at the photos, a wave of sadness washed over him. He rubbed his forehead, pained by the hopelessness of his unspoken love. How much longer could this secret affection last?

Day after day, he found himself unable to resist following her. Every single day, he searched for any opportunity to see her, to catch a glimpse of her face.

Is this the power of love? Henry wondered, his heart filled with a mixture of sweetness and sorrow.

Suddenly, he understood his mother’s past more clearly—why she had been willing to be James’s mistress, despite him already having a wife. The power of love was all-consuming, stripping away one’s reason, dignity, and self-control.