Chapter 145
Bianca shot John a look, a faint smile creeping onto her pale face. She wasn't supposed to get out early, but thanks to her "medical needs" and John's clever moves, she managed to leave prison ahead of schedule.
Truth is, Bianca wasn't sick at all. John had people looking out for her in prison, making her stay feel more like a weird vacation. No hard labor, and she had a cell all to herself.
One time, some chick tried to mess with Bianca, thinking she was an easy mark. But John's female bodyguard took care of that real quick. The guards, who had been nicely bribed by John, just pretended not to see anything.
The only thing that really got to Bianca in prison was the boredom. She was worried that if she didn't see John for too long, he might cave to his grandpa's pressure and go after Isabella. If John fell for Isabella, all of Bianca's scheming would be for nothing.
"John, thank you! You must've had a tough time with your grandpa to get me out," Bianca said, her eyes darting to John's leg in a cast.
John just shook his head and smiled. "Nah, it's all good. My grandpa doesn't know a thing about this."
He wasn't lying. Mason was totally against letting Bianca out, and John had pulled this off behind his back.
Bianca's eyes flashed with anger. She thought Mason had finally given in, but it turned out he didn't even know. If he found out she was out, she'd be back in prison in no time.
Biting her lip, Bianca asked, "John, have you talked to my sister lately? How's she doing? Has the Brown family messed with her life?"
Bianca's words sounded like she cared about Isabella, but really, she was hoping Paxton would take Isabella out of the picture.
John shook his head. "The Browns have hit some bumps. Paxton pulled back all his people from targeting Isabella. So, for now, she's safe."
Hearing this, Bianca felt a wave of anger. 'I shouldn't have expected anything from Paxton. He's as useless as his daughter!'
'Looks like I'll have to come up with a new plan. Maybe Isabella's parents can be useful. No matter what, I have to marry John!' Bianca thought, her eyes narrowing.
Meanwhile, Isabella's workday was wrapping up. Leo had already brought the car around, ready to pick her up.
But just as Isabella got into the car, someone unexpected showed up at the door and knocked on the window.
"Isabella, can we talk privately?" Mia asked, glancing at Leo in the driver's seat as Isabella rolled down the window.
Leo looked at Mia, frowning a bit, but waited for Isabella's cue.
"Ms. Taylor, should I step out for a moment?" Leo asked.
Isabella hesitated for a second, then nodded.
After Leo stepped out, Mia quickly slid into the seat next to Isabella.
"What do you want? And weren't you arrested? Who bailed you out?" Isabella asked, her tone icy.
Mia's eyes flashed with resentment. She was still fuming over Isabella reporting them. Jasper nearly had a stroke from the stress.
However, realizing she needed Isabella's help, Mia forced a smile.
"We got out thanks to Bianca. She had John pay our back taxes, so we're free now. Bianca is genuinely kind," Mia stated, subtly flattering Bianca before Isabella.
Isabella almost laughed. Bianca, kind? The woman who tried to kill her on the operating table? Did Mia even grasp that Isabella was her own daughter?
Back then, to free her family from John's grip, Isabella had almost been assaulted by thugs while trying to scrape together $30 million. And where did that money go? Thanks to her parents, she had no clue. From that moment, Isabella knew they were a lost cause.
"So you came to sing Bianca's praises? Do you secretly wish she was your daughter instead of me?" Isabella asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Mia's face briefly showed her anger, but she quickly masked it. "Isabella, since you don't like John anymore, why not let Bianca have a shot? You know Mason doesn't like her. If you talk to him, I'm sure he'll come around."
Isabella's face twisted in mockery. "What did Bianca promise you?"
"We've already talked it over with her. If she marries John, she'll use the Williams family's power to bring our family back to its former glory, and your father will stay the head of the family!" Mia said, sounding proud.
Isabella almost rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe her parents were so gullible, trusting Bianca over their own daughter!
Bianca's dad and Jasper were brothers. If Bianca married John, she'd definitely push Jasper out. Even if Bianca kept her word, Isabella doubted the Taylor family could bounce back.
It wasn't that Isabella was biased against Jasper; he just didn't have what it took. The Taylor family's downfall wasn't just because her grandpa died.
One of the country's top families had ended up with only three small companies, all dodging taxes. That alone showed how bad Isabella's parents were at business.
Jasper didn't have the skills to manage the assets he inherited. The Brown family saw this and went after the Taylors, and they succeeded. Even with Mason's help during the crisis, Jasper still failed, proving he was completely incompetent.