Chapter 216: Find a Substitute

Elizabeth kept pondering the faults and shortcomings she associated with Martina, pushing all the blame onto her. She was reluctant to admit that it was all her own fault and believed that all the tragedies happening to her were due to her conflicts with Martina. She thought that once she resolved the issue with Martina, she could regain her previous high status! She had no idea that a few of the unintentional remarks she made in the group chat had caused problems for Jack, who had initially planned to keep his return under wraps. However, Elizabeth had revealed the information prematurely. Problems were unfolding secretly behind the scenes, and currently, neither Benjamin nor Jack were aware of them. It remained uncertain whether Elizabeth had caused more issues. If there had been someone in the room right now, they would have heard Elizabeth's angry mutterings. "It's just Martina, right? There are plenty of people who look like her. Anyway, my son absolutely can't marry a woman like her!" "Even if I have to find a substitute, I'll make sure to drive Martina away. By then, Jack probably won't focus on her anymore!" With such thoughts, Elizabeth seemed to have made up her mind once again and was eager to carry out her plan. She wasted no time and called an unknown number without a name saved in her contacts. Initially, the call went unanswered, and it was only when the call was about to disconnect that a voice finally came through. "Oh, what a surprise! How did you think of giving me a call today?" Elizabeth couldn't be bothered with pleasantries and went straight to state her request, "Don't waste time with small talk. I need you to do something for me now. Remember when you said you'd do anything for me?" The other person hesitated for a couple of seconds but quickly responded, "Of course, I keep my word. I may not be a good person, but I'm a man of my word." Hearing this, Elizabeth finally showed a faint smile and said, "Good. You don't need to ask me why I want you to do this. You just need to help me find a person, someone who looks very similar to the person in this photo but isn't the same." The man on the phone seemed to hesitate for another second because this request was beyond his imagination, but he agreed, saying, "Alright, send me the photo, and I'll do my best to meet your request." ... After ending the call, Elizabeth was almost impatient to see what would happen to Martina when she found the suitable person. Would she no longer be seen by anyone? It was just a face, wasn't it? She would create it no matter what! Perhaps only people like Elizabeth would think this way and believe they were in the right. Unfortunately, the reality might not be as straightforward as she thought. Sometimes many situations could backfire, and it depended on various factors. Maybe Elizabeth would never understand why Martina was so likable. Sometimes, it was just about appearances. Even if someone was initially likable, it wouldn't last unless they excelled in various aspects. Unfortunately, people like Elizabeth would never grasp that point and might have even tried to find fault in others. This was the biggest difference between the two. ... The next day, Martina got up early, ready to work in her studio. Even though Jack had returned yesterday, she still had work to do. She couldn't let it interfere with her work, especially since Elena had been waiting at the studio for a while. She must help her. However, this scene made Jack feel something was amiss. He knew that Martina had been very attached to Benjamin before. She always wanted to be with him, even if they did nothing, just being together made her content. But now, Martina had chosen to leave Benjamin voluntarily and get up early to make other arrangements. Wasn't that strange enough? Jack was a shrewd person, and he couldn't be easily fooled. He could quickly see that something was wrong. At the dining table, Benjamin and Martina sat directly across from each other, appearing close, but some changes had occurred. Normally, Martina would resist sitting next to Benjamin, so why was she sitting across from him? There were some subtle changes in her as well. Previously, she would have placed the food Benjamin liked in front of him, and then she'd eat. Not that Jack truly advocated for it, but Martina's past behavior was so obvious that even a slight change would be immediately noticed. Now, it seemed to have reversed. It was Benjamin who was actively taking care of Martina's food. He would place what she liked to eat in front of her, demonstrating careful and delicate attention to her needs. Jack casually drank milk and ate a fried egg, which tasted pretty good. When he looked towards Benjamin and Martina, he felt that something was off. He wasn't accustomed to this new arrangement and had some doubts. It seemed like many things had changed between his grandson and Martina in his absence, and he was curious. Jack silently noted this in his mind and planned to find a way to investigate what had transpired between them. He knew he needed to uncover the secrets of their relationship. Nathan seemed to have picked up on Jack's intentions and knew that more work lay ahead. If Jack was serious about investigating something, it would be relentless. They wouldn't rest until they found answers. The breakfast was eaten absentmindedly, with everyone harboring their own thoughts. Elizabeth claimed to feel unwell and didn't come out for breakfast, probably because of yesterday's events. She might have thought it was embarrassing and decided to skip breakfast. However, no one paid her any attention, and it seemed like she was just putting on a show on purpose!