Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO STOLE FIVE YEARS
Victoria had known about Grace before Nathan had ever met her.
That was the first lie.
The second was worse.
Five years earlier, Victoria had discovered Grace was pregnant.
She was twenty-six.
Nathan barely knew her.
But their families had already discussed a future marriage.
Victoria understood what Lily's birth would mean.
Nathan would never marry her.
The Sterling plan would collapse.
So Victoria went to her mother.
Eleanor went to Charles.
And Grace disappeared.
Nathan listened to his father's recording twice.
Then a third time.
His face showed nothing.
That frightened Grace more than anger would have.
Finally he asked, “Did Victoria ever contact you back then?”
Grace nodded.
“One time.”
“What did she say?”
“She told me Nathan Cole forgets women quickly.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Grace continued.
“She said if I loved you, I would disappear before my baby destroyed your life.”
Nathan stood.
He walked across the room.
Then he punched the wall.
Grace jumped.
Nathan immediately looked ashamed.
“Sorry.”
“Don't apologize to me.”
He stared at his bleeding knuckles.
“I slept beside her.”
Grace said nothing.
“I proposed to her.”
“She knew about my daughter every day.”
His voice cracked.
“And she watched me grieve you.”
Grace approached him.
“Nathan.”
“How did you survive it?”
“What?”
“Five years.”
Grace looked toward Lily sleeping on the couch.
“Her.”
That single word destroyed him.
The next evening, they prepared for the exchange.
Grace entered the abandoned Sterling Hotel alone.
Eleanor waited in the ballroom.
Evelyn sat tied to a chair.
Victoria stood beside her mother.
Grace looked at her.
“You started this.”
Victoria smiled.
“You should've listened the first time.”
Grace's anger disappeared.
Something colder replaced it.
“You were afraid of an unborn baby.”
Victoria's smile vanished.
Grace stepped closer.
“You had money.”
“A powerful family.”
“Everything.”
“And you were terrified of a child who hadn't even taken her first breath.”
“Shut up.”
“Because you knew Nathan would choose her.”
Victoria slapped Grace.
The sound echoed through the ballroom.
Grace slowly looked back at her.
“Thank you.”
Victoria frowned.
“For what?”
“For showing Nathan exactly who you are.”
Nathan's voice came from the darkness.
“I already knew.”
Victoria froze.
Nathan stepped onto the balcony.
Eleanor immediately grabbed Evelyn.
“You were told to come alone.”
Grace opened her coat.
A small microphone was attached beneath her collar.
Federal agents surrounded the building.
Eleanor laughed.
“You think I haven't bought federal agents too?”
Nathan stared at her.
“Maybe.”
“But not all of them.”
The ballroom doors burst open.
Agents flooded inside.
Victoria panicked.
Eleanor didn't.
She leaned toward Grace.
“You still don't understand.”
Grace stared at her.
“Understand what?”
Eleanor smiled.
“The kidnapping evidence wasn't meant to put you in prison.”
“It was meant to remove Lily from your custody.”
Nathan went still.
“Why?”
“Because once the state removed Lily, an emergency guardian had already been approved.”
Grace's stomach dropped.
“Who?”
Eleanor looked at Nathan.
“Victoria.”
Nathan stared at his former fiancée.
Victoria said nothing.
Everything had been prepared.
Grace's arrest.
Lily's removal.
Victoria becoming Lily's guardian.
And after marrying Nathan, Victoria would control the child whose inheritance threatened the Sterling empire.
Nathan whispered, “You were going to raise my daughter?”
Victoria looked at him.
“I would've given her everything.”
Grace lunged.
Nathan caught her.
Victoria smiled.
“Everything except her mother.”
Federal agents arrested Eleanor.
Then Victoria.
But as Victoria was led away, she looked at Nathan.
“You think this ends because you caught us?”
Nathan said nothing.
Victoria's smile returned.
“My father killed Daniel Bennett.”
“He'll kill Grace too.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Your father is dead.”
Victoria laughed.
May you like
“No, Nathan.”
“He isn't.”
