Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO FINALLY BROKE
Marcus refused the audit.
That was his first mistake.
Victoria noticed.
So did Helena.
Nathan leaned back.
“If the company is clean, why refuse?”
Marcus smiled.
“Because you’re emotionally compromised.”
Nathan looked around the table.
“Then vote.”
The board approved a limited audit by one vote.
Marcus’s smile vanished.
Twenty minutes later, he left the room without speaking.
Victoria followed Nathan into the hallway.
“You just made him desperate.”
“Good.”
“No.”
She grabbed his arm.
“You don’t understand Marcus.”
Nathan pulled away.
“You helped him.”
“I helped my mother.”
“You signed Grace’s disappearance agreement.”
Victoria looked ashamed.
“I was twenty-four.”
“So was Grace.”
“I thought she would take the money.”
“She didn’t.”
“I know.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Why attack her?”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
For once, there was no performance.
“My mother told me if Lily became legally recognized, Marcus would expose everything.”
“What everything?”
Victoria looked toward the boardroom.
Then she whispered, “My father wasn’t an Ashford.”
Nathan frowned.
“What?”
“Helena had an affair with Charles.”
Nathan stared at her.
Victoria continued.
“I found out last year.”
Nathan’s face went pale.
“My father?”
Victoria nodded.
“Charles Cole was my biological father.”
Nathan stepped back.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You were about to marry your half sister.”
Nathan felt sick.
“I didn’t know.”
“Neither did I until Marcus showed me the DNA file.”
Nathan’s anger shifted.
“He used it to control you.”
Victoria nodded.
“My mother knew.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Helena had been willing to let them marry anyway.
“For the merger?”
“For the money.”
Victoria began crying.
“I hated Grace because she had what I never had.”
Nathan stared at her.
“What?”
“Someone who actually loved her.”
Victoria wiped her face.
“And Lily had a father who would burn everything for her.”
Nathan’s expression softened slightly.
“But you hurt them.”
“I know.”
“I can’t erase that.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
Victoria pulled a small drive from her purse.
“I copied Marcus’s private emails.”
Nathan stared.
“Why?”
“Because last night he told me Grace would be dead before the custody hearing.”
Nathan’s face changed instantly.
“Where is she?”
“At your house.”
“Call her.”
Nathan dialed.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
He ran.
Grace was standing in the kitchen when she heard the back door open.
“Nathan?”
No answer.
She reached for her phone.
A man stepped from the hallway.
Grace backed away.
He wore gloves.
In his hand was a syringe.
Grace grabbed a frying pan and swung.
He ducked.
She ran toward the stairs.
He caught her ankle.
Grace crashed to the floor.
She screamed.
Then the front door burst open.
Nathan rushed inside.
The attacker released Grace and ran through the kitchen.
Nathan chased him outside.
But a black SUV disappeared through the gate.
Nathan returned to Grace.
She was shaking.
“He said something.”
Nathan knelt beside her.
“What?”
Grace looked at him.
“He said Marcus doesn’t need me dead.”
May you like
Nathan frowned.
Grace swallowed.
