Grace sat alone in her apartment, her eyes puffy and red from crying. The disbelief and hurt that Adrian had chosen to believe Sarah over her cut deeper than she could have imagined. She replayed the confrontation over and over in her mind, each moment twisting the knife of betrayal further into her heart.“How could he?” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. “After everything we’ve been through… how could he not trust me?”Her phone buzzed on the table. It was Adrian, calling again. She stared at the screen, her emotions torn between answering and letting it ring out. Finally, she picked up, her voice cold.“What do you want, Adrian?”“Grace, please. We need to talk,” Adrian said, his tone firm but not apologetic. “I don’t like how things ended earlier.”Grace let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t like how things ended? Try being the one accused and slapped in front of your fiancé, only for him to take the side of the woman who’s been trying to destroy her.”“Grace, that’s not
Adrian stumbled into his apartment in the dead of night, his thoughts a jumbled mess of emotions. The confrontation between Grace and Sarah had left him torn. He poured himself another drink, hoping it would drown the voices in his head."Could Grace really be lying? But Sarah… Sarah wouldn’t do something so vile, would she?" Adrian muttered to himself, downing his glass.Hours later, with bottles strewn across the table, Adrian collapsed onto his bed, too intoxicated to notice anything around him.Meanwhile, Sarah stood outside his apartment, her lips curling into a wicked smile. She had followed him from the bar, knowing this was the perfect opportunity to execute her plan.She let herself in quietly, carrying a small overnight bag. Inside were props for her scheme—a bottle of perfume Grace often wore, a silk scarf, and a phone ready to capture the moment.Adrian barely stirred when Sarah climbed onto the bed beside him. She lay down next to him, draping the scarf across her shoulde
Adrian sat alone in his office, the silence of the room amplifying the weight of his thoughts. The documents on his desk remained untouched, his focus entirely elsewhere. His mind replayed every decision that had led to this point—every moment he had chosen to trust Sarah over Grace.He slammed his fist on the desk, rattling the crystal glass of water beside him. “What was I thinking?” he muttered bitterly. “How could I have been so blind?”He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as the memories came flooding back. Grace’s tearful face when she pleaded with him to believe her. The anger in her voice when she called him out for siding with Sarah. And the worst part—the cold realization in her eyes as she decided she had no choice but to walk away.Adrian ran his hands through his hair, his heart heavy with regret. Grace had stood by him through the darkest times of his life. She had believed in him when no one else did, supported him when even his own family turned against him. A
Grace winced as the sharp edge of the broken glass she used to cut the ropes grazed her palm. She didn’t care about the pain—freedom was within her grasp. Her heart pounded as she crept toward the warehouse door, every step feeling like a lifetime. She knew Margaret’s men were patrolling, but she had to risk it.As she reached the door, a heavy hand clamped down on her shoulder. She spun around to see one of Margaret’s burly guards towering over her.“Where do you think you’re going?” he sneered, his grip tightening.“Let me go!” Grace shouted, struggling against him.The man yanked her back into the room and shoved her to the ground. Another guard joined him, laughing as they secured her wrists with a zip tie.“Did you really think you’d get away that easily?” one of them mocked, smirking.“You’ll regret this,” Grace spat, glaring at them. “Adrian will find me.”The second guard chuckled darkly. “Oh, I’m sure he will, sweetheart. But not before we make you pay for being so troublesom
Margaret sat in her dimly lit study, her fingers tracing the edges of a photograph of Adrian and Grace. Her lips curled into a bitter sneer as she stared at the glowing faces in the image. The news of Grace’s pregnancy had shaken her to the core, and the implications were too much to ignore.“They’re trying to ruin everything I’ve worked for,” Margaret muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing. “If that child is born, Adrian will solidify his position as the heir, and Benson will have no chance. I won’t let that happen.”She clenched the photograph tightly before tearing it into shreds. Margaret had always been a woman of schemes, but now her resolve was sharper than ever.Adrian was reviewing a proposal when his assistant, Martin, walked in with an envelope. “Sir, this just arrived. It’s marked urgent.”Adrian frowned as he took the envelope, noting the lack of a return address. He opened it to find a letter and a photograph of Grace entering a clinic. The letter read:"Adrian, a
Grace sat in a dimly lit room, her hands and feet bound, her body aching from the ordeal. Margaret’s voice echoed in her mind, cold and calculating.“You think you’re special, don’t you?” Margaret had sneered earlier. “Adrian doesn’t deserve someone like you. And I won’t let you ruin my plans for Benson.”Grace struggled against her restraints, but they wouldn’t budge. She thought of Adrian, of their love, and of their unborn child. She had to stay strong—for them.Adrian paced the floor of his study, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. His phone buzzed incessantly with updates from private investigators, but none of the leads panned out.“She’s gone,” Adrian whispered, his voice breaking. He slammed his fist on the desk, scattering papers. “How can someone vanish like this?”Fredrick, his trusted friend, placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find her, Adrian. Margaret can’t hide forever.”Adrian clenched his jaw. “She’s trying to destroy everything I’ve built—everything I love. I
Margret sat in her grand living room, her fingers drumming against the armrest as she surveyed the photo of the young woman she had selected for Adrian. The girl was from a prominent family, well-bred, elegant, and everything Margret believed Grace was not.“This is the kind of woman Adrian should marry,” she muttered to herself. “Not some nobody with a child who threatens everything I’ve worked for.”Her assistant entered the room hesitantly. “Ma’am, should I make arrangements to introduce her to Mr. Adrian?”Margret nodded. “Yes. And ensure the encounter seems natural. He must think it’s his idea.”The following day, Margret invited Adrian over for lunch, insisting it was just a casual family gathering. When Adrian arrived, he was surprised to find a young woman seated at the table.“Adrian, this is Victoria,” Margret said with a warm smile. “She’s the daughter of an old friend of mine. I thought you two might enjoy talking.”Adrian raised an eyebrow, sensing his stepmother’s intent
Days turned into weeks, and Adrian’s life continued in a blur of obligations and meaningless conversations with Victoria. Despite the grand wedding, the mansion full of guests, and the lavish lifestyle, Adrian could not shake the emptiness gnawing at him.Every corner of the house seemed to echo Grace’s absence. Her laughter, her touch, the warmth she had brought into his life—all of it was gone, and in its place, he was left with a hollow void.One evening, after another tense dinner with Victoria, Adrian retreated to his study. He needed to be alone, to think, but there was no clarity. The constant feeling of regret consumed him.He opened the drawer where he had kept Grace’s things—her favorite necklace, a handwritten note she had left for him before leaving the country, a photo of the two of them smiling, carefree, before everything had spiraled out of control.Adrian picked up the note, his fingers trembling as he read it for the hundredth time:“Adrian, I’ve always believed in y
The Williams estate had never looked so magnificent. Golden lanterns lined the garden pathways, casting a warm glow as the grand celebration unfolded. A cool evening breeze carried the scent of fresh roses and jasmine, blending with the melodies of a live orchestra playing in the background. Guests dressed in the finest attire mingled, their glasses clinking in joyous toasts.This was a night of celebration—not just for wealth and success, but for truth, redemption, and love.At the heart of the event, Mr. William stood beside Grace, his eyes gleaming with pride as he raised a glass to address the guests.“Tonight, we honor not just a lost daughter, but a strong woman who fought for her place in this family. Grace, my child, welcome home.”Applause erupted. Grace swallowed the lump in her throat, overwhelmed by the acceptance she had craved all her life. She glanced at Adrian, who gave her an encouraging nod, his hand firmly holding hers.She stepped forward, her voice steady but emot
As the night continued, laughter and celebration filled the air. Grace basked in the warmth of her newfound family, unaware of the danger lurking just outside the estate.Diana stood in the shadows, her eyes never leaving Grace. She held the USB drive tightly in her palm, her mind racing through her plan. She had spent weeks gathering fabricated evidence, working with her accomplice to create a scandal that would ruin Grace’s image before she could fully settle into her new life.Beside her, the mysterious man smirked. “Are you sure you want to do this now? She’s got a lot of support.”Diana’s lips curled into a sinister grin. “That’s exactly why we have to do it now. The higher she climbs, the harder she’ll fall.”Inside the grand ballroom, Grace felt a vibration against her palm. She glanced down at her phone and saw an unknown number flashing on the screen.Frowning, she excused herself from the crowd and stepped onto the balcony, pressing the phone to her ear.“Hello?”A deep voic
The night was eerily silent as Adrian and Grace arrived at the old estate. The grand mansion, once filled with warmth and laughter, now stood as a dark shadow of its past. The wind howled through the broken windows, sending an unsettling chill down Grace’s spine.Adrian squeezed her hand. “Stay close to me. If anything seems off, we leave.”Grace nodded, her heart pounding. She had spent so long uncovering the truth, and now, she was moments away from facing the woman who had tormented her family.They pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stepped inside. The grand hall was dimly lit by flickering chandeliers, their light barely piercing the darkness. At the far end, a lone figure stood—Margret.She turned slowly, a wicked smile playing on her lips. “You actually came. I knew you would.”Adrian took a step forward, his eyes locked on her. “Cut the games, Margret. You wanted us here. Now talk.”Margret let out a low chuckle, her eyes gleaming with malice. “You think you’ve won, don’t
As the night of celebration came to an end, Grace and Adrian returned home, unaware of the dark clouds gathering around them. Grace, exhausted from the whirlwind of emotions, settled into Adrian’s arms."Tonight was perfect," she murmured, running her fingers through his hair.Adrian smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "It was, but we both know peace never lasts long with people like Benson and Margret lurking around."Grace sighed. "I just wish, for once, they’d let us live our lives."Adrian tightened his hold around her. "Whatever they’re planning, we’ll face it together."Meanwhile, Benson was far from done. He stormed into Margret’s suite, his jaw tight with frustration."What the hell were you thinking, siding with those men? Do you even realize the mess you’re dragging me into?"Margret remained calm, sipping her wine. "I know exactly what I’m doing, Benson. You’re the one who doesn’t understand the game."Benson’s eyes darkened. "You still think you can outsmart Adrian an
That evening, Grace arrived at the dimly lit café where Brenda had asked to meet her. The air was thick with the scent of freshly brewed coffee, but Grace had no appetite for it—her instincts screamed that something was off.Brenda was already seated in a corner booth, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea. When she saw Grace, her lips curled into a smile, but her eyes held something unreadable."You actually came," Brenda murmured, gesturing for Grace to sit.Grace slid into the seat, keeping her posture guarded. "You said you had something to tell me."Brenda sighed dramatically. "Oh, Grace, you have no idea what’s been happening behind your back. Your so-called family? They were never looking for you. They were looking for someone they could control. That’s why I—"She stopped abruptly, catching herself.Grace narrowed her eyes. "You what, Brenda?"Brenda leaned forward, her expression suddenly desperate. "I was supposed to be the one. I was supposed to be their daughter, Grace. Bu
As the glamorous gala continued, the hall was filled with laughter, music, and celebration. Grace had finally found her true place—with a family that cherished her, a husband who adored her, and a life free of the deception that had tried to tear her down.But not everyone was happy.From the far end of the hall, a pair of eyes burned with resentment, watching Grace bask in her newfound happiness.The woman who had pretended to be the lost Lennox daughter—Clara—had been exposed, humiliated, and dragged away by the police just days before. However, her hatred for Grace had only intensified behind bars.And she wasn't the only one.At the back of the estate, where the celebration lights barely reached, a black car was parked discreetly. Inside, a figure sat in the driver's seat, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel impatiently."She’s glowing like a damn queen," he muttered, watching Grace through a pair of binoculars. His face twisted with hatred. "That should have been Clara
The Lennox estate was no longer a place of peace—it had become a battlefield. Isabella wasted no time asserting herself as the "rightful" heir, basking in the attention and respect she believed she deserved. She walked through the grand halls like a queen, flashing a smug smile whenever she passed Grace.Eleanor, unable to accept this sudden revelation, grew withdrawn. She barely ate, and the sorrow in her eyes broke Alexander’s heart. Adrian, on the other hand, was restless. His gut told him something was wrong, and he wasn’t going to let Isabella’s smug face fool him.One evening, as Adrian sat in his office combing through the DNA reports again, something caught his eye."This doesn’t make sense," he murmured.The report bore the name of a reputable lab, but something about the formatting felt… off. He compared it to an old DNA report from the same lab and noticed slight inconsistencies in the font, structure, and signature placement.His heart pounded. Could Isabella have forged t
The room fell into an unbearable silence as Grace’s mind reeled with the truth. Her pulse was racing, her hands trembling. She looked at Eleanor, the woman claiming to be her mother, then at Alexander, who had a commanding presence that reminded her so much of Adrian’s father.“I don’t know what to say,” Grace admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.Eleanor took a cautious step forward, her eyes desperate and hopeful. “I don’t expect you to accept this immediately, my love. I just want a chance. A chance to prove to you that I never stopped loving you.”Grace’s jaw clenched. “If you loved me so much, why didn’t you fight for me? Why did you let my grandmother raise me all these years while I struggled, thinking I had no one but her?”Eleanor’s tears spilled over. “I tried, Grace. Believe me, I tried. I searched for you for years, but your grandmother ensured that every trace of you was erased. She made sure that you would never find out about me, and by the time I discovered where
As Adrian left the prison, Margret slammed her fists against the table, seething with rage. She had counted on Adrian’s fear—his desperation to protect his family—to make him surrender. But now, she was trapped.Derrick entered, shaking his head. “You should have kept your mouth shut, Margret.”She shot him a glare. “I’m not done yet. There’s always another way.”Derrick sighed. “Not this time. Adrian already countered your blackmail. The legal team got ahead of the story, and William’s company released a statement proving all the shady deals were your doing, not Adrian’s.”Margret’s blood ran cold. “That’s impossible.”Derrick smirked. “William knew you’d try something like this. He had a contingency plan. Every illegal deal was traced back to you. You’re the only one facing charges.”Margret’s body slumped in the chair. “No… No, this isn’t how it was supposed to end.”Derrick leaned in, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “Oh, but it is, Margret. You finally played your last card—