Chapter 10 - Richard’s Last Bargain
Grace reached for the call button.
Richard held up both hands.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Then unlock the door.”
“I need five minutes.”
“You have five seconds.”
“Samuel killed Daniel Vale.”
Grace stopped.
Richard smiled faintly.
“There. Now I have your attention.”
Grace did not believe him.
But she listened.
Richard claimed Samuel discovered Daniel had been stealing.
Daniel threatened to expose the Hawthorne Trust.
Samuel arranged the accident.
Richard claimed he had spent years covering up Samuel’s crimes to protect Grace.
It was almost convincing.
Almost.
Then Grace noticed something.
Richard kept looking at her bedside table.
Her phone.
He wanted something.
“You’re recording this,” Grace said.
Richard’s eyes changed.
She understood.
He wanted her to react.
Threaten him.
Confess uncertainty.
Anything he could use to revive the competency petition.
Grace leaned back.
“My attorney can hear your allegations.”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
“You always were Samuel’s granddaughter.”
“And Ethan is your son.”
Richard stiffened.
“Don’t.”
“You destroyed him.”
“I built him.”
“You taught him that love was possession.”
Richard stepped closer.
“You think you understand my son?”
“I understand what he became around you.”
“And what did he become around you?”
Grace swallowed.
“That’s between Ethan and me.”
Richard’s expression darkened.
“You’ll forgive him.”
Grace said nothing.
“You will. Women like you always do.”
“What kind of woman am I?”
“The kind who mistakes endurance for strength.”
That one hurt.
Perhaps because once it had been true.
Grace pressed the nurse button.
Richard grabbed her phone.
The door opened immediately.
Not a nurse.
Ethan.
He saw his father.
“Put down her phone.”
Richard laughed.
“You’re protecting her now?”
“Yes.”
“She took your company.”
“No. You did.”
Richard’s face hardened.
“You ungrateful little—”
Ethan stepped between him and Grace.
“You used me.”
“I gave you everything.”
“You gave me your hunger and called it inheritance.”
Richard stared.
Ethan continued.
“You made me believe being wanted was the same as being loved.”
Grace watched him.
She knew who he meant.
Vanessa.
Perhaps every woman before her.
Perhaps even Grace.
Richard moved toward the door.
Federal agents arrived.
He was arrested in the hallway.
No dramatic fight.
No escape.
Just handcuffs.
Richard looked older as they took him away.
Grace expected relief.
Instead she felt exhausted.
Two days later, doctors released her.
Adrian drove her home.
Ethan did not ask to come.
He sent flowers.
Grace sent them back.
Then she regretted it.
Then she was angry at herself for regretting it.
Healing was not graceful.
It was contradictory.
Weeks passed.
Richard was charged with financial crimes, obstruction, conspiracy, and offenses connected to Daniel’s death investigation.
Martin cooperated.
The stolen money was frozen.
Calloway Maritime stabilized under an interim board.
Grace served as controlling trustee but refused the CEO position.
She hired professionals.
That surprised everyone except Adrian.
“You never wanted the throne,” he said.
“I wanted the doors unlocked.”
Adrian smiled.
Vanessa moved to California with Celeste.
Before leaving, she asked Grace to meet.
“I don’t expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
Vanessa nodded.
“I loved him.”
Grace believed her.
“That doesn’t excuse what I did.”
“No.”
“I knew he was married.”
“Yes.”
Vanessa looked down.
“I’m sorry.”
Grace studied the woman who had become the face of her humiliation.
Then she realized Vanessa would also have to live with what she had chosen.
Grace did not need to punish her.
Life had consequences without Grace becoming one.
“I hope you become someone who never does this again.”
Vanessa cried.
“So do I.”
They parted.
No hug.
No friendship.
Just an ending.
Ethan signed the separation agreement.
He surrendered any claim to Grace’s trust.
He transferred his personal voting shares into a protected account for their son.
Grace’s attorney stared at the document.
“He didn’t negotiate.”
Grace stared too.
“Why?”
“He attached a letter.”
She opened it.
One sentence.
I took enough from you.
Grace folded it.
That night she cried harder than she had at the resort.
Three weeks later, at thirty-four weeks pregnant, Grace received another envelope.
No return address.
Inside was a flash drive.
On it were four words.
DANIEL VALE — FINAL CALL.
Grace called Adrian.
He arrived twenty minutes later.
They inserted the drive.
Daniel’s voice filled the room.
Then another voice answered.
Samuel Hawthorne.
May you like
And the first sentence made Grace grip the edge of the table.
“Samuel,” Daniel said, “Richard knows Grace is the key.”
