Chapter 3 - the drawing victoria tried to burn)
Nathan turned.
Victoria stood barefoot in the hallway wearing a silk robe.
For one second, her eyes locked on the drawing.
Nathan saw fear.
Then it disappeared.
“What is this?” he asked.
Victoria walked closer.
“Oh.”
“You’ve seen it?”
“It’s Grace’s niece.”
Nathan looked again at the picture.
“She calls someone Daddy.”
“Most children do.”
“Why is he wearing my suit?”
Victoria laughed.
It sounded natural.
Almost.
“Nathan, half the men who enter this house wear grey suits.”
She reached for the paper.
Nathan did not release it.
Victoria’s smile tightened.
“It’s two in the morning.”
“I know what time it is.”
“Then come back to bed.”
He folded the drawing.
“I’ll ask Grace tomorrow.”
Victoria stopped smiling.
“Why?”
“Because I’m curious.”
“About a housekeeper’s child?”
Nathan studied her.
“You seem unusually interested in whether I ask.”
Victoria stepped closer and kissed his cheek.
“I’m interested in my fiancé sleeping instead of investigating crayons.”
She turned away.
Nathan watched her return toward their bedroom.
He did not follow immediately.
The next morning, Grace found the drawing missing.
Panic hit her so hard she almost became dizzy.
“Lily.”
The child looked up from breakfast.
“Did you take your family picture upstairs?”
Lily lowered her spoon.
“I wanted Daddy to see.”
Grace closed her eyes.
“Oh God.”
“Are you mad?”
“No.”
Grace knelt.
“No, baby. I’m not mad.”
But she was terrified.
Victoria entered ten minutes later.
Grace knew immediately.
“Where is it?”
Victoria closed the servants’ door.
“You’re getting careless.”
“Where is Lily’s drawing?”
Victoria pulled the folded paper from her handbag.
Grace reached for it.
Victoria moved it away.
“Nathan found it.”
Grace’s heart hammered.
“What did he say?”
“He asked questions.”
“Then maybe it’s time he gets answers.”
Victoria’s expression changed.
“Careful.”
“I’m done hiding her.”
“You’re done when I say you’re done.”
Grace stood straighter.
“You don’t own us.”
Victoria reached for the lighter she kept in her handbag.
Grace stared.
Victoria held the flame beneath one corner of the drawing.
“No.”
Grace grabbed her wrist.
Victoria slapped her.
The paper fell.
Grace extinguished the burning edge against the tile.
Victoria looked shocked that Grace had touched her.
Then furious.
“You will regret that.”
Grace picked up the damaged picture.
“Maybe.”
Victoria moved close enough that Grace could smell her perfume.
“You think Nathan is going to sweep you into his arms?”
Grace said nothing.
“You think because you gave birth to his child you suddenly belong upstairs?”
“I don’t want your life.”
“You already tried to take it.”
“I tried to tell Lily’s father that she existed.”
Victoria’s face became cold.
“And he ignored you.”
“No.”
Grace finally said the word she had carried for years.
“Someone stopped him.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
Grace saw it.
Confirmation.
“You know who.”
Victoria turned toward the door.
Grace grabbed her arm.
“Who stopped my messages?”
Victoria looked at Grace’s hand.
“Remove that.”
“Tell me.”
“Charles.”
Grace released her.
Victoria smiled.
“At first.”
The final two words struck harder than the slap.
“At first?”
Victoria adjusted her sleeve.
“Charles Cole handled your pregnancy. But after he died, I handled you.”
Grace could barely breathe.
“You knew before you met Nathan.”
“I knew everything before I met Nathan.”
“Why?”
Victoria laughed softly.
“Because women like me do not walk into billion-dollar families without researching the furniture.”
Grace stared at her.
“You chose him.”
“Of course I chose him.”
“You targeted him.”
Victoria did not deny it.
“And Lily?”
“A complication.”
“She’s a child.”
“She’s an heir.”
Grace froze.
Victoria stepped closer.
“That is the part you never understood. Nathan’s fortune is not just money. Cole Meridian’s controlling shares move through bloodline provisions Charles created decades ago.”
Grace’s mind raced.
“If Nathan has a biological child—”
“Then marriage doesn’t give me what I need.”
Grace felt sick.
Victoria smiled.
“So now you finally understand why your daughter needs to remain invisible.”
She left.
Grace stood in silence.
Then she looked down at Lily’s burned drawing.
The bottom right corner was blackened.
But the three figures remained intact.
That afternoon, Grace made a decision.
She found Marcus Reed near the garage.
Marcus had always been kind to Lily.
“Can I ask you something?”
Marcus smiled.
“Sure.”
“If something happened to me, would you take Lily somewhere safe?”
His smile disappeared.
“Why would something happen?”
“I’m asking.”
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
Grace noticed.
“Marcus?”
“I’d help.”
She studied him.
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
Grace reached into her apron and handed him an envelope.
“If I tell you to run, take this to Nathan.”
Marcus stared at the envelope.
“What is it?”
“The truth.”
For one terrifying second, Grace thought she saw guilt in his face.
Then he pocketed it.
“I’ll keep it safe.”
Grace thanked him.
She did not see Marcus enter the security office twenty minutes later.
She did not see him lock the door.
And she did not see him place the envelope on the desk in front of Victoria Hayes.
Victoria opened it.
Inside was Lily’s birth certificate.
May you like
Father:
Nathan Alexander Cole.
