Chapter 9 - WHAT ETHAN PLANNED FOR THE BABY
Grace gripped the phone.
"How did Lauren know?"
"I don't know."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"She said you had been seeing a doctor."
Grace looked at the surveillance photo.
Lauren had known because Victor's people were following her.
Ethan's voice cracked.
"I never planned to hurt the baby."
"You planned leverage."
"I was scared you'd leave."
"So you prepared to trap me first?"
"No."
Grace's eyes filled.
"Then what did you mean?"
Ethan was quiet.
"When Lauren told me your family had hidden money, I thought you were going to take everything."
Grace whispered, "You could have asked me."
"I know."
"No."
"You know now."
Before she ended the call, Ethan spoke quickly.
"Lauren had a file on you."
Grace stopped.
"What file?"
"Old articles."
"Your father's obituary."
"Pictures of your brothers."
"And something about your mother."
Grace's face changed.
Her mother had died when Grace was nineteen.
A boating accident during a storm.
"What about my mother?"
"I saw a marina report."
"And Victor Pierce's name."
Across the room, Nathan went still.
Grace saw it.
"You know something."
Nathan did not answer.
Grace hung up and turned toward him.
"What did Victor have to do with Mom's death?"
Nathan looked at Caleb.
Caleb looked away.
That was enough.
Grace laughed once, furious.
"You three promised to protect me."
Nathan said quietly, "We promised to respect your choices."
"Then start respecting this one."
May you like
She stepped closer.
"Tell me everything."
