Chapter 13 - Grace's Letter
Vincent opened Grace’s letter after Grant was taken away.
Vincent,
If you are reading this, I ran out of time.
His hands shook.
Mia climbed onto the couch beside him.
I am not leaving you.
I met a lawyer because I needed to protect Mia’s shares before I exposed Grant.
Vincent looked at Daniel.
The papers Grant called a divorce were a transfer of assets into a protected trust.
Grace had been protecting the family, not abandoning it.
Her letter continued.
I know you will blame yourself for being away. Don’t.
You trusted people you loved. That is not the same as choosing what they did.
Vincent stopped reading.
Mia leaned against him.
At the bottom, Grace had written:
If anyone ever tells Mia she must earn love, correct that lie immediately.
She was born loved.
She stays loved.
No performance required.
Vincent cried.
Mia wrapped her arms around him.
Daniel stood near the window.
“I’m sorry.”
Vincent looked at him.
“You don’t get forgiveness because you finally feel guilty.”
“I know.”
“You heard Grace ask for help.”
“Yes.”
“And you called Grant.”
Daniel nodded.
Vincent turned away.
Then Detective Price called.
The mechanic had been arrested.
He admitted Grant paid him to weaken Grace’s brake line.
He also identified Kevin Shaw as the man who delivered the car.
But there was one more name.
“A woman approved the final payment,” Price said.
Vincent already knew.
“Celeste.”
“Yes.”
Vincent looked at Mia.
Celeste had claimed she only watched.
Another lie.
Then the hospital called.
May you like
Celeste had disappeared from her room.
And a woman matching her description had just been seen across from Mia’s school.
