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 intentions immediately. "Nice to meet you, Victoria," he said politely, but his tone was distant.
Victoria smiled, her charm evident. "It's a pleasure, Adrian. I've heard so much about you."
Margret chimed in. "Victoria is quite accomplished—an entrepreneur, just like you."
Adrian shot his stepmother a sharp glance. "If this is another one of your schemes, Margret, you can forget it. I'm with Grace, and nothing will change that."
Margret feigned surprise. "Schemes? Adrian, I'm only introducing you to a respectable young woman. Is that so wrong?"
Later that night, Margret paced her study, her frustration mounting. "He's too stubborn," she hissed. "Grace has poisoned his mind."
Her assistant hesitated before speaking. "What should we do next, ma'am?"
Margret's eyes gleamed with malice. "Grace and that unborn child must disappear. Permanently. But it must look like an accident. No one can trace it back to me."
The assistant swallowed nervously. "That's... risky, ma'am. Adrian might never forgive you if he finds out."
Margret's expression hardened. "He'll thank me in the long run. My son, Benson, deserves to inherit the Williams fortune, and I won't let anyone stand in the way—not Grace, not her child, not even Adrian."
Meanwhile, Grace began noticing strange things happening around her. Her car's brakes failed one afternoon, nearly causing an accident. Another time, she received an anonymous threatening letter warning her to leave Adrian.
She confided in Adrian, her voice shaking. "Adrian, I think someone is trying to hurt me. First the brakes, and now this letter..."
Adrian's brow furrowed with concern. "Who would do this? Could it be Antony again?"
Grace hesitated. "I don't think so. It feels... closer to home."
Adrian's expression darkened. "I'll hire more security. Whoever's behind this won't get away with it."
Margret couldn't resist confronting Grace directly. She found her alone in the garden one afternoon and approached with a falsely sweet smile.
"You've caused quite the stir, haven't you, Grace?" Margret said, her tone dripping with venom.
Grace stood her ground. "If you have something to say, Margret, say it."
Margret stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "You don't belong here. You've turned Adrian against his family and brought nothing but trouble. If you care about him at all, you'll leave."
Grace's voice was steady, but her anger was evident. "I'm not going anywhere, Margret. Adrian loves me, and we're building a life together. You'll just have to accept that."
Margret's smile turned icy. "We'll see about that."
Adrian sat in his father's study, staring at the photograph of his late mother. The weight of Margret's ultimatum bore heavily on him. Her words echoed in his mind:
"If you want to know the truth about your mother's death, you'll leave Grace and marry Victoria. It's the only way you'll ever uncover the secrets your father has buried."
Adrian clenched his fists. His love for Grace was undeniable, but the mystery of his mother's death had haunted him for years. His vow to avenge her drove him to take risks he otherwise wouldn't have considered.
Grace stood frozen in the hallway of their home, clutching her phone tightly. The headlines flashed on the screen:
"Adrian Williams to Marry Victoria Stone in a Grand Ceremony."
Her heart sank as tears filled her eyes. Adrian hadn't mentioned anything about this. She quickly dialed his number, her hands trembling.
When Adrian answered, his voice was hesitant. "Grace..."
"Adrian, what is this? You're marrying someone else?" she demanded, her voice breaking.
"It's complicated, Grace," Adrian replied, pain evident in his tone. "Please, trust me. I'll explain everything once it's over."
"Once it's over?" Grace's voice rose. "You expect me to sit here while you marry someone else and then explain it all later? I can't do this, Adrian. I won't."
Before he could respond, she hung up and began packing her things
At the airport, Grace stood at the boarding gate, her suitcase by her side. She stared out at the runway, her thoughts a whirlwind of anger, pain, and betrayal.
Her best friend, Clara, who had come to see her off, tried to console her. "Grace, maybe there's more to this. Adrian loves you—I've seen it. Are you sure about leaving?"
Grace shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "If he truly loved me, he wouldn't hurt me like this. I need to move on, Clara. I can't stay where I'm not wanted."
With that, she boarded the plane, leaving Adrian and her shattered dreams behind.
The day of the wedding arrived, but Adrian's heart wasn't in it. Dressed in a sharp black tuxedo, he stood at the altar, his mind consumed with thoughts of Grace. He barely registered Victoria's radiant smile as she walked down the aisle.
As the ceremony began, Adrian felt suffocated. The weight of his decision pressed down on him, and he glanced at Margret, who sat in the front row, her expression triumphant.
When the officiant asked if anyone objected to the marriage, Adrian hesitated, his chest tightening.
"I he began, but Margret's piercing gaze silenced him. He couldn't risk losing the information he needed about his mother.
In a new country, Grace began rebuilding her life. She found solace in her work and the support of new friends. Though her heart ached for Adrian, she forced herself to move forward.
One evening, while scrolling through her phone, she came across an article about Adrian's wedding. The headline read:
"Adrian Williams Ties the Knot, But Where's the Spark?"
The accompanying photo showed Adrian looking distant and unhappy. Grace sighed, setting her phone aside. "It doesn't matter anymore," she whispered to herself.
After the wedding, Margret handed Adrian a sealed envelope. "Here's the first clue," she said smugly.
Adrian tore it open, his hands shaking. Inside was a letter detailing a hidden account of his mother's final days, but the details were vague. It hinted at foul play and implicated someone within the family.
Furious, Adrian confronted Margret. "This is all you have? This isn't enough to uncover the truth!"
Margret smirked. "Patience, Adrian. Do as I say, and you'll get the full story in time."
Adrian's eyes burned with anger. He vowed silently, Once I get the truth, you'll pay for what you've done.
Adrian spent sleepless nights thinking about Grace. The emptiness in his heart was unbearable. He sat in their once-shared home, surrounded by memories of her.
"I've lost her," he murmured, burying his face in his hands. "I've lost the only person who truly cared for me."
Victoria, who was now living in the mansion, tried to comfort him, but Adrian remained cold and distant. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Grace and the growing realization that he had made the wrong choice.
But will she ever forgive me? he wondered, his heart heavy with regret.