Chapter 4 - The Marriage That Became a HostageGrace returned home alone.
Michael arrived twenty minutes later.
He found her sitting in the nursery.
She had brought the rocking chair back.
She was sitting where it had once stood.
The ultrasound image rested beside her.
Michael stopped in the doorway.
“I owe you an apology.”
Grace looked at him.
“Yes.”
He stepped inside.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I should have trusted you.”
“Yes.”
“I should never have treated you like—”
“Like someone I needed to be protected from reality?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
Grace looked down.
“Why didn't you?”
“Because my father said the Ror family was in danger.”
“And?”
“He convinced me that anyone connected to the financing could become a target.”
“You thought I was the target.”
“I knew you were.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
Grace's eyes lifted.
“Then why did you humiliate me tonight?”
Michael froze.
“I didn't mean to.”
“You introduced me like a decoration.”
“I was trying to keep attention away from you.”
“You used me as camouflage.”
He had no answer.
Grace stood.
“I don't need you to make me invisible.”
“I know.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“You don't know.”
“I thought I did.”
“That is the problem.”
He stepped closer.
“I love you.”
Grace's eyes filled.
“I know.”
“Then please.”
“Love is not permission to decide what I can handle.”
He stopped.
She continued.
“I became wealthy before I met you.”
“I know.”
“You knew I invested.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I had money.”
“Yes.”
“You just assumed it was less than yours.”
“I did.”
“Because you never asked.”
Silence.
Grace turned away.
“I don't know what hurts more.”
“What?”
“The lies or the fact that you were willing to believe the worst version of me.”
Michael moved behind her.
“I was wrong.”
“Yes.”
“I want to fix it.”
“You can't fix trust by saying you want it back.”
“How?”
She looked at him.
“Truth.”
He took out his phone.
“I'll show you everything.”
“Everything?”
“Yes.”
“Your family?”
“Yes.”
“Your business?”
“Yes.”
“Your threats?”
“Yes.”
“Your secrets?”
His silence lasted one second too long.
Grace noticed.
“There are more.”
Michael's face tightened.
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
“My father believes he can force Orion to invest by using you.”
Grace froze.
“Force me?”
“He has evidence.”
“Of what?”
“Not yet.”
Michael's phone rang.
He answered.
A voice spoke.
He went pale.
Then he said:
“Where?”
Grace watched him.
“What happened?”
“My father has someone.”
“Who?”
He hesitated.
“Your mother.”
Grace's blood went cold.
“My mother died.”
“I know.”
“Then who?”
“He says he has proof she didn't.”
Grace stared.
It was impossible.
Her mother had supposedly died when Grace was fourteen.
Heart failure.
Funeral.
Casket.
Everything.
Grace had never questioned it.
Because some grief was too painful to interrogate.
Michael sat down.
“He wants you at the old courthouse tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“He claims he has the truth.”
Grace's hands shook.
“No.”
Michael stood.
“I am coming with you.”
“You don't get to decide.”
“I know.”
“Then ask.”
He looked at her.
“Will you let me come?”
Grace considered.
Then nodded.
“Yes.”
He exhaled.
It was the first thing she had given him all night.
The next morning, they arrived at the courthouse.
Victor was waiting.
So was Helena.
And a woman stood between them.
Grace stopped breathing.
The woman turned.
She was older.
Her hair was gray.
Her face had changed.
But Grace knew those eyes.
“Mom?”
The woman began crying.
“Oh, Grace.”
Grace couldn't move.
Michael reached for her.
She didn't notice.
She walked forward.
Her mother opened her arms.
Grace fell into them.
The reunion lasted less than a minute.
Then Victor spoke.
“I told you.”
Grace turned.
“You knew she was alive?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you let me bury her?”
“Because your mother chose to disappear.”
Her mother shook her head.
“No.”
Victor's expression changed.
“I had no choice.”
“What are you talking about?”
Her mother grabbed Grace's hand.
“Your grandfather was murdered.”
Grace froze.
“What?”
“Your grandfather discovered that Victor was stealing from the company.”
Victor shouted:
“That's a lie.”
Her mother turned.
“I have proof.”
She handed Grace a small metal key.
“The evidence is in the old family vault.”
Michael stared.
“The vault was destroyed.”
“No.”
His mother smiled sadly.
“Your father wanted everyone to believe it was.”
Grace looked at Michael.
He looked stunned.
Victor stepped forward.
“This is over.”
Security moved.
Then Michael stepped between his father and Grace.
“No.”
Victor stared.
“Son.”
“You lied to me.”
“I protected you.”
“You destroyed my marriage.”
“I saved the company.”
“You turned my wife into a pawn.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“She was always the key.”
Michael looked at Grace.
“No.”
He stepped closer to her.
“She is my wife.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Then choose.”
Michael didn't hesitate.
“I do.”
Victor looked at him.
“Choose what?”
Michael's voice was quiet.
“Her.”
And for the first time, Michael Ror stood against his family.
But Victor had one final weapon.
He looked at Grace.
“Then I suppose you should know who really owns Orion.”
Grace froze.
May you like
Victor smiled.
“Your mother.”
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