Chapter 5 - The Woman Grace Thought Was Dead
Grace's mother had died when she was sixteen.
At least, that was what everyone told her.
Now she discovered that her mother had been involved in the original trust.
And possibly the conspiracy.
Grace found an old video.
Her mother sat at a desk.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Grace, if you're watching this, then I failed.”
Grace's breath caught.
“I couldn't protect you from the family that wanted to use us.”
The video explained everything.
Grace's mother had discovered the Russo succession scheme years earlier.
She tried to expose it.
Instead, she was forced into hiding.
Dominic's mother helped her.
Together, they created evidence.
But they needed someone outside the Russo family.
They needed Grace.
Not because she was weak.
Because she was the only person they believed could break the cycle.
Grace cried.
Dominic held her.
“She knew.”
“Yes.”
“She knew you'd marry me?”
“No.”
“She knew you'd become the mother of the heir.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't she tell you?”
“Because she wanted me to have a normal life.”
Grace laughed bitterly.
“Normal.”
Dominic smiled sadly.
“You got me.”
“That was the least normal decision I've ever made.”
They followed the video instructions.
A key.
A location.
A storage unit.
Inside was the missing evidence.
There was also a letter addressed to Grace.
Your husband is not the danger.
The danger is the person he will trust when he's afraid.
Grace stared.
Then looked at Dominic.
He understood too.
Someone close to him was the final traitor.
They reviewed security.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Luca Ferraro.
Dominic's closest adviser.
His best friend.
The man who had stood beside him since his father's funeral.
Dominic refused to believe it.
“He'd never.”
Grace looked at him.
“That's what makes him dangerous.”
Luca disappeared.
So did the evidence.
Then he called.
“You were always smarter than I gave you credit for.”
Dominic answered.
“Where are you?”
“With someone you love.”
Grace froze.
A video appeared.
Dominic's mother.
Alive.
Luca had taken her.
He wanted the final ledger.
Grace knew where it was.
Hidden inside the old piano at Bennett Hall.
She and Dominic went there.
Luca was waiting.
He wanted the ledger.
Grace handed it over.
But it wasn't the original.
Luca opened it.
Inside were blank pages.
Dominic smiled.
“You really thought she'd hand you the truth?”
Luca's face changed.
Security surrounded him.
His men surrendered.
His betrayal was exposed.
But then he laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
He looked at Grace.
“Ask Dominic who ordered your mother's death.”
Dominic froze.
Grace turned.
“You knew?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
Luca smiled.
“Your own mother ordered it.”
May you like
Grace felt the world disappear.
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