Chapter 4 - The Marriage Proposal That Was Never Supposed to Be Real
By Friday morning, Mercer Vale’s boardroom was divided.
Seven directors wanted demolition.
Three wanted delay.
Grant wanted to preserve Briar House.
The final vote came down to one person.
His uncle, Richard Mercer.
Richard smiled coldly.
“You’re allowing sentiment to interfere with a billion-dollar project.”
“I'm preventing fraud.”
“Fraud?”
Grant placed the original documents on the table.
“The land was acquired illegally.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
“You don't know what you're talking about.”
“I have the ledger.”
Silence.
Richard's face went rigid.
“Where did you get that?”
Grant leaned back.
“So you know it exists.”
That was enough.
The board suspended the vote.
But Richard didn't give up.
That afternoon, Hannah received a call.
“We need to talk,” Richard said.
She recognized the voice.
“About what?”
“Grant.”
“I don't discuss Grant with strangers.”
Richard laughed.
“You're going to.”
He told her the building would be protected if she cooperated.
“What does cooperation mean?”
“Stay away from him.”
Hannah hung up.
Two hours later, the first legal complaint arrived.
Briar House was accused of safety violations.
The city demanded an immediate inspection.
Hannah knew it wasn't coincidence.
Grant arrived twenty minutes later.
“Pack a bag.”
“What?”
“Stay somewhere secure.”
“No.”
“Hannah.”
“You don't get to walk in here and order me around.”
“I know.”
“Then stop.”
Grant lowered his voice.
“Someone is escalating.”
“So am I.”
She pointed to the inspection notice.
“If they want a fight, I'll give them one.”
His mouth tightened.
“You shouldn't have to fight alone.”
She looked at him.
“You said you wanted to earn my trust.”
“Yes.”
“Then stand beside me.”
“I will.”
The inspection became a media event.
Reporters appeared.
Cameras lined Juniper Street.
People from the neighborhood gathered outside Briar House.
And someone leaked a story claiming Hannah had manipulated Grant romantically to save the property.
The headline spread online within minutes.
LOCAL DIRECTOR SEDUCES BILLIONAIRE HEIR TO HALT DEVELOPMENT.
Hannah stared at the screen.
She couldn't believe it.
Then Grant took the phone from her hand.
“Don't read it.”
“Everyone else will.”
“I don't care.”
“I care.”
He looked at her.
“I don't.”
The reporter shouted from outside.
“Mr. Mercer! Is it true you're involved with Ms. Price?”
Grant opened the front door.
“Yes.”
The crowd went silent.
Hannah stared at him.
Grant continued.
“But not for the reason you're suggesting.”
The reporter lifted the microphone.
“Then what reason?”
Grant looked directly at Hannah.
“Because I intend to protect her.”
Hannah's heart stopped.
Another reporter shouted.
“Are you dating?”
Grant hesitated.
“No.”
Hannah let out a breath.
Then Grant said, “Not yet.”
The cameras erupted.
Hannah stared at him.
“Are you insane?”
“Probably.”
“You just made this worse.”
“I know.”
That night, Hannah confronted him.
“You had no right.”
“I know.”
“You made me look like some woman trying to marry money.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying you know.”
He did.
She paced.
Then he spoke quietly.
“You once said you'd say yes if anyone ever asked.”
She froze.
“You heard that?”
“Yes.”
“You weren't supposed to.”
“I know.”
She looked away.
Grant continued.
“I'm not asking you to marry me.”
“Good.”
“Yet.”
Her head snapped toward him.
“I was going to say that joke.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying that.”
He almost smiled.
But the smile faded.
“There is another reason.”
He handed her a document.
It was a proposed settlement.
If Hannah married into the Mercer family, Briar House could be transferred immediately into a protected family trust.
Hannah stared.
“No.”
“I haven't asked you.”
“You're thinking about it.”
“I’m thinking about options.”
“This isn't an option.”
“Why?”
“Because I won't marry someone to save a building.”
Grant looked at her.
“And what if I wanted to marry you without the building?”
Silence.
Hannah’s heart pounded.
She whispered, “You don't even know me.”
“I know you stay late when everyone else goes home.”
He took a breath.
“I know you remember everyone's coffee order.”
Another step.
“I know you call your broken refrigerator a personality problem.”
Her lips twitched.
“And I know you're the loneliest person in a building full of people because you spend all your time making sure everyone else has someone.”
She looked down.
Grant stopped in front of her.
“I know I have no right to ask for anything.”
His voice softened.
“But I also know I haven't stopped thinking about you.”
Hannah didn't answer.
Then the front door opened.
Sophie walked in.
She stopped dead.
“Am I interrupting?”
Hannah stepped back so quickly she nearly hit a chair.
“No.”
Sophie looked at Grant.
“Did you propose?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Grant raised an eyebrow.
Sophie nodded seriously.
“Because she gets weird when she's nervous.”
Hannah stared at her.
“Sophie.”
The girl shrugged.
“It's true.”
The moment broke.
Later that night, Grant sat in his car outside Briar House.
He was about to call Hannah when his phone rang.
Richard.
“You've become emotional,” his uncle said.
Grant's face hardened.
“You should be worried.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because you think this is about a building.”
Richard paused.
“It isn't.”
“What is it?”
“Your father didn't steal Briar House for the land.”
Grant said nothing.
“He stole it because your mother was going to expose him.”
Grant's heart stopped.
“What?”
Richard continued.
“Ask your mother why Eleanor Price disappeared.”
The call ended.
Grant stared through the windshield.
Then he understood.
His father hadn't been hiding Hannah’s family from the law.
May you like
He had been hiding the truth about his own marriage.
And somewhere inside that truth was the real reason Briar House had become so important.
