Chapter 8 - The Last Enemy Was the Person Nobody Had Suspected
The note led to a name.
Alexander Hawthorne.
Grant's grandfather.
Dead for thirty years.
Impossible.
Yet the documents proved he had started the Circle.
Not to control the city.
To protect the family.
At first.
Then power changed him.
Grant's father had tried to stop it.
That was why he died.
But there was one last secret.
Grant's grandfather had left instructions.
The Circle would continue through whoever inherited Hawthorne Capital.
That meant Grant had never been its owner.
He had been its intended successor.
The manipulation had started before he was born.
Vivian had only continued the work.
Lauren's father had discovered the truth.
Grant's father had tried to destroy it.
And now Grant had one final choice.
Burn the company down.
Or transform it.
He chose transformation.
He sold the family properties used for corruption.
Closed the subsidiaries.
Opened every record.
He became one of the wealthiest men in the country to voluntarily place his company under outside oversight.
People thought he was insane.
Lauren thought he was brave.
One night, they sat on the terrace.
“You lost your empire,” she said.
He smiled.
“I lost the empire my family wanted.”
“And what did you gain?”
He looked at her.
“You.”
She smiled.
“Good answer.”
Then he reached into his pocket.
A velvet box.
Lauren stared.
“Grant.”
He opened it.
Inside was her wedding ring.
The same ring she had left in his palm the night she thought he had stopped believing her.
“I kept it.”
“I know.”
“I didn't wear it because I didn't earn the right.”
She took it.
“You did.”
He shook his head.
“Not yet.”
She looked at him.
“So what now?”
“I'd like to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Would you marry me again?”
She laughed.
“We're already married.”
“I know.”
“You want a second wedding?”
“Without contracts.”
“Without families?”
“Without fear.”
She stood.
“Yes.”
He smiled.
They kissed.
And for the first time, Grant felt the past releasing its grip.
But Lauren's father approached them.
“I need to tell you one more thing.”
Grant looked over.
“What?”
“The Circle wasn't completely destroyed.”
Grant stiffened.
“How?”
“Someone escaped.”
“Who?”
Her father hesitated.
“Vivian.”
Grant frowned.
“Vivian is in custody.”
“Then someone else.”
“Who?”
Her father looked at Lauren.
“Your mother's sister.”
Lauren's face went pale.
“She was supposed to be dead.”
“She isn't.”
Grant reached for Lauren's hand.
“What does she want?”
May you like
Her father answered:
“Revenge.”
