Chapter 4 - He Cancelled His Wedding in Front of Everyone
The hospital corridor smelled like antiseptic and fear.
Grant paced outside Jolene's room.
A nurse came out.
"She's stable."
His shoulders lowered.
"The baby's heartbeat is strong."
Grant closed his eyes.
"Thank God."
"She needs monitoring."
"Whatever she needs."
The nurse smiled faintly.
"You can see her."
Grant entered.
Jolene was exhausted.
But alive.
He sat beside her.
"I thought I was going to lose you."
She looked at him.
"So did I."
He touched her hand.
"I canceled the wedding."
Her eyes widened.
"Monica?"
"I'll deal with her."
"You can't destroy an alliance because of me."
"I don't care about the alliance."
She studied him.
"You used to."
"I used to think survival was the same thing as living."
Silence.
Then Jolene looked away.
"You need to know something."
"What?"
"I wasn't the only one who was lied to."
Grant frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Your uncle told me your father ordered my mother's death."
Grant's face hardened.
"He did not."
"I know that now."
"How?"
"Because my mother left another letter."
Jolene pulled a folded page from beneath her pillow.
Grant read it.
Richard Holloway did not kill Thomas Carter.
He tried to save him.
Desmond betrayed them both.
Grant's jaw tightened.
He understood.
Desmond had spent years manipulating the family.
He had fabricated the death.
He had hidden evidence.
He had used the Black Ledger to control everyone.
And he had one final weapon.
Monica.
Three days later, Grant arrived at the Langford estate.
Monica sat in the library.
She looked devastated.
"You canceled the wedding."
"Yes."
"Because of her."
"Because of the truth."
Monica laughed bitterly.
"You love her."
Grant didn't answer.
"Do you?"
"Yes."
Monica's eyes filled.
"Then why did you propose to me?"
"Because I believed Jolene was dead."
She nodded slowly.
"I knew."
Grant stared.
"You knew she was alive?"
"No."
"I mean you knew why I proposed."
Monica looked down.
"I knew your heart wasn't in it."
He sat across from her.
"My father chose your family for business."
"My father did."
"Your father knew about Jolene."
Monica's expression changed.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Your father met Desmond."
She froze.
Grant watched carefully.
"Monica."
Tears formed in her eyes.
"My father told me Jolene was dangerous."
"Did he know she was pregnant?"
She hesitated.
"Yes."
Grant stood.
"How?"
Monica whispered:
"Because Desmond told him."
Grant felt something inside him go cold.
"Your father worked with Desmond."
"Yes."
"Did you?"
"No."
"Did you know they were planning to take the baby?"
Monica shook her head.
"I swear."
Grant believed her.
Not because he trusted her completely.
Because she looked horrified.
"I am sorry."
She covered her face.
"I wanted the wedding."
"I know."
"I loved the idea of being your wife."
Grant looked at her.
"I'm sorry."
Monica nodded.
"Go to her."
He did.
At the hospital, Jolene sat beside the window.
Grant entered.
"It's over."
She turned.
"With Monica?"
"Yes."
"Your family won't forgive me."
"They don't have to."
"What about your business?"
"We'll survive."
"What about your future?"
Grant smiled faintly.
"I finally know what I want it to look like."
She studied him.
"And what is that?"
"You."
She started crying.
He knelt.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me for believing you were dead."
"You didn't know."
"I'm asking you to trust me."
She looked at him.
"I want to."
"Then let me earn it."
She nodded.
Grant kissed her forehead.
Outside, thunder rolled over Savannah.
Inside the hospital room, the first fragile piece of their future began to take shape.
But it would not remain peaceful.
May you like
Because Desmond had disappeared.
And the Black Ledger was still missing.
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