Grace Carter's POV
There are battles that you just don't share with your husband.
Not because you're concealing them.
You're trying to keep the fragile peace you've worked so hard to maintain.
Victoria Blackwood's visit was certainly in that vein.
So, naturally...
Harper was sent by the universe.
---
"You look guilty."
Harper didn't even wait until she was inside before making the accusation.
I laughed nervously.
I'm generally hungry.
"You look both."
She narrowed her blue eyes at me.
"What happened?"
I'm not sure what you're talking about.
You've moved the throw pillows.
"So?"
That's only when you feel stressed!
I blinked.
"That's... oddly specific."
"You've done it three times."
She was wandering around the living room.
"And you made cinnamon rolls too!
"I like baking."
"You hate baking."
"I tolerate baking."
Her hands were clasped together.
"Grace."
I sighed dramatically.
I liked you better when you were only Ethan's sister.
I'm getting upgraded from Single to Family.
I smiled despite myself, I couldn't help it.
"You really have."
Harper was sitting on the couch next to me.
"Talk."
---
I don't want him to know about Ethan.
Those were the first words out of my mouth.
Harper immediately frowned.
"Finding out what?"
I hesitated.
Then I recalled that Veronica had said, "Be careful.Then I thought of Veronica's warning, "Be careful.
Victoria Blackwood doesn't bow out of a graceful manner.
It suddenly felt like a protection racket for Victoria instead of for Ethan when she stayed quiet.
I told Harper everything, so that's what I did.
From the unexpected visit…
About leather purses...
Boston, to the townhouse…
To the money-filled envelope.
Harper's face drained of color.
"She did what?"
"Tried to buy me."
Harper came to a sudden stop, jolting away the coffee table.
I can't believe her!
"I can."
"No."
She shook her head.
I can, I literally can because, "I mean, she's my mom.
She started pacing.
"But somehow she still manages to surprise me."
I didn't want Ethan to get mixed up in another battle.
Harper stopped walking.
"Grace."
Her voice softened.
My brother should be told.
"I know."
"But..."
I said I wouldn't be the cause of him having another argument with her.
Harper was sitting beside me once more.
"You didn't."
"What?"
"You're not the one that made this."
She squeezed my hand and squeezed my hand.
"Mom did."
---
Meanwhile...
Across the city...
Blackwood Enterprises.
---
Ethan was in front of the floor to ceiling windows in the executive board room while another presentation was still going on behind him.
"...third-quarter projections indicate—"
His phone buzzed.
Harper
He declined it.
A second later...
Another call.
He frowned.
Unless there was an issue, Harper did not call twice.
He excused himself from the meeting.
"What happened?"
His voice was calm.
Harper's wasn't.
"Where are you?"
"Board meeting."
"Leave."
His stomach tightened.
"Is Grace okay?"
"She's fine."
Not reassuring.
But you must come with me,"
---
An hour later...
Ethan was seated facing Harper in his office.
She explained to him all that.
She didn't soften it.
There were no details left out.
She even duplicated Victoria's exact words!
"A divorce."
The child will be separated from its parent.
The truth is that, "Everybody has a price.
Ethan never talked over once.
He simply listened.
Very quietly.
Too quietly.
When Harper finished...
The office went on silent.
Finally...
He posed one question.
"Did Grace take the money?"
Harper looked offended.
"Seriously?"
I know she wouldn't," replied the young man.
His jaw tightened.
"All I needed to hear was someone say it."
Harper smiled sadly.
She returned the envelope without even opening it.
There was a change in the face of Ethan.
Pride.
Raw and unmistakable.
Soon after guilt set in.
"She didn't tell me."
"So, she wouldn't want to hurt you."
He closed his eyes.
Of course.
Of course Grace had protected him.
Even after everything.
---
"Where is Mother?"
Harper knew right away what it was.
Dangerously calm.
Eating lunch at the Foundation.
Ethan stretched his arm to his suit jacket.
"Don't."
Harper stood.
"Use caution, don't venture in a state of anger."
"I'm not angry."
She laughed once.
"Ethan."
He looked at her.
This is a common mistake, as people will often alphabetize their desk pens.
He glanced down.
They were.
That when I think I do.
You do that when you are really angry.
He picked up his car keys.
"I'm going."
---
When her son walked in to the private dining room, Victoria Blackwood seemed to be a bit surprised.
"Ethan."
She smiled.
A "What a lovely surprise" is an unexpected occasion.
"It won't be."
He remained standing.
The staff of the rest knew something was wrong and went out of the room quietly.
Victoria put her napkin down on the table.
What got you here?
"Then you went to my wife?So you went to my wife?
"I did."
You gave her some cash.
"I did."
No denial.
No shame.
Just certainty.
"Is that why you tried to pay her to steer clear of me?
Victoria took a sip of her tea and calmly drank it.
I suggested she do something about it.
You hurt my marriage.
"He saved our family.
"My family."
He corrected quietly.
You have never done your duty to protect my family.
Victoria's expression hardened.
"My whole life has been dedicated to the preservation of this family."
"No."
Ethan's voice didn't sound out of the ordinary.
"You've been living a life where you've been in charge of it."
---
"Ethan..."
"Did you know..."
He stepped out one foot.
"…that Grace didn't even open the envelope?"
Victoria said nothing.
"She refused millions."
Still nothing.
Due to her faith in us.
His voice broke just a little bit.
More than I had thought I could count on us.
It was the first time...
Victoria seemed uncertain.
I was trying to assist you.
"No."
His blue eyes found her.
You were going to try to help yourself.
Silence.
"You don't love Grace."
"I do."
Victoria laughed.
"You're barely even aware of what love is."
He smiled sadly.
"You're right."
She blinked.
"I didn't."
A pause.
"But I'm learning."
His face set into a frown.
If ever you shall meet a man who...
"...ever..."
"...try to humiliate or threaten my wife again..."
His voice turned to ice.
"...you won't lose a daughter-in-law."
You will lose your son, you will lose your son.
Victoria stared at him.
Hoping that he would return it.
He didn't.
Instead...
He turned around...
...and walked away.
Letting Victoria be left alone at the table.
For the first time in years…For the first time in years…
She knew that she was no longer in control of Ethan Blackwood.
Because that terrified her more than she'd ever say.