GRACE’S POV

My heart pounded hard. I had no idea what my father was thinking. Why would he be so cruel as to announce in front of all the dinner guests that I had been removed from the list of heirs?

“Grace, there’s something else Hunter would like to say,” my father said, casting a glance at Hunter—my fiancé.

The hand I’d been resting on his arm was gently brushed away. He gave a bitter smile and stood.

“Thank you, Mr. Hart. As Grace’s fiancé, I’d like to announce that I’m calling off our wedding.”

What kind of news was this?

Was this all a dream?

Instinctively, I slapped my own cheek to wake myself up, but all I felt was pain. This was real.

Tears began to fall and I quickly stood to cut off Hunter’s words.

“Honey, you’re joking, right?”

Hunter looked me straight in the eyes and shook his head.

“No, Grace. I mean this. I’ve found the right choice.”

His gaze shifted and fixed on a single point. When I followed it, I saw it was aimed at Eleanor—my stepsister.

What was that supposed to mean?

Eleanor stood and walked toward us. Her smile was radiant, and I desperately hoped what I was thinking wasn’t true.

But once again, my fears became reality. Eleanor and Hunter now stood before me. Hunter lifted Eleanor’s hand and kissed it gently.

“I’ve chosen Eleanor to be my wife, and in front of everyone here, I want to propose to you, Eleanor.”

Hunter knelt down and pulled out a black ring box. When it opened, a diamond ring sparkled brightly, dazzling the eye.

Everyone whispered and looked impressed. No one seemed to notice what I was feeling.

I was left as a mere spectator to a romance whose beginnings I couldn’t even pinpoint.

“Eleanor Hart, will you marry me?”

Hearing that, I instinctively screamed and shoved Eleanor so hard she fell.

“Grace!”

I ignored the shouts from the guests. I wanted to slap Eleanor’s face. I was sick of her.

Since the day her mother married my father, my life had only gotten worse. My father suddenly stopped trusting me, and all the blame for anything wrong seemed to fall on me.

I had always felt something was off about Eleanor—and I had been right. I was certain she had planned this for a long time. She wanted me gone so she could be the sole heir to the Hart family fortune worth billions of dollars.

“I will not let you take what’s mine!”

My hand was just about to land on Eleanor’s face when my body was suddenly yanked back so hard I fell to the floor.

My father stood over me and shouted, “Take her to her room!”

Two bodyguards grabbed me roughly, dragging me away without caring about my screams of pain from their grip.

“Let me go! You have no right to treat me like this!”

Once we reached my room, I was shoved to the floor and the door slammed shut. I tried to pound on it and open it, but it wouldn’t budge.

“You bastards!” I yelled.

I slumped against the door, sobbing. Footsteps approached, and I quickly stood, pleading to be let out again.

“Please, let me out! Don’t treat me like—”

My words stopped as the door opened and my father appeared, his face furious. His hand struck my cheek hard—something he had never done to me before.

“How dare you embarrass me! Do you have any idea who was there tonight?! Your uncle, one of the most important men in this city! You made me look like I failed to raise you, Grace!”

“You’re the one who humiliated me, Father! Why would you suddenly cut me out of the inheritance and let Eleanor steal my fiancé?!”

Another slap landed on my cheek, just as two more people appeared at the doorway—Eleanor and her mother, Scarlett.

“I told you this child is trouble! My Eleanor has never been subjected to violence, yet your dirty, vile daughter dared to lay a hand on her face!” Scarlett shouted.

“You should—”

“For God’s sake, Grace! Be quiet!” my father barked. “You are not allowed to speak because what Scarlett said is true!”

“I have the right to speak because I’m not dirty like she claims! These two have set me up, Father! They plotted to make you hate me and let Eleanor have Hunter!”

“Plotted, you say?! How dare you! Isn’t it enough that I’ve kept quiet all this time about the evidence of embezzlement and that obscene video involving you and the company’s security guard?!” Scarlett shot back.

My fists clenched. I wanted so badly to slap her face, but I couldn’t.

“I was framed! I never did that! Father, you know me! Have I ever made such a fatal mistake? All of this happened after they came!”

“Enough! All of you, be quiet!”

My father seemed to steady his breathing. Eleanor, who had been lowering her head the whole time, stepped closer to him.

“Father, let’s end this argument. I’ve already forgiven what Grace did. Please, for your health,” Eleanor said softly.

Damn her! She was a master at pretending.

“No, Eleanor! What Grace did was unforgivable! My patience has limits, and I’ve decided—starting tonight, Grace is no longer part of the Hart family! You have to leave, Grace!”

My father’s eyes locked on mine, and I saw nothing but deep hatred in them.

“What do you mean, Father?! Where am I supposed to go?!”

“I don’t care. You must leave this house and never use ‘Hart’ as your family name again! You are no longer my daughter, Grace! My decision is final. You have until midnight to pack your things!”

“But, Father! I—”

Before I could finish, Scarlett slapped my face and yanked the engagement ring off my finger.

“This diamond is far too valuable for you! Come, dear, let’s go back downstairs!”

Scarlett linked her arm with my father’s, and they all left me in this miserable state.

“Father! Don’t do this to me!” I screamed, but he didn’t stop.

The only one who looked back was Eleanor, her feigned sadness melting into a wide smile aimed at me. She even waved happily before shutting my bedroom door.

I staggered toward the mirror, staring at the wreck my life had become.

The beautiful off-white gown I had designed two months ago looked exquisite. I looked stunning—but tonight, that beauty was the beginning of my misery.

GRACE’S POV

The sound of the door being kicked open jolted me awake. Eleanor and Scarlett stepped toward me with vicious expressions.

“So you can sleep so peacefully? You’re ignoring your father’s orders?!” Scarlett shouted.

A slap landed across my face from that devil of a woman. Eleanor came closer and grabbed my face roughly — both of them acting so high and mighty.

“Do you think your father’s words mean nothing? Don’t you know he’s already handed you over to me and my mother?” Eleanor said.

I swatted her hand away. “You think you can humiliate me?!”

“Insolent!”

Scarlett slapped me again, yanking my hair. She shoved my head toward the wall clock. “Open your eyes! Do you know what time it is?!”

The clock read 11:45 p.m. — fifteen minutes before midnight, the deadline for me to leave this house.

Scarlett shoved me so hard I fell to the floor.

“Leave now! Your time is up! You’re not allowed to take a single thing from this house!” Scarlett barked.

“You have no right!” I tried to stand, but Eleanor stepped on my hand.

“Ahh! Let go of me!”

“Keep screaming! No one in this house cares about you, idiot! Your father’s been out with Hunter all this time! The authority to throw you out has already been handed over to us!” Scarlett said.

I struck Eleanor’s leg with my free hand, but she grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet.

Scarlett twisted her fingers deeper into my hair, while Eleanor’s grip tightened on my face.

“Get out of this house right now and never come back! We’ll even let you keep that dress you’re wearing!”

Once again, they shoved me hard, sending me sprawling outside my bedroom door. I was utterly broken.

I had no dignity left if I stayed here any longer. Like it or not, I had to leave the home I’d lived in since childhood.

They both escorted me toward the front door. Several servants still awake lowered their heads with sorrowful expressions as I passed.

“Never come back, stupid Grace!”

The door slammed shut with Eleanor’s words echoing after me.

The cold night air greeted me as I stumbled toward the gate.

Memories of my late mother filled my mind. I could never have imagined that the father who once loved me so much could be manipulated and poisoned by a woman like Scarlett.

From the beginning, I’d never agreed to his marriage to her. Scarlett’s background was dubious at best; my father met her after leaving a nightclub, on the side of the road.

The look in Scarlett’s and Eleanor’s eyes alone was enough to prove they were cruel and cunning. But my father was blind — falling deeper into their lies.

Now I had to bear all their evil deeds, sacrifice my happiness, and endure it all in tears.

So furious was I that I didn’t even feel the exhaustion as I made my way toward the gate, which was quite far from the main door.

“Good evening, Miss Grace. I’m sorry,” the guard at the gate said softly.

I could only nod, my eyes swollen.

Where should I go?

A long, empty road stretched before me. Which way should I take? Left or right?

My father’s mansion was far from any neighborhood, built in an exclusive area with only five other mansions — most of which were unoccupied because their owners were always abroad.

Taking a deep breath, I chose the right path, which would eventually lead me to the main road.

My steps were heavy, every breath adding weight to my chest. The night wind bit at my face, cold and sharp, yet it almost felt like the last embrace urging me on.

The street was deserted, lit only by the occasional dim streetlamp spaced far apart. I kept walking, no real destination except away from everything that had shattered me.

In the distance, I spotted an old bridge standing firm over a river. A dark idea crept into my mind.

Quickening my pace, I reached the bridge. The sound of the flowing river and the silence of the night seemed to push me toward one choice.

If everything had to end… why not end it here?

No one wanted me anymore. Maybe it was better to join my mother. Love and happiness were already gone.

My hands trembled as I gripped the railing, climbing onto the ledge. But the pain in my heart dulled the fear in my mind.

I was just about to jump when the blare of a car horn split the night. Headlights flooded me in harsh light, and I scowled in irritation.

A man stepped out of the car and ran toward me, shouting, “Wait!”

When he got close, he stopped and lit a cigarette. For some reason, I found myself curious about what he wanted to say instead of jumping immediately.

“You smoke?” I asked.

“No. And what do you want?”

“Me?” He chuckled. “I don’t want anything. I just want to stop you from doing something stupid.”

“What do you mean?!”

The man stood right beside me, smiling faintly as he looked at the bright moon overhead.

“I mean, I don’t want this place to turn into some tragic urban legend. What you’re about to do — what’s in your head right now — is stupid. This bridge is important. It’s famous for its history. Don’t stain it with your despair,” he said.

“Like I care. Life’s already been cruel to me — thrown out by my family, abandoned by my fiancé! Why should I think about anyone else?”

“You don’t actually want to jump.”

I turned to him sharply. “Don’t act like you know me! Mind your own business! I didn’t jump because you called me, you idiot!”

“If you really wanted to jump, you’d be in the water already — without caring that I showed up. The fact that you’re still here means your heart doesn’t truly want to do it.”

I shifted my gaze toward the wide river. What this stranger had said was true—deep down, I was still hesitant to end my life.

“Come on, get down. Let me help you. Stop doing something stupid. Your life may be in ruins, but do you really want to give those who threw you away the satisfaction of seeing you dead?”

He extended his hand toward me. His face held a warm smile, and there was sincerity in his eyes.

“But… I have nowhere to go. I’m alone and I don’t know where to turn…”

“Do you think the universe would really let you go through all this alone? Why do you think I happened to cross this bridge tonight? I could’ve gone straight to the main road instead—my friend’s mansion is that way.” He pointed toward a spot in the distance.

He brought his hand closer. Maybe it really wasn’t my time to end things.

I took his hand, and in one swift pull, he drew me back onto the safe side of the bridge.

The movement was so sudden that my gown snagged, and I almost fell—if not for him catching me in time.

Our eyes met. Something in his gaze made my heart race.

“My name’s Chase Morgan. Nice to meet you. Care for a drink?”

CHASE’S POV

The bartender slid two glasses of whiskey toward us. Grace wasted no time, downing hers in one go.

She had taken me up on my offer to drink, and we ended up in a bar not far from my place—quite a distance from where she’d almost ended her life.

“Another!” she called out.

“Whoa, slow down, Grace. Maybe take a break before the next one.”

She smirked and shook her head. “You invited me for drinks, so I’m making the most of it. No time to waste. I’m going to drink as much whiskey as I can.”

Once again, she emptied the glass the bartender had just poured. I signaled him to stop refilling it when she set it back down.

“That’s enough. Don’t overdo it.”

She glared at me. “What, you broke? Can’t pay for my drinks?”

“This isn’t about money. Aren’t you worried about getting drunk around a stranger? You said you have no place to go, no one left. What if I had bad intentions toward you?”

Her eyes went wide. She pointed at me, covering her mouth. Then, without warning, she jumped down from her stool and tried to leave. I caught her arm.

“Let go of me! You’re a psycho! Don’t kill me—I mean, I want to die, but not by being murdered!” she shouted.

She struggled so much that I eventually let go. Grace ran for the door.

I left some cash for the bartender and followed her outside.

She stood there, looking unsure whether to turn right or left. I watched her closely—I wasn’t going to let her just walk away, but I also wanted to see what she’d do.

Then, a young man from across the street shouted at her.

“Hey, pretty thing! Come here! Let’s have some fun! That body of yours looks ready to be touched!”

I barked back, “Leave her alone!”

Grace turned to me as I walked over and slipped my arm around her.

“What’s it to you, idiot? If you want, we can share!” the man jeered, laughing.

“I’m not in the mood for a fight, but keep your filthy mouth shut. Don’t touch my wife—or you’ll regret it and end up in jail!”

I led Grace away, smiling at her, while she just stared at me in confusion.

Near my car, she shoved me. “Let go of me! I don’t want to be with some crazy guy!”

“Then who do you want to be with? That creep back there?”

“I can take care of myself! Thanks for saving me and for the whiskey, but I’ll repay you some other time!” she said firmly.

I grabbed her hand again and this time made her get into the car.

“Hey! You’re being rude! Don’t force me or I’ll scream!”

I ignored that. I knew Grace still wanted someone to protect her—I could see it in the way her body softened when I urged her into the car. She was just too proud to admit it.

When I started the engine, she quieted down and put on her seatbelt.

“I’m not letting you be alone, Grace. At least not until you’ve found your way back—when you’re ready to truly stand on your own, I’ll let you go.”

“Why are you being so nice? You don’t even know me, and that’s exactly what makes me suspicious! What do you really want?”

I turned down the radio volume, delaying my answer. My mind drifted to the memory of a woman I had longed for over the years.

The truth was, Grace reminded me so much of my late sister—the one I’d failed to protect. And oddly enough, her scent was almost identical to my late wife’s.

It was as if she had appeared to stir up all my buried memories.

“Answer me! Stop zoning out!”

I met her gaze. She looked impatient.

“I’m just a widower, Grace. Alone, like you. I know how brutal life can be—especially when you’ve just lost the people who mattered most. How could I possibly leave you alone?”

“Wait—you’re a widower?! Oh my God, what happened to your wife?”

Her tone softened, and it was oddly endearing. She really was a good person; I could see it in her manner and in her eyes.

“My wife died in a car accident. She was pregnant with our child. That was five years ago.”

“Ah, I’m sorry for your loss.”

“It’s fine, I’ve made peace with all of that sadness. You’re not alone—our problems may be different, but we’re both fighting on our own.”

Grace let out a long sigh. “I don’t know… Even though you helped me, I’m not sure what will happen next. I can’t just keep being a burden to you, can I?”

“Of course not. I know you’re capable. For now, what matters is that we rest tonight and clear your mind.”

“Thanks, but I don’t have money for a hotel. Are you going to pay for it?” Grace asked innocently.

I chuckled at her question. I didn’t answer, just focused on driving. Since my house was already close, that would be answer enough for her.

“Wait—where are you taking me?! Whose house is this?!”

I signaled the guard to open the gate by flashing the headlights three times.

Grace still looked at me with a questioning gaze, as if she couldn’t guess that this was my home.

I parked the car in front of the terrace and turned to her. “Welcome to my home, Grace! Treat it like your own—don’t be shy. Come on, get out!”

Grace looked stunned as she stared at the yard and the mansion. She seemed impressed—perhaps she thought only the mansions in her neighborhood were the grandest in the city.

“You’re amazing! Wow! What do you do for a living?” she asked.

“Uh, do you know the MCorrs brand?”

Grace’s eyes widened and she nodded quickly. “Yes, of course! MCorrs is one of the suppliers for my father’s company, and my ex-fiancé works as a legal officer for one of MCorrs’ subsidiaries. You work with them? Oh my god, what a small world!”

“More accurately, I own MCorrs.”

“What?!” Grace pointed at me, then her expression turned panicked. “Shut up! You’re the MCorrs owner who’s famous for being so private?!”

“I didn’t even know I had that reputation. It doesn’t matter—don’t see me for my status, I’m just a regular person too.”

Grace chuckled, rubbing her forehead lightly. “This world is ridiculous. I can’t even imagine my family’s reaction if they found out I was saved by the owner of the company they’ve always hoped would invest in ours.”

“Wait—you haven’t told me your family’s name. Who’s your father, and who’s your fiancé?”

“Benjamin Hart is my father, and Hunter Cole is my fiancé. My family’s company is called Hart Brothers.”

I immediately pulled out my phone and checked the guest list for the charity event happening tomorrow.

Sure enough, both names she mentioned were on the list.

“You know, I have something that will really surprise them.”

Grace frowned. “What is it?”

“I don’t usually like events like this, but… would you come to the charity event tomorrow? They’ll be there too.”

A sly grin spread across Grace’s face. She nodded firmly. “That’s a brilliant idea!”