Chapter 7 - BLOOD AND MEMORY
Grace slapped Victoria before Nathan could stop her.
One clean strike.
Victoria’s head snapped sideways.
Nathan stood.
Grace’s hands were shaking.
“You knew that was a lie.”
Victoria touched her cheek.
“I knew nothing.”
“You saw me pregnant.”
“I never saw you after you disappeared.”
“You knew the dates.”
Victoria laughed coldly.
“I didn’t know how many Cole men you—”
Nathan’s hand struck the table.
The room went silent.
“Enough.”
His voice was low.
Final.
He looked at Grace.
“Lily is mine.”
Grace nodded.
“No doubt?”
“None.”
Nathan believed her.
But belief and proof were different things emotionally, even if he had no interest in paperwork.
He needed the story.
Not a test.
Not yet.
“How did Edwin know about the pregnancy?”
Grace stared at him.
“I don’t know.”
Victoria whispered:
“Maybe Julian told him.”
Grace turned.
“No.”
“You said Julian met your father.”
“Before I knew I was pregnant.”
Nathan raised one hand.
“Timeline.”
Grace forced herself to think.
“The night Nathan and I were together.”
Nathan remained expressionless.
“Two days later, the courier died.”
“Yes.”
“That night you saw Julian?”
“Yes.”
“Next day Marcus took you.”
“Yes.”
“When did you learn you were pregnant?”
“Almost five weeks later.”
“So whoever knew later had access to you after you were taken.”
Grace’s expression changed.
Nathan saw it.
“Who?”
“At the farmhouse.”
“Who came?”
“Marcus.”
“Anyone else?”
Grace thought.
“A doctor.”
Nathan’s face hardened.
“Name?”
“I never knew.”
“Male?”
“Yes.”
“Age?”
“Sixties maybe.”
“Anything distinct?”
Grace closed her eyes.
“Gold ring.”
“What kind?”
“Black stone with a silver edge.”
Nathan stared.
Edwin Cole wore exactly that.
Not enough.
But something.
“Did you see his face?”
“No.”
“He examined you?”
“Yes.”
“Could he have known?”
Grace went pale.
“Yes.”
Nathan looked at Victoria.
“Edwin knew because Edwin’s people knew.”
Victoria said nothing.
Nathan continued.
“He told you Lily might be Julian’s to make you afraid of her claim.”
“Maybe.”
“No.”
Nathan’s voice darkened.
“To make me doubt Grace if she returned.”
Grace looked at him.
That wound had nearly worked before it was even used.
Nathan felt shame.
Three years ago, if Grace had returned pregnant and someone had whispered Julian’s name, would Nathan have believed her?
He did not know.
That uncertainty disgusted him.
Victoria leaned forward.
“You’re assuming Edwin is the villain because it fits.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Good.”
She frowned.
“That means you’re thinking.”
Nathan almost smiled.
“Who else benefits?”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
Nathan continued.
“If Edwin wanted Grace gone, why allow Julian to keep moving?”
“He might not control Julian.”
“Exactly.”
Grace spoke.
“Julian might be trying to destroy the Table.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Or control it.”
“Yes.”
Neither romanticized the dead brother.
Good.
Nathan needed that.
A knock came.
Dante Price, Nathan’s chief bodyguard, entered.
“Sir.”
“What?”
“We checked the coat room.”
“And?”
“The woman who handled Lily’s cardigan is gone.”
“Name.”
“Rebecca Shaw.”
Nathan frowned.
He knew the surname.
“Related to Evelyn?”
“Her niece.”
Evelyn Shaw, the housekeeper currently watching Lily.
Nathan’s face changed.
“Where is Evelyn?”
“With Lily.”
Grace ran first.
Nathan followed.
The room was empty.
Wooden blocks scattered across the carpet.
Window open.
Lily gone.
Grace made a sound Nathan would remember forever.
On the floor lay one black card.
A square.
One chair.
Black Table.
Nathan picked it up.
On the back:
BRING JULIAN’S RING TO THE OLD CHAPEL.
Grace grabbed his arm.
“Nathan.”
He looked at her.
Her face was white.
“They took our daughter.”
Something inside Nathan became very calm.
That was when people around him were most afraid.
He looked toward Dante.
“Find Evelyn.”
“Yes.”
“Alive.”
Dante understood.
Nathan looked at Grace.
“You stay.”
“No.”
“Grace.”
“She is my daughter too.”
Nathan stared.
Three years of absence stood between them.
So did Lily.
He nodded once.
“Then you come.”
Victoria stood.
Nathan looked at her.
“You don’t.”
She almost laughed.
“You think this has nothing to do with me?”
Nathan’s eyes hardened.
“It has everything to do with you.”
He looked at two bodyguards.
“Keep her here.”
Victoria shouted after him:
“Edwin owns the chapel!”
Nathan stopped at the doorway.
Turned.
Victoria’s breathing was fast.
“The old chapel belonged to Arthur.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Arthur used it.”
May you like
Nathan waited.
“Edwin built the room underneath it.”
