rt alleyway, her phone still securely held onto in her palm. The

me, Grace. I know things about yo

h it, to not remember Henry's words and the significance of the implication. But she cou

broke through the tension,

e television to his face. She wasn't sure what to do,

d him the

hing for a long time, his focus fixed on the screen, a small spark of skepticism

d with something that felt like betrayal,

voice barely above a whisper, but the int

know. I swear to you, Lucas, I

?" he interrupted, the frus

h the pressure. She intended to share with him everyth

y. Not yet. Not when everything she ha

lips. "But, I promise, it's not what you expected. Whatever Henry know

but an element of distrust persisted in hi

nt you to know. I never intended for

re audible than anything he could utter. The barrier between them had grown, no matter how

his tone regretful rather than furious. "This whole mess..." "It c

to make a point, bu

his head. "Let's return to t

he followed him back to the SUV in sile

about the message, because Grace was unable to get the message out her m

glide by in flashes of gold and silver, but her attention was els

she hidden for so long that it c

a lifetime of emotions in just a few hours. Lucas walked her inside, his hand

walls. Grace took a seat on one of the leather sofas, but her hands gripped securely in her lap. S

errupted the silence. "What is

of this moment. Everything she had swept under

king. "I did not believe Henry would eventuall

filled with questions and disbelief. Grace could feel the pressure

uncertain. "It wasn't anything illegal, but it was... it was complicated. My father w

deal was... Henry. He was my family's business partner at the time. But it was more than that. He was manipulating

aid, his voice s

ssisting him, but everything was a lie. He was exploiting me the entire tim

ces of her errors for years, like a perpetual shadow. But telling Lucas the trut

said, his voice steady, his e

to resort to me. I'm not sure how much Henry understands, but I c

against the desk, his expression thoug

m, her breath caught

r you're terrified of, we'll deal with it together. I've seen how dea

of his words sinking in. C

ocket once more, breaking the silence. Grace pu

essage fr

now what happens when you keep secret

as the message. He read it silently, h

d, he returned

ered calmly, but with such earnestnes