Chapter 10
Grace acted as though the hadn’t heard a word from Nydia. Calmly and methodically, she began hanging her clothes piece by piece.
Growing emboldened by the silence, Mydia scoffed and continued, “all these years you never came back, Has Dad asked about you even once? You mean nothing to him.
“Gram, your father, your room, your man—I’ve taken them all. If I were you, I’d leave before embarrassing myself any further in this house, ”
Grace finished hanging the last shirt and turned with a faint smile, “Am the disgrace here, or is it you? Nydia, do you ally think you’re the heiress of this family?”
Mydlu’s expression changed. “What are you trying to?”
“Nothing much. Just thought I’d remind you of something. Namatter how many people outside call your mom “Men Harper, it doesn’t cha where she came from
“And it certainly doesn’t change the fact that she’s aboays, been the mistress memarter hoe hard she tries to pretend otherwise. That’s just who she is ”
e’s heelsdicked against the marble Boer she walked toward Nydia. The sharp, commanding energy of someone seasoned in i than Nydia, and with heels on, the pressum was almost tangible
gh–stakes business radiated from her. She was talke
with Dad.”
Het perfectly shaped lips curled into a slow, iry simile, “Didn’t your mother tell you? After all these years, she still hasn’t managed to get that marriage certificate with Wydad frozen, stunned, she had always been the pampered one, the spaded daughter who hadeverything handed ther “That’s impossible! Dad love her. Why haven’t they gotten then marriage certifare?
drace chudded. “How nave. You think marriage alliance in families like ours are about love? When our family struck a deal with the Langloed family, our family’s rise in power depended
on them
“Dad got everything he wanted from that deal and then betrayed my mother, which led to her death. You really think the Langfords were just going to let that slide?
She reached out and gently patted Nydia’s check, “Let me make this clear. As long my grandfather’s still bathing, they’ll never get married. Your mother will always be the mistr
“And you. You’ll always be just the child of a mistrem An legitimate daughter. Nydia, the fansen family lon’t like us. They don’t need a marriage alliance to stay powerful
The Jadewood, there has never been a shortage of powerful families, and for the past century, none have stood higher than the Jensen family.
“Do you think a family like that would go through with a marriage if they found out their heir was about to marry an illegitimate daughter who hasn’t even been legitimed? That wedding would be dead in the water.”
Nydia’s face turned ghostly pale. She never expected the pathetic girl of the past to return with such a bombshell
Grace gave her one last mocking pat on the cheek. “If I were you, I’d keep a low profile. Whether Dad loves me or not doesn’t change one thing – the rightful heiress to this family and
of you? All you had is his affection, and that’s k”
“Me! I have the Harpers behind me and the Langfords. And if I wanted to marry into the pan family, do you think they’d choose you or mu?
“De did you actually believe the Jensens wanted this marriage because you’re inceptional? Don’t kid yourself. What they want is what our family can offer.
“That’s the oral porpose of marriage alliances–merging benefits. This was
The truth hit Nydia lise slap. So, that’s why you came back to steal
about you, Nydia. You’re just the packaging,”
from me? Dream on, Grace‘ be the to marry into the Jensen family.”
With that, the spin and stormed out, completely use of the calculating smile during one’s lips
The Jensen family. She would get it, but marrying Zane was never part of the plan.
Older men were definitely better than young men just the art that he kept himself clean, avoiding all those messy relationships, was enough for race. Even if he turned out to be gay, she was detected to win him dvd Jayway.
Cole was older. For others, that might be a problem. But for Grace, it was exactly what she wanted,
Old men had retirement plan, and if cule died, the world inherit everything. All wealth would be her, and she could continue making life difficult for Zane. That thought alone brought hero stiglaction than anything be
The more she thought about it, the more the was convinced that Cole was
is truly her perfect match.
Tonight, he would be at the event.
Gracechin in thought she found herself wondering what kind of woman might appeal to Cole
She quickly called Oscar, who hurried heralde “Ma Harper,” he greeted
“Did you find anything in Cole–the one from the Jensen family?” she asked.
“He’s quite law – profile. He’s been living abroad for years, mostly operating behind the scenes as an investos. Many people he led to get else, but no one have, met “younow what he land?““”Grace pressed.
“found out he attends auctions, king on emeralds, rare gemstones, and specialty teas,” Oscar sald
“Got it.” In her mind, she pictured a middle–aged masinaditional attire, wearing a rosary bracelet, and sipping tea while inspecting his care antique n.
In dit the image of an older man, someone with refined tastes.
„Grace chose a custom–made enerald green traditional de vas, styled her hali up, and wa delicate enteraldearings, finishing her look with light makeup.
Ashe descended the stairs on time, she was told that the rest of the Harper family had already lets.
Grace smirked Nydia must have thought that by not taking her and sending all the divers away, ale wouldn’t be able to make it. But they were living in a moskern world “Doran, bring, me the gate kry, and don’t get the pastries Farked tun “
“Don’t guy, Ms. Harper. Everything’s ready “chanded at
“Be careful on the road, Ms. Haipei “Oscar wall as the head out
ly called walnut pastry box and a set of keys sleek sportsca
dem walled toward the garage, where she pulled out the dusty Konipeg Heu uneless father was dan has generous with his mistress and her family.
Meanwhile, Grace had to survive on just ju and dollars a year while Austin, obsessed with cars, had filled their garage with limited edition luxury cus
Trit more like a forgotten chill in comparison to them
ace floored the gas pedal, the supercar roaring to a sped down the bustling city. The choed through traffe, drawing eyes with its polished flair and unapologetic presence,
As the neared the fuel, the stepped on the accelerator again, spending past a deck black Bentley Mulsanne like a gust of wind
traide that Bentley, a mun testing quietly in the backseat slowly opened his eyes. His gaze, cold and indilleen, shitted toward the sports car now naming to stop up ahead
Chapte 10
The car door litted automatically.
from within, a stiletto heel in deep emerald green stepped out first, followed by a long, smooth leg revealed through the side slit of her traditional dress. The fabric shimmered in the light, luxurious satin swaying softly with each elegant movement
The tailored traditional dress hugged her slim waist and accentuated the graceful curve of her chest with understated elegance.
Grace mared with practiced ease, each step exuding confidence and allure.
A beautiful woman in a vintage dress paired with a luxury car–jest her back alone was enough to steal the breath from any room.
Cole found his throat tighten. He hadn’t expected her to look to breathtaking in a vintage dress.
By the time she entered, the dinner table inside the banquet hall was already half full. Guests from both families had started arriving
Nydia was dressed head to toe in designer, with diamonds dripping from her neck and wrists. She looked less like a socialite and more like a peacock trying to outshine the room.
On the other side of the table, Camel sipped her tea with quiet poise, her eyes discreetly taking in Nydia’s every movement.
She asked politely, “Mr. Harper, is everyone here? I heard Grace is back too. I haven’t seen her yet.”
She wasn’t mate. Amariage alliance might be in the tall, but she still had to pick the best candidate
Rumor had it that the Harpers doted on Nydia, and Grace didn’t have much status in the family. But her maternal family the Landfords–was another story. With uncles in both policies and business, she wasn’t some to be overlooked.
Since the engagement hadn’t been finalized, it didn’t hurt to keep bar options open.
Nydia responded with a charming smile, “Grace probably hasn’t adjusted to the time difference after returning from abroad. She’s just resting at home.”
Her words carried subcle undertones–Grace might be back, but clearly didn’t think this event was important enough to attend.
Camelia’s unile didn’t falter. But her fingers tapped lightly against the delicate ceramic teacup, the glossy tips of her manicured nails clicking in thought. | Just then, a soft female voice drifted in from the entrance. “Apologies, I’m late.”
