Grace stood by the door, watching the scene unfold with a speechless


    expression.


    "Why are you crying? You''re about to turn 20-can you try acting your age?" she teased.


    A look of lingering fear spread across Liam''s face. He rubbed his eyes hard. "I''m nevering back to this ce again. I swear, Grace, I''ll nevere back here for the rest of my life."


    He looked like he was ready to swear it on his grave.


    Grace just gave a small smile, watching him excitedly shove his books into the


    car.


    She drove him back to the vi, which meant, unfortunately, they''d have to run into Andrea.


    The moment Andrea saw Liam return, her face lit up with joy. "Liam, you''re out! This is amazing. Let''s just stay here together for the rest of our lives, okay?"


    The moment Liam saw her, his smile faded a few notches. He silently set the books down on the coffee table and headed for the door.


    Andrea grabbed his sleeve. "Where are you going? It''s almost Christmas. I want to go shopping with you!"


    Liam yanked his arm free. "It''s been a long time since I''ve had time alone with my sister. Stay here. I''ll be back soon."


    Andrea''s expression darkened. Her hand at her side clenched tight, then suddenly flew to her stomach.


    "Liam, my stomach really hurts. Can you take me to the hospital?"


    Her acting was truly convincing. Cold sweat suddenly appeared on her forehead, and her whole body looked unsteady, as if she might copse.


    Liam instinctively caught her, his voice panicked. "What''s wrong?"


    "My stomach hurts... I just want you with me. Maybe the baby wants us together too," she whispered.


    He looked helplessly toward Grace.


    That was when Grace realized how good Andrea was at faking it. Honestly, she could''ve gone head-to-head with a real actress and won.


    She didn''t bother with the drama. She turned around and walked off, leaving a few words behind. "Take care of her, then. I already bought some Christmas stuff. Those string lights around your house and the wreath on the door? I put them up myself."


    Just as Liam started to take a step after Grace, Andrea''s sudden cry stopped him cold.


    She was on her knees, clutching her stomach, her face drained of color as she said, "Liam... I missed you, too."<fn7a0b> Find the newest release on Find?Novel</fn7a0b>


    Liam said nothing. He slowly sank into the couch, not going anywhere.


    Back in the car, Grace sat in silence, anger boiling inside her. She couldn''t stop caring about Liam, no matter how much she tried.


    She didn''t drive off right away. Her phone buzzed, and she saw it was Joanne calling.


    "Grace, I made some sausage for Christmas. Do you want me to bring some over? Are you home right now?"


    "I''m at Liam''s ce. Are you off work already?" Grace replied.


    Joanne''s voice was cheerful as she said, "Yeah, I got a break. I''m free all week. If you''re thinking of going somewhere, I''lle with you."


    Grace had been buried in work and hadn''t even considered taking time to rx. She was about to respond when she suddenly heard a loud knock on her window.


    Before she could react, someone smashed it.


    A group of masked men with steel pipes shattered the ss. One of them grabbed a jagged shard and shed at her neck.


    Grace flinched back just in time-but then someone dumped a full bucket of gasoline through the open window.


    Then came a lit cigarette.


    She kicked open the passenger door and threw herself backward, mming her head against the pavement so hard she almost threw up.


    mes whooshed past her ear.


    The noise startled Liam inside the vi. He ran outside, panic-stricken.


    "Grace!"


    She wanted to tell him to get back inside, afraid the attackers might go after him too, but they were already gone. The whole thing happened in seconds.


    As someone helped her up, she could still smell the gasoline soaked into her pants.


    Liam''s hands were shaking. "What the hell just happened?"


    Her car had been parked just down the street from the vi. If it were someone who had nned this, Andrea would be the first suspect.


    From Andrea''s point of view, now that Liam had recovered, he should be taking over thepany. Grace was just in the way.


    Still, Grace didn''t think Andrea would be stupid enough to do something so tant.


    Her phone was still in her hand, and Joanne''s voice was frantic through the speaker. "Grace? Say something! What''s going on?"


    Grace took a breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "I''m fine. I''m just having a situation I have to handle. Talkter."


    Joanne, already guessing what happened, mmed her phone down and immediately called Jodie. She was the only one who would be dumb and cruel enough to pull something like this.


    Jodie picked up with a mockingugh. "Wow, you''re ming me? All I did was poke a few buttons in front of Daphne. She''s the one who flipped out and went after Grace. Even if Grace tries to investigate, all signs point to Daphne. After all, her boyfriend''s little scandal is tied to Grace, isn''t it?"


    Daphne had spent so long wing her way up to Ike, so close to getting what she wanted, only for Grace to ruin everything.


    She had snapped, and when someone like her broke down, she was capable of anything.


    Joanne tightened her grip on the phone, her voice icy. "Ms. Henderson, I don''t want to get dragged into any of this. Control your people."


    Jodie snorted. "Joanne, you''re such a coward. You''re pathetic. You act all sweet to Grace, but deep down, you hate her guts. You think she''s your friend? She looks down on you. Always has. You''re nothing but a rat in the gutter. And let me remind you my uncle? He''s always loved Grace. He''d lie to the world for her.


    "You''ve never had a shot. You''re just a shadow, watching from afar, too scared to even show your face."


    The words hit Joanne hard. Her expression shifted through a storm of emotions, and her fingers clenched so tightly she nearly crushed her phone.


    Jodie didn''t care. She was used to barking orders and belittling anyone beneath her. Plus, she''d always looked down on Joanne anyway.


    To Jodie, she was nothing but a nobody from the bottom, and yet she had the nerve to set her sights on Ethan. It was pathetic, like thinking she ever had a shot at someone so far out of her league.


    Joanne ended the call with a trembling hand and stared coldly at the screen. Then she gave a quiet, bitterugh-her lips curling into a sharp, dangerous smile.