<b>Chapter </b><b>184 </b>


    <b><i>Gracie’s </i></b><b>POV</b><b>: </b>


    I stared at Benard Thorton for what felt like an eternity. This was the man Sharon hired to murder. me. I could feel my stomach turn in knots as I squeezed Kai’s hand. Was that why he always stared at me in that creepy manner? Thinking about how I was almost his prey?


    Kai suddenly kissed my hand gently and stared at me with the most secure expression. I could slowly feel my nerves begin to waiver. That was right! I wasn’t alone anymore; I had Kai and everyone else. There would be no fire this time!


    Thorton’s eyes widen in horror once he realized who Kai was. All that arrogance blew into the wind once he learned he was talking to the world’s most powerful heir.


    <i>“</i>K–<i>Kai</i>….<i>Chris</i>….<i>but </i>I <i>thought</i>…”


    Benard’s eyes darted over to me with a confused expression. I could tell he wanted to ask me something; but he was now too afraid. Ramone had already given him a warning punch.


    Two of Ramone’s henchmen pulled chairs over for us to sit in. Tyler then handed P speaking, Kai looked over the contents once more. Nervously, Thorton began to speak.


    a folder; before


    “<i>Lord </i><i>Christiansen</i><i>…</i><i>I </i><i>have </i><i>no </i><i>idea </i><i>what’s going </i><i>on</i><i>! </i><i>I’ve </i><i>never </i>crossed <i>House </i><i>Christiansen</i><i>…</i><i>why </i><i>am </i><i>I-</i>”


    <i>“</i><i>Well</i><i>, </i><i>that’s </i>not <i>true </i>Mr. <i>Thorton</i>. <i>Afterall</i><i>, </i><i>your </i><i>employer </i><i>hired </i><i>you </i>to murder <i>my </i><i>love</i><i>…</i>I’d <i>say </i><i>that’s </i><i>a </i><i>pretty </i><i>big </i><i>fucking </i>cross.”


    The blood began to drain from Thorton’s face as his color quickly paled.


    “W–<i>What</i>…<i>are </i><i>you-</i>”


    Kai held his hand up cutting Thorton off.


    <i>“</i><i>Let’s </i>not do <i>that </i>Mr. <i>Thorton</i>. <i>I </i><i>have </i><i>a </i><i>very </i><i>low </i><i>tolerance </i>for <i>lies</i>…so <i>the </i><i>more </i><i>you </i><i>try </i>to lie, <i>the </i><i>more </i><i>I’m </i><i>going </i><i>to </i><i>get </i><i>upset</i><i>. </i><i>If </i><i>I </i><i>get </i><i>upset</i><i>…</i><i>well</i><b><i>, </i></b><i>my </i><i>head </i><i>of </i>security <i>isn’t </i>fond of <i>his </i><i>employer </i><i>being </i><i>angry</i>.”


    Thorton’s eyes darted over to Ramone as he stared directly at Thorton. With his eyes going back to Kai, he quickly decided to stay quiet.


    “<i>You’ve </i><i>been </i>a <i>very </i><i>busy </i><i>man </i><i>over </i><i>the </i><i>years </i><i>Mr. </i>Thorton<i>. </i><i>It </i><i>looks </i>like <i>the </i><i>Rochesters have </i><i>kept </i><i>you </i>


    <i>busy</i><b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Closing the folder, Kai looked directly at Thorton.


    “<i>You </i><i>know </i><i>why </i><i>you’re </i><i>here</i><i>…</i><i>right </i><i>Mr. </i><i>Thorton</i>?”


    Benard looked as if he was afraid to answer. Realizing such, Kai responded.


    “It’s <i>okay</i>…<i>you </i><i>can </i><i>answer</i>.


    “<i>Lord </i><i>Christiansen </i>I <i>don-</i>”


    <i>“</i><i>Remember </i><i>what </i><i>I </i><i>said </i><i>about </i><i>lying </i><i>Mr. </i><i>Thorton</i>.”


    Kai spoke in a calm but menacing tone causing Thorton to shudder. After letting out a deep sigh, he began to speak.


    <i>“</i><i>Could </i><i>I </i><i>have </i><i>a </i><i>cigarette </i><i>please</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>


    Ramone motioned for one of his henchmen to bring a cigarette and lighter. After releasing his


    hands, Ramone handed Thorton the cigarette and the lighter.


    <i>“</i>Don’t <i>try </i><i>anything </i><i>stupid </i><i>Thorton</i><i>…</i><i>your </i><i>family </i><i>won’t </i><i>be </i><i>able </i><i>to </i><i>identify </i><i>you</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    Benard nodded his head, all the resolution out of him. After lighting the cigarette and taking a drag,


    he smiled lightly at Kai and I.


    “<i>So</i><i>, </i><i>what </i><i>do </i><i>you </i><i>want </i><i>to </i><i>know</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>


    Before Kai could say anything, the words flew out of my mouth.


    <i>“</i><i>Tell </i><i>me </i><i>the </i><i>truth </i><i>about </i><i>Sharon </i><i>Rochester</i><i>…</i><i>why </i><i>did </i><i>she</i>…”


    The words caught in my throat. I couldn’t fix myself to utter the words ‘<i>kill </i><i>me</i>‘.


    Kai gently rubbed my back while Thorton lightly chuckled.


    <i>“</i>So <i>you </i><i>wanna </i><i>know </i><i>why </i><i>she </i><i>hired </i><i>me </i><i>to </i><i>get </i><i>rid </i><i>of </i><i>you</i><i>. </i><i>Okay</i><i>…</i>I’ll <i>tell </i><i>you </i><i>the </i><i>truth</i>.”


    We all sat in silence as we awaited his next words. Taking a deep breath, he continued.


    “<i>There </i><i>was </i><i>a </i><i>saying </i><i>back </i><i>in </i><i>the </i><i>day</i><i>. </i><i>The </i>Rochester men <i>could </i>only produce boys.”


    My brows instantly furrowed, I remember hearing that in my previous life. Of course that never <b>made </b>any sense to me seeing as to how I wasn’t a boy.


    “For the longest I thought that was rubbish until I even started to notice. Rochester women and extended family…THEY would have girls. But the men…your grandfather, your father…your uncle… nothing but boys.” <fnd7db> Fresh chapters posted on </fnd7db>


    “<i>When </i><i>your </i>mother found out <i>she </i><i>was </i><i>carrying </i>a <i>girl</i>, <i>she </i>paniced. <i>She </i>knew <i>if </i><i>word </i><i>came </i>out that <i>she </i><i>was </i><i>carrying </i><i>a girl</i><i>, </i><i>her </i>mother–in<i>–</i><iw </i><i>would </i><i>grow </i>suspicious. <i>When </i><i>your </i>Uncle <i>Carter’s </i><i>wife </i><i>became </i><i>pregnant </i><i>with </i><i>a </i><i>girl</i><i>; </i><i>your </i><i>grandmother </i><i>ordered </i><i>an </i><i>immediate </i><i>paternity </i><i>test</i>. <b><i>Of </i></b>course <i>it </i><i>came </i><i>back </i><i>a </i><i>match</i><i>.</i>”


    <i>“</i><i>At </i><i>one </i><i>point</i>, <i>she </i><i>even </i><i>contemted </i><i>terminating </i><i>the </i><i>pregnancy</i>. <i>Unfortunately, </i><i>your </i><i>father </i><i>was </i>very <i>involved </i><i>with all </i><i>of </i><i>her </i><i>pregnacies</i><i>.</i>”


    My face twisted up in confusion, I didn’t understand. Why would she be worried just because….


    Suddenly, my heart began to speed up, was he about to say what I think he is…


    As if reading my mind, he began tough.


    <i>“</i><i>Rx kid</i><i>…</i>it’s <i>not </i><i>what </i><i>you </i><i>think</i>. <i>You </i><i>are </i><i>most </i><i>definitely </i><i>a </i><i>Rochester</i>….<i>BUT</i><i>….</i><i>your </i><i>mother </i><i>didn’t </i><i>know </i><i>that </i><i>at </i><i>the </i><i>time</i>. <i>At </i><i>the </i><i>time</i><i>…</i><i>she </i><i>feared </i><i>her </i><i>luck </i><i>might </i><i>not </i><i>be </i><i>as </i><i>fortunate </i><i>as the </i><i>other </i>Mrs. <i>Rochester</i>.<b>” </b>


    Kai’s brows began to furrow.


    <i>“</i><i>Are </i><i>you </i><i>saying </i><i>Sharon </i><i>Rochester </i><i>WAS </i><i>in </i><i>fact </i><i>having </i><i>an </i><i>affair</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>


    My eyes instantly widen. Over the years<b>, </b>I watched my parents disy nothing but love and admiration for each other; it was ludicrous to think that either of them would have ever cheated on


    one other!


    But why else would she have been so worried….


    <i>“</i><i>Shit </i><i>really </i><i>hit </i><i>the </i><i>fan </i><i>when </i><i>she </i>got <i>closer </i>to the <i>due </i><i>date</i><i>. </i><i>Because </i><b><i>of </i></b><i>some </i><iplications </i><i>with </i>her <i>third </i><i>pregnancy</i><i>, </i><i>the </i><i>doctor </i><i>suggested </i><i>she </i><i>have </i>a <i>cesarean</i>. <i>So </i><i>you </i><i>father</i><i>, </i><i>he </i><i>immediately </i><i>had </i><i>her </i><i>set </i><i>up </i><i>in </i><i>the </i><i>VIP and </i><i>stayed </i><i>with </i><i>her </i><i>most </i>of <i>the </i><i>time</i>.<i>” </i>


    “I’m <i>not </i><i>sure </i><i>what </i><i>her </i><i>overall </i><i>n </i><i>was</i><i>, </i><i>but </i><i>in </i><i>the </i><i>end</i><i>…</i><i>she </i>came <i>to </i><i>one </i><i>conclusion</i><i>. </i><i>The </i><i>child </i><b><i>would </i></b>


    <i>have </i><i>to </i><i>go</i>.”


    I could feel the tears start to build up in my eyes. Thorton had a look of guilt on his <b>face</b>.


    <i>“</i><i>You </i><i>have </i><i>to </i>understand<i>, </i><i>if </i><i>it </i>hade <i>out </i><i>that </i><i>the </i><i>child </i><i>wasn’t </i><i>Calvin’s</i>….<i>Rosemary </i>Rochester <b><i>would </i></b><i>have </i><i>destroyed </i><i>Sharon</i><i>! </i><i>She </i>didn’t <i>have-</i>”


    <i>“</i><i>That’s </i><i>no </i>excuse!!!<i>” </i>


    My rage grew as the words flew out of my mouth. Hearing him try and JUSTIFY killing her own


    daughter all so she wouldn’t lose her standings in high society!!!


    Seeing my anger rise as the tears fell from my eyes, Kai’s expression darken.


    <i>“</i><i>I </i><i>don’t </i><i>remember </i><i>asking </i><i>you </i><i>to </i><i>defend </i><i>that </i><i>despicable </i><i>woman </i><i>Thorton</i><i>. </i>Do <i>it </i><i>again</i><i>…</i><i>and </i>it’ll be <i>the </i><ist </i><i>words </i><i>you </i><i>ever </i><i>speak</i><i>.</i>”


    Thorton nodded nervously and continued.


    <i>“</i><i>Anyway</i><i>, </i><i>she </i><i>sent </i><i>me </i><i>text </i><i>asking </i><i>me </i><i>to </i><i>help </i><i>her</i>. <i>One </i><i>day</i><i>, </i><i>Calvin </i><i>had </i><i>to </i><i>run </i>to <i>the </i><i>office</i><i>, </i><i>and </i><i>I </i><i>came </i><i>to </i><i>the </i><i>hospital</i><i>. </i><i>I </i><i>thought </i><i>she </i><i>wanted </i><i>me </i><i>to </i><i>try </i><i>and </i><i>fake </i><i>some </i><i>documents </i><i>or </i><i>something </i><i>but</i>….”


    His voice trailed off as if he were remembering something dark.


    <i>“</i><i>That’s </i><i>when </i><i>she </i><i>told me </i><i>what </i><i>she </i><i>wanted </i><i>me </i>to do<i>.</i><i>” </i>


    I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.


    <i>“</i><i>Kill </i><i>me</i><i>…</i>she <i>told </i><i>you </i>to kill <i>me</i>…”


    Thorton shook his head. I could feel my heart shattering into a million pieces. I thought the worse thing that family could ever do was watch me burn to death in a house fire…turns out…there was far


    worse….


    Kai handed me a wipe so that I could wipe my face. I took several deep breaths before continuing<i>. </i>


    <i>“</i>So<i>…</i><i>why </i><i>didn’t </i><i>you</i><i>? </i><i>Why didn’t </i><i>you </i><i>kill </i><i>me as </i><i>she </i><i>ordered</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    The words felt like acid on my throat. Thorton suddenly looked at me with guilt riddled in his eyes. He sat silently before Kai intervened.


    <b>9:00 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>14 B


    <i>“</i><i>My </i><i>fiancé </i><i>asked </i><i>you </i>a <i>question </i><i>Thorton</i>!”


    :


    He barked at him with venom in his tone. I could tell his anger was beginning to rise. Thorton looked at Kai and then at me.


    <i>“I</i>…<i>I </i><i>just </i><i>couldn’t</i>.”


    “<i>Why</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>


    <i>“</i><i>Because</i>…I….<i>you</i><i>…</i>”


    Kai began to lose his patience.


    <i>“</i><i>Spit </i><i>it </i><i>out </i><i>Thorton</i><i>! </i><i>Enough </i><i>of </i><i>your </i><i>bullshit</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>


    “<i>Because </i><i>I </i><i>thought </i><i>you </i><i>were </i><i>mine</i><i>! </i><i>I </i><i>thought </i><i>I </i><i>was </i><i>your </i><i>father</i>….<i>so </i><i>you </i><i>see</i>….<i>I </i><i>just </i><i>couldn’t</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    The words flew out of his mouth and although I heard them…I couldn’t believe it.


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