<b>Chapter </b><b>190 </b>


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    <i>“</i><i>I </i><i>think </i><i>that’s </i>a good <i>idea</i><i>. </i><i>I </i>would <i>do </i>pancakes<i>. </i><i>It’s </i>good <i>for </i><i>the </i><i>stomach</i><i>.</i>” <fn129f> Find the newest release on find?novel</fn129f>


    <i>“</i><i>Oh</i><i>, </i><i>Gracie </i><i>isn’t </i><i>sick </i>mom.”


    <i>“</i><i>I </i><i>know</i>.”


    <i>?????????? </i>


    <b>42 </b>


    I furrowed my brows as I watched my mother continue to read her book. That was strange.


    After breakfast, we began the preparations for the birthday party. With the party just three days away, I wanted to make sure everything was in order. All the right guests had received their invites and RSVP, including the Rochesters. Tyler brought me the final party favor. This would be the <i>‘</i><i>icing </i><i>on </i><i>the </i><i>cake</i>‘.


    <i>“</i><i>Did </i><i>you </i><i>want </i><i>to </i><i>watch </i><i>the </i><i>recording </i><i>beforehand</i><i>?” </i>


    Tyler asked as he poured both me and Cameron a drink.


    “<i>Have </i><i>you </i><i>watched </i><i>it</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>


    Tyler sat in his chair and sighed.


    <i>“</i><i>Yeah</i><i>…</i>I did. <i>Zelma </i><i>got </i><i>some </i><i>great </i><i>shit</i>. <i>Well</i><i>…</i><i>in </i><i>terms </i><i>of </i><i>bringing </i><i>down </i><i>the </i><i>Rochesters</i>. <i>Those </i><i>people </i>really <i>are </i><i>scum</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    I nodded in response indicating I wanted to see the recordings. ording to Tyler, Zelma began recording conversations from the Rochesters the day after she spoke with my mother. I sat in silence as we watched the recordings. Hours of the Rochesters talking about dirty deals and illegal business. Then came the day everyone found out Gracie epted my parents‘ proposal. I could feel the heat rising from my chest as her brother Brian and that jackass Jonathan mocked me for being in aa. That girl, Olivia, she knew exactly what she was doing.


    Though I have to admit, watching my love p that Brooks fool made all of this worth it. Watching her defend me…even before knowing me she defended me. I always knew my love wasn’t misced.


    After finishing the video, Cameron handed me some documents.


    <i>“</i><i>This </i><i>is </i><i>the </i><i>proof </i><i>we </i><i>needed </i><i>as </i><i>well </i><i>that </i><i>Rochester </i><i>and </i><i>Brooks </i><i>are </i><i>using </i><i>that </i><i>real </i><i>estate </i><i>development </i>


    <i>deal </i><i>as </i>a <i>front </i>for an underground <i>crime </i><i>lord</i><i>. </i>I’m sure <i>their </i><i>board </i><i>will </i>love to <i>hear </i><i>about </i><i>that</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    Good…everything was in ce. Now all we needed was the star attractions.


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


    <b>42 </b>


    The time was now 5:30pm and I was finishing up my hair and makeup. The birthday party was actually a masquerade ball. For my attire, I chose a phoenix themed gown and mask. Representing my rise from the ashes. It was poetic that my new home also took ce in Phoenix, South Bay. I now knew why I was reborn. Fate had given me a chance to make the right choice and finally be with the family I was always meant to be with.


    I watched from the tablet as the guest began to arrive. The ball took ce in the estate’s grand hall. I could hear many people questioning exactly WHO this event was for.


    “So, <i>which </i><i>Christiansen </i><i>is </i><i>being </i><i>celebrate </i><i>tonight</i><i>?</i>”


    <i>“</i><i>I’m </i><i>not </i><i>sure</i>. <i>It </i><i>couldn’t </i><i>be </i><i>the </i><i>oldest </i><i>right</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>


    “No <i>he’s </i><i>still </i><i>in </i>a <ia</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    “<i>That’s </i>so <i>sad</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    <i>“</i><i>Yeah</i><i>…</i><i>to </i><i>tell </i><i>you </i><i>the </i><i>truth</i><i>, </i><i>I </i><i>was </i><i>surprised </i><i>they </i><i>were </i><i>even </i><i>doing </i><i>this</i>. <i>For </i><i>the </i><i>past </i>nine <i>months </i><i>they </i><i>haven’t </i>had <i>any </i><i>festivities</i><i>.</i>”


    “Well <i>can </i><i>you </i><i>me </i><i>them</i>? <i>I </i><i>don’t </i><i>know </i><i>what </i><i>I </i><i>would </i><i>do </i>if <i>my </i><i>son </i>were in aa. Especially someone as <i>aplished </i>as <i>Kai </i><i>Christiansen</i><i>. </i>


    “”


    The gossiping was circting all throughout the ballroom with the same question being asked.


    ‘Who was <i>this </i>party for<i>?</i><i>‘ </i>


    As I sipped on my ss of wine, Ka, Londyn, Joey, and Jackie came into my dressing room.


    “<i>OMG</i>!!!!! <i>Gracie</i>!!! <i>Look </i>at you!!!!”


    Ka squealed as she rushed over to hug me.


    “Oh <i>Gracie</i><i>…</i><i>you </i><i>look </i><i>so </i><i>beautiful</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>


    Jackie’s eyes started to water up as she made her way over.


    “<i>Nope</i><i>!! </i><i>Don’t </i><i>you </i><i>dare</i><i>! </i><i>Nobody </i><i>cry</i><i>!! </i><i>Remember our </i><i>makeup</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>


    We allughed aloud as Londyn scolded us about crying. Joellie walked in front of me cing her hands on my shoulders.


    <i>“</i><i>You </i><i>ready </i><i>mama</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>


    <i>“</i><i>I’m </i><i>ready</i><i>.</i>”


    I could feel my heart beating at rapid speed. Tonight…I would finally get my justice.


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