Chapter 327
Chapter 327:
Gracie turned fully to face him, her gaze direct and unyielding. “But I would say no to you p>
“You wound me,” Theo said, shaking his head in mock sorrow.
“Ellie possesses a brand of lovesick desperation I find exhausting—constantly plotting to capture affection instead of cultivating her own worth. Watching her repeat the same pathetic mistakes… sometimes I wish she would simply fade from the picture p>
“Are you implying,” Gracie asked carefully, every muscle tense, “that you made her fade from the picture p>
Theo let out a short, sharp laugh. “That would imply I’m a criminal, and I am, above all, a law-abiding man. I was merely venting frustration. But if you do know her whereabouts, you should tell me. My feelings for her are not warm, but I don’t wish her harm. At worst, we pursue a divorce p>
A frown creased Gracie’s brow. For the first time, she questioned her assumptions. Was Ellie truly in his custody? And in what state?
Theo looked down, masking his expression. “You should be cautious of Delia. Three years ago… she almost succeeded in killing Lia. Her harmless facade is just that—a facade.” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. “If you’re afraid, my offer stands. You could come to me. We could even propose a rearrangement to our families—a swap. You and I understand each other. We are, in fact, a far better match p>
Gracie recoiled, shoving him away with palpable disgust. The arrogance of his claim was staggering.
Yet his warning about Delia’s past violence lingered. If it were true, and if Delia had indeed attempted to kill Lia, then Theo’s insinuations held a dark weight.
It cast Brayden’s old, fierce admonitions—his warnings never to hurt Lia—in a new, more sinister light. Had they been rooted in the trauma Delia had caused?
“Gracie!” Jessie’s call cut through her turbulent thoughts.
Gracie looked toward the voice and saw a second figure accompanying her friend. As they neared the firelight, recognition was instant. “Bernie p>
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“A chance encounter with an old classmate,” Jessie explained, her smile bright. “We literally ran into each other near the restrooms. He’s built his own company now, and it’s flourishing. He’s here as another guest’s plus-one. It’s wonderful to see a familiar face from the past p>
But Gracie’s face remained a mask of frost. Her hands clenched involuntarily.
In their previous life, Bernie had appeared at Jessie’s birthday celebration. Now, the stage had changed, but the entrance of this particular actor remained eerily consistent.
His company was a success on the surface, but she knew its hollow reality.
A terrifying realization jolted through her. Could the Holt family’s financial ruin have been triggered by investing in Bernie’s fraudulent enterprise?
“It’s been years, Gracie,” Bernie said, his smile congenial. “I just heard the news about you and Brayden Stanley. It seems fortune has smiled on all of you p>
Gracie stood abruptly, closing her fingers firmly around Jessie’s wrist. “The air has turned cold. We should go inside p>
“Cold?” Jessie glanced, puzzled, at the roaring fire beside them.
“I need to go in. I’m feeling a bit peckish and want a slice of cake,” Gracie insisted, her grip firm as she offered Bernie a curt, polite nod. “We’ll catch up later p>
“Of course,” Bernie replied, his tone perfectly courteous as he watched them depart.
Theo rose slowly to his feet, a spark of keen amusement in his eyes as he observed the two women retreat. His voice, though quiet, carried clearly. “Well then? Don’t you think you owe me a word of thanks this time p>