Chapter 172

Gracia sauntered in, her steps measured, and made herself comfortable on Natalie’s plush couch. “Look, I came here to talk business, not to pick a fight,” she began smoothly. “And let’s face it. This constant one–upmanship is doing neither of us any favors.”

“You want to know what happened in that crash?” she continued, her tone suggesting a truce. “Let’s sit down and hash it out.”

Natalie turned to face her, skepticism written all over her face. “And why should I trust you?” she asked icily.

Gracia was no fool. She had a knack for reading the room and manipulating people’s emotions.

Indeed, what haunted Natalie the most was the untimely death of her son, Zephyr.

But Gracia was a notorious liar, a fact well–known to Natalie.

Gracia had a talent for deceit from the tender age of three or four, framing others with such finesse that even the adults were fooled. Her lies were almost impeccable.

frequently pondered whether Gracia’s manipulative traits were learned from Lydia, or whether they were part of a more sinister innate disposition, indicative of a naturally bad seed. After years of enduring Gracia’s falsehoods, Natalie had become numb to them. Gracia said with a shrug of resignation, “I’m not forcing you to believe me. I can’t stand to watch certain people profit

Natalie’s frown deepened.

in Natalie, Gracia pressed on. “I

involves him. If you agree to walk away quietly, I’ll tell

you who

a long moment before responding in a low voice, “Well, go on then.

Madelyn,” Gracia said and leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “She was pregnant with Brian’s child a month before you, and when she found out you were too, she clung to Brian, driving a wedge between you two.

learned she was carrying a son, she grew paranoid about your unborn child, fearing another boy would

decided to act.

a murder to look like an accident, with no loose ends for the police to find? She must have had inside help and

15:38

Gracia’s account, her expression grew conflicted.

was mistaken about one thing. Nate wasn’t the darling of

asked, noticing Natalie’s uncertainty. She raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

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