The days following the incident in the kitchen were a blur for Grace. She spent every waking moment on edge, constantly looking over her shoulder. The once peaceful house had turned into a war zone, and she was caught in the middle of a battle she didn’t understand. Ethan was oblivious to the tension, still focused on his work and trying to repair the cracks in his life, but Grace knew it was only a matter of time before something terrible happened.
Ethan, meanwhile, waited anxiously for Ella’s reply. He hadn’t heard from her since their last exchange, and the silence was starting to gnaw at him. He needed to know that she was safe, that the boys were safe. His mind kept replaying the moment he discovered Tania’s deceit. How could he have been so blind for so long?
Late one night, after tucking Grace into bed, Ethan sat in his home office, staring at his phone. His finger hovered over Ella’s name in his contacts, debating whether to call her. Before he could decide, a new message appeared on his screen. It was from Ella.
“I’ll meet you tomorrow. Noon, at the old pier.”
Ethan’s heart raced. The old pier. This meeting wasn’t just about the past; it was about the danger that still lurked in the shadows. Tania, Crystal, Fabian there were too many moving parts, too many threats to ignore.
Back at the house, Grace had managed to sneak into Ethan’s office while he was distracted. She curled up in his chair, seeking comfort in the familiar space. But even here, she couldn’t shake the fear that clung to her like a second skin. Tania’s words echoed in her mind, filling her with dread.
As she sat in the darkened office, the door creaked open, and Grace’s heart leaped into her throat. Tania stood in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the dim light from the hallway.
“Grace,” Tania’s voice was sickly sweet, “Come here, darling. I want to talk to you.”
Grace’s pulse quickened, and without a second thought, she bolted from the room, pushing past Tania and racing down the hall. She had no destination in mind just anywhere away from her mother.
Tania’s laughter followed her, chilling her to the bone. “Run all you want, Grace. You won’t get far.”
Grace reached the front door, fumbling with the lock, desperate to escape. But before she could open it, Tania’s hand clamped down on her shoulder, pulling her back.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Tania hissed, her nails digging into Grace’s skin. “You think Ethan will protect you forever?”
But before Tania could say more, Ethan’s voice rang out from the hallway. “Tania, let her go.”
Tania froze, her grip loosening just enough for Grace to slip away and run to Ethan’s side.
Ethan stared at his wife, his expression a mix of anger and disbelief. “What are you doing?”
Tania’s eyes flickered with rage, but she forced a smile. “Just a little chat with our daughter.”
Ethan’s gaze hardened. “Stay away from her.”
As Ethan and Grace retreated upstairs, Tania stood alone in the dimly lit hallway, her fury simmering just beneath the surface. She had lost Ethan, and now Grace too. But she wasn’t done fighting. Not yet.
The storm was far from over.