Chapter 169
Grace almost wanted to laugh at how convincing Alice’s acting was, having everyone taken in with her act.
“Grace, I’m free today. Want to go out for a bit? Oh, and if you’re looking for a place that might bring back memories, I can help. I know somewhere you used to go a lot,” Liam said.
That actually sounded like a good idea, especially since Grace wasn’t in the mood to argue with Alice. She slid into the car and said, “Alright, take me there.”
Liam quickly jumped into the driver’s seat, his smile more genuine now. “Alright!”
He stepped on the gas, and the car slowly pulled away from the Lambert residence. Grace had no memories of her past, but as she watched the scenery outside the window, she couldn’t help but wonder where Liam was taking her.
To her surprise, the car pulled into a cemetery. It wasn’t the same one she’d visited with Ethan, but it still carried that same solemn weight. She got out, glancing at Liam in confusion.
He scratched his head and explained, “Our grandpa, Albert Lambert, is buried here. He cared about you the most.”
A sudden tightness gripped her chest, but beyond that, nothing came back to her.
Liam hesitated, running a hand over his face. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure if bringing you here was the right call. When Grandpa passed, you cried for days. In his final moments, he pulled you aside, just the two of you, and whispered something. No one knows what he said. After that, you stopped eating and fainted. But whenever you had time, you’d come here.”
A sharp pain throbbed in her head as Grace made her way up the path.
Seeing that she still didn’t seem to remember anything, Liam continued, “When Alice first came to the family, Grandpa didn’t like her. He said she had a questionable character, but he was old and always on medication. When Grandpa heard about you jumping into the river for Yancey and nearly drowned, he…”
He paused for a long moment, his voice dropping. “It broke his heart, and he passed away soon after.”
Grace felt her legs grow weak, the overwhelming guilt threatening to swallow her whole. A sharp pain throbbed in her head, growing more intense, and soon, beads of sweat started running down her back.
“Grace?” Liam called, his voice filled with concern.
She slowly sank onto the steps, pressing her fingers to her temples. “I’m not feeling well. Just need a moment.”
He sat down beside her and pulled a tangerine from his pocket. “Here, have some of this.”
She shook her head. “Keep going. Maybe it’ll help me remember.”
He hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. The Lambert family had always believed that she had been the cause of Albert’s death.
That was why Quentin had distanced himself from her. Liam had been holding onto resentment toward Grace as well. After that, she only deepened the rift- acting recklessly and creating more tension with the family.
Grace glanced up at him, noticing his silence. “Why’d you stop?”
“Grace, some things are better left in the past,” he said gently. “I’m just worried you might not be able to handle it. Back then, you were a real handful. Honestly, it’s probably for the best that you’ve forgotten about Yancey. You upset so many people just trying to be with him.”