Chapter 174
Ethan fastened the last button on his shirt and glanced at Grace. “Give the Lamberts a call. They think something’s happened to you.”
His words broke the tense silence, and Grace let out a slow breath as relief spread through her chest. She quickly reached for her phone but hesitated, remembering she wasn’t close to the Lamberts.
Liam was the only Lambert she had any ties to, but he was probably still unconscious. For a moment, she didn’t know who to call.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Carmen leaned over Liam’s bed, sobbing. “How did this happen? Do the police know who did this?”
Alice quickly held her. “Mom, let’s wait until Liam wakes up. The car was Grace’s, but they still haven’t found her.”
Carmen tensed, looking even more worn out. “Grace only ever brings trouble. Wasn’t it enough that she drove her grandfather to his grave? She’s been against you at every turn, and now she almost got Liam killed. I just—”
Before she could finish, Quentin cut in. “Enough, Carmen. Liam and Grace were close. She wouldn’t have done this on purpose. She’s missing, and you’re already blaming her? At least wait for the police report.”
Quentin’s word was final. At that, Carmen pressed her lips together and said no
more.
Alice, however, could barely contain her satisfaction. She had already paid them off, and those people were likely out of the country by now. There was no way the police would trace anything back.
Grace, that miserable bitch, was finally gone for good!
Just as her smirk began to form, the door to the ward slammed open. Yancey stormed in, scanning the room. “Where’s Grace? It was her car. Was she with Liam? Where is she?”
The urgency on Yancey’s face was impossible to miss, and it twisted something in Alice’s mind, souring her mood.
She threw herself into his arms, sobbing. “The police are still looking, but the footage shows those guys chasing her. They had knives, Yancey-they must’ve wanted her dead. Grace is gone, she’s gone…”
Yancey shoved her away without hesitation. Before he even realized it, he slapped her across the face.
Alice stood frozen, the shock of the slap still ringing in her mind, her thoughts blank for several seconds.
He knew he shouldn’t have reacted like that, but the thought of Grace being gone made his chest tighten with something he couldn’t name. “Alice, don’t be ridiculous. They haven’t even found her-how can you be so sure?”
She pressed a hand to her cheek, and her whole body trembled. Her breaths came heavy with anger as she fixed her gaze on Liam. If Liam died too, would the Lamberts ever forgive Grace?
The thought was reckless, but it wasn’t her first time. Everyone believed Grace had driven Albert to his death, but that was far from the truth.
The day Alice arrived at the Lambert residence, Albert had made it clear he didn’t like her. Worse yet, he always took Grace’s side. No matter what Grace did, he always found a way to defend her.
When Albert knew Grace had jumped into the river for Yancey, he nearly collapsed. Alice knew this was her moment. She had been waiting for the chance to get rid of him.
When no one else was around, she sat beside him and whispered, “Grandpa, what should we do? Grace is losing her mind over Yancey. Last night, she didn’t just try to jump off a building-she even slept with a group of thugs. Yancey said he’d keep the engagement as long as she did what he asked-and she believed him.”
Tears ran down her face as she went on. “Now those photos are everywhere. How is she supposed to face anyone after this? Grandpa, please talk to her. I don’t want to see her ruin herself like this.”
Alice’s words hit Albert hard, leaving him so weak that even speaking became a struggle. But she had never felt more satisfied. She was meant to be the favorite in this family, and anyone who stood in her way deserved to die.
After Albert’s death, Quentin became disheartened, and Liam’s resentment toward Grace grew stronger. She eventually made Grace the family outcast, just as she had vowed on her first day here.
Or so she thought. Who would have expected Liam to start trusting his so-called “sister” again after Grace lost her memory? He even bought her a bag worth over two million dollars-something he once believed Grace was unworthy of.
Alice stood quietly to the side as her face twisted in anger, her nails digging deep into her palms. If Liam died, Quentin and Carmen would hate Grace forever. She’d never have a place in this family again.
Her eyes briefly lit up, but then she remembered that Grace was already dead. All her schemes now seemed pointless, only tarnishing the reputation of someone already gone. She sneered quietly and stayed silent, standing off to the side.
Carmen had already been upset when Yancey slapped Alice earlier. Now, watching him pace around, make calls, and send people out to search for Grace, her resentment only deepened. “Yancey, you should be focusing on Alice. You slapped her right in front of us. Do you think we don’t matter?”
Yancey hung up the phone, his expression tense. “Mrs. Lambert, I’m sorry, I’m just so worried. Liam’s in critical condition, so Grace is probably in worse shape. She’s your daughter. You want her to be okay, don’t you?”
Carmen was taken aback by his words, speechless. Her hatred for Grace ran deep because every divide in this family was her fault. If she could, she would wish for Grace’s death so the family could finally find peace.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy until Quentin finally spoke. “Grace will be fine. The police are looking for her. I can’t afford to lose anyone else.”
As he spoke, he rubbed his brow. The gray in his hair stood out more than ever, and exhaustion weighed heavily on his face.
Carmen’s heart suddenly tightened. When Albert passed away, it was as though Quentin had aged overnight.
No matter what, Grace was still his daughter. He could never stand by and watch something happen to her.