Chapter 162


    Chapter 162


    Brian shut off the water and stepped out, wrapping himself in his plush terry cloth robe, his brows knit in


    a frown when he saw Gracia hadn’t left.


    “Brian…” Gracia began, her voice trembling as she looked up at him.


    Brian was running out of patience, fixing her with a stern gaze. “Gracia, you’ve got two choices,” he


    said, his voice low and firm. “First, you can keep enjoying the perks the Howard family has given you,


    basking in our favor.


    Or second, if you insist on crossing this line and are so eager to get into my bed, fine. But after tonight,


    you’re to vanish from my life. Now, call the bodyguard to get some birth control pills. Strip off and


    shower ten times. I’ll be back in two hours.”


    Gracia’s face turned ashen. She didn’t want just one night. She wanted a lifetime! But she knew Brian


    too well. He was a man of his word.


    “I’m sorry…” she stammered in panic, “I won’t cling to you anymore. Today… Uriah…”


    “If he told you to jump off a bridge, would you?” Brian cut her off sharply, his voice hard,


    Gracia realized the seriousness of provoking Brian’s wrath. He had never said such harsh words to her


    before or hinted at wanting her out of his sight.


    Brian continued without waiting for her toe any closer, “You have one minute to take your key card


    and disappear.”


    That was his final warning to Gracia, ast chance before he made her regret her boldness.


    He had always seen Gracia as nothing more than Natalie’s understudy, never to be touched. He could


    give Gracia everything she desired except for his heart.


    He believed that Gracia, clever as she was, should understand that she basked in the glow of Natalie’s


    legacy, enjoying his favor all these years.


    He knew it was cruel to Gracia, but he had never promised to her, and keeping his distance was his


    line in the sand. She was in it for his influence, and he for her looks. It was a fair trade.


    But Gracia’s greed had grown. She wanted to step out of Natalie’s shadow, rece her in his heart,


    and be his wife. That was never going to happen.


    Tears shimmered in Gracia’s eyes as she met his gaze, fear taking hold of her. She rose unsteadily,


    cleaned her tears, grabbed the key card from the table, and hurried out of his room.


    Brian watched her leave, turned to pick up his phone, and opened his messaging app.


    But he couldn’t find the words when he brought up Natalie’s chat. His thumb brushed over her profile


    picture, a silhouette against the backdrop of the ocean and a setting sun in her ck business attire.


    Over the years, he had fooled himself into belleving that distance would diminish his feelings


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    12:38


    Chapter 162


    Though the ss obscured the details, it was unmistakably the man she had touched the night before.


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    Brian had been with Gracia again.


    She stared at the screen, a moment of nkness in her mind as the reality settled in.