Chatper 172


    Chapter 172


    Gracia sauntered in, her steps measured, and made herselffortable 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.”


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    “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 manipting 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 impable.


    Natalie frequently pondered whether Gracia’s maniptive 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 be 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 from our


    misfortune. I thought I’d share what I know.”


    Natalie’s frown deepened.


    Sensing a shift in Natalie, Gracia pressed on. “I know about the agreement between you and Brian.”


    “The deal I want to discuss involves him. If you agree to walk away quietly, I’ll tell took your child’s life.”


    you who


    Natalie red at Gracia for a long moment before responding in a low voice, “Well, go on then.


    Enlighten me.”


    “It was 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.


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


    boy would threaten her son’s inheritance and status in the Howard family. So, she


    decided to act.


    And who else has the power to orchestrate a murder to look like an ident, with no loose ends for the


    police to find? She must have had inside help and had everything prearranged to perfection.”


    15:38


    As Natalie listened to Gracia’s ount, her expression grew conflicted.


    Gracia’s narrative seemed usible. However, Gracia was mistaken about one thing. Nate wasn’t the


    darling of the Howard family. Nate’s rtionship with them was anything but cordial.


    “Thirsty?” Gracia asked, noticing Natalie’s uncertainty. She raised an eyebrow inquisitively.


    Natalie nodded.


    “I just regret being too young to beat Madelyn to the punch and bear Brian’s child first,” Gracia sighed.


    Gracia’s tale was a mix of truth and lies. However, Natalie had heard a different story from


    Sadie.


    Natalie was inclined to believe that Sadie had no incentive to lie to her, whereas Gracia seemed to


    have all the reasons to do so.