I CAME BACK TO MAKE YOU PAY

GRACE’S POV

My heart pounded hard. I had no idea what my father was thinking. Why would he be so cruel as to announce in front of all the dinner guests that I had been removed from the list of heirs?

“Grace, there’s something else Hunter would like to say,” my father said, casting a glance at Hunter—my fiancé.

The hand I’d been resting on his arm was gently brushed away. He gave a bitter smile and stood.

“Thank you, Mr. Hart. As Grace’s fiancé, I’d like to announce that I’m calling off our wedding.”

What kind of news was this?

Was this all a dream?

Instinctively, I slapped my own cheek to wake myself up, but all I felt was pain. This was real.

Tears began to fall and I quickly stood to cut off Hunter’s words.

“Honey, you’re joking, right?”

Hunter looked me straight in the eyes and shook his head.

“No, Grace. I mean this. I’ve found the right choice.”

His gaze shifted and fixed on a single point. When I followed it, I saw it was aimed at Eleanor—my stepsister.

What was that supposed to mean?

Eleanor stood and walked toward us. Her smile was radiant, and I desperately hoped what I was thinking wasn’t true.

But once again, my fears became reality. Eleanor and Hunter now stood before me. Hunter lifted Eleanor’s hand and kissed it gently.

“I’ve chosen Eleanor to be my wife, and in front of everyone here, I want to propose to you, Eleanor.”

Hunter knelt down and pulled out a black ring box. When it opened, a diamond ring sparkled brightly, dazzling the eye.

Everyone whispered and looked impressed. No one seemed to notice what I was feeling.

I was left as a mere spectator to a romance whose beginnings I couldn’t even pinpoint.

“Eleanor Hart, will you marry me?”

Hearing that, I instinctively screamed and shoved Eleanor so hard she fell.

“Grace!”

I ignored the shouts from the guests. I wanted to slap Eleanor’s face. I was sick of her.

Since the day her mother married my father, my life had only gotten worse. My father suddenly stopped trusting me, and all the blame for anything wrong seemed to fall on me.

I had always felt something was off about Eleanor—and I had been right. I was certain she had planned this for a long time. She wanted me gone so she could be the sole heir to the Hart family fortune worth billions of dollars.

“I will not let you take what’s mine!”

My hand was just about to land on Eleanor’s face when my body was suddenly yanked back so hard I fell to the floor.

My father stood over me and shouted, “Take her to her room!”

Two bodyguards grabbed me roughly, dragging me away without caring about my screams of pain from their grip.

“Let me go! You have no right to treat me like this!”

Once we reached my room, I was shoved to the floor and the door slammed shut. I tried to pound on it and open it, but it wouldn’t budge.

“You bastards!” I yelled.

I slumped against the door, sobbing. Footsteps approached, and I quickly stood, pleading to be let out again.

“Please, let me out! Don’t treat me like—”

My words stopped as the door opened and my father appeared, his face furious. His hand struck my cheek hard—something he had never done to me before.

“How dare you embarrass me! Do you have any idea who was there tonight?! Your uncle, one of the most important men in this city! You made me look like I failed to raise you, Grace!”

“You’re the one who humiliated me, Father! Why would you suddenly cut me out of the inheritance and let Eleanor steal my fiancé?!”

Another slap landed on my cheek, just as two more people appeared at the doorway—Eleanor and her mother, Scarlett.

“I told you this child is trouble! My Eleanor has never been subjected to violence, yet your dirty, vile daughter dared to lay a hand on her face!” Scarlett shouted.

“You should—”

“For God’s sake, Grace! Be quiet!” my father barked. “You are not allowed to speak because what Scarlett said is true!”

“I have the right to speak because I’m not dirty like she claims! These two have set me up, Father! They plotted to make you hate me and let Eleanor have Hunter!”

“Plotted, you say?! How dare you! Isn’t it enough that I’ve kept quiet all this time about the evidence of embezzlement and that obscene video involving you and the company’s security guard?!” Scarlett shot back.

My fists clenched. I wanted so badly to slap her face, but I couldn’t.

“I was framed! I never did that! Father, you know me! Have I ever made such a fatal mistake? All of this happened after they came!”

“Enough! All of you, be quiet!”

My father seemed to steady his breathing. Eleanor, who had been lowering her head the whole time, stepped closer to him.

“Father, let’s end this argument. I’ve already forgiven what Grace did. Please, for your health,” Eleanor said softly.

Damn her! She was a master at pretending.

“No, Eleanor! What Grace did was unforgivable! My patience has limits, and I’ve decided—starting tonight, Grace is no longer part of the Hart family! You have to leave, Grace!”

My father’s eyes locked on mine, and I saw nothing but deep hatred in them.

“What do you mean, Father?! Where am I supposed to go?!”

“I don’t care. You must leave this house and never use ‘Hart’ as your family name again! You are no longer my daughter, Grace! My decision is final. You have until midnight to pack your things!”

“But, Father! I—”

Before I could finish, Scarlett slapped my face and yanked the engagement ring off my finger.

“This diamond is far too valuable for you! Come, dear, let’s go back downstairs!”

Scarlett linked her arm with my father’s, and they all left me in this miserable state.

“Father! Don’t do this to me!” I screamed, but he didn’t stop.

The only one who looked back was Eleanor, her feigned sadness melting into a wide smile aimed at me. She even waved happily before shutting my bedroom door.

I staggered toward the mirror, staring at the wreck my life had become.

The beautiful off-white gown I had designed two months ago looked exquisite. I looked stunning—but tonight, that beauty was the beginning of my misery.