Chapter 7: Lies

Grace's POV

“If Rosewood were safe without this marriage, Grace, would you still choose me?”

Daniel sat across from me, waiting for an answer. My wolf wanted me to reach for him, but I couldn't forget how he'd stood silently while his guests humiliated me.

“I don't know,” I admitted. “Would you marry me if you didn't need an heir?”

His fingers tightened around the chair. Before he could answer, my phone rang.

It was Laura.

“The lender has accepted the settlement arrangements,” she said. “I've checked the final agreement again. Nothing has changed since yesterday.”

I put her on speaker so Daniel could hear.

“And the protections?”

“All intact. I've also arranged for someone to witness your signatures. You can proceed whenever you're ready.”

Daniel watched me. “We can ask for more time, Grace.”

“The lender already gave us seven days. I'm not risking another delay.”

“I don't want you agreeing to something you'll regret.”

I looked at him. He'd spent days explaining why he needed this marriage. Hearing him offer me another chance to refuse should have reassured me, but it only reminded me how little I understood what he wanted from me.

“I've read the agreement. I know what I'm signing.”

The witness arrived shortly afterward. I signed first, my hand trembling slightly. Daniel signed beneath me, and the witness completed the paperwork before sending it to Laura.

I stared at our names.

I was going to marry my fated mate, yet I couldn't even tell whether he wanted me as his wife or simply needed me to secure his position.

Daniel reached toward my hand, then stopped.

“Thomas will arrange the payment,” he said.

I nodded, relieved he hadn't touched me. I wasn't sure I could have pulled away again.

---

An hour later, Thomas confirmed that four hundred and eighty thousand dollars had been transferred directly to Rosewood's lender.

Sarah was checking the medication cupboard when I received his message.

“Sarah, they've sent it.”

She turned. “The money?”

I nodded, and she hurried over to hug me.

“Oh, Grace! We're going to keep this place!”

“The lender still has to confirm settlement and release the property,” I reminded her, although I could barely speak around the lump in my throat.

“Then I'll celebrate again when they do.” She pulled back and studied my face. “You signed the agreement too, didn't you?”

“Yes.”

Her smile faded. “How are you feeling?”

“Relieved. Scared.” I rubbed my eyes. “Mum would have been so happy that Rosewood was safe. I wish she were here.”

Sarah squeezed my hand.

“She'd be proud of how hard you've fought for everyone.”

I wanted to believe that. Mum had built Rosewood with money she'd saved over years of nursing, and I'd promised her I'd look after it. Now I'd saved it by agreeing to a marriage I wasn't sure would make me happy.

Before I could answer, Oliver hurried into the kitchen, looking frightened.

“Miss Grace, a man is shouting at the gate. He was talking to Mrs. Walker, and now she's crying.”

My stomach tightened.

“Who is it, sweetheart?”

“He says he's your dad.”

---

William stood beside his car, arguing with the gate attendant. He wore an expensive grey suit I'd seen him buy shortly before his company started losing money.

“Finally!” he snapped. “I've called you three times.”

“I've been working. What did you say to Mrs. Walker?”

“She asked whether Rosewood would still belong to your family after the wedding. I told her she should ask you.”

A cold feeling settled in my stomach.

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I want some answers myself. The lender notified me about the settlement, but nobody has explained when Daniel intends to help my company.”

“He isn't giving your company any money.”

William stared at me.

“What?”

“The four hundred and eighty thousand dollars went to Rosewood's lender. The separate endowment is for Rosewood. You can't use it to pay your creditors.”

His face darkened.

“I specifically asked Daniel for assistance with my business.”

“And he never agreed to it.”

“You've turned him against me.”

“I asked him to protect Rosewood.”

William glanced toward the entrance, where two residents were watching us.

“Your mother would be ashamed of how you're treating me.”

The words hurt, but I refused to argue in front of everyone.

“Come inside, Dad.”

He followed me into the meeting room near my office.

“My creditors are threatening legal action,” he said. “I don't need a fortune, Grace. Just enough to keep the company operating until I recover.”

“Then you need to negotiate with them.”

“You think I haven't tried?”

“I don't know what you've tried. You stopped telling me the truth about your finances when you used Rosewood as security.”

“I was trying to keep the family business alive!”

“And you nearly lost the home Mum built.”

He slammed his palm against the table. I flinched before I could stop myself.

“Don't lecture me about your mother. She understood what family meant.”

I remembered being sixteen, sitting through a family dinner while Dad complained that I was embarrassing him by eating dessert in front of his business associates. Mum had taken a slice of cake for herself and pulled my chair closer to hers.

“She understood that people mattered more than appearances,” I said.

William scoffed. “Your mother always made excuses for you.”

I gripped the chair until my fingers ached.

“I'm not asking Daniel to rescue your company.”

“After everything I've done for you?”

“You almost cost twenty-three people their home. Isn't that enough?”

He leaned across the table.

“You're going to be an Alpha's wife. If you can't persuade your husband to help his father-in-law, what good is this marriage?”

I stared at him. He hadn't asked whether I wanted to marry Daniel or whether I was happy. All he cared about was how much money he could get.

The door opened.

Daniel stood there. I'd thought he was still speaking with Thomas about the lender's paperwork.

“Grace, Thomas needs to confirm something.” His gaze shifted to William. “Is everything all right?”

William straightened immediately.

“Alpha Daniel. Perhaps you can explain why my company has been excluded from the arrangement.”

Daniel looked at me before answering.

“Because the agreement concerns Rosewood and our marriage. It doesn't include your business.”

“But I asked you for financial assistance.”

“You did. I never agreed to pay your company's debts.”

William's face reddened.

“You've let my daughter turn you against me.”

“Grace didn't make that decision for me,” Daniel replied. “And I won't take money intended for Rosewood to settle your creditors.”

William turned on me.

“Look what you've done! I'm about to lose everything, and you're standing there enjoying yourself.”

“Dad, I'm not enjoying any of this.”

“Of course you are. Your mother spent years telling you that you deserved whatever you wanted. Now you've found a rich man willing to indulge you.”

My throat tightened. I had spent most of my childhood wishing Dad would look at me without finding something to criticize. Even now, knowing what he'd done, his words still hurt.

Daniel stepped forward.

“Mr. Bennett, that's enough.”

William laughed. “You barely know my daughter.”

“I know she refused to sign until the residents were protected.” Daniel's voice remained controlled. “Insulting her won't change the agreement.”

I looked at him. Last night, he'd stood silent while strangers mocked me. Now he was defending me against my father. I appreciated it, but I couldn't stop wondering whether he'd have spoken up if William had insulted me in front of the council.

“Daniel, please. Let me handle him.”

He hesitated, then stepped back.

I faced my father.

“Mum left Rosewood in my care because she trusted me. You had the authority to borrow against the property, but you never told me what you were doing. I only found out when we were about to lose it.”

“I did what I thought was necessary.”

“So did I. The difference is that I didn't gamble with someone else's home.”

William stared at me.

“I spent years trying to make you proud,” I continued. “I changed how I dressed, what I ate, even how I behaved around your friends. Nothing was ever enough.”

“Don't be dramatic.”

My eyes burned, but I refused to look away.

“I'm not asking you to understand anymore. I'm telling you that Rosewood's money is staying with Rosewood.”

He stared at me as though he hadn't expected me to refuse him.

Then he picked up his keys.

“Keep your precious Rosewood. I hope those people appreciate everything you're giving up for them.”

“They're not the ones asking me to give anything up.”

William glanced at Daniel before turning back to me.

“We'll see how grateful they are when they find out what you've done.”

He left before I could respond.

Daniel waited until his car pulled away.

“Grace, I didn't mean to interfere.”

“You didn't. But I needed to finish that conversation myself.”

“I understand.” He hesitated. “I should have defended you last night too.”

I looked at him.

“It's easier to defend me here than in front of your council.”

His expression tightened. “I know.”

For once, he didn't offer an excuse. I wished that made the hurt disappear.

I was reaching for the lender's paperwork when Sarah hurried into the room, holding her phone.

“Grace, you need to come outside.”

“What happened?”

“Mrs. Walker is crying, and three residents are packing their belongings. She told the others what your father said at the gate.”

“Packing? Why?”

Sarah looked toward the entrance, where frightened voices were rising.

“Your father told Mrs. Walker that Daniel bought Rosewood and everyone would be sent away after the wedding.”

I hurried toward the door, but Sarah caught my arm.

“Grace, that's not the worst part.”

I turned back to her.

“Mrs. Walker says your father told her you agreed to sell their home yourself.”