Chapter 51
Richard's POV
I paced the marble foyer, checking my watch for the fifth time in ten minutes. The staff had been preparing since dawn—fresh flowers in every room, all of Grandmother's favorites, and her preferred lavender scones cooling in the kitchen.
The sound of tires on gravel made my stomach clench. Through the tall windows, I watched the black Bentley pull up to the front steps. My grandmother emerged with the same regal bearing she'd maintained for eight decades, her silver hair perfectly coiffed beneath a navy Chanel hat.
"Richard, darling." Her voice carried that familiar warmth that had comforted me through childhood nightmares and teenage heartbreaks. But today, something felt different. Sharper.
"Grandmother." I kissed her cheek. "How was your flight?"
Her pale blue eyes swept the entrance hall, clearly searching. "Where is Grace? I've been looking forward to seeing her."
Shit.
"She's... she had some urgent business meetings today. You know how dedicated she is to her work."
Aria's expression didn't change, but I caught the slight tightening around her eyes. "Really?"
"The company's been expanding internationally. Very demanding schedule."
I guided her toward the living room, where the staff had arranged her favorite afternoon tea service. Maybe if I kept her comfortable, distracted...
"Richard." Her voice had taken on that tone I remembered from childhood—the one that meant I was about to be in serious trouble. "I may be old, but I'm not senile. What's really going on?"
"I told you, she's—"
"Don't." The single word cut through my explanation like a blade. "I didn't fly for hours to listen to lies."
She set down her teacup with deliberate precision and reached for her cane. Before I could stop her, she was on her feet, moving toward the staircase.
"Grandmother, where are you going?"
"To your room."
Fuck.
Aria pushed open the bedroom door and stopped dead.
The room was completely empty.
The silence stretched between us like a chasm.
When Grandmother turned to face me, her breathing was shallow, her face flushed. For a terrifying moment, I thought she might collapse.
"She hasn't moved back yet? How long are you going to keep lying to me?” she reproached.
"Grandmother, please sit down. Let me explain—"
"How long has she been gone, Richard?"
The authority in her voice made me feel like I was eight years old again, caught stealing cookies from her kitchen.
"A few weeks," I admitted.
Back downstairs, Aria sat rigidly in her chair, her hands gripping her cane so tightly her knuckles had turned white. I'd never seen her this angry.
"When I left for Oakmont last year, you two were happy," she said, her voice dangerously quiet. "Grace couldn't stop talking about your future together. What happened?"
I perched on the edge of the sofa, choosing my words carefully. "There have been some... family tensions. Mother and Jason had some disagreements with Grace about household responsibilities."
"What kind of disagreements?"
"Nothing serious. Just... Mother felt Grace should contribute more to the family dynamic, and Grace felt overwhelmed with her work responsibilities."
Aria's eyes narrowed. "Margaret has been interfering in your marriage?"
"Not interfering, exactly. Just... maintaining family standards."
The look she gave me could have frozen hell.
"I want to speak with Grace. Now."
My hands shook as I dialed Grace's number, then I waited, watching my phone like it might explode. Minutes ticked by with no response.
On the third attempt, Grace finally picked up. "What do you want, Richard?"
"Grace, thank God. Grandmother is here, and she wants to speak with you."
I glanced at Aria, who nodded curtly, and activated the speaker function.
"Grace, darling." Aria's voice transformed instantly, becoming warm and loving.
"Grandma." Grace's voice softened noticeably. "How are you feeling? Are you well?"
"Oh, I'm fine, sweetheart. But I'm worried about you. Why did you move out?"
Richard jumped in before Grace could respond. "Grace, honey, Grandma has come to see us. She's... a bit worried about you needing some personal space lately."
"Yes," Grace didn't expose my lie. "Indeed, I wanted to be alone for a while."
---
Aria leaned forward, her expression gentling. "Darling, even if you're feeling upset, you shouldn't have to move out of your own home. That's not how marriage works."
I held my breath, waiting for Grace's response.
"I... it's complicated, Grandma. There have been some family issues that needed space to resolve."
"What kind of issues?" Aria's grandmother instincts were clearly kicking in. "Has someone been unkind to you?"
"It's not... I don't want to burden you with family politics."
"Grace." Aria's voice became firm but loving. "You are family. If someone in this house has made you feel unwelcome, I want to know about it."
The silence stretched so long I wondered if Grace had hung up.
"Perhaps we could discuss this another time?" Grace finally said. "I really do have commitments today that I can't break."
"Alright, I'll be home for a while, waiting for you to come back." Aria said gently.
"Grandma, please don't worry. This is only temporary. We'll take care of it."
She looked at me with a complex expression, as if she still felt something wasn't right.
Just then, the phone rang.
It was Laura calling, but now wasn't the right time to answer. I chose to hang up.
But she called again.
Aria became suspicious. "Who is it? So persistent with the calls."
"Work. Probably something from the company," I said awkwardly.
"If it's work, then answer it. We're all family here. What's inconvenient about it?"
Aria said this, seeming to remember something.
"By the way, where's Emma?"
"Oh, that... I had someone take her out to play."
Aria said nothing more.
When Mother and Jason returned from their trip, I thought I'd navigated the worst of it.