Chapter 98
Grace's POV
I told him everything Julie had discovered. With each word, Alex's face grew colder, more dangerous. By the time I finished, his jaw was set like granite.
"Lucas," Alex said into his phone, his voice carrying a lethal edge I'd never heard before. "Ensure that today's attacker never appears in front of us again."
The casual way he said it—like ordering coffee—sent a chill down my spine. This was the Alex I'd heard whispers about in business circles, the one who eliminated threats with surgical precision.
"Alex," I said carefully, "you can't just—"
"I can, and I will." His blue eyes met mine, unflinching. "Anyone who tries to hurt you has made their choice. I'm simply responding in kind."
The protective fury in his voice should have scared me. Instead, it made me feel safer than I'd ever felt in my life.
But my mind was already moving to the bigger picture. "This isn't just about revenge. Someone orchestrated this—someone who knew exactly where I'd be tonight."
Alex's expression darkened further. "Elizabeth."
"But I have no proof," I sighed.
Alex pulled me against his chest, his arms wrapping around me protectively. "Elizabeth has crossed a line she can't uncross."
His voice vibrated with barely contained rage. "I'm going to destroy her piece by piece. Her business connections, her social standing, her precious reputation—all of it."
"No," I said firmly, pulling back to meet his eyes. "This is Wilson family business. I need to handle Elizabeth myself."
Alex's grip tightened. "Grace, she just tried to have you killed."
"And that's exactly why it has to be me." I cupped his face in my hands. "I won't let her think she can intimidate me into hiding behind you. But I will need your help."
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Alex's features. "What do you need?"
"Everything you can find on Elizabeth and Andrew. Financial records, business dealings, personal scandals—anything that can be used as leverage." I felt my own smile turning predatory.
Alex's hands slid down to my waist, pulling me closer. "More importantly, I want you to report your location to me every hour. Twenty-four-seven contact. No exceptions."
His fingers traced my jawline, the touch gentle despite the steel in his voice. "If anything happens to you, if anyone even looks at you wrong, I will destroy them."
The possessive intensity in his words should have been alarming. Instead, it sent heat pooling in my stomach. This man would go to war for me without hesitation.
"Alex," I whispered, my hands fisting in his shirt.
"Promise me," he demanded, his forehead touching mine. "Promise me you'll be careful. Promise me you won't take unnecessary risks."
"I promise," I breathed, meaning it.
His lips crashed against mine, desperate and claiming. When we broke apart, both of us were breathing hard.
"Now come back to bed," he murmured against my ear. "I need to hold you."
We were almost back to the bedroom when Alex's phone started buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. He glanced at it, his expression shifting to annoyance.
"Who is it?" I asked, noting the tension that crept back into his shoulders.
Alex looked at the screen again, then at me. Without a word, he powered the phone off completely.
"Alex, what if it's important?"
"Right now, the only important thing is sleep," he said, pulling me down onto the bed with him. His arms wrapped around me like a shield, his body curved protectively around mine.
I nestled against his chest, listening to his heartbeat gradually slow.
---
I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows and the sound of Alex's phone buzzing again. This time, he was already awake, staring at the ceiling with a grim expression.
"Alex? What is it?"
He showed me his phone screen. The news headline made my blood freeze:
"Cooper Heiress Violet Cooper Attempts Suicide."
The time she was found was around the same time Alex's phone had been ringing last night.
Had she been trying to reach him?
I saw the comments under the news: Violet used to be a model with a considerable fan base, but later gave up her career for love. Now she's fallen to the point of attempting suicide—it's truly heartbreaking.
I looked over at Alex, who was sitting by the bed with his head in his hands.
"We should go to the hospital," I said softly, placing my hand on his shoulder.
Alex lifted his head, his eyes heavy with something I couldn't quite name. "I already contacted the hospital. She's stable—no immediate danger to her life."
Relief flooded through me, but I could see the weight this was putting on Alex. The guilt, the complicated history, the impossible situation of caring about someone's wellbeing while maintaining necessary boundaries.
"This isn't your fault," I said firmly. "You can't be responsible for everyone's emotional state."
Alex turned to face me fully, his blue eyes searching mine. "Do you think I'm cold-blooded?"
The vulnerability in his question caught me off guard. This powerful man, who could command boardrooms and eliminate threats with a phone call, was asking me to judge his humanity.
I cupped his face in my hands, forcing him to meet my eyes. "You handle situations in a way that might seem ruthless to others, but that's not cold-blooded—that's having clear boundaries."
His shoulders relaxed slightly at my words.
"You've been shaped by the Cooper family's kindness over the years, and you're grateful for that. But gratitude doesn't mean you owe them your entire life." I stroked his cheek gently. "As long as you believe you're doing the right thing, you don't need to care about anyone else's judgment."
Alex's expression softened, and he pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against his chest. I could feel some of the tension leaving his body.
"Whatever happens, I'll face it with you," I whispered into his shoulder.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes intense. "I need you to be careful about visiting Violet right now. The Cooper family is emotional, and I don't want you caught in any crossfire or media attention."
I nodded, understanding his concern. "I'll have Julie send flowers and a care package instead. That way we show we care without creating complications."