All Chapters of Grass to Grace: Second Chance Wealth: Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
43 chapters
Dark Bruises
The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beep of monitors, and the soft hum of machines keeping watch over Leah.She lay in the bed looking small and fragile in a way Alex had never seen before. Her wrists were bandaged where the ropes had cut into her skin. Dark bruises colored her arms where hands had grabbed her.Alex sat in the chair beside her bed. He'd been there for hours. His body was angled toward her but his posture was stiff and distant. Like he wanted to be close, but couldn't let himself fully commit to it.The police had left an hour ago. They'd taken Leah's statement. Asked their questions. Assured her that Liam and Emilia were locked up tight this time.Leah had answered everything in a flat voice. No emotion. Just facts.Now they were finally alone. And the silence between them felt heavy and uncomfortable.Alex stared at the wall. At the machines. At anything except Leah's face."You should rest," he said quietly.Leah turned her head on the pillow to loo
Sir I Have News
Three days after the hospital discharged Leah, Alex stood in his office signing papers for a luxury apartment in the city's best neighborhood.He'd chosen it carefully. Top floor. Private elevator. Security on every entrance."Transfer one hundred thousand to this account," he told his assistant. "For Miss Leah's recovery and expenses."The assistant nodded and left.Alex sat back in his chair. Leah would be safe there. Protected. She could heal without worry.His phone buzzed an hour later."Mr. Wilson, Miss Leah is here to see you."Alex frowned. "Send her up."Leah walked into his office carrying an envelope. She looked tired. Dark circles under her eyes. But she stood straight."What's this?" she asked. She dropped the envelope on his desk.Alex recognized it. The check he'd sent. Uncashed."It's for your protection," he said carefully."I don't want it.""Leah, you need somewhere safe to stay.""I have somewhere safe," she said. Her voice was firm. "My apartment above the restaur
Half A Million Isn't Nothing
Alex couldn't sleep.He lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The mansion was too quiet. Too big. Too empty.At 2 AM he gave up.He got dressed and grabbed his keys.Twenty minutes later he parked outside Leah's restaurant. The lights were off but he saw movement inside through the window.He sat in the car for five minutes. Debating.Then he got out.The front door was locked but Leah appeared when he knocked. She wore jeans and an old t-shirt. Her hair was tied back.She unlocked the door. "What are you doing here?""I don't know," Alex said honestly.Leah studied his face. Then she stepped aside. "Come in."The restaurant was dim. Only the kitchen lights were on. Alex followed her back.She had vegetables spread across the counter. A pot simmered on the stove."Couldn't sleep?" she asked."No.""Me neither."She went back to chopping. Alex sat on a stool and watched her."Why are you really here?" Leah asked after a moment.Alex was quiet. Then, "I wanted to see if you were okay.""I'
He's Breaking
Alex sat in his office surrounded by papers.Financial records. Bank statements. Transaction logs.He'd been staring at them for six hours.His eyes burned but he couldn't stop.Cole walked in with coffee. "You should rest.""I'm close to something," Alex muttered. He pointed at a stack of documents. "Look at this."Cole leaned over the desk."Shell companies," Alex said. "All created two years ago. Before Liam even started threatening me."Cole frowned. "Who created them?"Alex pulled out another paper. "Emilia."Cole's eyes widened."Look at the signatures," Alex continued. He spread out more documents. "She's been moving money for years. Setting up accounts. Building a network.""For what?""For this." Alex gestured at everything. "The attacks. The threats. All of it was planned. Long before I even knew I'd inherit."Cole sat down heavily. "She was setting you up from the beginning.""Not just me," Alex said. His voice was cold. "Liam too. She used his jealousy. Manipulated his ang
I Created An Heir, There's a Difference
Take her to the mansion," Alex repeated. "Now."Cole looked like he wanted to argue. But something in Alex's face stopped him."Come on, Miss Leah," Cole said gently.Leah grabbed Alex's arm. "Wait. Don't do anything stupid."Alex looked at her. "I'm just going to talk to him.""You're a terrible liar," Leah said. But she let Cole lead her away.Alex watched them drive off. Then he got back in his car alone.He sat there for a full hour. Breathing. Trying to calm the rage burning in his chest.It didn't work.He started the engine and drove toward his father's estate.Alex didn't drive straight there though.First he made a detour. To Old Man Cole's cottage on the mansion grounds.He needed answers. And Cole had been with the Wilson family for forty years. If anyone knew what was happening, it was him.The cottage was dark except for one light in the living room. Alex pounded on the door.Cole answered in his bathrobe. His eyes widened when he saw Alex's face."Sir? What's wrong?""Di
This Is Between Us
Alex drove back to the mansion in a fog.He barely saw the road. Barely felt the steering wheel under his hands. His mind was completely blank.When he pulled into the driveway, he sat in the car for a long time. The engine ticked as it cooled. The sun was setting. The sky was bleeding red and orange.Finally he went inside.Leah was waiting in the living room. She'd been pacing. He could tell by the way she spun around when he entered.She didn't say anything. She just looked at him.And Alex felt something inside him crack wide open.All the walls he'd built. All the ice around his heart. It shattered at that moment.Leah walked over slowly. She stopped in front of him. Then she wrapped her arms around him.Alex stood frozen for a heartbeat. Then his arms came up around her. He buried his face in her shoulder.And he broke.Sobs tore out of him. Deep and wrenching. Years of pain and betrayal and loneliness poured out all at once.Leah held him through it. She didn't speak. She didn'
This Is War
Emilia stepped out of the back room. She held a gun. "Both Wilson brothers crying about Daddy," she said with a sneer. "Pathetic."Liam turned. "Emilia?""Did you really think the police could hold me?" Emilia laughed. "I arranged your escape, you idiot. Now finish what you started.""What?" Liam looked confused."Kill them both," Emilia ordered. "Then we can finally have the fortune.""But you said we'd be together," Liam whispered."I lied." Emilia raised the gun. "You were always just a means to an end."She fired.Alex dove. The bullet missed him by inches.Liam shoved Leah aside and lunged at Emilia. "You used me!"They crashed into the counter.The gun skittered across the floor.Alex ran for it but Emilia was faster. She grabbed it and aimed at Alex.Liam tackled her from behind.They fought. Brutal and desperate.Alex pulled Leah behind him and untied the staff. "Get out. Now."They ran for the door.Emilia broke free from Liam. She pointed the gun at Alex again."You ruined
The Summons
Alex stared at the phone number for three days.He didn't tell Leah. He didn't tell Cole.He researched The Covenant online. He found almost nothing. A few conspiracy theories. Some old news articles that led nowhere.They were ghosts.On the third night, Alex made his decision.He called the number.It rang once. A professional voice answered."We've been expecting your call, Mr. Wilson.""Who is this?" Alex asked."That's not important yet. What's important is that we meet.""Why would I meet you?""Because you want to understand what you've inherited," the voice said. "Come alone. Tomorrow. Eight PM."The voice gave an address. A private club in the financial district.Then the line went dead.Alex told Cole about the meeting the next morning."That's dangerous," Cole said immediately."I know.""Then don't go.""I need to know what I'm dealing with," Alex said. "I need to understand who these people are."Cole studied him. "And if it's a trap?""Then you'll know where to find my b
Private Event
Alex came home past midnight.Leah was awake waiting for him. She sat in the living room reading."How was the meeting?" she asked."Fine," Alex lied. "Just business."She looked at him closely. "You sure?""Yeah." He kissed her forehead. "I'm just tired.""Okay," Leah said. But her eyes said she didn't believe him.It was the first real lie Alex had told her.It wouldn't be the last.That night, Alex couldn't sleep.He went to his study at 2 AM. He sat at the computer and searched for everything he could find about The Covenant.There was almost nothing.A few mentions in old newspaper articles. Conspiracy theory websites. Nothing concrete.They were ghosts.Powerful ghosts who owned everything.Alex's phone buzzed at 3 AM.An email. No sender name. He opened it."First assignment. Use Wilson Hotel ballroom for private event. Guest list attached. Saturday night. 8 PM."Alex clicked the attachmentTwenty names. He recognized half of them.A city councilman under investigation for brib
IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE?
Six weeks passed.Alex barely recognized himself anymore.By day, he ran Wilson Hotel Enterprise. Legitimate business. Board meetings. Contracts.By night, he served The Covenant. Money laundering. Criminal meetings. Things he didn't want to think about.He was living two lives. And both were killing him.The trafficking assignment had been the worst.Alex arranged everything they asked for. Then he called an anonymous tip to the FBI.The route was raided. People were saved.But The Covenant never knew. They thought Alex had succeeded.Marcus called him. "Well done. You're proving quite useful."Alex said nothing."We have another event next week," Marcus continued. "You'll meet other members. People like you.""People you own," Alex corrected."Exactly."The event was at a mansion outside the city.Exclusive. Quiet. Terrifying.Alex arrived and was led to a large room. Twenty people stood around talking quietly. All well dressed. All successful looking.They were all prisoners.A ma