"I'm getting old. The plan was for me to step back gradually and let you take over at your own pace, so no one would feel too threatened. But the problem is, you turned out to be too capable. Even more ruthless than I was at your age. Tell me, how is anyone supposed to sleep soundly knowing that?"
It clicked.
What Grandma meant was that the Henson family had grown too powerful. People were wary of us.
Especially a partner on the level of the Farley family. They wanted to keep us close, but they also needed to keep us in check.
Pushing Sylvester on me had been Matriarch Farley's opening move, a test.
Now that I wanted a divorce, she'd be calculating. Was the Henson family shifting its loyalties? Did we no longer want to be bound together?
Of course, marrying me off to Sylvester had only ever been a temporary arrangement. Matriarch Farley undoubtedly had a longer game in mind. One day, she probably intended to swallow the Henson family whole.
But my little scene had given Grandma the perfect excuse to surrender a few key projects. A show of weakness. It should lower the Farleys' guard, at least for now.
Grandma fixed me with a look, her expression suddenly grave.
"Rose, things have reached a point where there are certain matters you need to know. But before that, let me ask you one thing. That Farley boy. Are you truly done with him?"
She knew I'd been in love with Sylvester once.
I didn't hesitate. "Completely. Not a shred left."
"Good."
She nodded and pulled another document from her bag.
"Rose, do you know why I've always insisted you keep a low profile all these years?"
I shook my head.
"Because your grandmother has been playing a very long game."
She opened the document. Inside were page after page of equity certificates.
"Over the years, I've been quietly acquiring hidden stakes in over a dozen major firms across Graystone. Including fifteen percent of Farley Group."
The air left my lungs.
"Grandma, you mean..."
"Exactly."
Her gaze was razor-sharp.
"Matriarch Farley thinks she's been outmaneuvering us. The truth is, I started positioning years ago. Those projects I just gave up? Smoke and mirrors. The real hand we're holding is right here."
She tapped the document.
"Rose, I'm old. This game is yours to finish now."
I started thinking about how to handle Sylvester.
But the first thing that arrived wasn't him. It was news about Lucy Stephens.
The very first day after my rebirth, I'd sent Brett to track her down. The debts from my past life weren't something I could let slide.
That woman moved fast, though. She'd already reconnected with old enemies, and paparazzi had caught her draped across the lap of some trust-fund heir from Hartford, dressed in next to nothing.
Honestly, I almost admired her nerve.
That particular young man was infamous for his creative cruelty, volatile and unpredictable.
But Lucy Stephens would do whatever it took to climb. No line she wouldn't cross.
The next morning, I'd just finished a run in my private gym when Brett appeared in the doorway.
"Miss Henson, Mr. Farley is here. He's waiting in the reception room."
I grabbed a towel and blotted the sweat from my neck. My eyes cooled.
That was fast.
Sylvester stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, wearing a simple white shirt tucked into black trousers. Gone was the cutting edge he usually carried. In its place was something softer, almost gentlemanly.
The moment he heard footsteps, he turned. His fingers curled at his sides, an unconscious tell.
No trace of yesterday's man who'd pressed a gun to his own temple. Right now, he looked almost... cautious.
He said my name. His voice was still raw.
I dropped into a single-seat armchair and crossed my legs.
"What else could you possibly want, Mr. Farley? Yesterday's performance wasn't enough?"
He swallowed hard. "That's not why I'm here. I came because there are things I need to tell you."
I shot him an impatient glance.
Sylvester looked like a man steeling himself for something enormous.
