Chapter 3

Lucas was swamped with work, and Andy refused to bond with the new nanny, so Lucas called me for help.

For Andy's sake, we both agreed not to tell him about the divorce.

As I walked back into that house, everything felt a world away.

Andy's face lit up when he saw me. "Mom, I got first place in the Math Olympiad again!"

I smiled and showered him with praise, giving him a big hug.

For me, it was just another day with my son. For Lucas, it felt like a bomb had gone off.

A week later, Lucas called me.

"What are you playing at, Rachel? We said we'd keep things civil—are you seriously trying to destroy the Grant Group? Have you thought about what this means for Andy?"

I could practically see the fury on his face.

"What do you mean? What did I do?" I replied coldly.

"The Grant Group's trade secrets got leaked! That confidential file was locked in my home safe, and you're the only one who knows the password!" He was practically shaking with rage. "Rachel, do I really have to spell it out?"

"Lucas, if you're losing your mind, go see a doctor—don't pin your problems on me!" I paused. "Taking you down gets me nothing, and it'd only hurt Andy, too. I'm not that stupid.

"Why do you think I gave up custody? Andy needs the Grant family to get the best education. I'd never do anything to ruin his future."

The Grant family had serious clout in both business and medicine.

Andy's private school cost millions a year in tuition alone—that wasn't even counting everything else.

"Use your brain for once—who's always hanging around the house? Who keeps stopping by with those 'health supplements'? Who had the best opportunity to steal that file? Do I really have to say the name?"

Even an idiot could figure it out now.

Lucas blurted out, "No way it was Vivian."

He hesitated. "She wouldn't do that to me."

Yeah, right.

I just snorted and hung up.

I pulled up the security footage and sent it to Lucas.

[You already know the truth—why keep lying to yourself?]

The video was damning—Vivian came by while Andy and I were out at dinner.

Half an hour later, she tucked something under her arm, glanced around nervously, and slipped out of the villa looking guilty as hell.

I wanted to go to the police, but Lucas shut me down.

"If we involve the cops now, it'll blow up into a massive scandal for the Grant Group. Not happening," he said.

I scoffed. No point arguing.

Always the same excuse, "It's for the company." Really, he was just protecting his precious Vivian.

Way to honor your parents' sacrifices, Lucas.

After this, Lucas finally started having doubts about Vivian.

I took Andy to the park, and we ran into Vivian and Chloe.

Vivian looked rough—clearly struggling since her lifestyle took a nosedive.

Chloe glared at Andy, an unnatural malice darkening her small features.

She pointed at Andy. "It's all your fault that Mr. Grant won't take my mom back! Your mom doesn't even want you—you're just an unwanted brat!"

My eyes went ice-cold, and without hesitation, I slapped Chloe across the face.

"Vivian, if you can't raise your kid right, I'll do it for you." I flexed my wrist and gave her an icy stare.

Chloe went ballistic, her face contorted with rage. "I'll kill you! You're the reason my mom's suffering!"

"Vivian, if you can't control your daughter, I will," I said coolly. "I don't give kids a free pass just because they're young. So save the self-righteous act."

My glare stopped Vivian cold. She clutched Chloe before she could lunge at me.

"Ms. Evans, you've got this all wrong. I never meant to wreck your family. I just want what's best for Lucas. He's only helping me because we were college friends..." Vivian stammered.

I waved her off. "Don't give me that. I know your game."

Running into them was just my luck—what a pain.

I grabbed Andy's hand to leave.

The second I turned around, someone shoved me hard from behind.

I spun on instinct and kicked the brat straight into the artificial lake.

After years of taekwondo training, handling Vivian and Chloe was nothing.