When Grace woke after surgery and saw a bouquet of sunflowers by her bed, her eyes filled with tears. “He found us,” she whispered.
“I found him,” Avery replied.
Grace closed her eyes and said, “I was angry, Avery. He loved the firm more than us, and I wanted him to feel the loss.”
“You told him I was dead,” Avery said softly.
“I wanted to save you from being second place,” Grace answered, her voice fierce despite her weakness.
Avery did not know how to respond, because she saw pain in both of them. She realized their pride had shaped her childhood more than love ever had.
Back at Lawson and Cole, Avery worked with sharp focus and cold discipline. She learned every detail of Daniel’s world, from high profile cases to quiet donations he made anonymously.
One evening, she found him staring at the city through the glass walls. “The surgery was successful,” she told him.
He let out a long breath. “Will she recover fully.”
“She will need time, but she is strong,” Avery said.
He turned to her. “Will you stay here, or was this just about paying a debt.”
“I am staying,” she replied. “But things will change.”