The Smith mansion, usually pristine and silent, felt suffocating that evening. Tension hung thick in the air like a storm waiting to break. Grace paced the length of her room, her heels clicking against the marble floor in uneven, agitated rhythms.
Her life had spiraled into chaos.Her baby—gone.Her marriage—shattered.Her reputation—crumbling.
Worst of all?John no longer looked at her with even a hint of affection.
But she wasn't done. Not yet. Not when Fiona—that orphan—was living safely on a quiet paradise island, gaining sympathy, attention, and even Liam's protection. Grace refused to let the world favor Fiona while she—Grace Smith—lost everything.
"No," she whispered to herself, palms trembling. "I won't let her win."
She stood before the mirror, staring at her reflection—red-rimmed eyes, perfect makeup smeared from earlier tears. But beneath the fragile exterior, a cold, calculating fire burned.
A knock sounded on her door.
"Come in," she said sharply.
Her cousin, Olivia, slipped inside. A beautiful woman with a sharp smile and sharper intentions. The two women had grown up together, perfecting the art of manipulation since childhood.
"You look… terrible," Olivia said bluntly.
Grace glared. "Now is not the time."
Olivia raised her hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. Tell me why you called."
Grace inhaled deeply, steadying herself.
"Fiona," she said, venom lacing the name. "She's ruining everything. If she hadn't shown up, John would've never doubted me. Liam would've never ignored me. And now—now everyone looks at me like I'm the villain."
Olivia tilted her head. "Well, to be fair—"
"Don't," Grace snapped. "I need your help. I need to get rid of Fiona. Once and for all."
Olivia's expression darkened with interest. "Get rid of… how?"
Grace leaned closer, voice lowering to a whisper. "I know where she is."
Olivia blinked. "On the island?"
"Yes," Grace hissed. "And Liam—Liam has been sneaking away whenever he can. He thinks no one knows. But I do."
Olivia sat on the edge of the bed. "So what's your plan?"
Grace opened her drawer and pulled out her laptop, flipping it open to display a paused video.
A CCTV clip. One from the mansion.
Olivia frowned. "I thought Liam deleted all of these."
"Not all," Grace said, smirking. "He deleted the original copies. But he didn't know a backup server still existed—for internal security."
Olivia's eyes widened. "And this video shows…?"
Grace pressed play.
There she was—Grace—slapping herself violently, then collapsing dramatically onto the kitchen floor right before the rest of the family arrived.
It was the footage Liam used to blackmail her… the footage he threatened to expose.
Olivia gasped. "Wow… I forgot how good your acting was."
Grace snapped the laptop shut. "I'm not here to be mocked. I'm going to twist this."
Olivia narrowed her eyes. "Twist… how?"
Grace took a slow breath, her lips curling into a chilling smile.
"I'll leak this. But not as proof against me. I'll make it look like Fiona manipulated and provoked me. That Fiona drove me crazy. That Fiona bullied me while I was pregnant."
She stood, the madness in her eyes deepening.
"And every online mob will tear her apart."
Olivia whistled softly. "That's cruel. Even for you."
"She deserves it," Grace said coldly. "For stealing everything from me."
Meanwhile on the Island
Fiona spent the afternoon sketching the children in the small kindergarten garden. Flowers bloomed around her, sunlight dancing across her hair. But her smile was faint—shadows still lingered from the emotional weight of seeing the William family.
Liam's presence hovered near the school entrance.
Watching.Guarding.Obsessing.
Every time her eyes lifted, she saw him leaning against the tree or pacing near the gate, pretending he wasn't waiting for her to look at him.
When school ended, Liam approached silently, his eyes softening only for her.
"You okay?" he asked.
Fiona nodded. "Just tired."
Liam frowned, stepping closer. "Is someone bothering you?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Liam…" she sighed. "I just need rest."
His jaw tightened but he nodded slowly. "I'll stay close."
He always did.
Back in the Mansion
Grace was ready.
She sent Olivia away with instructions, her smirk returning as she began typing her message to a reporter she knew—one hungry for scandals, especially involving wealthy families.
But Grace wasn't satisfied with just one plan.
She wanted more.
She wanted Fiona ruined.
She pulled out her phone and made a call.
"Hello?" a deep, bitter voice answered.
"It's me," Grace said sweetly. "I need a favor."
"I'm listening."
"There's a girl on that island. Fiona."
A long pause.
"The one the brothers keep protecting?"
"Yes," Grace sneered. "I want you to scare her. Shake her up. I want her too afraid to ever come back here."
Another pause.
"You're asking for something dangerous, Grace."
"I'm offering money."
"How much?"
"Enough to make you forget you ever worked for the Smith family."
Silence. Then:
"Deal."
Grace hung up, her smile returning.
"Fiona… you won't even know what hit you."
On the Island — Night
Fiona lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The wind outside rustled the leaves, waves crashing gently against the shore. But something felt off.
A strange unease slid through her.
She sat up.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.No words—just a link.
Curiosity got the better of her.
She clicked it.
A slow-loading video appeared.
A woman slapping herself. Falling. Crying.
Grace.
Fiona's eyes widened, her chest tightening.
"What… is this?"
Then the description loaded:
"Abused Pregnant Woman—Fiona's Cruelty Revealed."
Fiona froze.
Her entire body went cold.
Pictures of her—taken secretly.Videos of her walking in the mansion.Edited clips making it look like she threatened Grace.
Her heart raced painfully.
"No… no, this isn't real…"
Suddenly—BANG!
A loud knock on her door.
Fiona flinched.
The handle shook violently.
"Fiona?"Liam's voice. Sharp. Urgent.
She ran to the door and opened it, breath trembling.
The moment Liam saw her pale face, panic flashed in his eyes.
"What happened?" he demanded.
Fiona couldn't speak. She simply handed him the phone.
Liam took one look—
And his expression changed.
Cold.Murderous.Terrifying.
His jaw clenched so tightly his teeth almost cracked.
"Grace…" he growled. "She dared."
Fiona trembled.
"Liam, she—she posted—"
"I saw."
"Everyone will think—"
"No one will think anything," Liam cut her off. "Because Grace won't have time to breathe once I'm done with her."
Fiona grabbed his arm. "Please don't… please…"
Her voice broke.
Liam froze, the fury in him colliding with her trembling hold.
He cupped her face gently, but his eyes still burned with lethal rage.
"Fiona," he whispered, "I will fix this. I swear on my life."
Fiona looked up at him, tears gathering.
And for the first time that night—she let herself collapse into his arms.
Meanwhile — Grace's Room
Grace watched the exploding comment section online, her smile growing wider with every refresh.
"Enjoy your peace while you can… Fiona."
But she didn't know—
Liam was already on his way.And nothing would save her now.