Grace's POV
We need to call the police, I said, my voice shaking.
And tell them what? That my enemy mentioned your name to my sister? Ethan paced like a caged animal. James is too smart for that. He didn't threaten you directly. He just planted the seed.
Then what do we do?
I don't know! He stopped, ran both hands through his hair. I don't— Wait. I need to go to Lily. Make sure she's okay.
Now? It's almost midnight.
She's terrified, Grace. Because of me. Because I came here and dragged you into my mess. His voice broke. I need to see her. Make sure she's safe.
My phone rang before I could respond. I grabbed it. Hello?
Dr. Ashford? This is Bill Henderson. I got your number from Maya. My horse—something's wrong. She's bleeding bad and I can't stop it.
My brain switched instantly to emergency mode. Where are you?
Miller's Farm. Ten minutes outside town. Please, Doc, I think she's dying.
I'm coming. Apply pressure to the wound. I'll be there soon.
I hung up and grabbed my medical bag. Horse emergency. I have to go.
I'll drive you, Ethan said immediately.
You need to get to Lily
She's two hours away. The horse is ten minutes. Let me help, then I'll go.
I wanted to argue. Wanted to tell him I didn't need his help. But my truck had been making horrible noises lately and we didn't have time.
Fine. Let's go.
We ran to his car. He drove fast but controlled, hands steady on the wheel even though I could see the tension in his jaw.
Grace, he said quietly. About James
Later. Right now, we save the horse.
He nodded, pressed harder on the gas.
We arrived at Miller's Farm to find Bill Henderson in the barn, covered in blood, holding pressure on a deep gash in his mare's side.
She got caught on the fence, Bill said, voice shaking. Tore herself open trying to get free.
I assessed quickly. Deep laceration. Needed stitches. Lots of them.
Ethan, I need light. Bill, keep holding pressure. I pulled on gloves, prepped my supplies.
For the next two hours, we worked. Ethan held the flashlight perfectly steady. Passed me supplies before I asked. Kept the terrified horse calm with that low, soothing voice.
We moved like a team. Like we'd done this a hundred times.
Finally, the last stitch was in. The mare was bandaged, medicated, stable.
Bill insisted we have coffee before we left. Led us to a storage room with hay bales and a ancient coffee maker that produced something thick and terrible.
Thank you, Bill said, shaking both our hands. You saved her life.
After he left to check on the mare, Ethan and I collapsed on the hay bales. Exhausted. Covered in blood. Running on adrenaline.
That was intense, Ethan said.
Welcome to rural veterinary medicine. I sipped the awful coffee. This is what I do. What I've always done.
It's incredible. Watching you work—you're brilliant, Grace.
Something in his voice made me look at him. Made me see the admiration in his eyes.
Made me want to tell him things I'd never told anyone.
I used to have a clinic in Boston, I heard myself say. Beautiful facility. State-of-the-art equipment. I specialized in exotic animals. Did surgery on birds, reptiles, things most vets wouldn't touch.
What happened?
And suddenly, I was talking. Telling him about Marcus. About the perfect engagement, the perfect wedding planning, the perfect lie.
I found out three days before the wedding that he'd been sleeping with my best friend, I said, staring at the terrible coffee. Simone. My business partner. The maid of honor. They'd been planning it for months, getting me to merge our businesses, transfer assets into joint accounts for the 'partnership.'
Ethan's hand clenched on his cup. Grace
The day before the wedding, they emptied everything and ran. Marcus sent me a text from the airport. I could still recite it word for word. 'You were always too focused on saving broken things. Simone knows how to put herself first. Learn from this.'
Son of a
I stood in that church in my wedding dress, waiting. Two hundred guests watching. His family spreading rumors that I was unstable. Within three months, I'd lost my clinic, my savings, my home, my reputation. My voice cracked. Everything I'd built. Gone.
Silence. I couldn't look at him. Couldn't bear to see pity in his eyes.
Then Ethan spoke, and his voice was pure fury.
Your ex was an idiot.
I looked up, startled.
He had someone who showed up, Ethan continued, anger simmering beneath every word. Who did the hard work. Who cared more about saving lives than saving face. Someone brilliant and dedicated and real. He turned to face me. And he walked away from that. He was a coward and a fraud, and you deserved so much better.
Something in my chest cracked open.
Because Ethan wasn't offering sympathy. He was offering anger on my behalf. Like my pain mattered. Like I mattered.
Thank you, I whispered.
For what?
For being angry for me. Everyone else just felt sorry for me. But you— My voice broke. You're mad that someone hurt me. That's different.
Grace, anyone who could hurt you is either an idiot or a monster. Probably both. His hand covered mine. Warm. Solid. Real. You're not broken. You're not too focused on saving things. You're exactly who you should be.
Tears spilled over. I didn't try to stop them.
Ethan pulled me against his chest. Let me cry into his shirt. Held me like I was something precious.
And for the first time in eighteen months, I felt safe.
On the drive home, exhaustion hit hard. I leaned against the window, eyes closing.
Grace? Ethan's voice was soft. We're home.
I blinked awake. We were in my driveway. Had I really slept the whole way?
Sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you.
Don't apologize. He looked at me with something that made my heart stutter. I'm glad you felt safe enough to rest.
Safe. That was the word, wasn't it?
I felt safe with Ethan Kane. This man I'd known less than two weeks. This man who'd just learned my deepest shame and hadn't flinched.
That should terrify me.
It did terrify me.
But I was too tired to fight it anymore.
Come inside, I said. It's late. You can't drive two hours to see Lily tonight. You're exhausted.
Grace, I don't want to impose
You're not imposing. You're accepting help from someone who cares about you. I met his eyes. Please. Stay.
Something shifted in his expression. Okay.
We walked to the cottage together. I unlocked the door, and we stepped inside.
My phone was on the counter. The screen lit up with a notification.
A text from an unknown number.
I picked it up, and my blood turned to ice.
The message was a photo. Of me and Ethan. Tonight. At Miller's Farm. Through the barn window. Someone had been watching us.
Below the photo: Touching. The vet and the criminal. James will be so interested to hear how close you've become. Sleep well, Dr. Ashford. We'll be in touch.
My hands shook so hard I dropped the phone.
Ethan grabbed it, read the message, and went white.
They were watching us, I whispered. They followed us. They've been following us.
Grace
How long, Ethan? How long have they been watching me?
He looked at me with eyes full of guilt and fear. I don't know. But James isn't just trying to buy your land anymore. His voice was hollow. He's declaring war. And you're caught in the middle because of me.
My cottage, my safe place, suddenly felt exposed. Vulnerable.
Someone was watching. Had been watching. Knew where I went. Who I was with. Everything.
What do we do? I asked.
Ethan pulled out his phone. Started typing. I'm calling in a favor. Someone who can help protect you.
Protect me from what?
He looked up, and the fear in his eyes made my stomach drop.
From whatever James is planning next, he said quietly. Because this photo? This threat? This is just the beginning.