Chapter 317 Grace’s Judgement
Rose immediately looked away.
She finally understood why Ryan had told her he was busy when she’d called earlier. At the time, she’d assumed he was brushing her off.
Now she knew better.
He’d expected the Taylors to summon her.
What she couldn’t figure out was how he’d been so certain it would happen that very night.
She let the thought go.
At this point, she didn’t care who had orchestrated everything behind the scenes. As long as G.S. wasn’t dragged into the mess, whatever was happening inside the Taylor family wasn’t her problem.
She wasn’t even interested in whether Victoria had actually been responsible.
One thing was obvious.
The Taylor family was hiding far more secrets than anyone on the outside realized.
Whatever had happened before, Samantha and Victoria had become enemies now. Living under the same roof, they would turn every day into a battlefield.
Rose could already imagine it.
Peace wasn’t going to last.
Still...
Someone had framed her tonight, and they’d done it brilliantly.
If Samantha’s injuries had been any worse, Rose would have become the obvious suspect.
Who wants Samantha gone?
And who was using me to make it happen?
The thought made her glance toward Victoria.
Victoria stood alone, her face drained of color. She looked overwhelmed, almost fragile, like someone who had no idea how she’d ended up in the middle of a disaster. It was the kind of helplessness that naturally drew sympathy.
But Rose had learned something the hard way.
Everyone wore a mask.
Sometimes you couldn’t tell whether there was a decent person—or a predator—behind it.
*****
Samantha cradled her bandaged arm.
"I didn’t call the police because I wanted to protect this family," she said softly. "I thought we could settle everything privately. If this becomes public, what will people think of the Taylors?"
She sounded gracious.
Selfless.
Almost noble.
"Thank you for everything you’ve done today, Mr. Knight," Grace said.
Her voice remained steady despite everything that had happened.
She had lived through too much to lose her composure now.
Then she turned to Victoria.
"I know you’ve spent years overseas together."
"I know you brought her back because you wanted my blessing. You wanted me to accept her... and acknowledge her place in this family."
Across the room, Daisy looked up sharply.
Derick’s jaw tightened.
Age hadn’t softened him. If anything, the years had only deepened the weight he carried.
He had failed too many people.
Every person in this room had paid for his choices.
Grace continued, her voice colder than before.
"I don’t care whether what happened tonight is true."
"I’m an old woman. The two of you have spent more than twenty years tangled up in the past. I don’t have the strength—or the time—to keep watching it."
She took a slow breath.
"So today, you’ll have my answer."
Her eyes locked onto Victoria.
"As long as I’m alive..."
"...you will never be welcomed into this house."
"My Sophia deserves better than having her life reduced to a tragic love story people romanticize."
Silence crashed over the room.
No one spoke.
Victoria stared at Grace, stunned.
She had expected resistance.
She hadn’t expected finality.
Across the room, Samantha and Daisy exchanged a brief glance.
Neither smiled.
They didn’t have to.
It had worked.
Samantha’s injury had become the catalyst they’d needed.
From this moment on, Victoria would never have a legitimate place in the Taylor family.
She would always remain an outsider.
Derick opened his mouth to object.
Then Grace said Sophia’s name again.
His expression shifted instantly.
Pain.
Regret.
Memory.
Whatever words he’d intended to say disappeared.
Victoria looked as though every ounce of strength had left her body.
She didn’t even know how to defend herself anymore.
Tonight had begun as a dispute between Rose and Samantha.
Somehow...
Without anyone noticing exactly when...
It had become a trial for Victoria instead.
Rose hadn’t seen that coming.
Neither had Victoria.
*****
"When Sophia’s mental health fell apart, it cost her life," Daisy said quietly. "Now Samantha has almost suffered the same fate."
She stepped beside Samantha.
"I raised Samantha as my own daughter. I love her with all my heart. I won’t stand by while she’s hurt. Someone needs to answer for this."
Only then did Victoria look directly at her.
The two women had known each other for years.
Even back then, Daisy had always treated her like competition.
More than twenty years later...
Nothing had changed.
Victoria’s voice trembled.
"Mrs. Hill... why are you accusing me?"
"I don’t remember ever doing anything to hurt you."
For once, Daisy had no immediate response.
Before she could answer, Grace cut her off.
"I’ve heard enough."
She looked straight at Derick.
Disappointment hardened every line on her face.
"I allowed you to come back because I thought I didn’t have much time left."
"I wanted to see my son before I died."
"I was willing to give both of you time to figure out your future."
She paused.
"After New Year’s..."
"Victoria will return overseas."
"And she is not to come back."
Victoria’s composure finally cracked.
"Madam..."
Her voice broke.
She understood exactly what Grace meant.
This wasn’t a suggestion.
It was exile.
Grace’s blood pressure was unstable.
Her resolve wasn’t.
If Samantha truly was Sophia’s daughter, then Grace believed it was her responsibility to protect her.
Even if it meant destroying whatever remained of the past.
Ryan quietly leaned back against the couch.
The matter was settled.
Victoria’s hopes of ever becoming Mrs. Taylor had ended tonight.
Derick knew his mother’s nature better than anyone.
Once she made up her mind, no one changed it.
She had walked away from her own son for nearly twenty years.
She certainly wouldn’t bend now.
Begging would accomplish nothing.
******
Grace suddenly swayed.
Rose reached her before anyone else could.
She steadied the older woman and gently checked her pulse.
"It’s stress," Rose said. "Your blood pressure spiked."
Grace gave a faint shake of her head.
"I’ll be fine."
Then she looked at Ryan.
"Thank you for coming tonight, Mr. Knight."
She paused.
"But I have one question."
Ryan straightened.
"What is it?"
Grace held his gaze.
Her eyes were sharp enough to cut through steel.
"Everything you’ve done tonight..."
"Was it for Samantha?"
"Or were you protecting Rose?"
The room went silent again.
Even Ryan hadn’t expected that question.
There was no easy answer.
Samantha’s heart skipped.
Moments ago, she’d been celebrating Victoria’s defeat.
Now every nerve in her body tightened.
Rose froze too.
Slowly...
Ryan lifted his eyes to meet Grace’s.