The words rang over and over in my head. Serves her right. How could anyone be that cruel? To wish that kind of pain on another human being. Tearing. That was the only word that could describe it. There had been a bone-deep tearing sensation in my womb, where my baby had been ripped away. Worse, there had been a soul-deep tearing sensation in my chest, where my heart was, where it would never be the same again. But I wore those scars proudly. They were warrior marks, evidence of the battle I’d fought for my daughter. I might have lost, but I’d never stopped fighting.

“Get out.”

“Excuse me?”

The flustered expression on Grant’s face almost made me laugh. Only he would have the amount of arrogance required to think he could rip someone’s world apart and believe he would still be welcome when he returned. I kept my voice even. “You heard me. Get out. You’re on private property, and you need to leave.”

Grant’s lip quivered, and I knew he was fighting a sneer, that same twist of lips that always appeared when someone didn’t do as he wanted. “This is our family home. It’s belonged to the Abbot bloodline for almost as long as this island has existed. If you think this last-minute will is going to stand up in court, you are sorely mistaken.”

I met Grant’s gaze but didn’t say a word. He wouldn’t get an outburst out of me. He didn’t deserve even one single flicker of emotion.

Heat rose to Grant’s cheeks at my dismissal. “I was trying to be kind about this. My parents want to generously offer you one hundred grand if you sign over The Gables.”

I gave a snort of amusement. I couldn’t help it. The Gables would sell for at least five million, more if a petition for rezoning went through. I said nothing, just kept meeting Grant’s gaze.

A muscle in his cheek fluttered. “Here’s my card. Call me when you’ve reconsidered. One hundred thousand dollars is a hell of a lot more than nothing. And it could go a long way for someone like you.”

He extended the card. Even at a distance, I could tell the paper was thick, the letters and numbers embossed into the cardstock. I didn’t take it. Grant let it slip from his fingers, and it landed on the threshold. “You’re going to want to pick that up.”

My muscles tightened as I watched Grant turn and walk away. I stood stock-still as he climbed into his sports car and drove off. I didn’t move even an inch until the vehicle disappeared from sight. Until the threat was well and truly gone.

I didn’t bend to pick up the card, I simply shut the door over it and flipped the lock. But my hands trembled with every movement.

10

Kenna