“...Ethan's wife.” Juliet watched her with undisguised hatred. “Did Ethan neglect to inform you that coming here is illegal, or did he send you to do his dirty job?”

A pause followed. She watched as Gretchen fought desperately to keep her emotions in check. Many times she opened her mouth but shut it again, seemingly indecisive of her words.

“I'm not leaving here without Ellie...” She finally spoke, fresh tears falling down her face. “Please, surely you want something. I'll do anything.”

Juliet wanted to yell —to walk the gold digging, home wrecking scum out of her room! She wanted to grab her by her red hair and force her to leave. But she knew it was only a matter of time before Ethan took the child away and worst of all, she knew that she couldn't walk away once more, a loser.

With a smile now spreading across her lips, she said, “There is one thing you could do...”

“Anything!” Gretchen said, her eyes lighting up.

“Lady Williams,” she mocked. “I shall allow you leave this room with my daughter.” She smiled broadly. “But, you shall have to take me home with you as well. My child is not going anywhere without me.”

Chapter Thirty Two

Tightening her hold around Ellie as she sat in the carriage with Juliet by her side and Ellie sleeping in her arms, Gretchen went over the conversation she knew she would have to have with Ethan, in her head. Ethan would be furious, she knew to expect that. But what choice did she have? One look at Ellie after two weeks of the child's absence, and Gretchen couldn't contain her emotions.

When the carriage came to a halt before the castle, Gretchen's anxiety turned to fear as the footman helped her down the carriage. Surely Ethan would eventually see reason, surely he'd understand her decision to let Juliet come home with her, and surely he'd understand that she couldn't have turned away from Ellie.

How wrong she had been. The moment Ethan's servants spotted their former mistress, they wouldn't let her into the building. With Juliet barred from entering the house, Gretchen had to wait on the porch until Ethan was informed of their presence. She had hoped she could reason with Ethan, but one look at Juliet and he was ordering her out of the manor, and storming back into the building.

Hurriedly, she turned pleading eyes to Juliet. “Please don't go anywhere,” she begged, placing Ellie in her arms, before turning to race after Ethan.

“Ethan!” She called, hastening her pace. “Ethan! Please.” She reached him and took captive of his hand, pulling him to a halt. Walking around him, she paused before him. “I had no choice —Juliet gave me no choice. If I was going to bring Ellie back, Juliet needed to come along.” She pleaded, searching his eyes and finding nothing but fury.