Chapter 10 - Victoria arranged the hire
Victoria had not merely approved Grace’s employment.
She caused it.
The staffing agency emails showed Victoria contacted the director after seeing Grace’s application in their system.
She wrote:
Ms. Mercer has prior history with the Cole family. Please route her placement to our residence if she is comfortable.
Then:
Do not mention prior relationship to Mr. Cole. I will handle disclosure.
The director believed Victoria was being considerate.
Why bring Grace into the house?
Victoria’s explanation through her lawyer:
“She wanted to know what Grace intended.”
That was the sanitized version.
Her private messages to a friend were less elegant.
The ghost came back.
Then:
If she thinks she can walk in with a child and blow up October, she’s insane.
And:
Warren left a mess. I need to know what she has before Nathan sees it.
There.
Victoria knew about Lily?
Not certainly at first.
She suspected.
She had found Warren’s summary file during prenup and estate planning because her lawyer requested disclosure of any potential descendants or paternity claims affecting future trusts.
Warren’s old file contained:
Pregnancy allegation unresolved.
No formal paternity determination.
Grace relocated.
Protected-address case.
Victoria began looking.
She found Grace’s social media under privacy settings? No public child face.
She found school fundraising page listing:
Lily Mercer, age four.
Then a photograph from a private club newsletter where Grace had volunteered.
Gray-blue eyes.
Victoria was not stupid.
She invited the question into our house because she thought proximity would let her control it.
That was arrogance.
Then Grace started searching for Warren’s archive.
May you like
Victoria realized she had underestimated her.
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