Seven Years After He Abandoned Us, My Rich Ex Found Our Secret Homestead

A Web of Deceit

Panic surged through Grace's veins. She squeezed Ben tighter, feeling the little boy's confusion as he looked between his mother and the strange, well-dressed man. She needed to protect her son at all costs. She couldn't let the wealthy, ruthless family that had discarded her take the only thing she lived for.

"He isn't yours, Ryan," Grace lied, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to sound firm. "I got married shortly after I left. Ben has nothing to do with you. Please, just leave us alone."

Ryan shook his head, tears finally spilling over his eyelashes. He took another step forward, holding his hands up in a gesture of peace. He looked at Ben's green eyes—the exact same shade as his own—and then back at Grace. He knew the truth, and no lie could cover it.

"Don't do this, Grace," Ryan pleaded. "I know the truth. I know my mother told you I wanted nothing to do with you. She showed me a forged document saying you took a million-dollar payoff to abort the baby and disappear. I believed her for two years, drowning in my own grief, until I found the original paperwork hidden in her safe."

Grace gasped, her grip on Ben loosening slightly. The memory of Ryan's mother handing her the contract flashed in her mind. She had been told Ryan signed it, but she had never actually seen him do it. She had been too broken to question it.

"I gave up everything, Grace," Ryan continued, his voice thick with emotion. "I walked away from the family company. I spent five years searching for you, tracing every lead. I never stopped loving you. I never stopped looking for our child."

Just as Grace’s heart began to soften, a sharp, repetitive chiming broke the silence. Ryan pulled a high-end smartphone from his pocket. His face instantly drained of color as he read the notification. He looked up at Grace, his eyes filled with sheer terror.

"My mother's security team," Ryan whispered, his hand trembling. "They put a GPS tracker on my car when I left the city. They know I found you. Grace, her lawyers and private investigators are already on their way here to sue for custody. We have to run, right now."