The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 61

Knox POV

Nothing. Not a damn thing. None of this makes sense to me. I slam my hands on the computer table, startling Lorelai and poor Midnight who swiftly disappear under the bed in fright. "Nothing. Nothing suspicious in their transactions, or financials. The reporter was telling the truth, they didn't pay your parents for that interview" I told her grimly as she eyed me surprised. "But somebody has given them a large amount of cash lately. There's a huge deposit they made lately into their bank account."

"How much?" Lorelai asked dully as lan and my father listened closely "How much was ruining my life worth to them?" She sounded devastated. That interview on television had all but destroyed what little confidence she had left. Her complexion was so pale it was almost transparent and there were dark circles underneath her eyes from lack of sleep. Her eyes were red and puffy and she looked wan, almost sick instead of healthy and vibrant. I felt my heart give a pang as I glanced at her. She looked on the verge of having some sort of mental breakdown and while I had done everything I could to reassure her that this was not going to affect us in any way, she was becoming distant and detached from me. It frightened me. I did the same when there was something difficult I didn't want to process or when there was a hard decision I had to make.

"3 Million" I answered quietly.

Silence. To the Grants, three million was a mere drop in the ocean but to Lorelai's family, who came from a rather low-class background (that was putting it politely) it was a massive amount of money that would last them for a lifetime if they spent it wisely. "3 Million" Lorelai repeated, closing her eyes "They would have sold their souls to the devil for a paltry one million. Who gave it to them?" she asked with a hint of anger.

I shook my head "There's no way to tell considering they personally deposited cash into their own account. It could have come from anyone. But if the media had paid them they would have transferred the money to ensure that they paid the correct tax and to ensure that they had a paper trail for their accountants" I pointed out.

"Hmmm," My father muttered, "it could be any list of enemies we've made or somebody who seems to have it out personally for Lorelai."

He exhales while I nod tightly. This was a clever ploy for somebody to destroy Lorelai and it was more than vindictive, it was cruel and humiliating.

"It was Abigail" Lorelai said blankly as I glanced at her and lan's eyebrow rose in question "Abigail Steven's it had to be."

I was in a state of disbelief. "Lorelai, Abigail might be many things but she's no criminal mastermind. Just because she leaked that video, it doesn't mean that she's behind this as well" I added glancing at my father who nodded in agreement.

But Lorelai was proving to be stubborn, folding her arms across her chest and scowling darkly at me. "It was her" she insisted, her voice rising slightly higher "I know it was her Knox. Who else would it be? She has it in for me and she...she wants you" she blurted

out.

I laughed. I couldn't help myself. I thought that Lorelai was being a bit overdramatic.

"Abigail Stevens would not be that stupid," I said shaking my head as Lorelai stared at me stonily "Her father would have her killed if she did something again. Not to mention, that as much as my ego likes the idea of two girls fighting over me, Abigail Stevens is not that obsessed with me. She's had time to get used to the idea of replaceing somebody else to get married to" I said dismissively.

Lorelai's lower lip was twitching. "Not that obsessed with you?" she said quietly "You should have heard her while we were in the jewelry shop. If anybody is angry about us being engaged Knox it's her. I don't know how she managed to track down my parents, but I swear it has to be her."

I sighed "Lorelai I think you're just looking for reasons to blame Abigail now. I know you're upset, but we need to look at this from all angles. If and I'm not saying it is" I paused as lan frowned at Father "then we will deal with her appropriately, but I think it's far more likely to be an enemy of us that wants to see the Grant's reputation and our company ruined."

"What about Jackson then?" she interrupts, her chest heaving "he could have done it as well. I have no idea where he is" she added, glowering at me.

I paused. s**t. There was no feasible way that it was Jackson but how did I explain that to her without telling her where Jackson had ended up? Hell, I didn't even know his location. I did know that he was safely behind bars though, experiencing his own version of hell. I coughed. Ian and Father began to discreetly move away. I turned to face Lorelai "It's not Jackson," I said flatly.

"Really? How can you be certain? You never even told me what happened to him" she said accusingly.

My eyes fixed on hers. There was a sheen in them. She was close to tears again. I wanted to reach over and wipe her eyes but didn't want to risk her flinching away from me in the mood she was in. I was having trouble reading her moods.

"There is no possible way that Jackson would be able to engineer something like this. All I can say is that it's impossible and without a doubt, I know that he's not behind it" I said hoping she wouldn't ask much more from me.

She blinks "But how do you know?"

I glance away "because he's in another country, and that's all I'm prepared to say."

Her mouth drops open. I stare at her silently pleading for her not to ask any more questions. She slowly closes her mouth. After all this time, she's beginning to learn that sometimes it's best not to ask questions, especially if you don't want to know the answers. "Fine," she says softly, unfolding her arms "but what about Karen? She hates the Grant family apparently" This was said with heavy sarcasm "and me. I'm the one who got her put in prison initially." "We have people on her," I said nonchalantly "It can't be her."

She sighs and sits on the bed. "So you're right. It could be anyone" she gives a mirthless laugh "It doesn't make me feel any better, in fact, that makes me feel worse" she admits.

I reach for her hand. I press my lips against the palm of it as she relaxes slightly. "This is just a hiccup," I told her.

"How can you be so calm about this?" she blurts out, rocking back and forth, her ankles crossed.

I raise a brow "Because this isn't the first time the Grants have faced a scandal or some sort of betrayal and it won't be the last" I tell her easily "The important thing is how we tackle it and that we don't let it split us apart." "But you would be better off if we did," she says suddenly and I still.

What did she just say? My heart is beating fast and I can feel my hands becoming clammy. No, no, no. Not this. After everything we've gone through. Everything we've fought for. She's starting to give up. Is it me? Am I a disappointment to her? Have I failed her? I can feel my anxiety beginning to skyrocket.

"Lorelai," I say, getting up awkwardly as she looks at me sadly "Lorelai don't say that. My life is better because you're in it" I whisper.

But she looks resolute. Resolved. I can feel my body beginning to shake. "Knox, the longer I'm with you, the worse it's going to get. I know what my parents are capable of. I lived with them" she gives a bitter laugh "and they are the cruelest most ruthless people you can ever replace on this planet. You might be wealthy" she said troubled "but they are capable of killing if it comes down to that. Trust me, I believe that. I won't have you sacrifice what you and your family have worked so hard to build, for my sake."

"Stop talking nonsense" I growl but she shakes her head, standing up and moving away from me as I stare at her in desperation "Lorelai, I can protect you. I can protect the Grant name. Nobody is asking anybody to sacrifice anything or anybody. Just think this through" I said thickly as she gazed at me with a wistful smile, her hand reaching up to push a loose tendril of hair behind her ear "Lorelai don't walk away not now."

She opens her mouth to say something and then pales further. She makes a gagging noise and then rushes towards the bathroom. I quickly hurry behind her and grab her hair, pulling it up as she bends down and vomits into the toilet, making me wince uncomfortably as she retches. This whole ordeal has been so stressful for her that it's made her sick I thought, tenderly stroking her neck and head.

She wipes the back of her mouth and then flushes the toilet. I let go of her hair and watch as she washes her hand and brushes her teeth. "Are you alright?" I ask.

"I'm just stressed" she whispers, her voice shaking "It's making me feel sick to my stomach."

Her nerves were shot, I thought. At least she wasn't arguing with me anymore or talking about leaving. I gently led her back into the bedroom and shut the curtains. "Get some sleep," I told her, as she obediently curled up on the bed "I think you need it" I added as her eyes began to flutter closed.

I sat there watching over her, listening to the sound of her soft snores, while I mulled over what to do, my hands automatically seeking my keyboard once again. As my love slept, I continued to track down her family, wondering if there were any more skeletons in the closet that I had failed to discover or if there was anything more Lorelai's parents were going to do, that might break what little spirit Lorelai had left completely. Because I had no doubts, that if this continued, Lorelai was going to do something desperate and if that happened, she might not be willing to remain with me anymore out of some misguided sense of loyalty and trust.