Jacob's expression flickered with surprise, but he said nothing, waiting for Thomas to continue.
"He married her when she was still young, promised her the world," Thomas said bitterly. "But he turned out to be a gambler and a liar. Well, it was all my fault. Dango's grandfather was my best friend; when we were young we promised to get our children married. Thomas paused with eyes almost teary.
'' Unfortunately, we both had male children so we pushed the promise to our grandchildren, then David Adisa died.
So when Rosetta refused to give up her dreams, and her education, Dango threw her out. Divorced and left her with just two hundred dollars to her name."
Rosetta looked down at her hands, twisting them together tightly and feeling shame and pain at the same time. Worried what Jacob would think of her. Would he want to be with a divorced woman, a woman another man had dumped and thrown out of the house, left with nothing but two hundred dollars?
Thomas's voice softened as he glanced at her. "She's been through hell, Jacob. And she survived. But I need to know, are you ready to stand by her and protect her from men like that? From feeling used and dumped, from feeling alone and looked down on?"
Jacob leaned forward, his gaze earnest. "Sir, I can't change what's happened to her. But I can promise you this, I'll never treat her like that. Jacob glanced at Rosetta and smiled, Rosetta isn't someone who needs saving, but if she ever does, I'll be there. Always."
Thomas studied him for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Good. Because if you hurt her…" He let the words hang in the air, his gaze sharp.
"I won't, sir," Jacob said firmly.
Rosetta looked at Jacob, her heart swelling with emotion. She reached over and touched his hand lightly. "Thank you."
Later that night after dinner, the three of them sat around the small table. Rosetta, feeling the weight of the conversation, decided to bring up the question that had been gnawing at her.
"Grandpa," she began hesitantly, "do you think I owe Raymond, my biological father, any responsibility to tell him about Jacob?"
Thomas put down his glass of water, his brows furrowing. "That depends, Rosie. Do you want him to know?"
She hesitated, glancing at Jacob, then back at her grandfather. "I feel like… like it's something he should know. But I'm scared. What if he doesn't approve? What if it makes things worse with Tracy?"
Thomas sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Rosie, you don't owe him anything. But if you feel it's the right thing to do, then do it. Just remember, you're not living your life for him. You're living it for you."
"But he's… powerful," Rosetta murmured. "What if he tries to interfere?"
Jacob reached over, placing his hand over hers. "Then we deal with it together. Whatever happens, you're not facing it alone."
Thomas nodded, his voice softening. "He's right, Rosie. You've faced bigger battles than this. And no matter what happens, you've got people who care about you."
Rosetta smiled faintly, squeezing Jacob's hand. "Thank you, Grandpa."
Thomas smiled, his voice turning light. "Just make sure you don't bring me any drama from that Grant family. I've had enough excitement for one lifetime."
They all laughed, the tension in the room easing. For the first time in days, Rosetta felt a sense of peace, not because everything was resolved, but because she knew she wasn't facing it alone.
Tracy stormed into the Grant mansion, after leaving Caleb at the campus. The grand marble floor echoed her every step. Her chest was tight, her breathing uneven as a mix of anger and humiliation churned in her stomach.
"Miss Tracy, welcome home" the butler began, walking into the hallway, but she brushed past him without a word, her heels clicking sharply.
She found Raymond in the sitting room, seated in his leather armchair, a pen in hand and documents spread across the coffee table. He looked up as she entered, his brow furrowing slightly at her agitated state.
"Tracy," he said, setting the pen down. "What's wrong?"
"Everything!" she snapped, standing stiffly near the doorway.
Raymond sighed, gesturing toward the couch. "Why don't you sit, and we can talk..."
"I don't want to sit Dad," she interrupted, her voice trembling. "I want to know why you keep pretending this is normal! It's not normal, Dad!"
Raymond leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but wary. "I assume this is about Rosetta."
"Of course, it's about her!" Tracy shouted, her voice cracking. "Ever since you told me she's your real daughter, everything has fallen apart. Do you even see what you've done to me?"
"Tracy," Raymond said, his tone steady but firm, "no one has done anything to you. You're angry, and I understand that, but this isn't Rosetta's fault."
Her jaw clenched, and her hands balled into fists at her sides. "She doesn't deserve to be here, Dad. She doesn't belong in our family!"
Raymond stood slowly, his tall frame towering over her, though his voice remained even. "She belongs here just as much as you do. Whether you like it or not, she's your sister, and you need to accept that."
"Sister?" Tracy let out a bitter laugh, her eyes blazing. "She's not my sister! She's just some trash picker who got lucky. You've handed her my life on a silver platter, and I'm supposed to just be okay with it?"
Raymond's expression darkened. "That's enough, Tracy. You've had more than enough time to understand this. Rosetta is part of this family now, and that's not going to change. You don't have to like her, but you will respect her."
"Respect her?" Tracy's voice shook with emotion. "After everything I've done to prove I'm your daughter, you expect me to bow down to her?"
Raymond's voice softened slightly, though his eyes stayed locked on hers. "You don't have to bow to anyone. But you need to stop this anger before it consumes you. Rosetta isn't taking anything away from you."
Tracy's laughter turned hollow, and tears welled in her eyes, though she refused to let them fall. "You don't get it, do you? She's already taken everything. And you let it happen."
"Tracy, She took nothing from you... Rosetta is my biological daughter"
" Dad, I'm done," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm done trying to make you see what you've done to me."
She turned sharply and walked out, ignoring Raymond's calls as she headed up to her room.
Walking into her room, Tracy shut the door behind her and leaned against it, the tears she'd been holding back finally spilling over. She slid down to the floor, burying her face in her hands as a wave of frustration and pain washed over her.
"Stupid Rosetta," she whispered through gritted teeth. "Why couldn't she have stayed in whatever gutter she crawled out of?"
Her mind replayed Raymond's words: She's part of this family now, and that's not going to change.
Her heart pounded, anger building again. She wiped her tears away roughly, standing and pacing the room. "If Dad won't do anything about her, I will."
Tracy grabbed her phone from the nightstand, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through her contacts. She stopped when she saw the name she was looking for.
With a deep breath, she hit call.
The line rang twice before a smooth, familiar voice answered.
"Well, well," Dango said, his tone smug. "Miss Grant. To what do I owe this surprise?"
Tracy's lips curled into a cold smile. "Dango, I think it's time we helped each other out."
"Helped each other?" Dango asked amusement in his voice. "Now this I've got to hear. It sounds interesting"
"I want to put Rosetta back in her place," Tracy said, her voice low but filled with venom.
There was a pause, and then Dango chuckled darkly. "Now, that's a conversation worth having. Who is this Rosetta and what's the plan?"
"Meet me tomorrow," Tracy replied. "I'll explain everything."
"Consider it done," Dango said smoothly.
As the call ended, Tracy's hand tightened around her phone. Her mind swirled with anger, resentment, and a singular determination: she wasn't going to let Rosetta ruin her life any longer.
Inside the dimly lit café in a quiet part of the city, chosen deliberately by Tracy for its privacy. She sat at a corner table. Her impatience grew with every tick of the clock.
Dango strolled in ten minutes late, wearing a cocky grin and a leather jacket that had seen better days. He scanned the room, spotted her, and sauntered over like he owned the place.
"Tracy," he called out, as he sat across from her. "Looking lovely as ever."
"Spare me the patronage, Dango," she snapped, folding her arms. "I didn't ask you here for small talk."
He raised an eyebrow, leaning back. "Straight to business. I like that. So, what's the deal? What do you want from me?"
Tracy leaned forward, her voice low. "It's about Rosetta."
Dango's smirk faltered, his brows knitting together. "Rosetta? What about her?"
Tracy let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, you're going to love this. She's my father's biological daughter. The real Grant. Not me."
Dango blinked.
"Switched at birth," Tracy explained, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Isn't it just the most heartwarming story?"
Dango sat back, processing the revelation. "So, you're saying she's the real deal now? The billionaire's kid?"
"Yes," Tracy hissed, her eyes narrowing. "And she's walking around like she belongs in my world. I need her out of the picture."
Dango tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. "Hold on. Are we talking about the same Rosetta? Rosetta George? My ex-wife?"
Tracy froze, her lips parting slightly. "Your ex-wife?"
Dango let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Now this is getting interesting."
"She's your ex?" Tracy asked, her tone incredulous. I know her name is Rosetta George but I never knew she was married before.
"Yep," Dango said with a chuckle. "Married her when she was young and naïve. Thought she could 'fix' me." He made air quotes with his fingers. "Didn't work out. She left, the same way she came with only two hundred dollars in hand and I moved on." he scoffed. Though it was a promised marriage between my grandfather and her grandfather Thomas
"Does she know you're aware of her identity?" Tracy asked, her mind racing.
"Not a clue," Dango replied, well I'm just finding out now, a sly smile spreading across his face. "But if she's a Grant now… maybe it's time I paid her a little visit."
Tracy's lips curled into a cold smile. "Exactly what I was thinking. You still have a connection to her. If anyone can get her to leave, it's you."
Dango laughed, leaning forward. "You want me to get back with her? Convince her to leave all this behind?"
"Something like that," Tracy said, her voice sharp. "Rosetta's too soft. She still feels guilty about everything—she probably even pities me. Use that against her. Make her think she doesn't belong here."
Dango rubbed his chin, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I could do that. But what's in it for me? If I'm going back to Rosetta it should be because she is now a Grant"
"You'll be back in her good graces," Tracy said smoothly. "And if she's the Grant heir now, imagine the doors that could open for you. Money. Power."
Dango considered this for a moment, then grinned. "You're good at this, Tracy. But Rosetta and I rubbed in the mud before she left. It will be hard to do it, but I will try."
"Good," Tracy said, her smile widening. But her eyes glinted with a hidden plan.
Meanwhile in Tracy's mind, as Dango outlined his strategy, Tracy's thoughts wandered. Her gaze flicked to the reflection of her face in the café window, her jaw tightening.
Dango can play his part all he wants, she thought. But this isn't just about Rosetta. Jacob…
Her stomach twisted at the memory of Jacob's smile, the way he had defended Rosetta in the cafeteria. It infuriated her.
"He's not hers, he's mine, all mine" Tracy muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Dango asked, looking up.
"Nothing," Tracy said quickly, her tone light. "Just thinking out loud."
But her resolve hardened. She would make Jacob hers, no matter what it took.
Later that evening, Dango leaned against his car, flipping his phone in his hand. Tracy's words replayed in his mind.
Rosetta, a Grant?
A sly grin spread across his face. "Rosetta," he murmured. "It's time we had a little reunion." Forgetting the way he and his mum treated her badly