CHAPTER 95: GRAYSON

Back at Hawthorne House after Phoenix, Grayson lies awake, unable to sleep. Grayson reviews what he has accomplished: Kent Trowbridge has been dealt with, the FBI investigation should be redirected, Acacia’s money has been restored, and Acacia now has a strong lawyer. With his tasks finished, Grayson thinks about Acacia’s question about what his life might have been like if he had grown up knowing his other family.

Grayson receives a late-night call and text from Gigi, who is waiting at the gate. Grayson brings Gigi inside, where Gigi immediately asks whether Grayson restored Acacia’s money or convinced their father to do it. Grayson tells Gigi that their father did not return the money because Kent Trowbridge stole it. Gigi is furious at being forced to feel grateful while still angry with Grayson, but Gigi’s anger begins to soften.

Gigi presses Grayson about why Grayson sabotaged Gigi and Savannah earlier if Grayson clearly cares about them. Grayson first tries to deflect by saying he warned Gigi not to trust him, but Gigi refuses to accept that. Grayson finally admits that he knew something about their father that Gigi did not know and should not have had to know.

Grayson tells Gigi that their father was not a good man and reveals that their father, not Grayson’s mother, was responsible for the attempt to kill Avery in the plane bombing. Grayson explains that their father wanted revenge for Colin. Gigi recognizes the emotional pattern immediately and admits that, even as a child, Gigi understood that her father’s love for Gigi was tied to Gigi’s resemblance to Colin.

Gigi realizes that Grayson is speaking about their father’s revenge in the past tense and asks whether their father is coming back. Grayson answers enough for Gigi to understand that their father cannot return. Instead of walking away from Grayson, Gigi decides that Savannah must be protected from the full truth. Gigi demands the puzzle box back so they can create an answer Savannah can believe, one that leaves their father “in Tunisia” rather than exposing him as a killer.

Grayson tries to object to Gigi carrying that burden, but Gigi insists that she is choosing this to protect Savannah. Gigi also makes it clear that she wants Grayson in her life as her big brother. Grayson apologizes for hurting Gigi, Gigi accepts that Grayson did not mean to, and Grayson finally lets himself feel relief because Gigi is not leaving him.