Chapter 8 My body was mostly healed . After a short recovery I was cleared to return to work . But I hadn't been back long before they dragged me to a banquet . Nathaniel stood at the center of the room in a sharp suit , smiling at me with a smile that felt like a funeral . " Dr. Hayes - remember these people ? " he asked . His guards shoved three figures forward . My eyes went wide . " Vanessa ? Adrian ? Dean Whitaker ? " Their mouths were gagged with cloth ; they stared at me in sheer terror . A long whip cracked across them . Nathaniel smiled , dangerous and mocking . " You fools- did you really think running overseas would hide you from me ? " He rubbed the blood between his thumb and forefinger and let out a cold chuckle . " You faked your deaths to escape , didn't you ? " he said , lifting Vanessa's chin like a prize . " Too bad - only real death stops me from finding you . Want me to help you with that ? " Vanessa's eyes bulged ; she shook her head so hard her whole body trembled . It did nothing . Nathaniel raised his glass toward me " Dr. Hayes , enjoy the spectacle . " Four Bentleys idled outside the plaza . with a grin . They shoved Vanessa out and bound her limbs to four different cars . Engines roared . I shut my eyes . Adrian's face was raw with horror as he watched everything unfold . " Adrian - help me !! " Vanessa screamed . Blood splattered onto Adrian's face . They ripped the gag from his mouth ; his first reaction was a string of curses directed at me . " Lillian Hayes ! You just stand there and watch people die ! You bitch - may you rot ! " Before I could answer , Nathaniel gave a single signal. They hauled Adrian to his feet - his bravado gone , his face ashen . " What are you doing ? Let me go ! " he begged , terrified . They shoved a block of ice under his feet and looped a noose around his neck . Nathaniel sat me down and raised a glass- " Dr. Hayes how long do you think he'll hold out ? " he asked casually . Lillian Adrian's voice broke as his feet slipped on the melting ice , He had to stay upright or the noose would do its work . D Dreame - Read Romance Storles When he reized his feelinga , he had lost her forever ! Hippie reading at night 100.00 % 4.4 ERCE Installed Open " Say something , Lillian ! " he begged , eyes frantic and pleading . Dean Whitaker sat bound in a chair nearby , puddles forming under him . Seeing me sipping wine as though nothing were wrong drove Adrian nearly insane . " Lillian ! Please - Mr . Graves listens to you , say something ! Spare me - we've been through so much ! " he cried . " You and Vanessa were childhood friends , weren't you ? " I said , cool . Adrian's face went hollow . That childhood closeness - that was family . What I had with you was real love ! " he insisted , losing the last of his composure . Only then did I understand how he had assumed I would beg for him . The ice was half gone . His last shred of pride dissolved . " Lillian ... I beg you ... " he sobbed the first time I'd ever seen him cry . I smirked and raised my glass to him from across the plaza . The ice finished melting ; his legs cramped , he rose onto his toes and then spasmed as his body gave out . Nathaniel stood and looked to Dean Whitaker . " Now we have one left , " he said . There was a loud crash as the chair toppled . The guards rushed forward . " Mr. Graves . " One of them looked up , stunned . " He's dead - scared to death . " Nathaniel paused , then let out a bitter , mirthless laugh . For a moment I thought it was finally over . Then Nathaniel asked me to meet him at the river . A file was handed to me -an airtight transfer agreement for all Graves holdings . My skin prickled . I looked up and saw him on the riverbank , back turned . " Nathaniel ! " I yelled . He turned , in his arms lay Juliette , limp and utterly still . He smiled at me with something empty and resigned , " Juliette is gone , " he said . " My last reason to live is gone with her . I owe you everything you were owed . " He leaned back , and before I could reach him he toppled into the current . " Mr. Graves ! " I lunged , but the river took him . The Greybaven swept both siblings away . 4 clutched the will in my handshe had named me sole heir . His lawyer approached , asking me to come finalize the transfer .