Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 81

35 vouchers

Chapter 81

Eloise whispered, “Hannah, since you knew all along, why didn’t you tell Grayson?”

Hannah squeezed her hand gently. “I know you’ve had a tough time. If you wanted to keep it from him, I’d stand by you. I haven’t told a soul, not even Leo.”

Eloise couldn’t hold back her tears, overwhelmed by gratitude. Family had always felt distant to her, but Hannah made her feel truly cherished.

Hannah was Grayson’s real grandmother, but she always looked out for Eloise, seeing things from her perspective.

Having someone so kind in her life made Eloise feel a pang of unease about what had happened between her and Grayson.

“Hannah, about Grayson and me…” Eloise began, her voice faltering.

Hannah patted her hand gently. “Don’t worry, I won’t push you. It’s up to you when or if you want to forgive that rascal. If you never do, that’s his problem, not yours.

“As for Noah, he’s your boy, so of course he belongs with you. But promise me you’ll let me help out with him.”

“Thank you, Hannah,” Eloise said, her voice full of gratitude. “I don’t blame Grayson. We’re just not a good match.”

“Well, whatever you decide, I’m on your side. If he can’t win you back, that’s his loss,” Hannah replied.

Grayson, standing out on the balcony, couldn’t believe his ears. Honestly, it felt as if Eloise was the one Hannah truly treated as her own granddaughter.

The Pierce family group chat was blowing up. Grayson’s phone was blowing up with calls from Leo and the rest of the family.

He didn’t have time to deal with any of them right now.

Just then, Finn called to let him know about a meeting.

Grayson was in no mood for any meetings. “Cancel it. Unless the company’s literally collapsing, just leave me alone today.”

Finn was stunned into silence.

Grayson put his phone away, walked over, and scooped Noah up, settling him on his lap. “Hey, call me ‘Dad.”

Noah glanced at Eloise, who gave him an encouraging look. He whispered, “Dad”

Grayson couldn’t help but smile, feeling totally satisfied.Even if Eloise hadn’t forgiven him yet, at least his son had accepted him.

12:43 Fri, Apr 10

Chapter 81

VPN

77

35 vouchers

This kid was a real little trickster. He’d managed to keep up the “Mr. Pierce” act for ages without ever slipping

Eloise got up to clear the table. Breakfast had been interrupted halfway, and the food was still sitting out on

the table.

Grayson looked up at her. “Eloise, I haven’t had breakfast yet. Could you fix me something to eat?”

Before he could finish, Hannah gave him a swift kick. “Don’t you have hands? She has to go to work, take care of the kid, and now you want her to cook for you too?”

Grayson set Noah down and walked over to Eloise. “Fine, I’ll do it myself.”

Hannah shot back, “Just for yourself? Seriously, how selfish can you be? What about Eloise, Noah, and me? Are we supposed to starve?”

Eloise couldn’t help but stifle a laugh as she cleared the table.

Grayson gave her a teasing look. “Feeling better now?”

Eloise didn’t respond. She picked up the plates and turned away, heading into the kitchen.”

Grayson followed her and just grabbed a quick bite of the leftover breakfast.

“Eloise, do we have any groceries at home? Let me make lunch for you guys,” he offered.

Eloise shot him a glance. “Don’t bother, just go to work.”

“I don’t wanna go to work,” Grayson whined.

Just then, Hannah’s phone rang in the living room. “I’m telling you now, that kid is Grayson’s, my great- grandson,” she declared.

Leo tried to ask more, but Hannah cut him off. “We’ll talk about the rest when you get home. I’m busy right

now.”

She hung up without a second thought.

Leo clutched his phone, nearly bursting with excitement at the news that he had a grandson.

He tried to find that photo of his grandson online, but it had already been taken down. He quickly realized Grayson must’ve had it pulled.

The Pierce family always kept things under wraps; before this, nobody outside even knew what Grayson looked like. There was no way his grandson was going to end up all over the internet.

Leo was scratching his head, wondering how Eloise’s kid could possibly be part of the Pierce family. But if Hannah said so, then that was that.

He’d just have to wait for Hannah and Grayson to come home and explain everything.

12:43 Fri, Apr 10

Chapter 81

VPN

77

35 vouchers

Camille slouched on her couch in her cramped apartment, face unwashed, teeth unbrushed, her hair hanging in tangled strands.

She’d spent the whole morning doomscrolling on her phone, refreshing her feed over and over.

She was spamming the comment sections everywhere, spewing hate at Eloise wherever she could.

Suddenly, all the news about Eloise just disappeared from everywhere she looked. Every bit of news about Eloise had vanished into thin air.

She frantically searched every site she could think of, but not a single piece of news about Eloise was left.

“What the hell? Where did it all go?” she muttered, her voice rising in panic. “Is there a glitch or something?”

Camille was scrolling like a maniac, her eyes glued to the screen.

Just then, her phone rang. She hung up right away. But the call came right back.

Camille picked up, sounding super annoyed. “Who is this? Are you nuts? If I’m not answering, I’m obviously busy. Why do you keep blowing up my phone?

“Look, I don’t care what you’re selling. I’m not interested, so just stop calling…”

The person on the other end cut her off. “Ms. Hopkins, this is the HR department at VirtuFusion Group.”

Camille froze, her anger vanishing in an instant. “Sorry, I thought you were a telemarketer. Those people drive me crazy. So, does this mean I don’t have to go to Oniohull and I get to stay at HQ?”

The person on the other end paused. “Ms. Hopkins, you really don’t have to transfer to Oniohull after all.”

“Awesome,” Camille blurted out, unable to hide her excitement.

‘Grayson finally saw Eloise’s true colors,’ Camille thought smugly. ‘He’s realized I’m the one he really needs, and now he’ll make sure I stay. Guess my tip-off did the trick.’

Just as she was basking in her victory, the voice on the other end dropped a bombshell. “Ms. Hopkins, you’ve been fired. You’re on VirtuFusion Group’s permanent blacklist.”

With that, the line went dead.

‘What did they just say? Fired? Me? What did I even do? Grayson’s completely wrapped around Eloise’s finger. Is the Pierce family really going to let Grayson keep chasing after Eloise?’ she wondered, her frustration. mounting.

Just then, someone knocked on her door. Camille opened it, and two men in suits didn’t even wait for an invitation. They barged right in.

“Who the hell are you? Get out. I’m calling the cops,” she shouted, her voice shaking with anger.

12:43 Fri, Apr 10

Chapter 81

One of the men looked at her. “Mr. Pierce sent us.”

Camille frowned. “What does Grayson want with me?”

VPN

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify