Then the outside world struck. Evelyn Brooks, mother of Daniel’s late wife Olivia, demanded he stop whatever “nonsense” he was involving his son in. She threatened legal action if he continued to let a poor young woman get close.
Daniel refused. He took Grace to dinner to talk away from Liam—then confessed he’d fallen in love with her. Grace admitted she loved him too, but feared she’d never fit into his world. Daniel insisted she was the piece that made it whole.
Just as they let themselves imagine a future, an elegant woman stepped up to their table.
“Daniel. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
His face drained.
“This is… Olivia,” he whispered. “My wife.”
Olivia Brooks-Carter—the woman he’d buried.
Calm and icy, Olivia revealed she’d faked her death to run away with her tennis coach and avoid a scandalous divorce. Now that she’d been abandoned and her money was dwindling, she came back to reclaim her old life. When she saw photos of Daniel with a poor street vendor, she returned to secure her status.
Shattered, Grace fled the restaurant. Daniel chased her into the rain, swearing he’d believed Olivia dead. Grace only saw one truth: he was still married.
“I won’t be someone’s mistress,” she whispered before climbing into a cab.
Olivia demanded he remove Grace from their lives or her family would sue for custody. To protect his son, Daniel made the most heartbreaking choice. He let Grace go.
Three months later, Grace built a small empanada stand with her savings. Noah grew stronger. But she cried at night, and photos of Daniel and Olivia at galas tore her apart.
Then Linda appeared at her door. Without Daniel’s knowledge, she revealed the truth: Liam was falling apart—barely eating, fighting at school, crying for Grace every night. Olivia was never home. Daniel was miserable.
“Please,” Linda whispered. “That boy needs you.”
After a sleepless night, Grace went to the estate. Liam, thinner and hollow-eyed, ran straight into her arms.
“I knew you’d come back,” he cried. “Mom.”
In the kitchen, as they laughed over dough, Olivia stormed in. “What is she doing here?”
“She’s my real mom,” Liam said fiercely. He listed every way Grace had loved him—things Olivia never had.
Daniel rushed in. Olivia accused Grace of poisoning Liam’s mind. Liam shouted she had abandoned him years ago and only came back for money.