CHAPTER 236: I HAVE TO SECURE MY POSITION.

"Oh dear..." Paulina sighed dramatically, sinking into the sofa. "I’m getting old and weak. I can’t handle long trips anymore. You all go and have fun."

"Grandma," Zara chimed in, "it won’t be the same without you. Don’t worry about the journey—Nathaniel will take care of everything."

"Yes, Grandma... I’ll make sure it’s a smooth and comfortable trip for you," Nathaniel assured.

"If you promise that, I have no objections," Paulina said with a grin, though her smile wavered as she looked at Gracie. "The only one who’ll have a problem is Gracie. She has never liked the idea of going to the farmhouse."

"Mom!" Gracie grimaced, feeling self-conscious.

"Am I wrong?" Paulina spoke quickly, not giving Gracie a chance to retort. "You have always opposed going there."

"That’s because Vincent practically lives there, more than he does at home," Gracie scowled. "A short, fun trip is fine, but he treats that place like his permanent residence, ignoring us."

"Then you should stay there with me," Vincent said with a taunting tone.

"Humph," Paulina snorted. "She won’t give up the comfort she enjoys here. How could she stay away from her kitty party friends?"

Everyone started laughing. Zara wanted to join the group, enjoying how Paulina and Vincent were pulling Gracie’s leg. But she suppressed her laughter, fearing Gracie would fire up at her. However, she couldn’t stop the corners of her lips from quirking up.

Gracie’s frown deepened, her gaze flicking between her husband and her mother-in-law. "You are mocking me in front of the kids. That’s not fair." She turned away, folding her arms across her chest.

Paulina stifled a chuckle. "Zara, dear, your mother-in-law’s blood pressure might rise. Go get her some juice."

Zara froze, her face paling as Gracie’s icy glare met hers. She didn’t dare move.

"What are you waiting for?" Paulina urged. "Go and bring some juice."

Zara hesitated briefly before hurrying to the kitchen. She poured some juice into a glass and returned to the hall.

"Mom. Please have some juice." Her voice faltered as she extended the glass to her.

Although Gracie was still annoyed by being teased, she accepted the juice without a word.

Riya, who had just returned home, saw the scene. A surge of resentment flared inside her. She had expected Gracie to make things hard for Zara to isolate her, to turn everyone against her. But the opposite had happened.

The laughter of the group still echoed in the hall as if all were enjoying the gathering. Even Gracie didn’t look upset with Zara.

How could that be? How had Zara managed to win over everyone’s hearts? Even soften Gracie?

Riya’s fists trembled at her sides. ’I can’t understand. Why does everyone like that bitch so much? Just why?’

Zara was the one who saw Riya standing there. The tight grimace on Riya’s face didn’t escape her. It was clear how irritated she was.

Zara sneered in her mind, though she kept her expression composed. Pretending not to have seen Riya, she continued conversing cheerfully with the others.

Riya’s frustration only grew when no one noticed her or greeted her. She felt unwanted. It reminded her she wasn’t blood-related to the Grants.

Zachary’s words echoed in her mind. ’No matter what, you are not a Grant. You will always be an outsider.’

At the time, she hadn’t believed him. She had placed her faith in Gracie and Vincent’s affection. But standing there now, she couldn’t help but question whether she truly belonged.

Nathaniel was the rightful heir to this family. After him, Zane would carry on the legacy. Naturally, they were the center of attention. But even Zara seemed to hold more importance than her.

The idea burned her chest. Riya remembered how Nathaniel had threatened her to send her away as if her place in the family meant nothing – one mistake and she would be cast out without hesitation.

Riya rolled her hands into fists, her fingernails biting her palms. She had devoted years to this family—loved them, cared for them, always thinking of their good. Yet none of it mattered. She was still an outsider, unwanted.

"Riya, you are back." Vincent was the one who had noticed her first. "What are you doing standing there? Go freshen up quickly. The dinner will be served soon."

His tone was neutral, neither affectionate nor distant. But to Riya, it felt cold, indifferent, as though she hardly mattered. It only made her feel worse, jealousy flaring inside her.

"Alright," she replied with a strained smile. "I’ll be right back." Lowering her gaze, she walked briskly toward her room, her lips pressed into a tight line.

Zara glanced at the retreating form solemnly, clearly feeling Riya’s growing frustration. She sensed trouble.

’She won’t stay quiet for long,’ Zara thought grimly. ’Who knows what she will do next?’

"Zara," Paulina’s voice broke her thoughts. "Go put your bags in your room."

Zara gave a small as she headed to the room, pulling the luggage.

"I’ll help her," Nathaniel said, getting up to take the bags from her.

Behind them, Paulina flashed a knowing smile. "They look so good together," she murmured. "Finally, Nathaniel has accepted Zara wholeheartedly."

Vincent also agreed with it. "Yes, their bond seems to be growing stronger."

Gracie said nothing, though she had noticed the changes in Nathaniel. His affection for Zara was now visible in his every gesture. It seemed Nathaniel had eventually let go of the past. The fear that Zara might one day abandon Nathaniel and Zane slowly faded from her heart.

’You finally managed to win Nathaniel’s heart,’ she thought. ’Don’t disappoint me again.’

Inside Riya’s room...

Riya threw her bag onto the bed, sending its contents scattering across the sheet.

"This is unbearable," she muttered under her breath. "No one even bothered to ask how my day went. Not a single word about whether I was tired. All they care about is Zane and Nathaniel... Even Zara seems to matter to them. But they ignored me completely."

She huffed and sagged onto the bed. "Zachary was right. This family isn’t mine. He is a Grant by blood, yet they treated him like an outsider and cast him away. And I’m not even related by blood. Why would they treat me any differently? One day, they’ll throw me out too."

The thought sent a chill down her spine. She had grown up surrounded by wealth and comfort, basking in the privileges of being part of the Grant family. The idea of losing it all made her stomach twist in fear.

"No," she shook her head, her face paling. "I can’t lose everything. I have to secure my position."