Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 263: The Recording Exposed

Chapter 263: The Recording Exposed

In the aftermath of her sobbing, Rachel had lost everything.

Colin threw five thousand dollars onto the ground and left without a second thought. He had always been a playboy, changing women as easily as changing clothes. Once he had what he wanted, he never cherished it. Expecting any compassion from such a man was futile.

Rachel, trembling, picked up the scattered bills from the floor, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes burned with hatred. If only she had been born into a wealthy family, she wouldn’t have to worry about money, and none of this would have happened.

Sitting on the floor, clutching the money tightly in her hands, she gritted her teeth, muttering through her sobs, "Leah, Ella... you two bitches, just wait and see!"

...

A few days passed, and things seemed calm.

Just when James thought the storm had passed, his assistant knocked frantically on his office door. Before James could respond, the assistant barged in, panting with panic written all over his face, holding an iPad but struggling to find the right words.

"Mr. Nelson... something bad has happened... really bad!" the assistant stammered, his breath ragged.

James’ expression darkened. The unease in his chest intensified. "What is it? Speak up!" he barked.

The assistant, trembling, handed over the iPad. "This morning... someone posted an audio recording on that popular forum... and the news outlets have already picked it up!"

"What recording?" James was on the verge of losing his temper. His assistant’s fragmented explanations were infuriating.

"It’s about... Mrs. Nelson. Mr. Nelson, you should listen for yourself."

Without waiting for further instruction, the assistant hurried out of the office, unwilling to stick around for James’ reaction to the recording. He had no desire to be on the receiving end of James’ inevitable rage.

James’ face turned ashen. Judging from his assistant’s reaction, the recording couldn’t be good. Had Grace done something terrible again? Another child abuse scandal, perhaps? If so, the Nelson Group would undoubtedly face another devastating blow.

Anger coursed through him as he thought about the mess Grace had caused. She had seemed fine for a while, but now mistake after mistake had piled up.

He grabbed the iPad, and the headline on the page read: Exposing the Ugly Side of a Wealthy Madam!

James’ heart raced, his breathing became shallow, but he forced himself to press play.

The recording began with the sound of Grace’s voice in the background at L Beauty Salon.

Then, after a brief pause, the conversation that followed sent a chill down his spine.

"I told you we should meet less often. Haven’t you noticed anything?" the man said.

"Oh, stop it. We’re already in too deep—what else can I do?" Grace replied."It’s been seven days... I’ve missed you so much!"

"Be patient!"

"Tell me, when do we act?"

"The police are on high alert right now. Haven’t you seen how many officers are all over S City? We can’t act yet. We’ll have to wait for the heat to die down, and for Eric to let his guard down."

"Thank you for all your hard work, my love!"

"Since you’re so grateful, shouldn’t you do something for me in return?"

"No!"

"Come on, Grace, I’ve loved you for so many years and never forced you into anything. After everything I’ve done for you, don’t you feel even a little moved?"

"I’m very touched, but... I’m married, and so are you!"

"Grace, I love you!"

"Don’t... don’t do this..."

"Grace, for you, I specifically trained a group of assassins—wasn’t it all so you could take over Nelson Group? Once Henry inherits the company and James is out of the way, will you be with me?"

"Don’t talk about that right now. Let’s discuss when we’ll act. My new home’s move-in date is coming up, and I don’t want anything bad happening during such a happy time."

"Don’t worry, it won’t be anytime soon. I’m laying a careful trap, and the next time, we’ll eliminate that punk for good! If it weren’t for some annoying fool meddling last time, Eric would already be dead!" the man growled.

The vicious tone of the man’s voice was like a hammer to James’ chest. Inside the recording, it was undeniably Grace’s voice. The same voice that was always soft and alluring when she spoke to him. In front of others, Grace was poised and proper, but behind his back, she was conspiring to kill him and Eric.

The realization that they were plotting not only Eric’s murder but also his own sent shockwaves through James’ heart. Decades of trust and love shattered in an instant. His entire body shook with rage, his eyes bulging with disbelief.

The pain in his chest was unbearable. How could Grace, the woman he had loved for over twenty years, conspire to murder him so ruthlessly?

The tablet slipped from his hands, crashing to the floor. Outside the door, his assistant winced in dismay—it was an expensive iPad, after all.

"Someone... get in here!" James roared, his voice trembling with fury.

The assistant nervously entered. "Yes, Mr. Nelson?"

"Call someone right now. I want them to watch Mrs. Nelson closely. She’s not to leave the house!" James’ face twisted with anger as he collapsed into his chair, feeling utterly powerless. Even now, he couldn’t believe what he had heard, but the undeniable truth of the recording told him that Grace was behind all the attempts on Eric’s life.

No wonder Eric despised Grace so much—James had been the fool, blind to it all. He could almost hear Eric’s voice ringing in his ears, mocking him: "With your intelligence, you’ll always be outwitted by a woman."

James slammed his fist onto the desk in frustration, startling the assistant, who had just finished making the call and now shrank back nervously.

"Is that wretch at home?" James growled.

The assistant lowered his head. "The housekeeper said Mrs. Nelson is home. She was just having breakfast..."

Before the assistant could finish his sentence, James stormed out of the office, heading straight for home. All the way there, he struggled to contain his emotions, the rage boiling inside his chest. As he reached the parking lot, reporters swarmed him, no doubt because of the leaked recording. He shoved his way through, ignoring their questions.

When his car finally pulled up in front of the new house he shared with Grace, his driver sensed something was terribly wrong. James’ eyes were filled with a dark, violent fury. It was clear that the Nelson Group was about to face another crisis.

Inside, Grace was feeling great. After a visit to L Beauty Salon the previous night, she had woken up feeling younger and more radiant. Who says women age easily? Only women without money to take care of themselves do, she thought smugly. Grace elegantly sipped her milk, basking in her own glow.

Just then, James stormed into the house, his face contorted with a murderous anger.