The governor's mansion looked smaller somehow.
Maybe it was because Grace had outgrown it. Not the rooms or the chandeliers but the need to prove herself inside its walls.
She stepped into her father's study, the same room where he'd once tried to silence her with a threat, a funding ultimatum, and political fear. He stood by the window now, hands clasped behind his back, watching the late afternoon sun streak across the Capitol skyline.
"Grace ," he said without turning.
"Dad"
Silence hung between them ,not hostile, just full. Weighted with everything they hadn't said
He finally turned "You've been busy."
She raised a brow "Saving the city you said I couldn't handle"
His lips twitched at that "I underestimated you."
"No," she said gently. "You tried to control me. And it didn't work."
Richard Cole sighed, the proud, careful facade cracking just slightly. "I didn't want you to burn under the spotlight"
"You mean your spotlight," she corrected.
"I mean any of them," he said. "Politics eats people. I've seen it chew up legacies and spit out rubble. I thought if I could protect you.."
"You weren't protecting me," Grace said softly "You were protecting your image."
He looked down. The truth rarely landed easy,.
"I spent years trying to be the perfect version of your daughter," she continued. "Polished. Press-ready. Careful, but I'm done performing."
"And yet… you've never looked more powerful," he admitted.
She smiled faintly "Because I'm finally doing it my way."
A beat of silence passed. Then, with more vulnerability than she'd ever seen in him, he asked:
"Is he worth it?"
She knew who he meant. Liam Vale
And without hesitation, she said "Yes."
Her father nodded slowly. Then, to her surprise, he extended his hand ,not to shake, but to place on her shoulder.
"Then I hope he treats you the way you deserve."
It wasn't a full apology. But it was enough. For now.
....
Later, in the garden where her mother always kept the magnolias blooming, Grace found her sitting on the bench in her usual soft cardigan and pearls, book in hand.
"You talked to him," her mother said without looking up.
"I did."
"And?"
"We didn't solve everything," Grace said. "But we started something."
Her mother finally looked up and smiled, gentle and knowing. "Good. Sometimes men need time to catch up to the daughters they raised."
Grace sat beside her, leaning into the warmth of home, but not dependence.
"I'm with Liam ," she said. "Publicly. Professionally. Personally."
"I know."
"And you're okay with that?"
Her mother nodded. "I've watched you fight tooth and nail for your voice, your values, your happiness. I don't care how you got here. I care that you know who you are now"
Tears stung Grace eyes, but she blinked them away.
"I do," she whispered.
Her mother kissed her temple. "Then don't look back, sweetheart. This world was never meant to contain you."
And for the first time in a very long time, Grace felt not torn—but whole.