Graydon Meyer couldn't believe his luck. He was checking out a new bakery near NYU—a much-deserved treat after Lacy's unwelcome interruption of his lunch break. The bakery wasn't far from the Flatiron District, and his employees had raved about it for weeks.

Then, who should he run into but the woman in Aaron's life, embroiled in a heated argument with another man! Graydon was concerned until she explained it was a former friend overstepping boundaries since she was in a relationship.

Noticing her ring was an especially pleasant surprise. Well done, Aaron! Graydon thought. Getting married in a week, and nobody had said a word. He clearly wanted to keep it from his father.

Graydon certainly wasn't going to tell Alistair. Alistair would get a mighty slap in the face eventually. He couldn't wait to see it happen.

The only son of the mighty Hale Empire, marrying a commoner in secret! Alistair would never live down the shame. It was deliciously poetic.

Too bad he couldn't give them a wedding gift. Unless… maybe he could do something. Something about Aaron's quest to control the company's shares, perhaps?

He had many connections in the city. Buying off shares wouldn't be difficult. He hadn't done it before because he was interested in seeing how Aaron would proceed independently.

Why shouldn't he buy five percent and give the man a proper wedding gift? He could send the documents to someone Aaron trusted—rather than directly to Aaron—in case Alistair was watching.

Cameron Singleton would be ideal. As a board member, his acquiring more shares wouldn't be suspicious.

"Enjoy your wedding, Aaron. And your future takeover of Hale Investments," Graydon mused, composing a message to Emilio Sandoval. His shares would be easy to obtain.

July 2019, in another life

After Keeley Hale's murder, Gray felt powerful. Aaron, the weak link in the Hale family, was in trouble with his father for not accepting responsibility for his child with Lacy Knighton. He had apparently been threatened with losing his vice presidency. He deserved it. They all deserved the worst.

He decided to visit his mother and tell her about his victory. She would be happy, he was sure. She despised the Hales.

He bought a bouquet of her favorite orchids and went to her grave. He knelt, placing the flowers down.

"I did it, Ma. The entire Hale family is about to crumble. They'll pay for what they did to you. I promise. Aren't you proud of me?"

He sat, staring at the headstone. Mary Gray had died too young. He was only five when it happened.

Afterward, he was sent to live with his uncle in the Bronx. Uncle Louie constantly disparaged the Hales—he had loved his sister dearly. He could never forgive Alistair Hale or any of them.

In his grief, Uncle Louie turned to alcohol, dying by the time Gray was eleven. With no living family, he went from foster home to foster home until eighteen. Nobody wanted to keep him.

A scholarship to MIT saved him. He vowed to make something of himself, to fight the Hale family and bring them to their knees.

Lost in memories, he didn't notice the man kneeling three rows away until he sobbed. The death must have been recent.

"I'm so sorry, Keeley. I couldn't protect you. I tried so hard…" he trailed off, overcome with grief.

Keeley? That wasn't a common name. Was this man Aaron Hale, or a coincidence?

"I'll get back at them," the man vowed. "Everyone who hurt you. My father…the Knightons…I won't let your death go unpunished." He paused, wiping his eyes. "Please…if there's any mercy…let me see her one more time. Let me tell her I love her and I'm sorry."

Whoa. This was definitely Aaron Hale…but he seemed genuinely in love with his wife! Gray's sources were wrong? Impossible!

More importantly, he was trying to protect her from Alistair and the Knightons? Had he known about Lacy's pregnancy scheme all along?

Gray considered this. Rumors about Aaron's dissatisfaction with his wife didn't begin until after the incident. If he knew his father was involved…it made a twisted kind of sense he'd hide his love afterward.

Aaron had lost his wife, like Gray lost his mother, due to the greed of the ultra-rich. He felt sick. He helped this happen.

He'd worked against two people in love trying to escape Alistair Hale's control. He was as bad as Alistair. Gray had destroyed the wrong Hale!

Continuing his revenge would be wrong. Aaron deserved that honor. Gray would step back. Vengeance was fulfilling; it would give Aaron something to live for.

"I'm sorry, Aaron," he whispered, too quietly for Aaron to hear.

Aaron was curled on the grave, distraught. The grave was so new the grass hadn't grown in. He looked pathetic.

Gray couldn't believe it. He'd thought Aaron was a robot, programmed by his father. He was pretending to protect the woman he loved. Heartbreaking.

Aaron deserved better. Keeley deserved better. Burdened with guilt, Gray wished what Aaron had: another chance. Let them be happy, away from Alistair Hale.

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