Reclaimed By My Ex-husband-Chapter 260: Gracie’s desperate attempt to expose Riya

Chapter 260: Gracie’s desperate attempt to expose Riya
By the time Riya reached the hospital, the chaos outside the room made her uneasy. She quickly stopped a nurse and asked, "What’s happening? How is my mother? Is she... dead?"
Her heart pounded in anticipation.
"No, no... she is awake," the nurse replied.
"Awake?" Riya gasped, her body turning cold.
"Yes, but she can’t move or speak," the nurse explained.
Riya exhaled sharply, a wave of relief washing over her, though her expression soon turned anxious. "You mean... she is paralyzed?"
"It appears so. The doctors are still examining her. Please excuse me," the nurse said before hurrying away.
"Of course," Riya stepped aside, a sly smile flickering in her eyes.
Once the nurse disappeared down the corridor, Riya entered the room. Vincent sat beside Gracie’s bed, holding her hand tightly, while Nathaniel and Zara stood nearby. Riya quietly joined them, standing beside Zara with a composed face, making sure not to draw attention. Her eyes, however, stayed fixed on Gracie.
As soon as Gracie’s gaze met Riya’s, she tried to move, struggling to lift her hand. "Uh... mm..." She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Panic and frustration flashed in her eyes as she pointed shakily toward Riya, trying to convey that Riya was the one who had pushed her down the stairs. But no one understood what she was trying to say.
"Gracie, don’t get worked up," Vincent said gently. "Try to calm yourself."
But Gracie couldn’t stay calm. Every muscle in her body trembled with effort as she struggled to tell them that Riya had been the one to push her. Her lips moved, but no sound came out, and she kept pointing toward Riya, desperate to make them understand.
"What are you trying to say?" Vincent asked, confused.
"It’s her..." Gracie tried to form the words, but her voice failed her. Her frustration and helplessness were plain to see.
Vincent and Nathaniel exchanged a glance, realizing she was trying to communicate something urgent, and followed the direction of her trembling hand.
Riya’s pulse quickened. Panic fluttered in her chest as she understood exactly what Gracie was trying to reveal. She had assumed that Gracie would be completely motionless, but the sight of her pointing finger at her sent a chill down Riya’s spine. It was only a matter of time before she was exposed.
Despite her fear, Riya composed herself and quietly stepped behind Zara.
"Zara?" Vincent frowned. "You shouldn’t be here." He thought Gracie was anxious because of Zara. After all, his wife had never liked Zara.
Gracie shook her head frantically, tears pooling in her eyes. But Vincent misunderstood, assuming Zara’s presence made her uncomfortable.
"I get it," he said softly. "You don’t want her around. I’ll tell her to leave." Turning back to Zara, he said coldly, "Zara, you can see how she feels. Go home. Take care of Zane—we’ll stay with her."
Vincent’s cold, detached tone made Zara’s chest tighten painfully. She had stayed all night at the hospital because she was worried about her mother-in-law, yet the very woman she cared for didn’t want her there. She had even risked herself and followed Riya, hoping to uncover her scheming and protect the family, but none of it seemed to matter. Her efforts had never been enough to earn Gracie’s acceptance.
How deeply did Gracie dislike her?
Zara opened her mouth to defend herself, but before she could say anything, Nathaniel cut in, "You should do as Dad says. Go home, take care of Zane and Grandma."
"Nathaniel?" Zara’s eyes glistened with tears. "You too think I’m just causing trouble for Mom?"
"Try to understand," he said gently, though his tone was firm. "She is not in a stable condition, and it’s clearly visible that your presence is upsetting her. It’s not good for her."
His words hit her like a blade. Zara’s heart felt as if it were breaking. She had devoted herself to this family completely, yet she still stood on the outside, never truly accepted.
"Fine," she whispered, turning away. "I’ll leave."
Wiping away her tears, she walked out of the room.
Nathaniel watched her go, feeling a sharp ache in his chest. He knew how hurt she must be, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop her. His mother’s fragile state left him no choice. Any agitation could make things worse. If something happened, everyone might blame Zara for it. He couldn’t let that happen.
’I’ll talk to you later,’ he thought. ’Wait for me.’
When he turned back to Gracie, he saw tears streaming down her face.
"Don’t cry," he said softly, holding her trembling hand. "You’ll be all right. The doctors are doing everything they can."
Despite his efforts to stay strong, the weight of his emotions pressed heavily on his heart.
Gracie slowly shook her head, tears slipping from her closed eyes. Her chest ached with a mix of anger and helplessness. She had loved Riya like her own daughter, trusted her completely, and always stood by her. But the woman’s heart hid a vicious intent toward the very family that had taken her in and protected her all those years. Now, knowing the danger was so close yet being unable to expose it tore her apart inside.
"He is right," Vincent said softly, trying to persuade her. "You need to stay calm. Everything will be all right."
"Umm..." Gracie tried to respond, but her strength was fading. Her body refused to cooperate; she couldn’t even raise her hand to point at Riya anymore.
Despair gripped her even tighter, guilt pressing down. She thought of how harshly she had treated Zara—how cold and critical she had been, never showing her kindness. Yet despite all the pain and humiliation, Zara had stayed loyal, devoted to the family.
Riya, on the other hand, had always shown her affection and warmth, only to betray them all in the cruelest way.
’If only I had seen Riya’s true face earlier,’ she muttered to herself regretfully. ’If only I had trusted Zara.’
But now it was too late. Her voice was gone, her body weak. She was trapped in silence.
How could she warn them? How could she protect her family now?
Riya, meanwhile, felt a surge of relief knowing she had handled the situation well enough to prevent Gracie from exposing her for now. But she also understood she couldn’t relax yet. If Gracie recovered her strength, she wouldn’t hesitate to destroy her.
’I have to act quickly and make sure she can never say a word against me.’
While Nathaniel and Vincent focused on comforting Gracie, Riya quietly slipped out of the room. Walking briskly down the corridor, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number.
"Let’s meet," she said as soon as the line connected. "I’ll be waiting at the fire exit."
She ended the call and continued down the hallway.
Zara stormed out of the hospital, tears still stinging her eyes. She was just about to get into her car when her phone buzzed. The caller ID showed it was the same nurse Riya had spoken to earlier.
Blinking away her tears, Zara answered, "Hello?"
"Ma’am," the nurse said nervously, "I just got a call from Riya. She wants to meet me. I think... she is planning something."
Despite her heartbreak and disappointment, Zara couldn’t keep herself away from the family. She couldn’t let Riya succeed in her plan. Even if her family didn’t trust her, she would still protect them.
"Go meet her," Zara instructed firmly. "Find out what she is planning and back to me."
The nurse arrived at the fire exit to find Riya already waiting. She had already turned on the voice recorder on her phone quietly. She greeted Riya with a mock apology.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I had some things to do," she said.
"That’s okay. Did you learn who overheard us?" Riya asked.
"No," the nurse lied effortlessly. "I didn’t. I only noticed a few family members of the patients in heels, but I couldn’t question them."
Riya waved it off. If anyone intended to expose her, they’d have contacted Nathaniel or Vincent by now. But nothing like that happened. Nathaniel and Vincent seemed unaware of it. So that worry no longer mattered.
Her attention had shifted to Gracie, who was the real danger.
She took out a small vial Zachary had given her and handed it to the nurse. "Give this to Mrs. Grant," Riya instructed in a low voice. "Use only a small amount and be careful, or we’ll get discovered."
The nurse went pale, trembling as she peered at the liquid. "What is it?" she whispered.
"Don’t ask," Riya snapped. "Just do it — add it to her food or inject it. Whatever you do, do it soon."
The nurse shook her head. "No, I can’t do this if you don’t tell me what it is and how it will affect the patient. If you can’t be honest with me, how do you expect me to trust you completely and work for you?" She stuffed the vial back into Riya’s hand. "Take it back. I’m not doing it."
She turned to leave, but she heard Riya call out, "Wait."
A faint smirk crossed the nurse’s lips as she turned back. Her smile faded instantly, replaced by a tense expression.
"I’ll tell you what it is," Riya said. "It’s a type of poison. A small dose will put her into a coma, but a slightly higher amount could kill her. So be cautious."
The nurse’s eyes widened in shock. "Why would you do that?" she asked, horrified. "She is your mother."