TristinI sit behind the glass wall of my office, watching the city lights twinkling in the dark. The people out there…are so busy with their world. They all have something to do, all moving every moment of even the quiet night.But I feel frozen in time. I want to move, but I can’t bring myself to.I close my eyes, and her face flashes before my eyes. She acted like a mad woman today. And almost got attacked by an even crazier woman.When I saved her from falling, the look she gave me continues to revolve in my head. Her eyes had been wide, startled, and for a second, I thought she would cry. But she didn’t. It was like she was making a conscious effort to hold back her tears in front of me.It made me angrier at her. If only she would let those tears fall, and tell me that she made a mistake, it could be over. I wouldn’t be able to stand tall against her tears. I would relent without a second thought.But she has decided to build the wall higher between us. I swallow, as I recall
GraceAfter I packed up and held my son for a straight hour, I left home. I reached the airport, and then, it occurred to me…I was leaving my son alone again. That thought had stopped me in my tracks for a long time. Even when my name was announced, I didn’t leave. I stayed standing in the middle of the crowd, staring blankly at a white wall. I could have chosen to stay behind, but a voice inside my head kept saying that even my son would be better off without me. It was such a stupid, unnecessary thought.But it pushed me to the plane. And I left, despite the heavy feeling in my chest.Until the plane touched the track again, I was lost in the same thoughts. It felt like I didn’t cherish what I had and kept fearing the future. Now, perhaps, I was the one who had turned her own fears into reality.Something inside me knew these thoughts were not sane, nor were they justified. But I desperately wanted to blame someone.I tried to blame Ethan first, tried so hard to find any evidenc
GraceThis was supposed to be my victory. It’s what I wanted.Isn’t it?This is one big step forward in my career. Even bigger than that RB Corp mess. But…it doesn’t make me…happy anymore. “ We will need to finalize the timeline and materials before moving forward. ”Mr. Renaud adds, his voice steady. “ But I have no doubt Elixir Co. would be thrilled to work with you on this project. ”I force a polite smile over my lips. “ I am looking forward to collaborating. ”He rises from his chair, extending his hand. I shake it firmly, feeling his grip but not really registering it. Words of gratitude are exchanged. Professional, courteous. After he is gone, the silence in the private restaurant booth becomes suffocating.I am alone.The presentation folders sit neatly in front of me, the praised designs still in view. But they feel like blank papers to me.As I gather my things, my hand trembles slightly. My reflection stares back at me from the glass walls surrounding the room—a woman dres
GraceSeb’s little face fills my phone screen. I watch him for a moment, my heart weighing heavy in my chest. His eyes light up, and he grins so wide that I forget to breathe for a second.“ Mom! Look, I built a tower! ” He tilts the camera to show a wobbly stack of blocks leaning dangerously to one side.I smile, warmth spreading through my cold body. “ That’s amazing, baby. You have gotten good at this. ”He looks back at the screen with a proud, toothy grin. “ I wish you were here to play with me, Mommy. When…will you come back? ”My throat tightens, but I keep the smile in place. “ I miss you too, baby. I will be home soon. I promise. ”“ Sebastian. Eat your fruits. ” Mom’s voice sounds from behind him.Seb glances offscreen, distracted by her. “ Granma made snacks! I will be right back, Mommy! ”“ Go ahead. ” I keep the smile on my lips as he looks at me a last time.He disappears before I can say another word, the screen wobbling until a familiar face takes his place.“ Grace… ”
Grace“ If this doesn’t work… ” She continues, now sighing heavily. “ …my parents will marry me off to Harry. I made a bet with them, remember? They gave me three years to make something of myself in our company. And that time is almost up. ”Of course. She has gone against her parents to stand with me. I don’t even know why she would do that, but I know…I don’t deserve it. “ Don’t worry, Talia. We will make it. You won’t have to marry that trouble. ” I rub my temples, feeling the weight settle onto my shoulders. The car slows as we approach the venue. My stomach twists. This is it. I step out, gripping my clutch tightly as the cool night air brushes against my skin. Talia links her arm through mine, pulling me forward with a grin that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.Inside, it’s a world of crystal and velvet, soft music drifting over the hum of conversations. I show the invitation card at the entrance, and my heart pounds in my chest as we pass through.As soon as we are inside, and
GraceThere is a bitter taste in my mouth. I can’t get rid of it no matter how many sweets I eat, or how much wine I swallow.I watch as my husband parades that beautiful secretary around like she is his wife instead of me. My eyes narrow just a little, the alcohol in my stream beginning to burn hot—hotter by the moment.Why her? He said he has seen so many beautiful women around, then why is it her he brought here with him or why is it her that he chose over me?I scan her from head to toe, my gaze lingering on the slit in her dress that reveals her whole leg, to her upper thigh. Then, I look at her hair which is curled to perfection and left to fall in waves over her bare back.My trance breaks as her soft laughter filters through the other noise around me. When she smiles, her cheeks push her eyes up a little, making them appear like crescent moons.She is indeed beautiful.But... She is…less beautiful than many women I have seen besides Tristin before.But…she can give a genuine
Grace“ It’s a nice surprise to see you— ”Her shrill voice dies, as I grab my husband by his jacket and pull him down. Before any of us can anticipate my next moment, my lips slam against his mouth, staking my claim on him.Words are not needed. I don’t need to hit another girl either.This man alone…needs to know that I am still here, and whether he hates it or not, we are still married. What I did was not a conscious sin, but what he is doing is a grave sin and it’s…breaking my heart apart.I am sure I hear gasps erupt around me, but why does it matter?I reach forward, and my hands rest on his nape as I deepen the kiss, just lingering there, tasting his minty breath against mine. He doesn’t respond, doesn’t even flinch. We are so used to it that his lips fit right into mine without him trying.He can’t forget it, can he? He can't forget that we have kissed more times than we can count and his body responds to mine with a fervor that he can never experience with another woman...
GraceTristin’s hand clenches into a fist. I watch as he steps back, running his fingers through his dark hair, the way he always does when he is trying to control his rage. My chest tightens, and my heart pounds harder by the passing moments. A server carrying a tray of glasses passes by me, and without thinking, I grab another glass of wine. I lift it to my lips, and Tristin’s hand shoots out. Too late. I down the glass in one gulp, the sharp burn moving down my throat. He snatches the glass from my hand and slams it onto the tray. His eyes darken some more. Now, I can sense him vibrating under that dark suit, just on the verge of exploding. “ Really? ” His voice is low and controlled—dangerous.I shrug, and my heart misses a beat as he steps forward. The air thickens around us. He grabs my arm tightly, but not tight enough to hurt, and starts dragging me towards the exit. “ Tristin… ” I begin, but my words die in my mouth as his grip tightens, warning me to keep quiet.The ro
GraceA moment of silence falls between us. It’s suffocating and heavy.“ Because…if I had told you, you would have asked me to accept that boy into the family. ” Tristin answers in a quiet voice. “ What? Why?! That boy—he…he is your child too. Why— ”“ Unlike Mom, I don’t believe Serena to be a saint. She will use that boy to stir up trouble. Besides, if he stays, he will hold the position of the firstborn son in this family. Did I not tell you before, Grace? The Robertos only care about the son who is born first, and not about those who come after. ”I stammer. “ That’s—we can— ”But he cuts me off harshly. “ You and I…can try to balance things, but…once the extended family gets involved, it will be more business than emotions. First, he will take Seb’s name, then everything else that belongs to him. Our son, no matter how little he is…knows he is the future of this family. I am sure Mom has fed this to him with every meal he shared with her before. Now, do you want to tell him wh
GraceI shouldn’t have doubted Tristin’s determination to frustrate me. He has been sitting in the same spot for hours, watching me with an intensity that leaves me squirming.Eventually, I turn my back to him and pull the duvet to my neck, choosing to glare at the other wall. But the heat of his gaze makes it impossible for me to have even a moment of rest.While we both remain stubborn in our places, the veil of anger starts to lift slowly. I have accused him of knowing about Serena all along and not telling me…But…Can Tristin really deceive me from the start? It’s a strange question, one that I wouldn’t have even bothered to ask myself until a month ago.But everything has become messed up in our lives.“ I didn’t know about her. When you told me you wanted me to fire her, that’s when I wanted to know why you were so adamant about it. That’s also when I found out that she provoked you. I wanted to confront her, but she revealed the secret and caught me off guard. I am not…lying
Grace“ Wait— ” I hiss quickly, stepping closer to Tristin to squeeze some space for myself. “ Tell Mom to come here and—”Before I can finish, the door slams shut. I let out a scream of frustration just as Tristin’s arm wraps around my waist. A startled gasp escapes me as he lifts me off the floor and carries me to the bed easily. “ Tristin, put me down! ” I thrash against him, but his grip is unyielding.He presses me down onto the mattress and hoves above me, leaving me no room for escape. “ Do not act like I am holding you hostage… ” He mutters, his voice returning to the soft note he has reserved for me. “ We are just having a couple’s fight. ”Is he being serious?!I laugh bitterly. “ This is not a couple’s fight, Tristin. When Mom comes, I am leaving, and you will never see my face again. I will make sure of that. Never! ”His jaw tightens as I smirk. I think I have won. But then, in one swift motion, Tristin flips me onto my stomach and yanks my zipper down. My breath cat
GraceI sit stiffly in the wing chair, my arms crossed across my chest and my glare fixed on Tristin. He stands by the locked door, his back against the wall, looking calm—too calm. He has lost his mind. That is the only explanation for this whole thing. I scoff. He cannot stay here forever. That bitch is in the house, and sooner or later, he will have to leave. I tell myself that is why I am so composed right now—because I want to see how long he can keep this up. But deep down, I know the real reason.When I saw Serena here, a dark thought crept into my mind. Maybe another woman had given him a family. Maybe he did not need me anymore. And that thought nearly shattered my heart into pieces.Before I can dwell on it, my phone rings. I glance down, and a frown etches between my brows.Why didn’t I think about calling someone? I reach for my phone and see Talia’s name shining on the screen. Before I can answer the call, Tristin’s shadow looms over me. Not even giving me the chanc
TristinI watch as Grace pushes against my chest, forcing distance between us. The fire in her eyes is like nothing I have ever seen before—not directed at me. Not like this.Her words echo through my head. ‘ We are done here. I am leaving. And you can't stop me. ’I can’t breathe.She turns away from me and grabs her packed suitcase. I want to say so much more, but no words come out of my mouth.She leaves me standing there and moves toward the door without hesitation. I should let her go. I should step back and give her space. I should fix this in a way that doesn’t involve desperate measures.But right now…This doesn’t feel like something that can be handled by giving her space. She looks like if she leaves, she won’t return and will never talk to me again. Panic surges through me like wildfire. My body moves on its own, faster than my mind can process, and before she can even reach the handle, I slam the door shut.Click.The sound of the lock twisting into place is deafening.
GraceI finish packing Sebastian’s things and glance at the bed, my chest tightening when I see him curled up. He fell asleep when he saw me packing for too long. His tiny fingers clutch the edge of the blanket, his breathing soft and even. He looks so peaceful. For a moment, my heart wavers. He loves his Daddy so much. How will he live away from him? I walk towards him and press a gentle kiss to his forehead, lingering for a second longer than intended.If we stay, my son will get more hurt when he realizes he has a brother who shares the same name with him.I straighten up and call the nanny over. She comes rushing and stands by my side. “ Stay with him… ” I say, my voice quieter than usual. “ Don’t leave him alone until I come back. ”She nods, and I force myself to walk away.When I reach my room, I head straight to the walk-in closet and pull out my suitcases. This time, I pack my own things. My fingers move automatically, folding clothes and stuffing them into the bag. I fe
Grace“ Whose child is that? ” I question.An eerie silence falls in the space. Looks are exchanged. Heavy breaths are released.The question must be too hard to answer even if it is so clear. I look into the child’s blue eyes and don’t look away. He stays rigid on his spot, never wavering, even under my penetrating gaze. “ What is your name? ” I find myself asking when the silence stretches for too long.A frown forms between the child’s brows, and he replies without hesitation. “ Sebastian. ”My breath hitches, my chest tightening as if the air has thickened around me. My fingers tremble slightly at my sides, and I curl them into fists to stop the shaking.Sebastian. My son’s name. A dizzying wave of nausea rolls over me, tightening its grip on my lungs. I can barely breathe.I swallow hard, my throat dry, and my heart pounding in my chest.“ Sebastian… ” I whisper, the name foreign on my tongue even though I have said it a thousand times before.The boy tilts his head slightly,
GraceTristin underestimates my understanding of him.I know when he is lying. And when he said that ‘no’, he was clearly, desperately trying to make me believe that there is nothing he is hiding from me. But everything I wanted to know was written right on his face.The question is…Will I ask him that question again? No. I gave him a chance. He didn’t take it.Now, I need to find out everything in my own way. As he tells me that we will go home together and that he just has one meeting to attend, I nod and tell him that I will wait for him.After he leaves, I take out my phone and see the contact information Talia has sent to me—the private detective.Her Aunt has already told the detective about me. So, I click a picture of Serena from the photographs and sent it to him with her name.A message appears on the screen, asking me about what kind of information I seek.I stare at the screen for a moment. What do I want to know? Her connection with Ethan or why Tristin looks so uncomfo
Tristin“ Leave, Luca. Do what I said. I want them gone. Tonight. ” I tell Luca while keeping my eyes on her.“ Yes, Boss. ” Luca hurries out and moves past her.Grace walks inside once he has left and closes the door behind her. I straighten up, my gaze flickering to her fingers that are turning white around the envelope she is gripping too tight.“ What is this? ” Grace’s voice stays low as she comes to stand on the spot where Luca sat moments ago.“ What? ” I blink calmly.Her hands shake as she rips the envelope open and takes out some pictures. Before I can open my mouth, she throws the pictures towards me.They fly across the space and hit my chest before dropping on the desk. Instinctively, my hands clench into fists, and my jaw grits. She is rightfully angry—I reason with myself. But a voice inside me keeps whispering…I have seen her in a more compromising position. But I have not reacted this way. I look down at the pictures. Just like I thought…That bitch kneeled between