GraceWhat was I expecting? I have searched every corner of our room but haven’t found that bracelet anywhere. I shouldn’t have even looked for it. Because no one can custom make MY design, engrave it with his initials, and then gift it to Serena. The one she wore…That bracelet belongs to my husband.I sit on the edge of the bed and stare at the floor. There are no thoughts in my mind. It seems like a long time has passed since I came home and turned our walk-in closest upside down to look for that bracelet. But the shock has not worn off.One side of me believes that I am falling into another trap. Maybe Ethan has something to do with Serena, too. She could have stolen that bracelet and deliberately flaunted it in front of me.I rise from my bed and nod to myself. That’s it. I need to tell Tristin about it. He will figure this out.There is no way he gave it to that bitch.I grab my phone and dial his number. It keeps ringing…and ringing.But he doesn’t pick up.I dial his numbe
GraceJust as I am about to give up, my phone vibrates. My heart jumps to my throat.I grab it without thinking, pressing it to my ear. “ Where are you, Tristin? ” My voice is quiet, almost desperate. “ Why are not you home yet? I have been waiting— ”A soft chuckle comes from the other end. It’s not Tristin.I sigh, rubbing my forehead. “ Ania. ”“ I could hear the disappointment in your voice… ” She teases, but her tone is gentle. “ Sorry, I am not your husband. ”I force a small smile, even though she can’t see me. “ It’s fine. ”“ How are you? ” She asks.“ I am okay,” I say automatically. Then I shake my head. “ I mean… I don’t know. It’s been a long day. ”Ania hums knowingly. “T ell me about it. Luca is barely home these days. It’s so boring without him. ”I sit up slightly. I don’t know what to tell her about my day, so I change the topic. “ How are you feeling, Ania? I heard from Mom that you were given a new due date. When is it? ”“ Two days. ”I blink. “ That soon? ”“ Ye
GraceTristin gets up from the bed and walks away. His steps are hurried, his body tense. The door opens and closes before I can even process what just happened.For a moment, I stay frozen, unable to breathe, unable to think, unable to come to terms with everything that’s going wrong in our lives.But then, my son calls out to me again. “ Mommy. ”Instantly, I turn to the other side, pull Seb closer and pat his back. His small fingers curl around my wrist, his hand shaking a little. “ Mommy? ” His voice is tinged with the remnants of sleep. “ Why are you and…Daddy angry? ”My heart clenches.“ He is not angry, baby… ” I whisper, kissing the top of his head. “ Daddy just has something important to do so he had to leave right now. But he will be back soon. When you wake up, he will be right here. ”Seb hums, snuggling against me. Within moments, his breath evens out, and he drifts back into sleep. I lie there, staring at the ceiling, my heart crushed under its own weight. I feel this
Grace“ Nonsense? ” I can’t help but feel the coldness leaking into my tone. “ Is this some kind of…nonsense to you? ”“ What else is it? ” Tristin steps closer, towering over me. “ you are talking about nonsense first thing in the morning? What made you think we are going our separate ways or similar shit? ”I suppress a gasp as his body presses against mine. “ what made me think this? ”I search his eyes, trying to understand what is happening here. But I find nothing but anger there. Why is he…angry when I should be the one fuming? Slowly, I look down at his heavily heaving chest. My heartbeat speeds up as the last night’s memories flash before my eyes again.“ You…came home…drunk… ” I whisper, my voice lowering even more.“ So what? Every man— ”“ You smelled like her. ” I utter, cutting him off.Tristin’s fingers twitch against my cheek before he slides a hand to my nape and pulls my head back. Our eyes meet, and he leans down, resting his forehead against mine.The anger cool
GraceIf he had just said yes to my questions and told me nothing happened…I wouldn’t ask him any other question.I would have believed him wholeheartedly.But he dodged. Became desperate to make me believe I was the only one he loved. And promised to get rid of the woman who was trying to come between us.The seed of doubt is planted in my head. I can’t shake it off no matter how hard I try.But all that comes out of my mouth is a simple. “ Okay. ”“ Okay? ” Tristin whispers, his eyes peering into my dull ones, trying to search for something.“ Yes. Okay. I trust you. ” I nod, feeling my heart drown. “ It’s… ” Tristin trails off, unable to say whatever it is that is on his mind.I press my hands to his chest and try to push him away. “ It’s okay. Just come down with me. Seb is waiting for you. ”Tristin takes a step back and releases me. I turn to open the door but freeze when his hand covers mine.“ You know I can never…hurt you. Not—Not deliberately. ” He sighs, his nose brushing
GraceA woman should never ignore her intuitions.When something feels wrong…She should believe that something is wrong instead of trying to find reasons to prove that nothing is wrong.Because when you try so hard to prove nothing is wrong, and it turns out to be a mistake, it hurts more.I stare at the three pictures on my desk. In the first one, Serena is kneeling between Tristin’s legs, holding onto his knees In the second, she is hugging him from behind.In the third, she is on her toes, her hands over his coat, and her lips so close to his. Why did he smell like her so thoroughly? It was because she was all over him. It was because…he was doing things he shouldn’t have done with her. I grip the edge of the desk, my fingers digging into the wood, the unease in my chest tightening with every second I spend staring at those pictures. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be looking at these images, shouldn’t be letting my mind spiral like this.But I can’t help it. Every inch of
TristinHe must have sent her something by now. I rotate the phone in my hand, watching the blank screen. Luca sits on the other side of the desk, watching me closely.“ Boss, you should have explained everything to her. ” He suggests.I lean back and drop the phone on the desk. I have been waiting for her to call me and ask if I have slept with Serena.But Grace has not done that. Now I think she will come here personally, to confront me. In about an hour or so. Luca is right. I should have explained everything to her. But what do I tell? Do I say…Oh Grace, you know what? We have a new family now and you can just accept them. Or maybe she will readily accept everything even if I do not want to.I am…a selfish bastard, and the only people I care about in this world are my mother, sister, my wife, son, and my friend sitting from across me.The rest of the people…They can burn for all I care.It has always been this way.That’s why…I don’t know how to handle this sudden slap in th
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
GraceI pick up the phone and press it against my ear. For some moments, silence sounds from the other side.I remain still, my muscles still, and my breath lodged in my throat. I can recognize him even if he doesn’t say anything to me, and just continues to breathe into the speaker.“ Tristin. ” I whisper, running a hand through my hair.He remains silent. I close my eyes, and release a heavy breath, my body shuddering. The moment of silence takes me back to the last time I talked to him before going to meet Ethan.When I had asked him to trust me, he had told me he would always do that.Just when he had begun to wonder what I was being emotional about, I told him what I had planned to do.‘I want to give Ethan what he wants. ’ That’s what I had said. ‘If he has me close, he won’t hurt others. He will…stop controlling our one son to hurt another. He will back off as long as I am with him. And while I am at it, you can find out who is working with Ethan, and I can find out how he is
GraceEthan’s Grandmother has always been a symbol of terror in the family. Despite her old age, the silver hair, the sunken eyes, she exudes a kind of aura that makes one squirm. She was the spitting image of her own son, who had died years ago—Ethan’s father. The man who had the reputation of a devil back when he was alive. I shake my head, breaking myself out of my thoughts. So, she is here. That must mean she is already mentally torturing her grandson.My lips twitch. What a weakness to have your own grandmother breathing down your neck and threatening your position with every word she speaks.As expected, when she stares at me a little longer, her eyes turn cold. She has never liked me. That’s why Ethan had sent her away when we got married. But he was still powerful back then. Now, after being sent to jail, and ruining the Calder Corp, I am not sure he can still call himself the powerful leader he once was.“ You lied to me. ” She hisses and moves past me to go confront Ethan
Grace“ You killed my sister. ” I state as a matter of fact, and feel a chill down my spine at the lack of any emotions towards the truth.“ You wanted her gone. ” He blinks, his face becoming a mask of calmness again.I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth and shake my head. “ that doesn’t change the truth. You murdered— ”“ Your so-called husband is not better than me. He is even worse. He had planned on killing your whole family from the start, and he would have done it if I hadn’t. I did you a favor by keeping your beloved’s hands clean of your family’s blood back then. ” His voice rises, frustrating etching into his features in the form of a deep frown.My breath catches in my throat. “ but he didn’t do it. ”Ethan’s frown turns into a cold smirk. He taps the table with his forefinger, falling silent for a moment.At that moment, a wave of coldness washes down my back, leaving me shuddering. Why the change of emotions all of a sudden? “ You know….and I know…it was never about Li
GraceMy phone keeps ringing. The familiar names on the screen just send a pang in my chest.Mom.Ania. Luca. Mary.Everyone has called. But Tristin has not. He must know everything by now and he won’t call me. He will never accept what I have done to deal with the mess Ethan was creating.Sighing, I turn the phone on silent and look out the window. Years ago, when I was still married to Ethan and under the illusion that he was falling for me, he had planted roses in the garden behind our house. When we fell apart, and Lily came back, he just ripped everything out and threw it away like it meant nothing.But now, the flowers are back. The garden looks so eerily similar to how it looked years ago that it gives me the ick. Even the things in the room—the decorations, the clothes…everything. It’s in the same place where I used to keep it. It’s like I have stepped back into the nightmare I barely escaped. The door to the room opens, and the familiar footsteps grow closer. I don’t t
GraceI groan, the pain in my arm registering before a strong headache. I try to move, but it’s like all my energy has drained, leaving me weak and helpless.Slowly, I take in a shuddering breath and look around. The room is too familiar. It makes me want to throw up, just so I can get the strong disgust out of my system.“ Did I faint? ” I murmur, glancing to my right. As expected, Ethan is sitting on a chair beside my bed, staring at me closely. I lift my brows, trying to judge his emotions from the look he is giving me but failing.Something is strange in his gaze.“ The doctor said you barely avoided the artery. You could have died… ” Ethan whispers, his gaze unfocused. A frown settles between my brows. I look down at my bandaged wrist before shrugging.I was not aiming to die, but…He should believe…I can go through it if he continues to push me around. This is good for special effects.“ Do you believe how ready I am now? ” My eyes narrow as I smile at his dazed face.Ethan pu
GraceI knew talking to him would be like talking to a wall. He will not be moved, and won’t understand what I am trying to say. He will just want me to do what he wants.“ My son has a father. He doesn’t need another. ” I murmur, then lean back on the couch. “ Then we have nothing to talk about. ” Ethan smiles, as relaxed as ever.He doesn’t feel an ounce of guilt over what he is doing. Instead, it’s like he feels proud that I am beginning to crumble under the pressure.Is this what…he calls love? I think it’s more of an obsession. I am the woman he once had, and he can’t bear that I am with someone else now. That’s all this is about. An obsession to get back someone that belonged to him before.“ I want you to stop now. ” I tell him, my head more clear than before. “ That wouldn’t happen unless— ”“ I want you to stop, Ethan. It’s enough. I don’t want to fight with you anymore. ” I clench my hands into fists and release a slow breath. “ You want me to go with you. Let’s go. I wil
GraceWhen you want to truly defeat someone who knows you better than you know yourself…You need to do something you would never usually do.And that’s what I am doing. I walk through the corridor of the VIP club, slowly approaching the private room I booked. Unlike my expectations, I don’t feel an ounce of fear. My heartbeat doesn’t escalate. My hands don’t shake. And my back never hunches. It’s like I have abandoned all emotions, and chosen to become a robot. As I reach the black double doors, I pause beside them. In the wall-length mirror, I stare at my reflection.I am wearing a plain black dress—something someone would wear to a funeral. It has a V-neck and reaches below my knees. It’s simple enough to not make him think that I was eager to meet him.I nod at myself and flip my hair to my back before entering the private room. Instantly, the familiar scent of an expensive cologne hits me.The control I had over my nerves slips, leaving me standing in the doorway for a few mome
GraceAs soon as Tristin and I enter our room, he grabs my arm and turns me around to face him. I continue to stare down, at his rapidly heaving chest. A sudden chill runs down my spine as the scene from last night flashes before my eyes. Ethan…can even harm my son to the point of no return. He had him kidnapped, and now he can even have him…No…“ What is happening inside that head? ” Tristin cups my cheek, and pulls my face up. “ why did you suddenly apologize? Why did you— ”“ Do you believe what I told you? ” I interrupt him, my voice barely a whisper.Tristin’s blue eyes peer into mine as if searching for something. I wait for him to hesitate, to avoid my gaze or give me any indication that he also believes I was dreaming last night, or worse, trying to implicate a child. But he just sighs and rests his forehead against mine.“ I told you from the very first day. That child was raised by a snake. He can never…come out all pure after spending so much time with someone like his mo
GraceThe maids look for the knife everywhere they can, but after hours of search, they return…empty-handed. I sit by the window, just watching the sun rise in the distance as Mom questions the maids. After receiving the answer she wanted, she turns to me smugly.“ What do you have to say about it now? ” She asks, and I have nothing to say.I can only think in silence. My doubt has been confirmed. Someone in this house is helping that child do this. Was it Serena who planted this mole or was it Ethan? I couldn’t tell for sure before, but now, that doubt is cleared too.It has to be Ethan. Because Serena is gone as Tristin told me. And so, she can’t give any more orders, can she? So…Ethan Calder is still pulling the strings.He planted someone in our house, and she helped that boy get to my son’s room, without getting into the video of any CCTV camera installed in the corridors. Even the knife Sebastian used disappeared as if it never existed.The only person who ever saw that boy