TristinI stare at the pictures lying on my desk as Luca continues. “ He is doing this to rile you up. He wants to drive a wedge between you and Mrs. Roberto. ”I tilt my head and try to take my eyes off them, but I can’t. It’s one thing to know the truth but it’s another to appease a man’s ego with it.I know Grace has done nothing wrong. Yet, the man in me feels wounded every time I am forced to see her in another man’s arms in some fucked up pictures.I pick up the first picture and stare at her peacefully sleeping face. The blanket is pulled down to her bare upper chest, and his arm is snaked around it. He is hugging her from behind, holding her as close as he can.I let it drop from my fingers and glance at the other one. He didn’t forget to have someone click a picture of them having lunch—Alone.Curling my hands in a fist, I take my eyes off the similar pictures and look out the window. The clouds are rumbling. It’s about to rain.“ Boss, you shouldn’t— ”“ He is not trying to
TristinMy gaze lands on her long legs, clad in a black pencil skirt. Then, lift to a white silk blouse that hugs her figure, highlighting her boobs that have grown bigger after giving birth to our son.“ Tristin… ” She calls my name, a little too squeaky.My gaze snaps up to meet her innocent black eyes, and I freeze. If I just look into her eyes…I will forget about the pictures, about the sting in my bones, and the anger in my blood.But the moment I focus on her nervous smile, her soft lips…I am pulled back into the spiral of memories. The marks on her body, the face in the pictures, the scent on her…It’s all too much.“ What are you doing here? ” I inquire, my voice louder and harsher than I intended.Her smile drops. She flinches and pauses, unsure of what she should do.I notice the way her shoulders drop, her hands shake, her mouth opens and closes as if she is trying to find the right thing to say…The sense of self-loathing rises inside me. I want to punch myself in the face
Tristin“ You said you didn’t want to climb the ladder this way before… ” I blurt before I can stop myself.My help? She needs my help… The anger turns into something else—something like a stroke of deep-rooted satisfaction. It makes me shift in my seat again, my cock straining against my pants now. It’s too hard to hold back.“ I…don’t want to climb the ladder or anything like that. I am not asking you to favor us unconditionally. If you think our designs are up to your requirements, we just need you to consider us. That’s all the help we need. If you give us this chance, we will— ” “ Is it I or we? ” I rise from my seat and round the table.She leans back, her mouth parting and a breath leaving it. “ what? ”“ Who am I helping? ” I place my hand on the desk and lean down, my body tingling with the need to have her again.She has come to me for help. For the first time since she started that company. She doesn’t realize how important it is for her to say it’s her who needs me. I c
GraceMy scream fades into breathy gasps, my body arching against the desk as he grips my hips, pulling me closer to his body. The heat between us is unbearable—my skin flushed and damp, my trembling body molding perfectly to his hard one.“ God, you feel…so damn good… ” Tristin growls, his voice rough, barely human. I only get a moment to breathe. And then, he is moving at an animalistic pace. The office air becomes thick with the sound of our bodies colliding, of my soft moans blending with his harsh breathing.I don’t know what’s wrong with him. I don’t know why he is gripping my hips hard enough to bruise, or why he is thrusting inside me like he wants to lodge himself deep in there. But I know…this feels so good. My hands claw at the desk, my nails scraping the smooth surface as I try to brace herself. But it’s not enough. My body slides up on the desk with each thrust, sending tremors down my back. “ Tristin—” I gasp, my voice breaking on his name. “ Slower…please…”He hear
TristinShe has no idea what’s going through my head. The more I take from her, the more I need. It’s an endless need, an itch that can never get scratched completely. And when she looks at me with those wide, innocent eyes, as if she is not the reason I am being dragged through hell, my control snaps again.I focus on her body trembling beneath me, on her breath hitching as I shove inside her without warning, on the way her slick pussy clenches around me in desperate protest.I do not give her time to adjust. I do not give her time to breathe.A strangled moan escapes her throat as I grip her thighs, spreading her wide on my desk, leaving her no room to escape. Her nails scratch against the desk, trying to find some spot to hold, trying to ground herself as I slam into her over and over again. Her back arches, but I do not slow down. I cannot.She has finally done this. She made me like this.My jaw tightens, my fingers digging into her inner thighs. Her body shudders beneath my p
Tristin“ Why are you—mad at me now? ” She croaks, her wrists struggling beneath my tight grip.Realizing it, I release her and grab her hips instead. Her hands drop to my shoulders and shake slightly.“ Tristin… ”I swallow, not saying anything. How do I even begin to tell her that her ex-husband is sending me pictures of their naked bodies pressed together, threatening me with them, and making sure my hands remain tied?I…She put me in this position. But I can’t bring myself to tell her the truth or get her involved. Lost in my thoughts, I almost miss it when a knock sounds on the door. But she does.“ Tristin, someone is here. Hurry up, get off me. ” Grace squeals.My lips twitch as I push myself up, and look down at her, spread on my desk, my cum dripping down her hole, and my cock still inside her. The sight is enough to get me hard again.The door behind me opens. She sits up and hides her face in my chest. The anger inside me melts as I realize she still seeks me for protecti
GraceI sit on his desk for what feels like forever, staring at the door Tristin just disappeared behind.He was hell-bent on devouring me just some time ago. And when I brought that girl up, he just…left me behind. My fingers curl around the edge of the desk. My legs feel weak, my skin still tingling from his touch. But my chest is tight, my breath uneven. The way he looked at me before leaving…Distant. Cold. Like I was a burden.It makes no sense.Just days ago, we had made up. After everything that happened at the event, after the arguments, after the pain—he had held me. He kissed me like he would never let go. He told me everything was fine.Now, it feels like a dream.But it was not. We did make up. We did talk. We discussed things. Everything was fine as he said. Then why is he acting like this now?My guts twist. Suspicion creeps in, slow and poisonous. I clench my jaw and force myself to swallow down the hurt, the jealousy, the anger clawing at my insides.Something is wr
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
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