Grace“ She is back. Sign the divorce and end this. ” Ethan says, cold and indifferent.Now, I understand that one incident can change your life forever.Three years ago, an incident like that turned my life upside down when my sister fled her wedding, leaving me to marry her fiancé.But, I loved him so I didn’t consider it a bad incident. Instead, it was a stroke of luck that the man I adored became my husband.But today, another incident awaits me. The life I built is on the verge of destruction.I stare at him in disbelief. He doesn’t look like the man who doted on me for three years. He looks like the man who can’t stand me because he wants to be with another woman.I look down at the Divorce Agreement placed on the table. My heart twists painfully.It’s funny how a signature can bind you into a marriage—a relationship you are supposed to cherish with all you have. But a signature can also end this relationship as if it were always fragile and meaningless.“ Please—Please don’t do
GraceWhen I arrive at the venue, dressed in a green cocktail dress, the birthday party is already in full swing. People are mingling and the soft piano tune is playing in the background.After I step inside the Hall of the Whitlock’s Mansion that is my home, several eyes turn to me. Most of them are family members who are aware of Lily’s side of the story. They hate me for trying to ruin their reputation three years ago by forcing Lily to make a run.They won’t believe me either because my elder sister is the beloved child. She is excellent at everything she does, and her beauty can charm a stone heart.That’s what she is doing even now. She is standing in the middle of the Hall with a group of people around her.Her dark locks cascade down her back in waves, complimenting her fair skin and small face. Her grey eyes are enchanting, unlike my black eyes and simple features. Confidence reeks off her. She commands attention wherever she goes.In comparison, I don’t feel comfortable amon
GraceGathering my courage, I turn on my heels. Everyone’s eyes seem to be glued to the screen in the distance. I follow their line of sight and the world indeed stops and my knees weaken.On the screen, the slideshow of several pictures plays. It’s me and a man I can recognize. We are sitting in a dimly lit room, too close.I gasp and stumble back a few steps.A week ago, Lily called me out to talk. When I went to the VIP room of the club where she called me, a man was already waiting. He groped me forcefully and I barely escaped from him. I thought it was a drunken accident but now, it turns out Lily had planned that long ago.“ She not only stole her sister’s man but she is also a cheater! ”“ A filthy cheater! ”“ Grace Whitlock turns out to have peculiar tastes. She doesn’t want a man. She wants men. ”Laughter and accusations filter in. The ground shakes beneath my feet. It’s like everything I ever stand for in life has been cruelly snatched from me.Another slap lands on my fac
GraceThe beeping noise of the machines attached to my body wakes me up from the slumber. I blink numerous times, trying to remember what happened and how I came here.The hate on Ethan’s face when he left with Lily is the first thing I recall. Instantly, I shoot up in my bed and touch my stomach.Something is wrong.I can feel it.My Baby!“ What...What happened to my Baby?! ” I scream.Nurses rush in. My shoulders are pushed down in an attempt to lay me down. Doctors follow suit. They are saying something but my mind is stuck in a few words.“ You had a miscarriage... ”“ You were lucky to survive. ”A violent force takes over me as I struggle and thrash and find the will to destroy the world.It hurts. It hurts so much.I can’t see anymore. I just want to turn back time and save my Baby.Heart-wrenching screams and sobs leave my mouth. I don’t recognize this woman, this wild, tortured soul who feels broken and defeated.To suppress my anguish, someone gives me an injection. I remem
Grace“ Who is he and what is he doing here? ” Ethan stalks towards me and grabs my arm harshly.Forcefully, he sits me up in the bed and gives me a violent jolt. “ Is he the father of the bastard that you miscarried? ”“ What?... ” My heart hardens.“ You were planning on dumping that child on me, right? But you are a fool to think that I will believe you are carrying my child after the whole world saw what kind of a woman you are! ” He laughs humorlessly. “ It’s good that the bastard died! ”Slap!I slap him across his face. His eyes show confusion before anger takes over.“ How dare— ”“ Call my child that one more time and I will murder you, Ethan Calder! I will trample all over you and show you what happens when you mess with my Baby! ” I scream, pointing my trembling finger in his face.I want to hurt him so badly. My hands itch by my side as he glares down at me, the confusion lingering in his eyes.“ You— ”“ Shut up! ” I shriek, hitting his chest with my fists. “ Shut your stu
Ethan“ Sister in law?” A frown marks my forehead.“ Ethan...” Suddenly, Lily gasps.I look to my right to find her body going limp. Before she can hit the floor, I grab her waist and hold her up.“ Lily? ” I pat her pale cheek.These bastards have done it. They made this poor girl faint because of heartache.“ Doctor, check on her! ” I shout.The doctors and nurses standing beside Grace rush in our direction.“ Shift the patient to a room.” The doctor issues the order.“ If something happens to her, I will not let you rest Grace. You should know I won’t let you go anymore! ” I hiss at the girl who is supposed to be my wife.“ Oh? ” She snorts. “ Well, I hope she doesn’t die yet. I want her to suffer until her miserable end. ”I can’t believe my ears. Her words are poisonous.All this while, she sweet talked and continued to smile like a fool. I thought she was easy-going and caring but it turns out...She was simply a snake in hiding.Now, she is showing her true colours.“ I will deal
Grace The sudden kiss startles me. But I regain my senses quickly and bite his lips, hard. Ethan groans and pulls away. “ What the— ”My knee hits his crotch. Instantly, his hold loosens around me as he cups his treasure and bends down.Taking this chance, I grab my bag from the bed and hurry towards the door.“ You— ”“ Don’t take me lightly, Ethan Calder. ” I seethe, and pause in the doorway.His face turns red with pain. A little part of my heart still aches when I see him like this. But I tuck it away.I won’t fall for him again. Not in this life!With the back of my hand, I wipe my lips that taste like him. “ Don’t disgust me with your touch. You are filthy, Ethan. A terrible man. ”“ You—You will pay. ” He hisses through his teeth.Before he can straighten up again, I rush out of the hospital room. I know the kind of crazy Ethan Calder can be. The city is scared of the man who is the King of the Calder Empire. Being alone with him, after he has disregarded everything is dang
GraceHe presses the handkerchief harder into my lips, making me wince. I didn’t notice it before—Ethan seems to have bitten me just like I did to him.“ Let me guess, she did something to your brother. Now you want to get back at her. So do you want to hurt me too? Because you think it will hurt my family? ” A smile filled with pain plays on my lips.“ If I wanted to hurt you, you would be long gone, Grace. ” There is a certainity in Tristin’s voice that scares me. It’s like he can actually make me disappear.Only powerful men like Ethan who know their worth and their power talk like this. So arrogant and full of themselves. “ Who are you? ” I whisper, finally taking the handkerchief from him so I can tend to my wounds.“ That’s not what you should ask, Little Butterfly. ” Tristin drawls, leaning away coldly.I frown at the sudden nickname.“ Look at this. ” He takes out a brown envelope from his side and throws it in my lap.I cast him a skeptical look before opening the envelope.
GraceTristin nods, his grip tightening. “ Is it really that painful? ”I smile softly. “ Do you not remember when I gave birth? I was screaming and— ”“ Stop. ” Tristin’s voice turns bitter. He turns his head, his eyes darkening. “ I don’t want to recall that, and I do not want you to go through that again. I would not even dare want more children after seeing you like that. ”I blink at him, caught off guard. Then I try to joke. “ That is because you already have two sons. Why would you want more? ”The words register after I have already said them. Silence falls between us right away—thick and uncomfortable. I regret saying it.Tristin looks at me for a long moment before sighing under his breath. “ That is not why, Little Butterfly. I just do not want to see you in pain ever again. ”I nod, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. We don’t talk after that. The awkwardness still hangs. We grab some sandwiches and coffee before heading back. I convince Mom to eat, and after a few
GraceThe corridor outside the operation theatre is filled with tension. Mom sits stiffly on one of the chairs, her fingers twisting together, while Tristin paces back and forth, his jaw tight. Every few minutes, he runs a hand through his hair and squeezes his eyes shut whenever Ania’s screams echo down the hall. The air is thick, heavy with worry and helplessness.I stand still, my hands clenched at my sides, my stomach twisting into knots. This is really nerve-wracking.The doctors have not said anything good about Ania’s condition. And it has been a long time since she went into labor. I can’t help but feel that the longer it takes, the harder it becomes to control my nerves. The sound of hurried footsteps reaches me, and I snap my head up just in time to see Luca rushing toward us. His eyes are wide, panic written all over his face. He stumbles to a stop in front of me, his chest heaving up and down heavily. “ Where is she? ” His voice breaks as he looks around wildly, search
Grace“ What? ” My heart misses a beat as I listen to her breathless cries from the other side. “ Ania, just hold on. Everything is going to be fine. Where are you right now? ”“ I—I am going to our hospital. ” She hisses, then screams in pain. “ and Luca—Luca is not here. Where is that asshole when I need him?! ” I open my mouth to say something when Ania starts cursing out and wailing as loud as she can. Panic grips my throat as I rush back to the dining room. My heart is pounding too hard in my chest. “ Mom! ” I shout, forgetting everything else, every grievance, every ounce of resentment. Right now, none of that matters.Mom’s head snaps up instantly. “ Grace? Why are you shouting? What’s wrong? ”“ It’s Ania… ” I say, barely stopping to breathe. “ She is in labor and on the way to the hospital. We have to go. Right now. ”For a moment, Mom just sits there, just staring at me. Then she jumps to her feet and gasps. “ My daughter is in labor? ”“ Yes. We need to— ” I start, but
GraceIt was nearly impossible to convince Tristin to adopt Sebas—That…child.But then again, Tristin was right in his own way.I couldn’t even bring myself to call that child by his name because…somehow, he shared the same name as my son, so how was I going to raise him? How was I going to deal with the hatred he had for me, and how was I going to lessen that hatred after pushing his mother away from him? I had a hunch.The adoption would prove to be just a setup for a bigger disaster in the future. What if…Sebastian and Seb turned out to be another Lily and Grace? What if one grew up to be used to snatching everything away from the other? There are too many questions.But there is no answer.I sigh as I watch Mom’s back. She is sitting in the dining room, piling up food in Serena and her son’s plates. The child keeps nodding, but he doesn’t smile—I notice.He is as serious as any adult who is weary of life or nearly done with it. A frown etches between my brows as I rest my si
GraceMy body trembles with the intensity of the rage. I want to say so much more, but he releases a shaky breath, and I pause.“ I feel it too…We are drifting apart. ” His grip on me tightens, his voice dropping. “ But I won’t let you go. I can’t. Not when I have realized…that…my fears are…making us drift apart more than anything else. ”My heart clenches. I swallow the lump in my throat and shake my head. Unconsciously, I grab his wrist and lean into the warmth of his hand. “ What if I really insist on leaving? ” I want to know the answer, to know for sure where we still stand. “ Will you lock me up and keep me like a caged bird forever? Just like…you are doing right now? ”Something crosses Tristin’s eyes—a dark emotion. Then he swallows hard and shakes his head.“ If… if I can’t stop you…” He says, his voice hoarse. “ and you really leave…then I will…spend the rest of my life trying to win you back. I won’t let go, but I won’t try to…put you in a cage. Because you…will hate me fo
GraceTristin hangs up, and silence falls between us. He told Luca to bring the pictures from the office. My stomach twists. What pictures?My mind immediately goes to the ones of him and Serena. The ones Ethan sent me. Pictures meant to…break us apart.No.A cold shudder runs down my spine.Ethan wouldn’t… he wouldn’t send similar pictures to Tristin, right?But what could he possibly take pictures of? I didn’t…My vision darkens for a moment when I think about that night in the cabin. My throat closes up, making it hard for me to breathe.He…wouldn’t have fallen so low, right? I barely get a moment to process that horrifying thought before I feel something shift in the air. I blink, and Tristin is suddenly too close—too near, his cologne wrapping around me like a vice grip.I look up, only to see his hands at the collar of his shirt, unbuttoning it slowly. I blink, watching as he opens the last button and pushes the shirt off his shoulders with ease. My breath hitches in my thro
Grace“ No. It sounds tempting, but we are not doing it. You can not raise that boy, Grace. We can not- - - ”“ Why? ” I snap, cutting him off. “ because you want to raise him with Serena, who is unhinged and bitchy! ”Tristin’s lips press in a thin line. His eyes narrow as if silently reproaching me for saying it aloud.I stand beside the bed, just in my panties, and suck in a slow breath. Instantly, his gaze drops to my chest, and he sighs.“ Why would I want to do that? ” His voice softens.“ Because she is your mistress, and you are lying to me about everything you just told me. ” I fold my arms across my chest, hiding my body from him.We are in the middle of an argument, and his starved, heated look is not helping this. “ I did not lie to you about anything. ” Tristin whispers, then averts his gaze to the wall. “ Just like I told you, I just don’t want you to— ”“ Okay. ” I say, interrupting him. “ Okay? ” Tristin’s brows lift, his eyes still on the wall.“ Yes… ” I shake my he
GraceA deafening silence falls in the room after Tristin tells me the truth.Or maybe it’s another well-crafted lie to soften my heart and make me stay put. I don’t know anymore. But as I stare at his lowered head and tense shoulder…I know that he is suffering. And I never like it when he is having a hard time. Because it makes me forget about everything that concerns me and makes me focus more on how to fix what’s wrong with him.“ One attack after another… ” I whisper, keeping the duvet pulled to my chest. “ First, he drugged me, had a hand in kidnapping our son, brought that Mona to ruin you, then this Serena… Ethan won’t stop Tristin. And for a reason, I have a hunch that Serena and Seb—Sebastian…this child. We need to focus less on them and more on what Ethan is going to do next. ”“ He will try his best to break this news to the world. ” Tristin scoffs, his fingers running through his hair. I press my lips in a thin line as I look towards the locked door. I need to get out
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