GraceI don’t realize when I fall asleep beside him again.The next time I wake up, the sunlight burns my back, and Tristin’s warmth consumes me once more.I blink, slowly recalling what he said before he fell asleep. My eyes fall on his peaceful, resting face. Tristin’s breathing is steady, his chest rising and falling gently against me.For a moment, I just lie there, savoring the sensation of being held so closely, so protectively. But then I remember that we are not completely fine yet. My heart skips a beat, and I begin to pull away. But just as I do, Tristin stirs, his arms tightening around me as if sensing my desire to run away. His eyes flutter open, and he gazes at me with a sleepy, soft smile. “ Good morning, Little Butterfly. ” He murmurs, his voice husky with sleep.I bite my lip, feeling a mix of emotions—happiness, embarrassment, and an overwhelming need to be away before the reality of our situation catches up to us.“ It’s noon by now, I am sure. ” I whisper back, m
GraceI sigh, shifting my attention to the roses beside me. “ So you do care about them. But if you care so much, why do you keep hurting them? ”Ania glares at me for a moment longer, then turns to leave. I glance at her back.“ Keeping yourself locked up in your room or hating your family won’t solve your problems, Ania. The truth will not go away, and you won’t stop hurting. ” I whisper, a lump forming in my throat.I shouldn’t be interfering, but I can’t help it. If Ania keeps hiding herself like this, soon, she will find herself unable to break through this wall. I don’t wish for her to find herself in a state where she finds it hard to even get up from the bed.“ How does it stop then? You are talking as if you know a better solution! Are you not as pathetic as me? Your own family hates you, and you— ”“ That’s right. ” I interrupt and look down at my hands. “ You are right. My family hates me, and I am far worse than you will ever be. ”A moment of silence passes between us, b
GraceAlma just can’t leave me alone. I can tell that she is working hard to establish a better connection between us.It feels weird but not bad. “ What do you think about working again if you get bored? ” Alma asks, sitting beside me on the couch in the lounge.I take my eyes off the news channel on the TV and look at her. “ I want to complete my Masters first. ”“ Are you thinking about returning to— ”“ No, Alma. ” I interrupt her before she can go all full panic mode on me. She leans back, giving me the chance to explain what I plan on doing. I smile, noticing how she forces herself to calm down because she doesn’t want to scare me again.“ I am thinking about transferring to a college here. It might not be easy, but— ”“ You have nothing to worry about. I will tell Tristin to handle everything. ” She grins, making me sigh.“ I want to handle this on my own, Alma. He already has so much to deal with, and I can’t continue to rely on him. ” “ Then you can rely on me. I will make
Tristin“ Did you take care of everything? ” I ask Luca without taking my eyes off Grace, who is standing in the distance.“ Yes, Boss. Ethan will be in for life for everything he did. ” He says.I nod, the weight finally lifting off my shoulders. With Lily gone and Ethan paying for everything he did, Grace is now safe. Still, I can protect her from the physical harm, but I can not shield her from the emotional damage.Lily’s death has had a significant impact on her. I didn’t think she would want to involve herself in her family’s affairs anymore, but she proved it to me.Last night, when she told me that she wanted to arrange a funeral for Lily, I was surprised. A little angry, too, but mostly just surprised.Did I miscalculate Lily’s importance in Grace’s life? Did Grace still hold a soft spot for her evil sister? I kept wondering, but in the end, I couldn’t bring myself to ask her any of those questions.It was clear to me. She needed this. So I didn’t get angry or make her unc
GraceI feel a little uneasy.What will Alma think when she finds out, I held a funeral for Lily and spent a whole day by her grave? I don’t need to explain everything to Alma or anyone. But something in me just doesn’t want Alma to be sad. I don’t want her to think that I don’t care what Lily did to the Roberto family. “ You are back. ” The moment we step inside the mansion and get close to the lounge, Alma’s voice stops me.I grimace, imagining the look on her face. She is definitely going to be disappointed. I should have told her before doing all this.“ Alma. ” I turn around to find her walking towards us. “ Did you take care of everything? ” She turns to Tristin and asks.“ I did, Mom. ” He nods in reply and rubs his shoulder.My gaze is drawn to Tristin’s shoulder. He must be tired. I can tell he didn’t sleep well last night, and from the morning, he was dealing with my issues.I sigh, feeling a little guilty over making him tired.“ How are you feeling now, Grace? ” Alma tu
Grace“ Good. ” Ania nods and straightens up. “ so my condition is… ”The silence stretches, and anticipation builds, making me hold my breath. “ I want to marry. ” Ania finally blurts. “ What? ” Tristin huffs. “ Marry who? ” Alma narrows her eyes.I scoop another spoon of fried rice and munch on it as I watch the interesting scene. Ania is moving at the speed of a train. What is she going to hit, I wonder?“ I want to marry… ” Ania grins and points her finger to our left. All eyes follow her finger, landing on the figure standing in that direction. I choke on the rice in my mouth before hurriedly swallowing it.Oh…wow.“ Luca?! ” Alma is the first to scream. “ You want to marry him? ”“ Yes. ” Ania says without hesitation.“ How long has this been going on? ” Tristin’s voice lowers.“ Since a long time. ” Ania giggles.I give her a thumbs up in my mind. Real smooth. “ What is my sister saying? ” Tristin asks Luca, who is standing there, confused and unsure of what is going on.
Grace~Six Months Later…A lot can happen in six months.Your life can change for the worse.But you can also turn your life around, make it so much better that the past stops to matter.Something like that has happened for me.I have finally managed to turn my life around.I am finally doing what I always wanted. I am studying for my Master's at a University near the Roberto mansion. I am living with the Roberto family, and Tristin can sneak into my room any time he wants.He says that is the only interesting activity in his boring life. And I can’t agree more.He works like a robot but still comes back home to sleep in the same bed as me. He clings to me like a lost puppy and makes me feel like I am someone precious with his words and his actions.“ I don’t want her to move away. ” Tristin mumbles, coming to stand beside me and breaking me out of the trance.I watch the perfect couple dancing in the middle of the dancing floor and sigh. It feels so…heart-touching to see Ania wearing
Grace“ How happy? ” Tristin asks as we both stare at the moon’s reflection in the lake.My loose, wavy hair sways with the cold breeze, and my heart swells with peace.“ I don’t know. I just know…I can feel the happiness deep in my heart, and it’s not a kind of happiness that’s fleeting. It’s a kind that will settle into my bones and become a part of me. Whenever I remember these moments, I will always smile, Tristin. ” I whisper, my eyes beginning to burn with the intensity of emotions.“ Do you remember what you said to me? ” Tristin grins, turning to face me.I take my eyes off the beautiful view and look at him, my heart fluttering at the sight. “ What? ”“ You said I should ask you when you are really happy, and you will say yes. ” Tristin smiles, the gesture reaching his eyes and brightening them like two stars in the dark night.My breath catches in my throat. Instinctively, I take a step back from him, my heartbeat escalating until it’s all I can hear drumming in my ears.“ S
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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