GraceOn my way back, I can’t help but feel like the ground is too soft beneath my feet. It feels like I am floating away, completely detached from the surroundings. My mind…keeps sending me back in time. This fear in my heart is the same as when I came home from college and tiptoed around Mom and Dad to avoid their wrath. This fear is the same as when I tried to hide my drawings, my projects, and my dreams so Lily couldn’t take them away from me.This fear is the same as when I avoided looking at Ethan to hide my crush on him.Because I knew…All those things will bring me pain.And I was scared to bear the pain alone. I didn’t want my heart to bleed only for the lack of comfort to make it worse. I knew…If I fall once, I will never get back up again. I have been like this.But now, all those things that I feared have already happened.I smile mockingly. Even last night, I feared Alma would get to know the truth about me and hate me and it didn’t even take one day for her to fin
GraceThe next day, I follow Tristin’s assistant into the headquarters of the RB. It’s a glass tower in the heart of the city, outshining the architecture of the other towers.Once, I assessed their designs for my projects. Now, I am here, walking through the glass doors, straight to the elevator to get a job.I wouldn’t have dreamt of this in the past. Mom and Dad would have never let me work because they wanted Lily to always be successful using my work. They couldn’t risk letting the world know that I am behind everything she ever claimed to design.Her thought makes me halt in the lobby. The big screen in the waiting area displays the breaking news of today.Mom’s angry face, and Dad’s disgusted eyes. Everything reeks of evil in the video that is playing. Her harsh words are recorded in clear audio, leaving no room for doubt. But my face is hidden because I made sure my back was facing the phone. “ Who do you think is telling the truth? ” A girl asks the other in the waiting area
GraceI grit my jaw, barely controlling the rage that makes my blood boil. “ Maybe you know people that do things like that, Mr. Costello, but I am not like them. Please refrain from verbal harassment. ”“ Verbal harassment? ” He snarls, shooting up from his seat. I clench my hands into fists, standing my ground. “ Yes, Mr. Costello. It’s verbal harassment. You are saying things that are making me uncomfortable. ”He rounds the table with a speed that makes me take a step back.“ You think you are all that just because you slept with a higher-up, huh? ” He sneers, closing the distance between us. “ but you are just one of their adventures. They don’t give a fuck what happens with you down here as long as they have paid you by getting you this job. ” “ Why do you assume that I got this job because of a vulgar reason like that? ” My eyes narrow on him.He sizes me up, from head to toe, his gaze leering. Uncomfortably, I shift my weight from one foot to another.Suddenly, he grabs my u
Grace“ What happened to your feet? ”Surprised, I look down, and my nose scrunches. My feet don’t seem to be in a good condition.“ I spilled coffee on— ”I pick up my head and get stunned into silence. Tristin is already halfway across the office, approaching me with long strides. I close my hanging jaw and swallow. He rolls his sleeves up, displaying his veiny arms and blank ink peeking from underneath the white shirt. My gaze lowers to his forearms before I quickly lift my eyes to his face again. He stops one step away, his eyes narrowed on my feet.“ Who did it? ” He inquires in a grave voice. My shoulders stiffen. “ I spilled coffee on my feet accidentally. ”“ And you are walking around instead of applying ointment on the burns? ” Slowly, his eyes find mine, and a strange emotion flashes across them.“ I…didn’t get…the time. ” I whisper, uneasy about how he is investigating the whole situation.“ You didn’t get the time for what? ” He asks and grabs my arm without warning.“
GraceEthan’s gaze traces Tristin’s figure before dropping on my legs, his jacket, and slowly meeting my gaze again.His eyes become intense, almost promising torture and pain. If looks could kill, I would be long dead.“ Ah, Ethan Calder. ” Tristin rises, a cold smile playing on his lips.Ethan doesn’t take his eyes off me. It makes me nervous, and ashamed. It feels like I got caught doing something wrong.But I was not doing…anything like that.That line of thoughts makes me stiffen. Even if I do something wrong, what does it mean to Ethan?! It’s not like he is a saint.“ You are desperate for a divorce. Can’t wait to get in your lover’s bed without any remorse? ” Ethan scoffs, each word dripping with venom.I narrow my eyes on him. “ You are the one who was desperate for divorce, did you forget?! ”“ You refused it then. You were so whiny about leaving me. ” He walks closer, his eyes fixed solely on me.“ I was a fool back then. I didn’t know how cruel you were! ” I reply, standing
Grace“ Let me see. ” Tristin lifts his hand towards me, disregarding my words altogether.I sigh sarcastically. “ there is no need. I know just how much you care about these things. ”“ Grace. ” His voice hardens. I press my lips in a thin line and get to my wobbly legs. I need to get this through my head—if Ethan is a calculative man, Tristin is not too different. They are men of power, bred and raised into this cruel world to get whatever they want at any cost. Their care is only reserved for the people they find useful.“ I told you before, I will pay the price for your help. And I know that’s what you want. So as long as we are on the same side, you can drop the nice act and remain your true self—the man you were just now. The man who didn’t think twice before saying… ” I trail off, unable to keep going.My gaze lowers to his neutral eyes. For a second there, I was comparing him to others in my life, and believing that he is a little better than them.In that moment, I forgot w
GraceAfter surviving Mr. Costello’s taunts and jabs for the rest of the day, I feel like fainting. The side of my head has gone numb by the time I step out of the tall tower. To add to my misery, it’s raining. Workers rush to their cars in the parking or hail cabs to get home while I stand in front of the tower, looking around.My phone buzzes in my hand, making me sigh and glance at the message. As expected, it’s Lily.She could never stop herself from texting me to meet after watching the video that was circulating everywhere.I open her texts and read them.—We are sisters, Grace. How can you stoop so low as you try to harm my reputation? I roll my eyes at the tone she used. She still thinks she can manipulate me.The next text reads: I am ready to forgive you if you come over and meet at Club Euphoria at 8. I have made reservations in the VIP room. Just tell them my name and they will lead you up.I go over the two texts numerous times. Hate brews in my heart, while anger threa
GraceThe man walking me up the stairs opens the VIP reserved room. I don’t step inside until my eyes fall on Lily who is already lounging on the couch, glaring at the people dancing on the dance floor below.Instantly, a wave of anger and disdain runs down my body, taking over every inch of me.Every time that I see her, I hear her voice from that day. ‘ You stole what was mine. I never share, Gracie. You should have known. ’It’s like a constant jab at my heart before I recall what followed. The memories of bleeding out on the road and losing one thing that mattered the most to me, at the hands of the people I loved and trusted…Those memories will never leave me alone.“ Grace. ” Lily hisses, like a snake, and my trance breaks.I direct my neutral gaze at her. She smiles, her lips curling into a threatening gesture.“ Come take a seat. ” I take small steps towards the red couch opposite her and sit there, my eyes remaining on her coldly.“ Gracie. ” She sighs, leaning back.I take
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
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