Grace“ A woman…like that came here. But she didn’t come alone. She came with her husband. ” The man blurts suddenly, making me freeze in my spot. Husband?For a moment, everything stops. But I can’t think too much. I have to check. I push open the door to the cabin. Luca is right behind me, pulling the man along with him. The air inside is thick, heavy, and the dim light from a single lamp makes everything look wrong.I don’t think. I just move.I open the door to the only room. And then my heart stops.There she is. Grace.The world around me comes to a stop, and everything inside me turns upside down.She is lying in bed. Bare shoulders exposed to the light, the blanket barely covering her. For a moment, everything feels distant. Is this real, or is it my hyper imagination tricking me again?I don’t understand what I am seeing. My eyes move down, and I see a man’s arm wrapped around her. Holding her. Pulling her close.No one does that. Only I do. She will never—never let anyone
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
Grace“ A woman…like that came here. But she didn’t come alone. She came with her husband. ” The man blurts suddenly, making me freeze in my spot. Husband?For a moment, everything stops. But I can’t think too much. I have to check. I push open the door to the cabin. Luca is right behind me, pulling the man along with him. The air inside is thick, heavy, and the dim light from a single lamp makes everything look wrong.I don’t think. I just move.I open the door to the only room. And then my heart stops.There she is. Grace.The world around me comes to a stop, and everything inside me turns upside down.She is lying in bed. Bare shoulders exposed to the light, the blanket barely covering her. For a moment, everything feels distant. Is this real, or is it my hyper imagination tricking me again?I don’t understand what I am seeing. My eyes move down, and I see a man’s arm wrapped around her. Holding her. Pulling her close.No one does that. Only I do. She will never—never let anyone
TristinWas it my fault? I keep thinking about it. Maybe it was. If I had kept a better eye on her instead of spending all my time looking for my son, she wouldn’t have been lost now.I just found our son. And before I even got to tell her the news, she was gone.What do I do? Why do I keep failing? I continue to ask myself, blame myself, but I continue to move too. I can’t stop. I have left my son at home with my mother and a fleet of guards who will ensure nothing happens to them now…But nothing puts me at ease.The night stretches on, and I keep pushing through the woods, my boots heavy in the mud, the cold biting into me. I don’t even feel it anymore—the cold, the exhaustion—everything blurs together. The only thing in my mind is Grace. She has to be unharmed—she just has to be, or I don’t know what I will do because, without her, I will feel no need to be a better man. Or maybe I never had to be good. Because it does not suit me. If I was still the same man I was before I
EthanI swallow again before marching out of the room. If I stay, I might not be able to hold back.The moment I step out and close the door behind me, Fred steps forth, his curious eyes stealing a glance at the door. My jaw grits. Noticing that, he instantly averts his gaze towards the floor.“ Everything is done, Boss. The bottles were exchanged. ” He informs, his voice low.I nod, walking towards the couch in the distance. Every sign of the drugged liquor has been removed. And the drugs won’t be detected in her blood. She can tell Tristin that she simply took a few sips and then blacked out, and he might believe her. But when he finds no proof, a man like that fucker won’t believe her for long. Once he loses his trust, he will show her his true colors. Faced with the monster she thought was an angel, I wonder how she will react. I tilt my head and regard everything with a curious glint in my eyes. Cracks will appear in her form. Undeniably, everything about her perfect life will
EthanTristin. She keeps calling his name. Even when my lips find their way to her stomach, she whimpers again. “ Tristin. ”I kiss the scar under her belly, and she continues to think it’s him. Leaning back, I stroke the horizontal line with my thumb, noticing the way she arches for more.She almost died giving birth to his son. And now it will be hard for her to bear another child. Did he tell her that?No, he didn’t. The first thing he did was to ask the doctor to keep it a secret from her. He does all that. Hides things, lies, pulls strings from the background…Yet, she keeps calling on him like she can’t get enough. If I had done that, would she have forgiven me as easily as she does for him? No, she would never. So, I will not let her forgive him either. I will make sure she finds out everything he has done to her. She won’t recover from one secret, and the next truth will be ready to unleash. So many lies, so many secrets…so many…fuck ups…Even if she forgives him for a f
Grace“ That’s unfortunate but it’s also a relief that you were not targeted by any animals. ” Fred takes his seat on the rundown couch and sighs. “ First thing in the morning, I will take you to the nearest road so you can contact your family. That’s where you will get a signal. ”My shoulders droop as my gaze switches between Ethan and Fred. How many hours are left till morning? I want to ask, but I don’t.I just lower my head and stare at the labelless bottle of liquor. I don’t even know what it is…but my body is freezing and I really…“ It’s safe, girl. You can drink a little. ” Fred reads my thoughts and shoots me a warm smile. I watch him for a moment before muttering. “ Fine. Just a little. ”The first sip burns like fire, searing all the way down, but it spreads warmth through my chest. A false warmth, but warmth nonetheless.Then, I am taking more sips unable to stop myself. I am sure I have taken just a few sips, but my head is already beginning to grow heavy. My vision blu
GraceEthan’s gaze snaps to mine, cold and unflinching as a blade. “ Fine. Go. Do whatever the fuck you want because I am not responsible for you and I sure as fuck won't stop you from getting eaten by any wild animal. ”I stand there for a moment, just glaring at him. Then, it clicks. I don’t expect anything from him, and he doesn’t owe me anything either.I spin around and start walking, my heartbeat quickening with each step forward. My steps are uneven, my body aching from the cold and exhaustion, but I push forward. Each step sends sharp jolts of pain through my legs, my wet clothes pulling at my skin like dead weight.It’s fine. I can do this. I have to.Then I hear it—a low growl, rumbling through the trees like something ancient and hungry. I freeze, every muscle in my body locking up as my breath catches in my throat. My head snaps toward the sound, eyes narrowing to see in the darkness. The wind howls around me, carrying the sound of several animals.I glance back toward
Grace“ Ethan. ” I whisper, my voice trembling. “ Look there. ”My hand is on Ethan’s sleeve before I even realize it, the rough material of his coat brushing against my palm. The contact is fleeting—a moment of impulse I immediately regret. He stops walking and looks down at where I am gripping him. Slowly, his gaze shifts up to my face, his expression unreadable as always. The sharp angles of his face are shadowed under the pale moonlight, making him look even more distant. I follow the trail of his eyes and immediately release his sleeve like it burned me. My fingers curl into a fist as I pull my hand back to my side, my heartbeat drumming in my ears. He starts walking again, and I follow him without saying a word this time. We are dripping wet as we approach the lone figure in the distance. The man stands still as a statue. My chest tightens at the sight of him. Something about the way he is just… waiting puts me on edge.“ Stay here… ” Ethan mutters suddenly, holding his han
GraceMy heart stops. My life flashes before my eyes—Seb’s laughter, Mom’s warm hugs, Ania’s teasing smile. And then Tristin. His face is the last thing I see in my mind, his voice the last thing I hear, telling me he loves me.I should have told him more often how much he meant to me. I should have…The gunshot rings out, and I flinch, bracing for the pain. But it never comes. Instead, there is a thud, and when I open my eyes, the kidnapper is falling to the ground. Ethan stands a few feet away, his gun still smoking. Unconsciously, shock makes me stumble back. I barely have time to process what’s happening before my foot slips on the edge of the cliff. “ Grace! ” Ethan yells my name, panic raw in his voice, but gravity pulls me down. The icy water rushes up to meet me. It doesn’t happen like it happens in the movies—a slow fall that never comes. It happens fast. One moment I am suspended in air, and then I am in the water. It swallows me whole and I am falling deeper into the
GraceEverything feels like it’s happening in slow motion. My breaths come out ragged like the air has turned too heavy to draw in. I can’t focus on anything except the sound of footsteps thundering behind the cabin. Ethan’s men are chasing the kidnappers, their loud voices echoing through the quiet forest.And then, through the chaos, he walks towards me.His dark, stormy eyes lock onto mine, and for a second, I am unsure if I’m relieved or terrified. His jaw is clenched, his movements controlled, but there is an edge of violence about him that’s hard to ignore. He stops in front of me and without a word, pulls the tape off my mouth. I wince, a burn spreading over my lips and the skin around it.Then, he starts untying the ropes binding my wrists. My skin burns where the ropes had cut into me, and as his hands work quickly, I finally manage to utter. “ What are you doing here? ”“ I could ask you the same thing. What the fuck are you doing here, Grace? ” His voice is loud, filled