Grace“ Did you… ” I swallow the lump in my throat to prepare myself for asking the terrifying question. “ …try to kill Tristin? ”Ethan’s hand falls by his side as a cold look flashes across his droopy eyes. “ he is all you care about… ”“ Did you? ” My chin wobbles. “ did you do it because of me? ”Ethan stares into my eyes. I don’t know what happens, but in that moment, the look in his eyes becomes detached and it feels like we have finally chosen a separate path at the crossroads. We are no longer lurking on the edges, desperately trying to stick together. Now we know, there is no going back. Maybe, we knew, when I tried to kill him. Maybe he realized the truth when he almost ended up dead.“ No. ” Ethan shakes his head and looks away from me first. “ I had nothing to do with his accident. ”The weight on my shoulders becomes less heavy. The numbness leaves my body and my eyes water. I have been so scared in there. The voices still ring inside my head. But the thought that haunt
Grace“ What are you doing here, Grace? ” Alma blocks my way to the room Tristin is staying at.The reception people refused to talk about his condition so I had to come up personally. But before I could go inside, Alma appeared before me and refused to step away.“ Alma. I am here to check up— ”“ I heard what happened. ” She says, not letting me finish. I was about to tell her that I would check up on Tristin and then leave, but she didn’t look ready to hear any of it. She looks…different. Her eyes are not kind, and her lips are not smiling anymore. My chest tightens. “ Ethan…didn’t cause that accident. ”She must be angry because she thinks I am responsible for Tristin’s condition. “ I know. ” Alma blinks calmly, surprising me.“ Do you know who did this? ” Unconsciously, I step ahead and ask.Alma looks down at my feet and then looks up. A cold glint flashes across her eyes but it’s gone before I can understand the reason behind it.“ It was an accident. A drunk truck driver hi
Tristin“ You did the right thing. ” Mom says, stepping ahead to fix my shirt’s collar.“ Why do you dislike her? ” I wonder. “ we have common enemies. She shouldn’t bother you like she does. ”Mom’s soft eyes flicker towards my neutral gaze. I sigh, taking a step back and turning towards Luca so he can fix my collar instead.“ I need to meet with the shareholders before they cause a commotion over my absence. Carlos has been plotting for some time. He will get out of hand if I don’t put him into his place now. ” I grit my jaw as the injuries on my back and chest stretch, sending a wave of pain down my whole body.“ He is your cousin. Be kind to him. ” Mom sighs.I press my lips in a thin line. I can always count on Mom to judge every person wrong. Once, she thought Lily was an angel. I told her she was a devil under that sweet smile but no one listened.Now she thinks Grace is terrible, and she is wrong again. To think that she is taking the side of my so-called cousin in front of
TristinBy the time I step onto the rooftop, it starts raining. Luca is closely behind, asking me to stay in and not get myself wet but I can not stop to listen.Cold air sways my jacket before I feel the rain drenching me. My eyes scan the dimly lit area, searching for her. “ Where is she? ” I mumble.Maybe, she wanted to get some fresh air and came here. She was not suicidal and all that.I walk around the front, and onto the back, sighing in relief. She was not here. “ Did someone— ”The words die on my tongue. I have been watching the area, wanting to find her but I was expecting to find her on the tall wall. Her thin T-shirt moves with the breeze, as she walks along the line, her eyes downcast and her arms wrapped around herself.The color drains from my face as memories flash across my mind, causing me to freeze after a long time.“ She only wants my money. ” My brother’s voice is carried by the wind, emotionless and determined. “ It’s my fault that I didn’t understand this b
Grace Shock will be an understatement. My head spins as Tristin’s lips crash against my mouth. It’s rough, desperate, and breathtaking.There is nothing gentle about the way his arms tighten around my waist and coax me into his lap or the way his teeth sink into my bottom lip, urging me to open my mouth for his tongue. I shudder, the unforgiving rain still pouring over my cold body. The contrast of his heated mouth and his warm hands on my body amidst the biting cold leaves my mind numb and my hands hanging in the air. What…Tristin separates our lips and pants against my aching lips. “ think about pulling this shit again and I will make sure you never step a foot out of your room again. ”I blink, completely still in his arms. What does he think I was doing? “ Luca. ” Tristin yells, his glare still on my confused face. “ go prepare the car. Turn on the heaters. ” “ Yes, Boss. ” Luca’s voice sounds over the rain before I hear his retreating footsteps.Dumbfounded and nervous, I
GraceHis lips press to mine again. This time, it’s gentle and considerate. I stagger back, but Tristin’s arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back to his front. I breathe, inhaling his masculine cologne and the minty taste of his mouth. Tristin tilts his head to the right, deepening the kiss. My lips part, letting him explore every inch of me. A shudder slithers down my cold spine, making me step closer to his warm body. My head is foggy. Even then, I know I shouldn’t do this.I clench his shirt and attempt to pull my head back. Tristin grabs my nape and kisses me harder, refusing to let me go until he has had his fill.Unconsciously, my hand moves up and grazes the skin of his collarbone. Tristin’s body shudders under my fingertips, sending waves of fire down my veins. He releases my lips with a harsh nip and stares down at me. I breathe, hold it in, and watch his unmoving eyes. “ I told you before. ” Tristin’s hand travels lower on my back until he reaches my butt and squeez
GraceI wince, sensing the soreness between my legs. Even with so many injuries, he was relentless and insatiable. We ended up having sex in his bedroom again before he finally called Luca and got his wounds bandaged. I laid there, trying to make sense of things, and he was there, wiping my body with a wet cloth. I didn’t speak, and he didn’t push me into anything. In the end, we found ourselves on the same bed. Now, he is lying beside me, his hand placed so close to mine. My heart is pounding in my chest, refusing to calm down or settle.“ Now, what do we call what happened between us? Is it a one-time thing or what? ” I clench the sheets. “ I want you to stay by my side. You can stay in whatever way you want, Little Butterfly. You can be my girlfriend…or my wife. I don’t…mind. ” His hoarse, tired voice echoes in the silent room.My heart misses a beat. Girlfriend or wife…Both titles scare me.And the fact that Alma was terrified of the same thing happening ticks me off even mo
EthanThe pictures lie on my lap.She kissed Tristin and spent the night at his place. She told me she didn’t want to be with any other man after me. And she lied. “ Where is she now? ” I ask Josh. “ She was last seen at the airport, Boss. ” He reveals, standing beside me.I nod, taking the pictures and dropping them on the side table. My head should be hurting enough to make me sick, but I can not even feel it.It’s because my heart is bleeding.The door to the hospital room opens and Noah, the new man I hired from the professional secretary team at the office, steps inside. “ Mr. Calder. ” He nods respectfully and comes to stand by Josh’s side.Josh looks at him but doesn’t say anything. “ Step out. ” I turn my head towards the ceiling-to-floor window in my hospital room.“ Noah, step out— ” “ I am talking to you, Josh. Get out and close the door on your way. ” I state, narrowing my eyes.“ Uh—Yes, Boss. ” Josh nods and leaves us alone. “ What did you find? ” I keep my gaze
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