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“ Catch her. ” The four men in the distance yell, sprinting towards me.My phone drops on the floor. I bend down to pick it up, only to see them closing in on me. So, I rise and make a run for it again.The doors of the VIP rooms on this floor are closed. The staff members who see those men chasing me only step aside to give them way instead of saving me or asking the men why they are after me.My breaths come out in pants as I take support of the wall and continue to stumble forth.What if…Tristin doesn’t come?Fear fuels my instinct to run faster but the drug’s effects are making it harder by the moment for me to see, to walk without stumbling over my feet.The heat has become a dangerous molten lava under my skin, making me shudder and writhe with every labored breath in.“ Do you think you can run away? ” The voice of the man from behind sounds so close to me.I glance over my shoulder, my blurry sight finding their wicked faces lit with leering grins. My feet tangle and I f
Grace“ I will help you. ” I hear his voice, so close to my lips.“ Tristin. ” I whimper, my lips pressing to his neck again.I am so aroused and needy that I feel like I will lose my mind if I don’t do something about it.My mind is in a haze, completely disconnected with reality.My fingers weave in his hair, scratching his scalp while my lips trail a path down his skin, roaming every inch of him that I can find.“ Grace. ” He calls me out. “ You will regret this. I am not Ethan. I am Tristin. ”His voice hits a cord deep inside me, making a full body shudder roll over me.“ I-I know. ” But I can’t stop.His warm breaths hit my ear, pushing me over the edge of control. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing myself to stop.This is wrong. So wrong Grace.The ache turns into a pain so strong that it makes me struggle in his arms. I can sense him moving quickly while he talks to Luca.“ Take these men. And let them know what happens when they touch a woman without her consent. ” His v
Tristin“ Ms. Whitlock was given a potent Aphrodisiac. It is harmful to her body and brain. It’s good that I was called on time, Mr. Roberto. ” The doctor reveals, removing his thick glasses and turning to face me.Instantly, my eyes are drawn to the girl sleeping on the bed, now naked under the sheets. “ How is she now? ” I question.“ She will be fine after resting tonight. ” He sighs, collecting his things.He had given her an injection, possibly some antidote and Grace had fallen asleep right away. “ But if she wakes up in the night, please give me a call again, Mr. Roberto. ” He says.“ Stay in the next room. You are not going anywhere tonight. ” I announce, directing my neutral gaze at him.The doctor stiffens, his eyes darting towards Luca who is behind me. “ O—Of course, Mr. Roberto, I will stay as long as you need me. ”“ Good. Don’t fall asleep. ” I tell him before moving past him and going to stand beside Grace. “ Let’s go, Doctor. I will show you where you are staying. ”
GraceI am back on that road, my nails clawing at the hard surface as I watch Ethan carrying Lily away. In my blurred, and bloodied view, I see her smirk at me smugly. They don’t stop for me and don’t care if I die. Or maybe, they want me gone so they can enjoy their life together. They had already taken my inheritance, my talent, my future…and now they want my life too.But why must they hurt my Baby too? I don’t even know if it’s a girl or a boy. I don’t even know what my Baby looks like yet. How can you take it away from me? As I bleed out, and slowly lose consciousness, I feel the warm hands on my shoulder—a savior’s touch.I gasp, sitting up on the bed. My eyes blink wide open as I look around the room. Cold air brushes against my naked skin, making me hyperaware of my state.Horrified, I look down at my bare chest, as the blanket slips away. Color drains from my face, the last night’s memories flashing before my eyes. I pull the blanket up right away, hiding every inch of my
Ethan“ The papers were delivered again, Boss. ” Josh informs as he places the papers on the desk in front of me.I take my eyes off the important contract I am supposed to sign to glance at the divorce agreement she sent. She has demanded I return her grandmother’s inheritance that she gifted me and refused to get any alimony from my assets. It is fucking clear. She wants me to return everything she thinks I took from her. I have no fucking problem with that. But if she wants everything of hers back, she should return my three wasted years.All this fucking time, she pretended to be in love and took advantage of my heart, my power, and my status. She should return all of that before asking anything from me.Anger threatens to burst out of my veins, but I can’t deny the lurking panic behind my eyes. It feels like she is desperate to cut ties with me, and I can not let that happen.Even if we remain sworn enemies, we must stay together. Even if we hate each other, we must not stop fee
GraceThis was supposed to be my victory. It’s what I wanted.Isn’t it?This is one big step forward in my career. Even bigger than that RB Corp mess. But…it doesn’t make me…happy anymore. “ We will need to finalize the timeline and materials before moving forward. ”Mr. Renaud adds, his voice steady. “ But I have no doubt Elixir Co. would be thrilled to work with you on this project. ”I force a polite smile over my lips. “ I am looking forward to collaborating. ”He rises from his chair, extending his hand. I shake it firmly, feeling his grip but not really registering it. Words of gratitude are exchanged. Professional, courteous. After he is gone, the silence in the private restaurant booth becomes suffocating.I am alone.The presentation folders sit neatly in front of me, the praised designs still in view. But they feel like blank papers to me.As I gather my things, my hand trembles slightly. My reflection stares back at me from the glass walls surrounding the room—a woman dres
GraceAfter I packed up and held my son for a straight hour, I left home. I reached the airport, and then, it occurred to me…I was leaving my son alone again. That thought had stopped me in my tracks for a long time. Even when my name was announced, I didn’t leave. I stayed standing in the middle of the crowd, staring blankly at a white wall. I could have chosen to stay behind, but a voice inside my head kept saying that even my son would be better off without me. It was such a stupid, unnecessary thought.But it pushed me to the plane. And I left, despite the heavy feeling in my chest.Until the plane touched the track again, I was lost in the same thoughts. It felt like I didn’t cherish what I had and kept fearing the future. Now, perhaps, I was the one who had turned her own fears into reality.Something inside me knew these thoughts were not sane, nor were they justified. But I desperately wanted to blame someone.I tried to blame Ethan first, tried so hard to find any evidenc
TristinI sit behind the glass wall of my office, watching the city lights twinkling in the dark. The people out there…are so busy with their world. They all have something to do, all moving every moment of even the quiet night.But I feel frozen in time. I want to move, but I can’t bring myself to.I close my eyes, and her face flashes before my eyes. She acted like a mad woman today. And almost got attacked by an even crazier woman.When I saved her from falling, the look she gave me continues to revolve in my head. Her eyes had been wide, startled, and for a second, I thought she would cry. But she didn’t. It was like she was making a conscious effort to hold back her tears in front of me.It made me angrier at her. If only she would let those tears fall, and tell me that she made a mistake, it could be over. I wouldn’t be able to stand tall against her tears. I would relent without a second thought.But she has decided to build the wall higher between us. I swallow, as I recall
GraceWhat the hell have I become?I don't want to feel this. I don't want to feel any of it. But I can't stop the wave of guilt crashing over me, drowning me in its intensity.“ He is telling the truth, Mrs. Roberto. ” Luca says. My fingers tremble as the words sink in. What are you doing Grace? A little voice asks the question in my head again.And this time, I have the answer. I am trying to turn into a monster. People don’t…hurt monsters. “ He drugged me… ” My hand drops by my side.“ No, Mrs. Roberto. There are no drugs in your system. He is telling the truth. We tested that liquor. It’s alcohol—a strong one. It matches what we found in your blood. And yes, it has side effects. It raises libido. That’s all it does. ”The ground beneath my feet suddenly turns soft. It’s like something wants to pull me under.Fred starts sobbing. “ I didn’t mean to hurt you…Please. I am sorry. I didn’t know he was not your husband. ”I stare at him, my chest heaving, my mind racing. Everything
Grace“ We are here. ” Luca announces, breaking me out of the trance.I sigh, looking around. We are in front of an abandoned warehouse. And the eeriness of the secluded area makes my heart beat faster than it should. Without a word, I open the door and step out. The cold stings my skin, but I barely feel it. Luca leads the way and I follow him like a brainless dummy. It seems now that Tristin is not around, I can easily go back to my robotic self and act dead. As soon as I step inside, I see Fred sitting slumped on a chair. His head hangs low, hiding his face from my view. But the sight of an old man, sitting in a hard chair, without even warm clothes on does something to my mind. A crack appears in the ice wall in my heart and I find myself frozen on my spot for a few moments.What are you doing, Grace? I ask myself, but there is no answer. Suddenly, Fred picks up his face and my breath catches in my throat. His face is unrecognizable—swollen, bleeding, as if they have hit him
GraceI stumble a little, catching myself just in time. When I turn to look at him, he is wiping his hand on his pants like he has touched something disgusting.That hits harder than it should. My chest tightens, and for a second, I forget how to breathe.Does he find me so disgusting?I smile. It’s not a happy one. It’s the kind of smile you give when you are so hurt, you don’t know what else to do.“ You don’t have to act like I am dirty… ” I say, my voice low. “ We both know you are worse than I will ever be. Next time, you should not don’t touch me. I don’t need your help. ”The words hang in the air between us. The tension rises as our eyes meet, and he continues to look at me like he does not recognize me.He doesn’t say anything, and I don’t wait for him to. I turn around and walk away from him as quickly as I can.Once I am out of sight, I find a corner behind a pillar and crouch down, pressing my back to the wall. My knees come up to my chest, and I bury my face in them, tryi
GraceThe moment I see Tristin staring at me, I freeze. Everything else blurs out—the noise, the cameras, the people. It’s just him, looking at me like I am some stranger, and I can’t stand it. His eyes are cold, detached, like he has already decided I am not worth it.I feel something break inside me. That damn wall I have spent hours building to keep myself sane? Gone. Just like that. Just with one cold look from him, I start asking myself questions again, and I start recalling everything AGAIN.He is not asking me anything. He is not blaming me, fighting with me, or trying to hate me. Is this a normal reaction?Is this how husbands are supposed to react? Are they just supposed to decide their wife has become a stranger overnight?Even now, when I am standing here with my life falling apart and Ethan’s fingerprints all over it, Tristin doesn’t bother. Instead, he just looks at me like I am the one who has failed him.It’s pathetic how much that hurts.My throat tightens, but I sw
GraceMona’s face pales, her hands trembling as she stands frozen. She knows what’s coming.Daniel’s voice grows colder. “ She doesn’t just hurt men like me. She traps them. She uses them. She tells them what to do, and when they refuse, she accuses them of things they never did. She ruins their reputations. She ruins their lives. And now, she is trying to do it to Tristin Roberto. ”The cameras continue to flash, capturing every moment, every word.“ You are lying. Daniel, why are you doing this to me? ” Mona tries to grab attention but fail when the reporters keep their focus on her husband instead. Daniel continues, his face grim. “ I overheard her talking on the phone not long ago. She told someone that she went to Tristin Roberto, tried to force herself on him. When he refused her advances, she hurt herself. Hit herself, several times. And then she threatened him—if he didn’t make his wife give up the CBA project, she would destroy him. And now, she is accusing him, all because
GraceHer face drains of color. She opens her mouth to protest, but no words come out. The air seems to freeze around us as her eyes flicker to the door. Oh. She is waiting for someone. “ This is absurd! ” She whispers, her voice cracking with desperation.“ How is this absurd? ” I ask, my eyes going round. “ I am curious because you and I fought before and then you suddenly started accusing my husband of abusing you the next day. I am sure everyone who is seeing you is equally curious right now. ”“ I have never had any discord with you. Why are you lying, Mrs. Roberto. ” She sniffles, her voice lowering, but hidden to everyone, I can see the smug gleam in her eyes. “ Think again, Mona… ” I urge. Then, I let the silence stretch out, watching her squirm under the pressure. “ I have never had any discord with you, Mrs. Roberto. Please stop— ”“ Let’s jog your memory a little. ” My smile widens. I gesture toward the screen to my right, and a video begins to play. “ The cameras in C