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
GraceI pick up the phone and press it against my ear. For some moments, silence sounds from the other side.I remain still, my muscles still, and my breath lodged in my throat. I can recognize him even if he doesn’t say anything to me, and just continues to breathe into the speaker.“ Tristin. ” I whisper, running a hand through my hair.He remains silent. I close my eyes, and release a heavy breath, my body shuddering. The moment of silence takes me back to the last time I talked to him before going to meet Ethan.When I had asked him to trust me, he had told me he would always do that.Just when he had begun to wonder what I was being emotional about, I told him what I had planned to do.‘I want to give Ethan what he wants. ’ That’s what I had said. ‘If he has me close, he won’t hurt others. He will…stop controlling our one son to hurt another. He will back off as long as I am with him. And while I am at it, you can find out who is working with Ethan, and I can find out how he is
GraceEthan’s Grandmother has always been a symbol of terror in the family. Despite her old age, the silver hair, the sunken eyes, she exudes a kind of aura that makes one squirm. She was the spitting image of her own son, who had died years ago—Ethan’s father. The man who had the reputation of a devil back when he was alive. I shake my head, breaking myself out of my thoughts. So, she is here. That must mean she is already mentally torturing her grandson.My lips twitch. What a weakness to have your own grandmother breathing down your neck and threatening your position with every word she speaks.As expected, when she stares at me a little longer, her eyes turn cold. She has never liked me. That’s why Ethan had sent her away when we got married. But he was still powerful back then. Now, after being sent to jail, and ruining the Calder Corp, I am not sure he can still call himself the powerful leader he once was.“ You lied to me. ” She hisses and moves past me to go confront Ethan
Grace“ You killed my sister. ” I state as a matter of fact, and feel a chill down my spine at the lack of any emotions towards the truth.“ You wanted her gone. ” He blinks, his face becoming a mask of calmness again.I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth and shake my head. “ that doesn’t change the truth. You murdered— ”“ Your so-called husband is not better than me. He is even worse. He had planned on killing your whole family from the start, and he would have done it if I hadn’t. I did you a favor by keeping your beloved’s hands clean of your family’s blood back then. ” His voice rises, frustrating etching into his features in the form of a deep frown.My breath catches in my throat. “ but he didn’t do it. ”Ethan’s frown turns into a cold smirk. He taps the table with his forefinger, falling silent for a moment.At that moment, a wave of coldness washes down my back, leaving me shuddering. Why the change of emotions all of a sudden? “ You know….and I know…it was never about Li
GraceMy phone keeps ringing. The familiar names on the screen just send a pang in my chest.Mom.Ania. Luca. Mary.Everyone has called. But Tristin has not. He must know everything by now and he won’t call me. He will never accept what I have done to deal with the mess Ethan was creating.Sighing, I turn the phone on silent and look out the window. Years ago, when I was still married to Ethan and under the illusion that he was falling for me, he had planted roses in the garden behind our house. When we fell apart, and Lily came back, he just ripped everything out and threw it away like it meant nothing.But now, the flowers are back. The garden looks so eerily similar to how it looked years ago that it gives me the ick. Even the things in the room—the decorations, the clothes…everything. It’s in the same place where I used to keep it. It’s like I have stepped back into the nightmare I barely escaped. The door to the room opens, and the familiar footsteps grow closer. I don’t t
GraceI groan, the pain in my arm registering before a strong headache. I try to move, but it’s like all my energy has drained, leaving me weak and helpless.Slowly, I take in a shuddering breath and look around. The room is too familiar. It makes me want to throw up, just so I can get the strong disgust out of my system.“ Did I faint? ” I murmur, glancing to my right. As expected, Ethan is sitting on a chair beside my bed, staring at me closely. I lift my brows, trying to judge his emotions from the look he is giving me but failing.Something is strange in his gaze.“ The doctor said you barely avoided the artery. You could have died… ” Ethan whispers, his gaze unfocused. A frown settles between my brows. I look down at my bandaged wrist before shrugging.I was not aiming to die, but…He should believe…I can go through it if he continues to push me around. This is good for special effects.“ Do you believe how ready I am now? ” My eyes narrow as I smile at his dazed face.Ethan pu
GraceI knew talking to him would be like talking to a wall. He will not be moved, and won’t understand what I am trying to say. He will just want me to do what he wants.“ My son has a father. He doesn’t need another. ” I murmur, then lean back on the couch. “ Then we have nothing to talk about. ” Ethan smiles, as relaxed as ever.He doesn’t feel an ounce of guilt over what he is doing. Instead, it’s like he feels proud that I am beginning to crumble under the pressure.Is this what…he calls love? I think it’s more of an obsession. I am the woman he once had, and he can’t bear that I am with someone else now. That’s all this is about. An obsession to get back someone that belonged to him before.“ I want you to stop now. ” I tell him, my head more clear than before. “ That wouldn’t happen unless— ”“ I want you to stop, Ethan. It’s enough. I don’t want to fight with you anymore. ” I clench my hands into fists and release a slow breath. “ You want me to go with you. Let’s go. I wil
GraceWhen you want to truly defeat someone who knows you better than you know yourself…You need to do something you would never usually do.And that’s what I am doing. I walk through the corridor of the VIP club, slowly approaching the private room I booked. Unlike my expectations, I don’t feel an ounce of fear. My heartbeat doesn’t escalate. My hands don’t shake. And my back never hunches. It’s like I have abandoned all emotions, and chosen to become a robot. As I reach the black double doors, I pause beside them. In the wall-length mirror, I stare at my reflection.I am wearing a plain black dress—something someone would wear to a funeral. It has a V-neck and reaches below my knees. It’s simple enough to not make him think that I was eager to meet him.I nod at myself and flip my hair to my back before entering the private room. Instantly, the familiar scent of an expensive cologne hits me.The control I had over my nerves slips, leaving me standing in the doorway for a few mome
GraceAs soon as Tristin and I enter our room, he grabs my arm and turns me around to face him. I continue to stare down, at his rapidly heaving chest. A sudden chill runs down my spine as the scene from last night flashes before my eyes. Ethan…can even harm my son to the point of no return. He had him kidnapped, and now he can even have him…No…“ What is happening inside that head? ” Tristin cups my cheek, and pulls my face up. “ why did you suddenly apologize? Why did you— ”“ Do you believe what I told you? ” I interrupt him, my voice barely a whisper.Tristin’s blue eyes peer into mine as if searching for something. I wait for him to hesitate, to avoid my gaze or give me any indication that he also believes I was dreaming last night, or worse, trying to implicate a child. But he just sighs and rests his forehead against mine.“ I told you from the very first day. That child was raised by a snake. He can never…come out all pure after spending so much time with someone like his mo
GraceThe maids look for the knife everywhere they can, but after hours of search, they return…empty-handed. I sit by the window, just watching the sun rise in the distance as Mom questions the maids. After receiving the answer she wanted, she turns to me smugly.“ What do you have to say about it now? ” She asks, and I have nothing to say.I can only think in silence. My doubt has been confirmed. Someone in this house is helping that child do this. Was it Serena who planted this mole or was it Ethan? I couldn’t tell for sure before, but now, that doubt is cleared too.It has to be Ethan. Because Serena is gone as Tristin told me. And so, she can’t give any more orders, can she? So…Ethan Calder is still pulling the strings.He planted someone in our house, and she helped that boy get to my son’s room, without getting into the video of any CCTV camera installed in the corridors. Even the knife Sebastian used disappeared as if it never existed.The only person who ever saw that boy