I wake up the next morning with the pain in my back because of sleeping in an uncomfortable position last night. It was harder than I thought to sleep without Grace by my side.I sit up on the sofa, stretching my body, and then lock my gaze on Grace’s sleeping form.As our separation time is coming closer, something is breaking inside me. No matter how much I dislike her behaviour, I still have developed feelings for her in these months.However, I know it’s good for both of us to get separated because we’re not each other’s type. Therefore, for the remaining one week of our contract marriage, I’ll try to maintain my distance from her.Grace’s P.O.V.I wake up, rubbing my eyes and find the sofa empty. I think Steve has already left for the office.Sleeping alone on the bed last night was indeed a struggle. Steve said right, we’ve grown accustomed to each other, and it’s best for us to stay away from each other from now onwards.Then my attention diverts as my phone rings. It’s a call
I sit at the bar counter with Jace and Mike, having my drink.“Grace will be out of my life in a few days. I should be happy, but I don’t know why it’s hurting me.” I share with them what’s going on in my head.Jace raises an eyebrow, taking a sip of his drink. “Steve, these things are never simple. You’ve spent a considerable amount of time with Grace, and feelings, whether you want them or not, tend to get messy.”Mike adds, “And you can’t control how you feel, man. It’s okay to be conflicted.”I swirl the drink in my glass, contemplating their words. “I just need to focus on getting through these last days of our contract without more complications.”As I take a sip of my drink, I wonder if our paths will cross again after our contract ends. Despite the complications, there’s a part of me that’s reluctant to let her go.Jace pats my shoulder, giving me a smile. “Whatever happens, Steve, we’ve got your back.”***I reach the club where I dropped Grace off a few hours ago. I have alr
In the evening, as I enter my mansion after a long day at the office, Grace greets me with a playful smile.“You did great last night? Let’s do it one more time.” She teases with a mischievous grin.I glance at her, my frustration growing. “Grace, we need to stop this. It was a mistake, and we can’t keep repeating it.”She raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. “Oh, come on, Steve. Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it. Or are you afraid of your wild side?” She moves closer to me, guiding her finger down my face sexily.I clench my fists and resist the urge to react, reminding myself to stay in control. “Grace, it’s not about enjoying it. We’re getting divorced, and we should focus on that.”Although I want to kiss her, I push her away because I can’t let her come close to me.She chuckles, pushing the boundaries. “Should I invite another man from my one-night stand, Steve? Maybe that will awaken your wild side once more.” She gives me a mischievous wink.Her words strike a nerv
In the evening,Exhausted but relieved, Grace and I enter the room, both aware that this will be our last night of the contract marriage. There’s a mixture of emotions swirling within me—relief from the false accusations and sadness that our paths will soon diverge.“So, tomorrow our paths will be separated,” I remark, breaking the silence.She looks at me, a playful glint in her eyes. “Well, Mr. Grey, since it’s our last night as a married couple, why don’t we make it memorable?”I raise an eyebrow, curious about her suggestion. “Memorable? What do you have in mind?”She winks at me, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “How about we have sex as Mr. and Mrs. Grey for the last time?”“Sure, why not?” I agree because I really want to make the last moment with Grace, my wife, unforgettable.She chuckles, clearly surprised by my easy agreement. “I can’t believe you agreed to this so easily, Steve.”I just stare at her. What should I do, Grace? I want this day to last long, want time
After a few months,Eight months and seventeen days have passed since I last saw, touched, and felt Grace’s presence. Each day, the ache of missing her has deepened, and not a single moment has gone by without longing for her.I remain oblivious to her whereabouts and well-being because when my father informed Grace’s father about our contract marriage; he cast her out of his house.She even stopped posting her blogs. Every day, I offer silent prayers, hoping she’s safe and that our paths will cross again.If fate allows our paths to cross once more, I’m determined not to let her slip away and to make things work between us.Yeah. This time, I’m willing to take a few extra steps because being apart from her for eight months made me realise where I went wrong. In a relationship, it’s not always about giving 50-50. It can be 60-40 or even 70-30. What really matters is who we are and where we both stand. That’s what counts in the end.I have come to London for a business project, and my
Grace’s P.O.V.Flashback (The morning after my last sexual encounter with Steve)As I wake up in Steve’s arms, the realisation hits me hard that this will be the last time I wake up to his loving embrace and savour the intoxicating scent of his presence. I hold him a little tighter, as if trying to freeze this moment in time.I have no clue why I feel a heaviness in my heart; our relationship was destined to end one day.I'm gazing at Steve's face, not even blinking my eyes. It's hard to explain, but tears start welling up as I think that this might be the last time I see him up close. The last time.I just wish I could freeze this moment for a few more seconds. Just a few more.What's happening to me? Why this sudden uneasiness? Why?Maybe it's because I did wrong with Steve. I can't deny that it wasn't his fault, it was mine. So this uneasiness, this feeling I'm going through is because I did wrong with him, with his father. I played with his father's trust, knowingly or unknowingly
As the days of my pregnancy pass, the growing life within me becomes the sole source of my solace.Yet, no matter how much I try to focus on the baby’s arrival, the void left by Steve’s absence remains a constant ache. The baby becomes my reason to live, but the longing for the man I love remains. I need him on this journey of my life.When I see other couples, I miss him even more. I wish I had realised his importance in my life earlier.As I settle my life with Elsa in London, I gradually lose interest in making vlogs. It feels like the excitement that fueled my creativity has faded.The three months of our contract marriage haven’t just changed me; I find myself feeling dependent on Steve. Yes, it surprises me too. In the past, I teased Steve, urging him to join my vlogs, lives, and pictures just to annoy him. However, somewhere along the way, his presence became so crucial to me that I wanted to include him in my social media whenever possible. I enjoyed it when someone commented
Steve’s P.O.V.In the hospital, I pace outside the labour room, my heart pounding in sync with the ticking clock on the wall. I’m anxious and excited both as I await news about Grace and our unborn child.I still can’t believe I’m going to become a father in a few minutes. This feeling is driving me insane.After what feels like an eternity, the door springs open, and two nurses emerge, each cradling a tiny bundle wrapped in a blanket. My brows narrow in confusion.What the fuck? Two babies? Am I dreaming? I rub my eyes and blink, trying to process the unexpected news.My eyes widen in shock as one of the nurses informs me that Grace has given birth to twins—a girl and a boy.Oh, God! The truth is beyond my imagination that I became the father of not just one baby; I became the father of twins.What is happening in my life? Shock after shock.I can't even put into words how amazed and overjoyed I am.“Twins?” I stammer, my voice barely audible.As a nurse nods and extends one baby to
Grace’s P.O.V. A Few Days Later “You know, if you don’t want to, we can go back home,” Steve whispers, entangling my pinky with his, sitting in the driver’s seat beside me. Twins settle in the car backseats, engrossed in each other. We’re visiting Jace and Zara’s house for dinner. Zara had been urging us to meet her for more than a year because she wanted to apologise, but I wasn’t ready for it. Although she has been mentally stable and adopted a baby girl a year ago, I was still scared that she might try to take Giana away from me again. However, now I’m ready to give her a second chance because I can’t keep Steve away from his best friend forever. I smile softly at Steve’s concern, squeezing his hand in reassurance. “No, I want to do this. It’s time for us to move forward, Steve. Zara deserves a chance to make amends, and Jace is your best friend. We can’t avoid them forever.” “Thank you, Love. I’m glad that you’re ready to do this for me.” He lifts my hand and places a sof
Steve’s P.O.V. Two Years Later “Look here, my little angels.” Grace’s voice catches Evan, Giana, and my attention, and we look at her. I brush Giana’s long brown hair as she sits on my lap, absorbed in playing with her doll. Evan stands behind me, wrapping his arms around my neck, while Grace diligently works on her daily blog with the same enthusiasm as every day. “Mama…” Evan walks over to Grace and jumps into her arms. She giggles, kissing his cheek before turning the camera towards them. “Say hi to my followers, Evan.” “Hi, Mama’s followers.” Evan waves at the camera, beaming. “Keep showering love on her because she is pretty and the best mama.” “Aww… my baby. You are Mama’s best son.” Grace chuckles at Evan’s sweet words, her eyes shimmering with love as she holds him close. “Mama, I’m also your best son.” Giana pouts at them, causing us to laugh. “Princess, Evan is our best son, and you are our best daughter,” I explain, tucking her hair with the unicorn hairpin. She l
After our passionate encounter, we relax in the bathtub, both of us panting. I sit nestled between his legs, my head resting on his chest, my back against his front, his hands encircling my chest while his fingers tease my nipples. “How are you feeling now?” I ask him, breaking the peaceful silence. “Out of the world.” He whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “And credit goes to you, my love.” He licks my earlobe. “You know very well how to distract your husband.” Making circles around my nipples with his fingers, he bites my earlobe, eliciting a soft moan from my mouth. I’m so sore, yet I’m again aroused. Fuck! “Now if you’re feeling out of the world, husband, spill it out,” I ask him in a serious tone, pushing away my sexual arousal to the side for a moment. “Huh?” “What was bothering you?” Upon hearing my words, his body stiffens behind me and his fingers stop moving. “Tell me.” I urge, clasping his hands. “I got to know about the kidnapper of our daughter
Grace’s P.O.V. Twins are sleeping in their nursery, and I stand in front of the mirror, wiping off my makeup after a photoshoot. Closing my eyes as I spray the toner, I feel warm arms wrapping around me. I don’t need to open my eyes to know who is it because I have already recognised the touch. It’s my man. My husband. Steve. He buries his face in my neck, tightening his grip around my waist. My brows furrow in worry because he seems tense. I can feel it. I immediately open my eyes and meet his gaze through the mirror. “Are you alright, baby?” He looks back at me in the mirror, moving away from me. “I’m fine. Just work stress. Need a warm bath.” He hurries to the bathroom and shuts the door. I’ve never seen him so stressed about work before. I’m certain there’s something else bothering him. And I know very well how to get him to open up and relax. A mischievous glint appears in my eyes as I ponder my plan. I pull off my dress in a jiffy before entering the bathroom. S
Jace’s P.O.V. I can no longer conceal the truth from Steve, the truth that has shattered my life. Perhaps he understands and doesn’t take any action. "I didn’t do this," I finally speak up. “What? Then what the bracelet—” “Zara did this.” As I reveal, his grip on my collar loosens and his expression shifts to one of confusion. “So you were protecting her?” He asks, walking towards my room. “Where is she?” "Steve, I can explain," I plead, grabbing his arm to stop him. He pushes me away, seething in anger. “You can’t protect her anymore, Jace,” he yells. “She committed a crime.” “Steve, please listen to me.” He is about to take a step towards my room, but stops, listening to my words. “Zara isn’t fine.” “What do you mean?” Steve turns towards me, his brows narrowed in confusion. It's time for me to lay bare the truth, to reveal the pain and struggles that Zara has been facing. Only then can Steve truly understand the situation. “Zara was pregnant with a baby girl al
“She’s alright, Steve,” Grace murmurs, resting her head on my shoulder. “The doctor has confirmed it.” “I know, but I still can’t stop myself from worrying about her. She was away from us for a month, Grace,” I respond, constantly checking Giana’s forehead, hand, and every inch of her body to make sure that she isn’t hurt. Grace and I sit on the bed, Giana nestled in my lap, while Evan sleeps nearby. It’s been hours since we reunited with our daughter. It feels surreal, almost too good to be true. How did Giana end up here, alone and unharmed? And why did the kidnapper choose to return her now, after all this time? Grace brushes a stray lock of hair away from Giana’s forehead. “I understand, Steve. It’s been a harrowing ordeal for all of us, but the important thing is that she’s back now, safe and sound.” “I just can’t help but think something isn’t right,” I respond, my gaze fixed on Giana’s peaceful face as she sleeps soundly in my lap. “Why would the kidnapper leave her at o
Two weeks later, Evan is peacefully sleeping, lying on my chest, while I’m lost in my little daughter’s precious memories. I miss the way she used to kick her tiny legs while I converse with her and the way her innocent blue eyes look at me. Will I ever be able to experience this again? Grace is seated on the sofa and engrossed in seeing our family photo album, tears trickling down her cheeks. It hurts to see her so upset. One month has passed since Giana went missing, and each day feels like an eternity without her. Despite our best efforts and tireless searching, there’s been no sign of our daughter. We’ve followed every lead, contacted every authority, and appealed to the public for help, but Giana is still nowhere to be found. It’s like she’s vanished into thin air, swallowed by the darkness. Evan continues to search for his sister, calling out her name with hope and sadness that tears our souls. We do our best to reassure him, promising that Giana will come back soon, bu
Steve’s P.O.V. Grace and I are returning home after our unsuccessful mission. She’s fallen asleep, her head resting on my chest, silent tears slipping from her closed eyes. I hold her closer, my gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the car window. Today, she fought like a warrior to get back our daughter, but fate had other plans for us. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that the monster was playing mind games with us. He hadn’t actually kidnapped our daughter; he was merely toying with our emotions to get to Grace. A part of me wanted Grace to kill him on the spot, but it wasn’t enough. I want that bastard to suffer every day until his last breath for the pain he inflicted on my wife over the years. His actions have left scars on her soul that may never fully heal. And today, he committed one more sin by lying to us and making us feel vulnerable. When he demanded Grace to strip before him, I nearly lost control, ready to storm in and beat the life out of him. But
As I park my car outside the under-construction building, my heart thumps with fright, and my breath becomes heavy. I’m about to confront my childhood nightmare once again, and I pray I don’t falter. Breath in. Breath out. You’re strong, and you know that, Grace. You’re no longer the weak girl. Now you have the strength to face monsters like him. After encouraging myself, I step out of the car, taking a deep breath. The cold air sends shivers down my spine as I approach the building. With every step, my heart pounds in my chest. But I can’t let fear consume me. I’m not the scared child I once was. I have grown stronger, braver, and more resilient. Today, I’m not just fighting for myself; I’m fighting for my daughter, my family, for everything that matters to me. As I step inside, finally, I come face to face with the man who stole my daughter from me and has haunted my nightmares for years. He sits on the sofa, puffing on his cigarette. As his gaze falls on me, his lips cur