Chapter 3

I sigh as I finish reading a chapter in The Notebook. I close the book to the sound of the front door opening up. My father and Dex walk in. I stand up from the couch as Luca sits up from the other couch where he was watching TV. Dex looks back at me and I look at him with a small smile. My eyes went to my father as he turned to me. I gulp as he narrows his eyes. I look down. "Grace?" Dex said. I look up at him to see him watching me. 

"Yes?" He holds out his hand. 

"Come here beautiful." I walk over to him and he wraps his arm around me. He places a kiss on my cheek and I let out a small smile. "How did your shopping go?" He asked. I clear my throat as I lift up my hand to show him the shiny 18-karat diamond ring with three diamonds. One big diamond and two small diamonds. It was very beautiful but extremely expensive. I look up at his face to see him smile. "I hope you didn't pick it based on the price?" I shake my head. 

"I wouldn't let her," Luca said as he walked in. Dex looks at him and back to me. 

"I love it on you." 

"Thank you," I breathe. He sighs. 

"Your father and I have some things we need to discuss. I will be up in my study if you need me, okay?" I nodded. 

"Yes." He places another kiss on my cheek. His arm drops and he walks around me. I glance at Father to see him watching me. His eyes drop to the ring and he sucks on his teeth. He turns around and follows Dex. I look at the ring and sigh. As soon as Father and Dex were out of sight, I took the ring off and looked at it while sitting back down. Luca sits next to me and looks at it. 

"It's a beautiful ring." I nod. 

"Yes, it is." 

"So what's the problem?" I look at him. 

"I am 25." He chuckles. 

"You are worried about marrying someone who is 10 years older than you?" I open my mouth to reply when I shut my mouth. I look at the ring and back at him. 

"Dex is 35?" He nods. I look at the ring. "Oh," 

"What is the problem?" He asked more concerned. 

"If I had a choice I wouldn't be marrying him." 

"But I thought things between you two were good?" I nod and look at him. 

"They are. But I barely know him. I didn't even know his age. I don't know his middle name or his favorite color. I am marrying a man I barely know. Dex is great and I'm sure once I get to know him better I'll like him but I don't think I'm ready to get married." He nods. 

"I understand. Just take it one day at a time. Right now he doesn't even have a date set. He is waiting on William to figure out the details of their deal and then it will be set. If you ask me I think William is hesitating on making the deal as if something better is going to pop up." I give him a confused look. 

"You think my father is going to back out of the deal at the last second?" He nods as he turns his head back to the TV. 

"William wouldn't be the first to try and pull one over on Dex." 

"What happened to the last person who tired?" 

"Well it was a different situation but he had the guy's daughter killed to prove a point." I take a deep breath. He looks back at me. "But like I said it was a different situation." I stand up and walk to the stairs. "Grace?" I turn and look at him. "You don't have to worry." I give him a small smile. 

"Right," I mumble and walk up the steps fast. I was about to walk into my room when I heard my father speak. 

"If I'm being honest, Dex, I don't think that Grace is the great choice for you. I have a niece you might like better. Grace is too disobedient. I would hate to have to make you work harder on your end." I swallow harshly as my throat goes dry. 

"I don't think I know what you mean, Will. Grace has been nothing but obedient. I don't think that your niece would be good. From what I hear Mason's daughter is a handful. Besides I like the fire that Grace has. She is the perfect bride." Father scuffs. 

"There is no such thing as perfect and if there was it isn't Grace." Dex hums. 

"I say otherwise. Think of it this way, I'm taking her off your hands. You don't want her and I happen to like where she is. The way I see it, it's a win, win." William lets out a dry laugh. 

"It's your funeral." The door opens and I look at Dex as he looks at me. Father was just now getting up. Dex turns to him and waits for him. I stand by the wall with my head down waiting for them to pass. "I will get back to you soon," Father says as he walks out the door. I watch him walk past me and he lets out a huff. I kept my eyes on him as he walks out the front door. A heavy way rolls off my chest and I let out a breath of air. 

"Grace?" I turned to Dex who was watching me. 

"I'm sorry," He shakes his head. 

"My business is not a secret to you. If you want to know I have no problem telling you. I told you I am blunt and honest." 

"As you can see my father doesn't find me important." He hums. 

"Actually from where I stand he does." I give him a confused look. "He tried to change the deal because he realized he could have gotten more for you if he asked for it. To your father, you are extremely valuable. He made sure of it when he laid his hands on you." I lick my dry lips as I let his words sink in. 

"Oh," He takes a deep breath. 

"Would you like to join me in my room for a movie?" I stand up and walk over to him as he holds open his bedroom door. I walk in and wait for him to come in. He shuts the door and walks over to his closet. I watch him as I sit on the edge of his bed. He takes off his shirt and tosses it in a basket. He lets out a sigh. He turns to walk to his dresser and I glance at his exposed chest. He had abs for days and muscle. I also noticed a few deep tissue scars. I sucked in a little gasp. He turns his head my way. "Are you okay? am I making you uncomfortable?" I shake my head and look back at his chest. 

"I was looking at your scars," I spoke honestly. He nods and looks at the ground for a second. 

"Let's just say I didn't come from a great childhood either. My father was an abusive alcoholic and I was his favorite chew toy." A wave of guilt rushed over me and I felt terrible for mentioning them. 

"I'm sorry," He looks at me with confusion. 

"Don't be. You were curious and you wanted to know. I don't have anything I need to hide from you. I'm not going to blame you for wanting to know." I take a deep breath.

"Why are you so certain that I am going to be here for much longer?" I asked looking away from him. When I didn't hear anything from him I turned back to him. 

"Because you are here already. Your father can try and play his games but one thing he didn't realize is the moment you walked through those doors you weren't leaving. Whether or not he was taking the deal you were mine. You aren't leaving unless I say otherwise." I nod slowly. 

"Okay," 

"I need to know what makes you so calm around me." I take a deep breath and stand up. I walked up to him and he watched me. I turned my back to him. 

"Can you unzip me?" I whisper. His hands slowly made their way to my dress and unzipped it. His hands moved the dress out of his view and I closed my eyes knowing what he saw. "My father got angry one night because of my mother walking out the door. He grabbed the first thing he saw and threw it against the wall. The shattering of the glass bottle made me jump from my spot on the couch. He looked at me and picked up a piece of the glass. I stayed in my place to not anger him anymore but I wasn't prepared for what he had planned. He cut my clothes off of my body and took what he wanted,"

"When he was done he took the broken glass and started from my stomach to my chest, over my shoulder, and down my back. He said when I see this scar it's a reminder that I am nothing but a toy for men to use and abuse when they see fit." He dragged his fingers across the scar for a moment and then zipped my dress back up. I look at him. "I was 15. Ever since that day he took what he wanted and left whatever marks he wanted. My mother didn't care because she was glad she didn't have to deal with his anger." 

"I am calm around you because as you said before he made sure I knew my place." His jaw locks and unlocks as if he were controlling his anger. I look away trying to avoid his eyes as he lets out a breath of air. 

"Will you sleep in here tonight?" I look back at him surprised. "I know I told you if you wanted you can sleep in the other room and you are still welcome to but I would like it if you slept in here." I searched his eyes and nodded. 

"Okay," He shakes his head.

"Don't say okay. I only want you in here if you want to be." I give him a small smile. 

"Dex, you are the first man to ever show me kindness and respect. If I didn't want to be in here I wouldn't be. I trust you more than I probably should." He smiles. 

"Would you like me to walk out for you to get dressed?" I shake my head. 

"I've gotten used to having people watch me change. Besides this is your room and we are getting married." He nods. 

"Okay," I let out a small laugh and turn my back to him once again.

"Will you unzip me again?" He chuckles and does it. I walk over to my closet and let my dress drop. I put it in the basket and look at the closet hanging up. A hand goes on my waist and I jump a little. I look at Dex who gives me a small smile. 

"Would you like to wear one of my t-shirts to bed?" I smile. 

"I thought you rich people don't like that?" He chuckles. 

"I may be rich but I sure as hell don't act like it. Besides you are free to do as you please." I roll my eyes. 

"With boundaries of course?" He nods. 

"Yes," I nod. 

"Okay," He hands me one of his t-shirts.