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
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
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
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
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
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
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
GraceSeb’s little face fills my phone screen. I watch him for a moment, my heart weighing heavy in my chest. His eyes light up, and he grins so wide that I forget to breathe for a second.“ Mom! Look, I built a tower! ” He tilts the camera to show a wobbly stack of blocks leaning dangerously to one side.I smile, warmth spreading through my cold body. “ That’s amazing, baby. You have gotten good at this. ”He looks back at the screen with a proud, toothy grin. “ I wish you were here to play with me, Mommy. When…will you come back? ”My throat tightens, but I keep the smile in place. “ I miss you too, baby. I will be home soon. I promise. ”“ Sebastian. Eat your fruits. ” Mom’s voice sounds from behind him.Seb glances offscreen, distracted by her. “ Granma made snacks! I will be right back, Mommy! ”“ Go ahead. ” I keep the smile on my lips as he looks at me a last time.He disappears before I can say another word, the screen wobbling until a familiar face takes his place.“ Grace… ”
EthanI don’t like seeing her like this. Like a fragile doll that might break any moment, or a ghost that might disappear and slip from my hold before I can even hold her. For a moment, I want to tell her that she just has to ask me to stop, and I will. I will not let my men fight Tristin, who is running wild like a dog, and I will make sure this incident is kept a secret. I can do that. Only if she asks, I will do anything.But she doesn’t say anything. She just stands there like a statue, staring at the floor while the chaos ensues outside the doors. The man outside who is learning these new ways of destruction is old money. He doesn’t do messy things. He is restrained by the chains of extended family, of legacy.And I…I am just free.Everything I built, I did it on my own. I have always done things the messy, dirty way. I have no restraints and nothing to stop me if I just decide to go berserk.Yet, he has come to do things my way, believing he can win in this stupidity. If he
GraceSmoke.Thick, black, unforgiving smoke coils through the air outside the window, as if the sky itself has caught fire. My palms press against the cold glass, eyes wide, heart hammering violently inside my chest.Something exploded. The cars in the distance are on fire. But that’s not the only thing burning.The guards at the front gates are down. Some of them are moving, crawling, others are eerily still. Flames lick the edges of the outer wall. The scent of blood and burning wood reaches me even from behind closed windows. My breath catches in my throat.He has lost his mind. He is causing mayhem in broad daylight. My feet move without permission. I turn away from the window and pull open the door. The hallway is already in disarray. The maids are running. Some are shouting. It’s like a scene from a movie. My heartbeat escalates as another loud noise sounds in my ears. I flinch, frantically looking around.Just when I step forth, a maid collides with me. Ignoring the sting in
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