GraceHe wraps his arms around my knees and looks up at me, hoping for me to pick him up. He was gone for so long.I reach out with shaking hands and pick him up. He presses his face into my neck before I hear him sobbing against me. My knees give out from under me, making me drop in the middle of
Grace“ There are no traces of drugs in your system. ” Doctor Yvonne Smith, who is a woman in her 30s, sighs as she hands me the results.They have done everything as fast as possible, but now the results have come out opposite of what I was expecting.I stare at the report, and another suspicion st
GraceIt’s fine to see Tristin’s face, but what are those intense emotions?Ethan has moved on. Or that’s what he desperately wants me to believe. So why did he have that look in his eyes?I throw away the blankets and get out of bed. As I am passing by the mirror beside the door, I pause and look i
Grace“ I don’t know what you are talking about, Mrs. Roberto. ” Luca says, bringing my attention back to him.“ Do you expect me to believe Tristin has abandoned his old ways completely just to appease me? Or do you think I am blind and deaf? Or maybe…do you think I don’t know about the people you
GraceThe flashes of cameras explode around me. I sit still, my hands folded neatly in my lap, my back straight against the chair, though every muscle in my body feels stiff. The reporters fidget in their seats, their murmurs rising in volume as they hurl questions at me.“ Mrs. Roberto, what are y
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 go
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 rep
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
Grace“ There seems to be nothing wrong with her. ” The doctor announces in a nervous tone. I click my tongue and finally open my eyes to stare at the unfamiliar ceiling. The temperature in the room drops when the doctor’s face appears in my sight, and he frowns in confusion.“ You are right. ” I b
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 r
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
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
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 d
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 t
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.Sighi
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 di
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. ”