The hospital room was quiet, save for the faint hum of machines monitoring Miss Giselle's fragile condition. Grace stood by her mother's bedside, her hand resting lightly on the older woman's frail fingers. The reunion had been bittersweet, filled with relief and lingering worry.
Aries lingered near the doorway, his presence unobtrusive yet steady. He had intended to leave, but Miss Giselle's soft voice stopped him in his tracks.
"You," she called, her voice weak but insistent. "Come here."
Aries hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, his movements careful and deliberate. Grace's cheeks flushed as her mother's gaze shifted between them, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.
"Are you Grace's boyfriend?" Miss Giselle asked, her tone teasing despite her fragile state.
Grace's face turned crimson. "Mom, don't do this," she protested, her voice filled with embarrassment. "Come on!"
Aries didn't answer. He simply smiled—a quiet, enigmatic expression that revealed nothing yet carried a weight of its own.
Miss Giselle's smile faded slightly, replaced by an expression of quiet urgency. "I don't know if you're her boyfriend or her friend," she said softly, her voice trembling. "But take her. Run away far from here. Save her."
The words hung heavily in the air, their meaning clear yet unspoken. Grace's heart clenched as she watched her mother's breathing grow uneven, her chest rising and falling in erratic bursts.
"Mom!" Grace cried, panic flooding her voice as Miss Giselle's excitement spiraled into instability. The doctors rushed in, their movements swift and practiced as they worked to stabilize her condition. Grace stepped back, her hands trembling as she watched helplessly.
When the situation was finally under control, Grace turned to Aries, her voice shaky but tinged with humor. "Don't take her words seriously," she said, forcing a weak smile. "She's ill, so cut her some slack."
Aries didn't respond immediately, his gaze lingering on Miss Giselle's pale face. Finally, he nodded, his expression unreadable.
After much persuasion, Grace reluctantly agreed to let Aries drive her home. She climbed into the passenger seat, her movements hesitant as she cast quick glances around, half-expecting trouble to appear out of nowhere.
But trouble didn't wait long. As Grace was about to step into the car, a hand grabbed her arm and yanked her back. The sharp sting of a slap followed, the force of it leaving her stunned.
Her father, RobertVale, stood before her, his face twisted in anger. "Who is this man?" he demanded, his voice cold and cutting. "You never fail to disappoint me. You are a failure."
Grace's heart sank, her cheeks burning with shame as her father's words cut through her like a blade.
"I'm here planning to make you a queen," Robert continued, his tone dripping with disdain. "But you insist on becoming a maid, it seems."
He turned to his secretary, his voice sharp and commanding. "Take care of him."
The secretary stepped forward, his hand reaching for Aries's collar. But before he could make contact, Aries spoke, his voice calm but firm.
"Miss Vivianne sent me to drop Miss Grace off at her home," he said evenly. "I'm just following her orders. If you don't like it, I can tell her that—"
Robert froze, his entire demeanor shifting in an instant. The anger in his eyes was replaced by a practiced kindness, the kind of false charm he reserved for public appearances.
"Ah," he said smoothly, his tone suddenly warm. "Miss Vivianne, you say? Very well, then."
He turned back to Grace, his expression softening as he raised his hand again. Grace flinched instinctively, her eyes squeezing shut as she braced for another blow.
But instead of striking her, Robert placed his palm gently on top of her head. "You've become close to her, it seems," he said, his voice deceptively kind. "Good, good. Very good, girl."
Grace's stomach churned with shame as her father turned to Aries, offering a polite smile. "I apologize for the misunderstanding," he said smoothly. "Please, drop her off at our home."
The car ride was silent, the weight of the encounter pressing heavily on Grace's chest. She stared out of the window, her hands clenched tightly in her lap as she tried to push the shame aside.
Suddenly, the car stopped. Grace turned to Aries, confusion flickering across her face as he shifted in his seat to face her.
"Was it your father?" Aries asked, his voice low but steady.
Grace hesitated, her gaze dropping to her lap. "Yes," she admitted quietly.
"Does he raise his hand on you like this often?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and unrelenting. Grace looked up at him, her breath catching as she met his gaze.
The look in Aries's eyes was fierce, a storm of anger, irritation, and disgust swirling within them. But beneath the fury was something deeper—something raw and unspoken. It was as if someone had crossed his heart, leaving behind a wound that refused to heal.
Grace should have been scared. The intensity in his gaze was enough to make anyone shiver. But she wasn't. She didn't know why, but the fire in his eyes didn't frighten her.
Instead, it left her wondering—why did he care so much?