Chapter 3
When dawn broke, Sebastian woke up. When he realized that he was still holding Gracie's hand, his face twisted in disgust. He jerked his hand away as if he were shaking off something dirty.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
Gracie's hand hit the edge of the bed when he shoved it away, and the pain made her gasp. She didn't complain. She just stood up and apologized quietly, "I'm sorry. I'll leave."
As she reached the door, she heard him say coldly from behind, "Forget about what happened last night."
"Okay," she replied.
After that, she never went near him again when he was drunk.
Three years went by. She never got his heart. All she got was the news that Joan was coming back.
*****
The day Joan came back, the snow was coming down hard.
Gracie sat alone in the room she rented, staring out the window at the snow filling the sky.
She lived in a run-down building. It was a tiny apartment, 320 square feet, for 300 dollars a month.
There was no heat in the room. She wrapped herself in a thick blanket on the bed, holding something warm in her hands, yet her feet were still cold.
The day she left Brooks Manor, she only had a suitcase with her and 800 dollars left in her account.
It was everything she had saved over three years, the monthly allowance Sebastian had given her, which she had never touched until then.
After coming back from the hospital, she hesitated over whether to tell him about the pregnancy, but she had no way to contact him.
After three years of being married, she didn't even have his phone number. How ridiculous.
The only number she had was for Aaron, the assistant who handled her expenses under Sebastian's order.
Her phone rang from a number she didn't recognize. She picked up, and a soft woman's voice came through. "Is this Gracie Brooks?"
"Yes. May I ask who's calling?" she replied.
"I'm Joan Evans. Would you be free to meet up?" Joan asked.
Gracie froze.
Joan asked to meet her at a fancy café.
Gracie didn't want to go, but she was curious about the woman Sebastian had never gotten over for five years.
She put on her best outfit. It was a black coat she'd snagged on sale for 100 dollars. After looking at herself in the mirror, she decided to change out of the faded sweater she had been wearing.
It wasn't about competing. She simply didn't want to embarrass herself.
*****
The café sat in one of the busiest parts of downtown, bathed in warm light with soft music playing, filled with well-dressed women.
Gracie walked in, gave Joan Evans's name to the staff, and was shown to a seat by the window.
Joan was already there. She wore a white cashmere coat, her long hair loose over her shoulders, her makeup refined, everything about her polished and elegant.
When she saw Gracie, she smiled, stood up, and reached out her hand. "Hello, Mrs. Brooks."
Gracie shook her hand. It felt cool and soft, with barely any grip.
"Is there something you wanted to talk about, Ms. Evans?" Gracie asked.
"Please, sit." Joan gestured for her to sit, then called over a waiter. "What would you like to drink?"
"Just water, please," Gracie said.
Joan ordered two coffees, then stared at Gracie with a soft, almost patronizing look.
She said, "Mrs. Brooks, I know you're Sebastian's wife. I wanted to apologize to you."
Gracie was caught off guard.
"You've probably heard about Sebastian and me," Joan said softly, lowering her head, her voice tinged with sadness. "I didn't leave for no reason.
"My father was deep in debt, and if I hadn't left, Sebastian would have been caught up in it, too. I thought about him every day while I was abroad. Now that the debts are paid off, I can finally come back."
She looked up, her eyes rimmed with tears. "Sebastian is married now. I feel so sorry. Mrs. Brooks, don't worry. I won't get in the way. I just want him to know I'm sorry."
Gracie didn't say a word.
The coffee arrived. Joan stirred it slowly with her spoon, every move polished and careful.
"Mrs. Brooks, how did you and Sebastian meet?" she asked.
Gracie paused for a moment before replying, "It was a setup; our families introduced us."
"A setup?" Joan chuckled, the contempt barely hidden. "Sebastian actually went on a blind date? He actually went along with that. He always said he hated things that felt staged."
"Is that so?" Gracie replied, her voice cool.
"He looks indifferent, but he's actually thoughtful." Joan went on. "When we were together, he took care of me. He remembered what I liked to eat, even kept track of my period and every anniversary.
"One year on my birthday, he booked out the entire revolving restaurant and put on fireworks for me."
As Joan spoke, her voice trembled. "Sorry, I shouldn't be talking about all this. Hope you don't mind, Mrs. Brooks."
Gracie took a sip of water. It was icy, the cold settling heavily in her stomach.
"Ms. Evans," she said, setting the glass down. "Whatever happened between you and Sebastian is none of my business. I'm leaving anyway."
Joan was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"We're already divorced," Gracie said, standing up. "I've signed the papers. Once he signs, it's officially over.
"Ms. Evans, you don't have to test me, and you don't need to put on this show. Sebastian was always yours. He never belonged to me, not even once."
She picked up her bag, ready to leave.
Joan suddenly said, "You're pregnant, aren't you?"
Gracie froze in her tracks.
"Don't be surprised. I've got friends at the hospital," Joan said, walking over to her.
The warmth in her expression was gone, replaced by something cold and mocking. "Gracie, did you think you could hide it from me?"
Gracie stared at her, her heart racing.
"Relax. I won't tell Sebastian," Joan said, her smile gorgeous but chilling. "I'm here to remind you not to waste your energy on something pointless.
"Sebastian only cares about me. Even if you have his baby, he won't even look at you. Have you thought about what will happen to your kid then?"
Gracie clenched the strap of her bag.
"Mrs. Brooks, I'm saying this for your own good." Joan patted her shoulder, her tone turning gentle again. "You're young and pretty. Having a kid will only make things harder. You might want to decide sooner."
Gracie met her gaze. They were beautiful eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, full of practiced charm, but for a split second, something cold and predatory flickered within them.