Chapter 05
Ethan glanced at Gracie once more but she neglected him like she never saw him at all, he started feeling bad for everything he did that moment.
He should have done it but the deed is already done now, “Gracie please” He hurriedly walks to her front.
“I’m really sorry about everything please, I should have get angry and talks to them anyhow, I know it’s going to affect the family business yet I did it and I feel bad now”
Gracie looked down on him and tries to work away but he held onto her tightly, “please don’t leave like this just hear me out”
“See I promise I’m a changed person now, it’s never going to happen and I will keep my anger in control” He apologises over and over again.
Gracie on the other hand didn’t know what to say to him, she hurt and didn’t understand why Ethan had to go to such length.
The business would be affected badly even more than it is already with the two men he has made any enemy with and now she wonders how she’s supposed to fix it.
He’s just too much for someone who couldn’t afford anything and causing her trouble every now and then, it’s better to just divorce cause she’s really tired.
“Let’s just get divorced Ethan! I’m really tired of all this going on and probably once it’s out that I’m no longer with you I might have peace of mind” She said to him.
“How about we go for a couples therapist? Gracie you know how much I care about you please let’s not do this” He said before she could walk away.
“Whatever! It might not change my mind but I will if that’s what you want.” She replied and took the stairs.
He sighs and stands on his feet heading out, he’s thought of opening his studio today.
He hasn't been doing so much for the family after all like her mom will always say but he decided that he’s going to change that very soon.
Walking out of the mansion, he heads down to the gate striding down to the bus station.
He pays the bus with his wallet and takes his seat, ruminating about everything he realised that he had messed up and has kept his focus on something he shouldn’t have.
Few hours later,
He’s at his studio doing his paintings and customers are even patronising him than he had expected, his skills are really beautiful and some even think he’s some professional artist.
He’s drawing a portrait painting of his wife when she knocks on his sliding door, he quickly covers the painting and goes out to her.
“You didn’t know we were going to the therapist section?” She asks, looking down on his dress.
“Oh! Give me a few minutes I will be back” He said and entered the studio, A Few minutes later he’s back all cleaned up ready to go.
Gracie hands over the key to him and he drives them down to the therapist office.
They are right on time when they get there and so they get attended to immediately, sitting down before the gentle lady who slowly went through their files.
“Welcome to your therapy section,I’m Annie your therapist” She introduced herself before going further.
“Do you think divorce is the only solution right now? Mrs Jones?” The lady asks Gracie.
“Yes please, this is not going to work out anymore because it keeps getting worse each minute. Did he not think at all before doing things? Now I’m the one in mess' ' Gracie spilled out.
The therapist understands the fact that Gracie is not only hurt physically but emotionally too,going through their details she knows that marrying a poor man who has nothing to offer is mostly the worst.
“Mr Jones, You should try to understand your wife better, she’s trying her best to make things right but it seems you’re walking in the opposite direction” Annie says to him.
“Why don’t you give it time Mr jones? If after all this and you still want to divorce then you can go with it” Annie said to Gracie.
“Thank you!” She said and stood up on her feet heading out without waiting for Ethan, she’s not satisfied with the way it went one bit.
She felt like the therapist is making her the problem here and didn’t understand what Ethan had made her go through at all.
Ethan and the lady talk a few more minutes before he leaves her office, getting outside he discovers that she already left and takes another cab home.
Night at the Richard’s mansion,
Ethan walks to Gracie's room to call her out after preparing everything he planned down at the garden, he gives the door a few knocks and she opens up in no time.
“I want to show you something” He said plainly since he didn’t exactly know where to start from.
Gracie closed the door and opened back in a few minutes walking after him, the only reason she’s doing this is because of the credit report she saw earlier.
She didn’t know how he managed to do all that he did, he had got them more security and a man reported to him when she got home this evening that he would be his bodyguard.
He paid so much shares from the family responsibility not long ago too and she saw all the confirmation receipts on her phone since she’s the one who did all that before.
Getting to the garden he slowly takes her through the middle of the petals that he had displayed towards the table, the food smells delicious and she can’t wait to take her seat already.
She has know that he’s a good cook,
“Dine with me”Ethan said to her and she took her seat.
They both eat the food in silence, Ethan thinks he should have been doing this all along and believes he’s starting late if not too late for him.
He’s going to keep all issues apart and let her work come first without being a hindrance to it, if she still wants to divorce later then he will gladly respect her decision.
After they finished eating he brought out the beautiful painting he had drawn of her and showed it to her.
Gracie couldn’t utter a word but took the painting anyway, it’s really a beautiful piece.
To gain her trust and love back he’s not going to give up just yet but if that’s what she still wants at the end he’s going to give her that.
The two of them head back to the mansion holding hands while Gracie still has her own mixed feelings.
T.B.C
Chapter 06Ethan walks slowly to the door, he was expecting to see his mother in-law's fierce face staring down at him again and yelling at him.He frowned when Gracie stood by the door staring at him with some expression he can’t seem to understand.“Here” She said, bringing out a card from her bag, staring at him with a little smile.“Why would you give me this?” He frowned, unsure of what to say next exactly, he might not be rich but these days have been working for him well in his profession.“It’s my grandmother's birthday you know right? You can also get yourself some gift from it, the card contains just $50,000” She replied shortly.“You don’t have to do this Gracie, it’s bad enough that I can’t give you all what you want. Why give me this?” He felt bad for his incompetence already.He’s ready to change all that soon and make sure Gracie herself would be surprised and sees him in a new light soon.“I never said it’s for you, I said for my grandmother but just make sure you get
Chapter 07The noise outside the door keeps getting even more intense and Ethan knows he has to do something about it before they bring down the door.“Calm down ladies, I’m going to open the door now and see what they want from us” He said to them.Verena panicked and so did her friends, “They sound dangerous and I’m afraid” One of the girls said.“They are not going to do us anything okay?, I’m going to see to it” Ethan assured them and slowly reached others to the door knob.He didn’t want to cause any trouble besides what if it’s Gracie boss’s men that had traced him down here? He’s just going to be another reason why these girls would be in trouble.He opens the door and faces the hefty guys, they seem like just area boys hoodlum.He steps outside the house and faces them, “what do you guys want?” He asks them boldly without any fear.They are about six in number and look much taller and built than he is,he didn’t really care about all those things though.After all they might al
Chapter 08They finally get to the venue, Ethan finds a clear space and packs the car.He packs the car and they all get down while he went to the boot to bring out the gift he had prepared for Gracie’s grandmother.They inside the mansion all together, Ethan couldn’t help but marvel at the place structure.It seems more like a ball party, yet classics type just like his in-law would always do.It’s beautiful and everything is different, everyone at one table or the other drinking and chatting between themselves.He is stuck beside Gracie and they look for a spot together to take their seat, they finally get a table at the high table, where they are served drinks almost immediately.“What’s the gift you have prepared?” Gracie asked with her eyes glued on the flat thing he had wrapped up.She has been giving it thought and guessing what it could be but couldn’t find a thoughtful one that he could have brought.He won’t bring something that won't be worth it right? She had specifically
Chapter 09Ethan stand in his ground that his painting is the original whole Damon on the other believes he must be insane claiming his own is fake.“Ethan really? What is your agenda wanting to disgrace our family name and bring us shame now” Mrs Richard is already in their table.He really do not have anything to say the old man he just know that he’s never going to back down one bit, his painting his real and he knows how much he had put into it.The whole crowd keeps murmuring, the certainty that Ethan had brought a fake painting is very high, many of them already knows he has nothing.Where would he see money to get original painting? How could he claim that his paintings is real? “You really wants to disgrace us after almost bring down my daughter business right?”Mrs Richard starts getting annoyed the more, Ethan is doing just great and perfect in bringing down their family name.Gracie is confuse as hell, how could he be adamant that his painting is real? He could have just a
Chapter 10.A few days later.Gracie is in the living room when the doorbell rings. The door opens and a man steps in. He’s shrouded in a black shirt. The top buttons are open. His sleeves hug his huge biceps. His well-toned chest makes the shirt taut against his torso.His legs are in a pair of trousers.“It’s been a while.” He grins as his hands hold the edge of his pockets.Gracie looks up. Her mouth falls open and her eyebrows rise.The man was Alex. Her best friend since childhood. He stands there smiling at the shock on Gracie’s face.“Alex! Is it really you? This is a surprise.” She stands up and moves to embrace him.She hugs him tightly and rests her head on his shoulders. “I have missed you. You have no idea.” She coos as Alex pats her head and holds the small of her back. “I’m here now.” He replies.She eventually untangles herself from him. “Wow!” She exclaims as she takes in his appearance. “You really looking good. I guess you have a lot of ladies fawning over you.”
Chapter 11.“Calm yourself down!” Ethan cautions Gracie. His body is slick with sweat and blood. He places his fingers on Alex’s neck to check for a pulse. His countenance relaxes when he feels a pulse. Ethan proceeds to the other end of the ring. He sits down there and watches Alex closely.“Any minute now…” Ethan murmurs under his breath as he rests his head on the ring beams. Gracie kneels beside Alex, her face distraught with worry. “ I told you guys this wasn’t a good idea but your egos wouldn’t make you listen.”“Gracie…” Alex groans as he finally regains consciousness.“Look who decided to join us.” Ethan teases him with a sardonic smile. “You are pretty good. It’s not every day someone takes me out in a fight.” Alex replies groggily as he holds his head and sits up.He tries to stand up, “ I wouldn’t do that if I were you. At least not yet.” Ethan advises him.Gracie glares at Ethan as he walks away.“ I didn’t know your husband is such a good fighter. I wonder where he le
Chapter 12.A few days later. The sunlight streaks across the vast ocean of the blue sky heralding the dawn of a new day. The rays of the sun illuminate the room, giving it a golden hue. Ethan wakes up to see he is alone in the room.He gets up and goes to the window. Lines etch on his forehead as he stares out the window and runs his fingers delicately on the sill. “Ahh. The magnificence of sunrise.” He muses with a grin on his face. He watched with delight, the butterflies moving about poetically in search of their ambrosia. He smiles as the gleeful chirping of birds assaults his senses with pleasure. As long as he can remember, sunrise always held him spellbound. Moments later he goes out to the compound and takes in the ambience of the environment. He is with his sketchpad, brushes, and easel. He sets up the sketchpad on the easel and starts to paint. Painting has always been his retreat. When he paints, he lets go of everything that bothers him. It’s just him and his sketch
Chapter 13: Unspoken TensionsThe morning started with a stifling air that hung heavy in the house. Ethan woke up to a restless mind, the remnants of yesterday's skirmish with Alex swirling through his thoughts like a tempest. He could feel the ache in his muscles, reminders of the ferocious battle that took place on the balcony. As he stepped into the living area, he sensed an unspoken tension brewing.Gracie, sitting at the dining table, eyed him with a mix of irritation and concern. Her silence spoke volumes. The air was pregnant with unsaid words, and Ethan could almost taste the acrimony in the atmosphere."What?" Ethan muttered, trying to mask the discomfort that pricked at him. "Why are you staring?"Gracie's eyes narrowed, the intensity of her gaze slicing through the room. "I'm tired of this, Ethan. Tired of the constant tension between you and Alex. I can't deal with this anymore."He knew exactly what she meant. The cold war between him and Alex had reached a boiling point,