Taking a warm shower , she came out of the bathroom ...steam clouded behind her and all her mood went down the drain when she found him in the room. .as if he had been waiting for her to come out.

Towel wrapped around her hair , her face turned stern at the way he smiled . .

"You forgot to take this."

She glanced at his palm. He had the rectangular box sitting on his palm.

"I'll pay for it. I'm not taking it for free."

He didn't like it and it showed on his handsome face.

"You're taking this way too far , Grace." His voice dipped low.

"If you won't let me pay , I'm not taking it. Give it to anyone on streets." Her voice was cut throat.

"How about my ... wife?" He smirked , amusement in his eyes.

He said it so suddenly she didn't have a decent come back and the towel had slipped off her hair , it was laying on her shoulder . .the wet hair made his eyes dark with. .

She didn't want to know .

"Hey! You guys coming?!" Astrid peeked in , breaking the moment.

Ethan gave her a withering look and went out of the room , leaving a puzzled Astrid behind.

"Does he follow every single girl like that?" Grace's voice came from from a pit.

Astrid grinned , revealing her braces.

"No way. . you're judging him and that's no goodie . He loves jesting." Astrid shrugged her shoulders.

Jesting? ,Grace thought in bitter humour , ruining a life is fun for him?

×××××××

Reclining on the chair , the windows of his room opened. .his blue eyes bored in the moon that was full and . . arrogant.

Like him.

Taking a deep swig of the cigarette , he kept staring at the moon until it transformed into. .her.

Damn!

He heard her laughing with Hailey , saw her brown eyes twinkle with mirth. .her natural beauty popped out even more and he kept watching her from a corner . . knowing well she would stop if she saw him. .

She had to be a witch. .she had to be or otherwise it simply wasn't possible for a guy like him to fall so suddenly and so heedlessly. . .he could feel the spark of possessiveness already making itself known. .

There just was no way he could lose her to anyone else. .

She was his.

×××××××××

"Watch it."

Grace looked over at Van who had a bemused smile on his face , she was picking an apple from the basket on the dinner table and she didn't understand him until. .

She saw him coming.

Whistling to himself and setting his heavy gaze on her from a far. .dressed to impress. .his footsteps slowed down and Van hid his smile knowing well he was caught in the cross fire.

"Well look who it is . .out from hibernation." He teased , his eyes sparking up at seeing her nearly drop the apple in her hand.

So used to his hatred for her , it wasn't easy to bath in his shower of attention. .it just made her do something stupid like how she nearly dropped the ripe apple.

Grace simply ignored him.

"What did you do?" Van asked him directly.

Ethan still didn't glance at him , his eyes trained on her.

"Nothing . . .I wish I did something though." His voice was low but she heard it.

"I-Hailey needs me." She rushed , her cheeks stained with his heated looks and she dashed for the stairs , leaving her heart behind.

Van saw the smile on his face slip and his cheerfulness dimmed down when she vanished upstairs.

"She's going to be my wife. I don't care how and when."

All Van could do was say she already is in his heart.

×××××××

"Van calling you." Hailey said she she entered the room.

She was reading a horror novel and sat up , placing the book on the bedside table.

"Why?"

"No idea." Hailey said in a careless manner and begin to collect her clothes strewn across the carpet. It annoyed her now organized Grace was.

"Oh and he said to get in the car ." Hailey raised her finger when Grace opened her mouth ," also don't be late. Specific instructions." Hailey winked.

Puzzled , Grace got out of the bed and begin to make her way to the porch.

Just what did he want to talk about. .

She couldn't help but wonder and reaching the porch , she could definitely spot his car . . maybe he was already in.

She knew Ethan drove the white one and this wasn't. . .white.

Grace walked towards the car and to her amazement , the passenger door sprung open. . inviting her in.

Without taking a look in , she slipped in the car and the door got shut. Grace turned at him.

"Are we going some. . .," The words died on the tip of her tongue when she noticed who it was.

Ethan , with his stupidly handsome face . .Ethan.

And he was grinning at her. . blinding her with his signature smile. .

"Yes , I know I'm hot. Keep staring though, " his voice got low. .like a whisper.

Grace backed away.

"How dare you-,"

"What? How dare I do what? Open the door for you?" He raised a thick eyebrow but Grace wasn't having any of it. Her hand found the handle and she begin to pull when his hand shot out and wrapped around her arm, freezing her right there!

"Listen , I know we began on a rough patch but please I want you to hear me out. I don't know why you-,"

"Get your hand off of me." She rasped , her face at the window.

Immediately , he let her go.

"I'm sorry alright? Shit! I have never apologized to anyone this much. All I'm asking is a chance to hear me out, that's it." His voice held a silent plea and . .it did it.

Her shoulders slumped.

He saw that and took a breath of relief.

"Don't think I'm doing this for you. I want to get this over with." She said in a cold voice and he nodded , starting the car.

Getting the car out and on the road , he glanced her way .

"I'm all ears."

"Stop hounding me."

He was silent for a few seconds , driving around aimlessly.

"I can't. That's the thing. .I can't. I told you I love y-,"

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Appalled at his confession , she couldn't help but burn from insides.

So easy.

It was was easy for him to throw it her way.

"You are married." She reminded him.

Darkness fell over his sharp features ,"I'm not. It was something I was forced to do. It's not like I had sex with her-,"

She raised her hand , signaling him to shut up and it didn't set well with him.

"Why not meet her? Why not see her?"

"I don't find her worthy of that." He said it in a cold voice , twisting the dagger deep in her heart.

In seconds her beautiful face resembled a wilting rose , she felt bare. Stripped to her soul at his words.

"Why are you so interested in her anyways? ...it doesn't matter. What matter is I want to be with you. Every single day and-Grace? Are you alright?" He had glanced her way and her face had gone pale. .

Grace had clenched her fists and was in another land his voice couldn't reach. Yes , she had fell for his face when she saw him first , had loved him when his father showed her his picture . .and indeed he was the kind to conquer anyone that he wanted .

She looked at him and the look in her eyes had his insides twisted . . .all he could see was hatred in them. .for him.

"Sadly , my love isn't for sale. .like yours." She smiled and it cut him deep.

The poison in his heart sped up until his temples begin to throb , his anger unleashed at his insides . . burning everything. For her to reject him. .a complete ten on ten man. .it was a pill he couldn't swallow.

Pursuing his lips in a tight line , he sped up the car and nearly thrice Grace would have hit her face against the dashboard if she didn't took heed. His face had such an intense look , she kept quiet until they reached back home.

Getting out of the car , he didn't wait for her.

And slammed the door shut.

On her face.

××××××××

A/N

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