┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

Secret

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

Chapter 9: Secret (Grace's POV)

On our way back to the palace, I was constantly thinking about what stupidity I had just committed. Never, ever, had I told somebody the truth about what happened that day. But I remember it. I remember it vividly. 

"Atlas!" I yelled, still lisping over his name. He always bullied me about it and flicked my forehead. I huffed, whining and accepting my defeat. I couldn't find him. This game of hide and seek was too hard. I ran over to Ms. Bella, tugging at her dress. 

She stopped dusting the paintings and looked down at me, grinning. She crouched down, booping my nose. "Yes, my dear?" 

"Atlas!" 

She chuckled, "Backyard." 

I gasped, my eyes going wide. I held tighter onto the brown teddy bear I named Choco and started running out to the backyard. I didn't call out his name so I could sneak up on him. I ran to the gazebo, the only hiding spot but found it empty. "Huh," I frowned, pouting while looking around. I stood on the bench and looked closer by the lake. "Mommy?" I mumbled. "Mommy!" I yelled but she was too far to hear me. I watched as my father who was standing beside her, pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration and then began yelling at her. 

My mother shook her head persistently, arguing further with him. He gave her a hard push and my brows furrowed, my hold tightening on Choco. She slapped him. 

I gasped, quickly hopping off the bench and starting to run toward them. They always fight. "Mommy!" 

He gave her a hard push and she stumbled, falling down the slope of the grass and disappearing out of sight. 

"Mom—" I gasped as someone grabbed me and pulled me behind the bush, clamping a hand over my mouth. I stared wide-eyed at Atlas. 

"Shh!" he hissed. "Stay here." 

I grabbed his arm. "Don't go." 

"Grace, please stay here," he whispered. 

"No," I whined. 

He let out a frustrated sigh and grabbed my hand, pulling me with him. We crept over, watching from behind the grand oak tree that sheltered the gazebo. 

My eyes widened as I saw my mother lying on the grass. I could see her head bleeding. "Mommy hit her head," I whisper-yelled. 

"No," Atlas mumbled. "Dad hit her." 

I blinked in confusion, looking between him and my parents. I watched silently, my eyes burning with tears as my father tied a large stone down to my mother's ankles before pushing it into the river. It sunk lower and he lifted my mom, dropping her into the water. I began sobbing and Atlas clamped a hand over my mouth quickly, pulling me away. 

"Grace!" he hissed. 

I stared up at him, crying quietly. "Where did mommy go?" 

"We didn't see anything." 

I frowned in confusion, wiping my runny nose. "Where's mommy?" 

"We don't know. We don't know anything, okay? Uh, why don't you um—" He sniffled, wiping his cheeks with the back of his hands. "Go hide, okay? I'll come find you. Go! Quickly!" He gave me a push towards the palace and I glanced at the river before sprinting back inside, still not knowing where my mommy went. 

I found out the next morning when my dad brought home Judith who pulled me to a corner and said, "Your mommy's dead, okay? You'll call me mommy from now on. Understood?" 

"Hello?" 

I blinked, snapping out of my daze, and turned to look at Ronan. 

"We're here." 

I sighed, unbuckling my seatbelt and then climbing out. Over the course of lunch, I told Ronan this story. Every little detail. It felt like the right thing to do, considering he's here to keep me safe. I don't know if Judith would really be the person behind all this, but I wouldn't put it past her. Being honest with Ronan seemed like the best thing to do if I want to stay alive. So I told him everything. I shut the car door and began walking to the palace while he quickly locked the car, tossed the keys to the guard, and followed me. 

Before we could walk inside, I stopped abruptly, spinning to face him. He was walking fast and unlike the last few times, he crashed right into me. He sighed in frustration, rolling his eyes while I took a step back, hitting the door. He blinked down at me, not pulling away. "What?" 

"Don't tell anybody, please." 

"About what?" 

"About what I told you today. The only other person who knows is Atlas. We're the only witnesses." 

He processed. "Your father and his wife aren't aware that you know?" 

I shook my head softly. "They can't know. They could kill Atlas too. I can't put him in any danger." 

"Your life is on the line here and you're thinking about him?" 

"He's the only real family I have, do you expect me not to?" 

He stared at me, his eyes flickering between mine before he nodded hesitantly. "Fine. I won't tell anyone." 

"Thank you." The door opened all of a sudden and I lost my balance since I was leaning all my weight on it. Ronan caught my waist quickly and steadied me before pulling me to his side. I cleared my throat, looking down before lifting my eyes to meet my father, who was leaving to go somewhere with his guard, Mr. Joseph. 

He looked between us, his eyes stopping at me. "You're back." 

"Hmm," I nodded. 

"Lucas called. He wants to take you out to dinner." 

"I'll call him," I mumbled, stepping aside as he walked to his car and climbed in, Mr. Joseph drove for him. I sighed, letting my shoulders relax. 

"Grace." I tensed up immediately again at the sound of Judith's voice. "Why are you standing at the door? In or out, decide quickly." 

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and walked in with Ronan right behind me. 

"Did you choose a nice dress?" 

"In my opinion, yes," I sighed. 

"Good. What color is it?" 

"Red." 

She frowned. "A nice royal blue would have been better." 

"I know that's the color of your gown, that's why I didn't pick it," I shrugged. 

"It would have looked nice if we coordinated a bit more. Red and blue clash." 

"Why would we coordinate our dresses?" 

"I'm your mother," she scoffed. 

"No, you're not." 

Her eyes widened in surprise. 

It's been years since I brought up my real mom, it's practically forbidden. All her things are locked up, her pictures, her clothes, everything. It's all in the attic. I go there once in a while, to get a look at something or take it. It reminds me of her and it makes me feel close to her in a sense. 

"Excuse me, what did you just say?" 

"It's true, isn't it?" I lifted a brow. 

She stared at me in disbelief. "We agreed never to speak about that ever again." 

"Easy for you to say, isn't it?" I chuckled dryly. 

"Grace!" 

I felt a hand wrap around my wrist before I was being pulled away from her and toward the staircase. I stumbled a little on the staircase, throwing a glare over my shoulder at Judith. 

"Walk," Ronan gritted, yanking me closer. I huffed, following him upstairs until he stopped in front of my room, pushing me towards the door. "Get it together," he ordered. "You can't afford to challenge someone that's potentially trying to kill you right now." I rolled my eyes, leaning against the door and looking down the hall instead of looking at him. He sighed, leaning on the wall across from me and staring at me. "You know, you chose a very awful moment to snap at her," he scoffed. 

I rolled my eyes in response, turning to look at him. "Do I look like I care? I'm tired of it. She runs the whole damn show we call this family. I want out." 

"You don't get out, you're the princess of Astella." 

I clenched my fists and heaved out a breath. "I didn't ask to be," I gritted out. 

"No, but you are. So tough," he shrugged. "My job is to protect you, that includes making sure you don't do anything to get yourself in trouble. Go to your room." 

I laughed humorlessly, "I'm not a child and you are not my babysitter." 

"I thought we just established otherwise at the boutique, no?" He lifted a brow, mockingly. "You have to call your future husband anyway, do that." 

I let out another breath, closing my eyes and mumbling curses. "I hate you, I hate you so much," I exhaled before turning around and pushing the door open, slamming it shut behind me. I walked to my bed, grabbed a pillow, and let out a muffled scream in it. I was just lying on my bed when the phone rang. I answered it, moving it to my nightstand and sitting on the bed. "Hello?" 

"Grace." 

"Lucas." I rolled my eyes. 

"Would you be free tonight? For dinner?" 

I thought about it, I pictured sitting at a table with Lucas while Ronan stood like a stone wall somewhere near me. I actually shuddered. "Where did you have in mind?" 

"If you can't make it to Wildfell, shall I drop by?" 

"Let me double-check for you." I put the phone down, yelling, "Mr. Stone!" The door opened and he stood there, looking at me expectantly. "I need to leave for Wildfell." 

He frowned, "For what?" 

"Dinner with Lucas." 

He shook his head. I raised my eyebrows, picking up the phone so Lucas could hear whatever Ronan had to say. Ronan rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Wildfell is too far. The car ride would be too long, it's too risky to go without precautions. You can't go," he emphasized. 

I smiled, giving him a thumbs up and lifting the phone to my ear. "Sorry," I sighed, feigning disappointment. "I'm afraid I can't make it to Wildfell, Lucas." 

"I heard," he cleared his throat. "How about Le Lien?" 

I fell back on my bed, draping an arm over my eyes. "Le Lien?" I rolled onto my stomach, lifting my brows at Ronan. He shrugged, nodding slightly. I glowered at him while talking sweetly into the phone. "Sure. Eight o'clock?" 

"Eight is good. I hope to see you then. Bye." 

"Bye," I sang before hanging up the phone. I groaned, putting my head down on the pillow. 

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 9

Sorry I didn't update yesterday like I was meant to I just had a lot of school work to do

also, keep commenting guys pleaseee <33

next chapter: different 

it'll be the announcement ball just GUESS what's gonna happen

I think it's obvious but whatever lmao

also, I'll update Consumed later today as well