<b>Chapter 154 </b>
I frowned, how could she say such a thing about herself!
“<i>Gracie</i>! That’s not tru-”
“I used to be humbled<i>, </i><i>weak</i><i>, </i><i>desperate </i>for love from <i>people </i><i>who </i><i>never </i>once showed <i>me </i>an ounce of love and care. <b>I </b>willing to degrade <i>myself </i><i>for </i>them, <i>tire </i><i>myself</i>, make <i>myself </i><i>sick </i><i>if </i><i>it </i><i>meant </i><i>helping </i><i>them</i>.”
Her eyes began to water as she continued.
<i>“</i><i>I </i><i>was </i><i>willing </i>to sacrifice everything about <i>myself </i><i>and </i><i>all </i><i>that </i><i>my </i><i>mother </i><i>taught </i><i>me </i>just to appease them. I was <b>even </b><i>willing </i>to <i>marry </i>a man that I didn’t love and <i>KNEW </i><i>didn’t </i><i>love </i>me <i>just </i>to make them <i>happy</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
I could feel my eyes darken at the thought of her marrying someone else, much less that Jonathan fool.
<i>“</i><i>And </i><i>for </i><i>what</i><i>…</i><i>all </i><i>for </i><i>a </i><i>family </i><i>that </i><i>di</i>-…<i>wouldn’t </i><i>care </i><i>if </i><i>I </i><i>were </i><i>even </i><i>caught </i><i>in </i><i>a </i><i>fire</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
She spoke with resolute and conviction as if she knew for a fact what she stated was true. I hadn’t got the full story on the Rochesters and Brooks yet. I had Tyler investigating in full detail for me, but based on what I’d learn from Gracie, I knew that family hurt her. They would surely pay for that!!!
<i>“</i><i>But </i><i>you’re </i>not <i>that </i><i>way </i><i>anymore</i><i>…</i><i>right</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
Gracie snapped her head in my direction, her face instantly beamed as a warm smile spread across her face.
“<i>Nope</i>! Because <i>now </i><i>I </i><i>have </i><i>an </i><i>amazing </i><i>family</i>…not to <i>mention</i>…
She leaned in closer as if to whisper.
<i>“</i>I’m <i>marrying </i><i>this </i><i>really </i><i>great </i><i>guy</i><i>…</i><i>kinda </i><i>cute </i><i>too</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
My face instantly turned red. It’s not like I wasn’t aware that women found me attractive, but Gracie saying it made me feel a way I had never felt. I instantly felt shy as she chuckled lightly.
<i>“</i><i>Well</i><i>, </i>it’s a <i>good </i><i>thing </i><i>your </i><i>fiancé </i><i>is </i>so <i>amazing</i><i>.</i>”
<i>“</i><i>Hmm</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
Iughed out loud at her nonchnt response. We spent the next two hours getting to know the basics of each other. I learned her favorite color was candy apple red. Her favorite music was ssical. Favorite foods consisted of what she was in the mood for. She loved sweets and romance novels. She had an appreciation for science and geography. She was perfect. Learning we had so much inmon made my heart feel like it would explode. Suddenly, I began to feel impatient, our wedding couldn’t get here soon enough.
As the evening grewter, I could tell she was getting tired but for some reason, she wouldn’t allow her body to rx. I decided to ask her if she would sleep in the bed with me.
“What!”
“I don’t mean anything inappropriate<i>! </i><i>It’s </i>just, <i>I </i>don’t <i>want </i>you to <i>sleep </i>on <i>that </i>chair.” <fnf30b> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find[F]ovel</fnf30b>
Gracie’s eyes widen but then rxed with hints ofpassion.
<i>“</i>I’m okay. <i>I </i>swear, <i>this </i>chair really <i>is </if-”
“Gracie…<i>I </i>won’t be able to sleep well knowing you’re not sleeping well<i>. </i>Please…can you get in the bed? <i>And </i>look, this bed
<i>is </irger than the average hospital bed and morefortable too. You’ll <i>have </i>plenty of space<i>.</i><i>” </i>
Gracie looked at me and then the bed as if she were pondering what to do. Finally, she let out a light sigh.
“You really won’t <i>be </i>able to sleep <i>unless </i><i>I </i><i>get </i><i>in </i><i>the </i><i>bed</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
I smiled brightly at my triumph.
“Not <i>a </i><i>wink</i>.”
Gracie raised her eyebrow in aughed with skepticism. Still, she stood up and made her way to the bed. Smiling, I scooted over so she could have room. I ce one of my pillows on her side and widen the nket. Sliding in the bed, she grinned.
<i>“</i><i>You </i><i>were </i><i>right</i><i>! </i><i>This </i>is <i>definitely </i><i>more </i><ifortable </i><i>than </i><i>your </i><i>average </i><i>hospital </i><i>bed</i><i>. </i>Is <i>this </i><i>memory </i><i>foam</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
Iughed as she pushed her fingers into the mattress. After gettingfortable, sheid back.
“<i>You </i><i>know</i>, <i>I’m </i><i>not even </i><i>sleepy</i>. <i>I’ll </i><i>probably </i><i>be </i><i>up </i><i>for </i><i>a </i><i>while</i>.<i>” </i>
Those were her final words for the evening because not even 30 minutester, Gracie was curled on her right side. Her head had found it’s way to my chest and she was snoring lightly. I smiled in triumph, d that she would finally get some rest. I waited for about an hour before I texted my mother, I needed to find out a few things.
<b>[</b><b>Mom</b>…<i>are </i><b><i>you </i></b><b><i>sleep</i></b><b><i>?</i></b><b><i>] </i></b>
<i>[</i><b><i>Nope</i></b><b><i>, </i></b><b><i>you’re </i></b><b><i>father </i></b><i>is </i><b><i>getting </i></b><b><i>some </i></b><i>work </i><b><i>done </i></b>in <i>his </i><b><i>study</i></b><b><i>. </i></b><b><i>Is </i></b><b><i>everything </i></b><b><i>okay</i></b><b><i>?</i></b><b><i>] </i></b>
<b><i>[</i></b><b><i>Yeah…</i></b><b><i>everything </i></b>is <b><i>fine</i></b><b>. </b><b>I </b><i>know </i>it’s <b><ite </i></b><b><i>but</i></b><b>…</b><b><i>could you </i></b><b><ie </i></b><b><i>back </i></b><b>to </b><b><i>the </i></b><b><i>hospital </i></b>for a <i>moment</i><b><i>…</i></b><b><i>I </i></b>need <b>to </b><i>talk </i><b><i>to </i></b><b><i>you</i></b><b>.</b><b>] </b>
<b>9:43 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>10 </b>
<b><i>[</i></b><i>On </i>the way<b>.</b><b>] </b>
I closed my phone and leaned back making sure Gracie was stillfortable as I waited for my mother.
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