XXXVIII

Holloway walked briskly toward Grace's house, his fists clenched at his sides. The morning air grazed his face with a biting chill, but it was the heat of guilt and determination that truly drove him forward. He vividly remembered his uncle Ryder's last words on his deathbed. " Take care of our lord, Simon. Do whatever it takes to restore the happiness he lost. " That promise had followed him for years, like a shadow that lingered in every corner of the mansion.

And now, all that weight fell squarely on him.

Since he began serving Marcus, he had tried to help him in every way possible, often failing more than succeeding, but never had he seen the marquis so utterly broken. He couldn't just stand by and watch his lord fall apart again. He needed to speak with Grace, to tell her the truth, even if it was the last thing he did.

As he approached the house, fear began to build in his stomach. His breathing grew heavy, but Holloway knew he couldn't falter now. He raised his hand and knocked firmly on the door, knowing that what came next could change everything. Seconds passed, stretching into what felt like an eternity, until the door opened with a sharp creak.

Miss Kranst, Grace's maid, looked at him with cold disdain from the threshold.

"What do you want?" she asked bluntly, crossing her arms.

Simon lowered his gaze in respect, offering a small bow. He had learned to be humble in moments like this, especially when he knew the situation wasn't in his favor.

"Good morning, ma'am. I've come to speak with Lady Grace, if possible," he said firmly, though inside, he trembled.

Lesly didn't move a muscle. She eyed him for a few more seconds before, with a swift gesture, slamming the door shut without a word.

Holloway stood frozen for a moment. The rejection hit him like a punch to the gut. He lowered his head, defeated, and took a step back. But just as he was about to leave, the door creaked open again.

Grace stood there in the doorway, looking at him with tired eyes, though without the hostility he had found in the maid. There was something in her expression—a mixture of confusion and exhaustion. She didn't say a word, just watched him, as if waiting for him to take the first step.

Simon bowed his head again, deeper this time, before looking up and mustering all the sincerity he could.

"Lady Grace, I come to you with honesty. My name is Simon Holloway. I'm the nephew of the butler you knew, Ryder." He paused, hoping for some reaction, but she remained silent, her lips pressed tightly together. "I've come because there is something I need to tell you. Something you deserve to know."

Simon waited a few moments, gauging her response. Seeing that she remained quiet, he gathered his courage and continued.

"From the moment I took my uncle's place, I've watched as a noble, stern, and determined man hid his suffering behind closed doors." Simon took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Lord Westlin has not been the same since you left. He became a shadow, destroyed by regret, and these last ten years have been nothing but torture for him."

Grace's eyes stayed fixed on the young man, but there was a slight change in her expression. Though her face remained impassive, her lips trembled, as if she were holding something back.

"I've heard his laments at night. When he returned to the house, drunk, because he couldn't find where you were, he would cry, clutching a lilac handkerchief he keeps as if it were the last thing he had left of you." Simon looked down for a second, not able to see the impact his words were having on her. "Every night, every damn day for the past years, I've seen how my lord has sunk deeper into his remorse. And I know it doesn't excuse what he did, but you need to know that he hasn't had a moment's peace since you left."

Grace blinked rapidly, her breathing quickened, but she still didn't speak.

"When he received a visit from Mr. Donald Walter, the man who told him the truth... it was as if something broke inside him." Simon swallowed hard, his hands shaking a little, though he couldn't stop now. "Knowing that you weren't guilty, that he had made the biggest mistake of his life, it destroyed him. He didn't know how to face you, how to fix what he had done."

Grace, unable to hide the tension in her body, crossed her arms over her chest, as if trying to shield herself from the words Holloway was saying. But she didn't stop him.

"From the moment he learned where you were, his world became chaos." Simon's voice broke slightly, but he wouldn't let his emotions win. "It was my stupid idea to hide his identity. I thought if he came to you as Lord Haspirin, maybe... maybe you'd give him a chance. The mask, the cane, pretending to be frail... it was all my doing. I'm the one who came up with the plan, and my lord went along with it because he was terrified. He's scared of losing you again, Lady Grace."

The final confession dropped like a stone in the air.

The silence that followed was thick, unbearable. Grace lowered her gaze for the first time, as though the young man's words were too heavy to process all at once. The lilac handkerchief ... such a small detail, and yet, that simple memory pierced her in a way she hadn't expected.

Simon didn't know if he should keep talking, if he had said too much, or if there was more he needed to say, but he felt as though he had laid himself bare emotionally. All that was left was to wait.

"I'm sorry," he said finally, his voice softer and gentler. "If my lord has failed to show you the truth, it's because of me. I'm the one who led him into this. Everything he's done has been out of love."

The seconds stretched, as if time had slowed. Simon stood there, his body tense, waiting for any response from Grace. His heart pounded in his chest, the waiting eating him up inside.

Finally, Grace raised her eyes. They were filled with a mix of emotions that Holloway couldn't fully decipher.

"Thank you for telling me the truth," she said, her voice shaky but steady. It wasn't a rejection, but it wasn't forgiveness either. "Take care on your way back."

Simon nodded, unable to find any more words. He turned slowly and walked away from the house. When he heard the soft click of the door closing behind him, he let out a long, deep sigh. He knew that what he had said didn't guarantee anything, but at least now, she knew the truth.

Inside the house, Grace remained standing by the closed door. She leaned her back against the cold wood and, no longer able to hold back, brought her hands to her chest, trying to calm the frantic beating of her heart. Simon's words swirled in her mind, breaking down the walls she had built over so many years.

The lilac handkerchief... the sleepless nights... Marcus's pain ... it all haunted her now. Everything the loyal butler had said pierced her soul, but she still couldn't bring herself to forgive him.