XXXIX

The days dragged on with an exasperating slowness. Each dawn brought more doubts, more questions that Grace found herself unable to answer. It had been a little over a week since Simon had told her everything, and each day since had been a constant battle to find some peace amidst the emotional chaos in which she was engulfed. His confession had left her with more questions than answers. And Marcus… Marcus remained an enigma, impossible to decipher.

That morning, when she woke up, she realized she could no longer avoid the inevitable. The truth was there, knocking on the doors of her mind every time she tried to sleep. She couldn't keep running from what she knew deep in her heart. She couldn't keep postponing this conversation. Marcus had to explain himself, and this time, she would not accept evasions. There would be no more secrets, no more lies.

With each step toward the marquis's house, her heart pounded harder. She was nervous, but resolute. After everything she had been through, she wasn't afraid of facing him. Her son, her future, her life… everything was at stake. She needed to understand, once and for all, what Marcus intended and what his return truly meant.

When she arrived at the house, Simon greeted her with his usual anxious expression. He knew that Grace's arrival was something his master had been waiting for, but the intensity in her gaze made it clear that this would not be an easy situation.

"Can I help you with anything, Lady Grace?" he asked, trying to hide his unease.

Grace looked at him firmly, her voice unwavering.

"I need to see your lord."

Holloway nodded quickly. Without saying anything more, he led her to the parlor where Westlin usually spent his mornings. When they reached the door, the butler hesitated for a moment before opening it, almost as if he knew a storm was about to break.

"If you'll excuse me, I think it's best I leave you both alone," he murmured before quickly retreating, leaving Grace standing in the doorway.

Marcus was standing by the window, his hands pressed against the glass. The soft sunlight filtering through the curtains outlined his silhouette. He didn't turn when he heard her enter, but his breathing grew slower, heavier, as if he were preparing himself for what he knew was coming.

Grace stepped forward, her eyes fixed on him. It had been so long since she had seen him so vulnerable that the image unsettled her. This wasn't the same Marcus she remembered. Something in him had changed, and that change was so palpable it almost hurt.

Finally, Westlin broke the silence.

"Grace." His voice was low, barely a whisper, but it carried a weight she couldn't ignore.

She didn't respond immediately. The silence between them was thick, heavy, like a rope about to snap. When she spoke, it was with a firmness that surprised even her.

"I need answers, Marcus," she said without hesitation. "This time, I want to hear everything. No masks, no lies."

Marcus pressed his lips together, unable to meet her eyes. He had known this moment would come, but nothing had prepared him for the impact of standing before her. He knew he couldn't hide any longer.

"You're right," he finally admitted, his voice cracking. "I owe you the truth… all of it. I can't keep hiding."

He took a step toward her but stopped, keeping a respectful distance. His eyes reflected the anguish of a man who had held on to a secret for far too long.

"I don't know if what I'm going to say will change anything," he continued, his voice trembling slightly, "but you need to know. You need to understand, for your sake… for ours."

Grace remained still, her gaze locked on him. Every word that came from Marcus's mouth was like a dagger that cut deeper into her heart, but she said nothing. She knew she had to listen.

Westlin began pacing the room, as if the memories he was about to unearth were too heavy to bear standing still.

"Ten years ago," he began, his voice tense and filled with pain, "I made the greatest mistake of my life by believing you were an imposter, a liar. I was blinded by my thirst for revenge, and the only person I could target was you. You became, without knowing it, a threat to my family's honor, and I wanted you to pay for it. But I was wrong… and I realized it too late."

Grace watched him without blinking. She wanted to interrupt, wanted to scream at him that she already knew, that she had lived through every one of those days firsthand, but she held back. She knew she had to listen, had to let him confess what he had kept hidden for so long.

Westlin paused for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"I hated you every second you were by my side because you made me forget my purpose. Maybe that hatred grew as I got to know you better and saw your kindness. That… terrified me. I began to love you, Grace. Silently, without even realizing it. I refused to admit I had fallen in love with you, and only when you escaped did I understand my feelings."

Grace closed her eyes, the pain of those days overwhelming her chest once again. The memories of her time as Marcus's prisoner were still vivid, the scars had not fully healed. But as he spoke, something within her began to waver.

" When you fled… " Marcus swallowed hard, " I knew I had lost you. And not just you... I lost the only chance I had to find something real in my life. For ten years, I've carried that weight. Every night, I searched for you in my dreams, and every morning, I cursed you for not being there. And I never... I never asked for your forgiveness. "

Grace pressed her lips together. His words were painful, but there was something disarming in them. She knew he was being sincere, but that sincerity only deepened her own internal conflict.

" Why now? " she asked, not lifting her gaze. " Why come back after all this time and hide behind a false name? If you truly wanted redemption, why didn't you tell the truth from the beginning? "

Marcus raised his head, his eyes filled with desperation.

" I didn't know how to face you, " he admitted with a bitter laugh. " I didn't know how to confront you, how to say everything I'd been holding inside for years. Holloway thought that if I presented myself differently, if I appeared weak, maybe... maybe you'd listen to me. But it was a mistake. Another mistake. I shouldn't have hidden anything from you. "

Silence fell between them again, this time heavier and more oppressive. Grace struggled with her own thoughts. How could she forgive him? And worse, how could she trust him again after everything that had happened?

" You can't just come here and say that you love me, " she finally said, her voice trembling. " You can't expect that after ten years, everything will be fixed with those words. It's not that simple, Marcus. "

Westlin looked at her, his eyes filled with a sadness he couldn't hide.

" I'm not asking you to forgive me right now, " he said, his voice breaking with suffering. " I'm just asking for a chance. A chance to show you I can be better. That I'm a different man. I can't change the past, but I can... I can try to make amends. If you'll let me. "

The silence that followed was unbearable. Grace stood still, watching him. Her heart was torn between pain and something else, something she wasn't ready to admit. The echo of Marcus's words rang in her mind, but she still didn't know if she could believe him. After all, how do you forgive someone who has broken your heart?

" I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive you, " she whispered at last, without looking at him.

Westlin nodded, knowing that was a real possibility. There were no guarantees. He had crossed the line too many times to expect Grace to trust him again. But even so, he had to try. He couldn't give up.

" I'll wait for you, " he said softly, almost in a whisper, hoping she would hear him.

Grace didn't respond. She took a step back and, without saying another word, walked out of the room. He watched her leave, knowing this was the beginning of the end, yet still holding on to a small spark of hope.