XLI

Grace's house was engulfed in an uncomfortable silence. Ten days had passed since Simon had told her everything about Marcus, but the uncertainty still weighed heavily on her chest. Holloway's words echoed in her mind like a distant refrain, bringing back memories she had tried to bury for years. As the sun set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Grace stared out, not truly seeing. The twilight painted the landscape with a melancholy air that reflected the state of her soul.

Each day since that revelation had been a struggle to maintain composure. The day would end, but her mind remained trapped in the emotional whirlwind that Marcus—the man she had tried to forget—had once again unleashed. And now, it wasn't just her heart at stake; Robert was involved too. Her son, her greatest reason for living, was also the unexpected link that tied her to the man who had caused her so much pain.

The sound of the door interrupted her thoughts, pulling her back to reality. Slowly, she turned to face the visitor, every movement weighed down by exhaustion and sleepless nights. When the door fully opened, she saw Lesly, her expression filled with concern. They didn't need words to understand each other. There was something in the air that said it all.

" Lady Grace… " the maid began softly, almost in a whisper, as if afraid of breaking something fragile in the air. " You can't go on like this. "

Without waiting for an invitation, Lesly entered and sat across from her. The trust and closeness they had always shared allowed her to act this way, knowing that, though Grace tried to hide it, she needed to be approached.

" I know it's been very difficult for you… " she began delicately. " And I know what you're thinking—that you can't forgive him. But, my lady, you can't keep living with this wall around your heart. "

Grace lowered her gaze, pressing her lips together in a gesture of restraint. Her emotions were a tangled mess inside her. She wanted to scream, to cry, but, most of all, she wanted to understand why, after all this time, Marcus had returned just to stir up everything she had tried to leave behind.

" It's not that easy, Lesly, " she murmured, her exhaustion palpable in every word. " He broke me in a way I can't forget. Everything I went through… I can't just ignore it. "

Miss Kranst took her hands in hers. It was a maternal gesture, almost like an older sister trying to protect Grace from herself. The softness in her voice contrasted with the harshness of the feelings her lady was carrying.

" I'm not asking you to forget, my lady, but remember the past. I was there when you cried at night after finding out you were pregnant. You felt lost because he wasn't by your side. I haven't forgotten how you waited every day for Lord Westlin to appear, how your heart broke a little more with each day that passed without news of him. "

Grace looked away, her throat tightening at the pain of those memories. It was true. Those first months of her pregnancy, when she thought her life was falling apart, had been some of the hardest she had ever lived through. Every morning she woke up hoping that Marcus would return, that he would understand everything had been a misunderstanding… but each day his absence confirmed the opposite.

" I thought I'd never see him again… " Grace whispered, her voice trembling, as if those memories were still too close to the surface.

Lesly didn't let go. Her eyes, full of deep understanding, met Grace's with determination.

" And yet, deep down… " Lesly paused, measuring her words carefully. " From the moment Lord Haspirin arrived, you knew it was him, didn't you? Your heart recognized him. "

Grace closed her eyes, letting Lesly's words sink deep inside her. There had always been that suspicion, that intuitive certainty she had denied for weeks. Why, then, hadn't she rejected him from the start? Why had she allowed him to get close to Robert? As always, Lesly was right. Grace had loved him so much that, deep down, she had wanted to believe it was him, even when reason told her it couldn't be.

" You've always loved him, my lady, " the maid insisted, her words softer but no less true. " And though you're filled with anger, that love is still there, waiting. You can't run from it. I'm not asking you to forgive him tonight… but you have the rest of your life to do so. "

Grace inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm brewing in her chest. She didn't want to admit it, but the idea that Marcus still loved her, and that perhaps he had changed, resonated deeply within her. Tears threatened to spill, but she held them back. She had cried too much for him already. Too much for a man who had taken more from her than he had ever given.

" I don't know if I can trust him again, " she murmured, her voice nearly breaking. " How can I be sure he won't break my heart all over again? "

Miss Kranst squeezed her hands tighter, as if trying to infuse her with courage.

" My lady, you know… deep down, you know Lord Westlin has changed. And if he's here now, it's because he can't live without you. " Lesly paused, studying Grace's face, searching for a crack in her defenses. " If I may speak frankly, Lady Grace… you've been running for too long. It's time to face what you truly feel. If he's told you he loves you, if he's come back to beg for your forgiveness… maybe you should give your heart what it longs for. "

Grace let out a shaky sigh. The silence that followed was almost tangible, laden with all the doubts, fears, and unfulfilled desires she had carried for years. Could she truly face Marcus? Could she allow herself to feel again? And if she did, wouldn't she be risking being hurt once more?

Finally, she nodded. It was a small gesture, but enough for Lesly to know she had broken through her fear.

" I need to see him, " Grace whispered, not meeting her eyes. " I need to talk to him. "

Lesly smiled softly, a glimmer of triumph in her eyes.

" Go. Follow your heart. "

With that, Grace knew there was no turning back. She knew she had to fight through her emotions, speak with Marcus, and confront everything she had avoided for so long. Slowly, she rose, with the determination of a woman who had suffered too much and could no longer afford to keep runnin