Lena's eyes locked onto Grayson's, her voice trembling, barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you away like that. I...I made a mistake." Grayson's cold laughter cut through the air, sharp and unforgiving. He closed the space between them, his towering presence suffocating. "A mistake?" His voice was low, dangerous. "No, Lena. Dropping a glass is a mistake. What you did..." He leaned closer, his breath brushing against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "That was a choice." Lena flinched, her chest tightening. "I didn't know. .." "You knew exactly what you were doing," he interrupted, his tone like ice. He tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his piercing gaze. "And now you're here, begging for something. What is it this time? Redemption? Love?" His lips curled into a cruel smirk. "Don't insult me." "I don't want anything from you," Lena shot back, though her voice faltered under his scrutiny. Grayson laughed softly, the sound mocking. "You always want something, Lena. What is it now?" His voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "A second chance to ruin me?" Her heart pounded in her chest, her words stuck in her throat. Lena watched him, her stomach twisting. The man before her was powerful, untouchable...everything she had once dreamed of. And now, she feared she had lost him forever. *** Lena made a choice, a selfish, cold decision she thought was best for her future. She married Grayson, a struggling man she believed she could manipulate to secure her family's fortune. But once the deal was sealed, she cast him aside without remorse. Later, regret weighed heavily on her heart. Grayson, the man she thought she'd discarded, has returned, but he's no longer the desperate man she once knew. He's powerful, ruthless, and unrecognizable. And worse? He's made it clear he wants nothing to do with her. Now, Lena must decide how far she's willing to go to mend what she broke. But Grayson's world has no room for second chances, or does it? Why did Lena suddenly want him back? Is it love, guilt, or something far more dangerous? And will Grayson forgive her, or destroy her?
Chapter 1 Lost In Thoughts
The pen Lena held trembled in her hands as she sat on the kitchen table, the dim light casted a faint shadow over the dirvoce papers spread out before her.
She found it hard to breath as she weight of her decision pressed down on her chest. She used her free hand to rub her temples as she set down the pen she held earlier.
Lena had spent the last one hour and thirty minutes staring at the dirvoce papers, reading through the jargons stated on it that she barely understood. The only thing she understood was that if she signed it, it would be the end of her marriage. Why now? When she was finally becoming happy with him?
She glanced through the papers again, the words blurry in her eyes. Could she really do this?
Slowly, her eyes drifted to the wall clock. It was almost eight PM and Grayson was yet to come home. He had called her earlier telling her that the restaurant was busier than usual.
She imagined him there, sleeves rolled up, his hands dusted with flour, focused and determined. That image of him was one of the first things she'd fallen for, back when she thought falling wasn't part of her plan.
But the plan had changed.
Her phone buzzed on the table, the screen flashing with a single message:
'You know what's at stake. Don't make me remind you!'
Lena's stomach churned, her hands curling into fists. She locked the phone, shoving it face-down on the table as if that would silence the persistent fear that had followed her for weeks. She couldn't crumble now.
The faint sound of the front door creaking open pulled Lena's attention. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, accompanied by the soft rustle of a bag being placed on the floor.
"Lena?" Grayson called out, warmth evidence in his calm voice.
Her breath hitched. She quickly folded the divorce papers and slid them into a drawer before standing. "I'm in here." she replied lowly but loud enough for him to hear her.
Grayson appeared in the doorway a moment later, his dark hair slightly mussed, his shirt wrinkled from a long day. He looked tired but still managed a small smile when his eyes landed on her.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, dropping his keys onto the counter. "Things got crazy tonight." He said giving her a quick kiss on her forehead.
"It's okay," Lena replied, her voice quieter than she intended.
He stepped closer, his brow furrowing as he studied her face. "You've been waiting up for me, haven't you?" He asked with raised brows.
"No," she quickly lied.
Grayson looked like he didn't believe her but he decided not to push the situation any further.
"You look like something's on your mind. What's going on?" He asked quietly as he leaned against the counter.
Lena swallowed hard, fiddling with her hands. She wanted to tell him everything, to finally unburden herself of the truth. But the words wouldn't come. She forced herself to look away, her gaze landing on the darkened window instead.
"Nothing. Just tired," she lied again.
Grayson frowned. "You've been saying that a lot lately. Did something happen?" He asked moving closer towards her and holding her hands.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I'm fine." she said, stylishly removing her hands from his which Grayson didn't fail to notice.
"I'll be going to bed now." Lena said, making her way out of the kitchen.
Grayson nodded slowly as he stared at her retreating figure wondering what the problem might be. Was there a problem in her company? What could be bothering her? He thought.
Reaching the room they shared, Lena laid down on the edge of the bed and faced the wall. She couldn't bring herself to sleep as different thoughts ran through her mind.
Telling Grayson would only put him in more danger, maybe this was for the best. When she heard the sound of the room door creaking open, she quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
When she knew that Grayson had entered the bathroom, she slowly opened her eyes and turned to glance at the bathroom door. She sighed, turning back to her former position.
Who would she run to for help right now? Was her decision the best? She was clouded in her thoughts that she didn't notice when Grayson came out of the bathroom till he laid down beside her.
Lena stiffened for a moment as she knew what his next actions would be. As if on cue, Grayson held her by her waist and pulled her closer to him, till he was now hugging her.
He leaned closer into her neck as he sniffed in her scent. Lena wasn't surprised, Grayson had been doing so since they got married. On a normal day, Lena would have turned around and hugged him, but now, she couldn't stop the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks.
Soon, she felt his soft breath on her skin. He must have been so tired to have fallen asleep so easily, Lena thought.
She tried to move away from his hold, but his hands were firm against her waist as if he was scared that she'd run away. Lena sighed quietly, knowing that if she tried anymore that he'd wake up from his sleep, and she didn't want that.
Lena turned around on the bed to face Grayson, careful not to wake him up. She stared at his handsome face and her eyes slowly moved down to his lips that looked inviting, she was tempted to kiss his lips, but she didn't, she just kept staring at his face.
Her heart clenched in hurt at her thoughts. Was she really going to be making this wrong decision? Yes, she knew that it was a wrong decision, but what choice did she have? It was the final straw, she couldn't take it anymore!
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