CHAPTER 003

Grace’s Point of View

Grace sat rigidly on the long charcoal table, her knees knocking together under the chair. The air conditioner made the air cold, yet her palms were still covered with sweat. She rubbed her finger and thumb together, attempting to soothe the wild throb of her heart. Believe in something like this, do you?

Her voice broke and then soared up to a sharp edge. There is no necessity to shout, Miss Grace, the bank manager answered, leaning back with his pen between his fingers. We are just offering you a choice. This is the only way out if you wish to save your farm and shop.

Grace gave a sharp breath and looked at the table. His words were not an option but a snare. For eight nights she had not slept, and all her plans had fallen before they were made. The check that she had been holding on to was gone in the hands of Mike, and she was helpless.

This time she was being proposed another so-called solution. Her voice was flat after a long pause. “Fine. I want to meet him.

”The manager nodded and indicated the assistant by the door. “Bring him in.” Grace rubbed her sore eyes and peeped down at her lap. She waited with her fingernails pressed into her palm. The silence was so great that she raised her head when the door creaked.

She paused in breath at the sight of the one who entered. “Mr. Vincent,” she whispered. The smile of the manager was thin. “Yes. Now you two may talk together.

Grace’s shoulders tensed. The manager looked at her once more. I would have you take his terms, Miss Grace. Mr. Vincent sat down opposite her and laid a red file in the middle of the table. His voice was smooth but firm. “I know you need money. I can help you.

But you have to sign what is in this file. Grace looked at it as though it would bite her. “What is it?” He pushed it closer. “A marriage contract. You will have your farm and shop when you marry my employer.

Grace froze. She looked, wishing she had misheard. “Marriage?“

Yes. Marry him, and all your debts vanish. The details are inside.” His face was smeared, and he was fussing at his cufflinks. The hands of Grace shook as she opened the file. Her eyes flew over the pages, and her chest contracted.

Am I not able to retain any relationship from my past? She read in a cracking voice. Her eyes flicked down, and she gaped. I have to appear to him each night? What is this?” She raised her eyes, and her cheeks flushed with anger. And this—he may have my body when he pleases, and I may not? Is this even human? Am I selling myself like some... some...Her words caught, her throat raw.

Mr. Vincent leant back in his chair. Her nostrils flared with grace. It is not my place to explain. It is not my business what happens between a husband and a wife. But you will save your home after you sign. You will save your family.”Grace struck the table with her palm.

The noise reverberated in the room. She shoved the file away.

“This is insane. I am not his wife. He must come himself, should he desire me to assent to this. I will not sign.”

She grabbed her bag and pushed her chair back, on the point of storming out. The voice of Mr. Vincent trailed her. My boss does not work the same way as others. Sign the papers, in case you care about the memory of your father. It is a good deal.

”She turned her stomach at his smirk. “This is not a deal. This is money and power being used to manipulate me. What is in it for him? What do you gain from this?” He did not answer. His eyes were down on the table and then up again to her with the same composed look.

Grace left the room, almost knocking over the bank manager. And, Miss Grace, do not forget to go. He shook his head and threw a napkin on the counter. The bank will shut your shop and farm to-morrow evening. Then your house will be auctioned off.

Grace’s knees weakened. “Auction? You will sell my house to pay the debt? One of them screamed, and his voice was furious. I am sorry; that is the way the bank is. I tried to help, but you would not. Grace bit her nails, and her eyes filled with tears. She pushed the napkin aside and walked out of the bank.

She was sitting in her truck and gazing at the small picture of her father that was above the dashboard. Her hands touched his smiling face, and the tears at last overflowed. “Daddy,” she whispered. “What do I do?” Her snivelling had filled the cabin till she caught a movement out of doors. She could see Mike running down the street through the mist of tears, two men in pursuit.

Her lips shook, and Grace shook her head. Grace’s chest caved in. It was worse than she imagined, in case Mike was in trouble with them. Blaise was standing at the shop door. “Grace! What happened? Did they give us more time?”

Mike was leaning on the wall, bleeding at the temple. She explained everything to her, Mr. Vincent, the red file, and the marriage contract. Blaise’s eyes went wide. “What? Are they insane?

”Grace wiped her face and left tears on her cheeks. “I do not know what to do. The bank will come tomorrow to the farm, they said. “This is impossible.” Blaise attracted her to him, but Grace could not stop crying. “Grace, listen to me. There has to be another way. Grace only shook her head. “I do not see one.” As Grace pulled herself home that evening, the weariness was pushing against her bones. She stepped inside and froze.

Her mother was held at knifepoint by two men. She gazed at it with a throbbing heart. She was seized by the hair and smashed to the ground before she could scream.

The slap of the man shook her head, and her cheek flushed. Here is the girl, sneered he, bending over her. His breath reeked of smoke. Grace tried to crawl away, but he drew her up by the arm .

“ Your brother stole from me. I want my money back.” His tongue was sliding along her neck, and she shuddered with disgust. She moaned with blood streaming down her lip.

Unless you can pay, I will sell you to my clients. A girl such as you would make plenty. His single cold eye glared at her.

Grace’s stomach lurched. She nodded weakly. “I will get the money. Please… I will return it.” He pushed her down to the floor. “Tomorrow. Have it ready. Either money or you.” She shivered at his smirk. His men laughed, and they moved out, leaving the room full of fear.

Grace scampered to Mike, with tears weeping down her face. “Mike!” His head was sobbed into her lap by her mother. “Grace, save my son. He is my only hope. ”Grace’s chest squeezed.

She needed the arms of her mother around her, yet all she heard was the cry of Mike. She bit her lips. “I will. I promise. ”In her room later, Grace tossed her bag on the bed. Something slipped and fell with a dull thud.

The red file. She picked up her phone and dialled Mr. Vincent. She took it up gradually and reopened it. Her eyes ran over the inhuman words—no previous affairs, his body at his will, complete submission.

Her thoughts blurred. None of it mattered anymore. This was the sole means of saving the farm of her father. The silence broke her voice. “Is this all I am worth? To sacrifice myself to retain what is his? Her mind replied in the most inhuman way: No one wants you. Grace closed her eyes. A drop of tears rolled down her cheek and dropped on the page.“ Fine,” she whispered.

She wrote her name with a shaking hand. The pen cut on the paper, and her destiny was determined. Grace dropped the phone, and her fingers shook. “Mr. Vincent,” her voice broke. “I signed it. Tell me what to do.” His reply was steady. “Tomorrow is your wedding.” You will get your papers tomorrow. “And my farm? My home?”

Grace dropped the phone, and her fingers shook. Her voice faltered. “One more thing… My brother is indebted to some bad men. Could you pay it? Please.” There was a pause. Then his answer came. “Done. See you tomorrow. At court.” The line went dead.

The phone dropped in the hands of Grace, who was trembling. Her wedding. Tomorrow. Was this the day she would redeem the memory of her father or the day she would lose herself forever?