CHAPTER 68 - Hope or Stupidity

The door creaked open, and I froze, my heart immediately bracing itself for another intrusion. The day had been nothing short of overwhelming, and I was one unwelcome guest away from locking myself in this room for the rest of the evening. But when I saw Grace step in, a wave of relief washed over me, loosening the tension that had been coiling in my chest since morning.

“Grace,” I breathed, my shoulders slumping as I exhaled. “You came?!”

She smiled apologetically, her dark curls bouncing as she walked in and gently shut the door behind her. “I’m sorry I’m late. Traffic was a nightmare, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d even be able to sneak away from work tonight. But there was no way I was going to miss this.”

I motioned toward the chair by the window, grateful for her presence. “I thought you weren’t coming. I’ve been stuck here, trying to survive this... this circus Jayden calls a welcome party.”

Grace raised an eyebrow as she sat down. “Oh no. What’s he done now?”

I let out a dry laugh, leaning back against the plush cushions of the couch. “Everything. You saw it downstairs, didn’t you? The ridiculous balloon arches, the expensive catering, the musicians. It’s all just... too much. It’s suffocating. And the worst part is, he didn’t even ask me if I wanted any of it. He just decided, like he always does.”

Grace tilted her head, studying me as though trying to decide if she should pry further. “Sounds like you’ve had quite the day. I thought you knew about it, that's why I had to come even though Jayden sent a message late. He said you'd love me to be here”

“Quite the day? Try quite the year, about him inviting you,I didn’t even know they'd be a party” I muttered, folding my arms across my chest. “This marriage, Grace... it’s not what I thought it would be. It’s not what I agreed to. Jayden doesn’t seem to understand that I don’t need these grand gestures. I need something real. I need... I don’t even know what I need anymore.”

She didn’t interrupt, letting me spill the words that had been building inside me.

“Every time I think about the nine months left in this arrangement, I just feel... exhausted. Like, what’s the point? He’s trying so hard to build something with me, but it feels fake. Forced. And then there’s the other part…the part where I don’t know if I even have the energy to try anymore.”

Grace leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Have you told him any of this?”

I shook my head. “What’s the point? He won’t listen. Or worse, he’ll listen and then go off to do something even more extravagant to prove his fake love. Like throwing another party or buying me something I don’t need. It’s just... not what I want.”

Grace looked at me and for a moment, the room was quiet. The distant sound of laughter and music from downstairs drifted up, a reminder that life outside this small bubble was still moving forward, I could tell that she had ran out of advice or comfort.

And then we a faint creak outside the door.

I tensed, my eyes darting toward the sound. “Did you hear that?” I whispered.

Grace nodded, her gaze following mine. “Probably just someone passing by,” she said, her tone casual, but her body language mirrored my unease.

We waited for a moment, but when no one entered, I forced myself to relax. It was just the house, I told myself. Or one of the guests wandering the halls. Nothing to worry about.

Grace shifted in her seat, bringing the conversation back to where we’d left off. “Look, Daphne, I know this isn’t easy. But you’re stronger than you think. And whatever you decide to do…whether it’s fighting for this marriage or walking away when the time is up …I’ll support you. Always. ”

Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I felt my throat tighten. “Thank you, Grace,” I murmured, my voice thick with emotion.

Her eyes softened as she asked, “So, what do you want, Daph? For the rest of these nine months, I mean?”

The question hung in the air, heavier than I expected. What did I want? That was the problem. I didn’t know. I’d spent so much time trying to keep my head above water in this whirlwind of a marriage, not just any marriage, a contractual one, that I hadn’t stopped to figure out where I was swimming to.

“I don’t know,” I admitted after a long silence. “There are moments when I think...maybe there’s still something here. Something worth fighting for. But then there are days like today, when I feel like I’m just a puppet in his show. It’s exhausting, Grace. I’m tired of feeling like I’m the only one trying to make sense of this. And I hate to admit my love for him.”

She gave me a knowing look. “And the fact that you’re still thinking about whether there’s something worth fighting for…that means you haven’t given up completely.”

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t know if that’s hope or stupidity.”

Grace smiled faintly. “Maybe a little bit of both.”

“Girll it's weird that I still love Jayden after all this. I'm not even sure but my heart still has a little spark left for him."

She reached over, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Just take it one day at a time.”

I nodded, grateful for her presence, even if it

didn’t solve everything.

“Have you thought about Jade? What exactly do you want for her after these 9 months?" She asked.

I had never really thought about it until now.

“Honestly, I don't really know but I think… ughhh… I might have to stay a little till she's more mature before we divorce properly rather than leaving with her now. She has to know her roots.” I said.

" I know how difficult it is for you, but, I've got you.” She said and we just sat in silence for sometime.

Eventually, she stood, glancing at her watch. “I should get going. It’s late, and I’m sure Jade will be waking up soon.”

I walked her to the door, feeling a pang of sadness as she prepared to leave. “Thanks for coming. Really. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’ll figure it out,” she said with a wink. “You always do.”

She slipped out into the hallway, and I closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment. The quiet of the room enveloped me once more, but this time it felt heavier. The weight of the conversation, the uncertainty of my future…it all pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.

I returned to the couch, letting myself sink into the cushions. The sounds of the party had started to fade, signaling the end of the evening. I closed my eyes, trying to find some semblance of peace, but it eluded me.

The knock on the door came just as I was starting to drift off.

My heart skipped a beat, and I sat up, my pulse quickening. Before I could respond, the door opened, and Jayden stepped inside.

He didn’t say anything at first, just stood there, his hands in his pockets and a conflicted look on his face.

I stared at him, my stomach twisting into knots. “Jayden,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He took a step close

r, his gaze steady and unreadable.

And then, finally, he spoke.

“We need to talk.”