Chapter 102 Hard Truths
Quinn's POV
Grayson placed his foot on mine and held me in his arms. "Quinny, there's something I want to tell you."
I lifted my head from his chest. "Don't tell me it's bad news."
"It might upset you a lot."
My curiosity growing, I shifted my position so I could see both of Grayson's eyes. "What is it?"
"I know this isn't the right time. But I think you should hear it."
I stroked his cheek. Grayson didn't usually like small talk like this, but now he was doing it. And that made me very curious. "Just say it. Please don't make me even more curious."
Grayson took a deep breath. "Actually, my mother has been looking for information about you."
Oh, okay, that was quite surprising news. "Then?"
"I don't mean recently, but a long time ago. I don't know exactly when, but when you had that incident at the old flat, she already knew that I had a relationship with you." He then sighed. "I think that's why she invited Kelly to come back to this city. And at that dinner, she tried to fulfill her wish to bring Kelly and me together."
I remember the night Grayson was referring to. That night was truly tense and terrifying for me. If Grayson had arrived even a little later, my fate would have been different and I might not be here with him now.
But his explanation still didn't answer why he knew I was at the old flat at that time. "Then, how did you know where I was?" I asked curiously.
Grayson suddenly pulled me closer again, burying my head in his chest. "You might be very disappointed and furious after hearing the reason. You also have the right to hate her. But please, don't ever leave me because of this. I beg you."
Oh, I had a bad feeling about what Grayson was saying.
"At first, I thought it was just a normal threat, and I flatly refused her request. But I was wrong. Mom... she sent those people to harass you. They were sent by my mom because she didn't want me to choose you over Kelly."
Oh, so that's why I had a bad feeling. But what Mrs. Talon did was really outrageous.
She... indirectly wanted to ruin me so Grayson would hate me. That way, after Grayson hated me, she could push Kelly to come in.
Oh my gosh, I can't imagine what else she would do if Kelly's secret hadn't been exposed. She might have done something even worse than sending some men to my flat to harass me.
I just don't understand why she hates humans so much, especially me. Even though we are both women, she had the heart to do that.
I'm really upset. I'm disappointed and mad. What Mrs. Talon did is no longer a threat but a planned criminal act.
"She really went too far. That's how she is. She can be the most dangerous person. That's why I tried to hide you before, including not introducing you to her when we met at the hospital that time. But even though I hid you, she found a way to hurt you.”
I just didn’t know how to respond. On one hand, Mrs. Talon’s actions were unforgivable, but on the other hand, if I showed my anger toward her in front of Grayson, I was afraid it would hurt him.
After all, Mrs. Talon is his mother. Just like I would be mad if someone insulted my mother, even though she had the heart to leave me and Dylan when we were little, that's probably how Grayson would react.
Grayson buried his head in my shoulder. "You have the right to forgive her or not. You can also hate her. I won't interfere in this matter. It's your right, Quinn. My job is just to tell you the truth before you hear it from someone else."
I understood Grayson's point perfectly. He just didn't want me to get hurt even more if I heard the truth from someone else.
That was true. I might not only be more hurt but also angrier if I heard it from someone else because it would mean Grayson was trying to make everything okay just to keep me by his side, when, in reality, the situation is worse.
Although hearing it was painful enough, it would be even more suffocating if I found out later, when my relationship with Mrs. Talon had already improved.
I shook my head in response to Grayson. “I’m sad, Gray Bear. It turns out I’m that low in your mother’s eyes. What makes it even sadder is that it’s the truth because our lives are so different. You're like the sky and I'm a small river that's hard to flow."
"Hey, no. Don't put yourself down like that. What I'm talking about now is my mother's mistake, not because I want to clarify the gap between us. I don't care about that, really. I only care that you love me and I love you too."
Now my enthusiasm to approach Mrs. Talon has evaporated. I don't even feel like giving her the gift I brought for her anymore.
I don't know how long she will continue to treat me like this. What is clear is that it will probably last a long time until I give up.
But there is one thing Mrs. Talon must know, I will not give up on this relationship so easily. No matter how big the storm is and how many people want to ruin it, I will do everything I can to keep this relationship going. As long as Grayson loves me, I think it will be fine.
"I'm sorry for telling you now, Quinny." Grayson rubbed his chin against my shoulder. "I was trying to find the right time, but that only made the truth stay hidden longer. So I guess now is the time to let you know."
I wiped the tears from my eyes. I returned Grayson's hug just as tightly. "There's nothing wrong with you. You didn't know it was coming either. But you did your best to save me."
I tried to steady my breathing so it wouldn't race. "I think I need time to process all this too. I need to think about what to do next. This is a difficult decision for me to make, Grayson. So I hope you understand."
Grayson nodded. "I understand completely. I won't force you if you can't see my mother the same way anymore. I feel the same way, I'm upset with her."