Chapter 74 Twenty Six Days Ahead with Him
Quinn's POV
I was about to chase after Grayson, but Dylan held my hand. “How about it? Now you realize you actually like him?”
I widened my eyes. I mean, how did he know? It’s not that I wasn’t aware of my own feelings, I just tried to suppress them so they wouldn’t weaken me.
“I know you like Grayson, Quinn. Your eyes can’t lie,” he said again.
“Know-it-all,” I retorted. Anyway, I didn’t want Dylan to know how I felt about the man who’d been driving me crazy for the past few days.
"You can deny it. But I'll still believe you like Grayson."
I quickly shut Dylan up. “Don’t just blurt things out. He might hear you.”
“That means I’m right,” he said confidently.
I stomped my foot in frustration. “Be quiet, please. Don’t start rumors that will make your sister even more cornered.”
“Isn’t it better if he knows?”
I didn't think so. I thought that if Grayson knew, it would make him even more confident to do anything to me. I don't know, I can't trust men that easily anymore. I'm too afraid of being disappointed again.
"The point is, I don't want you to discuss this anymore, Dylan. If Grayson tells you about his feelings, then that's his business, not mine. The most important thing is that you don't say anything about my feelings for him. That's my business."
I took over Dylan’s wheelchair, intending to help him stand up. However, it turned out he could stand even though one of his hands was holding onto me.
“Can you walk?” I asked, disbelieving.
"I'm just weak, I can still walk," he replied. He then let go of my arm and walked while holding onto the edge of things. "Don't you wanna go downstairs? We have to say goodbye to him before we leave and before he finishes preparing food for the two of us."
Oh my gosh, Dylan, if he weren't my brother, I would have pushed him down the stairs. It felt like I was going crazy dealing with two men like them.
“Grayson,” I called out when I reached the kitchen.
“Yeah? Oh, where’s Dylan?”
“He’s in the living room.”
“Alright. Please wait a moment, I’ll make a simple meal for us to eat.”
“No need.”
Grayson put down the knife in his hand and turned to me. “Aren’t you hungry? Alright, then I’ll just make two portions.”
“No need to make one for Dylan either. We’re leaving now.”
That was when Grayson ran off with the apron still tied around his waist. “Quinn, I know the decision is yours. But can’t you wait until tomorrow to leave? It’s already nighttime, and you don’t even know where you’ll stay. Instead of wandering around out there, it’s better to stay here for a few more hours.”
I shook my head. “I can’t stay after what happened today.”
“There are plenty of rooms. You can choose one for yourself and Dylan.”
“Grayson, you don’t understand,” I said wearily.
Grayson blinked. “Then how about you stay here, and I’ll reduce your penalty debt?”
Honestly, I didn't expect Grayson to think like that. It's not that I'm money-minded, but I think the option he offered this time is better and more beneficial for me.
But I couldn't just agree right away because that would only make Grayson feel like he'd won again. So I made up another excuse. "I can't just agree to that. I have to ask Dylan."
Grayson raised his chin and looked behind me. “He’s behind you.”
When I turned around, sure enough, Dylan was there. Oh my god, that kid, he really wanted to set me up with Grayson. I don't know what he was thinking.
“I think we should accept the offer, Quinn. That way, your debt will gradually decrease. Besides, wouldn’t you be better off?”
I felt like stuffing Dylan’s mouth with the bread Grayson had just cut. But instead of doing that, I could only sigh. “Okay. So how much will you pay?”
“1,000 dollars. So from 130,000 dollars, your debt will be reduced to 129,000 dollars.”
“What? That’s way too cheap. I’m not having it.”
Dylan and Grayson both stared blankly. But then Grayson cleared his throat.
“Alright. 5,000 dollars. That’s the nightly rate. If you want to pay off your debt, you can stay here for up to 26 days.”
Oh, this time I’m sure Grayson is taking advantage of the situation. He must have deliberately made this offer because he knows I can’t refuse.
I mean, who would refuse 130,000 dollars that could be earned in 26 days?
“What do you say? Do you agree?”
I glanced at Dylan. He shrugged.
Honestly, I was confused. If I accepted the offer, it meant I would have to stay here for almost a month. If I refused, I didn't know where to take Dylan. At the very least, I needed time until I got my first paycheck before I could rent a place to live again.
“You can make your decision tomorrow. But tonight, your decision can’t be changed,” Grayson said.
Dylan, whom I wanted to ask for help, immediately left, winking at me. So now it was just me and Grayson in this familiar kitchen.
Grayson extended his hand, pointing to the dining table. “You can sit there. I’ll continue what I’m doing.” He then went back to making something, I don’t know what.
This moment gave me déjà vu. It reminded me of when Grayson also cooked for me when I was unconscious and feverish back then.
Honestly, Grayson does have a good side, but sometimes his words make that good side disappear. And it’s only in moments like this that the good side reappears.
“I’m so glad you didn’t end up leaving,” he said, without turning around, still busy with his activities.
I just watched him from behind as he moved around busily.
“I didn’t expect to become the backburner either. So you can laugh at me.”
Honestly, I’d been doing it all along, but in my heart.
“I’m also very grateful to Dylan because he helped our relationship improve.”
“Thank him, not me,” I finally replied.
“Already. When I calmed him down, I thanked him directly.”
“Then?”
"I just want you to know that Dylan isn't really mad at you. He might be upset, but he knows he made you mad too. So he considers it even."
“I slapped him if you forgot. And that was the first time I ever did it,” I explained.
"He said that too. But he realizes you didn't do it on purpose." Grayson then turned away. "So please forgive him and don't be mad at him anymore. I think he was just trying to help his sister.”
I sighed and looked away. Actually, my heart was beating very fast when I saw Grayson. "Never mind, I don't want to talk about it." I then stood up. "I'll put it on a plate. Are you done?"
Grayson smiled. "Yes, come here."