Chased by my Ex Husband novel Chapter 19

Grace

On my way back, I can’t help but feel like the ground is too soft beneath my feet. It feels like I am floating away, completely detached from the surroundings.

My mind…keeps sending me back in time.

This fear in my heart is the same as when I came home from college and tiptoed around Mom and Dad to avoid their wrath.

This fear is the same as when I tried to hide my drawings, my projects, and my dreams so Lily couldn’t take them away from me.

This fear is the same as when I avoided looking at Ethan to hide my crush on him.

Because I knew…

All those things will bring me pain.

And I was scared to bear the pain alone. I didn’t want my heart to bleed only for the lack of comfort to make it worse.

I knew…

If I fall once, I will never get back up again. I have been like this.

But now, all those things that I feared have already happened.

I smile mockingly.

Even last night, I feared Alma would get to know the truth about me and hate me and it didn’t even take one day for her to find out everything.

Shaking my head, I enter through the main door again.

“ Why did you bring her here, Tristin? And why didn’t you tell me it’s her? ” Alma’s voice comes from the lounge, making me stiffen.

“ She had nothing to do with whatever happened. She doesn’t even know anything, Mom. ” Tristin sighs.

I frown, wondering what this secret is. What did Lily do to them?

“ Still, you could have told me. ” Alma insists.

I sigh, turning towards the stairs. I should quickly grab that phone and leave this place. I don’t want to face them.

“ And you would have let the sister of your son’s murderer into our house? ” Tristin’s angry voice resonates.

I pause on the first stair, my eyes widening. What…the…hell?

“ Enough, Tristin! Stop going after her! She ruined my elder son! I don’t want this to happen to you too! We don’t want to have anything with her. ” Alma yells, startling me.

I press my palm to my mouth to stop myself from gasping. An eerie silence echoes in the house for a few seconds that follow.

“ That’s because you don’t know what happened, Mom. ” Tristin’s voice becomes cold, sending a chill down my spine.

“ You are using that poor girl for revenge, aren’t you? ” Alma accuses.

Poor girl…

“ Grace is the key to getting back what Lily took. ” Tristin announces.

I shudder. I knew he was using me, but I didn’t know Lily had delivered such serious blows to this family.

“ You said so yourself. She has nothing to do with this and she doesn’t know. ” To my surprise, Alma hisses. “ Leave her out of this. She doesn’t look like an evil person, Tristin. Don’t use her. ”

“ She wants it. I helped her, and she knows my help comes with a price. I won't let her go until she has paid every bit of it. ” The ice in his voice makes me freeze.

This should scare me. I should turn and leave even if I have to damn that phone.

But I stay there, just rooted on my spot.

“ Tristin! ” Alma calls out to him.

Hearing the footsteps behind me, I turn around and face them. Tristin halts when he notices me standing there. His eyes, dark and hollow, are zeroed in on me.

“ Tris— ” Alma pauses.

My gaze flickers to her face. I sigh, shaking my head.