Grace's POV
I tried to lift my head, finally sitting up, and glancing around. Everything looked blurry, forcing me to blink several times until things became clear. Taking a deep breath, I looked straight ahead, recalling what happened last night, and yesterday, and thinking about what was ahead in life.
Should I keep living like this? Alone, always alone, without much money. Will I still be alone in old age? Will I have to pay someone to take care of me when I'm helpless? Prepare a lot of money for a nice nursing home? Am I really that unfortunate? Is there no man who could be my lifelong companion, to have a child with me, to always be with me as we grow old?
"Oh my God...!" I lay back down, staring at the ceiling. "I hate these thoughts... I'm tired... I want change, but I'm also scared!"
Frustrated, I felt dizzy again, especially since my head still throbbed a bit from a bump last night. It reminded me of Logan, who had asked for my phone number the night before.
"Did he text me?"
I quickly reached for my phone under the pillow beside me, and sure enough, there were a few messages from an unknown number.
"Could this be him?"
Unknown: hey, good morning, sweetie…
Unknown: I don't expect you to be up… No, take your time to sleep in; you need the rest. But make sure you eat breakfast, I've taken care of it… Sorry, I couldn't stay. I only realized my schedule is packed today. Eat well, you're way too thin… And don't push yourself to work. If I find out you're working, you'll know the consequences!
I frowned, picturing his handsome face, feeling a strange mix of surprise at his words. Did he threaten me? Called me in a pretty affectionate way, then was so attentive to my health?
"What is this? Is it some kind of responsibility? Or does he pity me? Or…" I bit my lip, remembering Logan's behavior and words last night. "He seemed different, more respectful… But could someone like him like me? No… That's impossible!"
I hurried to get out of bed, heading to the kitchen.
"He couldn't possibly like me, and I shouldn't get too emotional about his actions. It could all be just his game… Not every handsome guy is kind. Even he… He's so handsome, masculine… But he's a model, he'll meet other beautiful models, more attractive than me… Or maybe he's even interested in other handsome models; he could be like Chris!"
I kept mumbling, trying to guard my heart until I was suddenly silenced by the sight of the dining table.
"He said he had prepared food for me… I thought he'd leave it at his apartment or send it via courier… But why… Why is everything already set up here?"
I gazed at the breakfast scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, fries, fried chicken, a bit of rice, boxed milk, a bottle of mineral water, and even pizza. Everything was neatly arranged on small plates, making me imagine he'd been here setting it all up while I was still asleep.
"Maybe…" I sighed. "After all, he does know the entry pin to get in here…"
I decided to head back to my room, took a shower, put on a sleeveless midi dress, and let my hair down, then returned to the dining table for breakfast, bringing my phone along.
As usual, I ate while watching videos from various social media feeds. But before that, I'd messaged Jane, asking how things were at her place.
Enjoying breakfast while watching videos, I came across a recently posted one that featured an interview with a man two handsome guys, and two beautiful women. One of them was Logan, looking so handsome in a black leather jacket, with his hair neatly styled, and his face radiating.
"I have this gorgeous guy's number… He was here before this talk show," I muttered, unable to hold back my smile.
I couldn't explain it, but I felt special and kept replaying the one-minute video, my heart skipping a beat when the female host mentioned that Logan was only 22 years old.
"Really?"
I quickly left social media and opened Google, searching for Logan Maverick, and countless pages about him appeared. I soon confirmed the fact.
Logan Maverick is an up-and-coming model at the age of just 22, with a style admired by modern men. He was very private about his family, though several girls had spoken up about class in high school with him in Colorado. He'd moved to New York to pursue his blossoming career, with numerous producers vying for him as a model for their products.
"Oh God… How could I get so attached to someone who would be better than my younger brother? We're seven years apart… That's not a small gap… And… Our lives are different; he's a star, while I'm just a housekeeper."
I sighed, looking at the food in front of me, feeling a strange pang as if I was losing hope.
"Grace… I thought you were working!"
The voice from the doorway startled me—it was Stella, my young sister who was supposed to be in Los Angeles since she married Antonio. How could she be here without even telling me?
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I'm a ghost?" she asked, standing with her hands on her hips.
"Um…" I swallowed and quickly stood up. "I… I'm just surprised."
I hurried over and hugged her. "You didn't tell me you were coming."
"It's all a surprise. Even I'm surprised," she said, releasing my hug. "Things haven't been going well, and I finally understand why I'm not pregnant yet," she continued, sitting down.
I sighed, sitting across from her, noting her glamorous style. A black dress with open sleeves, jewelry, and heavy makeup. Sometimes I wondered if she was my sister. We didn't even look alike and were so different in many ways.
"Aren't you curious about me?" She raised an eyebrow, taking a piece of fried chicken, and biting it carefully as if worried her lipstick would smudge.
"I'd be happy if you told me," I said.
"Antonio has someone else, and… you'll be shocked to hear who it is," she said.
"Who?"
"A skinny man who acts a bit… flamboyant… like a sissy," she sneered, shrugging. "It's disgusting… It makes me want to vomit!"
"So…" I narrowed my eyes, biting my lower lip uncertainly, and remembered Chris.
"Like your ex-husband, Antonio's gay!" she revealed before I could ask. Okay, but it was enough to leave me speechless, wondering why we were so unlucky.
"I caught him with him in an apartment… an apartment he bought without me knowing. I investigated, thinking they just hung out as friends, assuming he was normal… But I was wrong. He's gay, often booking hotels to be alone with him, finding sex toys in that apartment… And I found a doctor's note saying he'd had a vasectomy!" she explained firmly, and I could sense her anger. "These facts drove me insane, my head was going to explode… I couldn't go back home, seeing our room… It would remind me of how we made love…
How did this happen? He… he used that filthy thing to satisfy me after using it to please a man… Isn't that disgusting? Of course, they do it with…" She exhaled harshly and lowered her head, covering it with her hands, her elbows resting on the table. "I can't imagine it… It's too disgusting… I can't be there anymore, Grace… I can't!" she went on in frustration, looking at me again.
I quickly moved closer, rubbing her back.
"I know this is hard for you, but… it's better to know sooner than later," I whispered, and she immediately looked at me.
"It's already too late, Grace… Far too late," she whispered, a visible pain in her gray eyes. "I'm sure it's been going on for a long time, and we're still having sex. I can't imagine… What if… What if he contracted a sexually transmitted disease…"
"No!" I immediately hugged her, patting her back. "That won't happen…"
She immediately pulled away from me. "Are you only saying that because you stayed healthy after learning Chris was gay?"
I was taken aback, staring at her, swallowing hard, recalling what had happened between me and Chris. Of course, my situation with Stella's was very different because Chris hadn't even touched me… although we did often kiss.