Temptation of my Father-in-Law

Chapter 4- New Horizons

Grace took a deep breath, her heart racing as she braced herself for the difficult conversation that lay ahead. She knew she had to confront the issue that had been eating away at her for far too long. Her voice was steady and determined as she began to speak. "I know about you and Alia..."

Grayson's eyes widened, and a flicker of guilt flashed across his face. He stammered, "What... What are you talking about, Grace?"

Grace met his gaze with a mixture of pain and determination. "I heard about it at my bachelorette party. Texts and emails that you've been exchanging with her. Conversations filled with affection and... promises. The video of you both enjoying the intimacy that you promised would be only mine the day you proposed." Her voice trembled as she continued, "I didn’t want to believe it, I trusted you but the evidence was right there."

Grayson's face paled as he realized that there was no escaping the truth. He swallowed hard, his mind racing to find an explanation. "Grace, I can explain..."

Grace, her emotions a tumultuous mix of hurt and anger, cut him off. "Explain what, Grayson? How could you do this to me, to us? We vowed to cherish and honor our marriage, and yet you've been carrying on with another woman."

Grayson hung his head, unable to meet her accusing gaze. "It's not what you think, Grace. It's complicated."

Fury coursed through Grace as she demanded answers. "Complicated? How can you justify this? We've been together for years, and now you're telling me that you being unfaithful, that it's complicated?"

Grayson's voice was tinged with regret as he began to explain. "I never meant for any of this to happen, Grace. Alia and I... it just sort of happened. I didn't want to hurt you."

Tears streamed down Grace's cheeks as she struggled to comprehend the betrayal. "You didn't want to hurt me? Grayson, you've already hurt me beyond words. Our love, our marriage, our promises... they all mean nothing if you've been with someone else."

Grayson's voice quivered as he tried to convey the depth of his remorse. "Grace, I'm so sorry. I never wanted to lose you. Alia was a mistake, a terrible mistake, and I can't bear to think of my life with anyone but you."

Grace's heart ached as she looked into Grayson's eyes, torn between the love she had for him and the agony of his betrayal. "Do you love her, Grayson?"

Grayson hesitated, his inner turmoil evident. "I care about her, Grace, but it's not the same as what I feel for you. You're the one I love, the one I want to be with."

Tension hung heavy in the air as Grace's voice trembled with hurt and anger. "How can I believe any word that comes out of your mouth?" She stood up, creating some distance between herself and Grayson. The pain in her eyes was palpable. "Why did you propose to me? Why did you marry me when you don't even love me enough to stay faithful?"

Grayson, looking defeated and remorseful, struggled to find the right words to explain himself. "I can ask you the same question, Grace. You found out about me and Alia on your Bachelorette, so why didn't you call off the wedding?"

Grace's face contorted with anguish as she recalled that painful moment of discovery. "I… I thought….. I was shocked, Grayson.” Grace was having difficulty finding the right words. “I didn't know how to react....."

Grayson sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Grace, you and I both know how important this wedding is for both of us. My grandfather really loves and always wanted me to marry you, you know that right?” Grace nodded her head with hesitation, her mind struggling to process the revelations unfolding before her. Grayson's words had opened a Pandora's box of emotions, and she wasn't sure where he was taking the conversation.

"But there is more to it," Grayson continued a sense of desperation in his voice.

Grace braced herself for what came next as Grayson revealed the deeper layers of their complicated situation. "Grandpa wasn't just adamant with his good heart to marry you, but he put his foot down for me to get married to finally secure my inheritance. The Kennedy business is managed by my dad, and I don't see my future there. However, my mom's company, Davenport Group, is my future. If I didn't marry you, I would lose everything."

The weight of his words settled heavily in the room, and Grace's heart sank as she absorbed the full extent of the pressure he had been under. It was becoming apparent that their marriage had not only been a facade but also a marriage of convenience.

"I had already proposed to you, and I really do love you," Grayson admitted, his voice filled with remorse. "But I started to get cold feet before the rehearsal dinner. I wanted to talk to you, to push back the wedding, but I got the ultimatum from my grandfather. He really doesn't trust me," Grayson added with a sad chuckle.

Grace's breath caught in her throat as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Her marriage had been a means to an end, and it was impossible to ignore the feeling of betrayal that now consumed her.

"So, you hooked up with Alia out of spite and resentment for me?" Grace questioned, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and hurt. The truth was a bitter pill to swallow, and she needed to understand the full extent of her husband's actions.

“I thought you knew about it and you were the one who convinced my grandfather. I only found out on our wedding day that I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Grayson's face contorted with guilt and remorse as he admitted, "I didn't want to, Grace. I was backed into a corner, and I made a terrible mistake out of desperation. Alia was there, and it felt like the easiest way to push back against the pressure I was under."

Grace's eyes welled up with tears as the weight of Grayson's actions sank in. "So, I was just a pawn in your family's game, and you used me to secure your inheritance and defy your grandfather's ultimatum."

Grayson's head hung low as he uttered a regretful "Yes." It was a painful truth that he couldn't deny.

A heavy silence settled between them as they grappled with the magnitude of their shared pain. The revelation had torn open wounds that might never fully heal.

Grace's voice was tinged with anger as she pressed on, "Did you ever truly love me, Grayson, or was I just a means to an end?"

Grayson met her gaze with a deep sadness in his eyes. "I do love you, Grace. I wanted to marry you from the very first day I saw you walking on the campus with your ethereal aura. What started as a plan for a relationship became something more, but it got twisted and complicated along the way. I let down not only you but myself."

“I thought you knew me better but I was wrong. I was wrong, you know how much I loved you and you thought I would stoop so low.” Grayson visibly flinched at the word ‘loved’.

Grace put her head up and removed any ounce of weakness, and sentiment.

“I have I wish you had come and talked to me.”

“Grace…”

“So what now Grayson?”

Grayson met her gaze, recognizing the seriousness of the question. "I love you, Grace.” He kept on repeating the words as if trying to prove himself that he loved her. “We go ahead however you want. But I really…” Grayson held Grace’s hand, “-really hope that you will give us a chance. I promise to never hurt you again.”

"We owe it to ourselves to figure out if there's a way forward, whether it's together or apart. We can't let this betrayal define the rest of our lives."

“Do you want to salvage this marriage because that’s what is expected of you?”

“No, no Grace. I know that whatever I will say won’t bring back your trust but I want to try this for us. I want this for Grayson and Grace who met 3 years ago, we owe it to them.”

Grace nodded in agreement, her determination unwavering.

“We are married, yes I do agree that we need to owe it to our younger selves. We need to have an open and honest conversation about our future, about whether there's any hope of salvaging what we once had."

Grayson sighed, the weight of their situation pressing heavily on his shoulders. "You're right, Grace. I won’t say I promise again, I will show you how serious I am about our marriage and about you."

The sincerity in his voice struck a chord with Grace, but it couldn't erase the betrayal she had experienced. "But I still need time, Grayson," she said, her voice trembling. "I need time to rebuild the trust that's been shattered."

Grayson nodded, his face a picture of devastation. "I understand, Grace. I'll do whatever it takes to make things right, but I know I can't change the past. I will definitely change our future for the better."

As they faced the harsh truth about their marriage, Grace and Grayson were left with an uncertain future. The road to healing and rebuilding their trust would be arduous, but the love they once shared lingered as a flicker of hope in the midst of the storm.

Amidst the confrontation, Grace was very close to baring her heart. She felt like a hypocrite while Grayson got rid of the weight on his shoulder she still had a huge secret but she knew her secret would unravel things into complete chaos. There would be no coming back from that.

The couple spent the night in the same bed but face away from each other.

The following morning, Grace and Grayson were summoned to a meeting with Grayson's grandfather, a man who had always appeared sweet and affable to them. As they entered the room, they exchanged polite greetings.

"Good morning to the beautiful couple," Grayson's grandfather warmly greeted them.

"Good morning, Grandpa," Grace and Grayson replied in unison, their nerves evident as they awaited the announcement that lay ahead.

The elderly man cleared his throat and adopted a serious tone, making Grace view him through a new lens. Now that she was aware of the stipulations tied to their marriage, the kind and sweet old man appeared malevolent in her eyes.

"In front of the family," he began, "I would like to make a special announcement. The official announcement will be rolled out later this month, but I want you all to know now." His gaze settled on Grayson, who listened with bated breath.

"I have decided on and from now on the acting CEO of Davenport Group, who will be leading the office in Europe,”

Grace's heart sank

“is none other than my loving grandson... Grayson Kennedy…."