Chapter 3 3

The days blended together in an endless cycle of silence and distance. Jade woke up each morning in her luxurious bedroom, surrounded by the sterile beauty of Grayson's penthouse, and went about her routine without any real purpose. Grayson had been true to his word, offering her a life of comfort without interference. He didn't ask anything of her beyond fulfilling the terms of their agreement. Attend family functions, keep up appearances, and avoid any complications.

It was strange, living in the same space with someone yet feeling completely isolated from them. Jade had expected a sense of warmth-of partnership, maybe-but all she got was silence and the faint hum of a life that had already been set in motion long before she entered it.

One morning, she decided to leave the confines of the apartment. She had become restless, unable to shake the feeling of being suffocated by the cold, pristine walls of Grayson's world. She had no real plans, but a walk outside seemed like a small rebellion. A chance to feel the outside world again, to remind herself that she hadn't completely disappeared into the shadows of this strange marriage.

Grayson wasn't around when she left. He often retreated to his office, and when he did, Jade found herself with little to do but wander the halls and stare out the windows. Rosa, the housekeeper, had gone off to take care of something, and Jade relished the brief moment of solitude.

The street outside was a stark contrast to the isolation she felt inside the apartment. The noise, the movement, the colors of the people rushing by-it all reminded her of the life she had once known. Before the wrongful conviction, before Luke's betrayal, before Grayson. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Jade wandered through the bustling streets for hours, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and memories. She tried to lose herself in the city's pulse, but the weight of her situation never fully left her. Each step seemed to pull her back to reality, back to the apartment, back to Grayson.

By the time she returned, the sun was setting, casting an amber glow over the city. Her thoughts were still scattered, but something inside her had shifted. She couldn't keep living in this emotional vacuum. She needed answers. She needed to understand the man she was living with.

Grayson hadn't returned by the time she walked through the door. Rosa was tidying up the living room, her movements swift and efficient.

"Welcome back, Mrs. Westbrook," Rosa greeted her with a smile. "I hope you had a good walk."

Jade smiled faintly, but the gesture didn't reach her eyes. "It was nice to get out, actually. I needed some fresh air."

Rosa nodded, seemingly sensing the unspoken weight in Jade's words. "It's important to take time for yourself, especially when things feel... overwhelming."

Jade couldn't help but wonder how much Rosa really knew about her life. Did she see through the facade, or was she just doing her job, keeping things running smoothly for her boss?

"I'll leave you to rest for now," Rosa said, giving Jade space. "Dinner will be ready in an hour."

Jade thanked her quietly, the familiar knot in her stomach tightening at the thought of another silent meal in the grand dining room, a table set for two yet feeling like a hundred. She couldn't ignore the unease gnawing at her. She had agreed to this arrangement, but the more she lived it, the more she realized how deeply she was suffocating.

Her mind returned to Grayson. The man who had made this offer-a man who had remained an enigma to her. She hadn't asked him anything about his past since signing the contract, respecting his desire for privacy. But there were things she needed to know. He had chosen her for a reason, and she couldn't help but wonder if he saw in her something she didn't yet understand. Was this really just a deal for him? Or was there more at play beneath the surface?

---

That evening, Grayson returned just after dinner was served. He had a meeting, one that kept him out of the apartment for most of the day. Jade had eaten alone, as usual. Rosa had come in a few times to check on her, but she hadn't pushed the conversation. It was clear that she respected Jade's space.

When Grayson entered, his usual cold presence filled the room. His sharp suit looked even more rigid, and his eyes were tired but still as guarded as ever. Jade had always thought she could read people, but Grayson was different. There was something about him that felt untouchable. He wore his walls like armor, and she had no idea how to break through them.

"Did you enjoy your walk?" Grayson asked, his voice almost casual, though the tension in his tone was unmistakable.

Jade met his gaze, trying to find some hint of sincerity. "It was good. I needed to clear my head."

Grayson nodded, his eyes studying her for a moment longer than necessary. "I understand. The city can be overwhelming at first."

Jade didn't respond. She had no desire to talk about her feelings right now. The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable, but she couldn't bring herself to fill it with empty words.

Grayson set his briefcase down and moved toward the bar to pour himself a drink. "I assume Rosa took care of dinner?"

Jade nodded, her fingers curling around the edge of her glass. "Yes. It was fine."

He didn't say anything more about the meal. Instead, he took a sip of his drink, his eyes still on her, assessing her as though she were an unfamiliar puzzle he was trying to solve.

"Why did you choose me?" Jade asked suddenly, her voice steady despite the curiosity bubbling inside her.

Grayson paused mid-drink, his eyes narrowing just slightly. "What do you mean?"

She didn't break eye contact. "Why me, Grayson? Out of all the women you could've chosen, why did you offer me this... deal?"

He didn't respond right away. The silence stretched between them, and Jade wondered if she had pushed him too far. But then, he set his glass down and walked over to where she sat, his gaze never leaving her face.

"I saw someone who was broken," Grayson said quietly. "Someone who needed an escape. Someone who was as lost as I am."

Jade's heart skipped a beat. "You're not the only one with a past, Grayson. I didn't come here to be your emotional crutch."

He didn't flinch at her words. "I didn't choose you because I thought you'd fix me. I chose you because I know what it feels like to lose everything. And maybe, in some way, I thought we could help each other find our way out of the darkness."

Jade didn't know what to say. The rawness in his voice was a stark contrast to the icy exterior he presented to the world. She had never seen this side of him-the vulnerability, the pain hidden behind his carefully constructed walls.

For the first time since entering his world, Jade saw a crack in Grayson's armor.

"Why won't you talk about it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What happened to you, Grayson? What made you so... closed off?"

His jaw tightened at her words, but there was no anger in his eyes-only a deep, unsettling sadness.

"I don't talk about it," he said simply. "Not to anyone."

Jade felt the weight of his words, the finality in them. But she wasn't about to let him shut her out completely. Not again.

"You don't have to tell me everything," she said, her tone softening. "But I need to understand. I need to know why we're both here. Why we agreed to this... marriage."

Grayson looked away, staring out of the window at the city lights below. The silence between them was long and heavy, but Jade could see the internal struggle in his eyes.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Grayson spoke, his voice barely audible. "I lost someone. Someone I loved more than anything. And I've never been able to let go. That's why I can't have this... this thing with you. Why I can't allow myself to feel anything for anyone. I don't want to get hurt again."

Jade's heart twisted in her chest as the weight of his words sank in. For the first time, she saw Grayson not as the cold, distant man she had married but as someone who had experienced unbearable loss.

His past had shaped him, just as hers had shaped her.

Jade stood up slowly, moving toward him. "You don't have to go through it alone, Grayson."

He didn't respond, but his eyes followed her movements. She didn't know if he heard her or if he was willing to accept her words, but in that moment, Jade made a decision. She wasn't going to let them both drown in their shared silence. There was a way forward, even if it meant walking into the unknown together.

Maybe, just maybe, this arrangement could become more than just a deal. Maybe they could help each other heal, one step at a time.