Chapter 4

This day was a living nightmare for Grace. She hadn’t slept properly, and her lack of concentration made her seem like someone suffering from depression. In reality, she was indeed battling depression, but no one knew her secret. They could only see her outward appearance, unable to read her mind or understand her heart.

After an hour of standing under the cold shower, she stepped out, wrapping a towel around her thin body, which seemed to lack proper nourishment. As she emerged from the bathroom, she was halted by something unexpected.

Adam was already present in the room, waiting for her to finish her shower. He hadn’t anticipated that she would come out with just a towel wrapped around her. When their eyes met, Grace blushed with embarrassment, and he quickly averted his gaze to spare them both further discomfort.

“I’m sorry… I think I came at the wrong time. I’ll come back after you’ve changed,” Adam said, getting up from the couch and leaving the room.

Grace remained silent, quickly changing into her clothes before heading downstairs.

When she arrived, Adam was already waiting. The table was set with food arranged neatly, and a maid was serving Adam’s breakfast. He had even arranged for a maid for her overnight. Grace stood quietly.

“Come and sit. Eat your breakfast before it gets cold,” he ordered, and she obediently took a seat across from him.

The maid served the food, and before Grace took a bite, she cast a brief glance at the man now known as her husband, who sat in front of her.

“Do you want to ask something?” Adam inquired casually, taking a bite of his food.

Grace couldn’t help but cringe. How could he seem to read her thoughts so easily?

“That… um… what happened last night? I mean… did my parents… ask anything? How did the party end? I wasn’t there, right? Will it affect you?” She hesitated to speak, feeling nervous in his presence. After all, they were now husband and wife.

But she couldn’t bring herself to admit that she had married her brother-in-law. She wanted to find a way to free herself from this situation. Grace was nothing like her cheerful and strong-willed twin, Faith. Faith could tackle any problem, but Grace was a different story altogether. Despite being born at the same time, their personalities were vastly different.

“It went smoothly. You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve already taken care of it,” Adam reassured her.

“Thanks,” Grace replied.

He couldn’t shake the disbelief that the person sitting in front of him wasn’t his lover but her twin sister. They were now married, a fact that hung heavy in the air. He forced himself to concentrate on his food, and she ate silently.

“If you need anything, feel free to ask me. I’ll arrange everything,” he offered, and she nodded.

“After a year, I’ll give you a divorce. Currently, we can’t divorce because we just got married yesterday, right? They won’t permit us to divorce. After that, I’ll help you with whatever you want. Is that okay with you?”

When he broached the topic, she flinched. He had a point; how could they remain in this relationship now that they knew the truth? Separating seemed like the best option rather than living together without genuine feelings.

Grace bit her lower lip and nodded in response. After they finished breakfast, Adam didn’t say anything more and left the villa. Grace was left alone in the vast residence, uncertain about what to do. She returned to her room, settling in a corner with her diary clutched tightly in her hands, seeking solace in her thoughts and writing.

When she’s feeling down, her trusty diary keeps her company. It’s like her best friend, you know? Would anyone even believe her if she told them that? The diary was a gift from someone really special who taught her a lot about life, but sadly, that person isn’t around anymore. She gently touched the diary, wishing she could share her feelings with them. She grabbed a pen and started jotting things down.

“Dear diary, I wish I could say I’m okay, but I’m not. Everything seemed fine until now. I can’t help but feel guilty for keeping secrets for so long. But you know what? I’m relieved because he already knew the truth. I don’t have to pretend anymore. This place is new to me, and I need to get used to it. But being alone with him makes me nervous. Can’t I just have some alone time? I really need it.”

She paused and closed the diary. Her eyelids drooped, and she hugged her knees, cradling the diary too. The corner of the room was the coziest spot, and she didn’t feel lonely with those chilly walls around her. It was a comforting feeling.

Her mind just wouldn’t stop racing, not even when she was asleep. The poor thing, as a depression patient, had been trying her best to avoid that medicine and the weird hallucinations it brought. But it felt like everything was going against her wishes.

She’d been battling depression since her teenage years, and it was a heavy load to carry. No one else really knew about it except for Faith, but even Faith couldn’t always be there to support her. She was quite the introverted soul, and she’d had her share of bullying in various schools and colleges. It was tough, you know, being picked on, and even her sister couldn’t always protect her when they were younger.

In the past, the present, and possibly the future, too, she couldn’t speak out. First, she was an introvert. Now, she was in her sister’s position as Faith. The Grace from back then was long gone, and all the thoughts swirling in her head were like pesky, brain-sucking worms. She was tired, oh so tired, of everything, including life itself. It was a heavy burden she was carrying.

Her restless mind kept tormenting her, triggering the depression over and over. She slid down the wall, tightly closed her eyes, and wished not to open them.

When she finally dared to peek, she found herself on a cozy bed wrapped in a warm blanket. It felt like she’d just closed her eyes for a moment. Her whole body ached and throbbed.