Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 11

**TITLE: Across Distant Skies Lies Hope Waiting To Be Found by Kade Rowan Flint**

**CONTENT: I will never marry Charles**

Gracia

As I stepped out of the cab, I caught a fleeting glimpse of the driver’s eyes through the rearview mirror, a momentary connection that felt oddly comforting amidst my turmoil. The lump in my throat swelled as I turned my gaze upward, taking in the imposing grandeur of the estate that towered before me. It was a sight that both captivated and suffocated me; the mansion was a monument to wealth, a structure that could evoke envy in even the most contented hearts.

This opulent dwelling had been a wedding gift from Charles’s parents to mine, a piece of the elaborate puzzle they had crafted for my future with him. In my naivety, I had once believed that the bond we shared was genuine, even as our families treated it like a mere financial transaction. But how foolish I had been to cling to that illusion.

With a heavy sigh, I pressed my fingers against my temple, attempting to ease the throbbing headache that had settled in since the early hours of the morning. Stress and fatigue were unwelcome companions today, and I yearned for just a moment of solace.

Shaking off my apprehension, I trudged toward the door, pushing it open with a hesitant hand. The instant I crossed the threshold, I froze. There, seated at the dining table, were my parents, their demeanor suggesting that nothing was amiss. My mother’s laughter rang out, a sound that felt jarring and foreign in my current state, while my father wore a smile that failed to reach his eyes.

But as soon as the door creaked, their laughter dissipated, replaced by a heavy, oppressive silence.

My father’s gaze fell upon me, cold and scrutinizing, as he assessed my appearance from head to toe. Instinctively, I straightened my back, trying to project an air of confidence that I didn’t feel. I had made an effort to look presentable—my hair was neatly pulled back into a bun, my face washed, and my dress smoothed out. Yet, my father had an uncanny ability to see through façades.

My mother, however, maintained her mask of warmth. “Gracia,” she called out, her voice sweet yet commanding. “Come here.”

I hesitated, my heart racing. My mother was unpredictable, her moods shifting like the wind—sometimes nurturing, sometimes wielding her affection like a weapon. She had a knack for manipulation, blending kindness with cruelty just enough to keep me tethered to her whims. And time and again, I fell into her trap.

“What are you doing standing there? I said come here.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Reluctantly, I approached them. As I settled into a chair at the table, I clasped my hands tightly in my lap, battling against the tremors that threatened to betray my anxiety.

My mother beamed, her eyes sparkling with a deceptive cheerfulness. She clapped her hands lightly, summoning a maid who appeared as if conjured by magic. “Mina,” she instructed, “serve Gracia anything she desires; she must be starving.”

“Yes, madam,” the maid replied, her movements efficient and practiced as she began to serve the dishes laid out before us. The tantalizing aroma wafting from the food was enough to stir my senses, but my stomach churned at the thought of eating.

With each tick of the clock, my heart raced faster, echoing my dread. I already knew where this conversation was headed, and I wanted no part of it. All I desired was to retreat to my room, to bury myself under the covers and erase the events of the previous night from my memory.

My mother gestured toward the table with a smile that felt like a mask. “Look, I asked Mina to make your favorite apple pie.”

The maid returned, placing the dish in front of me with practiced grace, but her expression held a flicker of disdain. “Here’s your meal, miss.”

I diverted my gaze, focusing on the pie, its golden crust glistening under the light. My mother took a sip of her tea, the sound of the cup clinking against the saucer slicing through the silence.

“I was upset yesterday,” she began, her voice adopting a softer tone. “And I may have spoken too harshly, but you must understand, Gracia, it was your fault. You broke things off with Charles. How did you expect us to react? But now, everything is fine. No need for me to worry anymore.”

“What?”

“Why are you surprised? Didn’t you go and plead with Charles as I told you last night?”

My stomach plummeted, a cold dread settling in. “No, I didn’t.”

Her smile evaporated, replaced by a look of disappointment that cut deeper than any knife. She glanced at my father, who had set down his utensils, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within me.

“Well,” he said, his voice steady, “it doesn’t matter whether you did or didn’t. Charles and his family have decided to overlook your little outburst and proceed with the marriage as planned in a few days.”

“No!” I exclaimed, my voice rising in pitch, more forceful than I intended.

Absolutely not.

My parents’ eyes widened in unison, and a surge of panic coursed through my veins. Every instinct screamed at me to bow my head, to accept my fate, but I couldn’t. If I did that, I would be sealing my doom.

I couldn’t walk down the aisle to a man who had never loved me, a man who was incapable of love.

“I meant it when I said I wanted to break off the engagement,” I asserted, my voice trembling with conviction. “I will not marry Charles. I will never marry him. Do you even understand—”

Splash.

I flinched as cold liquid splattered across my face, soaking through my dress and trickling down my neck. Blinking in shock, I stared at my mother, her expression twisted in fury, a glass in her hand, the pretense of kindness shattered completely. “Ah, damn it,” she muttered, raking a hand through her hair in frustration. “I was trying to be civil, but it’s so infuriating. Repeat what you just said. Did you really say you won’t marry Charles?”

Wiping my face with the edge of the cloth napkin, I met her gaze head-on, determined not to show weakness.

“That’s right, I won’t marry Charles.”

Her eyes narrowed into slits. “You truly are shameless,” she spat. “After everything we’ve done for you, this is how you repay us?”

“We fed you, clothed you, gave you a home. And this is the gratitude we receive? This is why we should’ve never taken in a bastard,” she snarled. “Even your own parents didn’t want you. They cast you aside like trash. We were kind enough to take you in, raise you, give you a name. And now, the one thing we ask of you, and you can’t even fulfill that?”

No. I wasn’t crying. Just something in my eye. That was all. I had known what kind of people they were from the start, so why did it still hurt this much?

These were the same people who had once locked me in a room for three days without food or water, simply because I had spoken too loudly during a dinner party.

I didn’t know how I had survived that ordeal, but I had. And I would survive this, too.

As I rummaged through my bag, my phone buzzed, drawing my attention.

Hubby: Baby, I understand if you don’t want to come to the wedding dress fitting. I’m already here, and I’ll make sure to choose a beautiful wedding dress for you.

Staring at the screen, my expression darkened.

That insufferable jerk.

Did he truly think this wedding was still happening?

Fine. If he didn’t realize it was over, I would make it clear myself.

I raised my hand, hailing a cab, and once inside, I gave the driver the address, sinking back into the seat.

He wanted a fitting?

Oh, he was about to get one hell of a final adjustment.

**Conclusion**

In the aftermath of her confrontation with her parents, Gracia stands at a pivotal crossroads, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and exhilaration. She has shed the weight of expectations that once tethered her to a life she never wanted, and in that moment of defiance, she discovers a spark of hope igniting within her. The opulence of the estate fades into the background as she steps into the blinding sunlight, a symbol of her newfound freedom. Gracia’s decision to reject the life laid out for her is not merely an act of rebellion; it is an assertion of her identity, a declaration that she will no longer be a pawn in her parents’ game. The tears she refuses to acknowledge are not signs of weakness but rather the remnants of a past she is finally ready to leave behind.

As she settles into the cab, Gracia feels a sense of clarity wash over her. The text from Charles, filled with misguided optimism, only fuels her resolve to take control of her destiny. She is no longer the girl who cowered under her parents’ scrutiny or the one who played the part of the dutiful fiancée. Instead, she is a woman ready to carve her own path, one that leads away from the suffocating expectations of her past. With each passing moment, the weight of her decision transforms from a burden into a shield, empowering her to embrace the uncertainty of the future. As the cab speeds away, Gracia realizes that across the distant skies lies not just hope waiting to be found, but the promise of a life lived on her own terms.

**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**

In the next chapter, readers can expect Gracia to take decisive action as she embraces her newfound resolve. With the weight of her parents’ expectations lifted from her shoulders, she will no longer be the obedient daughter they had molded her to be. Instead, she will confront Charles head-on, determined to dismantle the carefully constructed facade of their relationship. This confrontation promises to be explosive, as Gracia’s pent-up frustration and anger boil over, revealing the truth behind their engagement and the betrayal that has haunted her.

As Gracia steps into the whirlwind of her own liberation, she will also encounter unexpected allies along the way. Friends from her past may emerge, offering support and encouragement, while new characters could provide fresh perspectives on love and independence. The chapter will delve deeper into Gracia’s internal struggle as she grapples with the fear of losing everything versus the exhilaration of claiming her own destiny. Will she find the strength to forge her own path, or will the ghosts of her past continue to haunt her choices? The stakes are higher than ever, and as the tension builds, readers will be left on the edge of their seats, eager to discover what Gracia’s next move will be.