Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 196

She is my daughter–in–law

Apedia

I stood beside the hospital bed, my eyes fixed on Grace as she lay there unconscious, her face unnaturally pale against the white pillow, her lips slightly parted as her chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths. She looked fragile like this, smaller than she ever did when she was awake, and the sight of her lying, there made a deep frown form on my face before i could stop it.

My hand tightened around hers on the bed, as if holding on tighter could somehow keep her safe, and without taking my eyes off her for even a second, I spoke, my voice deep, and commanding despite the storm brewing inside me.

“How is she?”

Behind me, the doctor cleared his throat before answering carefully, his tone respectful, and cautious. “She is okay, Mr. Reed, She’s just unconscious. The news must have shocked her a lot. There’s nothing to be worried about.”

Nothing to be worried about,

My gaze darkened,

“There is nothing to be worried about?” I repeated, my voice dropping lower, and the shift in my tone was enough to make the doctor stiffen as the nurses beside him instinctively took a step back.

“Then tell me,” I continued slowly, “why is she unconscious?”

The doctor swallowed hard, clearly forcing himself to speak. “I–it actually happens quite often to people who experience sudden emotional trauma or the loss of a loved one,” he explained. “The shock causes a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. Blood vessels in the legs relax, and the oxygen supply to the brain decreases, which leads to a brief loss of consciousness. She should wake up soon, Mr. Reed.”

I didn’t respond.

I didn’t even look at him.

My eyes never left Grace, not for a second, as if looking away might make her disappear, and when I noticed that the doctor and nurses were still standing there, lingering nervously, I spoke again, my voice indifferent.

“Leave,”

They hesitated for only a moment before bowing quickly and filing out of the room, the door closing softly behind them, leaving the space quiet except for the steady beep of the machines and the sound of her breathing.

I turned my full attention back to her.

Her chest continued to rise and fall beneath the thin blanket, her lashes resting against her pale skin, strands of her hair falling messily across her face. I reached out slowly and brushed the hair away from her cheek, my touch gentle. When I was about to pull my hand away, I felt something wet.

My hand stilled, my fingers hovering near her face as I leaned closer, and only then did I see tears slipping from the corners of her closed eyes, trailing silently down her temples and soaking into the pillow beneath her head.

I froze.

Even unconscious, she was still crying.

My hand clenched slowly into a fist as I stared at her, anger and guilt twisting violently in my chest.

This was my fault. If I had been more careful, if I had seen it coming sooner, if I had handled things differently, none of this would have happened. The little girl wouldn’t be dead. Grace wouldn’t be lying here.

My jaw tightened as fury surged through me, but I forced it down, forcing myself to breathe, and stay composed, because losing control wouldn’t fix anything.

I ran a hand through my hair roughly before leaning back down and gently wiping the tears from her face with my thumb, as if apologizing to her in the only way I could.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured quietly, though I didn’t know if she could hear me.

Just then, a soft knock sounded against the glass.

I looked up toward the window and saw Genesis standing outside. I let out a slow breath and glanced back at Grace one last time, memorizing her face, before carefully letting go.

I stood up, walked toward the door, and stepped out of the room, closing it gently behind me.

I would deal with everything else later. Right now, all that mattered was Grace.

Genesis was standing there when I stepped out of the hospital room, and one look at her was enough to tell me that she wasn’t doing any better. Her hair was messy, like she had run her fingers through it over and over again in frustration, and her breathing was uneven, and fast, as if she had been holding everything in and was only now starting to crack.

There was guilt written all over her face.

“A–apollo… I’m so sorry,” she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. “This is my fault. I caused it. If I wasn’t careless, Hannah wouldn’t have died, and Grace wouldn’t have fainted. I’m so sorry.”

The killer hadn’t just wanted Hannah dead. She wanted Grace and me to be there. She wanted us to see it. She wanted to make a statement, to show me that she could reach anything I cared about if she wanted to.

The moment both sides reached the door to Grace’s hospital room, I stepped forward and positioned myself directly in front of it, my body blocking the entrance without hesitation. I slid my hands into my pockets and looked at them coldly, the way one might look down at two small animals making noise.

My father and Ryan’s mother both stopped in front of me, their breathing heavy as if they had rushed here without stopping.

My voice was calm but firm as I spoke, leaving no room for argument. “If you think I will allow anyone to enter this room, then think again.”

My father frowned deeply, clearly preparing to say something, but before he could open his mouth, Ryan’s mother spoke first, her voice strained and emotional.

“Wait,” she said, shaking her head. “I have to go in. I have to see her. I can’t lose her after just meeting her. Please… let me see Grace.”

My father paused at her words, his expression shifting from anger to confusion, and then to shock. He stared at her.

“You” he said slowly. “What are you doing here?”

Ryan’s mother turned to him with a frown, her eyes flashing despite the tears still clinging to them.

“I should be asking you that,” she snapped. “What are you doing here? What right do you think you have to come here?”

My father scoffed, straightening his back as if asserting authority came naturally to him.

“What right? She is my daughter–in–law. I can come whenever I want.”

Ryan’s mother looked at me for a brief moment, before turning back to my father with clear disgust written all over her face.

“Daughter–in–law my ass,” she said without hesitation. “My daughter will never be part of your family.”

The hallway went completely still.

Everyone froze at those words. Even I froze, my gaze snapping back to her, my eyebrow lifting slowly as I tried to process what she had just said. My father’s eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth falling open slightly before he spoke again.

“Did you just say… your daughter?” he asked. “Are you saying my daughter–in–law is your daughter?” 1