Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 205

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You have to take responsibility for me

Grace

I sat on the edge of the bed and took a slow, shaky breath, but even that simple action felt heavy, as if my lungs were struggling to pull in enough air. My entire body felt like it was failing me after everything that had happened today.

I didn’t even know how I managed to stay conscious for the whole day without passing out again. My head felt light, my limbs numb, and it took all my strength just to remain upright for a few seconds longer.

I had been grieving for Hannah since the moment I heard the news, yet back then I could still force myself to stay composed, and tell myself to stand straight and not fall apart. But now was different. The weakness went deeper, sinking into my bones.

I felt so fragile that Apollo had to support me just to get me into the car, his hand firm around my waist as if he was afraid I would collapse at any moment. By the time we reached home, nausea churned violently in my stomach, my vision spinning so badly that I thought I might throw up right there.

I let out a quiet sigh and lay back on the bed, my body sinking into the mattress as I stared up at the ceiling. It was white, plain, completely ordinary, nothing special about it at all, yet my eyes remained fixed on it, as if looking away would somehow make everything worse. Sometimes, no matter how normal something is, you still stare at it, hoping it will distract you, hoping it will quiet the chaos in your mind. But I knew better. A simple ceiling couldn’t erase what I had learned today.

After everything was revealed, my world only became more confusing instead of clearer. I found out that my father and Apollo’s mother never had an affair. I found out that the woman I called my mother was once my real mother’s maid, and that she had exchanged me with her own daughter, Katherine, just so her child could live a happy and comfortable life.

I found out that my brothers and the man I loved never truly hated each other, that they had been working together in secret all this time to hunt down the killer.

One revelation after another crashed into me, piling up so quickly that my mind barely had time to process any of it.

I sighed again and lifted a hand to my head, pressing my fingers to my temple as a dull ache began to throb.

There were too many twists in a single day, too many truths uncovered at once, and now my head felt like it was splitting apart.

Earlier, when Apollo told me they were close to finding the killer, I wanted to say something, anything, but then the dizziness hit me. Apollo noticed immediately. Before I could protest, he lifted me into his arms and carried me away, even though I wanted to stay, because I felt I owed Adam and my mother something.

I was the reason they were hurting. I should have stayed and taken responsibility for their emotions, and pain. And yet, despite how awful they felt, they still let Apollo carry me out, telling him to take care of me as I was taken away.

And as expected, my adoptive mother begged for my forgiveness, crying and pleading for me to spare her and her husband. I didn’t even get the chance to respond. My real mother snapped, her anger exploding in an instant, and she struck her so hard across the face that she collapsed and fainted on the spot. I was completely

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You have to take responsibility for fe

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stunned. I hadn’t expected that.

From what I had learned about my real mother, she was not the kind of woman who forgave people. And my adoptive mother hadn’t just hidden the truth about my father; she had stolen her child and mistreated me for years. That wasn’t something that could ever be overlooked.

I had no idea what would happen to her after that, but I knew one thing, my adoptive mother’s life was over.

Did I feel bad for her? No. Not even a little.

That realization shocked me more than anything else. No matter how much they hurt me in the past, I had always given in when it came to my parents, and found excuses for them. But now, as I lay there staring at the ceiling, I felt nothing for them.

I had completely cut them off from my heart.

I closed my eyes, trying to shut everything out, when I felt something warm brush gently against my cheek.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked up at Apollo. He was leaning over me, his body hovering protectively above mine, his face so close that I could feel his breath. His gray eyes were dark, and heavy with emotion, as if he hated seeing me like this.

I stared at him for a long moment. Normally, just being this close to him would make my heart race and my mind spiral with overthinking, but now, instead of nerves, I felt calm. For the first time all day, my chest didn’t feel so tight. I felt safe, and happy, knowing he was here, by my side.

I tilted my head slightly and smiled at him. Lifting my hand, I touched his face, my fingers brushing his skin before gently pushing his black locks back from his forehead. He didn’t move, or stop me, just watched me quietly, as if every small action mattered. I traced his cheek lightly and smiled again.

“Apollo,” I said softly, my voice a little hoarse, “my life has changed ever since the first time I met you, and for some reason, you’re always there with me, through every single one of those changes.”

He didn’t respond, but his gaze never left mine. It was intense like nothing else in the world existed but me,

“Even though everything is confusing right now,” I said softly, “even though things keep changing and growing harder, there’s one thing that will never change, something that will never confuse me.” I met his eyes fully, taking in those familiar gray eyes that always seemed to see straight through me. “And that’s how I feel about you. My feelings for you will never change.

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My throat tightened, but I forced myself to keep going. “Starting tomorrow, I might not be the same woman you once knew. I might not work under you anymore. I might become colder, tougher, maybe even distant from people. But my love for you is still the same.”

My vision blurred before I could stop it, tears gathering in my eyes. I didn’t even understand why I was crying anymore. Maybe I was afraid, afraid that once I changed, once I became someone stronger, he would stop loving

1. me.

After everything that happened today, I knew I couldn’t stay the same. I couldn’t be weak anymore. I had to protect the people I loved. Still, I didn’t want to lose him.

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You have to take responsibility for me

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“Please… just love me either way,” I whispered. “I don’t want to lose you. I want-”

I didn’t get to finish.

Apollo leaned down and kissed me, his lips brushing mine softly, cutting my words short. My breath hitched in surprise, my eyes widening for just a second before I melted into the kiss. I closed my eyes and kissed him back, pouring everything I felt into that simple touch. He pulled back slightly, looked at me for a moment., then leaned in again and kissed me once more, slower this time, as if he was answering every fear I hadn’t said out loud.

When he finally pulled back, his face hovered just inches from mine.

“Apollo…” I breathed.

“You’re asking the wrong person that,” he said, his voice deep and low.

“W–what?”

“Do you think I care about any of that?” he said. “Even if you become a completely different woman. Even if you never work at my company again. Even if you grow cold. Even if one day you stop loving me. I’m never letting you go. You made someone like me fall in love with you, so you have to take responsibility for that. You have to take responsibility for me, by staying by my side.”

I stared at him, stunned, my heart pounding so hard it felt unreal. How could this be the same man everyone called cold and ruthless, the man who never looked at anyone twice, the man who never cared?

Was this a dream?

As if he could hear my thoughts, Apollo leaned closer and spoke again, his voice certain. “I love every part of you, Grace, the happy you, the sad you, the angry you.” His gaze softened, but his words only grew more resolute. “I’m so madly in love with you that it feels impossible for me to ever stop loving you.” (1)

My eyes widened at his words.

In that moment, I realized how wrong I had been to think he would ever leave just because I wanted to change. Apollo wasn’t the same man he used to be, and I wasn’t the same woman I used to be either.

And no matter how much we changed, nothing would ever change how we felt about each other.

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