Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 43

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

As I approached the familiar facade of my house, the sunlight poured down like a spotlight, illuminating every detail of the scene before me. However, the cheerful brightness was abruptly overshadowed by the stark sight of a police car parked ominously just a few feet away. A cold dread settled in the pit of my stomach.

A police car? Here?

My heart began to race, and a whirlwind of thoughts spiraled through my mind. Was there an accident? Had something terrible happened? I instinctively scanned the neighborhood, my eyes flitting from one house to another, searching for any sign of trouble. Just as I was about to dismiss my fears and head inside, my feet froze in place. A police officer stood directly in front of our house, his posture rigid and serious.

Panic surged through me like a tidal wave.

What if something had happened to Eleanor, Wyatt, or the twins? The thought was unbearable, and I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I sprinted toward the house, urgency propelling me forward.

“Excuse me!” I called out, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation as it caught in my throat.

The officer turned, clearly startled by my sudden appearance. He straightened, his eyes scanning me quickly before a flicker of recognition crossed his face, and his brows lifted slightly.

“Wait… are you Grace?” he asked, his tone shifting from alarm to a reassuring calmness.

“I am,” I replied, nodding vigorously, my anxiety bubbling over like a shaken soda can. “Are the people inside okay?”

His gaze flickered to the house and then back to me, his brow furrowing deeper, a hint of concern etched on his features. “Yes… they’re okay.”

A wave of relief flooded over me, and I let out a shaky breath. Thank God. The thought of anything happening to them was simply unbearable.

“But… are you okay?” he pressed, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that made my stomach churn.

I blinked, caught off guard by his concern. “Huh? Why wouldn’t I be? Did something happen?”

He exhaled slowly, as if weighing his words carefully. “Please come inside first. Your friends are going to have a heart attack if they don’t see you.”

Still feeling bewildered and anxious, I followed him toward the door. As soon as I stepped inside, the atmosphere hit me like a brick wall. Wyatt’s voice, laced with urgency, echoed through the tense air.

“We’ve called everyone we could. We checked the street cameras; there’s nothing after she got in that cab…”

He stood there, flanked by another police officer, running his hand through his hair in an anxious gesture, a clear sign of the stress he had been under. On the couch, Eleanor sat with her hands covering her face, her shoulders hunched as if she were carrying the weight of the world. She looked utterly exhausted, like she hadn’t slept a wink since I went missing.

“What about her parents or siblings? Have you called them?” Wyatt asked, his voice strained, revealing the worry that had been gnawing at him.

Wyatt frowned, his hands clenching into fists. “No need. She’s no longer in contact with them.”

“Oh. Still, I think we should—”

Before he could finish, the officer who had entered with me cleared his throat and said, “Well, you guys might want to look this way.”

Everyone turned their attention towards me. Wyatt was the first to glance over, followed by Eleanor, who slowly raised her head. Their eyes locked onto mine, and a mixture of relief and worry flashed across their faces.

“Grace!” Eleanor whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. She stood up abruptly and bolted across the room.

“Wait—”

Before I could finish my sentence, she slammed into me, wrapping her arms around my neck with an intensity that took me by surprise. I stumbled back, hitting the wall behind me, my arms hovering awkwardly in the air for a moment.

“W-What happened? Are you okay?” I managed to ask, bewildered by her sudden outburst.

“What kind of question is that?” she snapped through her tears, her voice trembling. “Do I look okay to you? I was so worried; I thought something happened to you!”

I slowly wrapped my arms around her, trying to provide some comfort amidst the chaos. I looked up to meet Wyatt’s gaze. He was already making his way over, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. “We were worried about you,” he said, his voice softening. “When we came home and didn’t see you, and your phone was off, we thought something might have happened.”

Right.

My phone.

In a moment of reckless abandon, I had turned it off intentionally last night, not wanting anyone to disturb Apollo and me.

I hadn’t even considered how they must have felt walking in and finding my absence, a chilling realization creeping over me.

I gently patted Eleanor’s back, her arms still clinging to me as if I were her lifeline. “I’m sorry, I should’ve been more considerate,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Eleanor leaned back just enough to look into my face, and when she did, the tears spilled down her cheeks even harder. Her lips trembled as she attempted to say something but ultimately gave up, shaking her head and pulling me back into another tight embrace.

It took some time for her to calm down. But as her breathing finally steadied and Wyatt brought her a warm cloth, I turned my attention to the officer who had been quietly observing the emotional scene unfold.

“I apologize for the delay,” I said, standing a little taller, trying to regain my composure. “It’s my fault. I should have been more careful.”

The police officer offered a gentle smile. “It’s okay, Miss Grace. You’re an adult. I told them it’s perfectly normal for someone your age to stay out late without needing to be reported missing.”

He paused for a moment, then added with a chuckle, “You should’ve seen their faces when I said that. They looked like they wanted to murder me. Especially the woman.”

“Eleanor?”

He nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. “Yeah. It was her husband that held her back. Honestly, I think she would’ve tackled me otherwise.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought. “Sometimes Eleanor can be dramatic, but she never means harm.”

“I can see that,” he replied, glancing back at the couple. “You have good friends, Miss Grace.”

Eleanor whistled, her eyes widening. “Woah. Are all older men like that? His self-control is so good. That’s two times now.”

“You sound way too happy about this. I’m in hot shit, Eleanor.”

She smiled innocently, feigning innocence. “Am I?”

I lifted my head and exhaled, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. “The security guy saw my face. Rumors are already spreading. I can’t go to work with my real face, or everyone will know I was the one who came to see the CEO at night.”

Eleanor’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Oof. That sounds serious.” But her smirk didn’t exactly scream sympathy. If anything, she looked excited for me.

I gave her a tired look, the exhaustion creeping into my bones. “I just have to be careful. And resist the temptation of sleeping with Apollo.” I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the tension. “If I can do that, I can make it work.”

“I know you’re trying not to make mistakes, Grace,” Wyatt said suddenly, his voice steady and calm. “But have you ever thought about why? Even in your drunken state, you could’ve gone to anyone last night. Yet you chose to go to him?”

I froze, my stomach tightening at his words.

“What?”

Eleanor turned to him, squinting in confusion. “Huh? What’s up with you?” She pointed at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be the sensible one? You’re the one who’s meant to tell her to be careful.”

She wasn’t wrong. Between the two of them, Wyatt usually played the role of the voice of reason, while Eleanor often encouraged the wild side.

“I’m not saying she should sleep with her boss,” Wyatt said as he stood and stretched, the tension in the room shifting slightly. “I just think maybe she should stop overthinking everything, stop trying so hard to be perfect, and just do what she wants.”

I stared at him, his words hanging in the air like a heavy fog.

Do what I want?

God. Did he have any idea how dangerous that could be?

Especially if what I wanted was that devil of a man.

In the aftermath of the chaos, as I sat nestled between Wyatt and Eleanor, the weight of my choices began to settle into clarity. The panic that had surged through me upon seeing the police car morphed into a deeper understanding of my own fears and desires. I realized that my friends’ concern was not just about my safety but about the tangled web of emotions I was navigating. The warmth of Eleanor’s embrace and the calm reassurance in Wyatt’s voice reminded me that I was not alone in this journey. They were my anchors, grounding me as I faced the repercussions of my reckless decisions. The laughter that followed, even amidst the tension, was a testament to the bonds we shared, a reminder that love and friendship could weather any storm.

As I contemplated Wyatt’s words, urging me to embrace my desires instead of overthinking them, a flicker of hope ignited within me. Perhaps it was time to stop hiding from the complexities of my feelings for Apollo and instead confront them head-on. The fear of what could happen was daunting, but so was the realization that life was too short to live in the shadows of uncertainty. With my friends by my side, I felt a renewed sense of courage. I was ready to explore the possibilities that lay ahead, knowing that no matter the outcome, I had a support system that would catch me if I fell. Across distant skies, hope awaited, and maybe, just maybe, it was time for me to reach for it.

**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**

In the upcoming chapter of “Across Distant Skies Lies Hope Waiting To Be Found,” readers can anticipate a profound exploration of Grace’s internal struggle as she grapples with her feelings for Apollo. The tension between her yearning for freedom and the weight of her responsibilities grows heavier, pushing Grace to confront the choices she’s made and the consequences that follow. Will she succumb to the temptation that threatens to unravel her carefully constructed life, or will she muster the strength to resist?

As her friends rally around her, the dynamics of their relationships will be put to the test, revealing hidden truths and unspoken fears that could alter everything. Furthermore, unexpected news will send shockwaves through their tight-knit group, as a revelation about Apollo’s past surfaces, forcing Grace to reevaluate her feelings and the implications of her actions. The police presence from the previous chapter will also resurface, hinting at a larger mystery that could jeopardize not only Grace’s newfound autonomy but also her friendships. With each twist, readers will be left on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating how Grace will navigate the intricate web of love, loyalty, and self-discovery that lies ahead.