Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 88

**Across Distant Skies Lies Hope Waiting To Be Found by Kade Rowan Flint 88**

A half-priced Barbie knockoff

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**Grace**

“Cheers!”

The jubilant shout reverberated around the restaurant, the sound of clinking glasses creating a symphony of celebration. I plastered a smile on my face, trying to mirror the enthusiasm of everyone gathered at the table. Laughter erupted like fireworks, and Mr. Aiden was at the center of it all, his face flushed and his mirth bordering on raucous.

Yet, I found myself lowering my glass without ever taking a sip.

To my side, River tilted his head ever so slightly, his glass raised high. He looked down at me, an eyebrow quirked in curiosity.

I caught his gaze and let out a nervous laugh, the sound feeling awkward in the air. “Oh, I don’t drink. I mean, I’m not really supposed to.”

River placed his glass back on the table, his lips curving into a gentle, understanding smile. “Not supposed to?”

A wave of heat surged up my neck, and I instinctively pressed my hands to my thighs, as if to ground myself. Memories crashed over me like a tidal wave, relentless and unforgiving. Each time I indulged in alcohol, it spiraled into chaos, always leading me back to Apollo. The memories were vivid: the way I lost myself, how I forgot he was my boss, and how that reckless side of me would emerge, begging for his touch. I’d humiliated myself time and again, drowning in the shame of it all. Alcohol wasn’t merely a bad influence; it was a treacherous enemy, the source of every catastrophe I had endured.

The weight of that shame made me want to shrink into nothingness, to vanish beneath the table.

I managed to keep my smile intact, determined to mask the turmoil within. “I’m just not very good at controlling my alcohol.”

River scrutinized me for a moment, and I braced myself for some playful teasing, but before he could utter a word, Aiden slammed his palm against the table with a force that made me flinch. My eyes shot to him, startled.

“Newbies! Why aren’t you drinking? It’s your party; you should be completely wasted by now!” He leaned forward, his eyes glazed over with excitement. “Come on, drink!”

My mouth opened, but no words formed. What could I say? Refusing would label me as the uptight party pooper, while giving in would mean willingly stepping into a trap.

As I fumbled for an excuse, River took action. Without uttering a single word, he lifted his glass and tilted it back, downing the contents in a single, smooth motion. Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, he reached for my glass.

My breath hitched in my throat, a mix of surprise and alarm.

He raised my glass to his lips and finished it off.

The entire table fell silent, the shock evident in their expressions, mirroring my own disbelief.

River wiped his mouth casually with the back of his hand and set the now-empty glass down with a soft clink. Turning to Aiden, he declared, “She doesn’t drink. I’ll take hers.”

Everyone stared at him as if he had just launched a declaration of war.

Aiden burst into laughter. “Hahaha! Looks like the heartthrob’s heart has already been claimed!” He slapped the table again, nearly spilling his drink in his enthusiasm. “I pity those still trying so hard!”

Beside me, River’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he leaned forward, ready to defend me.

I caught his hand beneath the table, squeezing it gently.

His hazel eyes snapped to mine, concern etched across his face. “Grace…”

I offered him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I can handle this.”

“Are you certain?”

I nodded, a newfound conviction surging within me. Perhaps I had allowed people to walk all over me in the past. Perhaps I had swallowed every insult and kept my head down, pretending it didn’t matter. But that was no longer who I wanted to be. The night I visited Apollo’s house, I vowed I would no longer be anyone’s quiet little fool.

I turned my gaze back to Piper, meeting her smug expression with one of my own.

My lips curled into a confident smile. “Says the woman who looks like a half-priced Barbie knockoff, one more facelift away from her nose falling off.”

The silence that followed was deafening, a stunned hush enveloping the table.

Eyes widened, and jaws dropped at my unexpected retort. Even the sales team seemed frozen, blinking in disbelief.

Someone let out a strangled laugh, desperately trying to suppress it. Piper’s face drained of color, her smile twitching before vanishing entirely.