Heart Me

Chapter 14

Grace’s heart pounded in her chest. What was going on between them? She strained to hear more, but their voices dropped to a whisper. Finally she heard footsteps approaching, and quickly ducked back around the corner. She held her breath, her heart racing as she listened to Simon and Mia's conversation fade away into the distance. The moment they were out of earshot, Grace exhaled slowly, her mind buzzing with questions. What were they hiding, and how was Simon involved?

The next morning, Grace woke up with a sense of urgency. She needed to confront Simon, but she had to be careful. If he and Mia were in on something together, she couldn't afford to tip her hand too soon. She dressed quickly and made her way downstairs, hoping to catch Simon before he left for the day.

In the breakfast area, she found him sitting alone, nursing a cup of coffee. She approached, her steps quiet but determined.

"Hey, Simon," she greeted, sliding into the chair opposite him.

Simon looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes before he smiled. "Morning, Grace. What's up?"

Grace took a deep breath. "I couldn't help but notice you and Mia talking last night. It seemed... intense. Is everything okay?"

Simon's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Yeah, just some stuff we're dealing with. Nothing to worry about."

Grace wasn't convinced. "Look, Simon, if there's something going on, you can tell me. I'm worried about Mia, especially after what happened with Lily."

Simon's gaze hardened slightly. "Grace, it's really nothing. Just trust me, okay?"

Grace opened her mouth to press further, but Kayla and Nate walked in, effectively ending the conversation. Simon stood up, giving Grace a pointed look before joining the others.

Frustrated but undeterred, Grace decided to shift her focus back to Mia. She needed to catch her alone again, and this time, she wouldn't be so easily swayed by Mia's charm.

The day passed in a blur of sightseeing and idle chatter. Grace kept a close eye on Mia, waiting for the right moment. It finally came in the late afternoon when they decided to visit the local market. Amidst the bustling crowd, Grace saw Mia slip away from the group, heading toward a secluded alley.

Grace followed, her heart pounding. She rounded the corner just in time to see Mia slip into a small, unmarked building. She hesitated for a moment before steeling herself and following.

Inside, the building was dimly lit and filled with the musty smell of old paper. Grace crept through the narrow hallway, her footsteps silent on the worn wooden floor. She could hear voices coming from a room up ahead.

Peering around the corner, she saw Mia talking to an older woman, her face etched with concern. The woman was holding a stack of papers, and from the snatches of conversation Grace could hear, it sounded like they were discussing something serious.

"...can't keep doing this," the woman was saying. "It's too dangerous."

Mia shook her head. "I don't have a choice. If I don't find out who hurt Lily, none of us are safe."

Grace's eyes widened. Mia was investigating the attack too? The realization hit her like a freight train. Maybe Mia wasn't the enemy after all. But then why the secrecy?

Before she could process this new information, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Tristan standing there, a curious look on his face.

"Grace, what are you doing?" he asked, his voice low.

Grace motioned for him to be quiet and pulled him aside. "I followed Mia. She's meeting with someone about Lily's attack. We need to listen."

Tristan nodded, his expression serious. They both leaned closer to the doorway, straining to hear more of the conversation.