Silent Strangers

SEVENTEEN

Chapter SEVENTEEN:
Tobias

The dinner was a disaster. Grace and I were both trapped in a nightmare that seemed to have no end. I could see the anger and frustration simmering beneath her surface, and I knew it was only a matter of time before it exploded.

I had to do something. I had to talk to her, to find out what she was thinking, what she was feeling.

"Dad," I said, interrupting the conversation. "I need to speak with Grace."

My father looked up, his expression a mixture of surprise and annoyance. "What is it, Tobias?"

"It's important," I insisted. "We need to talk."

My father hesitated, his eyes darting between me and Grace. Finally, he nodded. "Very well. You two can talk outside."

I stood up and motioned for Grace to follow me. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and confusion. Then, she nodded and stood up.

We walked out onto the terrace, the cool evening air a welcome respite from the stuffy dining room.

"What do you want to talk about?" Grace asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"About this," I replied, gesturing around at the mansion. "About this whole mess."

Grace's anger seemed to intensify. "You knew, didn't you?" she accused, her voice rising. "You knew about this arrangement."

I was taken aback. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice innocent.

"Don't play dumb with me, Tobias," she retorted. "You knew that I was being forced into this marriage. You knew that I was being used."

"I didn't know," I protested. "I swear."

Grace's eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me, Tobias. I can see right through you."

I tried to explain, to tell her the truth. But the more I talked, the more confused she seemed to become.

"You're just like my mother," she said, her voice filled with bitterness. "You're all in this together."

I was stunned. I had never been accused of being someone else, especially like her mother before. She was a cold, calculating woman, someone I despised just by the first glance.

"That's not true," I said, my voice rising. "I'm not like her."

"Oh, really?" Grace scoffed. "Then why are you here? Why are you playing along with this farce?"

I didn't have an answer. The truth was, I was as trapped in this mess as she was. But I couldn't admit that to her.

"I'm trying to help," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm trying to find a way out of this."

Grace's anger seemed to subside slightly. "How?" she asked, her voice softer.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The truth was, I didn't have a plan. I was just as lost as she was.

But then, an idea struck me. "We need to work together," I said. "We need to find a way to escape this."

Grace's eyes widened. "Escape?" she repeated, her voice filled with hope.

"Really?" she asked, her voice trembling with excitement.

"Yes," I said, taking her hand. "Really."

For a moment, I felt a surge of hope. Perhaps there was a way out of this nightmare after all. Perhaps Grace and I could find happiness together. But as I looked into her eyes, I couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt. This was a long shot, a gamble with everything on the line.

Suddenly, Grace's expression darkened. "You're joking, aren't you?" she shouted, her voice filled with anger. "You think you can just waltz in here and save the day?"

I pulled her into a hug, trying to calm her down. "I know this is a lot to take in, Grace," I said softly. "But I promise, we'll figure this out together."

Grace struggled against my embrace, her sobs muffled by my shirt. "How can we figure this out?" she cried. "We're trapped. We're pawns in a game we don't understand."

I held her tightly, stroking her hair. "We'll find a way," I promised. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Slowly, Grace's sobs began to subside. She leaned into me, her body trembling. I held her, offering her what comfort I could.

For a long moment, we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms. The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us. And in that moment, I knew that I would do anything to protect her, to keep her safe.