Chapter 25
Grace had always suspected Jeffrey’s feelings for her.
But the things Jonah had just revealed were completely new to her.
Jeffrey was a wonderful person. Being around him felt like basking in warm sunlight, comfortable and easy.
But…
After Antonio’s betrayal, Grace found she had no interest in love.
“Jonah, I’m not ready for anything like that right now.
She murmured, pressing her lips together. “He’s a great guy, but there’s no need for him to waste his time on me.
Η
Jonah studied her for a moment, then nodded. “I understand.”
Soon after, Grace began preparing for her trip abroad. Nancy, worried as ever, asked Jonah to find a seasoned traveler to accompany her. But Jonah simply glanced at Grace and refused. “Mom, you need to trust her. She’s twenty–five–she can take care of herself. Besides, we have branch offices. all over the world. Most of the places she’ll stay are our own properties. What are you so worried about?”
Nancy clung to Grace’s hand. “Do you really have to leave so soon? You just got home.”
Grace wrapped her arms around her mother. “Mom, I’m just going to clear my head for a bit. I’ll be back in a few months. Once I’ve had my fun, I promise I’ll stay by your side, okay?”
She knew this felt a little ungrateful. After all, she’d just returned, but the
past three months had drained her completely. She needed space to breathe.
Or maybe she just wanted to be alone.
A week later, Grace boarded a plane to Draywick. Her first stop was a national museum there, and from there she traveled west, passing through Thornwick, and finally arriving in Velmora.
The island was a sea of white, stretching out toward the deep blue horizon. Grace stood there, feeling the ocean breeze on her skin. For the first time, she felt truly at peace.
She had always wanted to visit Velmora.
Years ago, she’d heard that lovers should see the Lunaris Sea at least once, that Velmora was a place where love blossomed.
She used to pester Antonio, begging him to bring her here.
But Antonio had taken her to Elarion, carefully avoiding Nyhaven. He’d taken her to other places but steered clear of Draywick. Looking back, it seemed like he had deliberately avoided places tied to love.
Grace smiled faintly.
Antonio had said he realized he loved her too late.
But Grace believed that if you truly loved someone, you wouldn’t avoid anything. Your heart would naturally gravitate toward what it desired..
What Grace didn’t know, though, was that Antonio had avoided those places precisely because his heart betrayed him.
He was desperately denying his feelings for her.
But for Grace, none of that mattered anymore. The truth, whatever it was, was irrelevant now.
10:45
Because she loved Velmora so much, Grace decided to stay for a month.
A week into her stay on the island, she encountered someone unexpected.
Jeffrey appeared, carrying a canvas and a bucket of paint. When he saw her, there was no pretense in his expression. He simply smiled and said, “I gave Jonah a yacht and bugged him for days until he finally told me your whereabouts. Don’t be mad at him.”
race blinked, surprised. She shook her head. “Of course not. But how id you find me here? I haven’t even told Jonah I’m in Velmora.”
“That’s true,” Jeffrey said, his smile deepening.
“But I guessed it right.”
“Guessed?”
“Yeah. I’ve seen so many of your paintings. I like to think I understand you a little. So, I headed west, hoping I’d get lucky and run into you.”
Jeffrey leaned against a low wall, his eyes soft. “I once heard that if two people are meant to be, no matter how far they go, they’ll find each other again. So I thought, if I can find you, it means we’re fated. But if I can’t even find you, maybe it’s time I think twice about my choice.”
Grace looked at him. “Well… you found me.”
