Aries Cain stood alone in the hallway, his body leaning heavily against the cold wall. The dampness of his suit clung to him, a stark reminder of the spectacle he had endured. But his focus wasn't on the humiliation; it was on the handkerchief crumpled in his hand.
He stared at the delicate fabric, his expression clouded with pain and regret. His fingers tightened around it, almost as if by holding it he could reclaim the warmth and meaning it once carried.
Slowly, he lifted the handkerchief to his chest, pressing it close to his heart as his eyes fell shut. The faint crease in his brow deepened as he tilted his face toward the sky, letting out a soft, uneven breath.
It was in this fragile moment that Grace Vale stepped outside. Her movements were hesitant at first, but when she saw him—his quiet anguish written across every line of his face—her chest tightened. She hadn't wanted to confront him, hadn't wanted to face the consequences of her helplessness in that room, but seeing him now left her with no choice.
She approached cautiously, her footsteps muffled against the polished floor. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion.
Aries opened his eyes slowly, his gaze lowering to meet hers. There was no anger in his expression, no bitterness—only quiet understanding. "You don't owe me anything," he replied evenly, his tone steady despite the heaviness in his voice.
Grace shook her head. "I still want to thank you," she said, her voice growing firmer. "Even if it wasn't for me, what you did... it helped."
Aries didn't respond immediately, his gaze flickering back to the handkerchief. He shifted slightly, his shoulders relaxing just enough to betray the tension he carried.
"I'm sorry," Grace blurted out, her words breaking the silence between them.
Aries raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting to one of quiet curiosity. "Why?"
Grace hesitated, her hands clenching nervously at her sides. She glanced at the handkerchief, its edges frayed ever so slightly, and felt a pang of guilt stab through her chest. "It looks like that handkerchief is very special to you," she said finally. "And you had to sacrifice it for me. I shouldn't have let that happen."
For the first time, Aries's gaze softened completely. He looked down at the handkerchief again, turning it over in his hand as if searching for the right words. "My mother gave it to me," he said quietly. "It's the only thing I have left of her. It's... always been close to my heart."
The weight of his confession settled heavily between them, but it didn't end there. Grace's mind reeled with the sudden realization that she, too, had mistreated the handkerchief. She recalled the way she had angrily thrown it onto the grass, mistaking his gesture for pity. Her chest burned with shame.
"I—I'm so sorry," Grace stammered, her voice shaking as she spoke. "I didn't know. I thought... I thought you were pitying me. I didn't realize—"
"I know," Aries interrupted,"I know you didn't do that intentionally.So,it's fine," his voice firm but calm. He lifted his gaze to meet hers, and the intensity in his dark eyes made her breath catch. "It's not fine for just anyone. But for You... it's fine."
The words hung heavily in the air, each syllable carrying an unspoken weight. Grace felt her heart lurch painfully, the heaviness of his quiet acceptance pressing against her chest. She couldn't meet his gaze any longer. Instead, she lowered her eyes and cleared her throat, forcing herself to refocus.
"You shouldn't try to help me," she said quickly, her voice taking on an edge of determination. "You shouldn't pity me. It's not going to end well for you."
Aries's expression didn't change, but the intensity in his gaze seemed to deepen. Grace didn't wait for a reply. She turned abruptly, her movements brisk as she walked away from him. Her heart felt impossibly heavy, a storm of emotions swirling within her as she tried to push it all aside.
But just as she thought she had escaped, she felt a sudden pull on her hand.
She stopped, her breath hitching as her eyes darted to the source. Aries stood behind her, his grip gentle but firm, his dark eyes searching hers with a quiet desperation that she couldn't ignore.