Filthy rich werewolves by Taylor Caine

Chapter 74

GUS

I recall the first time I encountered Grace.

Back then, I had just gotten off work and had noticed her squatting by the roadside. She had been

continuously comforting a young girl who was bawling. She had sung and jumped, making all sorts of

funny poses as if she did not care at all about the strange glances coming from the surrounding crowd.

Ultimately, she had succeeded and the little girl had stopped crying.

Then, she bought a pretzel for the little girl to eat on the spot. She called the police and waited there,

intending to see if the little girl's family would come looking for her.

In the end, the police and the little girl's family did arrive.

The child had wandered off and gotten really lost, walking the city alone for hours. The parents were

trainwrecks, crying and offering Grace their life savings for protecting and finding their daughter.

Grace had only laughed and refused to accept a penny from them.

When the parents had left with the little girl in their arms, she had stood studying the backs of the family

with a content smile.

At that time, I felt as if his heart had been stolen straight out of my chest. It wasn’t just Grace’s beauty.

But her kindness. Her gentility. The quiet way she made the world a little bit better.

I did not know if it was love at first sight but I knew that it was the first time in my life that I could ever

imagine spending my life with someone. Starting a family.

“Grace,” I tell her softly. “There is so much more to you than a mistake in your past.”

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears.

“I’m not trying to upset you,” I say.

She gives a lopsided smile. “I know. I’m almost crying because you are so kind.”

She takes a deep breath, swipes her eyes, and then is all business again.

"Even if you don't mind, what about your parents?” Grace asks me. “Would they also not mind you

marrying a woman who's been in prison?" Grace asked.

My stomach drops.

No, my parents would not be okay with such a marriage.

“Marriage is not only an affair between two people. It's also a matter between two families. Please,

don’t seek to do something that will bring shame upon you or your family, Gus.” She laughs now but it

is without humor. “Besides, I don’t think you really want to get involved with my family.”

Grace walks past me to the sink to wash her hands. She keeps her back to me. “I don’t have the

feelings for you that you seek. Please… don’t waste your time on me." Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Her words are like a dump truck.

Crushing me.

Just as Grace finishes washing her hands and goes to leave, I suddenly say, "What if I can persuade

my parents..."

She halts her footsteps. "That's impossible. If I really liked you, I would still be willing to stay by your

side even if your parents disagreed and I would be with you till your parents gave us their blessing.

However, I only see you as a friend and feel no love toward you."

Forget about a dump truck.

She’s steamrolling over me, grinding my emotions to dust.

I stand there and watch her leave.

I follow her progress all the way out of the center and into the arms of another man…