Chapter 20

Grace's fingers were curled up in fists somewhere between her head and Lucas' chest as she cried. She never thought that she could feel safe and protected, that someone, other than her sister, would care.

But now…now it felt like the weight of the world was lifted from her shoulders…

Like someone actually cared for her.

And she could finally dare to breathe again.

Lucas gently caressed her hair, letting her cry her anguish out.

He heard her silently mumble something, but didn't' understand what as the words were lost in the space between her lips and his chest.

"What was that, Grace?", he gently asked, pulling away slightly to be able to look at her.

Grace took a shivering breath in.

"Thank you, Lucas…I am not used to people doing something for me", she whispered, barely audible.

Lucas felt his heart breaking at her words.

"How is that possible? You give so much to others, you are so kind and generous…", Lucas tried to convince her, but she was too deep in her own pain to really hear him.

She looked up at him, eyes filled with new tears.

"What Patrick says is true, Lucas. Nobody ever wanted me", a shivering sob escaped her "Lillian was eight and I was five when our parents died. We were together for a few months in one orphanage before Lillian was adopted. I was left alone. I missed my sister, the only family I had left. I cried for days and nobody cared. Nobody reached out to comfort me. So, I ran away", she swallowed another sob "I ran away from one orphanage to another. Lived on the streets for days before I reached it. No one ever looked at me", her eyes squeezed shut in pain "The next orphanage was huge. There were probably 150-200 kids inside", she shook her head "And you would get lost among so many parentless kids. I was just one of many. I was only a number", her voice cracked "Nobody cared, Lucas. Nobody", she gulped 'So, I ran away again. And again. And again. Until I was of age and was able to find a job. All I ever wanted was to find Lillian again. To have her back in my life. But, for all those years I was all alone, Lucas", she let out a shivering breath, looking down at the floor.

Only to see Lucas' hands reaching out for her palms. She let him take them and watched as his thumbs gently brushed her knuckles.

"Grace", she heard his silent, deep voice "Grace, look at me".

Grace swallowed tears that were trying to break her down as she looked up at Lucas' brown eyes that watched her with such warmth and gentleness that it caused her breath to accelerate.

Gently squeezing Grace's fingers Lucas started to speak.

"Grace… Losing your parents so young and having your sister snatched away so fast after that tragedy left you without people who loved you sincerely. That kind of thing would break down a grown up person, let alone a child. People can get so self-absorbed that they give no thought about the others. Lack of empathy very often equals cruelty. What you fail to realize and admit to yourself is that you are a survivor, Grace. A survivor and a fighter. You may not have anyone by your side to support you for years, but you forget that you had yourself. It was your will, your strength and your bravery that pulled you through. You are too hard on yourself and that's blocking you from seeing yourself the way I see you", he gave her a cautious, gentle smile "You change lives of people around you. These kids worship the ground you walk upon. Little girls in this orphanage look up to you. In fact, when Anna was helping me to make pancakes, she told me how I should make the batch for them, saying that it is how you make it and that it is the best way because it's Grace's way. These kids feel safe and loved with you by their side because they know you understand the pain they are going through", he gently caressed her knuckles with his thumbs as he continued "Lillian loves you with all her heart and I can see that she is still terrified of possibility of you being taken away from her. She would do anything for you", slowly, he picked up her hands and placed their joined palms on the left side of his chest where she could feel his steady heartbeat as he whispered "And so would I", as he watched her eyes slightly widen at his words, Lucas continued "Never be afraid of talking to me. Whatever troubles you, you can confide in me. I will always be there for you when you need me, Grace. Always. Don't ever forget that".

A silent sob escaped Grace's throat as she took in every word Lucas said.

"Lucas…", she whispered "You are too good to me", she slightly sniffed before offering a wobbling smile "Thank you. So much", she managed to mumble before a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

Crying, she leaned her forehead on their joined palms and heard him whisper:

"And don't you worry about Patrick. I will take care of that. I will make sure that he never comes near you again", Lucas gritted his teeth, anger waking up inside him at the mere thought of how that scoundrel treated this amazing woman.

Grace shivered and slightly pulled away to look back at him.

"Lucas… Please be careful. His Father is a very influential and dangerous man", she whispered.

He gave her a small, but warm smile and caressing her knuckles with his thumb Lucas whispered back:

"I will. Don't worry."

—--

Lucas and Gustave stopped their car in front of the Police station.

Gustave watched as his cousin pulled up a collar of his coat fighting the chill in the air as they walked toward the entrance.

"Just stay calm, mon frère. It won't help mademoiselle Grace if you go in there and strangle the man", Gustave warned him gently.

Lucas glanced at him.

"That's why you are coming with me. To make sure I don't end up murdering that bastard", he growled, feeling his blood boil.

"Bien sûr, mon frère", Gustave said seriously and they entered the building.