Page 96 of Shattered By Grace

And as if the universe itself had turned against her, thunder cracked overhead, shattering what had once been a beautiful morning.

“Tristan,” Tyson said sternly, making Victoria jump. His gaze shifted directly to her. For a brief moment, she saw the pain in his eyes.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Tyson?” Tristan snapped, pulling away from the lethal person he’d just been in front of Victoria. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“Dad’s getting tired of waiting. You need to come. We have family matters to discuss.” Tyson stood there, picking at nothing on his black shirt, which had wet spots from the rain pouring down.

“Again, kind of busy here.” Tristan raised his hand in Victoria’s direction, moving it up and down like she was on display with venom in his voice.

“I’m sure she can find something to do for an hour while you handle business.” Tyson looked at Victoria with such distaste that it made her drop her gaze to the floor. “Can’t you, Grace?”

Victoria braced herself, waiting for Tristan to correct him, to force her to explain the whole story again.

But he didn’t. Shock rippled through her. Why wasn’t he saying anything?

Her mind raced.

“I can call Taylor to come get me,” she said, though the words felt hollow. She looked at Tristan, eyes pleading him to fight for her. To not push her away.

Then it hit her. Her phone. She hadn’t seen it since the attack at the gym.

Shit.

Panic licked up her spine, but before she could ask if he’d seen it, Tristan moved. Tension coiled in his frame, anger simmering beneath his skin as he stepped closer. Close enough that only she could hear him. His voice was low, firm—almost desperate.

“Stay here. We have things to discuss when I get back. Make yourself at home,” he said, but there was no warmth in his tone,just something hollow.

Then, without warning, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

The simple gesture sent a jolt through her, confusing the hell out of her.

What the hell was that?

It wasn’t tender. It wasn’t reassuring. It felt like a contradiction, like he was telling her to stay while already pulling away. She searched his cold eyes, desperate for something—anything—but there was nothing. Just emptiness.

Then he turned and followed Tyson out the door, leaving her standing there, lost and confused.

The door clicked shut.

And that’s when it hit her again.

Shit.

Heart pounding, she ran after them, yanking the door open, only to stop short as the rain poured down in sheets.

Damn.

Tristan was about to slide into the car when she screamed his name.

He looked up, and for a fleeting second, she saw him. The confident, cocky ass she was falling for. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.

“What are you doing?” he called over the rain. “You’re going to get sick.”

Victoria let out a breathy laugh. “You don’t get sick from cold rain,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I don’t have my phone. It’s at the gym, and I need to check on my patients.”

Tristan sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. “We’ll go get it. Stay inside. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

And just like that, he slid into the car with effortless ease, disappearing behind tinted windows.

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