Five Years, A Fading Love

Chapter 3

Word Count: 752 | Released on: 22/07/2025

on her. Cayla moved like an automaton, cleaning a

were her only treasures: a faded photo of her and Justen, a dri

f his face in the photo,

ered to the silent image. "I don'

t. It was Grafton. His voice was cold

c cake from a bakery acros

dead before sh

broken. Rain lashed

, then closed the box. She picked up an

e bought the cake, she was soaked to the bone,

ouse. Cherrelle, wrapped in a cashm

oice. "You'll get the floor dirty." She turned to Grafton,

Cayla's drenched form, h

ace. "It's too sweet. I don't like it. Go get me

ter dripping from her hair onto the m

ck out into

c coffee that had to be bought from a cafe an hour away. A book that was only available at a specialty stor

finally declared herself satisf

ored. Let's have a party. An

, who had come ov

rooks said. "He's severely allerg

Cherrelle insisted, her eyes welling u

orter, finally snapped. "A test? You want him to r

sobs, turning to Grafton for com

, picked up a glass of

been standing silently in the corner, suddenl

?" Grafton demanded

ice raspy from her fever. "Or worse." She turned

el, triumphant gleam in

a small packet of allergy pills and shoved th

started

harsh liquor burning her throat and stomach

nuckles white. A dull, throbbing pain started in his chest. He watch

ok for him. The business deal she saved by working for 72 hou

eant nothing. That her devotion

soning herself for him, h

e. He had to love Cherrelle. He repeated it to himself like a mantra,

Chapter End

Claim Your Bonus at the APP

Open

Five Years, A Fading Love

Winnie Suchoff Romance

“For five years, I was Grafton Mcleod's shadow. I wasn't just his assistant; I was his alibi, his shield, the one who cleaned up his messes. Everyone thought I was in love with him. They were wrong. I did it all for his brother, Justen-the man I truly loved, who made me promise on his deathbed to look after Grafton. The five years were up. My promise was fulfilled. I handed in my resignation, ready to finally grieve in peace. But that very night, Grafton's cruel girlfriend, Cherrelle, dared him to a deadly street race he couldn't win. To save his life, I took the wheel for him. I won the race but crashed the car, waking up in a hospital bed. Grafton accused me of doing it for attention, then left to comfort Cherrelle over a sprained ankle. He believed her lies when she said I pushed her, shoving me against a wall so hard my head wound split open again. He stood by while she forced me to drink glass after glass of whiskey he was deathly allergic to, calling it a test of loyalty. The final humiliation came at a charity auction. To prove his love for Cherrelle, he put me on the stage and sold me for the night to another man. I had endured five years of hell to honor a dead man's last wish, and this was my reward. After escaping the man who bought me, I went to the bridge where Justen died. I sent Grafton one last text: "I'm going to be with the man I love." Then, with nothing left to live for, I jumped.”