Chapter 4 - The House of Glass
Grace sat in the plush leather chair of Caleb’s home office, trying to keep Lily calm. She felt like an intruder in a space where she usually only entered to dust or organize files. The room was a monument to wealth—mahogany, brass, and rare books—but for the first time, it didn't feel cold.
When Caleb entered, he looked as though he had aged ten years in ten minutes. He didn't look at Grace; he walked to his desk and poured himself a glass of water, his hands slightly trembling.
"She’s gone," he said simply. "I’ve had my security escort her off the property. Everything she brought here is being packed and sent to her family’s estate. It’s over."
Grace stood up, her hand on Lily’s shoulder. "Mr. Westbrook, I’m so sorry. I didn't mean to cause a scene."
Caleb finally looked at her. The distance that usually defined their interaction was gone. "Grace, you didn't cause a scene. You exposed a reality. I’ve spent three years with a woman who measures people by their net worth. I thought I was in love with a partner, but I was living with a mirror that only reflected what I wanted to see."
He walked over to Lily, who was busy looking at a framed photo on his desk. "Thank you for the journal, Lily. I’m going to write in it every day. I promise."
"Will you write about princesses?" Lily asked.
May you like
Caleb laughed, a genuine, startled sound. "Yes. I think I’ll write about princesses. And about kindness."
He turned back to Grace. "I’ve done a lot of thinking in the last few minutes. I’ve been a distant employer. I’ve paid my staff, but I haven't really seen them. That changes tonight."
