Chapter 1357: Taken at 32

Grace’s eyes dilated as she briefly held her breath, her brows rising in surprise. There, standing not far from her vantage point, was Haines. He was leaning against the wall across from her, tapping his cane on the floor.

DING!

As the sound of his phone faded, he caught a figure from the corner of his eye. Slowly, Haines turned his head and met Grace’s gaze. He peeled his back from the wall, saying nothing as he stared at her.

After a moment, Grace resumed her steps and stopped two paces from him. "You came?" she asked almost playfully. "I just sent you a text. Didn’t know I’d get a response so soon."

A shallow breath escaped Haines, his mouth parting. But no words came out.

Are you sick?

Since when?

Who else knows?

You should tell Penny.

Does your mother know?

And... why one month? How long do you have left?

There were countless questions Haines wanted to ask her. So many questions, but little to no answers. And all he could do was stare, trying to mask the sympathy in his eyes. To be honest, he didn’t even know why he was here. All he remembered was thinking about Grace’s cancer, and now... here he was.

Grace tilted her head, her brows rising. "Hello?" she called playfully. "You’re just staring at me, and I’m fighting the urge to check if I have a booger in my nose."

"One month," Haines blurted out, his jaw clenching as he immediately regretted saying it.

"Hmm?"

"One month, and it’s over," Haines continued, knowing he couldn’t take those words back. It was the least he could do. A month was nothing to him. But perhaps, it meant the world to her.

A part of him knew this was wrong—not just the age gap but also the reason behind his agreement. And if she knew why he was agreeing, she would probably reject it. But she didn’t need to know that he already knew about her condition.

Deep lines appeared between Grace’s brows, confused. "What?"

"From today at... 11:47, our one-month trial starts," he said, checking his wristwatch. "After one month, exactly at this time, you will not bother me again. Unless it’s absolutely necessary."

"..."

"I will send you messages three times a day—good morning, good afternoon, and goodnight. You said I have to call you whenever I miss you, so don’t expect any calls from me. We’ll have four dates. Four Sundays," Haines continued in one breath. "Lastly, no one has to know about this arrangement. It’s only a month, and if my family gets involved, they’ll get invested. I don’t want them bothering me after this ordeal."

Haines paused and exhaled faintly. "Those are my conditions. If you agree, then I’m yours for a month."

"..."

Grace blinked, then blinked again, her eyes never leaving his. Listening was one of her strong suits, so she heard him loud and clear. But for a moment, she lagged.

"You... are agreeing to date me for a month?"

"Yes."

"And all you want from me is to keep your family out of it?"

"You know them," he said. "I would have asked for a contract, but I’ll settle for a trust collateral. I don’t want them worrying. You’re Penny’s friend, and I don’t intend to ruin your friendship over this arrangement."

Slowly, Grace’s lips curled. She bit her bottom lip to suppress a laugh. "Really?"

"Mhm." He nodded.

"Well," she crossed her arms under her chest, smacking her lips. "Four dates is too little, though."

"I’ll attend your birthdays."

Her brows rose. "You’ll celebrate them with me on top of the dates?"

"Yes."

"Okay...?" she hummed, considering his words. "Then I’ll choose when and where for our dates."

Haines thought for a second before nodding. "Fine. Let me know beforehand so I can prepare."

"I’m a simple woman, so you don’t have to worry about where." She winked at him. Then she checked her wristwatch, smiling as she looked back at him. "Two minutes before my 32nd birthday ends... and I’m officially taken at 32."

The two stared at each other, her mouth slightly curled, eyes glinting with amusement. Haines, on the other hand, just stared, unsure whether what he was doing was foolish or the right thing. But one thing he knew for sure was... if he could offer even a little comfort to a dying person, then he wouldn’t mind doing just that.

Giving her a month of his life shouldn’t be a problem. Not when he had already given his youth, his heart, and everything to someone who might never return.

****

The next day...

Grace opened her eyes. The usual morning grogginess was absent. She simply lay there, fully awake, staring at the ceiling.

DING!

Her phone pinged. Without sitting up, she stretched her arm toward the bedside table, grabbing it. Holding it over her face, she checked the message.

[From: Haines

Good morning.]

"Pfft—" She stifled a laugh, staring at the dry message. "This is the best he could do? Is this why he’s been single all his life?"

Grace bit her bottom lip, eyes squinting as a suppressed giggle escaped her. Clearing her throat, she texted back.

[To: Haines

Don’t forget my birthday celebration later.]

Haines didn’t reply. As expected.

"Don’t tell me he’s actually going to stick to just three messages a day?" she mused, tossing her phone aside. Staring at the ceiling, a question lingered in her mind.

"Why did he suddenly agree to my one-month offer?" She pondered for a good three minutes before shrugging.

"Never mind the reason. It’s my first day in a relationship." And even though it was only a trial, in her mind, if this month showed promise, then they could always extend the subscription.

Grace flung the blanket off of her, flinging her legs out of the bed. She went straight to the curtain, pulling it to the side. The first ray of the morning sun immediately hit her face, her mouth stretching until her teeth were fully displayed.

"Good morning," she whispered, smiling. "Mr. Sunshine."