Reflections

By M.E. Clayton

When you’re always handed everything that you’ve ever wanted, you don’t know any different.

Until you do.

Grace
Grace Hale had it all and that wasn’t an exaggeration. At the top of the food chain at Blackstone Prep Academy, Grace’s life was as perfect as you’d suspect it to be. She was beautiful, smart, popular, and her parents were the wealthiest in town. However, along with all those redeeming qualities, she was also snobby, judgmental, condescending, and all around horrible to the people deemed beneath her.

When a moral tragedy strikes, Grace finds herself questioning everything she’s ever believed. The horror of just what an awful person she is really hits her, and it hits her hard. Tangling with a lot of regret and shame, Grace decides she no longer wants to be that person, but forgiveness comes hard and at a steep, steep price. Even though Grace would like forgiveness, not everyone is in a forgiving mood.

Styx
Styx Reinhart knew hard work and he thrived on it. As one of the not wealthy students busting his ass to attend Blackstone Prep Academy, Styx’s life was all about graduating and his future. He was good-looking, honest, musically gifted, and had an off-the-charts IQ. However, along with all those redeeming qualities, Styx was also jaded, closed-off, private, and ignored almost all the students at BPA.

When the biggest mistake of his life approaches him after two years, Styx’s buried anger rises to the surface in a wave of disgust. With only one year left to go at Blackstone, the last thing he needs are distractions. He’s worked too hard to get to where he is, and he’s not about to let anything derail his life’s plan. Certainly, not the one thing he regrets most in the world.

When shame and regret are just the beginning...
Aware that she doesn’t deserve a second chance, that still doesn’t stop Grace from doing her best to be a better person. However, the struggle to forgive herself feels a lot like a losing battle every time she sees Styx Reinhart. Even knowing there’s not an apology big enough, she still has to try.

Aware that it would be the height of stupidity to ever give Grace Hale the time of day again, that still doesn’t stop Styx from wondering what she’s up to. However, noticing the changes in her, he wishes he go back to pretending she doesn’t exist. Even knowing she’s heartless, he still finds himself intrigued.

With a past too hurtful to overcome, the odds are stacked against them. Grace can never be sorry enough and Styx can never trust her again. Still, anything worth your love is worth the fight.

NOTE: This book contains adult language, adult situations, explicit sexual encounters, and violence. If sensitive to any of the aforementioned issues, please do not purchase.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.E. Clayton
• Release date: Sep 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463740378

M.E. Clayton

M.E. Clayton works fulltime and writes as a hobby only. She is also an avid reader and Pinterest addict. When she's not working, reading, writing, or on Pinterest, she is spending time with her family and friends, or her dog, Boy, or her cat, Seatbelt. She lives in California with her husband and enjoys doing nothing but reading. Seriously. She does nothing but read. However, that's how she likes it.

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Reflections

Copyright 2020 Monica Clayton

Published by M.E. Clayton

All Rights Reserved

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. The entire content is a product of the author’s imagination and all names, places, businesses, and incidences are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), places or occurrences, is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner, whatsoever, without the express written consent from the author, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Formatting: Smashwords

Cover: Adobe Stock

Warning: This book contains sexual situations and other adult themes. Recommended for 18 years of age and over.

Table of Contents

Author's Note

Contact Me

Dedication

Playlist

Prologue

1. Grace

2. Styx

3. Grace

4. Styx

5. Grace

6. Styx

7. Grace

8. Styx

9. Grace

10. Styx

11. Grace

12. Styx

13. Grace

14. Styx

15. Grace

16. Styx

17. Grace

18. Styx

19. Grace

20. Styx

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Other Books

Author’s Note

Just a couple of things before I let you go and get your read on. While I am doing my best to work with better editing and proofreading software, all my books are solo, independent works. I write my books, proofread my books, edit my books, create the covers, etc. I have one beta who gives me feedback on my stories, but other than that, all my books are independent projects.

That being said, I apologize, in advance, for the typos, grammar inconsistencies, or any other mistakes I may make. Since writing is strictly a hobby for me, I haven’t looked into commitments in regard to publishers, editors, etc. My hope is that my stories are enjoyable enough that a few mistakes, here and there, can be overlooked. However, if you’re a stickler for grammar, my books are probably not for you.

Also, I am an avid reader-I mean an AVID reader. I love to read above any other hobby. However, the only downside to my reading obsession is when I fall in love with a series, but I have to wait for the additional books to come out. And because I feel that disappointment down to my soul, when I started publishing my works, I vowed to publish all books in my series all at once. No waiting here…LOL. Now, the exception to that will be if enough readers request additional stories based off the standalone, such as in Facing the Enemy. At that point, if I decide to move forward with a requested series, I will make sure all additional books are available all at once. As much as this is a hobby for me, I am writing these books for all of you, as well as myself.

Thank you, for everything!

Contact Me

I really appreciate you reading my book and I would love to hear from you! Now, unfortunately, because I do have a full-time job, and a family I love spending time with, at this time, I’m afraid it would be very hard for me to maintain a multitude of social media sites. However, for the sites I do participate in, here are my social media coordinates:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Email

Newsletter

Dedication

For my readers –

Every new story, every new character, every new adventure is for you.

Playlist

Something Like This – The Chainsmokers

Breakdown – Mariah Carey

Lately – Samantha Mumba

Drive – Incubus

Aerials – Systems Of A Down

Wild World – Cat Stevens

Good Is Good – Sheryl Crow

Right Here Waiting – Staind

Loser – Three Doors Down

Nobody’s Fool – Cinderella

Hemorrhage (In My Hands) – Fuel

If You Leave – OMD

Hard Habit To Break – Chicago

One Right Thing – Marshmello ft. Kane Brown

Anymore – Travis Tritt

Prologue

Wha…what do you mean? she asked, her voice ringing with the sound of heartbreak.

It’s not my fucking problem, he replied. How many times do I have to say it?

"But…it’s yours."

Yeah, right, he scoffed. And how in the hell would I know that?

Well…because the timing-

Look, Leah, you can say it’s mine all you want, but I’ve seen you spread your legs for other guys, he said cruelly. It could be anyone’s.

Her voice took on a pained quality that was uncomfortable to hear. "I…Seth, I…I only did that because you asked me to, she reminded him. I…I never would have ever done something like that, but you…you said it was something you…"

He sounded so casual, it bordered on nauseating. Says you, Leah. How do I know that’s not a regular thing for you?

Oh, God, she whispered incredulously. You can’t honestly think that, Seth. You’re the only guy I’ve ever been with before…before that. Her voice was becoming hysterical. "You know you took my virginity."

His cold cockiness knew no bounds. I know your pussy was cherry, but what about your ass? If those couple of weekends are any indication, it’s hard to say if your ass was cherry before I came along.

You sonofabitch. Her words were harsh, but her tone was pure anguish. I did that because I love you, Seth. And…and you said you loved me. You said…you were supposed to break up with her and be with me.

See, that’s your problem, Leah, he said tauntingly. You were so eager to fit in, you failed to use common fucking sense.

"What?"

For all your excellent skills with a hard dick, you should have had enough sense to know that you’d still never compare to Grace Hale. Common sense should have told you I was only fucking you because Grace won’t give it up.

Oh, God…

He continued as if he wasn’t aware of the emotional cruelty spilling from his lips. Unlike you, Grace has self-respect. Even after eight months of dating, she’s still keeping her legs closed because she knows her worth. She’s fucking Grace Hale, for fuck’s sake.

It…it was all a lie… Leah mumbled, not forming a question because it really wasn’t one.

I needed my dick wet, and because you’ve always been so eager to fit in, I knew you were perfect for what I needed until Grace gave it up, he told her, not caring about the damage he was doing to her. His laugh was pure evil. "Hell, you were what we all needed. Adams and Fenway loved pumping you full of cock."

You bastard, she cried out brokenly. You-

I’m not going to let you pin this on me, Leah, Seth continued. Get rid of it or your life will be a living hell.

The baby is yours, asshole, she snapped. And- Leah’s yelp was a sure sign of some physicality.

That may very well be, Leah, Seth conceded, his voice tight with anger. However, what would your parents say, your sisters, your friends, the school…what would they all say when you’re forced to have to issue paternity tests for three different guys? Oh, wait, four. I almost forgot about Linden. Leah’s sobs were no longer silent. "What would everyone think once we had to tell them why you needed a paternity test for four different guys? Let’s not forget the videos that would back up my claims."

Leah’s voice sounded hollow and defeated. You’re a vile creature, Seth Burns. You’re sure to burn in Hell one day.

Not today, though, Leah, he taunted. Today, I’m going to go about my life without any interference from you and your bullshit. Get rid of the problem and stay the fuck away from me.

You can’t do this, she argued, still trying to hold on to some control. You can’t.

If I lose Grace over this, I will ruin you and your entire family, Leah, Seth threatened.

I couldn’t listen anymore. My stomach was on the verge of purging itself.

But that’s what you get for eavesdropping, I suppose.

Chapter 1

Grace~

I sat in my car, facing the imposing stone structure that was Blackstone Prep Academy. I watched as students laughed and smile as they made their way into the building. It was exactly as you’d expect an expensive prep school to look like.

It looked like a goddamn fortress.

The walls were high with stained-glass windows and actual turrets. The entire structure was made of stone, showcasing just how much it must have cost to build the monstrosity. The school was entirely too large for the number of students who attended, but the school offered classes in damn near everything you could think of. Wealthy parents everywhere donated obscene amounts of money to Blackstone to groom their children for whatever they needed them to be groomed for. So, if Blackstone needed to create a classroom and hire a teacher for organic turtle farming because your family stumbled upon a mass fortune nurturing turtles organically, well then, that’s what Blackstone Prep Academy did.

It catered to the wealthy.

The only magnanimous thing that could be said about Blackstone Prep was that it allowed scholarship students to attend. They also allowed anyone who met the testing requirements to attend, as well, as long as they were able to pay the astronomical tuition that rival that of ivy league colleges.

There was also a separate dorm area for students who transferred in from other states. Mostly, Blackstone’s student body were kids from Dayton, California. Or, more specifically, us kids from the gated community of Wakefield. Take Atherton, California and multiply it by a thousand, and that was Wakefield.

And my family was at the top of the Wakefield food chain.

My father, Sterling Hale IV, was CEO of Hale Securities & Investments. Rumor was that he