Chapter 67


    “What!?!” Brian is incredulous.


    ”The management has passed down instructions that we''re not to approve any write-up about Grace


    Cummins," the editor replies.


    Brian asks in amazement, "Is the Stevens or Atkinson family behind this?" It didn''t make any sense to


    him. When he had written about Lily earlier on, the editor had approved his news. However, he was not


    allowed to write anything about Grace!


    "It''s not them. That''s enough, don''t ask any more questions. In any case, if this piece of news gets


    released, not only will you lose your job as a reporter, but I will be sacked as well!”


    Brian rubs his eyes. To say he was shocked is an understatement. What the editor had said... seems


    too much of an exaggeration.


    "Grace... is merely a sanitation worker. Who would want to protect her?"


    "You''re too young. In this world, there are many things beyond your imagination," the editor replies with


    a sigh. “But take my advice on this… leave it alone.”


    * * * * * * * * *


    JASON


    I watch Grace putting away the utensils. ”I heard that the woman who told you to search for her ring


    has gone to the Sanitation Service Center to offer her apologies."


    "Yes," Grace replies, "but I have given her gift to ire."


    "Did you see Sean? I saw from the news that he showed up with his fiancee, Lily.” I’m keeping my


    voice calm and acting like i’m focused on helping with the dishes, but I’m watching Grace carefully for


    her reaction.


    I count the pulse in her neck.


    I breathe in her scent for any traces of adrenaline or fear—if she’s lying or hiding something.


    "Yes, I saw him," Grace replies. Her breathing rate doesn’t change nor does her heart rate. She looks


    calm, as though she was talking about someone who was of no concern to her.


    “How do you feel? Did seeing Sean again make you sad?”


    She looks a me. Her eyes are wide and innocent. “I think I know what you’re getting at.” She smiles


    softly. "Jay, are you worried about me? Don''t worry. Please. I promise you, I would not grieve over such


    a man."


    "Worried?"


    Grace lifts her hand to my face. I don’t normally permit people to touch me, least of all my face or


    without me initiating the contact. But recently, she was doing this more frequently. A pat on the hand, a


    caress on my shoulder.


    And dont’ even get me started on my wolf…


    The bastard loves the way she pets him.


    Not continuously to be annoying. Just the asional rub or pet and then she just cuddles up next to


    the big beast, content to be near him.


    Okay, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the feel of her hands on me. Even if it’s a touch so innocent as


    tucking his hair back.


    “Jay, Sean is nothing to me. I will not be sad over someone who doesn''t love me. If I were sad, it would


    mean I still loved him."


    I search her eyes trying to discern if she’s saying that because she thinks she is supposed to or if she


    really means it.


    “Truly,” she insists. “I’m d I no longer feel anything at all when I saw him. And I’m even more d


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    that I didn’t marry Sean back then.”


    “Oh? Wouldn’t your life have been much easier if he’d supported you? You might be married to him


    right now and not have to work a day.”


    “That’s not a benchmark for happiness,” she argues. “And I don’t mind work. I miss being an attorney.


    What I meant,” Grace says, “if my emotions could fade, then they were not that strong to begin with.”


    “Hmm.”


    Her statement rings true to me.


    And, if I’m being honest with myself, I can point to simr rtionships.


    “Sean revealed his true nature. And for that, I am grateful. It was a blessing to know that he was not the


    man for me.”


    Conflict, hardships, loss…they are what defined us.


    Grace had been dealt a terrible hand, but she’d risen above it. Maybe not financially, as she was


    strapped to a low-ie job and living in a low-ie apartment, but she was determined to be


    positive. And happy.


    That was more than I could say for most of the people who run in my circles. Both figuratively and


    literally.


    My familial pack is strong and we ensure the sess of each member. It’s what has limited the in-


    fighting and what guarantees a strong sense of unity. But there are those that want more. That


    squander the resources and their opportunities.


    Still, something of what she’d said has me wondering… “Sister, will you feel sad for me one day?"


    It wasn’t fair he realized, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted to possess her attention—even her negative


    emotions.


    Grace gasps.


    I know what I’m asking her.


    ”Will you?" I move, crowing her.


    I watch her pupils dte and the way her pulse skitters at the base of her throat. She sucks a tiny


    breath.


    When her gaze fixes on mine, I see all the things she tries to hide from me. Her hope, her desire. Her


    uncertainty.


    "I... what I meant earlier was, if I loved a person, I would be sad. However, Jay, you''re my brother..."


    Grace replies.


    "Can''t you love your brother?" I ask. I use my knuckles to lift up her chin and angle closer so she


    knows my intentions. “We are, after all, family…”