《In the Lap of Luxury》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 ¡°A ne bound for Pamore experienced a tragic crash uponnding at 12:30 am Eklora time. ¡°The death toll has increased to 136 people, and up until now, there have been only three fortunate survivors.¡± The real-time news updates about the ne crash on TV pulled Grace Lewis back to her senses. She was one of the survivors. She nowy on the hospital bed with injuries all over her body and her legs bandaged. ¡°The number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try againter,¡± came the automatic response from Grace¡¯s phone. Ever since the ne crash, her nominal husband, Benjamin Hawkins, hadn¡¯t picked up any of her calls. The ne crash had shaken the whole nation. It was impossible for him to be unaware of it. The crash site had been scattered with corpses. The fear of having nearly died still haunted her, overwhelming her to the extent that she couldn¡¯t breathe. Yet, at times like this, when she needed care the most, she had yet to hear a word from the man she had been married to for three years. A wave of disappointment washed over her. After a long time, her phone finally rang. Grace snapped out of her thoughts and nced at her phone. However, the moment she saw who it was, her eyes gradually dimmed. ¡°Hello?¡± She picked it up, her voice hoarse. Elizabeth Astor¡¯s concerned voice came through from the other end of the line. ¡°Gracie, you scared me to death! Are you okay? Is Benjamin with you now?¡± Elizabeth was Benjamin¡¯s grandmother. She was the only person in the Hawkins family who cared about Grace. ¡°He ¡­¡± Elizabeth instantly understood the situation upon sensing Grace¡¯s hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re both his secretary and his wife. You went abroad on his behalf for work. And now that something has happened, he¡¯s gone missing? ¡°Just wait and see. I¡¯m definitely not going to let him off the hook!¡± She added, ¡°Which hospital are you at? I¡¯ll get the butler to pick you up right away!¡± The call ended soon after Grace told Elizabeth her location. Grace lowered her head and quietly removed the needle for the IV drip. Enduring the pain, she got out of bed. ¡°What are you doing? Your leg injuries haven¡¯t recovered yet. You need to rest,¡± said the nurse, who had ¡°Get me two crutches. I need to get discharged.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes were resolute. Compared to the hospital, Hawkins Manor was a more suitable ce for her to recuperate. On top of that, she needed to tend to work matters too. Grace worked as the president¡¯s secretary at Hawkins Group. She had gone on a trip to Darai as thepany¡¯s representative. She had been responsible for the She needed to make a report on that and submit it to thepany as soon as possible. More importantly, she wanted to know what Benjamin was doing and where the hell he was. The nurse couldn¡¯t convince Grace. In the end, she gave in and brought two crutches for her. Grace left the ward without hesitation and hobbled toward the payment counter. Right then, she caught sight of a familiar car outside the floor-to-ceiling window. It was followed by several luxurious cars. They were from the Hawkins Group. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Several people got out of the cars and surrounded the man wearing a ck suit. He was carrying a woman in his arms. It was obvious that she was someone he cherished a lot. Even her legs were wrapped in his ck coat. The man hurriedly headed over to the hospital lobby,pletely oblivious to Grace¡¯s presence. Grace stood rooted to the same spot, watching him carry the woman into a specialist clinic from a distance. It had been three years since she had married him. But she would never have guessed that he had such an affectionate side. Who in the world was that woman? After a while, a few nurses walked down the corridor, whispering to themselves as they walked by Grace. ¡°Oh, my God! Isn¡¯t that Benjamin Hawkins, the heir of the Hawkins Group? The one who is always featured on the financial news? ¡°Prenatal checkup? Are you sure?¡± 12 weeks. That was two months ago. More Read Here Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Grace suddenly recalled the one-week business trip Benjamin had two months ago. She tightened her grip on the phone, her knuckles gradually turning pale. Had he cheated on her? She was Benjamin¡¯s secretary and also his secret wife. But she had never heard any rumors of him having affairs with other women until now. ¡°Mr. Hawkins is so good to his girlfriend. I wonder who that lucky woman is! It seems like they are going to publicize their rtionship soon.¡± ¡°I googled the woman. Is this her?¡± The nurse pushing the medical cart took the phone from the other nurse. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s her!¡± she eximed. ¡°Isn¡¯t she the second daughter of the Quine family? With her looks and status, she¡¯s the perfect match for Benjamin!¡± As they walked further away, chatting amongst themselves, their voices gradually faded into the distance. ¡°The Quine family ¡­¡± Grace thought. After dealing with the hospital¡¯s discharge procedures, Grace got into the car the butler had sent for her. Her mind was in turmoil for a long time. Grace sat in the car with the window rolled halfway down. The dim light of her phone¡¯s screen illuminated her pale face. She tried searching for the connection between the Quines and Hawkins families, but to no avail. That was simply too strange for the two prominent families in Pamore. When Grace returned to Hawkins Manor, the lights in the living room were still on. Elizabeth was the only one there. She was waiting with her walking stick in hand. ¡°Thank goodness that you¡¯re fine, Gracie! I was so worried that I almost got a heart attack!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandma.¡± Grace forced a smile. She tried to think of an excuse to go upstairs. ¡°I¡¯m a little tired.¡± ¡°Alright, go and rest. I¡¯ve got someone to reach Benjamin. He¡¯ll be back soon!¡± N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Grace was taken aback for a moment before the pain in her heart overwhelmed her again. Her face be paler. It turned out that she was the only one Benjamin was hiding from. Elizabeth thought that Grace was sad because Benjamin hadn¡¯t been spending time with her. Little did she know that another woman¡¯s appearance had stabbed Grace¡¯s heart painfully. It made Grace¡¯s persistence and effort all this time seem ridiculous. By the time Benjamin returned, it was already the dead of night the next day. The bedroom was pitch ck. He turned on the lights, showing his slightly displeased expression. ¡°You aren¡¯t asleep yet? Why didn¡¯t you switch on the lights?¡± Grace had been lying in bed the whole day. She had barely eaten or drunk anything. The dishes sent by the butler had long turned cold on the bedside table. ¡°Where have you been for the past two days?¡± Grace¡¯s petite back was facing him, and her hoarse voice was tinged with weariness. Benjamin had just taken off his suit when he heard her question. Stunned, he looked over in her direction and furrowed his brows. In their three years of marriage, this was the first time she had asked about his whereabouts in such a manner. ¡°I needed to deal with something at thepany branch in Misdeon,¡± he replied in a cold voice as he loosened his tie irritably. Then, he walked over to the bathroom. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Grace chuckled. The sarcasm in her voice was clear. ¡°I asked Larry about it. You didn¡¯t take any flights to Misdeon.¡± ¡°What exactly do you want to say?¡± Benjamin suddenly stopped in his tracks as he reached the bathroom. Although Grace didn¡¯t meet his eyes, she could sense the overbearing coldness emanating from him. She knew he was getting angry. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 ¡°When did you get to know her?¡± Under the dim lights, Benjamin finally saw Grace supporting herself with crutches. It wasn¡¯t until then that he realized she was much thinner than when they¡¯d married three years ago. She looked as if a gust of wind could easily blow her away. ¡°You followed me?¡± Benjamin¡¯s face fell at once. ¡°Do you think I have nothing better to do? I was at the same hospital and saw you with my own eyes.¡± Though her voice was soft, she enunciated her words clearly. Benjamin looked angry despite Grace was overwhelmed by sadness. How could he? He still hadn¡¯t expressed any concern for her, even though she had been in a ne crash. What felt even worse was how evident the irritation and disdain in his voice were. Clearly, their three years of marriage had been futile. All this while, she had been attending to her demanding mother-inw and taking care of her sister- inw, who didn¡¯t like her. In the family, she was treated like nothing but a servant, and in thepany, she did her utmost to excel in her role as the secretary. She had been giving her all to fulfill Elizabeth¡¯s wish for her to conceive Benjamin¡¯s children. She had hoped that he would finally see the good in her. Even the slightest bit of affection from him would have been enough to make up for her tireless efforts over the past three years. However, Benjamin had barely touched her throughout their marriage. Although they shared the same room, they didn¡¯t sleep in the same bed. Suppressing the pain all over her b*dy, Grace looked into his frosty eyes and let out augh. ¡°Your mom said that I¡¯m barren, and now you¡¯ve gotten your mistress pregnant instead. Don¡¯t you care about my dignity at all?¡± She lifted her chin and stretched out her right hand to touch him. But he stopped her in a second. ¡°Yvonne isn¡¯t a mistress. I¡¯ve known her for more than 20 years.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. So they had known each other since they were kids. Grace could feel Benjamin¡¯s grip tightening on her. ¡°She had been abroad for five years, and I didn¡¯t have any contact with her during that time.¡± Grace was surprised to hear that. No wonder she hadn¡¯t been able to find any information about them. Remembering that the woman was pregnant, she looked up at Benjamin. ¡°So you¡¯ve gotten back with her now?¡± Benjamin¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. He thought of exining but stopped on second thought. His gaze darkened. ¡°Have you forgotten how you ended up as Mrs. Hawkins?¡± Well, even if he hadn¡¯t brought it up, Grace would never forget it. Hawkins Group had a lot of branches, and many people coveted the position as its heir. Hence, Elizabeth had wanted to find a woman from Pamore for Benjamin. She had wanted him to get married and have a future heir to ensure stability for thepany. As Elizabeth¡¯s life savior, Grace had volunteered herself for that role. She hade to Benjamin on her own and made it clear that she wouldn¡¯t interfere with his life. Not only that, but she had also agreed to hide their marriage and shut down her thriving boutique store. She had agreed to be his secretary at Hawkins Group and help handle its affairs. Now, Benjamin was telling her that she had overstepped her boundaries. Grace chuckled. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t forget. But humans are greedy, aren¡¯t they?¡± Her face was as white as a sheet. If she hadn¡¯t had a smile on her face, she would have looked like a ghost who had escaped hell. As he looked at her now, Benjamin felt like she had changed. But he couldn¡¯t tell how.. All of a sudden, Grace effortlessly withdrew her hand from his grip. A pleasant fragrance gradually permeated the spacious room, getting stronger by the second. The windows were closed, and the temperature was rising. Benjamin spared a nce at the thermostat and saw that it was 30 degrees Celsius. His expression darkened, especially when Grace moved her hands to his clothes. He couldn¡¯t seem to push her away. As his breathing turned ragged, he asked angrily, ¡°What did you do?¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Grace took off his shirt and peppered k*sses down his abdomen. Her longing for him was so intense that even her ears had turned red. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me how I became Mrs. Hawkins? Well, I nearly forgot about my main responsibility ¡ªconceiving your child.¡± Continuing with her actions, she said, ¡°Right now, I¡¯m just fulfilling my duties.¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Benjamin was infuriated. His muscles tensed with his rage. ¡°I¡¯ve sprayed some aphrodisiac in the air. Bear with it. It¡¯ll end soon. ¡°I just ¡­ I just want a child too.¡± She was getting more bold, a far cry from how gentle and obedient she had been in front of him before. Benjamin¡¯s breathing grew heavy in response to her shameless provocation. He did his best to suppress the effects of the aphrodisiac and fiercely grabbed her hand. ¡°You¡¯re so disgusting, Grace!¡± The burning desire in Grace¡¯s gaze dissipated at once. ¡°Is it so disgusting for you to make love to me?¡± She looked up at him with her watery eyes. ¡°Yes!¡± Benjamin replied without hesitation as he stared at her intently. Then, he pushed her away aggressively and picked up the clothes on the floor. He hastily put them on, not even bothering to button up his shirt. As the door mmed shut with a loud bang, the room fell into silence. It was only then that Grace slumped to the floor, feeling dejected. She dug her nails into her palms, her eyes filled with self-deprecation. It was time for her to give up on him. ¡­ This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The next day, Grace limped down the stairs while dragging her luggage. The housekeepers had already set up the table with dishes. Elizabeth wasn¡¯t around since she was usually upied with morning prayers at this time. ¡°Hey, Grace, are you going traveling after having just escaped death?¡± asked Benjamin¡¯s sister, Celia Hawkins. She was a sophomore at Pamore University. She had always disliked Grace. ¡°Well, even if you want to go, you¡¯ll have to do my hair and take me to school first.¡± Grace was pretty skilled at styling hair. Celia was often praised by her friends after having her hair done by Grace. However, instead of giving a damn about her, Grace headed for the first floor straight away. She coincidentally bumped into her mother-inw, Susan Ford. Thetter was dressed rather elegantly. Michael Hawkins was Benjamin and Celia¡¯s father. Susan was his second wife and Benjamin and Celia¡¯s biological mother. Susan had always disapproved of Grace¡¯s background and her family. She was always rude when she spoke to Grace. ¡°Where are you going with that luggage? Put it down quickly and help Patty clean up one of the rooms. Someone will be moving in soon.¡± Grace¡¯s eyelid twitched. She had a vague idea of what wasing. Then, she heard Celia ask curiously, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Who else? Of course it¡¯s Yvonne!¡± ¡°What? Yvonne is back?¡± ¡°Yes! And she is pregnant with your brother¡¯s child! The environment here is good, so she¡¯ll be staying here for a while instead of returning to Quine Residence.¡± As Susan spoke, she looked over in Grace¡¯s direction. In her eyes, Yvonne was her ideal daughter- inw. If it hadn¡¯t been for that matter, Benjamin would have been married to Yvonne. ¡°Why are you still standing there? Get moving!¡± Susan said. If the past, Grace would have obeyed her. But after hearing what Susan had just said, Grace no longer had any desire to try to please her. Despite the fact that her heart stung like hell, she forced herself to maintain a calm facade. ¡°From now on, I have nothing to do with Benjamin anymore. Get someone else to do the work.¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Susan couldn¡¯t believe that Grace had actually spoken to her in such a manner. She pointed a finger, which was adorned with arge sapphire ring, at Grace. ¡°What¡¯s with your attitude? Say that again!¡± There was no hint of fear on Grace¡¯s face. She fixed her eyes on Susan and said, ¡°Since Yvonne is moving in, you can get her to do the work. I¡¯ll never do it again!¡± She articted her words clearly. After she spoke, Grace felt an unprecedented sense of relief wash over her. Susan, on the other hand,pletely lost her temper. ¡°You¡ª¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Celia suddenly caught Susan¡¯s arm and lowered her voice. ¡°Grace is angry, isn¡¯t she? I heard that yesterday Benjamin had ¡­¡± Celia told Susan what had happenedst night. Judging from how smug she looked, it was clear that she had exaggerated the story. Susan seemed to understand the situation at once. ¡°How dare you take it out on me when you¡¯re the one who couldn¡¯t make your husband stay?¡± Grace had already walked out of the vi. She slowed to a stop. She turned around, suppressing herself fromshing out at Susan. Then, she retorted coldly, ¡°Haven¡¯t you been doubting my fertility for the past three years? Why don¡¯t you have Benjamin undergo a medical checkup as well? ¡°After all, he couldn¡¯t even get an erection after everything I did to him yesterday. I wonder whose fault it truly is that I can¡¯t get pregnant.¡± ¡°You ¡­¡± Susan was at a loss for words, and so was Celia. When Susan came to her senses, she fumed. ¡°Grace, don¡¯t you dare think I won¡¯t have Benjamin divorce you!¡± In the past, Grace hadn¡¯t wanted to get into conflict with the rest of the Hawkins family for Elizabeth¡¯s sake. So she hadpromised. However, she didn¡¯t care about that anymore. ¡°That¡¯s up to you,¡± Grace replied tly, walking away without a trace of hesitation. She left Susan to fume and rage. After she left, Susan couldn¡¯t help but think something was amiss. ¡°Go up and ch*ck if we have lost anything valuable. You saw how heavy her luggage was. Who knows what¡¯s in there!¡± she ordered Celia. Soon, Celia hurriedly came down with a folder in her hand. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°Mom, nothing is missing. But this was on the bedside table!¡± Susan took it and checked to see what it was. Her pupils shrank immediately. Divorce papers were inside the folder. Susan immediately called Benjamin and told him what Grace had done. He was in a meeting at the moment. As soon as he heard Susan mention the divorce papers and that Grace had said that he was impotent, he immediately gestured for the meeting to stop. Then, he took the coat draped over his chair and walked out of the conference room. ¡°Calm down, Mom,¡± he said in a deep voice. ¡°I am calm! It¡¯s good that she¡¯s gone now since Yvonne ising back. I¡¯m just angry that she¡¯s the one who asked for the divorce!¡± Susan was still whining about it when Benjamin hung up the phone. His face was thunderous. Even now, he couldn¡¯t believe that the usually obedient Grace would be so defiant. However, at the thought of what she had done to him yesterday, he looked for her number in his list of contacts. This was the first time he had called her in their three years of marriage. Before the line connected, Larry stepped out of the elevator on the top floor and rushed over to him. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I just received Ms. Lewis¡¯ resignation letter in my email.¡± Larry was panting. ¡°Ms. Lewis is in charge of a lot of projects, of which Darai Medical Expo is the most important. ¡°We haven¡¯t even done the handovers yet. What should we do now?¡± Benjamin¡¯s expression was getting darker and darker, especially when he couldn¡¯t reach Grace on the phone. ¡°Hello, the number you have dialed is currently busy. Please try againter.¡± Grace had declined his call. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Grace was at the airport. She breathed out a sigh of relief as she stared at her phone¡¯s screen, which had already turned ck. Maybe she had been under too much pressure at Hawkins Manor for too long. Now she felt like she had gotten a weight off her mind. She looked at the travelers around her. Was she sad that she would be leaving Pamore soon? Perhaps she was, but what she felt more was relief. She had thought that Benjamin didn¡¯t love her. But it turned out that he already had someone else in his heart. In that case, what was the point of continuing to cling to him? Grace went to the first-ss check-in counter to board the ne bound for Darai. Years ago, she had left her family and hidden her true identity to stay in Pamore. Had it not been for her grandfather¡¯s wish to meet her and Benjamin, the medical expo deal with Hawkins Group would never have been sealed. Yet, Benjamin had sent her there alone instead of going together. It was time for her to return now. The female employee at the counter tactfully said, ¡°Miss, your flight ticket is currently on hold. I can¡¯t issue you a boarding pass at the moment.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°On hold?¡± Grace was stunned. ¡°It can¡¯t be. Can you please ch*ck again?¡± ¡°Did you book the ticket with a corporate ount? There may have been some refund processing earlier. Could you please show me your identification card for verification?¡± It wasn¡¯t until Grace heard that that she realized what was wrong. Since she had been Benjamin¡¯s secretary, almost all of her ounts were managed by Hawkins Group. As for her identification card, the HR department had taken the original for some sort of registration purpose not long ago. Grace had wanted to leave the city as soon as possible. So she hadn¡¯t considered everything carefully. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ll make a call to ask about it.¡± She stepped aside and pulled out her phone to call the HR department. Before she could even make the call, she realized that her phone number had been deactivated. How could she forget that her phone number was also managed by Hawkins Group? ¡°Hawkins Group!¡± she cursed inwardly. As soon as she left the airport, she hailed a cab and headed to Hawkins Tower. It was starting to rain. Soon, the towering building came into her view. She gave 100 dors to the driver and stepped into the futuristic building with her luggage in tow. Fortunately, the news of her resignation hadn¡¯t been widely circted yet. The only thing was that she looked a little disheveled due to the rain. It took her several attempts to pass the facial recognition system and finally gain ess to the elevator. Then, she went directly to the HR department on the 12th floor. ¡°Oh my, Ms. Lewis, why are you in such a sorry state? Those who don¡¯t know would have thought that you were fleeing for your life,¡± said Jason Gray. He was the director of the HR department. He was a sissy and a good bootlicker. Given how Benjamin treated Grace, Jason naturally wasn¡¯t respectful or kind to her either. ¡°Where is my identification card?¡± Grace cut straight to the chase. ¡°Identification card? Larry just came and took it away two minutes ago.¡± Grace was stunned. She should have expected something like this! Benjamin was infamous for his cold and unyielding character. There was no way he would allow her to challenge his authority like that. Just as Grace was about to go and look for Benjamin, Jason suddenly called her. ¡°It¡¯s fine to be dismissed, but please mind your attitude, okay? ¡°They are having an important meeting on the top floor now, and I heard that Mr. Hawkins¡¯ fianc¨¦e is here too.¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Fianc¨¦e? Her marriage to Benjamin had been kept secret from the public. Hence, everyone in thepany only thought that she was his secretary. In that case, it seemed that the ¡°fianc¨¦e¡± Jason mentioned was Yvonne. Grace had just divorced Benjamin, and now Yvonne was already here at Hawkins Group. Not only that, but Yvonne would also stay at Hawkins Manor and sleep in her bed, enjoying Benjamin¡¯spany. Grace¡¯s heart stung just thinking about it. Nevertheless, she still thanked Jason for telling her and left the HR department. Jason stared at her receding figure intently. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He thought even a fool could tell that Grace had feelings for Mr. Hawkins. No wonder she had been dismissed. As he turned on hisputer, he sarcastically remarked to himself, ¡°It looks like a good show is coming up soon.¡± When Grace stepped out of the elevator on the top floor, she bumped into Larry. ¡°Ms. Lewis, you¡¯re here.¡± Larry cast a look at the luggage in her hand. He guessed that she was here for her identification card. He pointed in the direction of the conference room and said, ¡°I¡¯ve handed your identification card to Mr. Hawkins. ¡°He¡¯s in his third meeting of the day. Are you in a hurry? Do you need me to call him out for you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll wait for him here.¡± Grace sounded aloof. ¡°Sure. How about some coffee?¡± Larry knew Benjamin had no intention of letting Grace resign. Grace had a lot on her te, not to mention important projects. If she were to resign, it would be difficult to immediately find someone to take over her role. ¡°It¡¯s Tursmain hand-brewed coffee. I¡¯ve just learned how to make it,¡± Larry added. His attitude toward her was evidently more gentle than before. ¡°Thanks, but no, thanks.¡± Since Grace was nning to sever ties with Benjamin, she didn¡¯t want to be nice to anyone around him. After that, Larry didn¡¯t say anything else. He entered the conference room to give the documents to Benjamin. Grace walked past the office area and spared a nce at the conference room. The door was opened a crack. As expected, a lot of people were sitting around the meeting table. Benjamin¡¯s back was facing her. He was listening to the reports from the people on either side of him. His expression was cold, and she saw him saying something from time to time. He was always focused during meetings. Grace withdrew her gaze. She looked down at her soaked clothes and the luggage in her hand. As much as she wanted to barge in, she knew it was inappropriate for her to do so. Then, she flitted her eyes to the president¡¯s office. Although the ss was frosted, she could still see the woman sitting on the chair. It seemed like that was Yvonne, whom Grace had seen at the hospital. Grace would only feel more awkward and bad if she went there now. Hence, she put her luggage aside and went to the restroom instead. She turned on the tap and washed her face with cold water. As she tried to calm herself down, she also wondered how to ask Benjamin for her identification cardter. ¡°Ms. Lewis, you¡¯rete today,¡± said an intern who came over to wash her hands. Grace hummed in acknowledgment and didn¡¯t say anything more. When the intern left, she pulled out a tissue and wiped her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, remembering her brother saying how thin she had be when she had visited Darai thest time. She had tried to make light of it by iming that she was on a diet. It seemed like the marriage had indeed caused her a lot of suffering. Ending it was a good choice. All of a sudden, the restroom door was pushed open again. A slender and fair woman entered, radiating an air of grace and nobility. Her belly was slightly curved. Grace inexplicably felt insecure at the sight of Yvonne. She immediately wiped her face dry and regained herposure. Then, she turned to leave. ¡°Hey,¡± Yvonne suddenly said. ¡°I heard someone calling you Ms. Lewis earlier. You must be Benjamin¡¯s secretary, right?¡± Grace froze. The footsteps behind her were getting closer and closer. Yvonne walked in front of her and shot her a gentle smile. ¡°Benjamin¡¯s meeting should be ending soon. ¡°Can you help me brew a cup of coffee and send it to his office? You should know what vor he likes, right?¡± Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Grace was somewhat hesitant. She had already submitted her resignation, and she no longer had any obligations to handle matters like this. Moreover, although Yvonne¡¯s words sounded like a request, her tone made it seem like an order. Grace didn¡¯t like it. Then again, Benjamin did have her identification card, and this would be thest time she would be dealing with such trivial tasks. She could also use the chance and ask him for her identification card when she sent the coffee over later. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Then, Yvonne walked away. After getting pregnant, Yvonne¡¯s demeanor had a touch of motherliness. Nevertheless, her confidence as the affluent daughter of a prominent family still contrasted with Grace¡¯s. Back then, thanks to Grace¡¯s distinguished family, Yvonne had been nowhere on par with her. However, as the years had passed, Grace seemed to have ended up losing her poise and elegance. Grace stood there in a daze for a while before she collected her thoughts. Then, she went to the pantry to brew the Americano with three-quarter ck sugar and one-quarter milk. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. That was how Benjamin liked it. As Grace walked back, she saw that the meeting had ended and everyone was walking out of the conference room. Noticing that Benjamin wasn¡¯t around, she assumed that he must have gone to his office. With the coffee in her hand, she knocked on his office door. ¡°Come in.¡± It was Yvonne¡¯s coquettish voice. Grace almost spilled the Americano. It took her a while to pluck up her courage and finally push the door open. The moment she did, she saw Yvonne wrapping her arms around Benjamin¡¯s n*eck and sitting on hisp. Although Grace had mentally prepared herself, her heart still stung like hell upon seeing such a scene. Yvonne seemed somewhat embarrassed that Grace had seen her intimacy with Benjamin. ¡°You can leave after putting down the coffee,¡± she said. Hearing that, Grace came to her senses and slowly raised her head. She looked Benjamin in the eye. His gaze wasced with such coldness that it seemed like he could devour her right then and there. Grace felt like Benjamin was doing this on purpose. He was aware of her presence, yet he chose to let her stumble upon his intimate moment with Yvonne, all to embarrass her. ¡°Ms. Lewis?¡± Yvonne looked over when she didn¡¯t receive any response from Grace. Grace hummed in response and nodded. After putting the coffee down, she turned around to leave. After taking two steps forward, she suddenly halted in her tracks. Listening to their voices behind her, she couldn¡¯t help but imagine Benjamin getting intimate with Yvonne. Her legs turned to jelly, and she had to use every ounce of willpower to keep herself from copsing. ¡°Ms. Lewis, is there anything else?¡± Yvonne was a little displeased that Grace was still hanging around. ¡°I ¡­¡± She finally mustered up the courage to look at them. ¡°Mr. Hawkins has something important of mine. I hope he can return it to me.¡± At that instance, the atmosphere in the spacious president¡¯s office grew heavy. Even though the desk was piled high with stacks of documents, they weren¡¯t enough to conceal what the two people were doing on the genuine leather chair. Benjamin¡¯s white cor was unbuttoned, and a hickey could be seen on his n*eck. ¡°Oh?¡± Yvonne was curious. She tightened her grip on Benjamin¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Benjamin, what is it that you have of hers?¡± ¡°Nothing important.¡± Benjamin pulled Yvonne into his embrace. Looking at how close their bodies were pressing against each other, Grace pressed her l*ps into a thin line. She didn¡¯t say anything. A whileter, Benjamin parted his l*ps and said frostily, ¡°You can leave now.¡± He looked at her as if she were a stranger to him. It seemed like he wasn¡¯t going to return the identification card to her so easily. ¡°It¡¯s my identification card.¡± Since Yvonne was around, Grace decided to speak frankly. At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to get her identification card back and leave thepany for good. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve resigned, but Mr. Hawkins has seized my identification card. I can¡¯t help but wonder if he¡¯s harboring other thoughts about me. ¡°Hawkins Group is full of capable employees. There¡¯s no need for him to resort to such lowly methods against a mere secretary like me.¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Taking off the Company Uniform in Public The air instantly became thick with tension. In the past, Grace had always been cautious when speaking with Benjamin. This was the first time she had disyed such an unyielding attitude in the o Benjamin¡¯s face fell at once. ¡°Is that so, Benjamin?¡± There was an imperceptible frown on Benjamin¡¯s face as Yvonne leaned closer to him. ¡°Of course not,¡± he replied. ¡°As she said, Hawkins Group is full of capable employees. Why should we keep her identification card? ¡°But since she is resigning, she will have to take off thepany uniform andplete her handovers. Otherwise, it¡¯ll be against thepany¡¯s rules an At this moment, Grace finally understood why Benjamin had forced her toe to the She only had two options. Either she stayed at Hawkins Group or left with nothing. She couldn¡¯t believe that Benjamin had actually resorted to such a method to make her yield to him. He had taken away thest shred of dignity she had left. ¡°I see. Then you are in the wrong, Ms. Lewis. That scared me. I thought there was something going on between you and Benjamin ¡­¡± Grace saw that Yvonne was about to snuggle into Benjamin¡¯s arms. Something in her seemed to snap. She removed her ck coat and unbuttoned her ¡°I¡¯ll take it off,¡± she said. Benjamin was right. It would be better to end thingspletely. The president¡¯s office fell into silence at once. Yvonne looked at her with incredulity. Meanwhile, Benjamin, who had his head lowered and was on the verge of sumbing to his desire, was stunned. Over the past few days, he had sensed that Grace was no longer the same as before. He couldn¡¯t quite put his feelings into words. It seemed as if he was losing control of her. Or had he never truly understood her throughout their three years of marriage? Soon, news of what was happening in Benjamin¡¯s office spread. Many people craned their n*ecks to get a look at the situation inside. No one had expected that Grace, who had always been obedient and mild, would show such a strong and assertive side. She had actually removed herpany uniform in public for the sake of her resignation. When the shirt fell to the floor, Grace was left with only a cropped white tank top. It revealed her beautiful figure. ¡°Woah! I didn¡¯t know that Ms. Lewis was so hot!¡± one of the colleagues said. ¡°Well, look at how oversized ourpany uniform is! It¡¯s simply hard to tell if a person¡¯s figure is good or bad when they¡¯re wearing it.¡± Their discussion immediately came to a halt when Larry mmed his hand down on the desk. ¡°Do you have so much spare time? Have you finished your work? Do you want your sry to get deducted right away?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. The few colleagues exchanged nces with one another before they quickly resumed their work. Then, Larry stole a peek at the situation inside the president¡¯s office through the pleated window shades. He couldn¡¯t help muttering to himself. This was the first time he had seen Benjamin give a hard time to a secretary who was about to resign. Was there some kind of misunderstanding? In the president¡¯s office, Grace couldn¡¯t help but shiver as the cold air from the air conditioning enveloped her. Enduring the cold, she raised her head and said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, can you please return my identification card now?¡± Fearing that he mighte up with another excuse, she added, ¡°As for the handover, I¡¯ll send it to Larry once I¡¯vepleted it. ¡°If you¡¯re concerned, you don¡¯t have to pay me myst month¡¯s sry.¡± That simply meant that she didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with him anymore. Benjamin¡¯s gaze darkened. Seeing how tough Grace had be, he felt an indescribable emotion well up inside him. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Her Brother Is Here ¡°Benjamin?¡± Yvonne didn¡¯t know about the real rtionship between Benjamin and Grace. But she had seen enough to be annoyed by Grace¡¯s presence. ¡°Just let Ms. Lewis leave. My parents are still waiting for you at home. It¡¯s been some time since you Her voice jolted Benjamin out of his thoughts. The Hawkins family owed the Quines a lot, so it was only right that he visited Yvonne¡¯s parents. Grace¡¯s expression remained impassive even after hearing that. It was as if she didn¡¯t care about him anymore. Benjamin felt irritated, and his expression did nothing to hide it. ¡°It¡¯s right there.¡± Grace followed his gaze and saw her identification card wedged under the water cooler. It seemed as insignificant as Benjamin probably thought of her. ¡°Thanks.¡± She swallowed the bitterness she was feeling and picked up her identification card. Then, she turned and walked out without any hesitation. She could almost feel his cold eyes following her as she left. When Grace opened the door, the people in the office stared at her. Some of them looked sympathetic, but most were just curious. She could hear some of them whispering that she had been caught seducing Benjamin and had been kicked out by his girlfriend. Grace was Benjamin¡¯s wife byw. Yet, ironically, she was being treated like a homewrecker. The thought made her tear up/but she forced herself to hold her tears back. When she reached the lobby, she heard footsteps behind her. It was Larry. He handed her an umbre. ¡°Ms. Lewis, it¡¯s raining outside. Are you cold? Here, take my jacket as well!¡± Grace was thankful that there was at least one kind person in the entire Hawkins Group. Grace stopped Larry before he could take off his jacket. She swallowed the lump in her throat Seeing her despondent expression, Larry opened his mouth to say something. But he was at a loss for words. In his moment of hesitation, Grace left. She ran straight into the storm, hoping that the rain would wake her up. Eventually, she ended up in a cab headed for the airport. As she stared out at the city that she had lived in for several years, she called a number. (2 As soon as the call went through, she said tiredly, ¡°Aaron ¡­¡± The call was short. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Eight hourster, a private jetnded at Pamore Airport. A burly man wrapped Grace in his embrace as the b*dyguard behind him took her luggage. They boarded the ne together. Late that night, a ck Bentley stopped outside Hawkins Manor. In the backseat, Benjamin looked out at the double¨Cstory bungalow surrounded by lush bushes. Normally, the lights would be on in his bedroom. Today, it waspletely dark. It was a stark reminder that Grace had left him. Yvonne could feel the coldness radiating off Benjamin. She thought that the conversation he had had with her father was still bothering him. ¡°Benjamin, I know what happened between Alexander and my sister hurt all of us. I¡¯m not in a hurry to get married. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to what my father said. He¡¯s just worried because I¡¯m pregnant.¡± Her voice brought Benjamin back to reality. He nced at her hand on his sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s getting creased.¡± T Instinctively, Yvonne let go. Then, Benjamin opened the door and got out of the car. Yvonne was stunned as she watched him leave. Just this morning, he had allowed her to sit on hisp in his office. Now he was like a different person. How could he have changed so suddenly? Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t afford to think too deeply about it. She got out of the car and followed Benjamin. + Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Hawkins Group Has Been Disqualified Inside Hawkins Manor, Benjamin¡¯s housekeeper, Patty, was already awaiting their arrival. She took Benjamin¡¯s jacket. When she saw Yvonne behind him, she was stunned. ¡°Ms. Quine, I¡¯ve already prepared your room for you. It¡¯s just up these stairs.¡± Yvonne paused in front of the elevator and looked at Patty in disbelief. ¡°Am I not sharing a room with Benjamin?¡± By allowing her to stay at Hawkins Manor, Benjamin had indirectly agreed to marry her. Therefore, it was only right that they share a room. Benjamin frowned at her statement. ¡°Um¡­¡± Patty didn¡¯t dare say anything. Madam Hawkins had been worried that there would be traces of Grace¡¯s existence in the house. So she had asked Patty to prepare a guest room for Yvonne. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°I need to work. You can go and get some sleep,¡± Benjamin said impassively with a directive nce at Patty. ¡°But¡­ ¡± As expected, Yvonne was unrelenting. Patty took the hint from Benjamin and stopped Yvvone from following him. ¡°Ms. Quine, please follow me.¡± The elevator doors closed, blocking Benjamin¡¯s cold expression from Yvonne¡¯s sight. Yvonne tried to hide her displeasure. Somehow, she felt that Benjamin¡¯s attitude toward her had changed since she had returned to the country. He was distant and aloof. She didn¡¯t understand what he was thinking at all. Back in his study, Benjamin took a shower and changed into a bathrobe. He fl*pped through some documents, but he couldn¡¯t focus on his work. Normally, Grace would bring him a bowl of warm soup at this time. Then, she would retire to their bedroom to wait for him/ Most of the time, he would just sleep in his study. The few times he had slept in the bedroom, he had taken the couch while she had slept in the bed. Even so, she had never stopped bringing him soup every night. Until today. No matter how long he waited, there was still no one at the door. Something felt missing, and it annoyed him. His phone rang. Benjamin picked it up. He frowned slightly when he noticed the call was from. Larry. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, the person in charge of Darai Medical Expo just called and said that we have been disqualified from participating in the expo. They said that we didn¡¯t sponsor enough money.¡± Benjamin¡¯s expression darkened. Grace had been in charge of the project. Now that she had left, Larry had taken over her job. ¡°Not enough sponsorship? The expo selects the participants based on how much money eachpany donates to the Red Cross. ¡°We donated almost 300 million dorsst year. How can that not be enough?¡± Larry could tell that Benjamin was in a bad mood. ¡°I don¡¯t understand it either. I tried to call Ms. Lewis to see if she knows anything, but her number has been terminated ¡­¡± He trailed off. The study was deathly quiet. Benjamin frowned, remembering the way Grace had taken off her uniform in his office and insisted on leaving. She had just soldiered through the embar An unfamiliar emotion surged through him. If he remembered correctly, Grace had told him that she came from a poor vige and had to work hard to get a ce at her university. She had barely managed to stay in the city after graduation and open her own boutique. But she had closed it down shortly after marrying him. Over the past few years, she had had no ie apart from the pocket money he had given her. Where could a destitute woman like her go? ¡°I need you to do two things. One, take a trip to the countryside.¡± He could still remember the address of Grace¡¯s childhood home. He had to find her. ¡°And two, call the organizer of Darai Medical Expo. I want to meet their boss.¡® Hanging up, he tossed his phone onto the table with a dark expression on Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Her Brothers in Darai Grace woke up in a luxurious room. The decor in the room hadn¡¯t changed at all. It looked exactly the way she had left it a few years ago. Turning, she saw a bowl of hot soup on the bedside table. There were a few pretty dressesid out on the bed for her to choose from as well. It made her want to cry. No one had treated her like this in Pamore. A set of footsteps sounded. A man dressed in all ck appeared in her room, exuding confidence and boldness. It was her eldest brother, Aaron Lewis, who had brought her home from Pamore. He was the head of the Lewis family at the moment. Aaron wasn¡¯t one to show his emotions easily. ¡°Grandpa was really worried when he heard that something had happened to your ne. When he couldn¡¯t call you, he got anxious and had a heart atta Grace became frantic with worry when she heard that her grandfather, Harold Lewis, was sick. She got out of bed. ¡°Aaron, how¡¯s Grandpa?¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine. He¡¯s getting all the rest he needs. You, on the other hand¡­¡± Aaron grabbed her hand and stopped her from leaving the room. ¡°Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? How can you see Grandpa like this? Do you remember what you promised him?¡± Grace immediately jolted to a stop. Of course she hadn¡¯t forgotten. She had promised Harold that she would divorce Benjamin if he didn¡¯t end up falling in love with her. Then, she woulde home and help with the family business in any way. She had even said she would marry someone from the Donegan family, one of the four major families, to help her family expand their business. Why was Aaron talking about this so suddenly? Had he already arranged her second marriage? She had heard that the heir of the Donegan family was a known yboy. ¡°But Aaron, I just got divorced. I don¡¯t want to remarry so soon,¡± she pleaded. Aaron¡¯s heart softened. After all, he was just trying to scare her. His tone was gentle when he spoke next. ¡°We don¡¯t need you to sacrifice your happiness for the sake of the family. But I need you to get yourself togethe ¡°While Grandpa is in the hospital, you can work with me.¡± In other words, he wanted her to work at Amirate Corporation, the Lewis family business based in Darai. Her family had been hoping for this when they had sent her to study business in Eklora. None of them had expected her to open a boutique in Pamore in pursuit of her dreams and fall in love with Benjamin at first sight. Aaron and Harold must have been very disappointed. ¡°Okay.¡± Grace was ready to agree to anything if it meant she didn¡¯t have to marry someone immediately. Aaron stared at her for a moment before humming in response. He was both exasperated and sorry for her. Still, he hoped that her failed marriage had at least taught her a lesson. ¡°Sir.¡± At that moment, a soft knock sounded at the door. It swung open to reveal Aaron¡¯s secretary. ¡°Hawkins Group from Pamore called. They have questions about their disqualification from Durai Medical Expo. They want to set up a meeting with you Grace froze. ¡°Aaron, you ¡­ It seemed that Aaron had taken revenge on the Hawkins family almost immediately after he had picked her up. As for Benjamin, he had acted nonchnt about the expo before. But that was only because he knew Grace would be able to handle it. However, nothing in this world was guaranteed. ¡°I did it so you would know that no one can treat a member of the Lewis family badly and get away with it. You know what you should do next,¡± Aaron said. Then, he patted her on the shoulder and left with his secretary. As he left, he said to his secretary, ¡°Find some time to guide Grace through Amirate¡¯s production lines and her job scope as the president¡¯s assistant.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Their voices faded away. Therge room became silent again. The president¡¯s assistant¡­.. This was pretty much the highest position in thepany, apart from the president himself. Grace clenched her fists. This time, she wouldn¡¯t let Aaron down. ¡°Surprise!¡± On the second day after Grace had moved into the office on the top floor of Amirate Corporation, a man burst into her office. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Caleb¡¯s Background ¡°Why am I thest one to find out that you¡¯re home? I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t tell me, Gracie! Was our friendship just a lie?¡± Grace recognized the voice of her third older brother, Caleb Lewis. Caleb wasn¡¯t her biological brother. Her family had adopted him after his parents had abandoned him at birth. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Grace didn¡¯t look up from her documents. ¡°Take a seat and be quiet. Don¡¯t disturb me.¡± It had been three days, and she still needed to get through all the documents Aaron¡¯s secretary had given her. In just a day, she had received hundreds of phone calls from various international organizations around the world. She felt flustered. Caleb didn¡¯t mind her curtness. He sat down on the couch. ¡°Aaron¡¯s being too harsh on you. How does he expect you to get through all of this? He¡¯s training you to be his heir, and it¡¯s going to be exhausting. ¡°Come with me on my world tour. Think of it as a break.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± Grace said as she cleaned up her desk. ¡°Remember the time when your fans thought I was your girlfriend? If it hadn¡¯t been for Aaron, I would have been hospitalized from having rotten eggs thr ¡°You remember that?¡± Calebughed. 1 ¡°Clearly you¡¯re very interested in me! That¡¯s why you remember our moments together!¡± Grace rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. ¡°You need a therapist.¡± Caleb continued to smirk at her. ¡°You¡¯re the only therapist I need.¡± Thankfully, Grace was used to this. She wasn¡¯t ufortable with his flirting. Caleb loved to sing and was a well¨Cknown singer. Even though he was very busy, he still found time to take care of her. Back when she had insisted on marrying Benjamin, Caleb had canceled his uing concert and wanted to fly to Pamore to fight him. Thankfully, Aaro In retrospect, she wondered why she had fallen for Benjamin when there had been so many better men around her. ¡°I¡¯m getting a call. Excuse me for a moment.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Their voices faded away. Therge room became silent again. The president¡¯s assistant¡­ This was pretty much the highest position in thepany, apart from the president himself. Grace clenched her fists. This time, she wouldn¡¯t let Aaron down. ¡°Surprise!¡± On the second day after Grace had moved into the office on the top floor of Amirate Corporation, a man burst into her office. Chapter 13 Caleb¡¯s Background ¡°Why am I thest one to find out that you¡¯re home? I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t tell me, Gracie! Was our friendship just a lie?¡± Grace recognized the voice of her third older brother, Caleb Lewis. Caleb wasn¡¯t her biological brother. Her family had adopted him after his parents had abandoned him at birth. Grace didn¡¯t look up from her documents. ¡°Take a seat and be quiet. Don¡¯t disturb me.¡± It had been three days, and she still needed to get through all the documents Aaron¡¯s secretary had given her. In just a day, she had received hundreds of phone calls from various international organizations around the world. She felt flustered. Caleb didn¡¯t mind her curtness. He sat down on the couch. ¡°Aaron¡¯s being too harsh on you. How does he expect you to get through all of this? He¡¯s training you to be his heir, and it¡¯s going to be exhausting. ¡°Come with me on my world tour. Think of it as a break.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± Grace said as she cleaned up her desk. ¡°Remember the time when your fans thought I was your girlfriend? If it hadn¡¯t been for Aaron, I would have been hospitalized from having rotten eggs thrown at me.¡± ¡°You remember that?¡± Calebughed. ¡°Clearly you¡¯re very interested in me! That¡¯s why you remember our moments together!¡± Grace rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. ¡°You need a therapist.¡± Caleb continued to smirk at her. ¡°You¡¯re the only therapist I need.¡± Thankfully, Grace was used to this. She wasn¡¯t ufortable with his flirting. Caleb loved to sing and was a well¨Cknown singer. Even though he was very busy, he still found time to take care of her. Back when she had insisted on marrying Benjamin, Caleb had canceled his uing concert and wanted to fly to Pamore to fight him. Thankfully, Aaro In retrospect, she wondered why she had fallen for Benjamin when there had been so many better men around her. ¡°I¡¯m getting a call. Excuse me for a moment.¡± Grace nced at her vibrating phone. The call was from an unknown number. Caleb shut his mouth and watched her go over to the window to answer the call. ¡°Hello, is this the new president¡¯s assistant at Amirate Corporation? I just wanted to call to see if we can talk about Hawkins Group¡¯s participation in Dara It was Larry. Aaron had told her that he would block all iing calls from Hawkins Group. They had probably figured that out, so they had used an unknown number to call her. It had probably been Benjamin¡¯s idea. ¡°There¡¯s really nothing much to talk about. Hawkins Group didn¡¯t contribute enough in sponsorship. I think thest secretary told you that before,¡± Grace said truthfully. Hawkins Group had only managed to qualify because she had spoken to Aaron on Benjamin¡¯s behalf. ¡°Ms. Lewis?¡± Larry sounded shocked. He had worked with Grace for quite some time, so he could recognize her voice. Grace didn¡¯t deny or admit anything. ¡°I¡¯m busy. Goodbye.¡± After hanging up the phone, she huffed out a breath. Larry was definitely calling from Benjamin¡¯s office. In fact, Benjamin was probably listening to their call as well. She could almost imagine his expression. Just as she had guessed, Larry handed Benjamin the phone. He was still in shock. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, the new president¡¯s assistant at Amirate Corporation sounded a lot like Ms. Lewis. She¡­ How did she¡­¡± Benjamin¡¯s expression was stiff. He had heard Grace¡¯s voice too. Not long ago, Larry had told him that he couldn¡¯t find any information about Grace¡¯s supposed parents in the countryside. That meant that Grace¡¯s background was all fake! The woman had lied to Hawkins family for three years! ¡°Mr. Hawkins, what are we going to do about the expo?¡± Larry watched Benjamin¡¯s dark expression uncertainly. Were they still going to the expo? Benjamin pursed his l*ps and said, ¡°Keep calling her.¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 We¡¯re Sleeping Together Larry gritted his teeth and called Grace over and over again. Each time, the operator informed him that the line was busy. At one point, Benjamin grabbed his phone just as the call connected. ¡°What is wrong with you? Larry, just tell Benjamin that he¡¯s not attending the expo Grace snapped impatiently. this year,¡± The other end of the call was silent. After a while, a deep voice sounded. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Grace¡¯s breath caught when she heard Benjamin. He didn¡¯tment on what she said earlier. Instead, he asked, ¡°Will we be able to join the expo if we increase the sponsorship to 500 million dors?¡± At that moment, Grace was sitting in Caleb¡¯s luxury sports car. ¡°Benjamin, what are you ying at?¡± Seeing that she had been buried in work, Caleb had insisted on taking her out on a tour of the city. Grace hadn¡¯t been able to talk him out of it and had relented. ¡°If 500 million dors isn¡¯t enough, then we¡¯ll make it a billion dors. ¡°And if that¡¯s still not enough, then I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to report this to the Global Chamber of Commerce and see what they say. Amirate isn¡¯t the only org ¡°You¡­¡± Grace had noeback for him. Caleb, who was driving, got annoyed and took her phone from her. ¡°Why are you being so relentless? You¡¯re already divorced from my baby. ¡°Are you trying to get her back? Fat chance of that! She¡¯s mine now. By the sleeping together!¡± To Grace¡¯s astonishment, he hung up the call and tossed the phone aside. ¡°Sleeping together?¡± ¡°That¡¯s going to drive him crazy. Trust me.¡± way, we¡¯re Benjamin¡¯s expression was gloomy when he put down the phone.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Larry had no clue what had happened. He muttered, ¡°Ms. Lewis was the one who quit. Why is ¡°And how did she even get that post at Amirate Corporation? I¡¯ve heard that it¡¯s really hard to get a job there.¡± Benjamin had the same questions. It didn¡¯t make him feel any better. ¡°Get two ne tickets for Darai,¡± he said coldly. ¡°If I remember correctly, the president of the Global Chamber of Commerce is still Donegan, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, Mr. Hawkins. Donald Donegan won the election again not too long ago.¡± ¡°Good. Tell Timothy that we¡¯ll meet him in eight hours.¡± Timothy Donegan was Donald¡¯s only son and the sole heir of the Donegan family, one of thergest families outside of Eklora. He was a well¨Cknown yboy and often had an entourage of beautiful girls following him around. He was also one of the few friends Benjamin had. Since he lived abroad, they didn¡¯t contact each other much. Before leaving for Darai, Benjamin went back to Hawkins Manor to pack. As soon as he stepped over the threshold, he saw some renovation workersing out of the elevator. ¡°Benjamin, you ¡­¡± Benjamin frowned as a bad feeling crept over him. Before the two people on the couch had the chance to greet him, he strode into the elevator. He headed straight toward the bedroom on the third floor. The bedroom was unrecognizable now. Everything, from the curtains to the bedsheets, had been changed. The ce had been wiped clean of any hint of Grace¡¯s presence. ¡°Who did this?¡± He red furiously. The housekeeper, who was cleaning the room, trembled in fear. ¡°It was Ms. Quine.¡± Benjamin¡¯s expression darkened. Before he could get angry, Yvonne walked in. ¡°Benjamin.¡± she said. ¡°I know about you and Ms. Lewis. Now that you¡¯re divorced, it¡¯s only right that you change up the decor a little, right? I hope you aren¡¯t angry that I acted on my own ord.¡± Benjamin didn¡¯t answer her. He red at Susan. ¡°That woman left a ring, and Yvonne saw it,¡± Susan immediately exined. 1 ¡°That¡¯s why I told her.¡± She was still upset about that because Yvonne had been questioning her none too subtly the entire day. ¡°She left it on purpose just so that she could make trouble for us.¡± ¡°What ring?¡± Benjamin asked. He had slept in this room. How could Yvonne see a ring that he himself hadn¡¯t noticed? Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Back to What It Looked Like ¡°This ring.¡± Yvonne handed Benjamin a ring. It was a simple ring, but it shone slightly under the light. Benjamin recognized it at first nce. It was the only gift he had given Grace during their three years of marriage. He took the ring and ran his thumb over the inside of the ring, where their initials were inscribed: B & G. He still remembered Grace had asked him to put it on for her. However, he had impatiently replied, ¡°Later.¡± Even so, she had worn it for three years. He had never seen her without it. Yvonne was unhappy to see Benjamin lost in thought as he stared at the ring. Still, she kept a smile on her face. ¡°This looks like an important ring. How could Ms. Lewis have forgotten it? Should we give it back to her, or ¡­¡± ¡°Why should we give it back to her?¡± Susan immediately chimed in. ¡°That woman looks harmless, but she turned her back on us without warning. She¡¯s bad!¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Celia said. ¡°I had a bad feeling about her when she first came here.¡± Benjamin¡¯s expression darkened. He gripped the ring tightly as he remembered what the man on the phone had said earlier. Anger surged in him. No wonder she had been so anxious to leave. She had already found her next target! He said coldly, ¡°Throw it away. Hearing this, Susan said vindictively, ¡°That¡¯s right. Throw away anything that she has ever touched.¡± Celia nodded. ¡°Yeah, Mom¡¯s right. Throw them all away and get new stuff.¡± Even so, Benjamin didn¡¯t move. He looked around the bedroom and told the housekeeper, ¡°I don¡¯t like people interfering in my personal life. I want to see this room back to the way it wa the end of the day.¡± With that said, he tugged his tie loose and went into his closet to pack his luggage. Yvonne paled. She stood rooted to the spot, dazed. ¡°What a hassle! It¡¯s just furniture. Why is Benjamin making such a big deal about it?¡± Celia flung herself onto the couch, muttering under her breath. ¡°Grace changed the decor around all the time to seduce him. He never said anything to h When Grace had been here, he had shunned her. Now that she was gone, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to touch her things. Something was wrong with him. Susan could see how upset Yvonne looked. She gave Celia a light p on the head and said, ¡°Be quiet!¡± Then, she turned to Yvonne and said catingly, ¡°Benjamin¡¯s just a little particr about his things. He doesn¡¯t allow anyone to touch his belongings. Don¡¯t take it personally.¡± Yvonne could barely hear her. She kept staring at Benjamin. This was their bedroom, and there were traces of Grace everywhere. It was normal for him to remember her when he slept here every night. 1 N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She knew that Benjamin was serious. She had to return the bedroom to its previous state. Yvonne couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. Benjamin wasn¡¯t as indifferent to Grace as he had seemed! As Benjamin packed his luggage, an idea formed in Yvonne¡¯s mind. + Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Secretary¨CCum¨CWife Benjamin sat in a first¨Css seat on the ne. He took out the pair of rings that he had instructed his housekeeper to throw away earlier. After some hesitation, he took out the bigger ring and put it on. He had never worn it before. But it fit him perfectly, as if it had been tailored for him. Over thest three years, he had refused to wear it, insisting that it wasn¡¯t appropriate for work. Any other wife would have thrown a tantrum at that. However, Grace hadn¡¯t. She had been gentle and obedient, indulgent of his every whim. He had never expected her to leave him so suddenly and determinedly. She hadn¡¯t even taken her wedding ring with her. Benjamin turned the ring around in his hand, frowning. Gentle and obedient, or determined. What was she really like? When the ne touched down at Darai, Benjamin headed to the offices of Donegan Enterprises. Once he reached, he went straight to the president¡¯s office. Timothy squinted at hisputer, then picked up the proposal and checked it again. Then, he put down the file and said earnestly, ¡°Benjamin, I¡¯ve checked. Hawkins Group is eligible to participate in the expo.¡± Benjamin raised an eyebrow. So he was right¨CAmirate was the one barring them. ¡°Did you offend the president of Amirate Corporation, Aaron Lewis?¡± Timothy asked. ¡°The records show that he had used his right to veto to bar Hawkins Group from participating in the expo.¡± Benjamin¡¯s eyes were dark and unreadable. ¡°I¡¯ve never met him. My secretary was the one who was dealing with this. Everything was going fine until now. We just needed to sign the contract.¡± ¡°Then where¡¯s that secretary of yours? Let her deal with it.¡± Timothy yed with the pen in his fingers as he spoke yfully. Benjamin lowered his eyes, hiding his dejection. ¡°She quit.¡± Timothy gave him an understanding look. ¡°Then she must be the one ruining things for you. 173 ¡°She quit and took some resources with her, making you lose out on this huge contract. You must¡¯ve signed a non¨C compete with her when you hired her, right? You can sue her.¡± Everything he said only served to fuel Benjamin¡¯s anger. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Larry noticed that his boss didn¡¯t look happy. Heughed awkwardly and said, ¡°Mr. Donegan, the secretary was Mr. Hawkin¡¯s wife.¡± Timothy covered his mouth in surprise. ¡°Oh, damn. Bro, who did you marry? Superwoman? How could she handle being your wife and your secretary at the same time?¡± Benjamin didn¡¯t deign to give him an answer. Timothy didn¡¯t have a filter most of the time, so Benjamin was used to hisments. And after all, Timothy wasn¡¯t wrong. Grace was very capable. With the way she could handle everything, she was almost like a robot. His heart felt heavy. All this time, he had only ever seen Grace as his perfect secretary, forgetting that she had also been his wife. Timothy stood up and patted Benjamin on the shoulder, smiling teasingly. ¡°When did you get married? Why wasn¡¯t I invited to the wedding? You should¡¯ve introduced me to your wife.¡± Even though they were best friends, they rarely met since their respective family businesses were based in different countries. Benjamin and Grace had married quietly, without avish ceremony. Only a few of Benjamin¡¯s friends in Pamore, including Frederick Morris, knew about it. Most of them looked down on Grace because of her background. They had all thought that Benjamin had drawn the short end of the straw. So they hadn¡¯t mentioned that he was married to anyone else. In fact, they still treated him like he was a bachelor. ¡°They just divorced,¡± Larry blurted out. When he realized what he had said, it was toote. Larry lowered his head and cursed himself as he felt Benjamin¡¯s re on him. Why did he have to say that? Timothy stopped his teasing. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Benjamin. Marriage isn¡¯t all that great, anyway. You¡¯re better off divorced.¡± Then he sighed, remembering his own problems. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Benjamin asked. Timothy was willing to confide in his best friend. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get married!¡± he said. ¡°My father is forcing me to marry the sister of Amirate Corporation¡¯s president. She¡¯s ugly! I was able to avoid her all this time since she was abroad. 1 ¡°But now that she¡¯s back, my old man¡¯s be more insistent than before! He has even nned the wedding! ¡°He wants me to go home and get married. I don¡¯t want to!¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Wee Dinner ¡°There¡¯s no harm in a marriage of convenience as long as you don¡¯t interfere with each other, ¡°Benjamin said candidly. ¡°It¡¯s no harm for you since all you want is profit. I¡¯m not like you! ¡°I want to fall in love with my wife at first sight. She should be breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly smart. That¡¯s the kind of woman I want to marry.¡± Timothy waved a hand. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Benjamin couldn¡¯t argue with him on this. He changed the subject back to the expo. ¡°Is there any way we can solve this?¡± Timothy patted his chest confidently. ¡°The Donegans and Amirate are coborating on this. All I need to do is make a call. I¡¯m sure Aaron will do me this favor. He picked up his phone and called Aaron. However, Aaron didn¡¯t answer. When Timothy called him again, Aaron rejected the call, clearly implying that he wasn¡¯t willing to talk to him. Timothy put his phone awkwardly down, feeling embarrassed. His best friend had asked him for help. He had acted so confidently, only to be let down like this. He touched his n*eck and said guiltily, ¡°I think he¡¯s busy. Let me treat you to a hearty wee dinner. We can talk about thister.¡± Benjamin followed him out of his office. He knew that they were at an impasse. Timothy wouldn¡¯t be able to help him with this. He would have to try to get through to Grace. Meanwhile, Aaron was sitting in an exclusive boutique where only VIPs were allowed. All the clothes here were custom¨Cmade for the clients. He sat on the leather couch, radiating a dignified air. He rejected the phone call and nced up at Grace, who was being measured by the designer. ¡°Benjamin Hawkins is in Darai. He¡¯s asking Timothy for help.¡± As he spoke, he watched Grace carefully, worried that she still had lingering feelings for Benjamin. Grace looked impassive. She turned slightly, allowing the designer to measure her waist. ¡°Just leave this to me, Aaron. I¡¯ll deal with him.¡± She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked healthier now and exuded confidence. She was apletely different woman from the disheveled one who had lived with the Hawkins family. This version of her was the real Grace Lewis. Benjamin could go fuck himself for all she cared. ¡°Babe, I missed you!¡± A figure threw himself at Grace, enveloping her in a long hug. Grace recognized the voice of her best friend, Emily Jenkins. She teared up and held back a sob. ¡°I missed you too.¡± Emily let go of her. ¡°You heartless woman. How could you not contact me for three years? I just heard from Caleb that you got divorced. Am I your best friend or not? Grace blinked back her tears. ¡°You¡¯ll always be my best friend. I was just embarrassed.¡± She paused and said, ¡°You tried to stop me back then, but I refused to listen and even argued with you. Now I¡¯m divorced¡­ ¡°I couldn¡¯t face you.¡± Years ago, she had given up her dreams of running a boutique to marry Benjamin and work as his secretary at the Hawkins Group. Emily had tried to stop her. She had said that Benjamin wasn¡¯t suitable for Grace and that he was stopping her from realizing her dreams. At the time, Grace had been too stubborn and hadn¡¯t listened to Emily. She had closed down the boutique that they had opened together. Furious that her best friend had destroyed her dreams, Emily had moved to Frenda and stopped contacting her. Emily took Grace¡¯s hand and said savagely, ¡°Benjamin is dumb for letting you go! Now that you¡¯re home, no one can bully you anymore! I¡¯ll kill anyone who dares!¡± Grace smiled at Emily, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t cry, babe.¡± Emily took out some tissues and wiped her tears away. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ve prepared a celebration for you tonight! Here¡¯s to leaving an asshole and looking forward to a better man!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Grace nced over at Aaron, who was watching them, and gripped Emily¡¯s hand tighter. She couldn¡¯t believe how stupid she had been in the past. How had she given up on everyone who loved her for a man who clearly didn¡¯t? Family and friends were more precious than unrequited love. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Watch Where You Are That night, Emily held a huge party in Grace¡¯s honor at the best club in Darai. The party was lively and extremely loud. On the stage, Emily slung an arm around Grace and raised her ss. ¡°A toast to my best friend Grace, who¡¯s just escaped hell and has been reborn again!¡± ¡°Cheers!¡± ¡°Congrattions!¡± Grace downed the entirety of her ss in one gulp and pulled Emily into the crowd. ¡°Babe, this is the scion of HB Group. He has a worth of billions of dors. ¡°That¡¯s the president of Paradin Enterprises. He¡¯s got a great figure, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Grace followed Emily as she introduced numerous people to her. As she turned, she bumped into someone. ¡°Are you blind? You stepped on my foot!¡± A shrill voice sounded from behind her. Gra raised an eyebrow and scoffed. She recognized that voice. It was her ex¨Csister¨Cinw, Celia Hawkins. Emily put herself between Grace and Celia. ¡°Who the hell are you? Why are you so rude?¡± Celia was annoyed about ruining the shoes she had just bought. She looked up from her shoes and found herself standing in front of Grace. ¡°Oh, I see, it¡¯s the woman my brother dumped,¡± she said wryly. Celia hade to Darai with Yvonne. It hadn¡¯t been easy for her to convince Susan to let here, but she had managed it in the end. Emily was furious when she heard Celia. She rolled up her sleeves, prepared to fight, but Grace stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Just ignore her.¡± In the past, Grace had tolerated Celia for Benjamin¡¯s sake. But now, Celia meant nothing to her. She wasn¡¯t even worth getting annoyed over. Grace cast a disdainful look at Celia before her eyesnded on Yvonne. She was dressed in a loose tracksuit and t shoes, looking every bit pregnant. Grace scoffed. What was she doing here? She should be staying at home and taking care of her Yvonne didn¡¯t bother to hide her hostility this time. After all, she hade to Darai to speak to Benjamin about Grace. But the subject of their discussion It was the second time she had met Grace. Grace looked aloof and elegant, which made Yvonne feel uneasy. Grace, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t interested in either of them. She pulled Emily away and tried to leave. Celia had never been ignored before, much less by Grace. Enraged, she began to tell Grace off without caring about where they were. ¡°It¡¯s one thing to be dumped, but why did you have to make Hawkins Group suffer such a big loss? If you don¡¯t settle the issue with the expo today, I¡¯ll ge Grace pulled Emily along and kept walking. ¡°You¡¯re infertile, anyway! You must have found your next target. That¡¯s why you divorced my brother so quickly! You¡¯re an embarrassment to my family!¡± Even if Grace could ignore Celia, Emily wasn¡¯t as mild¨Ctempered as her. She would fight anyone who spoke badly about her best friend. She wasn¡¯t scared of anything. She wrenched herself out of Grace¡¯s grip and strode over to Celia. Grabbing a ss of champagne from a passing waiter, she threw the contents of the This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°This is my f**king party, b*tch. Who do you think you are, ndering my best friend in front of me? Watch where you are before running your mouth!¡± o She jeered in Celia¡¯s face. Everyone around themughed as well. Celia had never been treated like this before. She knew that she looked horrible, especially since the champagne had smudged her makeup. She turned to Yvonne pleadingly. ¡°Yvonne, help me!¡± Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Return the Pain Twofold There were too many people on Emily¡¯s side, and Yvonne was mortified by the confrontation. She backed away instinctively, trying to distance herself from Celia. Grace swirled her champagne and turned back to them. ¡°Your sister¨Cinw¡¯s in trouble. Are you not going to stand up for her?¡± she taunted coldly. ¡°What are you guys doing over there?¡± An angry voice echoed. The crowd parted to reveal Benjamin, who was striding toward them with a dark expression. He saw Grace immediately. It had been some time since they hadst met. She had put on a little weight and looked healthier¨Cbetter, at least, than how she had looked when she had been with him. Her smile was almost as bright as the spotlights overhead. Her tailored dressplemented herplexion, making her look like a different woman. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. When Celia saw her brother, she regained her courage and pointed at Grace and Emily. ¡± Benjamin, they¡¯re bullying us!¡± Benjamin looked around, taking in Celia¡¯s smudged makeup and Yvonne¡¯s agitated state. The crowd was silent now. ¡°Picking on the weak? How dishonorable.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Grace had no intention of arguing with him. She smiled sardonically. ¡°I think you know your She didn¡¯t mind being the bad guy. sister better.¡± Emily was simrly indignant. ¡°Leave, and take your sister with you! The Hawkins are not wee at my party!¡± The people around them also spoke up against Celia. ¡°She was the one who verbally attacked them first.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! She looks young, but her manners need a lot of work. If she can attack someone because they¡¯re infertile, then she¡¯s not a good person!¡± ¡°She just threatened to call the police, but a ss of champagne was enough to shut her up. What a joke.¡± Benjamin frowned. He knew Celia¡¯s personality. After hearing what the crowd said, he asked Celia, ¡°Are they telling the truth?¡± Celia lowered her head, not daring to argue with her brother. Yvonne took the opportunity to get into Benjamin¡¯s good graces while simultaneously painting Grace in a bad light. Putting on a pitiable expression, she said softly, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, Benjamin. I should have stopped Celia from saying those hurtful things. She¡¯s the one who Then, she turned to Grace. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know about you when I got together with Benjamin. ¡°If I could turn back time, I wouldn¡¯t get between the two of you at all. I hope you can forgive 1. me. ¡°As for the expo ¡­ please don¡¯t cause any issues for Hawkins Group, okay?¡± Her eyes shone with unshed tears, making her look delicate and pitiable. She spoke with certainty, making Grace out to be a vengeful ex who was taking revenge on Benjamin through Hawkins Group. She might have fooled everyone else, but her act didn¡¯t work on Grace and Emily. Emily pointed a finger at Yvonne. ¡°That¡¯s funny. You¡¯re the one who ruined Grace¡¯s marriage. Why are you acting like you¡¯re the innocent one here? ¡°Take your holier¨Cthan¨Cthou act elsewhere! I¡¯m not in the mood to deal with you.¡± She grabbed a ss bottle from a nearby table and raised it over Yvonne¡¯s head. Grace stopped her hastily. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant. Leave it.¡± Yvonne put a hand to her forehead and swayed slightly before falling into Benjamin¡¯s arms. Benjamin grabbed her and blocked Emily¡¯s attack. He pushed her by the shoulder impatiently. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Due to the momentum, Emily almost fell to the ground. Thankfully, Grace caught her just in time. Once Emily was steady, Grace went up to Yvonne and pped her hard. The force of the p sent Yvonne¡¯s ears ringing. Her face stung from the pain. It took her a few moments to realize what had happened. Grace had just hit her. She had never been hit before. Grace shook out the stinging pain in her hand and looked straight into Benjamin¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you ever touch Emily again, I¡¯ll return the pain twofold to Yvonne. Let¡¯s see how many ps your fragile beloved can withstand!¡± She meant what she said. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 in! T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Grandma treats her like she¡¯s the savior of the world or something. She doesn¡¯t even treat me as well as she treats Grace! ¡°No one could say anything to her! Mom was the only one who could nag her about not giving her grandkids!¡± Hearing this, Benjamin¡¯s face darkened further. When he was home, his family was peaceful and harmonious. He had never heard any arguments before. He wondered if Grace had been mistreated by his family all this time. At that thought, he took his phone out and texted her. At that moment, Grace was chatting with Emily on her bed. A notification alert appeared on her phone. She picked it up and rolled her eyes when she saw the text. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Much Ado About an Assistant Benjamin¡¯s text was just as overbearing as the man himself. ¡°What happened today was Celia¡¯s fault. She will apologize to you, but you have to apologize This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. to Yvonne as well!¡± Grace was furious. ¡°What a f**king asshat. Does he have shit in his head instead of a brain?¡± she cursed as she blocked his contact. Emily smirked at her. ¡°Babe, you¡¯re going to the auction with Aaron tomorrow, right? I¡¯ll choose your outfit for you. Let me see your closet,¡± she begged. ¡°No problem. Pick whatever you want,¡± Grace said. As soon as she pushed open the closet door, Emily eximed, ¡°Wow, this is huge! It¡¯s even bigger than our boutique in Pamore!¡± Grace¡¯s closet extended three floors below her room. It was filled with all sorts of jewelry and clothes from luxury brands. Aaron had renovated it especially for her when she came back. It had only beenpleted yesterday. ¡°I thought my closet was big enough. Yours takes the cake,¡± Emily said, staring at all the colorful clothes. Grace took a dress and held it against herself as she stood in front of the mirror with it. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I might need to extend it in the future if there isn¡¯t enough space.¡± She had really been too naive in the past. What was wrong with staying with her family and getting her inheritance? While they were talking, her butler, Jacob Zimmerman, knocked on her door. When he entered the room, he was followed by two maids. They pushed a rack full of gowns inside. ¡°Ms. Grace, Prada sent us their newest collection today. Everything has been tailored to your size. ¡°These gowns are not avable on the market yet. They wanted you to choose what you liked first.¡± Emily looked at her with starry eyes and k*ssed her on the cheek. ¡°You¡¯re the best, babe!¡± The two startedughing. Meanwhile, Benjamin stared at the single tick beside his message, his expression livid. He knew Grace never turned her phone off¨C she had obviously blocked him. He mmed the phone onto the seat, startling Celia. That woman ¡­ She had blocked him! Clearly, Grace wouldn¡¯t help him with his issue. ¡°Any news from Amirate?¡± he asked Larry. Feeling the pressure, Larry answered with some difficulty, ¡°No, they¡¯re ignoring us.¡± Benjamin loosened his tie in irritation. ¡°Did you get Aaron Lewis¡® schedule?¡± ¡°I did. He¡¯s going to the auction held by Kristina¡¯s the day after tomorrow,¡± Larry answered. Benjamin frowned. ¡°We¡¯ll go too. Prepare for that.¡± Hearing this, Celia perked up. ¡°Benjamin, I want to go too! I¡¯ve never been to an auction. Can I go see?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going there for business. You¡¯ll just be in my way,¡± Benjamin said. ¡°Benjamin, please,¡± Celia begged. ¡°Let me go too.¡± Seeing that Benjamin wasn¡¯t going to back down, she turned to Yvonne, who had been pretending to sleep all this time. ¡°Yvonne, help me. I promise I won¡¯t do anything rash this time.¡± Yvonne woke up and smiled gently. ¡°Benjamin, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll go with you and keep an eye on Celia.¡± Since she had guaranteed that there would be no trouble, Benjamin agreed to let them tag along. Almost everyone in the upper sses of Darai attended Kristina¡¯s auction. A Rolls¨CRoyce pulled to a stop in front of the auction venue. Benjamin stepped out of the car with Yvonne on his arm. He looked handsome and confident. Frail and lovely, Yvonne seemed like a perfect match for him. Behind them, Celia got out of the car, smoothing down her dress awkwardly. Those who knew Benjamin came up to them for small talk. Just then, there was amotion nearby. ¡°Amirate really knows how to make an entrance. Even a mere assistant can get such a huge wee,¡± someone muttered. At the same time, the door to a Lincoln opened. Grace stepped out of the car under numerous gazes, looking magnificent in her red gown. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Trying to unt Your Wealth Grace looked stunning today. Her long hair fell over her shoulders. Dressed in a luxurious gown that had never been seen on the market before, she was even more dazzling in the cr No one could take their eyes off her. Slowly, she made her way toward Benjamin. Benjamin watched her, his eyes dark with an unidentifiable emotion. Grace was no longer the woman he remembered. She used to be gentle and demure. Now, she was confident and beautiful. She had changed. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you are relentless, I see.¡± Grace walked up to Benjamin and spoke with a mocking smile. ¡°Where¡¯s your boss?¡± Benjamin asked coldly. Graceughed. ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m alone. Disappointed?¡± So he had set his sights on Aaron since his dumb texts to her hadn¡¯t worked. Well, he would have to get through her first! Benjamin¡¯s expression darkened when he realized that his ns had been discovered. It didn¡¯t help that Grace was clearlyughing at him. The organizer of the auction came up to them, smiling widely. ¡°Ms. Lewis, this way.¡± Grace ignored Benjamin and entered the venue. Celia watched her grand entrance and whispered in Benjamin¡¯s ear, ¡°Look, Benjamin, I was right. She must have gotten some rich and powerful boyfrien get this treatment.¡± ¡®Benjamin just felt more irritated. ¡°Shut up,¡± he said impatiently. Knowing that Benjamin was angry, Celia fell silent and followed behind him quietly. ¡°Let¡¯s head in,¡± Yvonne said gently. Half an hourter, the auction started. The auctioneer began introducing the items up for auction. ¡°A diamond bracelet, starting bid of 200 thousand dors! Under the lights, the diamonds on the bracelet sparkled subtly. Grace remembered that Elizabeth¡¯s birthday wasing up. She raised her paddle and bid for the bracelet. ¡°300 thousand dors.¡± ¡°300 thousand dors!¡± In the row behind her, Yvonne saw Grace bidding for the bracelet. She raised her paddle as well. ¡°500 thousand dors.¡± Then, she said, ¡°Benjamin, I think this bracelet would suit Grandma very well. ¡± Benjamin nodded. Grace raised her paddle again. ¡°600 thousand dors!¡± This was the highest she would go. The bracelet was only worth so much. As it were, she was already overpaying for it. ¡°One million dors!¡± Yvonne lowered her handle triumphantly after she said that. Grace definitely wouldn¡¯t have so much money. She hadn¡¯t taken anything with her after the divorce. At most, she would have one million dors, nothing more. Yvonne, on the other hand, had plenty of money. One million dors was nothing to her. Plus, she would be able to make a good impression on Elizabeth as well. She wouldn¡¯t let Grace one¨Cup her. Grace looked over her shoulder when she heard the bid and met Yvonne¡¯s gaze. Them again? She scoffed. Were they trying to unt their wealth? Well, two could y at the game. ¡°Five million dors!¡± As soon as she called out her bid, everyone in the hall was stunned. The attendees at the auction were mostly rich, but they wouldn¡¯t offer such outrageous prices. The auctioneer stuttered, taken aback by the bid. After confirming that Grace had really bid five million dors, she called out tremblingly, ¡± Five million dors, going once!¡± Yvonne called out, ¡°Ten million dors!¡± Beside her, Benjamin said, ¡°Yvonne, the bracelet¡¯s not worth that much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can afford it. I just want to make sure that Grandma is happy,¡± Yvonne said with a This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. smile. Ten million dors was a lot, but it was still within her means. ¡°30 million dors,¡± Grace said calmly. The other attendees were speechless, shocked by their extravagance. Yvonne gripped her paddle tightly, also astonished. How dare this woman bid so much money? Did she really think Yvonne wouldn¡¯t be able topete with her? Yvonne was determined to fight with her to this end. Gritting her teeth, she raised her hand and called, ¡°31 million dors!¡± ¡°31 million, going once!¡± ¡°31 million, going twice!¡± Yvonne was starting to panic. Why wasn¡¯t Grace bidding again? ¡°31 million, going thrice!¡± The auctioneer mmed her gavel down. ¡°31 million dors for this diamond bracelet!¡± Yvonne turned to stare at Grace. Only then did she realize that she had been tricked! Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Everyone Loves Pretty Things The staff at the auction moved quickly. During a short break, they brought the bracelet to Yvonne and stood there, waiting for her to write them a check. Before the auction, every attendee had to dere their respectivepanies. So if they backed out after winning a bid, the auction¡¯s organizer would sue theirpany. Yvonne signed the check with a trembling hand. A few rows behind her, Timothy looked amused. ¡°Today is my lucky day. How rare to encounter a rich fool.¡± The bracelet was only worth 300 thousand dors at most. He had been scammed by the jeweler and bought it for 500 thousand dors as a gift for his mother. But she hadn¡¯t liked it, so she made him sell it at the Then again¡­ His gazended on Grace, who had bid on the bracelet as well. She was beautiful. He knew how to appreciate good looks. Especially since she was also interesting. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Timothy¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°She looks familiar. Who¡¯s she?¡± he asked the president of HB Group, who was sitting beside him. ¡°I think her name is Grace Lewis.¡± ¡°Grace Lewis?¡± Timothy repeated. He thought of the e¨Cridden girl from the Lewis family and shuddered. It couldn¡¯t be. Rubbing his eyes, he looked over at Grace again. ¡°They can¡¯t be the same person. They just ¡®have the same name.¡± The next item was brought on stage. ¡°An antique pocket watch from Epigny. The bid starts at five million dors!¡± It was the item that Aaron had instructed Grace to get. Grace raised her paddle. ¡°Six million dors!¡± ¡°6.5 million dors!¡± Without Yvonne¡¯s interference, the bid for the pocket watch went smoothly. Grace managed to get the pocket watch for seven million dors. Yvonne was furious about it, but she dared not bid against Grace for fear of being tricked again. She was out of money anyway. Softly, she said, ¡°Ms. Lewis has changed a lot, Benfamin. She didn¡¯t ask for any alimony when you divorced her, did she? ¡°I wonder where she got all this money. She didn¡¯t seem to mind spending seven million dors for a pocket watch.¡± As she spoke, she watched Benjamin¡¯s face carefully. ¡°She¡¯s now assistant to the president of Amirate Corporation, right? That¡¯s a powerful position, second only to the president himself. ¡°I heard that Mr. Lewis has given her a lot of important projects to handle, just like you had when she had been with you¡­¡± The more she spoke, the darker Benjamin¡¯s face became. He felt inexplicably furious. Just like when she had been with him? Was Grace going to be Aaron Lewis¡® wife as well? Before Yvonne could continue, Benjamin interrupted her coldly. ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯re interested in? If not, we¡¯re leaving.¡± Seeing that Benjamin was angry, Yvonne stopped talking. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Benjamin. I overstepped. Don¡¯t be angry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s go.¡± Amirate Corporation was one of the biggest shareholders of the auction¡¯s organizer, Kristina¡¯s. So Grace didn¡¯t have to pay for the pocket watch on the s Instead, she was taken to a VVIP lounge to check it out. Once she signed the agreement, the staff gave her the pocket watch and left. Grace ced the watch in its box. When she looked up, she saw Benjamin walking in through the door. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked coldly. He stood by the door, his eyes swirling with anger. ¡°What¡¯s the nature of your rtionship with Aaron Lewis?¡± he demanded. He had asked Yvonne to wait in the car, iming that he needed to go to the bathroom Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Are You Blind ¡°Why are you asking? And why should I tell you?¡± Grace stood up calmly and gave Benjamin a disdainful look. All of a sudden, Benjamin remembered that they were divorced. He had no right to question Grace about her rtionships any more. The thought of her in another man¡¯s arms made him ufortable. She used to be his and should still be his. This sense of possessiveness came out of nowhere, ¡°Why did we get divorced?¡± he asked coldly. Grace smiled coldly. ¡°It¡¯s been so long. What¡¯s the use of asking about this now?¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Meeting his gaze, she said firmly, ¡°I divorced you because I had had enough of you!¡± ¡°Why weren¡¯t you satisfied? For the past three years, I have given you everything, from the clothes you wore to the food you ate. ¡°I even gave you an important position in mypany. How¡¯s that any different from your life right now?¡± Benjamin paused, remembering how Grace had seduced him the day before she asked for a divorce. ¡°Is it because I didn¡¯t have S** with you?¡± He had avoided having S** with Grace because he felt ufortable about it. She had once mumbled the name of another man in her sleep. Ever since then, his pride hadn¡¯t allowed him to sleep with her. Grace scoffed at that. ¡°What kind of logic is that?¡± ¡°I can satisfy you now!¡± Benjamin took a few quick steps up to her and grabbed her face, leaning down to k*ss her. Grace pushed him away and pped him hard. t Pain red through his cheek. Benjamin felt the inside of his cheek with his tongue, anger rolling inside of him. He couldn¡¯t understand Grace at all, Grace¡¯s eyes were damp with tears. Her breathing was heavy from how angry she was. Did this dumbass really think that she left him because they weren¡¯t having S**? Why had she even fallen in love with him in the first ce? She forced herself to calm down. ¡°You¡¯ve only ever seen what you wanted to see in these past three years. You¡¯re no better than a blind man!¡± She lowered her eyes. ¡°No, I was the blind one. I shouldn¡¯t have thought that you would ever change and fall in love with me. ¡°From now on, we will have nothing to do with each other. Please stop harassing me.¡± Picking up the pocket watch, she walked past him and out of the door. ¡°Sign the divorce papers as soon as you can before I¡¯m forced to take the legal route.¡± The door mmed behind Benjamin, leaving him stunned and speechless. All he could think of were Grace¡¯s reddened eyes. She had never shown this side of herself to him before, and it made him think. Had she really been so unhappy during their marriage? Grace ran straight to the balcony and leaned against the railing, watching the sea in the distance. As she stood in the warm night breeze, she sighed. ¡°Here, use this.¡± A handkerchief appeared. Turning, she saw a good¨Clooking man behind her. He was tall and dressed in a tailored suit. His eyes were flirtatious as he smiled at Grace. When Grace didn¡¯t ept his handkerchief, Timothy wiped away her tears for her. ¡°Your eyes are too pretty to be full of tears. It would be a pity if they got swollen. How about I cry on your behalf?¡± Timothy hade to the balcony and happened to see the woman who had piqued his interest at the auction earlier. Under the night sky, she looked beautiful and delicate as tears ran down her face. Her gown danced slightly in the breeze. He was mesmerized by her. Grace couldn¡¯t help butugh at his teasing. She took the handkerchief and wiped her tears away. Timothy introduced himself. ¡°Hello, my name¡¯s Timothy Donegan, the president of the Donegan Group. And you are? ¡°Thanks for raising the bid for my diamond bracelet earlier. I¡¯ll send you a gift someday.¡± Grace¡¯s smile disappeared. So this was her ¡°enemy¡°, Timothy D Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 He Would Get Her Grace clenched her fists tightly, trying to stop herself from hitting him. This was the man Aaron wanted her to marry¨Cthe yboy of the Donegan family, Timothy Donegan. If it had just been the arranged marriage, Grace wouldn¡¯t have been so angry. Her biggest problem with him was that he had been spreading rumors that she was ugly since he was five years old. In fact, he had sworn that he would never marry her. As if she wanted to marry him! If Donald hadn¡¯t been her father¡¯s mentor, she would have taught Timothy a lesson through violence. Timothy was still thering on, oblivious to the change in Grace¡¯s attitude. He had no idea that she was the Grace Lewis he knew. ¡°Can I get your contact number¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Grace threw the handkerchief in his face. He grabbed it. When he looked up again, she had already walked far away. Timothy watched as she strode away, confused. What was wrong with her? Had he said something wrong? He stood there, damp handkerchief in hand, forlornly watching her leave. Then, he narrowed his eyes and smiled. ¡°Feisty. I like her.¡± He took his phone out and opened the group chat with his friends. Timmy: ¡°Great news! I¡¯ve found the love of my life!¡± Frederick: ¡°What?¡± Benjamin: ¡°Is she a beauty with a brain?¡± Timmy: ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s the woman! She¡¯s also cold and aloof. So cool! I just met her!¡± Lovey Timmy: ¡°This is definitely true love! She¡¯s the one for me!¡± Frederick: ¡°Ugh, we know what you¡¯re like. Stop being so sappy. I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re serious.¡± Lovey Timmy: ¡°Don¡¯t be like this. Who knows? Maybe I¡¯ve turned over a new leaf and have decided to settle. I¡¯ll be a good man from now on!¡± Benjamin: ¡°Fat chance. I¡¯ll have a better chance at winning the lottery.¡± Lovey Timmy: ¡°Wanna bet? I¡¯ll get her within a month. When I do, I¡¯ll send you a picture of her so you can all envy me.¡± 240 Back in the study at Lewis Manor, Grace handed Aaron the box with the pocket watch. ¡°Aaron, here¡¯s the watch you asked me to bid for.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Aaron took the box and ced it beside him before continuing to read the news on his tablet. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were an antiques collector.¡±T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¡°It¡¯s for a friend,¡± Aaron said without looking up. Grace pulled up a chair and stared at Aaron curiously. ¡°What friend? Tell me.¡± The watch was rather feminine. It didn¡¯t suit Aaron¡¯s style at all. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Aaron was normally very reserved and didn¡¯t have any female friends. Why did he need a feminine watch? Grace smelled something fishy here. Aaron put down his tablet and faced her. ¡°Xander Fulton asked me to buy this for Aunt Hestia.¡± ¡°Xander Fulton?¡± Grace blinked, trying to recall the name. ¡°You¡¯ve met him before. Do you remember him?¡± Grace nodded, then shook her head. ¡°I recall the name ¡­ but I don¡¯t think I actually knew him. All she could remember was that Xander had been raised by his mother alone. He had taken over histe father¡¯spany when he had still been very young. He didn¡¯t act like her peer at all, so she didn¡¯t interact much with him. Just then, Jacob entered. ¡°Sir, Mr. Hawkins of Hawkins Group is here to see you.¡® Grace scoffed. As she had expected, Benjamin was at his wit¡¯s end. ¡°Did he really think I would meet with him when even Timothy couldn¡¯t convince me?¡± Aaron said coldly, angerced in his tone. ¡°Tell him I¡¯m not going to see him.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Mr. Donegan Senior is here with him. He wants to meet you too.¡± 1 aron could ignore Benjamin, but he couldn¡¯t ignore Donald. oldly, he stood up. ¡°Take them to the living room. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± en, he turned and said to Grace, ¡°You shouldn¡¯te out. I¡¯ll talk to them.¡± ace nodded. +15 B Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Just Sign the Divorce Papers ¡°Grace is going to Pamore?¡± Donald was visibly excited to hear that. ¡°If she¡¯s going back, then should we talk about the arranged marriage between our two families?¡± Aaron wasn¡¯t as excited as Donald about this. ¡°It will depend on the two of them. They¡¯re the ones getting married, after all.¡± Donald understood what Aaron meant. He knew his son. Donald had had Timothyte in life, so he had spoiled him. Even though Timothy was a decent president for Donegan Enterprises, his personal life was a mess. From drinking to hooking up, he had umted s He was a far cry from the ideal son¨Cinw the Lewis family was looking for. Grace was the only daughter of the Lewis family, so naturally, they were all protective of her. Her brothers wouldn¡¯t allow her to marry a yboy like Timothy. Donald had met Grace before. She was pretty and kind. She would be a great daughter¨Cinw. It looked like he would have to send Timothy to Pamore as well and make sure that he seized this opportunity. As his father, it was the least Donald could do to help him. Wanting to hurry home and tell Timothy about this, Donald quickly excused himself and left. Aaron sent him off. As he went back to the living room, Grace emerged from the study. ¡°Aaron, did you say that you were going to send me to Pamore?¡± Aaron said seriously, ¡°Yes. You¡¯re familiar with the city, so it¡¯s best that you¡¯re there to oversee the nning and strategy there. But it¡¯s your choice.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes shone with confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°If you go to Pamore, you¡¯ll be there representing Amirate,¡± Aaron warned her. ¡°You have to put thepany first and foremost. You can¡¯t let your emotions rule your decisions.¡± (1) Benjamin¡¯s defeat here in Darai would definitely result in some consequences, and Amirate¡¯s branches in Pamore would bear the brunt of it. The twopanies were fighting now. He would respect Grace¡¯s wishes if she didn¡¯t want to go. Grace understood her brother¡¯s worries. She knew that the future of thepany rested on $15 BONUS ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aaron. I know you¡¯re sending me to Pamore to prove myself, especially since there has been plenty of disapproval about my sudden appointment here, ¡°It¡¯s better if I get some experience handling the smallef branches beforeing back to the headquarters.¡± Aaron nodded with satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯m d you understand. It seems like I don¡¯t have to worry about you.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Grace put on a worried look. ¡°But what?¡± ¡°If I¡¯m in Pamore, then I won¡¯t be able to see you all the time!¡± Grace smiled at him. Aaron¡¯s heart softened. All the lingering anger from Benjamin¡¯s visit dissipated, This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. He patted Grace on the head andughed. ¡°You¡¯re a sweet¨Ctalker. I¡¯ll fly over and visit you whenever I can.¡± ¡°Promise?¡± ¡°Promise.¡± Back at Hawkins Manor in Pamore, Benjamin tore off his tie in irritation and went back to his room without saying a word to anyone, Celia and Yvonne quietly followed behind him. They didn¡¯t dare speak when they saw how angry he was. In his room, Benjamin took off his jacket and poured himself a ss of wine. He stood by the window and looked out. Without Amirate¡¯s help, he had had to spend a fortune to buy a spot in the expo, going well over the budget. He had been thoroughly defeated in Darai this time. He couldn¡¯t ept being defeated by Grace. Grace had once been his biggest supporter. Now, she was standing on the opposite side, fully prepared to make things harder for him. Evidently, she didn¡¯t want anything to do with him anymore. He tightened his grip on the wine ss as his emotions swirled in turmoil, Just then, his phone rang. ¡°Yes?¡± he asked lowly, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, thewyers received a divorce notice just now. Ms. Lewis passed on a message through herwyer, saying that ¡­¡± On the other end of the call, Larry hesitated. He clearly had bad news. ¡°What did she say?¡± Benjamin asked angrily. ¡°Ms. Lewis said that herwyer will be handling everything rting to the divorce from now on. Since you refused to mediate, she has decided to take th Larry fell silent after blurting this out, waiting for the storm to arrive. He heard the sound of ss shattering first. Even though he was on the other end of the phone, he couldn¡¯t help but break out in a cold sweat. Grace had really pissed off Benjamin this time! Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¡°Since she¡¯s so intent on getting divorced, then so be it!¡± Benjamin raised his voice, anger surging inside him. ¡°Call thewyer and set an appointment at City Hall.¡± Larry didn¡¯t dare hang up yet. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, she said she wants the divorce settled as soon as possible, so they¡¯re willing to amodate our timing.¡± Hearing this, Benjamin threw his phone onto the ground without bothering to hang up. He put a hand on his forehead, feeling his headache intensify. ¡°You¡¯re a cruel woman, Grace!¡± Over at Amirate¡¯s office in Pamore, Grace pushed open the door to the meeting room. She walked up to the executives with Emily. With their friendship repaired, Emily had decided not to return to Frenda. She wanted to help Grace with her career while handling their boutique on the Grace introduced herself and Emily. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Grace Lewis, the general manager appointed by the Darai headquarters. This is Emily Jenkins ¡°I hope we can work together for the good of thepany.¡± Most of the executives had been transferred from Darai as well. They had already been in Pamore for a year, so the power structure was pretty much settled by now. They had coveted the position of general manager for quite some time. To their surprise, they had been assigned a general manager from outside thepany. Even so, they had done their research. Apart from her experience at Hawkins Group as the president¡¯s secretary, they hadn¡¯t been able to find anything about her background. ¡°Wee, Ms. Lewis!¡± ¡°Wee!¡± Most of them were reluctant to speak out since the decision hade from the top. Yet, there were exceptions. ¡°You used to be a secretary at Hawkins Group, right? And now you¡¯re the general manager of an Amirate branch. ¡°Isn¡¯t thepany afraid of you stealingpany secrets and selling them to your old Hearing this, Emily geared up to leap to Grace¡¯s defense. Grace stopped her, giving her a look to tell her that she could deal with this. The one who had questioned her was Cameron Luther, the head of the development department. He was one of the best performers among them. In fact, he had also been the most promising candidate for general manager before Grace came along. He was furious that the position had been taken by someone else. He only felt worse when he realized that it had been given to a young woman with only three years of experience. He felt overlooked. Grace looked at him impassively and curled her l*ps. ¡°That isn¡¯t something you need to worry about. I¡¯m sure HQ knows what they¡¯re doing.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Beforeing here, she had made sure to find out more about these people, including their personalities and work habits. She wasn¡¯t surprised by Cameron¡¯s attitude. She had fully expected naysayers. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t agree with thepany¡¯s decision! I will not work with you, Ms. Lewis!¡± Cameron protested. He wasn¡¯t an idiot. He knew that he was offending many people by opposing decisions made by the headquarters. But today was the first day of operations for this branch. He needed to make sure that Grace didn¡¯t get ahead of him. After all, he had tenure in Amirate Corporation. His department wouldn¡¯t work well without him. He needed to teach Grace that there was already a pecking order in thepany. That way, would be easier for him to have his way in the future. Grace looked unfazed by his threats. it In fact, there was a hint of derision as she gestured to the secretary, who was taking the meeting minutes. She said, ¡°Type up a letter of resignation for Mr. Luther here. I¡¯ll sign it on the spot.¡± The meeting room went silent. Cameron began to have second thoughts. Grace seemed more serious in her threats than he was in his. Was she trying to call his bluff? Then again, she had every right to fire him. Just as he was wondering if he should carry on opposing her, Grace spoke again. ¡°Have you printed it?¡± The secretary stood up hurriedly. ¡°The printer¡¯s outside. I¡¯ll go and get the letter.¡± Seeing that Grace was actually going through with her threat, Cameron immediately backed down. He stood up and forced a smile. ¡°You¡¯re very decisive, Ms. Lewis. I was just joking, that¡¯s all.¡± Grace gave him a fleeting look and smiled wryly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t.¡± Nervously, Cameron apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Lewis. I was acting rashly earlier. I¡¯ll definitely cooperate with you from now on.¡± ¡°Good. Meeting adjourned.¡± With that, Grace and Emily walked out of the meeting room. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Here Come the B**ches Again In the middle of the high street stood a five¨Cstory office building. The exterior of the building was entirely made of ss. Today was the re¨Copening day of Emily¡¯s boutique. It had been three years since shest designed anything. Now she was picking up where she left off. This time, her boutique was in a better location than it had been three years ago. The decor inside was unique, with bright lights shining over the carefully selected clothes and jewelry, Simple and elegant, it showcased the exquisite tas Back then, Grace¡¯s and Emily¡¯s shop, along with their unique outfit designs, had been all the rage amongst the socialites of Pamore. Many young women Even before the doors were opened, there was already a long queue outside. They were all richdies, waiting patiently outside with their reservation nu Emily had pulled Grace away from Amirate so she could help out with styling clients. They were busy all morning. When lunchtime came around and the customers trickled off, Grace and Emily slumped onto a couch, clearly exhausted. Emily leaned her head against Grace¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Babe, does this remind you of the past?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s like we went back three years in time.¡± Grace smiled and touched Emily¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Emily went upstairs to check on her clients. She told Grace to take a longer break Sitting alone on the couch, Grace caught a glimpse of Celia and Yvonne out of the corner of her eye. Celia was wearing an off¨Cseason luxury dress. She kept taking selfies around the boutique. Once she had enough photos, she posted them on social media with the caption, ¡°Look at my haul at this luxury boutique!¡± After posting the photos, she dragged Yvonne around excitedly. Grabbing another expensive dress, she looked at Yvonne pleadingly. ¡°Yvonne, do I look good in this?¡± Her underlying meaning was clear. She wanted Yvonne to buy the dress for her. Yvonne knew it too, but she couldn¡¯t afford much after spending 31 million dors on the diamond bracelet. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She couldn¡¯t impress her future sister¨Cinw, even if she wanted to. Therefore, she feigned ignorance and walked away to look at other things. Disappointed, Celia clicked her tongue. She wouldn¡¯t have asked Yvonne if she had more pocket money. Turning, she saw Grace sitting on the couch alone. Celia grabbed Yvonne and headed over to her. ¡°Oh, look who it is! I can¡¯t believe they let a divorcee in here,¡± she said, looking around. ¡°I guess it¡¯s not as luxurious as I thought it was.¡± Grace was too tired to argue with them. ¡°If it¡¯s not high¨Css enough for you, then leave,¡± she snapped. Celia was offended. She put her hands on her hips and raised her voice. ¡°You can¡¯t speak to me like that! Who do you think you are? I¡¯m a customer at this shop!¡± She pointed at one of the staff members. ¡°I want to speak to the owner of the boutique! How can you let people like her into the shop? She¡¯s ruining my s Grace folded her arms and fl*pped her hair. ¡°I am the owner.¡± Celia¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You? You¡¯re the owner?¡± she asked in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Grace scoffed. ¡°Why would I bother lying to you?¡± Celia, who wasn¡¯t very witty, had noeback to this. She gaped at Grace wordlessly. Yvonne smiled and stepped forward. ¡°Since you¡¯re the owner, Ms. Lewis, you should have .pretty good taste. Can you pick out an outfit for me? ¡°I¡¯m getting married soon, and I need something to wear for the ceremony.¡± Grace serving her would be brilliant revenge for how she had tricked Yvonne out of 31 million dorsst time. Grace smiled dryly, her eyes cold. She didn¡¯t move from the couch. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Shouldn¡¯t you be serving your customers since you¡¯re the owner of the boutique?¡± Yvonne prompted. +15 B ¡°Yes, I do serve my customers,¡± Grace said, standing up. ¡°But I don¡¯t remember your names on the invitation list.¡± Yvonne and Celia blushed, caught in their lies. It was true. They hadn¡¯t been invited to the opening of the boutique at all. They had b the invitation from someone else just to keep with the trend. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Why They Had Gotten Married in Secret ¡°Invitations purchased from third parties are void,¡± Grace said, lifting an eyebrow mockingly. ¡°You certainly aren¡¯t worthy of my attention.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she added, ¡°if you spend over 50 thousand dors here today, I might consider serving you.¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The Quine family wasn¡¯t filthy rich. Yvonne only had so much money to spend, and after the 31 million dors she wasted on the diamond bracelet, Grace knew that she was broke now. Even if she managed to scrounge up the money somehow, it would only help Emily¡¯s profits. Either way, Grace won. Celia, an utter idiot, began urging Yvonne as well. ¡°Yvonne, let¡¯s buy everything in this boutique. Then she¡¯ll see!¡± Yvonne lowered her eyes silently, ignoring Celia. ¡°No money?¡± Grace¡¯s voice was just loud enough for everyone to hear her. ¡°If you¡¯re broke, then why waste the money to buy an invitation just to ogle at things you can¡¯t afford? I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to call security to turn you out.¡± The world of socialites was a brutal one. Almost immediately, some busybodies began posting about this on social media. The news spread fast. Soon, notification alerts chimed on everyone¡¯s phones. Yvonne and Celia could hear the people around themughing at them. They were mortified. ¡°Grace, you shouldn¡¯t be so arrogant,¡± Yvonne said, narrowing her eyes. Her face was red with anger. Grace smiled at her. ¡°What can you do? This is just how I am.¡± Then, several security guards in sunsses appeared. They stood behind Yvonne and Celia, holding their arms out to escort the two out of the boutique. Yvonne and Celia made a hasty exit amid everyone¡¯s whispers. Yvonne was no longer in the mood to continue shopping after that fiasco. After telling Celia off, she got into the car and told the driver to take her home, leaving Celia alone, still fuming. The more Celia thought about it, the angrier she became. She pulled her phone out and called Benjamin. Benjamin was in a pub with his friends. When he saw Celia calling him, he answered the phone. ¡°Benjamin, Grace has gone too far this time!¡± As soon as the call got through, he heard Celia¡¯s shrill voice. It gave him a headache, aggravated further by the mention of Grace¡¯s name. ¡°Again? What happened?¡± he asked, irritated. ¡°She bullied me and Yvonne at the boutique! She embarrassed us by saying that we were poor, and she even called security to kick us out! ¡°Benjamin, you need to divorce her at once. I never want to see her again!¡± Celia had more to say, but Benjamin didn¡¯t want to listen to her anymore. He hung up on her. Frowning, he downed his entire ss of alcohol in one gulp. Celia had been loud enough that Frederick, who was sitting beside Benjamin, had heard the conversation as well. He refilled Benjamin¡¯s ss and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°We support you in the divorce, you know. ¡°That woman¡¯s too crafty. She forced her way into your rtionship with Yvonne by using the fact that she had saved your grandmother. ¡°Now that she¡¯s sessful, she¡¯s ready to kick you to the curb and treat your sister and Yvonne badly. We told you before ¡­ ¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Benjamin interrupted. For some reason, he didn¡¯t like to hear anyone talk badly about Grace. He gave Frederick a hard look. ¡°Is that what you think of her?¡± Frederick pointed to their group of friends who were ying cards behind them. ¡°It¡¯s not just me. We all think so. ¡°She¡¯s just a peasant with nothing but looks. We never liked her. She only got into Hawkins Group because of you. How can she be good at anything? Isn¡¯t it?¡± He took a swig of alcohol and demanded, ¡°You married her secretly because you were embarrassed of her, right?¡± Benjamin felt annoyance building up in his chest. He tugged at his tie impatiently. Back then, he had chosen to marry Grace in secret because he hadn¡¯t wanted her to be He hadn¡¯t expected his decision to cause such a misunderstanding. Because of it, Frederick thought that he didn¡¯t like Grace and had never viewed her as his wife. If his friends had thought so, then had Grace had the same misconception as well? Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Calm Down or Communicate Three dayster, both parties¡¯wyers were gathered at City Hall for the procedure. Grace and Benjamin were there on time. When they got the forms, Grace filled them in quickly and without hesitation. In contrast, Benjamin hadn¡¯t even started. She gave him a side-eye and said emotionlessly, ¡°I¡¯m a busy woman, Mr. Hawkins.¡± Benjamin¡¯s face fell when she rushed him, and he finally started filling in the forms. When they were done, they handed them to the staff member through the window. ¡°Wait,¡± Benjamin suddenly said as the female staff member was about to stamp the divorce certificate, making her stop. She had never thought that the first couple she would have to deal with today would be the president of Hawkins Group and his secretary. At first, she had thought that they had fallen in love ande to get married, but this was even more shocking. They were getting a divorce! Benjamin turned to Grace and asked in the same high and mighty tone he had always used with her, ¡°Are you sure?¡± The way she had demanded a divorce and left just like that, all the money she had made him spend in Darai, and the suffering she had caused Yvonne ¡­ He could forgive all that if she relented now. He was willing to give her a chance. ¡°How predictable.¡± Grace raised an eyebrow at him, mockery on her l*ps. ¡°Why? Do you still think I¡¯m just messing with you?¡± Benjamin felt a weight settle on his ch*st when he saw her determination. It felt like his heart was being dragged down by a feeling he couldn¡¯t name. Ever since Grace had left, he had realized that the two of them had barely sat down and talked. At that thought, his tone became audibly softer. ¡°I can give you time to calm down and discuss our marriage. We really ¡­ didn¡¯tmunicate much.¡± Benjamin paused, then continued, ¡°I¡¯ve seen how much you¡¯ve done for Hawkins Group during the past three years. ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind. You¡¯re always wee in my home and in mypany,¡± he said. It was obvious what he was implying. He didn¡¯t want Grace to divorce or quit her job. Grace looked right into Benjamin¡¯s cold gaze and scoffed, ¡°There¡¯s no need to calm down or communicate. ¡°I had given you my heart and soul, but you never saw that. And now you¡¯re trying to make things up to me? It¡¯s toote. ¡°Besides, Yvonne¡¯s already so far along in her pregnancy. What do you want her to do? Be your mistress?¡± ¡°I can deal with Yvonne.¡± Something shed in Benjamin¡¯s eyes. Grace was speechless. They were already at the stage where their divorce documents were about to get stamped. Yet this man still thought he was the bee¡¯s knees, a man that everyone wanted a piece of What a narcissistic pig! ¡°Don¡¯t think that I¡¯ll go back to being your ve just because you¡¯re sweet-talking me. Quit dreaming, Mr. Hawkins.¡± The contempt in her tone intensified. Benjamin couldn¡¯t handle the repeated mockery. His face fell even further, and he could no longer control his anger. ¡°Don¡¯t you regret this!¡± he answered icily. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Hawkins. I won¡¯t,¡± Grace replied firmly. Then, she turned to the staff member. ¡°Please hurry up.¡± After getting the divorce certificate, Grace didn¡¯t waste a second longer before striding out, leaving Benjamin standing there alone. He looked lost, but his ck eyes remained on her retreating silhouette. Their three years of marriage had just ended, but she hadn¡¯t left a single thing behind. A sense of loss overwhelmed him, so much so that he couldn¡¯t breathe. Back at Hawkins Manor, Susan had prepared a feast to celebrate Benjamin¡¯s divorce. Yvonne had also put on a vivid red dress, which wasn¡¯t like her usual gentle style at all. It was as if his divorce marked her wedding. ¡°Come! Let us celebrate getting rid of that jinx!¡± Susan raised her ss first with glee. Celia hastily raised her ss too. ¡°Finally, we¡¯re rid of her! You¡¯re free now, Benjamin,¡± she T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. said. Yvonne couldn¡¯t drink alcohol since she was pregnant. So she raised a ss of juice instead and smiled at him. ¡°Benjamin, congrattions on surviving all of that,¡± she said gently. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Fake News Yvonne was overjoyed. After so many years of waiting, Benjamin was finally hers. If he proposed to her right now, she would say yes immediately. However, the star of the show still hadn¡¯t raised his ss. If anything, his face was grim, and his moodiness was obvious as he pressed his l*ps together without saying a word. The image of Grace leaving was still reying in his mind. It refused to go away. Celia noticed the awkward atmosphere and said, ¡°Say something, Benjamin! It¡¯s no fun if you don¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Yeah, Benjamin. That jinx is gone now, so you should be the happiest one here. Why aren¡¯t you smiling?¡± Susan asked. Then, she looked at Yvonne with satisfaction. ¡°All I want now is for you to marry Yvonne as soon as possible, so I can have a grandson.¡± Yvonne¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Benjamin and I would need time for that, Mrs. Hawkins.¡± Benjamin scanned the three of them before replying in a cold, aloof tone, ¡°No one should tell Grandma about my divorce.¡± Yvonne froze. What did he mean? Didn¡¯t he n on marrying her? Was her baby going to be a bastard child now? With tears in her eyes, she asked, ¡°What about me and the baby, Benjamin?¡± She put a hand on her belly as a single tear fell onto her clothes. Benjamin took a deep breath to rein in his irritation. He replied, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that. I have something to attend to, so I¡¯m going up.¡± With that, he left the three of them to go upstairs alone. Yvonne sat in her chair for a long while, still unable to react. So he still hadn¡¯t forgotten that woman! Rage and resentment shed across her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll show you, Grace Lewis!¡± she thought. Meanwhile, Susan and Celia hastily came over tofort her. ¡°No one¡¯s happy after a divorce, Yvonne, not even Benjamin. We need to cut him some ck.¡± ¡°Yeah, Yvonne. I like you the best. Benjamin¡¯s just a little traumatized after thatst marriage. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t say he would marry you,¡± Celia said. ¡°He will probablye back with a bouquet in a few days,¡± she added. Neither she nor Susan The next morning, Grace was looking through some paperwork when Emily shoved the door to her office open. ¡°Babe! That idiot, Benjamin, is about to piss me off to death!¡± Grace was confused. ¡°What happened?¡± Emily gave Grace her phone. When she saw the screen, mockery shed across her face. ¡°He sure knows how to spin a tale.¡± All the headlines screamed in red font, ¡°Gold Digger Strikes Rich Before Cheating; Cindere¡¯s ss Sl*pper Shatters¡±. Basically, the article said that a certain rich president had been secretly married for three years, then divorced his wife. The wife had been his secretary and mistress before they married. But her greed had prompted her to meet a rich Darai man during a business trip. After that, she had dumped the president. Not only that, but she had also leaked thepany¡¯s resources to someone else and demanded a cut of the billionaire president¡¯s assets. There was even a photo of her meeting the Darai business partner, taken at an angle that made it look like they were k*ssing. There were manyments below the article, all from Grace¡¯s haters. ¡°Shameless! How can a cheater like her ask for a piece of his fortune?¡± ¡°I heard that the president is actually Benjamin Hawkins of Hawkins Group. That cheating secretary is Grace Lewis!¡± ¡°I knew that b*tch was a schemer. Roast her, girls!¡± ¡°That backstabbing idiot! He¡¯s ying d*rty right after the divorce!¡± Emily said through gritted teeth. When she turned to look at Grace, she noticed her friend was calmly scrolling through the Then, Grace said casually, ¡°Photos as evidence and simplenguage. Not bad for a tabloid article.¡± Emily was caught off guard so much that sheughed. ¡°How optimistic of you.¡± At that moment, one of Grace¡¯s other friends, Zoey Walters, called her. ¡°Ladies, I¡¯ve just checked that article about Grace. Some woman called Yvonne Quine paid for it. What is it with you and her?¡± Grace scoffed. ¡°So it was her.¡± ¡°Do you need me to take it down?¡± Zoey asked. As editor-in-chief of Global Entertainment Magazine, also known as GEM Magazine, she had a lot of influence in the industry. Grace¡¯s gaze was frosty. ¡°No need. It¡¯s no fun taking it down without a fuss. We need to fight back openly.¡±T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Fight for the Spotlight ¡°I respect your decision,¡± Zoey replied decisively. ¡°Call me if you need anything. I¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Grace had just hung up when Emily leaned over. ¡°What are you going to do? That b*tch is so infuriating!¡± ¡°Aaron¡¯s taking me to a banquet hosted by Pamore Chamber of Commerce tomorrow night. Every single rich person in the city will be there. That¡¯s wher Emily cheered her on. ¡°Heck yeah, babe! Destroy them!¡± The next night, people showed up wearing shy outfits that shone under the blinding spotlights. It was a lively event. Grace showed up fashionablyte with her floor¨Clength, diamond¨C studded dress. It was handmade and showed off her figure perfectly in a luxurious yet elegant way. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. No one could look away from her. Her makeup was stunning, entuating her beauty. It gave her a sharp, cold look that intimidated people. Every rich girl who read the tabloids started gossiping when they noticed Grace. When Celia showed up with a champagne ss in her hand, they crowded around her with both curiosity and mockery. ¡°Celia, is Grace really your sister¨Cinw, like the headlines said?¡± ¡°Yeah, look at the photos! It looked just like her, and honestly, she kind of looks pretty.¡± ¡°Ew, someone like her? My sister¨Cinw?¡± Celia rolled her eyes. ¡°My brother divorced her ages ago.¡± Meanwhile, Grace spotted Celia among the crowd. The corner of her l*ps lifted as she walked .over to Celia. ¡°Back then, she was just the owner of a small boutique, but she involved herself in my brother and Yvonne Quine¡¯s rtionship, bing his mistress. ¡°After she married him, she shamelessly refused to leave the family. My brother never even touched her! She worked for ourpany by day and then a ¡°She was just a free maid,¡± Celia said. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, she turned to order another drink and continued, ¡°She struck rich when she got to Darai. She asked for a divorce right after that. She¡¯s just a serial cheater!¡± The rich girls were hanging on every word. When they saw Grace corning over, they immediately became intimidated by her strong bearing. They didn¡¯t dare tell Celia about it. Hence, she continued yapping. ¡°Isn¡¯t she such a b*tch, you all?¡± She had just finished talking when she saw Grace standing right in front of her. She was so stunned that she couldn¡¯t utter a word. Her ss fell to the floor. With a champagne ss in her hand and coldness in her eyes, Grace towered over Celia. She looked the girl up and down, then scoffed. ¡°Why did you stop? I was listening.¡± Celia was a stubborn person, so she refused to back down. ¡°Am I wrong? My brother¡¯s about to marry Yvonne. Now, that¡¯s a perfect match! Better than amon chick like you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been days since I divorced Benjamin, but Yvonne¡¯s already been pregnant for three months. Isn¡¯t it obvious who the cheater is here?¡± Grace as At that point, Susan, who had been talking to someone else, came over. She dragged Celia behind her and turned to Grace. With a shrill voice, she arrogantly pointed at Grace and yelled, ¡°You infertile hag! How dare you criticize my son? Yvonne can give me a grandson. Can y She was about to keep shouting when Benjamin suddenly showed up and stopped her. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± he said. Susan looked around and realized that she shouldn¡¯t have made such a scene. So she reluctantly stopped talking. Benjamin had heard the argument from afar. However, Grace had barely reacted despite all the vicious insults. It was like she was used to them. He was more concerned with the truth in those insults. Suppressing his irritation, he asked Grace, ¡°Were they telling the truth? Were you treated like a maid for our family for three years?¡± Grace looked at Benjamin and Yvonne, then smiled mockingly. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust your mother and sister the most? Why are you asking me this?¡± Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Grudges Old and New Benjamin couldn¡¯t answer her. He had always sided with Sussan and Celia, and he had never really listened to what Grace had to say. Was that one of the reasons she had divorced him? Guilt flooded him when he thought about that. ¡°Apologize,¡± he ordered Celia with a stormy look. She lowered her head but refused to speak. Aaron came to Grace¡¯s side. He had a domineering expression on his face and was clearly seething. ¡°You think you can heal three years of humiliation and the nder you¡¯ve spread after the divorce?¡± After the bullying Grace had suffered at the hands of the Hawkins, the mere sight of them disgusted him. When his eyesnded on Yvonne, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve already found the culprit who ndered one of mypany¡¯s executives.¡± Yvonne nervously tugged at her dress under Aaron¡¯s frigid gaze. It couldn¡¯t be. There was no way they knew it was her. She had sent those photos anonymously, so she couldn¡¯t have gotten exposed. ¡°The article waspletely baseless and spread false lies about an executive of Amirate Corporation, negatively affecting their reputation online. ¡°The police will be here any minute now. Once they get here, you¡¯ll need to cooperate with their investigation, Ms. Quine,¡± Aaron said. All the color drained from Yvonne¡¯s face when she heard that. Her heart practically leapt into her throat. She backed away, shaking her head at Benjamin¡¯s questioning look. Her tears fell onmand, and her gaze turned pleading. ¡°Please believe me, Benjamin. I would never do something like that.¡± Benjamin pulled Yvonne behind him, then asked emotionlessly. ¡°Are you sure there hasn¡¯t been a misunderstanding, Mr. Lewis?¡± ¡°What misunderstanding? These two bastards must have been trying to nder Yvonne! She¡¯s ¡°She¡¯s a pregnant woman! At this rate, you¡¯re going to scare her into miscarrying! Who will take responsibility for that if she does?¡± she continued. Grace scoffed. ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to defend her, you can go to the police station with her.¡± Celia¡¯s rage hit boiling point when she heard what Grace said. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten what you have done? I haven¡¯t even started on you trashing my boutique! ¡°H¨CHow did you know it was me?¡± Celia asked in disbelief. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She had been unable to get over her humiliation at the boutique, so she had sent some thugs to trash the ce. After going several days without hearing anything about the incident, Celia had assumed that she had gotten away with it and had been feeling great ab ¡°I¡¯ve already tracked down those thugs you hired, and the police have already recorded their confessions,¡± Grace said casually. It had actually been quite Then, she looked at the people before her sharply. ¡°Malicious destruction of property, spreading false rumors to defame someone¡­ I¡¯m punishing you al Celia felt weak in the knees. What was she going to do? She was the mastermind behind that crime, so the cops were definitely going to take her away. The only thing she could do was seize Benjamin¡¯s sleeve and cry, ¡°Help me, Benjamin! I don¡¯t want to go to jail¡± Yvonne copsed in his arms at that moment too, still stubbornly insisting, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, Benjamin! I really didn¡¯t!¡± Benjamin was furious on the inside. He wished he could yell at Celia for being such a troublemaker. Still, she was his sister, so he took a deep breath topose himself. ¡°Ms. Lewis, Celia¡¯s in the wrong here. I know that. Can¡¯t we settle this in private?¡± Chapter 35 Fined and Jailed Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Fined and Jailed ¡°Benjamin, why are you negotiating with that unlucky jinx?¡± Susan grabbed Benjamin¡¯s arm. She had never seen him speak so humbly or so open to discussing things with Grace. Besides, Grace had always the one to follow their orders. Why had things changed? She marched over to Grace with an arrogant expression and tone. ¡°So what if we¡¯re ndering you? What reputation do you even have? ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything back when our family was yelling at you!¡± Susan screeched. But when she noticed Benjamin¡¯s expression fall, she realized her mistake. She had just exposed her attitude toward Grace for the past three years. Aaron couldn¡¯t take it anymore and nced at Grace from the side. ¡°This is the mother¨Cinw and sister¨Cinw you¡¯ve taken care of for the past three years? What kind of people have you been serving?¡± he asked. Then he remembered his sister¡¯s embarrassment andposed himself. ¡°It¡¯s your choice, but if you end up embarrassing the family, I¡¯ll hold you respon ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aaron,¡± Grace reassured him. She had an icy look in her eyes as she scoffed at Susan. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, you¡¯re going to tell me your daughter just needs topensate me, right?¡± Susan couldn¡¯t care less now that Grace had guessed her argument. ¡°Am I wrong? How much can your shop be worth anyway? It¡¯s not like we can¡¯t afford it.¡± ¡°So you can afford to pay me 300 million dors?¡± Grace asked slowly. But the amount still made Susan almost trip over herself. ¡°What? How can your tiny store be worth that much? Who are you trying to scam?¡± she asked in shock. Grace looked Susan up and down with a sharp gaze. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, I have the financial documents to prove it. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll believe me soon enough.¡± ¡°You jinx! I¡¯ll tear you apart! We¡¯ll see if you can keep causing trouble!¡± Susan¡¯s tone got more shrill, and she lunged forward. However, Benjamin stopped her. His brows were furrowed, and his face was so grim, it was like someone had died. ¡°Stop talking!¡± he barked at Susan. Their argument had already attracted the attention of half the attendees there, who understood what was going on after hearing the conversation. Grace was a woman who seemed like she had married a rich family. But it turned out that she had actually been horribly mistreated at home. So they turned their ire on Susan, giving her a slow death with their res. ¡°The Hawkins seem like a rich family, but the mother and sister talk like uncivilized peasants.¡± ¡°Beating and yelling at her the moment they¡¯re displeased? Being an inw to them must be really pitiful.¡± ¡°Yeah! And that sister¨Cinw is so bad.¡± ¡°Look how Mr. Hawkins is still defending them at a time like this. You can imagine what married life was like before the divorce.¡± ¡°If I were Ms. Lewis and had such a suffocating family and husband, I would have cheated on him too.¡± Everyone started talking more and more, and Benjamin heard every word. Maybe he really hadn¡¯t been paying enough attention to his marriage. Everyone could see what was wrong right away, but he hadn¡¯t even noticed for three years. After listening to Celia¡¯s wailing and Yvonne¡¯s theatrical begging, he had no choice but to back down again. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°Grace, I¡¯ll pay you the 300 million dors. Can we just forget about this?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll have to pay me and go to jail too,¡± Grace said casually, but she was still firm and overbearing. Benjamin¡¯s eyes widened slightly at her proud attitude. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry at my family, but isn¡¯t sending them to jail a little too much?¡± One of them was a Hawkins, and the other was the second daughter of the Quine family. Both families would be humiliated if they were arrested so publicly. ¡°I get to decide whether it¡¯s too much. The fact that she got involved with a store worth 300 million dors is enough to put her in jail for a few years. ¡°That should teach her to behave. If your family failed to raise her right, then the prison wardens will have to educate her for you. ¡°And you!¡± Grace said suddenly to Yvonne. She kept her eyes on Yvonne, as if she were trying to pierce through her with her sharp gaze. ¡°You know what you did,¡± Grace said. ¡°I¡¯ll have my evidence ready once the police take you in.¡± (x) Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 For Albert Barnes At that moment, the police showed up and walked over once they confirmed who they were supposed to arrest. ¡°Celia Hawkins, Yvonne Quine, pleasee with us,¡± a police officer said. Susan quickly tried to stop them when she realized they were going to take Celia and Yvonne away. However, she identally tripped over her dress instead. She fell and hit her head, passing out instantly. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. The police took Celia and Yvonne away while Benjamin carried an unconscious Susan out, bringing the whole fiasco to an end. Now that the ones who should have left were gone, Aaron took Grace to the center of the hall before introducing her. ¡°Good evening, everyone. Ms. Grace Lewis has already quit her position as secretary to the president of Hawkins Group. ¡°She is now the general manager of Amirate Corporation¡¯s Pamore branch. I hope we¡¯ll get to work together in the future.¡± Aaron said. He had barely finished talking when the crowd started to whisper amongst themselves. ¡°Ms. Lewis sure rises through the ranks fast. She had just quit her job, but she¡¯s already working with Amirate Corporation? What do you think her rtion to Mr. Lewis is?¡± 1 ¡°They may share a surname, but I don¡¯t think they¡¯re rted. If they were rted, why would a Lewis girle all the way to Pamore to marry and be so no less.¡± ¡°Still, I think she suffered a lot with the Hawkins. Even if she did cheat on him, it¡¯s justified.¡± With Aaron supporting her and the Hawkins exposing themselves, the impact of that negative article on her was basically reduced to zero. With all the guests extending olive branches to Grace, she got to know a lot of people she had never had the chance to meet before that night. That included Albert Barnes, the young president of Barnes Group, who approached her with a wine ss in his hand. ¡°Hello, Ms. Lewis. Your reputation precedes you. I¡¯m Albert Barnes.¡± Grace smiled a little and lifted her ss to return the greeting. ¡°Hello, Mr. Barnes.¡± Amirate Corporation¡¯s medical project was about tounch on arger scale, and they were looking for reliable business partners. Barnes Group was he Bringing Celia and Yvonne to justice was actually her second priority tonight. Her top priority was connecting with Albert Barnes to maximize the branchpany¡¯s profits. ¡°Congrattions on leaving the cage of marriage and rising to new heights in your career.¡± Albert¡¯s voice was low and pleasing, but his eyes were full of cunning. It made people feel like he could see through them. Still, Grace wasn¡¯t afraid of his gaze and met it head¨Con before downing her champagne in one 1. go. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Barnes. I will schedule a business meeting with you soon, so I hope you will keep this first meeting of ours in mind.¡± She wasn¡¯t pressuring him to do anything, and her confident attitude made Albert¡¯s eyes light 1. up. So he downed his red wine and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to remember.¡± After the banquet ended, Grace went back to her family¡¯s mansion in Pamore. She had just entered when she got a letter from Zoey. It had the words ¡°please read¡± written on the envelope. When she opened it, she realized it was an article Zoey had written herself. The article boldly used the Hawkins of several crimes while also protecting Grace¡¯s privacy perfectly. Thenguage was simple but intriguing, and the The first was that Benjamin Hawkins was a cheater. The second was that Yvonne was shameless, ying the pregnant mistress. Last but not least, the article called Celia Hawkins ady with mafia ties. If Susan read this, she would probably pass out from anger and then wake up from sheer fury again. Grace hastily called Zoey after she was done reading. Zoey answered with a simple, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Not bad for the editor¨Cin¨Cchief of GEM Magazine, Zoey. I¡¯m in awe of your writing skills.¡± Grace paused. ¡°Thank you.¡± She was so blessed to have so many people supporting her. At that moment, Emily¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, babe. Come on out! We¡¯re waiting for you at Halo Bar.¡± Grace smiled. It was about time they got together. ¡°I¡¯ming over right now.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ll publish the article, then?¡± Zoey asked. Grace was about to answer when Emily butted in. ¡°F*** yeah! Let those Hawkins get a taste of their own medicine and let the inte roast them to a crisp!¡± Graceughed. ¡°Well said.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Past Crimes Exposed On the other hand, the Hawkins family was in a gloomy state. Benjamin was sitting on the couch with a stormy look, and he hadn¡¯t said a word in ages. He had juste back from the police station after bailing Yvonne out. He had paid for the boutique¡¯s damages, but Grace had insisted on pressing charges because the damage had been too much. Celia was probably going to jail. Benjamin¡¯swyer estimated her sentence wouldst at least three years. Susan had just woken up. When she heard that her daughter was going to jail for at least three years, she was shocked. ¡°Listen to me, Benjamin! Your sister cannot go to prison!¡± Susan said shakily, in disbelief. ¡°She¡¯s so young, she can¡¯t spend her days with those criminals. She would lose her mind! ¡°Son, can¡¯t you go talk to Grace? If push came to shove, all you have to do is y nice and let her feel good for a few days, just enough to agree to settl Her tone was almost pleading. It seemed like she had learned to back off. Benjamin frowned and said, ¡°Ganging up with thugs to destroy someone else¡¯s property? How dare she! She¡¯s gone too far!¡± It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to talk to Grace. But she wasn¡¯t interested in anything besides sending Celia to prison. ¡°What do you mean by that? Do you want Celia to go to jail at such a young age?¡± Susan yelled. ¡°She needs to learn her lesson.¡± ¡°She only got mad and trashed the store because that woman bullied her! It¡¯s all her fault Celia got into this mess.¡± The more Susan talked, the sadder she got. But when Benjamin didn¡¯t respond, she knew she had to take drastic measures. So she pushed a window open and stuck a leg out of it before threatening him, ¡°If you don¡¯t talk to her for me, I¡¯ll jump out right now! I¡¯ll die right in front of you!¡± Yvonne was shocked to see Susan do this. She hastily grabbed Susan¡¯s arm and eximed, ¡± Benjamin! Stop her!¡± ¡°Enough already!¡± Benjamin roared, scaring Susan. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She had never seen her son like this, so she quickly took her leg back and sat back down. Yvonne also fell silent beside her. Benjamin had been angry since he hade home from the banquet. Now, he couldn¡¯t hold it Chapter 38 Chapter 38 in anymore. ¡°I¡¯ve investigated everything! Celia was the one who insulted Grace in her own boutique and showed off until she got exposed and kicked out for getting from a scalper,¡± he said. Then, he tossed a recording device onto the desk. ¡°These are the recorded confessions from every household staff member we¡¯ve had for the past three years. ¡°All of them said that you treated Grace like a maid. You yelled at her and demanded she cook for us and wash our clothes¨Ceven our underwear!¡± Susan pouted after getting exposed. ¡°She volunteered. She had iting! She should have considered that we would treat her like that when she shamelessly married you,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Is that how you all think of her?¡± Benjamin asked. He had never thought his seemingly harmonious family was this evil. For the past three years, Grace had dealt with a heavy workload as his secretary, only toe back home to Susan and Celia, who were making her life But she had never said a word about all this, and he had barely cared, if at all. He really had been a terrible husband, huh? ¡°Not only did you bully her at home, but you also destroyed her things in her own store! With Celia¡¯s arrogant attitude, she just had to get herself into mo ¡°She needs to stay in jail for three years and learn her lesson first,¡± Benjamin decided. Susan was about to defend Celia, but one re from Benjamin sent her back to the couch reluctantly, with gritted teeth. Benjamin tugged off his tie in frustration, then looked up at Yvonne. She had been silent the whole time, but the judgment in his eyes made it hard for her to breathe. ¡°You knew who Grace Lewis was. Why did you pretend not to know anything? Why did you even send someone to follow her and take those misleading Yvonne was speechless. She hadn¡¯t thought he would have found out about that. Chapter in Seelug Her Again N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°Larry has already contacted a hospital in Fronda. You¡¯ll love for Frenda in three days.¡± 2 Yvonne was reluctant to go abroad. She begged him softly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go, Benjamin. 1 want to stay here with you and the baby.¡± Benjamin¡¯s expression never changed. He didn¡¯t budge, so Yvonne grabbed his arm and started crying ¡°Even if you won¡¯t do it for the baby, do it for my sister, Danielle, She only died because of her association with your family. You can¡¯t do this to me¡­ ¡°I know we were responsible for her death, but you still need to leave,¡± Yvonne slumped onto the couch in response, Benjamin was feeling, suffocated under the weight of the sins that had beenmitted in his house. Just then, Timothy¡¯s call came right on time, ¡°Bro, have you checked social media?¡± Timothy asked on the other end, At first, Benjamin thought he was talking about the article that had insulted Grace, so he said, ¡°That¡¯s fake news. The police have already asked to take i ¡°Are we even talking about the same thing? Take a look¨Cyour family¡¯s getting torn to shreds online, Get your PR department to take care of it.¡± Hanging up the phone, Benjamin checked the news immediately, His face fell when he saw what was happening. Another storm gathered in his eyes. Grace¡¯s response had been swift and merciless. Yvonne had paid for an article with fake news to hurt her, so she had responded with a hit piece of her own. Benjamin quickly asked Larry to take it down. Unfortunately, that was impossible. Apparently, the editor¨Cin¨Cchief of GEM Magazine had demanded that the article stay up three days. Hence, no one else in the industry dared touch it. When he heard that, Benjamin was so furious that he smashed several shot sses. In Halo Bar, Timothy was opening champagne bottles like a madman. ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s celebrate my return to Pamore! Drink up, guys!¡± for Frederick and his other friends cheered. ¡°We missed you, buddy! We¡¯re waiting for you to start ¡°Come on,e on! Cheers!¡± After a few shots, Timothy noticed Benjamin had been downing shot after shot in the corner. He knew why Benjamin was so low, so he went over to ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. There¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea, and you should be d you got out of the marriage death trap. Just ignore whatever¡¯s in the news.¡± ¡°That woman¡¯s gone too far.¡± Frederick was already red in the face as he stumbled over to sit on the couch, breathing heavily. ¡°Truly, women are the most fearsome beings on earth.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you lost m¨¨. We¡¯re all men, so let¡¯s be real here, Who started it?¡± Timothy didn¡¯t agree with Frederick, so he started arguing. He had always been honest with his friends, so he always said what was on his mind. ¡°Ben¡¯s the one who cheated first and became a dad without his wife knowing! Yvonne can¡¯t deny that she was his mistress, can she?¡± he asked. Frederick was so drunk, he could barely open his eyes. Yet he was still arguing with Timothy. ¡°Even if Ben had cheated first, Grace sent her own sister¨Cinw to jail! She went too far by humiliating the Hawkins this much!¡± As for Timothy, he didn¡¯t expect his friends to ignore the facts. So he started talking more and more enthusiastically. ¡°You call that going too far? If I had been his ex¨Cwife and he had betrayed me after treating me like a ve, I would have gone even further!¡± ¡°Ben made a mistake that all men would have made. Why can¡¯t his wife forgive him for that?¡± Frederick made talking nonsense sound like perfect logic. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, if my wife treated me like that, I would divorce her!¡± Frederick continued, .insisting on his illogical argument. Both sides battled on, but Benjamin remained silent. As he sat between them, he kept drinking at a pace that was sure to get him drunk. Sure enough, he was slumped over the couch in just a few moments. However, Frederick was still talking, so Timothy walked away. He didn¡¯t want to waste his time arguing with someone who didn¡¯t have morals. As Timothy tried to find a staff member who would carry Benjamin out of here, he nced at the stage and spotted a gorgeous figure at the center. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Must Be Nice It was her. The interestingdy he had met on the roof. Timothy stopped and stared. The woman¡¯s drawl was ringing out throughout the bar, and she was singing a popr blues song called ¡°Pretty and Young¡°. She sat there on a stool with the spotlight on her beautiful face, swaying as her red l*ps sang a song that took the audience on a nostalgic journey. As Timothy listened, he remembered seeing Grace crying on the roof. That night, her teary eyes had added a touch of sadness to her beauty, a look that could break many hearts. Timothy didn¡¯t realize how much he was staring. His thoughts got further and further away from him. Meanwhile, Emily yelled from beneath the stage. ¡°That¡¯s too sad, babe! I¡¯m about to cry! Put on something happier!¡± Grace winked at her best friend. ¡°No problem, I¡¯m on it.¡± After that, she began singing ¡°Party in the House¡°. As she sang, she smiled cheerfully, and her feet danced to the beat. It made her look as cheeky as the lyrics sounded. The song itself was carefree and made people dance to the melody, so it was very wholesome and joyful. The entire audience sang along happily, creating a lively atmosphe Timothy was once again taken to the streets of Frenda. He could almost see himself holding Grace¡¯s hand as they walked. He waspletely smitten. He had never seen a woman so unpredictable and so beautiful that he was shaken to the core. There was a voice in his head going, ¡°This is it, Timothy! She¡¯s the one! T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. . ¡°That¡¯s the goddess you fell in love with at first sight! The one who shone so brightly! It would be so great if you got together with her!¡± When the song ended, everyone pped for Grace. Emily cheered, ¡°You¡¯re awesome, babe!¡± Even Zoey was pping with a smile instead of looking emotionless as usual. Timothy cleared his lovesick expression and made sure there was nothing wrong with his appearance before going over to say hi. However, at that moment, Benjamin pushed the door open drunkenly and slumped over him, reeking Chapter 40 Chapter 40 of alcohol. He was already drunk out of his mind, but he lifted a heavy hand and pointed at the stage. ¡°Pretty, huh? That¡¯s my wife.¡± Then, his head lolled over. It was like he had fallen asleep. ¡°You¡¯re joking, Ben. Why would you cheat on your wife if she looked like that?¡± Timothy shrugged his shoulders to check if Benjamin really was asleep. ¡°If she were my wife, I would probably be smiling in my sleep,¡± Timothy continued, thinking Benjamin was just babbling drunken nonsense. ¡°She¡¯s my goddess now, so stop talking nonsense, alright?¡± Timothy asked. Benjamin had already passed out and couldn¡¯t hear him. Timothy focused on Grace again. With a drunk man on his back, he probably wouldn¡¯te off as tall and handsome if he went over right now. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. After some thought, he changed his mind and carried Benjamin back to their booth instead. Leaving Benjamin with Frederick and the others, he raced out to see Grace again. However, someone else was on the stage now. Grace was gone. His desire to see Grace again burned brighter and brighter, so he called his assistant and instructed, ¡°Find out where Grace Lewis is in Pamore.¡± The next morning, Grace¡¯s assistant came in and said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, someone¡¯s waiting for you downstairs to collect the 999 roses he sent.¡± Grace looked up. She had no idea who had sent them. X Chapter 41 Chapter 41 hapter 41 She Actually Got a Hotel Room The stench of cigarettes overwhelmed Grace so much that she instinctively scooted over to the next seat to put some distance between herself and Cam When she looked up, she could see the yellow que on Cameron¡¯s teeth. It made her want to throw up. Middle¨Caged men looked fine from afar, but she didn¡¯t think they would be this disgusting in reality. ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you refusing to let me leave?¡± She held her breath as much as possible, not wanting to even breathe the same air as C ¡°Getting together with the president of Amirate Corporation right after divorcing Mr. Hawkins? Bringing us to heel the moment you came back to Pamore? Impressive, Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace raised an eyebrow, mockery dripping from her voice as she said, ¡°Did you take me here just to praise me?¡± ¡°Of course not. I just wanted to know what it would be like to bed someone Benjamin Hawkins had slept with before.¡± Cameron smiled with obvious lust, staring at Grace the whole time. A few days ago, she had humiliated him in public. He had thought that would be the end of it. But then she had gone on to provide spot¨C on feedback for all those departments. It was clear she was going to go far, and that made him feel threatened. Grace scoffed and replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you missed me that much.¡± ¡°How capable can you women be, anyway? If it hadn¡¯t been for how good you were in bed, you never would have gotten such a high¨C ranking position.¡± Cameron¡¯s misogyny couldn¡¯t have been more obvious. Grace wondered if the HR department at Amirate Corporation was blind. Why else would they have hired trash like him? ¡°Besides, I want to hear about the secrets of your marriage with Mr. Hawkins. If you can tell me what you were like in bed, even better. How does that so ¡°You want to hear it that badly?¡± Grace smirked, her eyes quickly scanning their surroundings. ¡°It¡¯s too crowded here. I don¡¯t think it would be appropriate.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Lewis. I¡¯ve already prepared for that.¡± Cameron¡¯s smile grew wider as he produced a keycard for one of the rooms at the hotel opposite the restaurant. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this.¡± ¡°You just said I had gotten into Mr. Lewis¡® best. Aren¡¯t you worried I would tell him about this? Grace¡¯s teasing gaze raked over Cameron, as if she were trying to discover something new. Sure enough, Cameron¡¯s expression froze for a bit. But then, heughed. ¡°You¡¯re just a secretary who was Mr. Hawkins¡® wife for a while. Why would our president take you seriously? He probably just wants whatever intel you h ¡°You¡¯re just a ything he¡¯ll get tired of after a few days. So why not let his employees have a go?¡± he said. This man sure had balls. He was even trying to sleep with her. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Good analysis, Mr. Luther.¡± Grace took a sip of red wine, still smiling. ¡°You¡¯ve just started work, so your position isn¡¯t very stable yet. If you can get in on Barnes Group¡¯s medical development project, Mr. Lewis would be sure to take you seriously,¡± ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re finally telling me that insider information about Barnes Group?¡± Grace pretended to be nervous so that Cameron would think she ¡°Of course. But that would depend on how much of a rush you¡¯re in.¡± By now, Cameron had mentally undressed Grace several times. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you a lesson once I¡¯ve had my fun with you, you whore,¡± he thought. Frederick, who was sitting nearby, couldn¡¯t help but find Grace and Cameron¡¯s actions suspicious. So he poked Benjamin and said, ¡°See that, man? Your ex is getting a little close with her colleague. It looks like she¡¯s seducing him.¡± ¡°Everything looks suspicious when you have a d*rty mind. Stop gossiping,¡± Benjamin warned Frederick. Frederick pouted, but stuffed food in his mouth and fell silent. They had agreed to meet up for dinner, but they hadn¡¯t expected to see Grace and Cameron there too. When Benjamin saw what was going on, his gaze turned icy. However, that coldness turned to burning rage when he noticed them leaving for the hotel. That woman had actually gotten a hotel room! How could she be so promiscuous after their divorce? Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 What Can You Get That rage made Benjamin shoot to his feet and follow the two out of the restaurant. Frederick caught up to him. ¡°I told you! There¡¯s no way a man and a woman would meet at such an expensive restaurant and not head to a hotel afterwa Then, he patted Benjamin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Buddy, forget about it. You already know she¡¯s a promiscuous person, anyway.¡± However, Benjamin smacked Frederick¡¯s hand away and marched toward the hotel, unable to control himself. It hadn¡¯t been long since they had gotten divorced. Yet not only had she gotten together with Aaraon from Amirate Corporation, but she was sleeping with her colleague too. Had Grace changed, or had she always been like this? When the elevator doors opened, Cameron stepped inside first. Grace was about to go in when a strong hand gripped her wrist. ¡°We need to talk,¡± a low voice said. When Grace looked up and saw who it was, she scoffed. ¡°You sure have a lot of time on your hands, Mr. Hawkins,¡± she said in an aloof tone. ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± Benjamin had shown up just as she had been about to enter a hotel room with Cameron. Grace had a moment of doubt, but then she quicklyposed It was probably a coincidence. There was no way Benjamin was following her, right? ¡°You two keep talking.¡± Cameron quickly changed his mind and put on a mask of ttery. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for Ms. Lewis upstairs.¡± As Cameron entered the elevat?r, Grace watched him with narrowed eyes and a murderous gaze. He would have to survive today if he wanted to take advantage of her. The grip on her wrist tightened to such an extent that it was starting to feel painful. Grace wrenched her hand free and said, ¡°Whatever you want to say, just spit it out already.¡® ¡°Why are you getting a hotel room with trash like him?¡± Benjamin interrogated. There was a storm brewing in his eyes. X Cameron was notorious in Pamore for his shameless acts. Either he would sleep with someone Grace crossed her arms nonchntly. ¡°And how is that your business?¡± Her twinkling eyes met Benjamin¡¯s furious gaze. Every word she said pushed him even further. ¡°I divorced you ages ago. Did you throw our marriage certificate away? I can sleep with whoever I want, and you have no right to question me.¡± Mixed feelings shed across Benjamin¡¯s eyes, and for a moment, he stopped being angry. Grace was right. He had no business questioning her. Her gaze felt like a p in his face. He couldn¡¯t hold his inner thoughts in anymore. ¡°I know you¡¯ve had a hard time with my family, but that¡¯s no excuse for you to go wild. ¡°Maybe you became Aaron Lewis¡® lover so that he would let you be general manager of Amirate¡¯s Pamore branch. ¡°But what about Cameron? What can you even get from sleeping with him? ¡°You should havee to me! I can give you so much more than that piece of trash-¡± Before Benjamin could finish, he was pped so hard that the sound attracted people¡¯s attention in the lobby. There was a sharp look in Grace¡¯s eyes, but the pain in them disappeared in a sh. By the time she spoke, it sounded more like mockery than anything else. ¡°Is that how you see me?¡± After working with Hawkins Group for three years, she had secured countless business deals for thepany. And yet, not only had Benjamin not given her any credit, but he had also judged her exactly the way outsiders did. Benjamin knew he had gone too far. He silently licked the wound on the corner of his l*ps and didn¡¯t fight back. Grace internally cursed herself for being so blind once again. When she looked back up, she was her glorious, confident self. Forget it. It didn¡¯t matter how Benjamin saw her. She said indifferently, ¡°I have my own reasons for sleeping with him. It¡¯s none of your business, Mr. Hawkins.¡± With that, she walked into the elevator, not bothering to nce outside as she pressed the button to close the doors. When the elevator rose, she imagined she was stepping on Benjamin. After she got to Cameron¡¯s room, she knocked gently. The door immediately swung open as Cameron invited her in with a lustful smile. ¡°You¡¯ve kept me waiting, Ms. Lewis.¡± X Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Still Got It After closing the door behind Grace, Cameron began stripping hastily. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Lewis. After tonight, I¡¯ll tell you everything I know about Barnes Group. You¡¯ll be sure to make it big at Amirate,¡± he said. He was drooling so hard that his spit almost hit the floor as he nced at the hidden camera on the bed¡¯s headrest. Why would he be satisfied with just S**? He needed to capture the moment and savor it whenever he wanted. He would have S** with all the women those big shots had slept with before. If he was unhappy in the future, he would have plenty of ckmail material to extort Grace. Impatient beyond belief, he stripped n*ked and pounced on Grace. But the next thing he knew, she picked up a bottle of red wine and smashed it on his head. Cameron was stunned. When he reached up to touch his wound, his hand became covered in blood. He screamed, ¡°You b*tch! How dare you hit me?¡± He rushed forward, swinging his fists, but Grace subdued him with just one hand. With a single downward push, she dislocated his arm and rendered it useless. Then, Grace stepped back and hit him with a roundhouse kick right to his chest. The point of her high heels stabbed his ribcage, and the resounding crack told her that she had broken a rib. Cameron was filled with fear. He had never expected Grace to be this good at fighting. He put a hand to his chest and tried to escape, but she grabbed his hair and dragged him back. Lust was thest thing on Cameron¡¯s mind right now. Instead, there was only fear in his eyes ¡® as he looked up. ¡°I was blind, Ms. Lewis. I was wrong. Please let me go. ¡°Oh, really? Weren¡¯t you very interested in what I was like in bed? Are you chickening out now? ¡°Grace looked so murderous that it scared him out of his ¡°No, thank you! Yes, I¡¯m chickening out!¡± The broken rib must be poking his lung, because he felt a sharp pain there. He was genuinely scared that if he didn¡¯t ask for mercy, Grace would beat him to death in this This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. However, she wasn¡¯t ready to let him off the hook yet. She mockingly patted Cameron¡¯s face and asked, ¡°Still think I¡¯m just a useless woman?¡± She hadn¡¯t fought in three years, but she had still done a fot of damage in her heels. The corners of her l*ps lifted in satisfaction. Meanwhile, Cameron could only whine and shake his head. He was terrified that one wrong word would lead to another beating. ¡°Get on the bed!¡± Grace ordered. ¡°What are you doing, Ms. Lewis? Even if I wanted to, I can¡¯t do it now!¡± Grace was pissed off to hear that and punched him again before saying assertively, ¡°There really is nothing but S** on your mind. Lie down!¡± Cameron forced himself to climb onto the bed. When he was done, he looked at Grace pitifully. Grace simply smiled and took her phone out before taking multiple photos of Cameron in his underwear. ¡°No! Don¡¯t! I have a reputation to uphold!¡± Cameron tried to cover his face, but it was no use. Grace walked over and removed the hidden camera from the flower vase, disdain etched on her face. ¡°I want to savor the video of trash like you getting beaten up.¡± Then, she got closer to Cameron¡¯s face and threatened him. ¡°I hope this is the first time you¡¯re filming others in secret, because if I find out you¡¯ve been doing it to anyone else¡­ there¡¯ll be hell to pay!¡± she warned. Cameron got chills down his spine when he thought about the videos in his house, then nodded fervently. Handling trash made Grace¡¯s hands feel d*rty, so she went to the bathroom to wash the wine .off her hands. Then, she opened the door and stopped a waiter passing by. ¡°Hi, please call an ambnce for the man in there. He needs to go to the hospital infinediat The waiter was shocked and ran inside to see what was going on. But Cameron had already passed out from the pain by then. The waiter swiftly took out his walkie¨Ctalkie and called his colleague. ¡°Front desk, we have an unconscious man here!¡± The hotel was very quick to send help. Within three minutes, there were several people at the When they saw Grace¡¯s intimidating expression as she stood with her arms crossed, no one dared to pry. They simply asked her if she was okay. Grace waved her hands dismissively and left. As she turned the corner, she bumped into Benjamin. The two of them stared at each other. Yet it seemd like they were separated by an uncrossable gulf. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Are You Done Benjamin hadn¡¯t been able to pretend like he hadn¡¯t seen anything. He hade to get Grace out of there, whether she liked it or not. But when he had gotten to the room, he had heard that Cameron had been injured. It was only when he saw Grace looking rxed that he realized how wrong he had been about her. Something was tugging at his chest. It hurt. Grace¡¯s mocking gaze felt like a whipshing his face. He didn¡¯t have the courage to walk over, let alone pretend to be interrogating her. Trust? What trust? He didn¡¯t remember giving that to Grace, even when they had been married. After Grace left the hotel, she saw doctorsing out of an ambnce and running inside with a stretcher. She called her butler and asked him to send a car. Then, she spotted Benjamin in his fancy suit standing nearby. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you,¡± he said calmly, as if there was still room for negotiation. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace was surprised, but that didn¡¯t make her gaze any less harsh. ¡°No, thanks. I would just sully your car.¡± ¡°I know I was at fault,¡± Benjamin said with a hint of remorse. ¡°Let me apologize on behalf of Celia and Yvonne for what they did to you.¡± Grace stepped back, her entire b*dy screaming refusal. Yet her expression remained as nk as ever. ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were tired all those years?¡± Benjamin had only found out after she had left. Even now, as he was asking questions, he found Grace had lost her patience long ago. ¡°Are you done yet, Mr. Hawkins? It¡¯s been so long. Why are you still thinking about it? Don¡¯t you have better things to do?¡± Late apologies were cheaper than air. When the driver showed up in a luxury car, she walked away without looking back, leaving Benjamin standing there speechless. When she got home, Grace took a shower andy in bed. Her friends were texting away in the When she told them what she had done to him, she got a bunch of replies. ¡°Awesome, babe! Your ninth ck belt came in handy. This guy is so gross. White underwear? My eyes hurt,¡± Emily said. ¡°I¡¯ll delete it, then?¡± ¡°No! Let me show it to my dog. That¡¯ll teach it not to chew on my sl*ppers.¡± ¡°Nice angle. Let me be the photographer next time,¡± Zoey said. ¡°Still got it, girl,¡± Lydia replied. The group went wild. They hadn¡¯t expected Grace¡¯s message to get Lydia York out of hiding, since she usually lurked in the group chat without ever sayi Lydia was the founder of an international luxury jewelry brand called VERE Jewelry. Every piece that she made would be auctioned off overseas as a masterpiece. Even the rich women in Pamore thought her jewelry was a status symbol. ¡°She has risen! Praise god!¡± Emily texted. ¡°I¡¯m doing an exhibit overseas, but I¡¯ll being back to Pamore in a few days. Let¡¯s meet up, ¡°Lydia replied. ¡°Caleb¡¯s here too. Have you been in touch with him?¡± Grace texted. The moment she said that, Lydia stopped replying. ¡°Call me if you need anything,¡± Zoey texted. Grace held in herughter as she put down her phone. They were good friends, so they didn¡¯t take small matters like this to heart. She just hadn¡¯t expected Lydia to still be so affected whenever Caleb was mentioned. The three of them had grown up together, and Lydia had liked Cal However, Lydia had been too shy to confess, and she had ended up losing that chance for good. Ever since Caleb had be famous, he had been surrounded by women. In the end, Lydia had been too proud to say anything. Grace wanted to yell at Lydia for being so dumb. They were from the same city, for goodness sake. She needed to make her move already. Lydia seriously needed a stern lecture once she was back in Pamore. After chatting with Emily for a while, Grace fell asleep with her phone still in her hand. The 7033 When she noticed the girls staring at her in admiration, she spotted roses in the lobby that were just like the ones she received yesterday. Neptune roses didn¡¯t exist in Pamore, but since Caleb seemed like a person who had too much money to spend, she just let him do it. Grace simply called her assistant and told her that all flowers sent to her would be given away to her female colleagues. Then, when she opened the door, she found Cameron waiting for her with a crutch. X Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Timothy Shows Up Grace casually sat down and smirked. ¡°Getting discharged after just one night in the hospital? You sure are a tough guy, Mr. Luther.¡± ¡°You tter me, Ms. Lewis. I was just worried my absence would affect thepany¡¯s performance.¡± Cameron¡¯s head was still bandaged, and he was actually wearing a patient¡¯s attire underneath. Still, he spoke up with an embarrassed expression. ¡°Also, I forgot to tell you about Barnes Group, so I quickly came back.¡± Grace nodded toward the couch, motioning for him to sit. This man really needed a beating. He had refused to talk when she asked nicely, but here he was offering the information on his own after he had gotten beaten up. ¡°Barnes just announced thepletion of their nanobots project. It¡¯s a perfect match for Amirate¡¯s medical development project.¡± Grace¡¯s gaze turned irritated, and she massaged her temples before replying harshly, ¡°Tell me something useful or get out.¡± Cameron started shaking. He knew she was the real deal, not just someone who gave out empty threats. So he switched tactics. ¡°Barnes Group is considering a partnership with Hawkins Group. They¡¯ve been going through the procedure for a contract signin ¡°Hawkins Group?¡± Grace was surprised. Cameron approached her to talk about it, but one warning re from her sent him retreating to the other side of the room. ¡°I heard that they¡¯ll be holding a small meeting at a rural racecourse to finalize the contract.¡± Grace spun the pen in her hand and looked up. ¡°Are your sources reliable?¡± ¡°Absolutely. I swear.¡® She hummed and looked away, approving his information. If a person like Cameron could find out about top¨Csecret intel like this, his contact was probably a high¨Cranking person in Barnes Group. Cameron had already offended her, so he should know that the next time he messed with her, a broken rib wouldn¡¯t be the only thing he would get. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ms. Lewis, if you manage to score a partnership with Barnes Group, I have a favor to ask,¡± Cameron asked. However, Grace seemed like she had seen iting. ¡°You want to take part in the project?¡± ¡°Very smart, Ms. Lewis. You guessed exactly what I was thinking.¡± He continued to tter her, but she didn¡¯t even want to look at him anymore. ¡°Got it. You¡¯re dismissed,¡± Grace said coldly. 1 After Cameron carefully closed the door, Grace took a while to think before she made her decision. She needed to attend this meeting. Since Amirate couldn¡¯t avoid butting heads with Hawkins Group whenever they did business in Pamore, she might as well face them head¨C on and see who would win in the end. Grace took her phone out and began scrolling through social media. She noticed that all articles about the Hawkins family were gone after the three¨C day deadline was up. Even some of the ounts of news aggregators had been shut down. The Hawkins family¡¯s official ount had also put out a statement denying all the articles. Grace couldn¡¯t stopughing as her gaze turned frigid. They were just doing damage control. If they were so concerned about their image, why had they done all those horrible things at all? At that moment, the director of the investment department came in and handed Grace some documents. ¡°Ms. Lewis, these are the documents on everyone we¡¯re hiring.¡± The investment department was crucial to Amirate¡¯s Pamore branch, so Grace valued it very much. In the past, they had never gotten the chance to expand their talent pool. So for the past few days, the HR department had been working overtime to inte Grace skimmed through the new hires¡® resumes and nodded in approval. But when she saw a specific name, she stopped and jabbed at the guy¡¯s photo. Timothy Donegan. ¡°Fire this man,¡± Grace ordered coldly. The director hastily took the resume to see who it was, looking visibly conflicted once he saw Timothy¡¯s name. ¡°Ms. Lewis, Mr. Donegan¡¯s very experienced in investing. He made a name for himself on Bull Street at the age of 15. He¡¯s exactly what our department needs!¡± Grace wouldn¡¯t hear any of it. She and Timothy were sworn enemies, the type that hated each other to the bone. ¡°I said, fire him.¡± The director had no choice but to agree. He was about to leave when Grace called out, ¡°Wait.¡± Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Someone Who Understands People Graceposed herself, took her phone out, and called Aaron, who had just gotten back to Darai. This was strange. Why would Timothy give up his cushy job as Donegan Enterprises¡® president in Darai and apply to work at her branch office in Pamore There was obviously something fishy, so it was best if she asked Aaron about this. When Aaron picked up, he said in a mature but fond tone, ¡°Yes, Grace?¡± Grace nced at the director, who was standing awkwardly at the side. Then, she whispered into the phone, ¡°Aaron, Timothy¡¯s in Pamore, and he just applied to work here. Did the Donegans go bankrupt?¡± Aaronughed. Grace had always hated Timothy, to the point that she was merciless when insulting him. ¡°No, Mr. Donegan Senior sent him back. I didn¡¯t know about his application, though.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll have him fired immediately.¡± ¡°Calm down, Grace.¡± Aaron advised. ¡°We both know how good Timothy is. He¡¯s a genius when ites to investments. ¡°If he works for our investment department, your performance would surely impress the shareholders this year.¡± Grace¡¯s tone softened when she realized that, making her voice sound like a sister acting cute with her brother. ¡°What if he mentions the engagement?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never revealed your identity to the public, so he doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re the one he¡¯s engaged to. How would he know unless you mention it?¡± Aaron sensed that Grace was wavering, so he added, ¡°The Pamore branch needs people like him the most right now. How could you refuse such a talent over a grudge?¡± He had sessfully convinced Grace. Right now, her job was to improve the Pamore branch¡¯s performance, and appreciating good talent was a sign of After reluctantly ending the call, Grace cleared her throat and turned to the director, who was still waiting. ¡°Um¡­ get Timothy to stay.¡± The director smiled widely upon hearing that. He ttered her for a while, like Cameron had done, and left. The next morning, Grace had just arrived at the ground floor of thepany when she heard people gossiping, ¡°He¡¯s so handsome!¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°So he¡¯s the one who¡¯s been sending flowers!¡± When Grace turned in the direction they were looking, she saw Timothy in a tailor¨C made suit. He was holding a huge bouquet of roses and smiling flirtatiously at her. She scoffed. So Timothy was the fool who had been sending flowers. She shouldn¡¯t have suspected Caleb. With a cold expression, she walked right past him without even sparing him a nce. However, he rushed over to block her way with a bright, sincere sm ¡°Long time, no see. Do you remember me?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I made youugh on that balcony in Darai, and you wiped your tears with my handkerchief. You don¡¯t remember that?¡± Timothy asked, still refusing to g Grace swept her bangs to the side. She was starting to get impatient. ¡°Please step aside, thanks. ¡°I haven¡¯t thanked you for the gold bangle yet.¡± Timothy shyly handed Grace the bouquet once again, but her face only fell even further. She thought that she would have been fine as long as she pretended not to know him and avoided him. Never had she expected him to be clingier than chewing gum stuck to her shoe. How infuriating. So she went into boss mode and looked him up and down with hostility. ¡°You work here?¡± Timothy had no idea Grace was about to blow up, so he answered cheerfully, ¡°Yes, I just .started work at the investment department today. Hi, boss. Grace tapped her watch and raised her voice. ¡°What time is it? Get back to work! Are you trying to get yourself fired by stopping your own boss from wor Timothy had never seen a woman speak so loudly. He gulped and stood there awkwardly. It seemed Grace had a temper. The director of the investment department was waiting for an elevator nearby. When he noticed his employee screwing up, he was worried that he would So he tossed Timothy¡¯s bouquet in the trash and quickly dragged him into the emergency That finally appeased Grace, and she walked into the elevator. However, much to Grace¡¯s confusion, everyone else in the elevator rushed to take the stairs too. What was wrong with these people? Meanwhile, everyone else was still recovering from the shock. They were scared of even breathing too loudly in her presence. Grace usually came to work with a smile. They had never seen her yell at someone so sternly before. Why was she this mad about getting flowers so early in the morning? Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 A 180¨CMillion¨CDor Ne That night, Grace and Emily met up to collect something she had bought from a luxury store. When they entered the store, a staff member immediately recognized Grace and got their manager to attend to them. The manager smiled and said, ¡°One moment, Ms. Lewis. The jewelry you purchased is so valuable that we still have it in the safe. It will take us some time to collect it.¡± He offered, ¡°Why don¡¯t we browse the other items while we wait?¡± Grace shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We can browse them ourselves.¡± After walking around the store with Grace, Emily said excitedly, ¡°Babe, there¡¯s not a lot of pretty clothes on the first floor. Let¡¯s go to the second one.¡± She tried to take Grace upstairs, but the manager stopped them with a conflicted face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the second floor has been cleared out by somedies. You can¡¯t enter.¡± Grace smiled at the manager. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We¡¯ll leave after we get my order.¡± The manager thanked her gratefully. It was so rare to see a rich but peaceful customer nowadays. Grace sat Emily down on the couch and started ying mobile games together, but the sound of their voices traveled upstairs. So, Susan Ford heard everythin When she looked down and saw Grace, her expression soured. The richdies with her all giggled discreetly, eager to add fuel to the fire. ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, I heard your daughter¨Cinw¡¯s famous online. Is that true?¡± ¡°Is your daughter out of jail yet?¡± Rich people had always been the type to kick people when they were down. So everyone made fun of Susan when they had the chance. Although Susan forced a smile, her grip on her ss tightened. ¡°Nonsense. Our family¡¯s already put out a statement saying that it¡¯s fake news. ¡°Besides, Celia cooperated with the investigation. She¡¯s actually studying overseas now.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. To Susan, theughter from downstairs sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Unable to hold her anger in any longer, she rushed downstairs. Then, she dered arrogantly, ¡°I was wondering who it was. It¡¯s you, you jinx.¡± ¡°You watch your mouth!¡± Emily stood up immediately. She was about to argue when Grace ¡°Ignore her. We have nothing to say to people like her.¡± Grace coolly looked at the manager. ¡°Leave the jewelry. I¡¯ll collect it another day.¡± She had stopped caring about the Hawkins family ages ago, so she felt that there was no need to bother with these clowns. Meanwhile, the manager checked the time and tried to negotiate with Grace. ¡°Ms. Lewis, your order¡¯s already on the way. Why don¡¯t you wait another fiv ¡°Alright.¡± Grace needed the n*e she had bought for a banquet in a few days¡® time, so she decided to wait. Meanwhile, Susan¡¯s insults had missed their mark. When she realized Grace wasn¡¯t going to engage with her, she crossed her arms and scoffed arrogantly. ¡°Can you even afford the things here? They¡¯re not cheap, you know. Why don¡¯t I get you a few things as a show of charity? ¡°Once you have your clothes, get out of here and stop spreading nder about our family mistreating you. Just shut up, alright?¡± Emily was so angry, she wanted to fight Susan. ¡°What do you mean by that? Where did you evene from, you condescending hag?¡± However, Grace smiled and raised an eyebrow. ¡°How generous of you, Madam Hawkins. Am I really allowed to pick whatever I want?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Susan lifted her chin as if she really were an important person, then ordered the staff to take care of Grace. She had faced manyizens¡® harsh criticisms online for the past few days. On top of that, she had just suffered all that mockery from the richdies. She needed a win to regain her dignity. The clothes in this store were expensive, sure, but Susan had enough savings to handle them. If Grace wanted to go crazy and buy everything in the sto Grace looked around, then replied casually. ¡°I don¡¯t want the clothes here.¡± In response, Susan crossed her arms and scoffed. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it. Did the price tags scare you?¡± At that moment, a white van stopped outside, and two armed security guards got out of it with a silver briefcase. When the manager saw it, she hastily said, ¡°Your n*e is here, Ms. Lewis.¡± Then, she took the briefcase and put on white gloves before carefully opening the first tier. Inside, there was a jewelry box lined with blue velvet. When she opened the second tier, everyone saw a gleaming n*e sitting inside. Grace spoke up again nonchntly, ¡°Since Mrs. Hawkins said she wanted to give me a gift, I¡¯ll choose this n*e.¡± Then, she turned to the manager. ¡°How much is it?¡± ¡°180 million dors, Ms. Lewis.¡± Susan was so shocked that her jaw dropped, as did her ss. 180 million dors? She didn¡¯t have that much money! Chapter 48 Chapter 48 her jaw dropped, as did her ss. 180 million dors? She didn¡¯t have that much money! Chapter 48 I Have A ck Card ¡°How can a n*e be so expensive? This shop is ripping us off!¡± Susan was usually very good at keeping up appearances, but when push came to shove, her stinginess came on full disy. The sound of her shrill voice made the staff members wince at once. The manager came up and exined, ¡°Madam Hawkins, this is the custom¨Cmade design made by Vere Jewelry and our brand. ¡°The yellow diamonds on it had once been worn by the Queen of Eligo. This is actually a very low price ¡­¡® ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll believe the nonsense you salespeople spout? You all have the gift of the gab. ¡°Do you really think that it¡¯s that easy to make money off of the rich?¡± Susan scolded, pointing usingly at the store¡¯s manager. The manager had met several difficult customers before, but it was the first time she had dealt with someone as blunt as Susan. His face flushed and tur ¡°Why are you deliberately making things difficult for them?¡± Grace scoffed, her tone gradually turning frosty. ¡°You said that I could buy whatever I wanted. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and pay!¡± She pointed to thedies who were leaning on the railing upstairs and watching the spectacle. ¡°All thedies of Pamore¡¯s upper ss have heard what you said. You can¡¯t go back on your word.¡± Susan looked up and saw the otherdies¡® gleeful expressions. Her heart sank, and she was filled with regret. She had wanted to gain some respect back, but now she was more embarrassed than ever. With the manager¡¯s help, Grace calmly tried on the n*e. The yellow diamonds shone brightly under the lights, exuding eye¨C catching rays. It matched Grace¡¯s elegance well. Emily began praising her exaggeratedly. ¡°Babe, you have excellent taste.¡± She rolled her eyes at Susan. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you bothering to pretend anymore? You¡¯re rich, aren¡¯t you? Can you afford it?¡± ¡°Forget it. Don¡¯t make things difficult for a housewife like Madam Hawkins. She was just boasting, so don¡¯t make a fuss over it.¡± Grace smiled lightly and took out a ck card from her bag. She turned to the manager. ¡°Just use this.¡± The sharp¨Ceyeddies upstairs saw it, and they immediately cried out in shock, ¡°Can you believe it? The legendary ck card is in her hands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the limitless ck card that can be used all over the world!¡± ¡°I heard that there are only three people in the whole world who have this card. You can¡¯t get any richer than that!¡± Susan was stunned into silence. She could only stand there in shock. Grace had a priceless ck card! Susan¡¯s own credit card, with its limit of a few hundred million dors, paled inparison. After the manager swiped the card, he wrapped up the n*e and handed it reverently to Grace. ¡°Ms. Lewis, do you need us to arrange security for the delivery of this n*e?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. It¡¯s not worth much anyway.¡± Her words astonished the people around her even more. A n*e that cost 180 million dors was nothing to Grace! Graceughed indifferently and then left with Emily, leaving a dumbfounded Susan behind. As soon as they got in the car, Emily grabbed Grace excitedly. ¡°Babe! In the future, let¡¯s just bomb them with money. I love seeing their jaws drop.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Graceughed. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll do as you say. ¡°Oh right, has there been any news about the tickets to the racecourse that I asked you to help with?¡± ¡°How could I forget something you had asked me to do? Don¡¯t worry, your best friend has got it all sorted.¡± Emily winked at Grace and took out the tickets from her bag. ¡°All the best, babe. Go get a big piece of Benjamin¡¯s pie. Make him cry in despair!¡± Grace¡¯s eyes shone with confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll get this mission done!¡± The meeting between Hawkins Group and Barnes Group was held two dayster. Benjamin and Albert were discussing the project¡¯s development. Benjamin happened to nce up and inadvertently caught sight of a striking figure on the slopes in the distance. Grace was galloping across the grass on a Crnd Warmblood, wielding the whip wilfully. She reached the two of them in a moment. ????? The horse reared up in front of Benjamin, its hooves so close to his face that they were about to touch him, but he stood impassively without moving. The only thing he had eyes for was Grace, who was full of energy. She guided the horse expertly. The Warmblood knelt down obediently, and Grace leapt off. She was dressed in a tailored outfit for riding, and her ck hair was gathered back into a ponytail, which was a rare style for her. She walked slowly over to Albert, exuding a youthful and carefree air. Grace smiled lightly, full of charm. ¡°Mr. Barnes, I see that we¡¯re meeting again.¡± 1 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Are You Afraid Now ¡°Ms. Lewis, you sure are pretty skilled at riding.¡± Albert praised Grace, and his gaze was sincere with no intent to offend. Grace nced briefly at Benjamin, who was standing beside them. She turned to Albert and said, ¡°Mr. Barnes, could we find a ce to talk alone?¡± Barnes Group was apany that focused on core technology development. In the five years since its establishment, it had developed countless innovative, intelligent bionic robots, and it had received praise from various fields. This time, the nanorobot technology was an unprecedented technological breakthrough and could potentially solve historically difficult problems in medic That was why Grace had wanted to negotiate this coboration after she had taken up her new post at Amirate. Benjamin¡¯s gaze darkened, and he sounded displeased. ¡°Barnes Group has already signed a contract with Hawkins Group. What is there that cannot be This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. His gaze never left Grace. From the moment she had ridden the horse over, she hadpletely captured his attention. Grace had never ridden in front of him. In fact, she had never even mentioned it. There was too much that he didn¡¯t know about this woman. The coboration of Barnes Group and Hawkins Group was still being kept under wraps. But she had gotten the news so quickly and even wanted to get in on the action. From now on, it looked like there would be no shortage of entanglements in Pamore¡¯s business world. Grace was slightly startled, as she hadn¡¯t expected both parties to act so quickly. It turned out that they hadpleted the signing of the contract in just a few days. Although she was a little miffed that she hadete, the expression on her perfectly rosy face remained calm. ¡°Can Amirate Corporation be added to this project?¡± Albertughed at that, and the glint in his eyes betrayed nothing of his thoughts. ¡°At the moment, we have already received funds from Hawkins Group. I¡¯m afraid it would be inadvisable to rashly add another investor.¡± Grace remained impassive, as if she had expected Albert to refuse. She continued to persuade him in a measured tone, ¡°Adding another investor will upgrade the scale of this project, and the risk will be shared. Wouldn¡¯t ¡°Amirate Corporation¡¯s medical R&D department can provide more support for the practical use of nanorobots. ¡°Anyone who truly cared about their painstaking hard work wouldn¡¯t give up on such a good chance for advancement.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes were full of confidence, and she stared directly into the depths of Albert¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mr. Barnes, please reconsider.¡± Albert seemed persuaded but didn¡¯t say anything. He decided to let Benjamin make the decision. ¡°Ms. Lewis is clearly an expert at negotiation. I admire you, but now it¡¯s not just my opinion that counts. We also need to ask Mr. Hawkins¡® thoughts on th Graceughed inwardly. Albert really was an old fox. Business was business, so naturally he wouldn¡¯t reject adding a second investor and the chance to But Grace and Benjamin had caused such a stir before their divorce, and now they were meeting again for business. If Benjaminpletely rejected the idea and resolutely refused to coborate, there wasn¡¯t much that Albert could say. Why not directly throw the ball in Grace¡¯s court and see to what extent they could negotiate? Benjamin¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Grace ced the whip on the cane chair and sat down in a leisurely manner. ¡°There¡¯s no need for it.¡± Benjamin turned to leave after giving a simple reason, but Grace¡¯s voice drifted over from behind him, saying provocatively, ¡°Are you afraid, Mr. Hawkins ¡°Ridiculous. What would I be afraid of?¡± Benjamin stopped but didn¡¯t turn his head. Grace walked over to Benjamin, and her l*ps curled into a smile. ¡°Afraid that Hawkins Group¡¯s profits will be divided and worried that I¡¯ll take a piece of the pie. ¡± ¡°This was clearly a win¨Cwin situation to maximize profits and reduce risk. But we¡¯ll have to forgo it due to Mr. Hawkins¡® cowardice¡­¡± Grace turned to Albert and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Barnes?¡± Albert smiled without answering. He didn¡¯t want to get involved in the fight between this former couple. ¡°You can say whatever you like, but Hawkins Group will never coborate with Amirate Corporation,¡± Benjamin said coldly, his expression stormy. ¡°Could it be that Mr. Hawkins still has feelings for me?¡± Grace dropped a bomb. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Shall We Race on Horseback Benjamin halted at once, and he directed an enigmatic gaze at Grace. He stood coldly without sacing anything This woman was beautiful and unpredictable, and he could never guess what she was thinking. All ter questions seemed more like traps. It was as if taking one step closer to her would plurge bim into an abyss. He wasn¡¯t sure whether or not he still had feelings for her, but he did regret ending their marriage too early Gace lowered her gaze with a light smile, and a hint of coldness shed in her eyes. ¡°Oh! Forgive me for my sl*p of the tongue. Someone with a heart of stone like Mr. Hawkins would never be influenced by such insignificant past events.¡± She continued. ¡°As a businessman, profitse first. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need me to remind you of that. You should know even better than me.¡± ¡°What exactly do you want to say?¡± Benjamin¡¯s expression was stormy, and his voice was cold and oppressive. Grace was unaffected. ¡°Since you¡¯re not refusing to let Amirate Corporation join the project due to past rtionships, then the only thing left is a reason t ¡°Shall we race on horseback?¡± A strand of hair fell across Grace¡¯s cheek, and her expression was boldly willful. ¡°If you win, Amirate will never mention joining the coboration again. If I win, then Hawkins Group will agree to let us join.¡± Benjamin was formally trained in equestrianism, and he was just as skilled as a professional. However, Grace was confident that she would defeat him today. Albert appeared impartial, but his bias was clear as he spoke. ¡°Ms. Lewis has shown her sincerity clearly, and her skill in riding is apparent. ¡°The only question is whether Mr. Hawkins has confidence in his equestrianism.¡± Benjamin¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. It seemed as though the inky darkness in his eyes deepened as he looked at Grace. ¡°Why should Ipete with you?¡± Grace shrugged, and her attitude was nonchnt. ¡°Fine, then when I leave, I¡¯ll announce to the whole of Pamore that Benjamin Hawkins is a coward who¡¯s afraid of his ex¨Cwife.¡± Since she had already taken things this far, if Benjamin really ignored her threats, he wouldn¡¯t be Benjamin Hawkins. He spoke coldly, ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± Grace¡¯s red l*ps curved into a bright smile. ¡°Of course.¡± The two wouldpete in t racing, and the course was two thousand meters long, which would be approximately three rounds of the racecourse. The two riders could be seen from the viewing stand as they came to the starting point together. Grace had chosen the brown Warmblood again. She pressed her legs against the horse¡¯s nks to control the horse as it stood at the starting point. She turned to Benjamin, smiling brightly under her helmet. ¡°Ready, Mr. Hawkins?¡± Going head¨Cto¨C head with him at the racecourse after their divorce was something she had never expected, much less doing it for such an important project. She felt even more excited than the horse, who was about to race. She would win against Benjamin and proudly trample his arrogance beneath her feet, just like he had done to her during their three years of marriage. Benjamin cast an eye at Grace¡¯s brilliant smile, immediately capturing the moment in his memories. That smile was so beautiful, but it was one he had never seen. His eyes narrowed slightly as his thoughts began to wander. At that moment, the whistle blew, and Grace¡¯s horse set off half a step ahead. Benjamin came back to his senses and rode off at once in pursuit. The onlookers watched them on the racecourse, racing one in front of the other in a showdown between a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Moreover, it was a t race event with a high level of professionalism, and it attracted everyone¡¯s attention, making them stop to watch the race. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace¡¯s horse was temporarily in the lead in the first round, and she was galloping the entire way. Benjamin rounded the curve, following closely behind, and overtook her by a step in the second round. His cold, chiseled looks and the intense focus in his eyes, as well as the outlines of the muscles against his shirt as he held tightly to the reins, drew small screams from some of the girls. They were about to enter the third round, and the two of them were n*eck and n*eck. Benjamin¡¯s horse was slightly ahead, and the people on the viewing stand watched nervously. as the tension rose. 1 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 You Lost Grace was unconcerned about the oue of the second round. She focused her attention on the third curve instead. At the crucial moment, she once again overtook Benjamin by a tiny step and ultimately reached the finish line first. Their silentpetition had ended with Grace¡¯s victory. The people on the viewing stand had all been filled with anxiety. Seeing the race end, they cheered for Grace¡¯s victory. This was how horse racing was. No one would know the final result until thest moment, After riding another round as a buffer, Grace reined in her horse in front of Benjamin and leapt down. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She was smiling vividly, and as she took off her helmet, her ck hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her beauty was so breathtaking that it was impossible to look away from her. She was panting slightly from the race as she said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you lost.¡± Grace had once gotten first ce in the Queen.Cup and received the Queen¡¯s praise. She had loved horseback riding ever since she was a child. Hence, Aaron had bought valuable horses, especially for her. He had also employed countle When she had been 15 years old, her pet had been an Akhal¨CTeke horse worth hundreds of millions of dors. This kind of sport relied heavily on hands¨Con training. It was impossible for her to lose against Benjamin, who was just a half¨C assed rider taught by an ordinary coach. In the past, she had carefully hidden her domineering side in order to maintain a gentle, demure image. She had done all that, hoping that Benjamin would take more notice of her. Now it just seemedughable. Benjamin¡¯s breathing hadn¡¯t slowed. He looked at Grace with aplicated look in his eyes for a few seconds before he turned away. ¡°When did you learn how to ride?¡± When she had appeared earlier, he had been shocked that she could do horseback riding. Now he was more shocked at the fact that she had the level o Grace had a wild, carefree air, like a rose with thorns. There was a deadly charisma in every He admitted that he might be falling for her slightly. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you¡¯ve gone off topic. We¡¯re talking about Amirate Corporation joining this project.¡± Grace¡¯s tone was icy as she kept him at arm¡¯s length. Benjamin swallowed his doubts. ¡°Bring the contract to my office tomorrow.¡± Grace raised her head proudly, and there was a mocking glint in her elegant eyes. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you make meugh. Why should others amodate you? ¡°You should be clear about the fact that Amirate Corporation is joining as an equal shareholder. ¡°No one is losing out in any aspect of this coboration, and Amirate Corporation isn¡¯t Hawkins Group¡¯s sidekick.¡± It looked like she would have to constantly remind Benjamin that she was no longer a secretary who was at his beck and call. She handed the reins over to the horse trainer, who had been waiting for a long time. Then, she turned her back on Benjamin coolly. ¡°My assistant will follow up on the detailster. We can talk when I¡¯m needed.¡± Benjamin¡¯s gaze followed her receding figure until Albert appeared beside him. ¡°Tell the truth, Mr. Hawkins. Did you go easy on her?¡± Albert¡¯s eyes were full of mirth. This coboration was the best choice for his nanorobot project. It was a situation where all three parties would win, and he didn¡¯t believe that Benjamin didn¡¯t see that. Benjamin looked away and said indifferently, ¡°No, she¡¯s skilled.¡± Although he didn¡¯t want to admit it, Grace had undoubtedly defeated him. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re going to be holding it against her for a long time,¡± Albert joked. ¡°No, everything she said was true. Business is business. There¡¯s no reason to reject money.¡± Benjamin hid the tiny sense of disappointment that he felt. ¡°Let¡¯s get things going as soon as possible.¡± With that, he left the racecourse. Grace changed out of her riding gear and walked out of the changing room. Coincidentally, she saw Frederick and Benjamin appear. Benjamin¡¯s expression was impassive as he listened to Frederick, who had his arm slung around Benjamin¡¯s shoulders and was chattering non¨Cstop. *15 BONUS ¡°Bro, how could you lose to that woman just now? You¡¯re a legend in the Pamore horseback racing circle! You lost to her on purpose, right?¡± ¡°No.¡± Benjamin was slightly impatient. All he wanted was to leave this ce as soon as possible. ¡°Then that woman really hides things deeply. First, she was the one who wanted a divorce out of the blue. ¡°Now she¡¯se back to Pamore and keeps parading in front of you for attention. I wonder if her patron, Aaron, will think that you two have rekindled the At his words, Benjamin swept an icy re at Frederick. If looks could kill, this would be the moment. ¡°Are you that curious? Ask her yourself.¡± Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Whatever Amount You Want Frederick was stunned by his friend¡¯s retort. But he just assumed Benjamin was in a bad mood because he had lost. ¡°I haven¡¯t got time to ask that flirty woman. I¡¯d rather just avoid people like that.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Grace¡¯s cold voice rang out right behind Frederick, and he jumped in shock. He turned around and fl*pped out. ¡°Why do you walk so silently?¡± ¡°I¡¯m right here. You can ask me straight to my face.¡± Grace stood with her arms folded, and there was an imposing re in her eyes. She had obviously heard Frederick insulting her behind her back. Benjamin stood quietly to the side. Although he didn¡¯t look directly at Grace, he couldn¡¯t help ncing at her a few times. He didn¡¯t know why, but he felt perturbed. ¡°Pshh, I was never interested in women like you to begin with. Don¡¯t throw yourself at me, and go and find your patron,¡± Frederick pped his hands con Grace walked forward in her high heels, and her demeanor made Frederick take a step back. ¡°Has anyone ever told you that you resemble a nosy old woman when you gossip?¡± ¡­ Frederick was outraged. ¡°You! You keep hanging around my bro even though you both got divorced, and you messed up his coboration! ¡°I¡¯ve seen many scheming b*tches like you! And yet you have the audacity to mock me? It¡¯s ridiculous.¡± At that moment, a cleaning staff member walked past while pushing a cleaning cart. Grace picked up a pail of d*rty water that had been used to clean the skirting board and sshed the water all over Frederick. Frederick was dressed in a white linen suit. After he had gotten drenched, the fabric not only changed color but also clearly revealed his n*pples and priv It looked worse than beingpletely n*ked! He hurriedly covered his chest with one hand and tried to cover the lower part of his b*dy with the other, but his frantic fumbling only lookedical. ¡°Grace Lewis! How dare you ssh water at me?¡± ¡°Does this match your idea of a patron¡¯s actions?¡± Grace took out a checkbook from her bag ¡°Fill in the amount yourself. I¡¯ll pay for the clothes andpensate for your humiliation.¡± ¡°The next time I hear you badmouthing me, it won¡¯t be d*rty water that I¡¯ll throw at you.¡± She walked off in her high heels. Frederick picked up the check and saw that no number had been filled in. Grace¡¯s signature was all that was written on it. He turned and asked Benjamin, ¡°Is that woman crazy? How can I go out and face people like this?¡± Benjamin answered coldly, ¡°You deserved it.¡± Then he took off his jacket and flung it at Frederick¡¯s face. Frederick pulled at the clothes and quickly used the jacket to cover his waist area. He turned to look at the two, who were ignoring him. ¡°Hey! How can you all leave? Do you think I deserve this?¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace returned to the office and checked on the work the investment department had done over the past few days. She realized that since Timothy had joined, there had been a few significant increases in ie returns. It now looked like keeping him at thepany had truly been the correct decision. Timothy had always been sensitive to the field of venture capital. When he had gotten his first share, he had started a venture capitalpany. When he had been 15 years old, he had made a name for himself on Bull Street. But Mr. Donegan Senior had been worried that Timothy would lose himself in If only he hadn¡¯t forced Timothy toe back to their ownpany to learn management, .things might be very different now. After checking all the reports, Grace finished work for the day. She had just stepped outside the door when an eye¨Ccatching red sports car stopped right at her feet. Timothy got out of the car. This time, he didn¡¯t bombard her with roses but held up an intricate box instead. His eyes were still as flirty as always and were filled with a carefree hint of mirth. ¡°Mdy, we meet again.¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 I Just Like Holding Grudges A misunderstanding? It was a huge misunderstanding! Grace narrowed her eyes dangerously, and the image of this fellow humiliating her shed vividly through her mind. It wasn¡¯t as simple as a tiny misunde ¡°That¡¯s a coincidence. It¡¯s just who I am.¡± She was great in all aspects, except for the fact that she loved holding grudges. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Remembering Aaron¡¯s instructions, Grace felt a sense of satisfaction in teasing Timothy by not telling him her true identity and watching him run around ¡°You¡¯d better stay far away from me, me, understand?¡± Timothy wasn¡¯t listening at all. Instead, he focused on opening the box. Inside, there was an emerald bracelet that emitted a soft glow, and one look was enough to tell that it was very expensive. It was several hundred times better than the one Yvonne had pped away in a huff before. ¡°Last time I said that I would give you a token of my appreciation. Have a look and see if you like it.¡± Timothy had spent a long time selecting this emerald bracelet and had put in a lot of effort to ask numerous experts before purchasing it. He was full of sincerity. ¡°Take it away. I don¡¯t need them.¡± ¡°Mdy, I like you,¡± Timothy confessed again. He radiated dazzling confidence and was handsome and passionate. Even if anyone really did have a feud with him, they would be swayed by how dashing he was. ¡®However, the person in front of him was Grace. ¡°I don¡¯t like you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not my type.¡± Timothy seemed hurt. Even his dream woman had her ideal type. He struggled for a moment, then decided that he would work hard in the direction given. He said, ¡°Please be more specific.¡± Grace raised her watch and prepared to say something. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me like you do at work. It¡¯s after work hours now.¡± Timothy was earnest, and he was obviously still affected by how she had yelled at him before. Grace only realized that 6:00 pm had passed after ncing at her watch. ¡°You can¡¯t corner your boss during work hours, so what makes you think you can do it after work?¡± Timothy swallowed in trepidation. ¡°I know you¡¯re not a bad¨Ctempered person. Is there perhaps some misunderstanding between us?¡± X GET IT NOW Grace¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°You¡¯re stupid, and that would influence the IQ of my future child. ¡± Timothy felt like he had just heard the world¡¯s biggest joke. After all, he had a high IQ of 167. ¡± I¡¯m afraid your reason is difficult to believe.¡± Grace raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is that so? But I heard that there¡¯s a difficult project that your department has still not managed to acquire. Isn¡¯t your stupidity the reason for that?¡± Timothy realized at once that she was talking about thepeting options ownership rights with Mardovia¡¯s Morgan Bank. This project was undoubtedly a little difficult. Although he had tried a few strategies, Morgan Bank was still holding him at bay. He couldn¡¯t make headwa He didn¡¯t need Grace to say anything further. He had already been provoked by the other party and their dominance. He had just decided to make his move so that they could see his abilities. Timothy said confidently, ¡°Mdy, I will definitely get this project and show you that I have the best brain. ¡°When it¡¯s done, can you treat me to a meal?¡± Seeing that she had seeded in inciting him, Grace didn¡¯t reject him any further. ¡°Prove your capabilities, and then we¡¯ll talk.¡± Timothy grinned broadly, as if this wasn¡¯t anything difficult. ¡°No problem. Wait for me to bring back good news.¡± Grace¡¯s chauffeur hade to pick her up in a Porsche, so she left promptly after that. At night, Grace called Aaron and reported the results proudly. Aaron smiled fondly at the other end of the line. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ve prepared the presents already. I¡¯ll get Luke to take it, and he¡¯ll attend to the Barnes Group project with you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Aaron, are you saying that you¡¯ll let Lukee and help me?¡± Grace was anxious. Luke Ziegler had been by Aaron¡¯s side for ten years, and you could say he was Aaron¡¯s right- hand man. Now that Aaron was sending such an important person to her, it was clear how much he acknowledged and supported Grace. ¡°Yes, I know that you can deal with all this, but I would feel more assured if he was there.¡± ¡°Aaron, you¡¯re so great.¡± Grace felt a warmth rising in her heart. Since she had returned to Pamore, so many people had been waiting to see her make a fool of herself. But Aaron¡¯s support was her strongestfort. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Sleep early.¡± Aaronughed lightly and hung up. Grace slept soundly through the night. The next day, she got out of bed and yawned as she came to the living room. Luke was already fully dressed and had been waiting since early in the morning. He introduced himself, saying, ¡°Hello Ms. Grace, I¡¯m Luke, and I¡¯ll be ad His tone was clear, and there was no hint of ttery or fawning. He was the professional type of person that Grace approved of. ¡°Alright.¡± She looked at the pile of gift boxes on the table. They were obviously the presents that Aaron had asked Luke to bring over. She leaned leisurely on the Inside, there was a Chopard 201¨Ccarat watch encrusted with diamonds that glittered in the light. The design was borate, and at a conservative estimate, it was worth around 300 million dors. She put it on and looked at it, then smiled contentedly. Aaron¡¯s taste was impable as always. Later, Grace and Luke went to the office. In the general manager¡¯s office, Luke reported skilfully on the morning data, and Grace checked each of them one by one to make sure there were no problems. Just then, Cameron burst into the room, despite the secretary¡¯s efforts to block him. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 What Are You Going to Do About It ¡°Ms. Lewis, I couldn¡¯t stop him¡­¡± The secretary looked awkward. Grace said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Shut the door.¡± Cameron¡¯s ribs were much better now, and the bandages on his face had been taken off. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I saw the Barnes Group project proposal. My name isn¡¯t on it. Was it overlooked?¡± Grace twirled a gold pen between her fingers, and her expression was indifferent. ¡°It wasn¡¯t overlooked. I didn¡¯t tell them to add your name.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, we agreed upon this.¡± The smile on Cameron¡¯s face had disappeared, and he looked sinister. ¡°It¡¯s not courteous to burn your bridges.¡± Grace gazed sharply at Cameron. ¡°You should remember that I am your boss. Naturally, I have reasons for my decision.¡± Cameron gave up all pretense and ttery. He said through gritted teeth, ¡°Ms. Lewis, you¡¯re going overboard.¡± ¡°Am I? What are you going to do about it?¡± Graceughed indifferently. She took out a thick wad of pictures and tossed them on the table, then gestured at it with her chin. ¡°If I had someone like you on the project, Mr. Luther, I¡¯m afraid it would cause trouble.¡± Cameron was thunderstruck when he saw it. His legs trembled as ¡°I still have a lot more of these. Should I develop them for you, Mr. Luther?¡± ¡°No, no, there¡¯s no need¡­ .Cameron¡¯s stance weakened at once. 11 Grace¡¯s slender fingers tapped/gently on the table, and she smiled scornfully. ¡°It was just as I had guessed. That night wasn¡¯t the first time you had secre ¡°I can contact all of these people. If they find out that you had recorded them having S** with you, I think they will be ready to murder you.¡± Cameron¡¯s heart was thumping like a drum. He hadn¡¯t expected Grace to find out about his little hobby. Yet, at the thought of the profits he could get from this Barnes Group project, he decided to ¡°Ms. Lewis, I won¡¯t be threatened by these. Thosedies had also benefited from me. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you¡¯re talking about public shaming, then let¡¯s all be humiliated together. I¡¯m not afraid of that. ¡°Stop trying to avoid it. Add my name to the project team as soon as possible. Or else you¡¯ll be in for a hard time in future coborations.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy. I meant it when I said I wouldn¡¯t add your name.¡± Grace¡¯s demeanor changed. She gave Cameron an oppressive feeling, as if she had everything under her control. ¡°Mr. Luther, if you tell me who¡¯s supporting you in Barnes Group, I may change my mind.¡± Cameron was so enraged that he couldn¡¯t speak. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to say anything, but the moment he said it, he would be giving proof of that person betrayingpany secrets. Grace would certainly mention this to Albert in the future. Right now, Cameron couldn¡¯t do something as stupid as throwing his own supporter under the ¡°You wait and see!¡± Cameron mmed the door as he stormed out. Luke asked Grace, ¡°Ms. Lewis, do we need to kick such a man out of thepany? ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. He has a web of connections, and now isn¡¯t the time. I still need him to lure out the big fish behind him.¡± Grace instructed Luke, ¡°Monitor his movements in thepany and report immediately if there¡¯s a problem.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Luke said, ¡°Barnes Group called and said that the meeting for this afternoon has been scheduled.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Grace suddenly thought of Timothy. ¡°What¡¯s Timothy doing?¡± ¡°I looked at the schedule. He¡¯s taking the earliest flight to Mardovia today.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. There¡¯s finally no one to annoy me.¡± Graceughed heartily. At noon, Albert called and said he was very sorry, but there was an urgent project development seminar he had to attend. If Grace and Benjamin had any questions about progress, he asked if they couldmunicate Grace acknowledged it and took Like to Barnes Group. She carried an Herm¨¨s Birkin bag in white crocodile skin, and she was dressed in an elegant, dusky blue skirt suit. Her makeup was perfect, and she walked elegantly into the conference room. Benjamin was already waiting there, his long fingers resting on the table. When he saw that perfect figure in blue, there was an unreadable expression in Luke pulled out a seat for Grace to sit down and then stood silently behind her. Grace smiled lightly and greeted the directors who had taken their seats, and then raised her eyebrows as she nced at Benjamin. She said in an icy t Benjamin was stung by Grace¡¯s sharp indifference, and he felt a stifling anger well up inside him However, he had no way to release it. The only thing he could do was reply in the same icy tone, ¡°Hmm¡± Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 I Won¡¯t Watch From the Sidelines The basics of the coboration between Barnes Group, Hawkins Group, and Amirate Corporation had been settled. After they made sure there were no problems with the contract, they only had to go over the details. As the parties who were providing both funds and manpower, Amirate Corporation and Hawkins Group naturally needed to check everything. A slight oversight in the process could result in millions in profit losses, and no one would want their money to be wasted. Grace opened the project schedule and frowned slightly. ¡°Why haven¡¯t any of the people Amirate Corporation provided been added to the exchange proj It wasmon practice for the threepanies to share strategies. But the document clearly stated that Barnes Group and Hawkins Group would share, and only Amirate Corporation was omitted. ¡°Hawkins Group and Barnes Group have been working on this project until now. It would slow down progress if we added Amirate Corporation¡¯s staff members to it. ¡°When there¡¯s a result, we will tell you.¡± Quinn Yancey was the one who had spoken. She was one of the female directors sent by Barnes Group. She appeared to be around 40 years old, and she looked good for her age. When she spoke, her smile seemed fake. She had probably gotten Botox injections. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Grace nodded, seeming as if she agreed with Quinn. She closed the project proposal and smiled lightly. ¡°Then I¡¯d like to ask Ms. Yancey to exin why we haven¡¯t been able to check the core technology of the nanorobots despite having signed the contract.¡± Quinn raised a ss of water and took a sip. She had clearly expected this question. ¡°These matters can be discussed when Mr. Barnes Teturns. If there¡¯s any leak of the technology due to negligence, it would be harmful to us.¡± She looked sideways at Benjamin. When she saw that he had no intention of speaking, she rxedpletely. She wasn¡¯t concerned about Benjamin having any issues with today¡¯s events. The divorce between Benjamin and Grace had caused such a huge stir that perhaps he was even Grace¡¯s l*ps curled into a cold smile. ¡°Ms. Yancey, do you mean to say that every day that Mr. Barnes stays out of the country, it¡¯s another day that Amirate Corporation won¡¯t be able to see the core technology? So if Mr. Barnes stays overseas and doesn¡¯t return, all we can do is provide money and watch from the sidelines, is that it?¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, you¡¯re taking things too seriously. We¡¯re just considering this from the point of view of security.¡± Quinn smiled and said to the various department heads, ¡°Am I right?¡± The others didn¡¯t say a word. Their silence was an obvious approval of Quinn¡¯s actions. Benjamin sat at the side, watching Grace silently from the perspective of an onlooker. Grace said lightly from her seat, ¡°Then let¡¯s tear up the contract.¡± Quinn¡¯s expression changed. If Amirate Corporation withdrew their investment because of her provocative actions, then Albert would never forgive her. ¡°Ms. Lewis, you must be joking. All three parties have signed the contract. To withdraw investment now would be equal to a breach of contract.¡± ¡°Breaching the contract is fine with me,¡± Grace said carelessly. Quinn put down her ss nervously. ¡°Amirate Corporation would have to pay a huge sum in damages!¡± ¡°We don¡¯tck this little amount of money. I would rather toss that money away than use it and be sidelined as you go ahead.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes glinted threateningly. ¡°In the future, when Amirate Corporation just blocks you a little in the medical care development project, wouldn¡¯t that money juste again?¡± Quinn broke out in a cold sweat at this. Barnes Group needed Amirate Corporation¡¯s money, and they needed their vast medical system even more for promotion. The problems that would arise from tearing up the contract could potentially even result in the suspension of the nanorobot project. She had schemed to use Cameron to attract Amirate Corporation¡¯s investment so carefully. She couldn¡¯t get tripped up on such a small thing. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Now she deeply regretted being talked into trying to threaten Grace by Cameron from the beginning. Trying to get more profit was a total joke. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Ms. Lewis. This is negotiable. Let¡¯s just go with the contract, and I¡¯ll arrange for someone to deal with it.¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s negotiable¡­¡± Grace¡¯s gaze swept across the department heads, who all wore different expressions. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 ¡°Raise your hand if you think it¡¯s too troublesome to add people to the project. Once the meeting ends, resign automatically.¡± This threw them into turmoil. They hadn¡¯t added Amirate Corporation¡¯s staff under Quinn¡¯s orders. So why should they be held ountable for it? ¡°It¡¯s written very clearly on the contract that Amirate Corporation has the right to appoint and remove any department head involved in this project. Isn¡¯t th Quinn was now in a difficult position, and her smile became more and more stiff. ¡°Ms. Lewis, what will happen to the rest of the project if you fire them?¡± ¡°The deputy heads can take the brunt of it. If there aren¡¯t even any reserves for such a small number of people, I would have to question Barnes Group¡¯s Grace smiled humorlessly and said in a leisurely tone, ¡°Then, there really would be a need to break the contract.¡± ¡°No, we can¡¯t.¡± Grace raised her eyebrows, and her voice was cold. ¡°You always talked to me like this before. Why are you angry now that the shoe¡¯s on the other foot?¡± Benjamin paused at this, and scenes from the past rose up in his mind. He strained to remember a time when he had spoken patiently to Grace, but despite turning over the memories in his mind repeatedly, there were none. He was speechless. ¡°The three of us are coborating, but unless it¡¯s necessary, let¡¯s not meet personally. Let¡¯s not have another incident like this meeting in the elevator.¡± When they reached the first floor, Grace strode out arrogantly, leaving Benjamin to question himself in the elevator. That night, Grace, Emily, and Zoey gathered at Halo Bar. After dancing for a while, they were all tired. Zoey handed her phone over to Grace, looking serious. ¡°Any thoughts on this?¡± Grace was confused, but smiled when she took it and saw it. Emily looked over and immediately started scolding. ¡°Where did this paparazzie from? They¡¯re ndering you again, babe. Zoey, destroy him!¡± The article heading caught their eyes at once-¡°Manager¡¯s Affair with Subordinate.¡± There were a few pictures below it, and it was all from the night that Grace had gone to the hotel with Cameron, when he had gotten beaten up. Thements section was filling up rapidly. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°No way! She left the embrace of the upper ss, and this is her taste?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. Rumors of her having a thing with her boss would be better than rumors of her and her subordinate!¡± ¡°It looks like she was hurt after the divorce, and now she¡¯s addicted to money and power.¡± Zoey sat back on the couch and picked up a ss of alcohol. The ice cubes in the ss swirled with the drink. Her gaze was dark. ¡°I¡¯ve sent people to check on it already. We¡¯ll know after tonight.¡± Grace was already used to it, so she put down the phone calmly. ¡°There aren¡¯t even any freshments. They all say the same thing. Theizens have really been running out of creativitytely.¡± Zoey shook her head wearily. ¡°Only you would think that.¡® Emily put an arm around Grace. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go outside and sing.¡± The three of them walked out to the stage outside but coincidentally ran into Frederick, who had his arms slung around two skimpily dressed, tall, and slender girls. Benjamin was beside them. ¡°Bro, I feel like I got revenge.¡± Frederick pulled the beautiful girls closer,ughing. Benjamin stopped and looked at him. ¡°What do you mean? What did you do?¡± ¡°I found the video of that woman going to a hotel to sleep with her subordinate. I took a screenshot of it and put it on the Inte with a huge heading. ¡°I must make that promiscuous woman get criticized.¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 What Right Do I Have ¡°Delete it right now.¡± Benjamin¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°It was not what you think. There¡¯s more to it, but you weren¡¯t there afterward.¡± Frederick didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°How could it not be? She¡¯s exactly that kind of person. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t made me leave, I would¡¯ve gone and pped those two cheating bastards. They should feel ashamed of their adulterous act!¡± Recalling the lonely expression on Benhamin¡¯s face the other day, Frederick felt a rush of injustice on his friend¡¯s behalf. The more he talked about the incident, the angrier he became. ¡°She messed with me at the racecourse and even threatened me. I have to let people kno ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m waiting for you to p me.¡± Grace¡¯s indifferent voice pierced Frederick¡¯s ears, making him jerk in surprise. ¡°Why the hell are you everywhere?¡± Frederick shuddered with goosebumps all over his b*dy. How unlucky of him to always get caught red¨C handed when talking behind someone¡¯s back. Grace¡¯s arms were folded before her chest as she stood behind him. She turned to Zoey, who was next to her. ¡°Very well. It looks like we don¡¯t have to search for the culprit anymore. He¡¯s right in front of us.¡± Furious, Emily pointed at Frederick and scolded, ¡°So it¡¯s you who¡¯s bullying my Grace! I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson!¡± Grace held her back, took out her phone, and typed something on it for a while. After that, she showed it to Frederick and said, ¡°I sent your wife a photo of you fooling around This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. with thedies.¡± Frederick immediately let go of the two women in his arms, eximing, ¡°Grace! You told on .me?¡± ¡°I heard that your wife is making more money than you, and you don¡¯t have much say at home. ¡°Now that she has learned about how disloyal you are when you¡¯re out, I wonder if she¡¯s going to demand a divorce.¡± Frederick¡¯s mouth went agape. ¡°What ¡­ What nonsense are you saying? My wife isn¡¯t going to believe you.¡± Despite his words, he anxiously grabbed his phone. The next second, his wife called him. Stepping to the side, he answered the call in a small voice, ¡°Hi, Honey.¡± His wife¡¯s wrathful screams thundered from the other end of the call, making Frederick frantically lower the volume. ¡°You have half an hour to get home. Otherwise, you¡¯ll face the consequences!¡± ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll be right back. Don¡¯t be mad, honey.¡± Then, Frederick ended the call. He rushed up to Grace and barked angrily, ¡°What the hell are you doing? ¡°You¡¯re going to get me killed, do you know that? This is more serious than your damaged reputation!¡± His words struck a chord with Grace. She sounded even scarier than his enraged wife when she said, ¡°Are you saying only your reputation matters, whil With a sharp gaze, Grace red at the people behind Frederick. ¡°What is so noble about you lot?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that her reputation had to suffer over baseless rumors, whereas Frederick was acting as though his image was far more precious th Just as Benjamin wanted to step forth and exin, he met Grace¡¯s raging eyes and instantly became speechless. Faced with her interrogating gaze, he remembered all the hatements she had received online. It had all started because of him, and he felt extreme Meanwhile, Grace was silently mocking herself for once having the humiliating desire to stoop down and get on the good side of this bunch of people. It had been peak stupidity for her to even think about it. When she and Benjamin had gotten married, these people had always looked down on her. During each gathering, they would belittle her as if they were high and mighty. Now that she and Benjamin were divorced, they still behaved arrogantly and treated her like she had taken advantage of him. As she thought about it, her blood boiled. Coincidentally, a janitor was passing by with a bucket full of some guest¡¯s vomit, which had yellowish oil floating on the surface. Without hesitation, Grace grabbed the bucket and sshed the vomit on Frederick. ¡°Ah!¡± The revolting stench made Frederick shriek in horror. He looked around for his friends¡® help, but they all stayed far away from him. Frowning, Benjamin looked away and said, ¡°Go and wash yourself. Don¡¯te over here.¡± Grace took the tissue Emily handed her and wiped her hands. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you cash the check I gave you? Did you throw it away? I¡¯ll write another one t After saying that, she held Zoey and Emily¡¯s arms and walked away to the stage. Frederick gave Benjamin a shove. ¡°Dude, do something about her, would you? She¡¯s bing more and more outrageous.¡± Benjamin nced at him coldly, frustrated. ¡°What right do I have to do anything? We¡¯re divorced!¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Drop Your Nice Act ¡°Frederick didn¡¯t mean it. He misunderstood you, so stop arguing with him.¡± The frustration was overwhelming for Benjamin, who had chased after Grace Grace snatched her arm away. ¡°How nice of you to speak for your friend, Mr. Hawkins. What right do you have to tell me to stop?¡± Benjamin nced at Zoey and Emily behind Grace, both of whom were giving him hostile looks. ¡°Can¡¯t you be a bigger person and let us talk nicely as friends?¡± A smile slowly formed on Grace¡¯s l*ps, her narrowing eyes devoid of emotion. ¡°You¡¯re an ex who is dead to me, not some friend.¡± While Benjamin had heard such a rejection before, he still couldn¡¯t deal with it calmly. He said curtly, ¡°The apology statement will be released tomorrow morning. I will make him take down the postter.¡± ¡°Stop being hypocritical. They¡¯re treating me like this because you allowed them to, didn¡¯t you?¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Me?¡± Benjamin frowned deeply, obviously disagreeing with her words. Grace¡¯s surly expression was filled with disappointment, her eyes fixed on him. ¡°It was your repeated inaction that made them think I¡¯m a pushover who they can do whatever they want with. Why are you pretending to be a nice person now? ¡°Susan and Celia¡¯s apparent contempt toward me is nothingpared to Frederick¡¯s tant nder. Your hypocrisy makes me disgusted.¡± Benjamin was shocked to hear this. He had never cared about Grace¡¯s situation back when she had lived with his family. .He had simply assumed everything was just as peaceful as it seemed on the surface. He had kept his distance from her. They didn¡¯t have children, something Susan always As for his friends, they would talk badly about Grace in front of him, but he had never taken them seriously, and that led to their growing disdain for her. Thinking of this, Benjam¨ªn felt incredibly ashamed of himself. Grace turned around calmly as the unspoken pain in her heart slowly faded. ¡°Even without your interference, I have many ways to make Frederick apologize.¡± The trio then walked away,pletely ignoring Benjamin. Grace held Emily¡¯s arm and said, ¡°What songs do you want to listen to today? I¡¯ll sing it.¡± Zoey asked worriedly, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m great. I can¡¯t feel any better than this.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling it, we can leave now.¡± Zoey, who normally didn¡¯t disy much emotion, was showing rare concern. Grace shook her head in response. ¡°He¡¯s not worth ruining the day for.¡± ¡°How could my babe feel down over such trivial matters? We should be having fun tonight.¡± Emily dragged the two of them into the crowd. ¡°You¡¯re right. We¡¯re not leaving until we get drunk!¡± The next morning, Grace was in her office, attentively reading a report, while the director of the investment department stood aside with a smile. The report was about Timothy winning against Morgan Bank and sessfully acquiring a listedpany. ¡°Ms. Lewis, it¡¯s our luck to have recruited a talent like Timothy! ¡°The chances of us winning this merger and acquisition case were very low, and yet he managed to secure it. I was so excited that I couldn¡¯t fall asleepst night.¡± ¡°Yes. The result is excellent.¡± Grace nodded calmly. After the director left, Grace received a message from an unknown number that read, ¡°See yo¨´ tonight, as promised.¡± Grace raised an eyebrow upon realizing it was from Timothy. Since thetter had proven his capabilities, she couldn¡¯t break their promise. However, she .had to find out how he had gotten her contact number. When it was time to get off work, Grace packed her belongings and left promptly. As soon as she arrived in the lobby, Timothy¡¯s sports car appeared in sight. He got down and walked around to the passenger side in long strides, gesturing for her to enter with a proud expression. ¡°Please, Mdy.¡± This time around, Grace entered the car without objection. Then, Timothy took her to a romantic restaurant, Credence. Diligently, he pulled out the chair for Grace before throwing a look at the violinist, who had The violinist approached them and yed ¡°Love¡¯s Greeting¡± as the restaurant manager stepped forward and held out a bouquet of roses made of crysta Judging from these arrangements, one could tell that Timothy was being sincere. Grace nced at the roses and said ndly, ¡°Put it on the table.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like it?¡± asked Timothy. A frown formed on Grace¡¯s face, which showed no interest. ¡°This ce is full of couples, and here you are, acting like you¡¯re proposing to me. Tell you think I would like it?¡± me, did ¡°This is our first date, and I must show my sincerity. Isn¡¯t this what women like?¡± Timothy¡¯s eyes crinkled as he grinned. Grace rolled her eyes. ¡°Only if they liked you. Otherwise, this is a burden.¡± Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 I¡¯m a Divorcee Timothy¡¯s extravagant arrangement captured the attention of other couples in the restaurant. They excitedly whispered among themselves about whether his marriage proposal was a sess. Just a few tables away, sitting diagonally across from Grace and Timothy, were none other than Frederick and his wife. It had taken Frederick a few days to coax his angry wife. He had convinced her toe out for dinner with him after rounds of pleading. Once again, he happened to witness Grace with another man, so he quickly snapped a photo of Timothy¡¯s back and sent it to Benjamin. ¡°Dude, look at this. Your ex¨Cwife found herself another target. He looks pretty good¨Clooking from the back.¡± Meanwhile, at Hawkins Tower, Benjamin was in the middle of a business meeting. The moment he saw the message from Frederick, his face turned solemn, and his temples throbbed. The person leading the meeting jolted in shock when Benjamin suddenly mmed his phone on the table. He grabbed the coat on the back of his chair and uttered unhappily, ¡°Continue. I have something else to attend to.¡± Then, he pushed the door open and hurried out to the restaurant. Back at the restaurant, Timothy straightened his posture and said with a serious tone, ¡± Mdy, I previously gave you a bad impression for recklessly con ¡°I ept your apology, as long as you never do that again.¡± Timothy looked up at Grace, earnest in his eyes. ¡°But you must know that my feelings for are genuine. you At the auction, you effortlessly made that fool of a guy buy a bracelet at a price higher than what it was worth. It was then that your brilliance swept me off my feet. ¡°On the rooftop, the sight of you crying out in the cold broke my heart. I may look like I understand women and behave like a yboy, but that night was the f ¡°After that, when I returned to Pamore and saw you singing on the stage, I waspletely Listening to his heartfelt confession, Grace was totally unmoved. She sipped on a ss of red wine, a faint smile ying on her l*ps. ¡°Do you know that I¡¯m a divorcee?¡± Timothy had been prepared for this question, and he didn¡¯t hesitate to show his loyalty.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mdy, that doesn¡¯t affect your perfect image in my eyes. Not even in the slightest.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know who my ex¨Chusband is?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care who he is or what he does. A scumbag like him isn¡¯t worth mentioning.¡± When Timothy had looked into Grace¡¯s background, he had only focused on the fact that she was the general manager of Amirate Corporation and that she was divorced. Thetter piece of information had gotten him so excited that he had immediately rushed to buy her flowers and confess his feelings, failing to check the rest of her information. Just then, Grace spotted Benjamin approaching them with a gloomy face. Her eyes were filled with mirth as she continued, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that I was ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Whoever that guy is, he¡¯s blind to divorce a perfect woman like you. It¡¯s his loss,¡± replied Timothy, nearly springing to his feet out of agitation. Grace gestured toward Timothy¡¯s behind with her chin and said, ¡°That¡¯s him.¡± Timothy looked back just to see Benjamin¡¯s face. For a moment, he became stunned and was unable to react. ¡°Benjamin. Fancy seeing you here.¡± Benjamin kept quiet, his eyes trained on Grace with aplicated look. Never had he imagined that the target Frederick talked about would be Timothy. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you. Why are you staring at Mdy?¡± Timothy smacked Benjamin¡¯s shoulder when he didn¡¯t get a response. Thetter then looked at him, shocked to discover that the woman Timothy had been bragging about was Grace. At that moment, the three of them were in a stalemate. Frederick came over and quickly learned the situation. He nced at Grace, looking around her to see if there was any d*rty water he could use to ss After a while, he cleared his throat and broke the silence. ¡°Timothy, didn¡¯t I tell you? Ben is your so¨Ccalled mdy¡¯s ex¨Chusband.¡± Timothy felt as though he had been struck by lightning. His jaw dropped in astonishment. Finally, Grace slowly stood up and shoved the bouquet of crystal roses into Timothy¡¯s arins. Her face was nk as she said, ¡°You can keep it, or perhaps sell it for some cash and take buddies to get their eyes checked.¡± your ¡°Now, Grace, you¡¯re crossing¡­ the line¡­¡± Frederick was about to rebuke Grace when she shot him a re. The words were stuck in his throat. ¡°Ben, is what she said true?¡± Timothy swallowed and asked Benjamin. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 I Will Never Marry That Hag It took Benjamin a long time before he uttered curtly, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Her?¡± Timothy gasped, pointing at Grace and then at Benjamin. ¡°And you?¡± Atst, his finger pointed at himself. ¡°I ¡­¡± ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± For a second, Timothy felt like crying. He needed time to process the situation. It was too much to handle at once. Frederick rubbed his nose and leaned toward the bewildered Timothy. ¡°Dude, one mustn¡¯t touch his friend¡¯s wife. You got yourself into big trouble this tim Timothy fumed. ¡°She said she¡¯s divorced! She has the freedom to love, understand?¡± Then, he pushed Benjamin and said dryly, ¡°I didn¡¯t know she was your ex¨Cwife when I met her. When Grace calmly walked past Benjamin, thetter¡¯s displeased voice halted her steps. Aren¡¯t you going to exin yourself?¡± Grace scoffed. ¡°Who are you to make me exin?¡± After that, she left promptly. ¡°Don¡¯t leave! Are you seriously going to leave us here just like that?¡± Timothy shouted after Grace¡¯s disappearing figure. Benjamin pulled a long face and left as well, followed by Frederick. On the other hand, Timothy was distracted throughout his journey home and had a sleepless night. The next morning, he stormed into Grace¡¯s office, ignoring the secretary¡¯s protests. Grace looked up at him, unfazed. ¡°Why are you here? Didn¡¯t your good buddies morally condemn you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking the whole night. I¡¯m not going to give up on you.¡± Timothy stood straight and proud, speaking very Seriously. ¡°In fact, my feelings for you have be even more resolute afterst night!¡± Grace was speechless. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± In her opinion, he was more superficial than this. ¡°Your previous marriage is something of the past. Everyone stumbles at some point in life. It was Ben who took you for granted, and you made the right c Worried that Grace might cut him off, Timothy blurted his words in one breath. ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± Grace had been waiting for Timothy to relent upon finding out the truth, yet he had unexpectedly caught her off guard with his stubbornness. ¡°Don¡¯t turn me down so quickly! Both of us are single, even though ¡­¡± A smile slowly formed on Grace¡¯s face. She remainedposed as she nced at the tablet in her hand. ¡°Even though what?¡± ¡°Sigh. It¡¯s a long story.¡± Frustrated, Timothy sat in the chair. ¡°Speaking of this, I won¡¯t hide my identity any longer. The truth is, I¡¯m the president of Donegan Group. I only came to Amirate Corporation to pursue you Grace nodded. ¡°I know.¡± Timothy was dumbfounded for a few seconds. However, considering that Grace had great connections, it made sense that she had probably figured it out long before he had joined Amirate. ¡°Then, do you know that I have a marriage engagement that I¡¯m having difficulty getting rid of?¡± Grace nodded again. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± Timothy looked troubled as heined, ¡°s, your boss¡¯s sister is my fianc¨¦e. She even has the exact same name as you.¡± ¡°Same name, huh? Why don¡¯t you suspect that I¡¯m her?¡± asked Grace. ¡°There¡¯s no way you are her. I can bet with my life that she looks like a hag. Your beauty, on the other hand, is otherworldly.¡± The look in Grace¡¯s eyes darkened. She said through gritted teeth, ¡°Really? What are you going to do about it then?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Timothy mmed the table and abruptly leaned closer to Grace. He swore with utmost sincerity, ¡°I will never marry that girl from the Lewis family. Wait for me, Grace. ¡°I¡¯m going to break off the engagement right away. I won¡¯t put you in an awkward position.¡± Holding her breath, Grace shed a smile out of nowhere. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that she¡¯s going to make you pay?¡± ¡°What is there to be afraid of with that clueless hag?¡± Just then, Timothy¡¯s phone rang. When he saw that it was his father¡¯s iing call, he felt annoyed that his moment of confession had been interrupted He picked up the call impatiently. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°You ungrateful bastard, do you even know what you¡¯re saying? Are you trying to piss me off? ¡°Donald roared furiously. ¡°Dad, how do you know what I¡¯m talking about?¡± Timothy moved the phone away from his ear but then realized there was an echo of their voices, making him f Before he could get any more confused, Grace turned the tablet around in her hand and motioned for him to look at it. As soon as Timothy saw the screen, his eyes widened in shock. The screen showed Donald holding a phone by his ear and huffing angrily, while Timothy¡¯s mother stood at t Just likest night, Timothy¡¯s brain stopped working as a wave of dizziness hit him. Chapter 61 Out and Back in Again ¡°You rebellious bastard! She¡¯s Grace Lewis! The fourth Lewis kid, the one you¡¯re engaged to!¡± Donald was yelling so loudly that he was practically roarin He had sent Timothy to Pamore so that he could get closer to Grace. Aaron had been opposed to this, so he¡¯d had to promise that he wouldn¡¯t tell Timothy about Grace¡¯s true identity. In return, Timothy had been allowed to work at Amirate Corporation. And yet, this bastard was so stupid that he had broken off the engagement and called Grace an ugly hag right in front of his elders. Donald could feel his blood pressure soaring. He really wished he could jump out of the screen and teach Timothy a lesson. Timothy stood up and kept shaking his head as he stared at Grace. He really couldn¡¯t imagine the goddess before him and the hag in his memories being the same person. ¡°Thedy I¡¯ve been courting¡­ She¡¯s the fianc¨¦e I¡¯ve been trying not to marry?¡± He wished he could disappear on the spot. ¡°No! It can¡¯t be!¡± He looked up and let out a long sigh, then walked out looking like his soul had left his b*dy. Grace couldn¡¯t help but giggle at the sight. O After she ended the video call, she spent a long timeughing in her office, where no one was watching. Truly, revenge was a dish best served cold. Seeing her nemesis look this soulless brought her more joy than winning the lottery. Some timeter, Aaron called her. ¡°Yes, Aaron?¡± Grace said cheerfu ¡°How can you still beughing when your fianc¨¦ has called off your engagement?¡± Aaron was a little pissed. How dare Timothy Donegan dump his precio ¡°Of course I can. That guy needed to be taught a lesson. That will teach him not to mess with the fourth Lewis kid.¡± ¡°So what are your thoughts on his courtship?¡± Aaron paused, then continued, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about our family ties to the Donegans. ¡°We don¡¯t need marriage alliances to strengthen our business. Just go with your heart, and I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace felt warm inside. Her friends and family had always been her greatest supporters. Aaron, you know the way he used to make fun of me. Why wou Then, she smiled slightly. ¡°I may not feel anything for him because I have a little grudge against him, but that¡¯s it.¡® ¡°1 ¡°Okay, got it,¡± Aaron said simply. ¡°Aunt Hestia recently got back from her world trip, and she¡¯ll be in Frenda for a few days. Do you want to visit her?¡± Grace¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Finally! I¡¯ve missed her so much!¡± ¡°She¡¯s doing a photography exhibition there, and she asked me to invite you.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there. I¡¯ll fly over the moment Lydia¡¯s jewelry exhibition ends. Caleb will be at Frenda too. What a coincidence!¡± Grace was ecstatic. Aaron was the only person she could be her genuine, non¨C prickly self with. They talked about working with Barnes Group for a while, then hung up. At night, Grace and Emily went to VERE Jewelry. Lydia was about to have another exhibition in Pamore, so they had to support her as her best friends. VERE Jewelry had earned its fame across the globe for its unique designs. Every richdy in Pamore had gone crazy when they heard that its designer, Lydia, was doing an exhibition in Pamore. All of them were clutching their purses, waiting for the exhibition. In the meantime, Grace and Emily looked around and found several bracelets to their li After a staff member took them out of the disy case, Grace¡¯s hand brushed someone else¡¯s as she tried to take one. It was Celia, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a while. ¡°Ew, my day¡¯s ruined!¡± Celia rolled her eyes while surrounded by rich girls. ¡°Someone get me a wet wipe. I need to clean my hands thoroughly.¡± a When Emily recognized Celia, she said loudly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a criminal suspect? What are you doing here instead of sitting in jail? The Hawkins sure bailed you out fast Coldness shed in Grace¡¯s eyes. As she expected, that family was shameless and conniving. They always excused their own family members¡® mistakes without ever taking responsibility for them. At the same time, Celia¡¯s expression soured, and she screeched, ¡°What are you talking about? I could sue you for ndering me!¡± ¡°Go ahead! Sue me! You¡¯ll get famous and start trending online again,¡± Emily shot back without hesitation. The rich girls behind Celia were shocked. ¡°Celia, we missed that banquet, so we had no idea what happened. Are the rumors true? Did you actually go to jail?¡± Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Out and Back in Again ¡°You rebellious bastard! She¡¯s Grace Lewis! The fourth Lewis kid, the one you¡¯re engaged to!¡°. Donald was yelling so loudly that he was practically roaring. He had sent Timothy to Pamore so that he could get closer to Grace. Aaron had been opposed to this, so he¡¯d had to promise that he wouldn¡¯t tell Timothy about Grace¡¯s true identity. In return, Timothy had been allowed to work at Amirate Corporation. And yet, this bastard was so stupid that he had broken off the engagement and called Grace an ugly hag right in front of his elders. Donald could feel his blood pressure soaring. He really wished he could jump out of the screen and teach Timothy a lesson. Timothy stood up and kept shaking his head as he stared at Grace. He really couldn¡¯t imagine the goddess before him and the hag in his memories being the same person. ¡°Thedy I¡¯ve been courting¡­ She¡¯s the fianc¨¦e I¡¯ve been trying not to marry?¡± He wished he could disappear on the spot. ¡°No! It can¡¯t be!¡± He looked up and let out a long sigh, then walked out looking like his soul had left his b*dy. Grace couldn¡¯t help but giggle at the sight. After she ended the video call, she spent a long timeughing in her office, where no one was watching. Truly, revenge was a dish best served cold. Seeing her nemesis look this soulless brought her more joy than winning the lottery. Some time later, Aaron called her. ¡°Yes, Aaron?¡± Grace said cheerfully. ¡°How can you still beughing when your fianc¨¦ has called off your engagement?¡± Aaron was a little pissed. How dare Timothy Donegan dump his precious sister? ¡°Of course I can. That guy needed to be taught a lesson. That will teach him not to mess with the fourth Lewis kid.¡± ¡°So what are your thoughts on his courtship?¡± Aaron paused, then continued, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about our family ties to the Donegans. ¡°We don¡¯t need marriage alliances to strengthen our business. Just go with your heart, and I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Grace felt warm inside. Her friends and family had always been her greatest supporters.¡± Aaron, you know the way he used to make fun of me. Why would I like him?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Then, she smiled slightly. ¡°I may not feel anything for him because I have a little grudge against him, but that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Okay, got it,¡± Aaron said simply. ¡°Aunt Hestia recently got back from her world trip, and she¡¯ll be in Frenda for a few days. Do you want to visit her?¡± Grace¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Finally! I¡¯ve missed her so much!¡± ¡°She¡¯s doing a photography exhibition there, and she asked me to invite you.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there. I¡¯ll fly over the moment Lydia¡¯s jewelry exhibition ends. Caleb will be at Frenda too. What a coincidence!¡± Grace was ecstatic. Aaron was the only person she could be her genuine, non¨Cprickly self with. They talked about working with Barnes Group for a while, then hung up. At night, Grace and Emily went to VERE Jewelry. Lydia was about to have another exhibition in Pamore, so they had to support her as her best friends. VERE Jewelry had earned its fame across the globe for its unique designs. Every richdy in Pamore had gone crazy when they heard that its designer, Lydia, was doing an exhibition in Pamore. All of them were clutching their purses, waiting for the exhibition. In the meantime, Grace and Emily looked around and found several bracelets to their liking. After a staff member took them out of the disy case, Grace¡¯s hand brushed someone else¡¯s as she tried to take one. It was Celia, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a while. ¡°Ew, my day¡¯s ruined!¡± Celia rolled her eyes while surrounded by rich girls. ¡°Someone get me a wet wipe. I need to clean my hands thoroughly.¡± When Emily recognized Celia, she said loudly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a criminal suspect? What are you doing here instead of sitting in jail? The Hawkins sure bailed you out fast.¡± Coldness shed in Grace¡¯s eyes. As she expected, that family was shameless and conniving. They always excused their own family members¡® mistakes without ever taking responsibility for them. At the same time, Celia¡¯s expression soured, and she screeched, ¡°What are you talking about? I could sue you for ndering me!¡± ¡°Go ahead! Sue me! You¡¯ll get famous and start trending online again,¡± Emily shot back without hesitation. The rich girls behind Celia were shocked. ¡°Celia, we missed that banquet, so we had no idea what happened. Are the rumors true? Did you actually go to jail?¡± Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Mess Around and Find Out Celia¡¯s smile froze. ¡°Nonsense, I was overseas at the time. Just because people are saying that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s true.¡± If Susan hadn¡¯t asked Celia¡¯s grandfather, Tyler Hawkins, for help with bailing her out without Benjamin¡¯s knowledge, she probably would have actually gone to jail. Grace nced at Celia impassively. ¡°Now that you¡¯re free, do learn to behave. You can keep trashing my boutique as long as you don¡¯t mind being jailed again. I¡¯m fine with it.¡± ¡°I said I never went to jail! Did you even hear what I said?¡± Celia marched forward, only for Emily to block her way. ¡°It¡¯s two of us against one of you. Are you sure you want to pick a fight?¡± Both Grace and Emily were not to be trifled with. So, after some thought, Celia suppressed her anger and said with gritted teeth, ¡°Why would I? I¡¯m having enough trouble avoiding you as it is.¡± After all, Benjamin had warned her not to pick fights with Grace. ¡°So you do know how to avoid us! Our Grace isn¡¯t someone a girl like you should be messing with,¡± Emily said, leaning against Grace¡¯s shoulder with pride. Celia¡¯s hands balled into fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms. She had no one to take her anger out on, so she stayed silent and left to find the others. However, a staff member told her that the others had left without even telling her. The shame of being rejected grew stronger. In the end, Celia looked at Emily and Grace with hatred in her eyes. In the meantime, Grace had helped Emily try on several bracelets but realized none of them were to their liking. .Just as they were about to leave, a staff member asked them, ¡°Ladies, was there a bracelet you forgot to return to me?¡± She was smiling, but clearly suspicious. Another staff member walked over. ¡°There¡¯s indeed a missing bracelet. Can you help us look for it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your job. It has nothing to do with us,¡± Grace replied calmly. The two staff members couldn¡¯t risk being openly suspicious, but both their gazesnded on Grace¡¯s bag, which was wide open. Then, they slowly moved to block the exit. Emily was a hot¨Ctempered person, so she yelled, ¡°Why are you blocking our way when you¡¯re ¡°Are you an idiot? They obviously suspect you of stealing it!¡± Celia stood by coldly and pointed at Grace. ¡°I saw her put it in her bag with my own eyes.¡± With a rich person using Grace herself, the staff menibers became emboldened to express their suspicions. ¡°Miss, please open your bag so that we can check it,¡± one of them said rudely. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal it,¡± Grace replied calmly. ¡°Miss, if you¡¯re too shy to admit it, you can just pay for the item at our cashier¡¯s register,¡± the staff member said, clearly convinced Grace was the thief. Grace scoffed. ¡°Why should I?¡± Celia yelled, ¡°I bet she stole it! Be braver, you two! Search her bag. I¡¯m positive it¡¯s in there.¡± The staff members walked over to grab Grace¡¯s bag, but her sharp gaze made them freeze, rooted to their spots. ¡°Touch at your own risk,¡± she said so casually that they got chills down their spines. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Celia tried to grab it herself, but the moment she reached out, a pretty and slender hand grabbed hers in a vice grip that made her squeal in pain. ¡°Let go of me!¡± The moment the staff saw who it was, they bowed down in fear and didn¡¯t dare say a word. After all, no one expected the chief designer of VERE Jewelry to visit in person. When Emily saw that Lydia was here, she nearly jumped for joy. ¡°You made it, girl! I thought you wouldn¡¯t be here until the day before the exhibition!¡± Grace smiled. ¡°Long time, no see.¡± However, Lydia didn¡¯t have the time to greet them back. She needed to defend them first. So she tossed Celia¡¯s hand aside. She turned to the staff members and said emotionlessly, ¡± You two are fired.¡± The two staff members wanted to cry. They hadn¡¯t known that these two window shoppers were personal friends of Lydia York herself. When Celia realized that the neer was on Grace and Emily¡¯s side, she frowned while nursing her sore hand. ¡°You¡¯re all just covering for each other Lydia replied coldly, ¡°I¡¯m going to call the cops. Once they get here, I¡¯ll give them the security footage, and we¡¯ll see who¡¯s the real thief.¡± ¡°Bring it on! Get them to search every single bag in the shop!¡± Celia wasn¡¯t afraid at all. She had made sure they had been in the cameras¡® blind spot, so she was certain that no one would know it was her. ¡°Go on, call the cops! If you won¡¯t do it, I will!¡± As Celia shrieked, she reached into her bag to take her phone but felt something hard instead. She realized something was wrong. Why was the bracelet in her bag? Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Celia the Criminal Grace smiled mockingly and walked up to Celia. ¡°Why did you freeze? Go on, call the cops. I¡¯m waiting.¡± Celia broke into a cold sweat, gripping her phone tightly. She didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Are you wondering how the bracelet ended up in your bag when it was supposed to be in mine?¡± Celia froze. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t notice you sl*pping something into my bag?¡± Grace snapped. Back when Celia had done the deed, Grace had happened to witness it through a mirror¡¯s reflection. Hence, she had put the bracelet back in Celia¡¯s bag the moment thetter had turned around. It was only then that Emily realized what had happened. ¡°Oh, Celia, they should start calling you Celia the Criminal! How did youe up with such an e ¡°It looks like you haven¡¯t learned your lesson at all since thest time you got jailed. In that case, let me discipline you on behalf of your family,¡± Grace sa Then, she turned to the staff members. ¡°Call the cops!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call the police! Don¡¯t call them!¡± Celia clung onto the staff members so that they wouldn¡¯t be able to get to the phone. Coincidentally, Benjamin called her at that exact moment, so she picked up and immediately started crying. ¡°Save me, Benjamin! They¡¯re going to hand me over to the cops.¡± Emily couldn¡¯t help but insult her. ¡°Why is she even crying? She¡¯s the one whomitted a crime.¡± Benjamin happened to be nearby, so he reached the scene within minutes. When he arrived, he saw that Grace and the others were still fighting with Celia. ¡°Ben! They¡¯re ganging up on me!¡± Celia wailed as she pointed at them. Benjamin shot Grace a cold nce, then asked Celia indifferently, ¡°What happened?¡± Celia wanted to exin herself, but she realized justice wasn¡¯t on her side and started crying even harder. Emily couldn¡¯t take it anymore and said, ¡°Your sister tried to frame Grace for stealing a diamond bracelet, so Grace fought back, and now she¡¯s scared. S Benjamin immediately remembered the way Susan and Ce had treated Grace in the past. So Instead of demanding an exnation, he asked Grace calmly, ¡°Is it true?¡± Grace snorted, ¡°Why are you asking me that? Shouldn¡¯t you be asking your sister? Crying isn¡¯t a sign of innocence, you know.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do it!¡± Celia walled. ¡°Then show us what¡¯s in your bag if you have the guts!¡± Emily became angry again. ¡°Someone call the cops! If she¡¯s being so stubborn, maybe they can teach her a lesson!¡± At this point, there was nothing else Celia could say. ¡°They bullied me! They made my friendsugh at me. That¡¯s why I ¡­¡± Benjamin was so full of rage that he could barely hold it in. He desperately wanted to dissect Celia¡¯s brain and see what the hell was in there. He deeply regretted letting Tyler bail Celia out. He should have let her rot in jail. ¡°I¡¯ll buy the bracelet. Consider this matter settled,¡± he said casually, trying to sweep things under the rug. However, Grace¡¯s sharp gaze met Ben¡¯s. ¡°Hold it. Did I say this was over?¡± She felt disappointment well up within her. Truly, blood was thicker than water. So what if his sister had made a mistake? He would always side with her. ¡°Pick any jewelry piece you want. Consider itpensation,¡± Benjamin said. ¡°Ha! No, thanks. I can afford it myself,¡± Grace said, as if she had heard a funny joke. ¡°There¡¯s no reason I should ask you to buy me something now when you never got it for me when we were married.¡± Benjamin suddenly remembered that throughout their marriage, save for the ring Grace had thrown away, he had never gifted her any jewelry before. His heart sank. His shorings as a husband were numerous, indeed. ¡°How do you want to settle this, then?¡± There was no warmth in Grace¡¯s eyes. ¡°How do you think?¡± Benjamin took a deep breath, then turned to Celia. ¡°Apologize to Grace.¡± ¡°No! Me? Apologize to that jinx? I would rather get arrested.¡± ¡°Celia Hawkins, let me be clear. If you get arrested again, our family will not spend a single cent on your bail, not even Grandfather!¡± Benjamin gave her an ultimatum. Chapter 64 Like a Dream It was only then that Celia reluctantly walked over to Grace and said, in a voice softer than a mouse¡¯s, ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Emily protested angrily, ¡°Louder! We can¡¯t hear you.¡± Celia¡¯s hands balled into fists as she raised her volume. ¡°I said I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m really sorry!¡± Then, she turned to look at Ben. ¡°Is that enough, Ben?¡± she asked, looking like she had swallowed a bug. Ben replied coldly. ¡°Ask Grace, not me.¡± So Celia looked in Grace¡¯s direction pitifully. ¡°If apologies were enough, what do we even need cops for? Did I say an apology would spare you from the police? You think too highly of yourself, Mr. Hawkins,¡± Grace said. Her smile was so full of mockery that Benjamin couldn¡¯t help but feel like he didn¡¯t understand her at all. ¡°Why should I let go of being used without reason so easily? Is her status a Get Out of Jail Free card?¡± Grace said. After all, Celia was only this bold because the Hawkins had let her off the hook again and again. There was no way Grace would pass on the chance to p After Lydia heard Grace¡¯s stance, she immediately called the cops. Some timeter, the police dragged Celia away for the second time. She kicked and screamed the entire way o As the police stuffed Celia into the police car, Benjamin¡¯s face had fallen far enough to hit rock bottom. ¡°Why all this fuss over a diamond bracelet?¡± He looked at Grace in confusion. ¡°When did you be such a heartless person?¡± Before the divorce, she had tolerated everything that happened to her. After the divorce, she had begun to treat the Hawkins like they were her mortal enemies. This version of Grace was getting more and more unfamiliar to him by the day. He had already asked Celia to apologize and even offered to buy Grace s So why was Grace still unhappy? ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ve always been like this. You just never noticed.¡± Grace smiled without a care in the world. She didn¡¯t bother exining herself to Benjamin Benjamin didn¡¯t argue and left for the police station. However, the moment he disappeared, so did her smile. A few dayster, Lydia held her jewelry exhibition right on schedule. The tickets were hard to get, but Lydia had reserved the best seats for her best friends. Before the exhibition started, Grace and Emily showed up backstage wearing thetest custom made Prada essories. Lydia was deep in thought at the time, but the second they arrived, she looked like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, ¡°Two of our models backed out at thest minute for emergency reasons. I was worried I wouldn¡¯t find recements in time to disy the exhibition jewe said. Then, she stroked her chin and looked at them. ¡°You two would be perfect.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Grace asked. Lydia winked in response. ¡°Absolutely. You two are more charming than those models are. Believe me,¡± Grace and Emily exchanged smiles. They hadn¡¯t known that they were here to be freebor for their friend. ¡°Alright, then. Let¡¯s give it a shot.¡± The exhibition¡¯s theme was ¡°Close to Nature¡°. Most of the jewelry was inspired by colors found in nature itself. International critics had pointed out how these pieces of jewelry challenged traditional ideas and brought something new to the industry. Because of this, every guest present refused to take their eyes off the stage for fear that they would miss out on one of Lydia York¡¯s masterpieces. Emily was a lively woman, so Lydia had arranged for her to wear a yellow diamond piece called Sunflower. Combined with her loose clothing, she looked like a forest fairy. As the music began ying, Emily showed up with a cheerful gait that attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Everyone was blown away by both the jewelry and Emily smiled. As she caught Lydia¡¯s eye in the distance, she lifted her chin confidently. After that, the professional models calmly went onstage one by on N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Finally, it was the moment everyone had been waiting for. The collection¡¯s defining piece was about to be revealed. Under the dreamy spotlight, a gorgeous woman made her way onstage. When Benjamin realized who it was, his ck eyes widened, and he found hims Grace had a slight smile and makeup that emphasized her beauty. Resting on her pale corbone was the crown jewel of Lydia¡¯s newest jewelry collection¨C Tears of the Ocean. It was a n*e made with the best blue diamonds, which shone brightly. But they still couldn¡¯tpare with Grace¡¯s own radiant beauty. If anything, both of th each other. The n*e attracted everyone¡¯s attention, and Grace made sure they couldn¡¯t look away, She looked stunningly elegant, with an aloof beauty that kept people starin The audience had never seen someone beautiful enough to touch their hearts and souls. They had even forgotten to breathe or look away. They had no choice but to keep following Grace¡¯s movements and her smile. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Like a Dream N?velDrama.Org holds this content. It was only then that Celia reluctantly walked over to Grace and said, in a voice softer than a mouse¡¯s, ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Emily protested angrily, ¡°Louder! We can¡¯t hear you.¡± Celia¡¯s hands balled into fists as she raised her volume. ¡°I said I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m really sorry!¡± Then, she turned to look at Ben. ¡°Is that enough, Ben?¡± she asked, looking like she had swallowed a bug. Ben replied coldly. ¡°Ask Grace, not me.¡± So Celia looked in Grace¡¯s direction pitifully. ¡°If apologies were enough, what do we even need cops for? Did I say an apology would spare you from the police? You think too highly of yourself, Mr. Hawkins,¡± Grace said. Her smile was so full of mockery that Benjamin couldn¡¯t help but feel like he didn¡¯t understand her at all. ¡°Why should I let go of being used without reason so easily? Is her status a Get Out of Jail Free card?¡± Grace said. After all, Celia was only this bold because the Hawkins had let her off the hook again and again. There was no way Grace would pass on the chance to p After Lydia heard Grace¡¯s stance, she immediately called the cops. Some timeter, the police dragged Celia away for the second time. She kicked and screamed the entire way o As the police stuffed Celia into the police car, Benjamin¡¯s face had fallen far enough to hit rock bottom. ¡°Why all this fuss over a diamond bracelet?¡± He looked at Grace in confusion. ¡°When did you be such a heartless person?¡± Before the divorce, she had tolerated everything that happened to her. After the divorce, she had begun to treat the Hawkins like they were her mortal enemies. This version of Grace was getting more and more unfamiliar to him by the day. He had already asked Celia to apologize and even offered to buy Grace s So why was Grace still unhappy? ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ve always been like this. You just never noticed.¡± Grace smiled without a care in the world. She didn¡¯t bother exining herself to Benjamin Benjamin didn¡¯t argue and left for the police station. However, the moment he disappeared, so did her smile. A few dayster, Lydia held her jewelry exhibition right on schedule. The tickets were hard to get, but Lydia had reserved the best seats for her best friends. Before the exhibition started, Grace and Emily showed up backstage wearing thetest custom made Prada essories. Lydia was deep in thought at the time, but the second they arrived, she looked like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, ¡°Two of our models backed out at thest minute for emergency reasons. I was worried I wouldn¡¯t find recements in time to disy the exhibition jewe said. Then, she stroked her chin and looked at them. ¡°You two would be perfect.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Grace asked. Lydia winked in response. ¡°Absolutely. You two are more charming than those models are. Believe me,¡± Grace and Emily exchanged smiles. They hadn¡¯t known that they were here to be freebor for their friend. ¡°Alright, then. Let¡¯s give it a shot.¡± The exhibition¡¯s theme was ¡°Close to Nature¡°. Most of the jewelry was inspired by colors found in nature itself. International critics had pointed out how these pieces of jewelry challenged traditional ideas and brought something new to the industry. Because of this, every guest present refused to take their eyes off the stage for fear that they would miss out on one of Lydia York¡¯s masterpieces. Emily was a lively woman, so Lydia had arranged for her to wear a yellow diamond piece called Sunflower. Combined with her loose clothing, she looked like a forest fairy. As the music began ying, Emily showed up with a cheerful gait that attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Everyone was blown away by both the jewelry and Emily smiled. As she caught Lydia¡¯s eye in the distance, she lifted her chin confidently. After that, the professional models calmly went onstage one by on Finally, it was the moment everyone had been waiting for. The collection¡¯s defining piece was about to be revealed. Under the dreamy spotlight, a gorgeous woman made her way onstage. When Benjamin realized who it was, his ck eyes widened, and he found hims Grace had a slight smile and makeup that emphasized her beauty. Resting on her pale corbone was the crown jewel of Lydia¡¯s newest jewelry collection¨C Tears of the Ocean. It was a n*e made with the best blue diamonds, which shone brightly. But they still couldn¡¯tpare with Grace¡¯s own radiant beauty. If anything, both of th each other. The n*e attracted everyone¡¯s attention, and Grace made sure they couldn¡¯t look away, She looked stunningly elegant, with an aloof beauty that kept people starin The audience had never seen someone beautiful enough to touch their hearts and souls. They had even forgotten to breathe or look away. They had no choice but to keep following Grace¡¯s movements and her smile. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Not for Sale When Lydia saw how the audience reacted, she knew she had made the right choice to have Grace wear the collection¡¯s most important piece. Meanwhile, Timothy was just as in awe as the others. He hadn¡¯t expected to see Grace again. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He had been sad and dejected before, thinking that fate had made him the butt of a cruel joke. He had deeply regretted rejecting his fated love, and he had decided to take responsibility for his mistake. So he had vowed to never bother Grace again. But when he saw her, his heart started pounding uncontrobly again, just like that night on the balcony¡­ ¡°Mom, look. It¡¯s that jinx again!¡± In the corner, Celia tugged on Susan¡¯s sleeve. However, Susan simply huffed, ¡°I¡¯m not blind. You didn¡¯t have to tell me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Celia shut up immediately. She had gotten a huge lecture for getting arrested again, so nowadays, she would get yelled at for even breathing too lo As Susan looked at Tears of the Ocean, another idea blossomed in her head. Why not buy that n*e and regain her dignity? Lately, the Hawkins¡® reputation had taken a huge hit. Susan had been humiliated by Grace at the luxury store, and Celia had gotten arrested again beca Hence, the two of them were at the bottom of the food chain among Pamore¡¯s rich and powerful. Every time they were mentioned, people would think of words like ¡°poor¡°, ¡°pretentious¡°, and ¡°thieving¡°. Since the jewelry piece Grace was showing off was the main piece in Lydia¡¯s collection, she stayed onstage while Lydia gave a speech as the chief designer. ¡°Thank you for your support for VERE Jewelry, everyone. And thank you to the backstage crew. Of course, I would like to thank-¡± Before she could finish, Susan interrupted her. ¡°Ms. York, I love that n*e. Name your price.¡± Lydia red at Susan. ¡°Excuse me, it¡¯s very rude to interrupt.¡± The other guests also shot Susan d*rty looks, but she stood her ground with hubris in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re just rambling because you¡¯re trying to sell your jewelry. Why not sell it to me while Susan hade prepared. This time, she had borrowed Tyler¡¯s credit card. It had such a high spending limit that she was sure she would get the n*eckl However, Grace¡¯s cold voice rang out. ¡°This n*e isn¡¯t for sale.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just a model for us to gawk at! What right do you have to say it¡¯s not for sale?¡± Susan stood up in protest. However, Lydia smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but she has every right to say it. Everyone, allow me to introduce my muse and the true designer of this n*e¨C Ms. Grace Lewis!¡± Everyone looked at Grace again, in all her perfection and indifference. ¡°That¡¯s so cool! I can¡¯t believe she made such a pretty n*e!¡± ¡°You hear that? She¡¯s the famous Lydia York¡¯s muse!¡°! ¡°Oh wow, I like her even more now!¡± Susan crossed her arms and scoffed. ¡°So what if you¡¯re the designer? I¡¯m buying VERE jewelry. If I want it, you¡¯ll have to sell it.¡± Lydia burst Susan¡¯s bubble again. ¡°Unfortunately, this n*e was made entirely with Ms. Lewis¡® own materials. We¡¯re only borrowing it for the exhibiti Susan was speechless. She looked like she had just swallowed a thousand bugs by ident as the audience¡¯s voices drowned hers out again. ¡°So she¡¯s pretty, talented, and rich too! That¡¯s so cool!¡± ¡°Her former mother¨Cinw¡¯s being a little too dramatic, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Designers have dignity. That¡¯s not something you can buy.¡± ¡°New money folks are so funny.¡± Celia dragged Susan back to her seat. They were about to leave discreetly when the reporters showed up, blocking their way and shoving microphones in the ¡°Madam Hawkins, does it embarrass you that your former daughter¨Cinw rejected you in public?¡± ¡°That n*e¡¯s value is estimated to be a billion dors. I heard you couldn¡¯t even afford a n*e worth 180 thousand dors. Were you bluffing wh ¡°Ms. Lewis had previously suffered a lot of humiliation with your family, and yet you want to buy something she designed. Are you trying topensate h Chapter 66 Chapter 66 hapter 66 Toilet Makeup Removal ¡°Guilt, my foot!¡± Susan said with gritted teeth, then ran toward a secluded spot with Celia. However, the reporters followed them. In that moment, there were more people looking at them than those looking at the stage. After the exhibition ended, Grace went backstage and casually put Tears of the Ocean aside while Emily changed in a different dressing room. Grace sat there, looking at the photos Emily had shared in the group chat. ¡°Look, babe! We were so pretty,¡± Emily had texted. ¡°Love it,¡± Grace replied. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for my overseas business trip, I wouldn¡¯t have missed it. Hugs,¡± Zoey texted. ¡°Thanks for your hard work! Let¡¯s get togetherter,¡± Lydia piped up. ¡°I almost diedughing today. The look on Susan¡¯s face when she got rejected had me in tears, Emily said. 11 ¡°She loves haunting me,¡± Grace replied. As if on cue, the door behind Grace opened. Both Susan and Celia barged in furiously while Grace smiled with mockery, as if she were looking at two los ¡°What? Haven¡¯t you two gotten insulted enough yet? What¡¯s the rush?¡± she asked. ¡°You must sell me that n*e today!¡± Susan demanded. When she noticed how carelessly Grace had put Tears of the Ocean aside, like a useless toy became envious. That n*e was the only way she would be able to regain her dignity. There was no other option. ¡°If you¡¯re going deaf, then go see a doctor. Didn¡¯t you hear me when I said it wasn¡¯t for sale?¡± Grace put her phone aside and began removing her earrings in front of the mirror. ¡°Name your price!¡± ¡°No dice,¡± Grace said nonchntly. Susan was so pissed that she felt faint and almost copsed. She quickly leaned against a wall to support herself. Seeing Susan almost faint from anger, Celia couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and grabbed Grace¡¯s makeup brush right out of her hand. Then, she sshed makeup remover in Grace¡¯s direction with her other hand. ¡°You looked like a whore onstage! Let me remove that makeup so that everyone can see your However, Grace simply tilted her head and dodged the makeup remover perfectly, Then, she stared at Celia coldly. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s gotten cocky.¡± With that, she swiftly grabbed both of Celia¡¯s hands and dragged her to the toilet before pressing her face closer to the edge of the toilet bowl. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me!¡± Celia struggled, but Grace was surprisingly strong. As the toilet bowl¡¯s water got closer and closer to her face, Celia closed her eyes in fear. Grace said in her ear cruelly, ¡°You were helping me remove your makeup. I should remove yours in return.¡± ¡°Let go of me, you jinx!¡± Celia called for help. ¡°Mom! Mom,e quick! This woman¡¯s trying to wash my face with toilet water!¡± Susan stumbled dizzily into the room. She had just reached out when Grace overpowered her and Celia at once with ease, Grabbing both of their hairs, Grace took turns dunking them into the toilet bowl. After this had been repeated several times, Susan and Celia were drenched and gagged on the toilet water. All the hair and makeup they had styled for the exhibition had beenpletely ruined. When Grace tossed them outside, Benjamin happened to be passing by, so she looked up at him and said to thedies mockingly, ¡°Your savior is here. Go, tell him what I did!¡± Benjamin walked over. This time, he didn¡¯t ask what happened. Instead, he impatiently asked Celia and Susan, ¡°What did you two do this time?¡± ¡°Benjamin! This b*tch made me drink toilet water!¡± ¡°She¡¯s gone too far, Benjamin. We wanted to buy her n*e, but not only did she refuse, she bullied me and your sister.¡± Benjamin didn¡¯t believe a word they said and looked at Grace with mixed feelings. She was still so beautiful, to the point that everything good about her was on disy. Back at the jewelry store, the two of them had parted ways on bad terms. For some reason, he had been feeling this urge to get closer to hertely. ¡°I apologize for what happened on my mother¡¯s behalf,¡± he said, referring to the way Susan had publicly interrupted Lydia and demanded to buy the n*ec ¡°You don¡¯t need to say anything. They can speak for themselves,¡± Grace said impassively. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 It Was Me ¡°Believe me, Benjamin. Mom and I only got into this mess because that jinx started it.¡± Celia was so worried that Benjamin wouldn¡¯t believe her that her f Susan was about to stand up and keep talking, but then she cked out in her anger and copsed again. Celia quickly caught her. Grace was already used to their tricks, so she smiled mockingly. ¡°That¡¯s right. It was me,¡± she said proudly. She didn¡¯t want to waste her time with these people, so she went back inside. However, Benjamin blocked her way with his brows furrowed. Grace stepped back to put some distance between them, then said indifferently, ¡°Move.¡± Benjamin took one look at Susan and Celia, who seemed half¨Cdead, and changed his mind again. ¡°How much longer are you going to stay angry?¡± he asked with a cold voice and narrowed eyes. Grace thought that was the funniest thing she had ever heard that day. ¡°What¡¯s there to be mad about?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you attacking them because you still hold a grudge over being bullied?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so full of yourself.¡± Grace shook her head, speechless. ¡°I could barely stand to look at them. Why would I waste my time like that?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re really as noble as you say you are, why did you attack me?¡± Celia screeched, propping up Susan, while thetter woke up and fainted all over ¡°You just keep asking for it, and you¡¯re haunting me like a ghost. Doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯ll have to give you what you want? ¡°Keep your family on a tight leash, and stop letting them embarrass themselves,¡± she said, casting a sharp look at Benjamin. ¡°If they go crazy again, removing their makeup with toilet water won¡¯t be the worst thing I¡¯ll do to them,¡± she warned, but Benjamin kept looking at her coldly without moving a muscle. ¡°We used to be married. Do you really have to insult them so much?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I ran out of good things to say before we even got divorced.¡± Grace looked down with a smile, then looked back up with disdain and mockery. ¡°If you want to hear good things, then I suggest getting Ms. Quine to say them.¡± ¡°Benjamin, she¡¯s already said such terrible things. Teach her a lesson!¡± Celia cried out. ¡°Benjamin¡­ p her. Defend me¡­¡± Susan woke up again. She clearly wasn¡¯t as sick as she had felt at first, but she thought pretending to be sick would make Benjamin defend her, so she kept pretending. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. However, Benjamin was so embarrassed that he couldn¡¯t even insult Grace, let alone hit her. He just couldn¡¯t lecture her like he had used to. After all, he was the one who had kept pushing her away.¡± ¡°Ben? What are you doing, blocking her way like that?¡± Timothy suddenly showed up. He shielded Grace with his b*dy when he saw what was going on. ¡°Are you alright?¡± He turned to ask her worriedly. He had seen those online articles about the Hawkins, so he had some idea of how they had treated Grace, Now that it was three of them against one of her, Timothy was worried Grace would get bullied. Timothy¡¯s appearance made Grace pause. However, she quickly regained herposure and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thanks for asking, Mr. Donegan.¡± ¡°This is a family matter. It¡¯s got nothing to do with you.¡± Coldness shed across Benjamin¡¯s face when he saw how carefully Timothy was protecting Grace. ¡°You two are divorced. Grace isn¡¯t part of your family anymore.¡± Timothy refused to back down. ¡°Mdy¡¯s business is my business!¡± Jealousy raged within Benjamin. ¡°Even if we¡¯re divorced, she¡¯s still my woman.¡± ¡°Ben! She used to be your woman! She used to be, you hear?¡± Timothy raised his voice. ¡°You two keep arguing. I¡¯m not the one getting embarrassed here.¡± Grace gave up on going back inside, so she walked toward the exit instead. ¡°Get back here, you jinx! We need to settle this!¡± Timothy was still at an impasse with Benjamin when he noticed Grace leaving, so he quickly ¡®followed her. ¡°Where are you going, mdy? Take me with y Watching the two of them leave, Benjamin felt many mixed feelings. Although he stood with his back straight, his figure couldn¡¯t have looked any lonelier. After leaving the exhibition, Grace walked aimlessly,pletely oblivious to Timothy following her. The cold night air refreshed her a lot. She had nothing to say to the Hawkins. In fact, she¡¯d had nothing to say for ages. Still, she would be lying if she said that she didn¡¯t feel anything about t When she got to an overhead bridge, she stood there and silently watched the cars whizz by. By the time she turned around, Timothy was standing behind her with a handkerchief in his hand. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Not So Irritating Unlike his previously carefree self, Timothy simply smiled gently. ¡°It looks like you don¡¯t need a handkerchief.¡± Grace remained stone¨Cfaced. ¡°Of course not. I wasn¡¯t crying.¡± ¡°I thought you would be crying your eyes out like you hadst time. I even prepared two handkerchiefs.¡± Timothy took out a second handkerchief with a twinkle in his ey ¡°I came prepared, didn¡¯t I?¡± he asked. Grace recalled that night on the roof in Darai. She couldn¡¯t believe that she had cried in front of her nemesis, so her expression wavered a little. ¡°I wasn¡¯t crying. You remembered it wrong.¡± Timothy didn¡¯t argue with her and simply nodded. ¡°I must have, then.¡± Watching Grace¡¯s unhappy expression, he wondered if she had been crying over Ben that night. ¡°Do you want me to beat him up?¡± Timothy asked with a seriousness he rarely showed, then rubbed his hands together. ¡°Your wish is mymand.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your buddy we¡¯re talking about. It¡¯s already a miracle that you didn¡¯t side with him.¡± Grace shrugged as if she couldn¡¯t believe him. However, Timothy smacked his chest so hard that he coughed. ¡°No way! I¡¯m the bearer of justice! Why would I side with him just because he¡¯s my friend?¡± He looked at Grace with a smile, looking like a knight trying to serve his queen. He willingly submitted to Grace¡¯s beauty. Timothy¡¯s seriousness was so funny that Grace couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You¡¯re just making it up as you go.¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to hear it.¡± Timothy walked over to stand by her side. ¡°Such a smooth¨Ctalker,¡± Grace continued to mock him, but this time she was smiling. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The fact that he had stood up for her made him a hundred times better than Benjamin, that willfully blind man. When she looked into his eyes again, he seemed¡­ less annoying than before. ¡°Seriously, though. Can you do me a favor and forget that I insulted you?¡± Timothy asked nervously as he suddenly¡¯straightened his back. ¡°I was too shallow in the past. I¡¯ll change!¡± he added. He didn¡¯t know he had hurt such a good woman. He knew that everyone needed to take responsibility for their mistakes. He was an honest man, but he was also a man who learned from his mistakes. He wasn¡¯t going to double down like Benjamin did. ¡°I¡¯ve already forgotten about it. Just stop following me around to dere your love every day, ¡°Grace said coolly, reaching up to smooth her windswept hair. ¡°No way!¡± Timothy said stubbornly, ¡°I won¡¯t give up on courting you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so annoying.¡± Grace tucked her hair behind her ears and left, then waved in Timothy¡¯s direction. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°If Benes looking for trouble again, just call me. Remember that!¡± Timothy yelled. ¡°Stop nagging.¡± Grace called her driver to pick her up, then went home. Before she went to bed that night, Lydia called her. ¡°Why did you leave before we did? Emily was worried about you,¡± she asked. ¡°The Hawkins were there again, and I couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with them, so I left,¡± Grace said simply. ¡°I put Tears of the Ocean in the safe.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± It was only then that Grace remembered the n*e. Lydia shook her head when she realized Grace hadpletely forgotten about the billion- dor n*e. Truly, this Lewis girl was rich beyond belief. ¡°Oh, right. I¡¯m going to Frenda and will be meeting up with Caleb. Is there anything you want me to tell him?¡± Grace started teasing Lydia again. ¡°Asshole. I¡¯m hanging up.¡® Grace giggled when she heard the dial tone. She really needed to get Caleb back in Pamore so that the two of them could get together. The next day, Grace took a flight to Frenda. This time, she headed straight for Hestia Riley¡¯s vi. ¡°Gracie! I missed you so much!¡± Hestia dragged Grace into the living room the moment she saw her. ¡°I missed you too.¡± Grace refused to let go of Hestia¡¯s hand and rested her petite head on her shoulder. ¡°Aunt Hestia, I missed your cooking.¡± ¡°No problem. If you want it, Gracie, I¡¯ll cook for you at once.¡± Hestia felt even more fond of Grace when she looked sideways at her, who was still acting cute and leaning against her shoulder. Then, she pretended to be angry. ¡°If you missed me, why didn¡¯t youe visit me sooner?¡± X Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Consider Xander ¡°I was busy,¡± Grace said with a smile. Hestia had always been close to Grace¡¯s mother. After both of Grace¡¯s parents had passed away, Hestia and her husband, Raymond Fulton, had been th It was only after Grace had turned 18 years old that Hestia stopped worrying about her and started traveling the world. She had always been a mother figure to Grace during her childhood, so Grace had always considered her family. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Grace looked around and smirked at Hestia. ¡°Aunt Hestia, where¡¯s Uncle Raymond?¡± ¡°Why are we talking about him?¡± Hestia pretended to be angry. ¡°Don¡¯t mention that guy.¡® ¡°Okay.¡± Grace tried not tough. Hestia and Raymond Fulton were like cats and dogs. They would always bicker when they were together but worry abo they weren¡¯t. When they had been younger, they had gotten divorced in the heat of an argument. But Raymond had immediately regretted it. Thus, he had begun his hard¨Cknock life of trying to get his wife back. He hadn¡¯t even cared about managing hispany, Fulton Group, anymore. He had dumped it on Xander, who hadn¡¯t even turned 18 years old at the time, and started following his wife around the world. ¡°Grace, Aaron told me about your divorce. Why are you still treating marriage like a game when you¡¯re already such a big girl?¡± Hestia tapped Grace¡¯s no ¡°What did I teach you? If you get bullied, you need to fight back,¡± Hestia said. ¡°You¡¯re my precious girl. Fulton Group and Amirate Corporation¡¯s got your ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything because I didn¡¯t want my family to worry.¡± Grace said pitifully and .clung to Hestia¡¯s arm even more tightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± It wasn¡¯t that Grace never showed signs of weakness. She just thought her gentle side was reserved for her loved ones. Hestia suddenly sighed after Grace¡¯s sincere apology, prompting her to ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Aunt Hestia?¡± Hestia stroked Grace¡¯s hair. ¡°Given how close your mother and I were, you should have been my daughter¨Cinw, and you wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much. ¡°But the Donegans had beat me to it back then. It¡¯s my fault. I¡¯ve been so focused on traveling ¡°That¡¯s all in the past now. Grace teared up, then leaned on Hestia and said fondly, ¡°You and Uncle Raymond are just like my parents. I¡¯m not missing out on anything with you two around.¡± ¡°Gracie, since you¡¯re single now, would you like to consider Xander? He¡¯s tall, handsome, and mature. I really should arrange a meeting between you two. ¡°And if you hit it off with him, I¡¯ll even organize a wedding on the spot.¡± The more Hetia spoke, the more emotional she got. ¡°What do you say, Gracie? C There was silence. The only thing Hestia could hear was the sound of Grace¡¯s even breathing. Hestia paused, then took Grace¡¯s hand and smiled. ¡°Rest, then. You¡¯ve had a long day,¡± she said. Grace slept well that night. The next day, she woke up early and followed Hestia to the photography exhibition. Hestia wasn¡¯t just the mother of Xander Fulton, the president of Fulton Group. She was also Sunny, one of the top three travel bloggers on Instagram. The photos she had taken were hailed by the art world as irreplicable ssics. This exhibition was about her travel experiences. Both art lovers and those who wanted to curry favor with Fulton Group fought tooth and nail for a ticket, so the gallery had sold half a year¡¯s worth of tick ¡°Aunt Hestia, did you really bump into a tribal chief in the Azantian rainforest?¡± ¡°Would I lie to you? Look, that¡¯s a photo of him right there.¡± Hestia led Grace to a photo. Just then, Grace spotted Benjamin and Yvonne in the distance out of the corner of her eye. Benjamin stood straight among the crowd with a distant gaze and an intimidating look, appearing as elegant as ever to outsiders. Yvonne, on the other hand, was already showing. She was wearing a Chanel outfit and had a hand on her belly whenever she walked. She was an eyesore for Grace. Grace¡¯s smile froze on her face as coldness enveloped her entire being. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70 What a Coincidence What a small world. ¡°I¡¯m so happy you coulde visit, Benjamin,¡± Yvonne¡¯said gently. She tried to hold his hand, but he subtly dodged her. ¡°I saw some of my business partners. I¡¯m going over to talk to them,¡± Benjamin said in a cold voice as he walked away. Yvonne was very irked. It had been two months since she had been sent to Frenda, but Benjamin had never called her, not even once. Now that he was finally here, she had wanted to spend some quality time with him, even if it was just for the sake of their baby. After reluctantly watching Benjamin leave, she turned back. She was surprised to find Grace standing right in front of her. There was a middle¨Caged woman who looked pretty despite her age standing next to Grace. With a smile, Yvonne tried to make her belly even more obvious and walked over as if Grace were the mistress, not her. ¡°Why do I keep bumping into you everywhere I go?¡± Yvonne asked. Grace didn¡¯t even look at her. ¡°That¡¯s my line.¡± Yvonne gritted her teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t understand you. You were so happy to divorce Benjamin, yet you came all this way just to bother him. You¡¯re like a ghos Hestia turned to Grace and asked, ¡°Is she the mistress who ruined your marriage, Gracie?¡± ¡°Watch your mouth, olddy.¡± Hestia had never been called an olddy before, and that made her want tough. ¡°Do I look that old, Gracie?¡± As the founder of ME Group, a luxury makeuppany, Hestia held all the secrets to aging gracefully and used them to her advantage. Usually, she looked young enough that people would call her ¡°Ms. Riley¡°. Who knew that she would be insulted like this today? ¡°You¡¯re gorgeous, Aunt Hestia. She just has a potty mouth, that¡¯s all,¡± Grace said coolly with a nonchnt smile. ¡°To me, Benjamin is a piece of trash that even recycling centers would reject. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re worried about,¡± she added. ¡°Why, you!¡± Yvonne¡¯s tone turned cold and hostile. Grace, however, was still looking at the exhibition. ¡°We¡¯re in public, so I¡¯ll cut you some ck. Leave right away, and I just might spare you.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not like your family owns this exhibition, anyway.¡± Yvonne chose violence over peace. ¡°What a coincidence. We do, in fact, own this exhibition.¡± Hestia stepped forward, looking at Yvonne with narrowed eyes. ¡°You¡¯re joking. This is a high¨Cend photography exhibition for the elite, filled with Sunny¡¯s works of art. How can it be owned by two nobodies like you?¡± Yvonne walked closer, disdain in her eyes. ¡°I heard you were just an orphan in Pamore. It¡¯s good enough that you managed to be Benjamin¡¯s secretary. ¡°But pretending to be someone important? Don¡¯t make meugh!¡± she said.. Yvonne had investigated Grace ages ago, and she knew thetter was just an orphan from the countryside. Why was she even insisting that both her pa Hestia was so angered by Yvonne¡¯s words that all the warmth drained from her face. ¡°Say that again. I dare you.¡± Grace grabbed Hestia¡¯s arm. ¡°Aunt Hestia, don¡¯t let someone like her ruin your mood. Let¡¯s go. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She didn¡¯t want Hestia to ruin her reputation for grace and elegance because of Yvonne. After all, why would anyone argue with a b*tch? However, Hestia couldn¡¯t let it slide. She could handle Yvonne calling her an olddy, but she refused to let her call Grace an orphan. Yvonne smiled shamelessly when she noticed the olddy was getting mad. you trying to stand up for her now? Am I wrong? Are ¡°She¡¯s just a whore who briefly secured a rich man¡¯s favor. A penniless aunt like you only got to travel overseas because of that. ¡°Please, take some more pictures of the exhibition. You¡¯ll be able to show them off when you get back to your little vige.¡± Hestia couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Apologize!¡± she roared, several times louder than usual. ¡°Never!¡± Yvonne wasn¡¯t afraid of her at all. ¡°You uncivilized people raised a woman just as uncivilized as you are!¡± Hestia reached her breaking point. She grabbed Yvonne¡¯s cor before pping her quickly and forcefully. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 An Overgrown Baby ¡°I said, apologize!¡± ¡°In your dreams!¡± Yvonne still wasn¡¯t scared. ¡°I¡¯m the daughter of a family that¡¯s actually rich and powerful. Apologizing to an olddy like you? You must Hestia seized Yvonne¡¯s cor and pped her again. ¡°The insolence!¡± Yvonne had pissed her off so much that Hestia wanted to p her a third time, but the former dodged her hand. Grace discreetly gave Hestia a thumbs¨Cup and whispered to her, ¡°Nice one, Aunt Hestia.¡± ¡°Of course. I can take care of trash like her quickly enough, can¡¯t 1?¡± Hestia smiled back ¡°All you have to do is stand back when I¡¯m around.¡± Grace felt like she was loved unconditionally, seeing how Hestia had defended her, and her gaze was filled with adoration. Now, this was what family was supposed to be like. She didn¡¯t need to curry favor by trading gifts for affection, and they would stand up for her even if she hadn¡¯t done anyth Meanwhile, the p had been so forceful that Yvonne needed to lean on a nearby pir to regain her footing. It had also drawn a huge crowd. With a hand to her cheek, Yvonne called out for her eldest brother, Joe Quine. She spoke with a weakened voice and teary eyes as she pointed to Hesti Joe was about to stand up for his sister after she got hit in public. But when he looked in the direction she was pointing, his rage immediately gave way t ttering smile. These were important people that he couldn¡¯t afford to offend. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we¡¯ve made a mistake. We¡¯ll leave immediately! Please don¡¯t be angry.¡± Joe¡¯s tone was as humble as it could get. ¡°What are you apologizing for? She hit me! We need to settle this!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Joe roared. As the crowd of onlookers grew, Joe became worried that Hestia would get angry. So he hastily tried to drag Yvonne aside and thought about making a p later on. However, Yvonne stubbornly refused to move. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I want this olddy to apologize to me.¡± At that moment, b*dyguards wearing suits and sunsses walked over to Hestia respectfully. Shall we escort them out, madam?¡± ¡°No need, just let them embarrass themselves,¡± Hestia instructed coolly. ¡°I don¡¯t think they can cause that much trouble, anyway.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The b*dyguards stood behind her, unmoving. It was only then that Yvonne finally realized something ¡°Joe, who is she? Why are they calling her ¡®madam¡®?¡± ¡°Who else can it be? She¡¯s Madam Fulton of Fulton Group!¡± Joe said. Then, he tugged on Yvonne¡¯s arm again. ¡°What are you standing there for? You just insulted someone at their own exhibition! Move!¡± Yvonne was rooted to the spot, and she felt weak in the knees. She hadn¡¯t known that the old country bumpkin beside Grace was really that important. So Hestia had been telling the truth. They did own the exhibition. Not only had Yvonne been horribly blind, she had also just cost Quine Group an import ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Madam Fulton. My sister is young and ignorant, so she couldn¡¯t recognize you.¡± Joe bowed his head low in apology. ¡°Young?¡± Hestia shot Yvonne a disdainful look. ¡°She¡¯s about to have a child. What¡¯s she pretending to be young for? Is she an overgrown baby?¡± Grace snorted. That was Hestia, alright. She shot back without mercy and had the ps to back it up. The crowd began whispering among themselves. ¡°The Quines sure are bold. Don¡¯t they know how powerful Fulton Group is? ¡°They should be scrambling to tter her, and yet they made a scene on her home turf. Did they hit their heads or something?¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I heard Joe Quine was trying to secure a partnership with Fulton Group. Guess that¡¯s off the table now.¡± ¡°No way! I¡¯m still trying to develop some business deals with Fulton Group in Frenda!¡± ¡°Leave, you fools. Trying to make money in Frenda after offending Fulton Group? What a joke! The whispers got louder and louder. Several presidents quickly called their secretaries to withdraw their investments from Quine Group, then left. Joe heard all of theirments loud and clear. Furious, he red at Yvonne. ¡°Look what you¡¯ve done!¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Under Her Spell Yvonne had never been yelled at this loudly before. She felt so humiliated that her l*ps trembled. However, she still stood tall. She refused to bow her precious head in front of someone, especially when that person was Grace. It was her fault that Yvonne was stuck in Frenda and not Pamore in the first ce. Yvonne was still in that awkward situation when she spotted Benjamining over. A n formed in her head, so she walked over to Grace and only stopped when they were inches apart. Grace looked at Yvonne wearily. ¡°What now?¡± Yvonne had a twinkle in her eye that suggested the ruthlessness of someone who was about to take their enemy down with them. ¡°You drove me to this, Grace,¡± she scoffed. Then, with a loud scream, she abruptly fell over and crashed into a nearby vase. As the huge, three¨Cfoot¨Ctall vase ttered to the ground, she bumped her head on a pir before passing out. Grace looked on emotionlessly. It was the same old trick, from the same old person. As Benjamin rushed over to help Yvonne up, he scolded Joe coldly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you break her fall when she fell over? You were right next to her!¡± Joe¡¯s face fell when he looked at Yvonne. She had been pulling the same old trick whenever she ran into a problem she couldn¡¯t fix since childhood. As her brother, he knew her tricks all too well. But he also couldn¡¯t expose her for the very same reason. Benjamin shot Grace a cold look. ¡°So you won¡¯t even spare pregnant women now?¡± He still had mixed feelings for her, and that included a rage he couldn¡¯t understand himself. He had tried to talk, but she had refused. He had bowed down and apologized on behalf of his family, but she hadn¡¯t offered a single ounce of forgiveness. When Hestia recognized Benjamin and saw him defending Yvonne, she became furious, and her tone became murderous. ¡°You cheating bastards! Get ¡°Aunt Hestia, I can handle this.¡± Grace patted Hestia¡¯s hand reassuringly, then turned to Benjamin. ¡°Have you fallen under Yvonne¡¯s spell? Why do you trust her so much?¡± Grace pointed upward at the security camera with an icy look. ¡°Want to see what really happened?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Benjamin replied with an equally icy tone. ¡°A pregnant woman would never endanger herself like that.¡± Joe smiled, thinking, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. She absolutely would.¡± Yvonne, who had gone silent, started panicking. She had been so quick to execute her idea that she had forgotten to check for cameras. J Grace had so many powerful supporters that if this got out of hand, Yvonne would have to actually apologize. She didn¡¯t want to do such a humiliating thing! ¡°Benjamin ¡­ what happened?¡± Yvonne pretended to wake up, putting a hand to her forehead weakly. Grace snickered. ¡°Oh, look. The witch woke up right on cue.¡± Benjamin let go of Yvonne, the coldness on his face intensifying. ¡°Was it Grace who pushed you?¡± ¡°No, I fell over myself.¡± Yvonne was so good at acting that she managed to look genuinely sheepish. Rage shed in his eyes as he looked Yvonne up and down. ¡°Then what were you screaming for?¡± Yvonne got chills down her spine from that frigid gaze alone. ¡°I was scared!¡± ¡°Do you get out now?¡± Grace asked Benjamin, who red at her in embarrassment. The woman didn¡¯t seem to care about him at all. Now that Yvonne had ruined his ns to partner with Fulton Group, Benjamin knew he was in the wrong and had no choice but to ept his loss. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Take her back. I¡¯m leaving,¡± he said to Joe, then walked away. After he strode out of the exhibition hall, he called his driver with a frown. Yvonne showed up behind him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Benjamin. I didn¡¯t know why I fainted all of a sudden.¡± Benjamin remained unmoved and didn¡¯t answer. Yvonne looked at Benjamin pleadingly. ¡°I¡¯ve been so stressedtely. Maybe it¡¯s because Danielle¡¯s death anniversary ising up.¡± Benjamin seemed to soften when Danielle was mentioned, though he was still frowning. ¡°Just focus on taking care of the baby. Don¡¯t stress yourself out. ¡°Benjamin, can¡¯t youe visit Danielle with me?¡± Yvonne¡¯s gaze was pitiful, making her look sympathetic. ¡°I¡¯ve been in Frenda long enough. I¡¯ve really + Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 She Made Grace Cry ¡°Then go home for a day or two, and return immediately after the anniversary.¡± Because of Danielle and Alexander, Benjamin had always had endless patience with Yvonne. This time was no exception. Yvonne put a hand on her belly, but her expression became more and more cunning. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. This time, she needed to do whatever it took to stay in Pamore. She didn¡¯t want to stay in this cursed ce for a moment longer. She would like to see how Grace was supposed to seduce her man if she were dead. Meanwhile, after Grace had chased them out, her mood improved, and she spent a while talking with Hestia about her travels. When the exhibition ended, Hestia called the mall to shut the ce down so that the staff could dedicate themselves to serving her and Grace. By the time they had finally finished shopping and got home, it had been hours. Grace copsed onto the couch. ¡°You really are the woman who traveled the Mkkan Strait. Your physical endurance is superb. I am in awe,¡± she babbled. Hestia instructed the maids to hang up her luxury items, then smiled. ¡°I haven¡¯t bought you clothes in years, so I got you everything nice today. We¡¯ll shop at a different mall tomorrow.¡± Grace looked at the living room. Despite being over a hundred square feet in size, it was filled with all sorts of clothing and jewelry. There was enough to stock an entire store with them. ¡°We still have more shopping to do?¡± Grace groaned. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back in Pamore soon. I won¡¯t be able to wear all of this.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll ship them back. That, or I¡¯ll stow thent in a room just for you. You can wear them the next time you visit.¡± Grace shook her head in resignation. What a sweet burden this was. Then, Hestia remembered something important and quickly sat next to Grace. ¡°Gracie, do stay for a few more days. Xander will be back tomorrow, so you two should schedule a time to meet.¡± Grace didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. ¡°Alright, whatever you say, Aunt Hestia. I actually haven¡¯t seen my other brother in years. This would be a nice time to meet.¡± Hestia was displeased to hear that. ¡°Stop calling him your other brother. He¡¯s just Xander. You¡¯re not even rted, and I¡¯m trying to get you two married to each other.¡± ¡°Help! Aunt Hestia¡¯s ying matchmaker again!¡± Grace escaped to her room. ¡°Why, you! Get back here! I still need to tell you about Xander¡¯s good traits!¡± Grace ran into her room. When she checked her phone, she saw a message from Caleb. ¡°Gracie, why aren¡¯t you visiting me when you¡¯re in Frenda? I¡¯m sad ¡­¡± it read. ¡°Haven¡¯t you been busy with your concert? I didn¡¯t want to bother you,¡± Grace replied. ¡°No. I have a concert at a stadium tomorrow, and I want to see my precious Gracie there, or I¡¯ll walk off the stage.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll be there.¡± The next morning, Grace woke up because of the noise outside. ¡°Hestia! Open the door and let me in.¡® When Grace pulled the curtains apart, she saw Raymond knocking on the door downstairs with a bouquet of lilies of the valley. When he saw Grace sticking her head out, he quickly waved. ¡°Gracie! Let me in. I¡¯ve been standing out here for ages.¡® ¡°Don¡¯t you open it, Gracie! Let him stand there!¡± Hestia¡¯s voice rang out from the window next to her. Grace snickered with a hand over her mouth. Seeing old people like Hestia and Raymond act like they were in a will¨Cthey¨Cwon¡¯t¨C they romance drama was so funny. ¡°Gracie, do as Uncle Raymond says. I¡¯ll owe you big time.¡± . She cleared her throat. ¡°Aunt Hestia, it looks like it¡¯s about to rain. What if Uncle Raymond gets drenched and ends up with a cold?¡± Aunt Hestia was in the other room, but she clearly couldn¡¯t bear the thought of it. ¡°Oh, alright. Let him in, but don¡¯t let hime upstairs.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± At the dining table, Aunt Hestia said, ¡°Remember, Gracie. You¡¯re meeting Xander today.¡± ¡°But I have to meet Caleb today, Aunt Hestia,¡± Gracie said, feeling a little guilty. She could have just rescheduled with Caleb, but she was still a little intim The Xander she remembered was a conservative person who was much older than her. She seriously couldn¡¯t get over that, so the idea of dating him was weird for her. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s true. You should be meeting Caleb first.¡± Hestia nodded. ¡°Take my car.¡± ¡°Thanks, Aunt Hestia!¡± Grace gave her a big hug. Some timeter, she zoomed down the street in Hestia¡¯s Pagani Zonda. The car¡¯s sleek livery look drew many envious looks from the other drivers. After all, that limited¨C edition car was the only one of its kind in the whole world. They had never even seen it before outside of concept advertisements. So they all tried turning their heads to see who owned the car. However, Grace checked the time and realized she was runningte, so she left them all in the dust with just a slight press of the gas pedal. All the other drivers could do was sigh in the car¡¯s direction. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Shining Star When Grace got to the stadium, Caleb¡¯s agent was already waiting at the entrance. After tossing her car keys to him, she walked to the VVIP seat Caleb had reserved for her. That seat was just a step away from the actual stage, and she could see blue cards all over the stadium. It was Caleb¡¯s signature color, and all the cards had his stage name on them¨CSimon. As the lights dimmed, the fans waved their blue glowsticks, turning the stadium into a sea of blue. The pounding music sted its way into Grace¡¯s heart. When the backup dancers all started dancing in sync, she spotted Caleb immediately. After an upbeat song, Caleb ended with a pose in the center of the stage, panting while the spotlight focused on him. In that moment, he was the king of music. The fans went wild, screaming derations of love. ¡°Simon! We love you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not marrying anyone else!¡± When Caleb spotted Grace, a smile graced his charming face. The cameras immediately projected that onto the big screen, driving the female fans crazy. Some of them even fainted from the excitement. Caleb checked his microphone and spoke with stars in his eyes, ¡°Today, I¡¯m so happy that the most important person in my life is here with us right now. ¡°Ahh!¡± The female fans were a mess. They were all wondering, ¡°Who is it? Who is the most important person to Simon?¡± After a moment of squealing, the stadium went quiet, as if the crowd w .word. That was when Caleb pointed at the first row and announced, ¡°My little princess, Grace Lewis! The cameramen hastily looked around before locking in on Grace. The spotlights instantly turned in her direction as the big screen showed her cold but e The fans froze when they saw the object of Caleb¡¯s affection. Her makeup was wless, and she had soft raven hair tucked behind her ears. Her face screamed confident beauty, and her eyes were full of stars. She was wearing a humble yet well¨Cdesigned luxury outfit, and the blue diamonds on her n*eck subtly enhanced her elegarice. She practically shone, to the point that the fans didn¡¯t know whether to be angry, jealous, or happy for Caleb. Grace¡¯s smile froze on her face. The urge to get back at Caleb for this was growing and growing. She was worried that if the female fans got pissed off, she might not get to leave unscathed. Sure enough, sighs and groans rippled through the stadium like a wave. However, Caleb being Caleb, he asked them, ¡°Do you love me?¡± The fans¡® eyes lit up, and they quickly raised their cards to dere their devotion. ¡°We love you and only you, Simon!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a light that will never fade!¡± ¡°Never change!¡± Caleb nodded in response, then smiled. ¡°Then let¡¯s protect her together, okay?¡± The fans went wild once again because of his encouragement. ¡°We promise!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s protect her together!¡± ¡°Always!¡± This was the first time Grace had seen anything like this. The avnche of passion almost overwhelmed her, and the innocent devotion set her heart ame like a wildfire. She was actually a bit touched. All of a sudden, she understood why had Caleb insisted on bing a singer. After the concert, Grace waited for Caleb next to Hestia¡¯s cool, silver car. She thought he would .emerge surrounded by b*dyguards, but he showed up alone. ¡°So nice of you to wait for me, Gracie.¡± Caleb smiled. However, Grace couldn¡¯t resist rolling her eyes. ¡°You almost drowned me in an ocean of your fans. How dare you smile at me after all that?¡± A swarm of reporters caught wind of Caleb¡¯s location and wanted to interview him alone. They wanted to ask him about the beautiful girl at the concert. Then, they discovered that not only was thedy still there, but she was also waiting for him with a multi¨Cmillion¨C dor sports car too. That piqued their interest in Grace even more. So they surrounded the ce and kept shoving their microphones in Caleb¡¯s face. ¡°Simon, mind telling us more about thisdy?¡± ¡°Are you lovers?¡± ¡°How long have you been dating?¡± At that moment, fans screaming Caleb¡¯s name began pouring out of the stadium. The crowd kept growing. X GET IT NOW Chew 4xRN $15 BONUS 6) asd in a sh, the silver sports car disappeared from view. On 27 Max ing through social media on his phone. homes Grave something he had found. ***** kowe my childhood friend turned lover.¡± NON SA Madonia before falling in love at first sight.¡± Sew. It says Mom had arranged our engagement since birth.¡± Candor Aud quos ¡°The inte sure has some crazy theories.¡± he¡¯s pople insulting you¡­¡± Ganshor Caled a murderous re ¡°I want to punch you!¡± The quaorqud on through the night. However, a dump truck suddenly switchednes and vered in Grace¡¯s direction quickly, showing no signs of stopping. Garsnotsmething was wrong and tried to steer out of harm¡¯s way, but it was toote. There was a flesh of white, and then- Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. All the hairs on Grace¡¯s arms stood on end. Fear unlike anything she had ever experienced ipped her mind as the dump truck crashed into them with a loud bang. The impact triggered the car¡¯s airbags, knocking Grace into her seat. She lost control of the car as she was pinned between the airbag and her seat. The car¡¯s front end caved into itself, and the car was thrown into the middle of the road beforeing to a stop. However, the dump truck backed up a little before crashing into the car again. Then, it sped away. This was cold¨Cblooded murder. The reporters who had been following them didn¡¯t dare approach the car for fear that there would be a gas leak and that the resulting explosion would h Only a handful still had enough sense to call an ambnce with trembling hands. As the dust settled, a ck Bentley arrived. The man who got out was handsome but frowning. He ran toward the ruined car. His slender Chapter 75 ident ¡°Drive, Gracie!¡± Grace hit the pedal to the metal, and in a sh, the silver sports car disappeared from view. On the way, Caleb kept scrolling through social media on his Every now and then, he showed Grace something he had found. ¡°Look, some of them think you¡¯re my childhood friend turned lover.¡± ¡°And this one says we met in Mardovia before falling in love at first sight.¡± ¡°This one¡¯s even more ridiculous. It says Mom had arranged our engagement since birth.¡± Grace shook her head, speechless. ¡°The inte sure has some crazy theories.¡± ¡°Oh, and-¡± ¡°And what?¡± ¡°And there¡¯s people insulting you¡­¡® Grace shot Caleb a murderous re. ¡°I want to punch you!¡± The sports car sped on through the night. However, a dump truck suddenly switchednes and veered in Grace¡¯s direction quickly, showing no signs of s Grace sensed something was wrong and tried to steer out of harm¡¯s way, but it was toote. There was a sh of white, and then- All the hairs on Grace¡¯s arms stood on end. Fear unlike anything she had ever experienced gripped her mind as the dump truck crashed into them with a Chapter 75 Chapter 75 The impact triggered the car¡¯s airbags, knocking Grace into her seat. She lost control of the car as she was pinned between the airbag and her seat. The car¡¯s front end caved into itself, and the car was thrown into the middle of the road before ing to a stop. However, the dump truck backed up a little before crashing into the car again. Then, it sped away. This was cold¨Cblooded murder. The reporters who had been following them didn¡¯t dare approach the car for fear that there would be a gas leak and that the resulting explosion would hu Only a handful still had enough sense to call an ambnce with trembling hands. As the dust settled, a ck Bentley arrived. The man who got out was handsome but frowning. He ran toward the ruined car. His slender 3 The reporters quickly began snapping photos and trying to get a better look. ¡°Why does that man look so familiar?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Xander Fulton!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Xander Fulton of Fulton Group!¡± Grace could feel warm blood pooling around the back of her n*eck, and she could smell gas¡­ ¡°Gracie!¡± Someone was calling for her. But who? The world fell silent, except for that anxious call. Grace could feel her eyelids getting heavier. In the light, Xander¡¯s face came into clearer view. He had rushed toward the wreck like a savior from heaven, opening the car door and carrying Grace out. Grace leaned into his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat. It seemed to soothe her pain. ¡°Save¡­ Caleb¡­¡± she said with thest of her strength. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s okay.¡± Xander was careful not to touch her wounds. His voice soothed her until she couldn¡¯t keep her eyes open anymore. Soon, she f When Xander got the Lewis siblings to a hospital, Caleb only had a fractured hand. But Grace¡­ Xander looked up at the lit¨Cup sign above the operation theater worriedly. When the surgeon walked out of the operation theater, he looked nervous. ¡°She¡¯s losing too much blood and will need an immediate transfusion. However, we don¡¯t have enough blood.¡± Xander was about to say something when Benjamin turned the corner and replied in a calm, .self¨Cassured voice, ¡°Take mine. My blood type is O.¡± When the ident had happened, he had still been drinking. Fortunately, Larry had heard about what had happened and told him about it. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. The doctor was sweating heavily. Every second he wasted meant a lower chance of survival for his patient. ¡°The patient¡¯s blood typ¨¦ is an incredibly rare Type RhD negative. Normal blood types aren¡¯t going to work.¡± Benjamin froze. ¡°So what now?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you people know about your own family¡¯s rare blood type?¡± The doctor was even more panicked than Benjamin was. ¡°Besides, I can smell the alcohol on you! Even if she did have a normal blood type, your blood For once, Benjamin was silent. How was he supposed to know something as trivial about Grace as her blood type? ¡°You don¡¯t even know she had a rare blood type?¡± Xander snapped angrily. ¡°What kind of husband have you been?¡± So it was true ¡­ Benjamin Hawkins had been mistreating Grace. Good thing she divorced him. However, Benjamin was already irritated by the doctor¡¯s scolding. When an outsider butted in, he turned away impatiently to look at the man beside him He knew this man. He was Xander Fulton, president of Fulton Group. ¡°And how exactly does that concern you?¡± Benjamin askedmockingly. ¡°You seem to be even more worried than I am about my ex¨Cwife.¡± ¡°You¡¯re divorced!¡± ¡°Everything that is her business is mine!¡± Benjamin shot back. Xander was furious, but he controlled himself. Saving Grace was more important. So he took out his phone and made a call. ¡°Contact the blood donors immediately and get them to the hospital as soon as possible.¡± After another pause, he said, ¡°Wait, contact everyone on the group¡¯s list too. I¡¯m not sure if there¡¯ll be enough blood.¡± + Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Xander Saved You ¡°Family members, hold on. I¡¯ll confirm the situation,¡± the doctor said. However, the doctor was addressing Xander this time. As the doctor nced at Benjamin, he resisted the urge to shake his head. This man was totally unprepared. No wonder he was the patient¡¯s ex¨C husband. Benjamin looked at Xander. Blood types were such a personal thing, and yet Xander knew what Grace¡¯s was. Swallowing his jealousy, he asked, ¡°What¡¯ ¡°You have no right to know,¡± Xander said in a frigid voice. ¡°You can leave now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to wait here until she wakes up.¡± Benjamin had sobered up a little. However, Xander pinched his forehead tiredly with long, slender fingers. ¡°Even if she does, she won¡¯t see you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m her ex¨Chusband, for better or worse. Am I less wee than an outsider like you?¡± ¡°Yes. You are less wee, actually.¡± The two of them waged a silent, staring battle. Xander met Benjamin¡¯s gaze head¨Con with such confidence that thetter quickly backed down. ¡°It¡¯s good that she¡¯ll be alright.¡± ¡°Of course she will. I¡¯m here.¡± Xander didn¡¯t budge an inch. Two dayster, Grace opened her eyes to see Caleb on the bed beside hers with his arm in a cast. ¡°Oh, thank goodness you¡¯re awake!¡± The weight on Caleb¡¯s chest finally lifted once he saw that she was okay. ¡°Caleb, who saved us?¡± Grace slowly sat up. Her head still spun whenever she moved. All she remembered was that someone had risked his own life to save her from the wreckage. The only thing she remembered about that person was that he had been familiar. ¡°Xander! Aunt Hestia¡¯s brilliant son. Ring any bells?¡± It was him? Grace hastily asked, ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Long gone. He said something about business with Fulton Group and asked you to rest well.¡± Caleb began talking excitedly. ¡°You had no idea how dangerous things got for you. Your blood type is rare, so the hospital couldn¡¯t do a thing, but Xander was prepared. He got a dozen donors to s ¡°You mean he figured out my blood type and had already prepared for it?¡± ¡°Yep, that¡¯s probably what happened.¡± Grace was shocked that someone would be this thoughtful. ¡°Maybe Aunt Hestia told him.¡± ¡°Yeah, you should thank them properly some time. Oh, by the way, why didn¡¯t you steer the direction?¡± Caleb suddenly asked with a straight face. car in your Normally, in a head¨Con collision, a driver would instinctively try to protect herself and steer the car toward their side to dodge. This would result in more serious injuries for the passenger and not the driver. However, Grace¡¯s passenger had been Caleb, and she hadn¡¯t wanted to put him in harm¡¯s way. So Grace smiled. ¡°I was worried that if you, the famous celebrity, got a single scratch on his face, your fans would kill me.¡± Caleb was touched and walked over tob through Grace¡¯s messy hair. ¡°Silly Gracie. Promise me you¡¯ll never do that again. Just protect yourself. I¡¯m ¡°If anything ever happened to you, Aaron and Victor would hunt me to the ends of this earth.¡± ¡°Alright, I get it.¡± Grace rolled her eyes at Caleb. ¡°And there¡¯d better not be a next time, you jinx.¡± When she remembered how deliberately and determinedly the dump truck had rammed into them, Grace turned serious. ¡°The ident¡¯s so weird. We need to investigate it,¡± she said. ¡°Already on it. We¡¯ll get the results in a day or two.¡± Grace nodded. Her eyelids had be heavier all of a sudden. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy, Caleb.¡± Caleb quicklyid her back down and tucked her in, then remembered Benjamin¡¯s visit to the hospital. After some thought, he decided against telling her about it. Trash like Benjamin were better off never mentioned. After resting for two days, Grace hade back to life and tried getting out of bed while Caleb was out of the room. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Caleb yelled out before he had even set foot inside. With a pout, Grace obediently ducked back under the covers. ¡°Ugh,e on! I¡¯m about to rot in bed here!¡± Caleb motioned for the helpers to give Grace her Michelin¨Cstarred meal. ¡°Rest for another two C C C ¡°Caleb, why are you so thoughtful with me but thoughtless with Lydia?¡± Grace asked This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. curiously. ¡°Are you two talking about me?¡± Lydia¡¯s voice rang out as she appeared, standing at the door. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 I Can Just Fight Back Grace giggled with a hand on her mouth and nced at Caleb. ¡°Nothing. We weren¡¯t talking about you at all.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better not be trash¨Ctalking me,¡± Lydia warned. 15 Caleb, who was usually a chatterbox, suddenly stopped talking. ¡°I¡¯m going out for some fresh air,¡± he said, putting on a distant attitude in front of Lydia. When he walked outside, his smile gave way to a cold re the moment he saw Benjamin standing there. Blocking the doorway, he said loudly, ¡°You¡¯re Benjamin gestured for Larry to hand Caleb a fruit basket. ¡°Please give this to her.¡± ¡°Get out of here with that!¡± Caleb waved his hands dismissively. ¡°Our Gracie doesn¡¯t need shit like this from you.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Is she awake?¡± Benjamin didn¡¯t really take Caleb seriously. A handsome guy with no substance like him wasn¡¯t Grace¡¯s type at all. But with Xander ¡­ Benjamin smelled a threat. ¡°She¡¯s awake, and she¡¯s fine. Now leave.¡± Lydia spoke up from behind Caleb and moved to block the doorway with him, forming a perfect blockade. ¡°Please take care of her, then,¡± Benjamin said, then left. This angered Caleb so much that he yelled at his retreating figure, ¡°We¡¯re taking care of Gracie voluntarily, okay? You didn¡¯t need to ask! Jerk!¡± Lydia tugged on Caleb¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Pipe down. Grace needs to rest.¡± Caleb smiled, answering, ¡°You¡¯re right, she does.¡± As their gazes met, they suddenly turned around and stopped talking. When it was dinnertime, Hestia visited Grace and handed her a briefcase. ¡°Xander asked me to give you this,¡± she said. When Grace opened it, she saw photos of Yvonne paying someone with money. She gripped them so tightly that her knuckles turned white. ¡°I thought all Benjamin¡¯s mistress knew was throwing tantrums and ying the victim, but I didn¡¯t expect her to be this cruel. Thank goodness you weren Even as she took Grace¡¯s hand, she still trembled with fear. So Grace took Hestia¡¯s hand instead and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aunt Hestia. I¡¯ll be fully recovered in a few days.¡± Something shed in Grace¡¯s eyes. ¡°If she messes with me, I¡¯ll just mess with her right back.¡± A few dayster, when Grace left Pamore Airport¡¯s international arrivals terminal, she bumped right into Benjamin and Yvonne. Yvonne put a hand on her belly and leaned against Benjamin, smiling coldly. ¡°You just had a brush with death, Ms. Lewis. Why didn¡¯t you stay in the hos It was a shame that she had missed such a perfect opportunity to kill this woman. Yvonne still couldn¡¯t get over that fact. ¡°Worry about yourself, murderer,¡± Grace replied casually, making Yvonne¡¯s smile freeze. Had she already discovered the truth? But she hadn¡¯t left any traces. Even the driver had gone into hiding in a whole other country. This was impossible! As if on cue, a group of reporters swarmed them and almost poked Yvonne¡¯s eyes out with their microphones. ¡°Ms. Quine, you¡¯re now trending online for that article about you hiring a hitman. What are your thoughts on that?¡± ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°Did you return because the police asked you to? Are you confident about getting acquitted?¡± Yvonne had no idea that she had be a murderer after a few hours on a flight. She looked up at Benjamin, only to find him staring at her with suspic With an icy look, he asked, ¡°What are they talking about?¡± ¡°They¡¯re talking nonsense, Benjamin.¡± Yvonne tried her best to remain calm, then yelled, ¡± Which news outlet are you from? I¡¯m suing you all!¡± In the distance, a police car stopped, and two policemen emerged. The reporters quickly stepped aside for them. ¡°Ms. Quine, we need you to cooperate with the investigation of a major ident. Pleasee with us.¡± Yvonne¡¯s limbs turned to jelly as she kept shaking her head at Benjamin. ¡°Please believe me, Benjamin. I didn¡¯t do it.¡± Realizing that Yvonne was about to get arrested, he asked, ¡°Excuse me, are you sure there hasn¡¯t been some sort of misunderstanding?¡± One of the policemen exined dutifully, ¡°We¡¯ve received several documents concerning the ident, and we can confirm that Yvonne Quine is tied to it. ¡°We¡¯re only interrogating her to confirm certain details.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ms. Quine,¡± the other policeman said. Yvonne cried as they took her away, but the only thing Benjamin could do was watch. The reporters snapped photos like crazy, then noticed Grace was standing nearby and swarmed her. ¡°Ms. Lewis, have you fully recovered?¡± ¡°Do you think Ms. Quine was framed?¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 What the Hawkins Owe the Quines Grace smiled lightly. ¡°Thank you for your concern, everyone. I have recovered.¡± She continued, ¡°Regarding the ident ¡­ I believe that our country¡¯sws won¡¯t allow a good person to be unjustly used. Likewise, it won¡¯t let a bad person go fr¨¦e.¡± The reporters started asking about Caleb again. 2 ¡°There are rumors online saying that Simon dropped all his work after the car ident so that he coulde and take care of you. Is this true?¡± ¡°Would you be able to reveal a bit about your rtionship with Simon?¡± ¡°Are wedding bells ringing soon for you?¡± Graceughed helplessly. The reporters still remembered that. ¡°At the moment, I have nothing to say about the rtionship between Simon and I.¡± Seeing that they were not going to get any answers, the reporters began to retreat. Benjamin was standing on the sidelines. When he heard that she had ¡°nothing to say¡°, he gave her aplicated look. He wanted to ask about Xander, and he also wanted to ask what the rtionship between her and that clown Simon was. He was just as curious as the media and reporters. However, all he could do was watch Grace pick up her bag and stride off haughtily. That night, Benjamin returned to the president¡¯s office at Hawkins Group. He had been dealing with Yvonne¡¯s incident at the police station all day, and he was a little tired. Yvonne had been released on bail while awaiting trial. Her crying had annoyed him, so he had sent her back to Quine Residence. It would be chaos back home, and he had no wish to hear Susan and Celia bickering. It would be much more peaceful to stay in the office for a while. When he turned on the lights, he saw that Richard Quine was seated in his chair. He was a little shocked at first, but considering the incident with Yvonne, it was understandable that Mr. Richard was here. ¡°Hello, Mr. Quine Senior.¡± Richard cut straight to the chase. ¡°When are you going to marry Yvonne?¡± Benjamin paused in the midst of putting down his coat. He had been wondering about that too. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that once some time has passed. I¡¯ve been too busytely.¡± ¡°Hmph! You¡¯ve already been divorced for a few months, and yet you still don¡¯t want to make things official with Yvonne! What on earth are you thinking?¡± Richard wasn¡¯t cated. Benjamin felt his annoyance grow stronger. ¡°She¡¯s got a criminal record now because of the car ident. I¡¯m afraid my family will not approve.¡± Richard said disdainfully, ¡°You married Grace even though she has no background whatsoever. Would you really care about a small thing like this?¡± ¡°Is attempted murder a small thing?¡± Benjamin was thunderstruck at Richard¡¯s cold- bloodedness. ¡°Remember that the Hawkins still owe my family a life!¡± Richard mmed his hands down on the table, his voice cold and menacing. ¡°Danielle¡¯s death was your brother¡¯s fault! Now you¡¯re letting Yvonne carry the reputation of being the other woman in a rtionship! ¡°She¡¯s a disgrace to the Quine family¡¯s name because of you. How shameless can the Hawkins family get?¡± ¡°Mr. Quine Senior, insult me all you want. But Alexander ¡­ is dead now. Let it go.¡± A hint of pain shed in Benjamin¡¯s eyes. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Years ago, his oldest brother, Alexander, and Yvonne¡¯s oldest sister, Danielle, had gone out on a trip. The trip ended with both of them dying in a car ident. From then on, the Hawkins had owed a debt to the Quines. As for him and Yvonne ¡­ to be honest, he was mystified. He had just gotten drunk once and had no recollection of anything at all. He had woken up to find a n*ked Yvonne beside him on the bed. She had been crying so .pitifully that it would have moved the heart of anyone who had After that, Yvonne had told him that she was pregnant. When Grace had found out, she put her foot down and demanded a divorce. Even now, he was still trying to process everything that had happened. ¡°Why can¡¯t I speak against him? A wrong should be remembered for eternity!¡± Richard stood up with a warning look in his eyes. ¡°This is thest time I¡¯m talking to you about Yvonne. If you still don¡¯t marry her, I have my own ways of dealing with that Lewis woman.¡± He said, ¡°When that timees, we¡¯ll see if you still have lingering feelings for her.¡± Benjamin looked straight at Richard, looking unusually threatening. ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere near her!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not your decision to make!¡± Richard kicked open the door of the president¡¯s office and strode off arrogantly. Benjamin clenched his fist in the darkness. At Lewis Manor, Emily looked at Grace for a long time. Grace was amused. ¡°How long are you going to look at me like that?¡± ¡°Luckily, nothing much happened. You¡¯re as beautiful as ever, and you¡¯re not missing any limbs.¡± Emilyid back and rxed on the couch. She suddenly sat up, a sly smile shing across her features. She asked mysteriously, ¡°I heard that Xander was the knight in shining armor who rescued the damsel in distress?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Grace pressed her l*ps together and nodded, smiling. She vividly remembered that dark figure in the night. asionally, when she thought about it, her heartbeat still sped up. ¡°He was a legend at our school! It¡¯s such a coincidence that he saved you. I heard Caleb say that he even prepared a mobile blood bank for you! How touching!¡± Emily nced at Grace from time to time, smelling a hint of gossip. ¡°Aunt Hestia must have asked him to prepare it,¡± Grace said. ¡°Plus ¡­¡± Emily was even more excited. ¡°Plus what? Hurry up and say it, babe!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him since I woke up. He¡¯s very busy.¡± Emily shook her head. ¡°Things aren¡¯t supposed to develop this way.¡± ¡°There is no ¡®development¡®!¡± Grace reached over to tickle Emily. After a night¡¯s rest, Grace punctually arrived at Amirate Corporation¡¯s office. She had just sat down when Zoey called her. ¡°Hey pal, how¡¯s the task that you mentioned?¡± ¡°No problem. Everything¡¯s perfect.¡± Now public opinion was against Yvonne, and there were a lot ofizens sympathizing with C ? The headline ¡°President ¡®H¡® Turning a Blind Eye¡± was also rising in poprity. ¡°I have to go to a cocktail party tonight. You know how it is.¡± Graceughed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Zoey was blunt and direct, and she often made the atmosphere awkward at parties. With Grace by her side, she would feel a lot more rxed. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Take off Your Clothes At 9:00 pm, Grace and Zoey arrived at the cocktail party. It was a gathering for the big guns in the entertainment industry. Of course, people had brought their close friends with them as well. Grace was dressed in a long, elegant dress with a ribbon on it. The moss green material was smooth and silky, devoid of any wrinkles. It clung to her curves perfectly, and her corbones were bare of any jewels. She looked extremely elegant. She was outstandingly beautiful and attracted stares from all directions the moment she entered. Everyone was shocked that the chief editor of Global Entertainment Magazine was so well connected that she had managed to invite the rumored partner of Simon toe with her. However, people kept a respectful distance due to GEM Magazine¡¯s status. Zoey still had the same chilly attitude when it came to socializing. She would stiffly acknowledge toasts made to her, and it was Grace who helped her m ¡°I feel like I¡¯m able to stay longer at this kind of ce when you¡¯re with me. Normally I would juste, take a photo, and then leave.¡± Grace¡¯s red l*ps widened in a smile. ¡°I¡¯m honored to have the favor of esteemed chief editor Zoey Walters.¡± As they talked, the president of Glory Entertainment, Charles Sanders, walked over. He sported a protruding belly, and although he was dressed impably in a suit, he looked like a child ying dress¨Cup due to his short stature. ¡°Ms. Walters, is thisdy beside you Ms. Lewis? She¡¯s been trending recently.¡± Charles inclined his ss of champagne at Zoey and downed it in one gulp. Zoey treated Charles differently from the others. Her narrowed eyes betrayed her annoyance.¡± Don¡¯t you have eyes?¡± GEM Magazine had suffered from a few leakages of confidential information recently. It was because of their rival, Glory Entertainment, who had been u from them. Zoey was in the midst of investigating this, so naturally she treated Charles with disdain. Charlesughed delightedly. ¡°Ms. Walters, you have been gued with troublestely, so I can understand why you sound so aggressive. ¡°You should monitor your subordinates more closely before they¡¯re all poached by me. ¡°No problem. Those who can be bought by you are people I wouldn¡¯t want to keep. You¡¯re doing me a favor.¡± Zoey didn¡¯t give an inch. What she meant to say was that he had taken all the trash she didn¡¯t want. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Charles didn¡¯t take it to heart and turned to Grace. ¡°There are rumors that you were already in contact with Simon even while you were still married¡­ Would you like to exin?¡± He continued, ¡°Let¡¯s have an exclusive interview. What do you think?¡± Glory Entertainment was nowpeting for resources with GEM Magazine, and they had to find investors for funds. Although his resources were a far cry from those of GEM Magazine, his strengthy in risking everything to find topics. The more ridiculous they were, the better, and it gave people the mistaken impression that Glory Entertainment was already on par with GEM Magazine. He was the first person to ask this question tonight. Upon hearing his words, everyone turned in their direction. ¡°Charles ¡­¡± Zoey¡¯s perpetually icy expression showed a faint trace of anger. It was fine to interfere with her subordinates. She could just train more. But to meddle with her friend by spreading such nderous ? she wasn¡¯t about to let him get away with it. ¡°Are you sick of living?¡± If Zoey really took an interest, Glory Entertainment could go bankrupt at any moment. ¡°Why would I be afraid? After all, you are alive and well, Ms. Walters.¡± Grace stepped up and walked slowly to Charles. ¡°You ¡­ Mr. Saunders or whatever, shall we make a bet?¡± Charles was intrigued. ¡°I¡¯m interested. Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°If you win, I¡¯ll give you an exclusive interview. If you lose¡­¡± Grace¡¯s gaze swept up and down Charles¡® suit. She folded her arms and tapped her finger gently on her arm. ¡°You¡¯ll have to take off all your clothes before leaving. What do you think?¡± Charles¡® smile turned cold, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He knew that Grace was making fun of his figure, and it was a sore spot for him. But to have the chance to hear juicy gossip directly from the heroine in Simon¡¯s love story? The investors¡® confidence in him would rise for sure. This little sacrifice would be well worth it. ¡°It¡¯s a done deal. Ms. Lewis, I hope that you keep your promise.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes swept over the people who were beginning to approach them, and she smiled slightly mockingly. ¡°Of course. So many people are watching. I¡¯m just worried that you¡¯ll be shy when you have to take off all your clothes.¡± ¡°What do you want to bet on?¡± Grace nced at the card table beside them. ¡°Let¡¯s bet on a round of dice. The one with the highest score wins.¡± Charles almostughed out loud. Wasn¡¯t this just presenting him with news? Before he had established an entertainmentpany, Charles had been a punk who had hung around casinos. In fact, first pot of gold for opening Glory Entertainment hade from his earnings at the casino. How could a bimbo like her defeat him? Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Chapter 80 You Lost ¡°Ladies first.¡± Charles sat down and gestured for her to take a seat as well. Grace took the dice box and shook it disinterestedly. Her slender fingers rested on the lid, and her demeanor rxed as if she were just ying. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡® Charles grinned sinisterly at Grace, who didn¡¯t seem to be taking the game seriously. The dice probably hadn¡¯t even moved, and it was almost like she had decided to lose on purpose. The onlookers couldn¡¯t understand what she was doing and looked at each other. Was that it? With such arge audience watching, a vigorous shake would have been more appropriate. Surely she knew how many dice there were? Did she really think she could win like that? What a joke! Charles had no intention of going easy on his opponent. He was determined to get his exclusive scoop on Simon. He prepared himself for a few seconds and began an borate routine that showed off his skills. He could barely see over the top of the table because he was so short. He shook the dice box for a few minutes, and when the crowd began to get restless, he mmed it down on the table. He opened the lid. There were four fives. He had it in the bag. He was a predator going against a rookie, and he was assured of his victory. He was triumphant and pleased at the fact that his skills were still intact. The onlookers gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Mr. Sanders is really good at it! He¡¯ll be hard to defeat!¡± Zoey stood beside Grace, sneering coldly at Charles. ¡°Don¡¯t count your chickens before they¡¯ve hatched. We¡¯ll see how good you really are when Grace reveals her dice.¡± Grace couldn¡¯t even be bothered to stand, and she smiled at Zoey. ¡°Open it for me.¡± She waspletely unafraid, as if she were just ying around. Zoey pushed it with the tip of her finger and revealed to everyone that it was four sixes! Grace leaned back in her chair and smiled contemptuously. ¡°Mr. Sanders, you lost.¡± Charles couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. How could she have gotten the highest number possible? Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. But everyone was looking, and there was no possibility of cheating. He stared glumly at the four sixes and sat back down on his chair. ¡°Mr. Sanders, you¡¯ve got to keep your promise. Time to take your clothes off.¡± Zoey was holding a professional camera used for interviews that had several lenses, one on top of the other, and her gaze sharpened. ¡°Let me be of service to you, Mr. Sanders. I¡¯ll personally do the video shooting, personally write the script, and present you with a trending issue.¡± Charlesughed awkwardly. ¡°Ms. Walters, you¡¯re so humorous. Wouldn¡¯t it be a waste of money to make me a trending topic?¡± ¡°I want to waste money! Hurry up, take it off!¡± Zoey couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue. Grace nced at Charles¡® figure. Would anyone really want to see this as the top story on the news? ¡°Mr. Sanders, you have to admit defeat. Take it off!¡± Everyone cajoled him. Charles had no choice but to take everything off in front of everyone, leaving only his underpants to protect his modesty. ¡°It looks like Ms. Lewis doesn¡¯t enter the battle unprepared. As expected, she¡¯s a schemer.¡± An old, hardy voice rang out behind them. Everyone¡¯s expressions changed, and a path was cleared at once. Richard, the chairman of Quine Group, was someone whose words held a lot of power. He had aplex web of connections and wasn¡¯t someone to be messed with. The crowd was aware of the fact that Richard¡¯s granddaughter, Yvvone, had gotten involved in Grace¡¯s marriage. They gathered around in silence, eager for Richard walked into the crowd and his henchmen pushed Charles aside roughly. Then, Richard took a seat. ¡°He was greedy. I just gave him a small warning.¡± Grace met his sly eyes without fear. She had heard many things about Richard. Behind the scenes, he was the one with the real power in Quine Group. Before she and Benjamin had gotten divorced, he had always been telling Benjamin to go over It wouldn¡¯t be a stretch to say that Richard was the instigator behind her marriage breaking up! ¡°Ms. Lewis, since you have such outstanding skills in gambling, will you y a round with this old man?¡± ¡°Why would I do that?¡± Grace lifted her head haughtily,pletely disregarding Richard. ¡°What do you have that I would want to bet on?¡± Richard suppressed his anger at Grace¡¯s attitude. ¡°The inte is buzzing with rumors of my granddaughter allegedly harming you.¡± Graceughed out loud. ¡°Mr. Quine Senior, you certainly have a way with words. Alleged? Hasn¡¯t she already been convicted?¡± Richard mmed the table furiously. ¡°The result is not conclusive!¡± Zoey said coldly, ¡°Do you really think you can shut the mouths of the public?¡± ¡°That depends on how I go about it.¡± Richard¡¯s eyes gleamed as he looked at Grace. ¡°If I win, I want you to hold a press conference and rify that it is not true. ¡°You must also personally admit that you were the one who came between Yvonne and Benjamin during their courtship. You were the third party in their rtionship! ¡°And today, you must take off all your clothes and walk out n*ked!¡± Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Chapter S1 Showdown Between Tricksters The onlookers were shocked. Richard was a legend in the gambling world of Pamore. He had kept a low profile for the past few years, but he was an absolute threatpared to half¨Cassed Charles. However, forcing a young person like this was inappropriate for an old man of his standing. Grace shrugged carelessly. ¡°What if you lose?¡± Richard was clearly here to antagonize her. Hmph! Was he joking? Admit that she was the third party in that rtionship? T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He was crazy. ¡°I will not lose!¡± Richard dered loudly. ¡°Just tell me whether or not you agree to this bet!¡± He was being an unreasonable bully using his power and authority, but no one dared speak up. ¡°If you lose, then make Yvonne kneel down in front of me to admit her wrongdoings, and make her p herself in the face for getting involved in my marr Grace¡¯s gaze fell on the diamond ring that Richard wore on his thumb. ¡°And ¡­ I want you to give me that diamond ring of yours as an apology!¡± Everyone¡¯s hearts were in their throats. The value of that diamond thumb ring was worth as much as a national treasure. Richard had worn it for many years, and its value was hard to estimate. It was one of his most treasured possessions. Everyone nced at Grace in awe, admiring her boldness. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you too afraid? You want me to take off all my clothes and be humiliated, so it stands to reason that you need to raise the stakes,¡± Grace said calmly. Richard twirled the ring on his finger furiously, biting down on his anger. He couldn¡¯t believe that this woman was eyeing his precious thumb ring! Thinking about how Quine Group¡¯s share prices had been fluctuating due to the rumors, his eyes turned cold as he said, ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Zoey asked Grace a little worriedly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Watch me.¡± Grace winked. Richard was confident that he would win. This woman was just lucky to have gotten four sixes, but he could get any number he wanted. He was sure that he would win this round. ¡°One round to decide the winner, no exceptions!¡± He grasped the dice box and shook it a few times, then set it down with a thump and opened it quickly. Four sixes! He had gotten the highest score on his first attempt. Everyone let out sighs of admiration and turned to look at Grace with concern. This was already the highest score one could get. What would she do? Just likest time, Grace shook it gently a few times and then set it down carelessly. She inclined her chin at Richard. ¡°My score¡¯s bigger than yours. You¡¯ve lost.¡± ¡°What nonsense is this? I¡¯ve never seen a higher score than mine,¡± Richard snorted derisively. Grace opened the lid of the dice box, and before anyone could see clearly, she walked over to Richard and held out her slender hand. ¡°Give me your thumb ring.¡± Everyone leaned forward to look and gasped. Five sixes! How could there be another one? There were clearly only four put in! ¡°You cheated!¡± Richard mmed the table again, roaring with fury. ¡°Don¡¯t be so violent. You might damage my diamond thumb ring.¡± Grace waspletely unfazed by Richard¡¯s anger andughed lightly. ¡°Even if I cheated, didn¡¯t you do it as well?¡± She pushed the dice box over, revealing a ma on the bottom. Richard¡¯s face was dark with anger, but years of experience had made him thick¨Cskinned. He continued to say without any shame, ¡°Since we both cheated, let¡¯s do it again!¡± Since he couldn¡¯t use any tricks, he would gamble seriously. He refused to believe that he wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat Grace today! a ¡°You said that we would decide in one round with no exceptions. We both cheated, so the only question is, who was the more skilled one?¡± Grace¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°You clearly lost.¡± Everyone realized at once that Grace was the true expert to be able to do all this without anyone noticing. ¡°The entire entertainment industry heard you. Are you thinking of going back on your word?¡± At this time, Zoey raised her camera and took a few photos. Then she lowered her head to check on them. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Quine Senior. It looks like the Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Remember to Kneel Everyone¡¯s attitude changed immediately. They had all thought Richard was an upright man, and they were surprised to see that he was just like everyon ¡°My goodness, taking back his words because he was discovered cheating! If he hadn¡¯t been discovered, then Ms. Lewis would have been humiliated for nothing.¡± ¡°It¡¯spletely immoral to force someone to say that they¡¯re the third party in a rtionship when they were the original partner.¡± ¡°We may be entertainment reporters, but we don¡¯t write stories that aren¡¯t true. Mr. Quine Senior must be getting soft in his old age!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no use being loud and bossy if he can only bluster.¡± Richard was so enraged that the veins on his n*eck were bulging out. Thements around him became more and more insulting. ¡°Here!¡± He pulled off the thumb ring roughly and was about to m it on the table. But he couldn¡¯t bear to do so and put it gently into Grace¡¯s palm instead. He said threateningly, ¡°You¡¯d better take good care of it. I¡¯ll be back for it soon.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see when that happens.¡± Grace cocked her head to one side and looked at Zoey, indicating that she was ready to leave. ¡°Ms. Lewis, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll help you find a proper box for your ring.¡± The waiter had been watching avidly from the sidelines and was full of admiration for Grace, the female ¡± gambling legend¡°. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Do you have any stic bags? Just put it in one for me.¡± Grace looked disinterested. ¡°We don¡¯t have to be so careful with something that can just be thrown aside.¡± Everyone was shocked by her statement. This was a priceless artifact on par with a national treasure. Richard valued it more than his life! But here she was, nning to put it in a stic bag! As her words fell, Richard felt greatly distressed. But he had already given her the ring, so all he could do was kick the chair in anger and leave, his face ¡°Mr. Quine Senior, don¡¯t forget about making Yvonne kneel down to me to apologize!¡± Grace reminded him. ¡°Hmph!¡± Richard walked even faster. Zoeyughed delightedly. ¡°It¡¯s a pity Yvonne didn¡¯te. If she had, she would have kneeled then and there, and it would all be done at once. It would h too.¡± Grace smiled. ¡°We still have time. There¡¯s no rush.¡± ¡°How are you so good at gambling?¡± Zoey was curious. ¡°I used to sneak out to the casino to y with Caleb, and every time we went, we would stay for a few months. ¡°I learned a lot just by watching them every day, so of course I have some skills. ¡°Caleb is even better than I am when ites to cheating. I¡¯ll get him to give you a show one day.¡± Zoey nodded and thought immediately of an appropriate headline-¡°Superstar Secretly a Gambling King.¡± It would surely be the top trending topic. But then, she would never randomly leak the secrets of the Lewis family. The two of them walked out,ughing. Benjamin¡¯s tall figure was standing beside the car. His well¨Ccut suit fit him perfectly, and his handsome features were cool and distant. Zoey thought that Benjamin¡¯s looks really were worth all the women in Pamore going crazy over him. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. But that was just his looks. Anyone would go crazy if they had to live with someone like him. He wasn¡¯t a good person. Grace acted as if she hadn¡¯t seen him and looked around for her car. When Benjamin saw Grace¡¯s outfit, his attention was immediately drawn to her. He had never seen her in this color. It made her look like a fairy in the night. The warm yellow lights at the door shone on her sculpted shoulders, making it look as if they were glowing. She was smiling and talking, and every movement tugged at his heartstrings, He walked up to her and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the thumb ring?¡± Grace looked sideways at Benjamin, her gaze scornful. ¡°You¡¯re so obedient. You¡¯re always being sent to ask for things.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t need that.¡± Benjamin¡¯s cold gaze was fixed on Grace. ¡°I¡¯m willing to buy it at market price. Is a check eptable?¡± He hadn¡¯t wanted to get involved, but Richard had used Alexander against him again. He¡¯d had no choice but toe. ¡°He told you toe and get it? How are you so sure that I¡¯ll hand it over?¡± Grace¡¯s slender n*eck and proudly lifted head made her seem even more elegant and striking. ¡°You can get hundreds of millions for nothing. You won¡¯t be making a loss through this deal. Just think of it as mypensation to you for what happened during our marriage.¡± ¡°Are you an idiot?¡± Grace looked at him in disgust. ¡°I won this. You should pay me for it if you want it. Why the hell would this bepensation?¡± Benjamin was stumped. He definitely hadn¡¯t thought things through before speaking. Although there was no longer any rtionship between them, he couldn¡¯t help but mention their marriage whenever he met Grace. Even he felt that he was being ridiculous. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Go Home and Keep Dreaming At this time, there was the sound of a top¨Cnotch sports car engine. Out of the crowd of expensive cars, a sleek, royal blue sports car stopped in front of Grace and Zoey. Caleb¡¯s right arm was still in a cast, and he got down from the passenger seat. ¡°Gracie, I¡¯m here!¡± Grace looked worriedly at the cast on Caleb¡¯s right arm. ¡°Your arm hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet, and you¡¯re already running around.¡± She hade back to the country secretly in order for Caleb to continue recuperating in Frenda, but he had still followed her here. ¡°It¡¯s because I missed you! Since my injury is fine, how could I note back to apany you?¡± Caleb nced at Benjamin and snorted coldly, as if indicating that this was his territory. He motioned to the chauffeur to give the keys to Grace and said, better drive today.¡± ¡°You still trust me?¡± Grace looked at the key in her hand with a hint of hesitance in her eyes. In the nights following the car ident, she would asionally jolt awake from nightmares. She had dreamt that Caleb had died and that she could neve It was all because of Yvonne! ¡°Of course.¡± Caleb bumped Grace with his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good chance for me to try out your new car.¡± Grace smiled lightly. It was all in the past. She didn¡¯t believe that Yvonne would dare try it a second time. Grace was in control of her own life, and she wouldn¡¯t lose to a little trauma. Before he left, Caleb looked at Benjamin with a cold, stern expression that he had never shown before. ¡°Watch out for that mistress of yours. Don¡¯t let her do whatever she wants. ¡°If Grace had insisted on handing over this car ident business to the police, we wouldn¡¯t have been afraid to settle this ourselves.¡± Benjamin felt frustration surge up inside him, and he suddenly shouted to Grace, ¡°When the baby¡¯s born, I¡¯ll leave Yvonne!¡± Seeing that Grace had no reaction to that, Benjamin was still unwilling to give up. ¡°When that timees, could you forget about all this? Let¡¯s start again¨C¡± He hadn¡¯t even finished when Grace suddenly stopped. Benjamin¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Had she been waiting for him to change his mind? Grace turned and walked toward Benjamin with a smile on her l*ps. She raised her eyebrows and ruthlessly stomped her foot down. Her sharp stilettos pierced through Benjamin¡¯s shoe, and she ground down on his foot mercilessly. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Grace stared at Benjamin. ¡°Are you awake now? Go home and keep dreaming!¡± Benjamin bore through the pain, a hint of disappointment shing across his knitted brow. So it had all been in his imagination. The long periods of neglect and hurt couldn¡¯t be forgiven and forgotten with just a word from him. Grace pulled her heel out of his shoe and left with Caleb and Zoey. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± They had just sent Zoey back home and were on the way back to Lewis Manor when Caleb said his arm hurt. Grace was anxious and immediately began heading towards the hospital. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. They entered the emergency department, and after checking Caleb, the doctor said that it was due to fatigue. Grace felt reassured. It was natural to be exhausted after such a long flight. Afterward, the emergency doctor pulled open the curtain on the bed next to them and said bluntly, ¡°It¡¯s just normal fetal movement. There¡¯s no need to m a fuss.¡± Yvonne touched her stomach with her slender hands, her expression rxing. ¡°As long as it¡¯s fine.¡± After she had been exposed for her role in the car ident, Benjamin¡¯s attitude toward her had be much worse. This child was her only hope. ¡°Gracie, shall I avenge you?¡± Caleb looked at Yvonne on the next bed as he smiled cryptically. Here? Avenge her for what? Grace had her back to Caleb and hadn¡¯t noticed the person beside them. Yvonne felt eyes on her. When she looked up, she saw that Grace was standing opposite her, Thinking about Grace¡¯s victory that night, Yvonne stood up challengingly. ¡°Grace! Give me my grandfather¡¯s thumb ring back!¡± Grace finally realized what Caleb had meant. She didn¡¯t want to give Yvonne any attention and took Caleb¡¯s arm, ready to leave. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you. Didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± Yvonne hurried over to block Grace¡¯s path. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Cried Wolf Too Many Times Grace stood still. ¡°p yourself in the face, kneel down, and apologize! You still need to do both of these things. What are you being so arrogant for?¡± Yvonne was enraged. ¡°Are you crazy? Why would I kneel down to a woman like you?¡± The cold, indifferent expression on Grace¡¯s face was what she hated the most. She hated the fact that she had failed to kill Grace and had gotten herself into a load of trouble instead. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to kneel. In any case, once the baby is born, you¡¯ll still have to go to jail. I have plenty of time to watch you reap the rewards you sowed ¡°Even if I go to jail, I will still give birth to the fruit of love between Benjamin and I. Our bond will never be broken,¡± Yvonne snorted coldly. ¡°Unlike you. You had nothing even after three years of marriage, not even an egg!¡± Grace¡¯s gaze turned chilly at once. This was her ultimate trigger. The most humiliating thing she had heard during that marriage was this! She thought about how Yvonne had set up a car ident to harm her and was evading justice because she was pregnant. Now she was swaggering around and trying to intimidate her! Grace was unable to suppress her rage any longer. She went up to Yvonne and grabbed her cor, pulling her over backward as if picking up a chick. ¡°Say that again!¡± Yvonne was petite, and she sl*pped, falling backward and hanging in mid¨Cair. If Grace let go, she would fall to the ground immediately. She was far along in her pregnancy, and there would definitely be consequences if she were to fall. She panicked immediately. ¡°I¡¯m a pregnant woman! D ¡°Weren¡¯t you very cocky just now?¡± Graceughed coldly. ¡°Are you scared?¡± Yvonne nodded helplessly, trembling. She looked around her and realized that it waste at night, so there was no one around to help her. ¡°Are you going to kneel down and apologize?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± Grace wasn¡¯t really nning on doing anything. She only wanted to shut Yvonne up, and she was sure that she wouldn¡¯t hurt her. Then, she flung Yvonne forward viciously and let go. Yvonne¡¯s face was streaked with tears of fright, and her legs gave out as she sank on the floor, still in shock. Then, she saw Benjamin walking over. ¡°Benjamin, this woman pushed me and the baby!¡± This scene was eerily simr to the one at the photo exhibition in Frenda. Benjamin¡¯s expression was cold, and he found Yvonne¡¯s tearfulints annoying. He didn¡¯t even help Yvonne up, as he didn¡¯t believe a wording out of her mouth. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He frowned as he looked at Grace and asked concernedly. ¡°Why are you at the hospital? Have you fully recovered from the car ident injury?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about her. My Gracie is fine!¡± Caleb had had enough. He slung his arm around Grace¡¯s shoulder intimately and began walking t Yvonne struggled to stand up by herself and asked tearfully, ¡°Benjamin, why won¡¯t you protect me anymore?¡± Benjamin nced coldly at Yvonne. ¡°If you cry wolf too many times, no one will believe you any longer.¡± Yvonne hadn¡¯t received a word offort, and the only thing she could do was weep silently as she followed Benjamin out. : A few dayster, in the general manager¡¯s office, Luke reported to Grace, ¡°Ms. Lewis, the preliminary discussions with Barnes Group are pretty much done. ¡°In a few days, Mr. Barnes will return from overseas, and we¡¯ll speak in detail about the issue of the technology updates.¡± Luke took the signed folder of documents from Grace. ¡°Okay.¡± Luke remained standing behind Grace even though he had said everything that he needed to say. Grace turned and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving? Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis¡­ Just now, Hawkins Group announced that the engagement between their . Grace¡¯s gaze gradually became icy, and she looked scornful. ¡°An adulterous couple. They deserve each other.¡± Her phone rang, pulling Grace out of her thoughts. It was Caleb. ¡°Gracie, can youe with me today to choose the theme for essories for my next concert, please?¡± Jacob had forced Caleb to stay home and rest, and his movements were reported the moment he tried to sneak out. Now the only thing he could do was think of some excuses for Grace, who was the one giving the orders. ¡°No, you still need to rest for a few days.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just going to choose some styles. It¡¯s not hard work at all! Let¡¯s go!¡± Graceughed resignedly. Her third¨C oldest brother really couldn¡¯t stay still, even for a day.¡± Alright, it¡¯s almost time to get off work. Tell Jacob to send you over.¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, I can finally go out!¡± The two of them went to VERE Jewelry. This time there was no one who dared disrespect Grace, and the staff member who had suspected Grace of stealing the n*e had been fired long ago. After Lydia had revealed revealed Grace¡¯s identity as the designer for the main piece at the jewelry exhibition, all the shop assistants were all starry¨C eyed whenever they looked at Grace. And¡­ Simon hade with her! He was a top celebrity! The rumors of their rtionship must be real! Everyone was desperate to send a photo of the beautiful couple out to the world, but they could only suppress this desire/as it was still work hours. Grace helped Caleb choose a few pieces and gave some suggestions on what to match them with. Suddenly, she heard someone speaking in the doorw ¡°Let¡¯s choose our wedding rings from VERE Jewelry for our engagement. What do you think?¡± Chapter 85 Chapter 85 wedding rings from VERE Jewelry for our engagement. What do you think?¡± Chapter 85 Engaged Although she knew there was no need to do so, Grace still looked toward the sound of the voices. It was Benjamin and Yvonne, her old friends. She started to ponder what a small ce Pamore was. Yvonne pulled on Benjamin¡¯s hand, leading him into the shop. At the sight of them looking like a couple, Grace¡¯s heart sank. An indescribable sense of bitterness swept over her, and it was as if time stood still. She had just heard the news of their engagement, and now she had run into them shopping for their wedding rings¡­ In their three years of marriage, the only thing that Benjamin had ever given her was that wedding ring. He hadn¡¯t even bothered to get her measurements, so she had been reduced to measuring it secretly while he had slept. Now, he hade personally with Yvonne to choose wedding rings at the jewelry store. Grace only felt a sense of betrayal. She had been betrayed by her own foolish self in the past. She felt some pressure on her shoulder, and Caleb appeared behind her. He clumsily held up a blue diamond ring with his bandaged hand and asked her lightly, ¡°What do you think of my taste?¡± Grace immediately pushed aside her negative emotions and took the ring. She smiled lightly.¡± It¡¯s not bad. You picked the ring that your sister designed.¡± ¡°Of course. You and I are soulmates: Now I¡¯m going to give it to you as a present. What do you think?¡± Caleb came round in front of Grace, and his impossibly handsome face came closer to hers, blocking Benjamin and Yvonne with his tall, strong b*dy. ¡°I don¡¯t want it. I don¡¯t know what rumors will spread online about that.¡± Grace shook her head in refusal. Calebughed cheekily and really went down on one knee, holding up the blue diamond ring. ¡± My princess, will you put this on for me?¡± ¡°Aaahhhhh!¡± The shop assistants grabbed each other¡¯s hands, screaming in excitement. Was Simon going to propose? Moreover, he was using the ring that Grace had designed herself! Even if they didn¡¯t receive their wages today, it would be worth it. This was huge news! Grace had no power to resist Caleb¡¯s cheeky, fond gaze and could only pretend to be angry as she hit his shoulder lightly. ¡°Stop ying around and get The shop assistants were even more shocked. Was Ms. Lewis rejecting superstar Simon¡¯s proposal? She was amazing! She was ying hard to get! The floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows in the shop were all transparent. When the reporters who had been following Caleb saw this scene, they began taking photos furiously. Immediately after, they all surged inside the shop to interview them. ¡°Simon, are you and Ms. Lewis getting married soon?¡± Caleb shrugged. ¡°Everyone saw it. Ms. Lewis rejected me, so I¡¯ve got to put in more effort.¡® The reportersughed at that and asked again, ¡°Have you decided that Ms. Lewis is the o went through life and death together in that car ident?¡± Calebughed. ¡°I¡¯d better not say too much. I¡¯ll leave that to your imagination.¡± The atmosphere was lighthearted, without any tension between celebrity and reporter. He handled the media skillfully, giving them something to write about while not saying anything too concrete. He was an expert in the art of public rtions. ¡°Well, Simon, if there¡¯s good news, then remember to let us know!¡± ¡°Yes, we want first¨Chand news.¡± ¡°No problem. Could you allow me and my princess to continue choosing rings?¡± Caleb smiled charmingly, hinting that it was time for them to go. The reporters took the hint and left. Yvonne looked at Grace, who was the object of everyone¡¯s envy, and she dug her nails viciously into her palms. She smiled slyly. ¡°Benjamin, look at Ms. Lewis. On one side, she¡¯s seducing the future chairman of Amirate Corporation, and now superstar Simon has p At her words, Benjamin¡¯s face darkened, and unbridled rage shed in his eyes. He and Yvonne were getting engaged because Richard was forcing them to. Was Grace also getting married? She was considering so many men! She had really changed and be a fickle woman! On impulse, he walked over. ¡°You already have Aaron, so why are you in an ambiguous rtionship with Simon?¡± ¡°What is wrong with you? Why do you keep hanging around us like a fly, and how is this any of your business?¡± Caleb pushed Benjamin¡¯s shoulder impatiently. The two men faced each other, and the tension was palpable. Calebpletely disregarded his arm injury. Even if he could only use one arm, he would beat Benjamin up if it came to that. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. He hadn¡¯t forgotten how he hadn¡¯t managed to beat him up when Benjamin and Grace had gotten married. Caleb would be content with beating him up now that they were divorced! Grace put down the ring slowly, her gaze indifferent. She said contemptuously, ¡°Who are you to ask, Mr. Hawkins?¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Chapter 86 You¡¯re the Blind One ¡°As the fianc¨¦ of the Quine family¡¯s daughter or as my ex¨Chusband?¡± Grace spoke each word carefully. ¡°Think for yourself. Which identity makes you qualified?¡± Benjamin was taken aback, realizing he had crossed a line. He was the least qualified person to ask such a question, as he was now choosing an engagement ring with someone else. At once, Benjamin walked to Yvonne¡¯s side. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes gleamed with triumph. ¡°But we haven¡¯t picked a ring yet.¡± ¡°We can go somewhere else.¡± Yvonne quickly followed him and looped her arms around his before saying softly, ¡°Wait for me.¡± After they left, the smile on Grace¡¯s face faded. ¡°Are you still upset?¡± Caleb looked at her. ¡°If you say another word, I¡¯ll tell Aaron that you¡¯re bullying me,¡± Grace threatened. Caleb quickly begged for mercy. ¡°Please don¡¯t. Aaron asked me to take care of you. I¡¯ll be in trouble if you tell him that.¡± When they returned to Lewis Manor, Timothy had been sitting in the living room for a while. Seeing the two with shopping bags in their hands, he said pitifully, ¡°Mdy, why didn¡¯t you invite me before you went shopping with Caleb?¡± Caleb and Timothy had known each other since childhood, and they always seemed to be at odds. But it was mostly Caleb bullying Timothy. Caleb disliked Timothy since they had been children because thetter had once said Grace was ugly. Because of that, he¡¯d had to tell Grace that she wasn¡¯t ugly but extremely beautiful. ¡°I only found out the news because it¡¯s trending online. I came here right after I got off the ne.¡± Timothy leaned on the couch, looking exhausted from ¡°How¡¯s the project going?¡± Grace adopted a professional tone. His workload was indeed heavy since he had been working on an overseas project. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Lewis.¡± Timothy smiled. ¡°I¡¯m at home now. Let¡¯s not talk about work.¡± ¡°If she doesn¡¯t talk to you about work, what else would she talk about?¡± Caleb threw a pillow at Timothy. ¡°We can talk about dreams and life. Of course, they¡¯re nothingpared to your public proposal stunt in a jewelry store.¡± Timothy showed his phone screen. ¡°Look. It¡¯s trending with different kinds of hashtags.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t your female fans going to attack mdy?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My fans will love Gracie.¡± Caleb rolled his eyes at Timothy. Suddenly, Timothy seemed to have stumbled upon something interesting. ¡°My goodness, is Ben going to get engaged to Yvonne?¡± Smacking his l*ps, he shook his head. ¡°Everyone in my bro circle is saying that he¡¯s marrying a rich wife this time. ¡°But I think he¡¯s blind for letting go of mdy, the billion¨Cdor gold mine. Such a shame!¡± He would definitely not tell Benjamin the truth. Secrets like these should be used to catch him off guard. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the blind one?¡± Grace stared at Timothy with an eerie smile, sending a chill down his spine. He would never forget that his mdy held grudges for a long time. Of all the things he could have said, he just had to bring this up. The ultimate reason why Benjamin had gotten the opportunity to steal her was because Timothy had missed his chance with her. Smiling, Caleb watched the fun from the side and used Timothy¡¯s words against him. ¡°Such a shame!¡± After dinner, Timothy leaned against the door with a cheap grin. ¡°There are so many rooms in your house. How about letting me stay here for the night?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Before Grace could speak, Caleb sent a kick to Timothy¡¯s butt. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. In Quine Group, Benjamin was summoned by Richard to the chairman¡¯s office. ¡°Yvonne said that you didn¡¯t even want to pick a ring. Is that true?¡± Richard¡¯s tone was reproachful. Calmly, Benjamin replied, ¡°I need to reconsider my engagement with Yvonne.¡± He hadn¡¯tpletely moved on from his previous marriage, and his mind was filled with Agreeing to the engagement had been an impulsive move. Or perhaps the divorce had been the same. At his words, Richard mmed his desk and red at Benjamin. ¡°You¡¯ve already announced it to the public! How can you change your mind now?¡± Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 A Trap for You ¡°I¡¯ll exin it to the public,¡± Benjamin said, then decisively left. The moment he left, Richard threw his cup at the door. He took a deep breath before making a call. ¡°I need you to do something. Make it clean.¡± ¡°Grace Lewis.¡± His eyes shone with ruthlessness. ¡°Let me teach you a lesson and let you know This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. the power of the Quine family in Pamore.¡± A weekter, it was time for Amirate¡¯s meeting with Barnes Group to discuss software updates. Grace and Luke went together. This time, the other directors of Barnes Group would also attend the meeting. They were going to discuss further technological innovations. As they entered the conference room, Grace noticed the tense atmosphere. Albert and Benjamin were sitting there in silence. ¡°Why the serious look, Mr. Barnes?¡± she asked after putting down her bag. Without a word, Albert crossed his hands on the table. His once cheerful eyes now showed clear frustration. He turned to Nicole and said, ¡°Exin the situation to Ms. Lewis.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, just an hour ago, arge number of important encryption files for nanorobots appeared on the dark web. Though no one has cracked the sou Nicole¡¯s gaze was cold. ¡°I remember that the source code was shared with Amirate just two days ago. How did it leak today?¡± ¡°Ms. Pate, are you suggesting that we leaked the files?¡± Grace smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t make baseless usations without evidence.¡± ¡°We just shared the files with Amirate, and now this happened. It¡¯s hard not to connect the dots.¡± At this point, Nicole concluded. ¡°Perhaps you did it on purpose, Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace sneered. ¡°Ms. Pate, I¡¯m starting to wonder how you got your position as a director. Can¡¯t you think rationally? Feeling ridiculed, Nicole clenched her fists on the table. ¡°Perhaps we upset you previously, so you purposely made things difficult for us.¡± Grace stared at her coldly, making her feel somewhat uneasy. impulsive as you are?¡± ¡°Do you think everyone is as Refusing to back down, Nicole was about to retaliate but was interrupted by Albert. ¡°Alright, quiet down.¡± Frowning, he asked Benjamin, ¡°What do you think about this?¡± The silent Benjamin cast a nce at Grace and then returned to normal. ¡°Ms. Lewis has got a point. Besides¡­ I¡¯ve worked with her, and she¡¯s not the kind who brings personal grudges to work.¡± His words made Grace raise an eyebrow. Was Benjamin defending her? However, she wasn¡¯t feeling grateful. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, maybe she has changed since you divorced her. Being so sure makes you seem like you¡¯re covering up for her.¡± It was clear that Nicole w At once, Benjamin stared at Nicole intensely. ¡°Shut up.¡± It was rare to hear him speak so harshly. Nicole had never been spoken to like that before. She turned red but finally fell silent. ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time to hunt down whoever leaked the information. The encryption on the source code is likely to be cracked within half a day.¡± Albert was anxious. After all, nanorobots were crucial for Barnes Group¡¯s finances for the next five quarters. He couldn¡¯t ept paving the path of se for others if the code was cracked. ¡°I just checked. This news has already spread. In just 30 minutes, Barnes Group¡¯s stock price has fallen by ten percent, and it¡¯s still dropping.¡± ¡°If the code is cracked, we will be left with nothing.¡± The shareholders began to express their concerns. Following that, everyone became perturbed. For Albert to say such pessimistic words indicated that the situation was indeed catastrophic. ¡°The source code won¡¯t be cracked.¡± Grace¡¯s voice resonated in the conference room. Everyone looked up when they heard that. A smile shed across Nicole¡¯s l*ps, but she quickly put on a troubled expression just like +15 BON ¡°What are you talking about, Ms. Lewis? The hackers on the dark web are all world¨Css experts.¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Victor Is Here Albert had the same doubts as Nicole. ¡°Are you joking, Ms. Lewis? Perhaps while we¡¯re talking, a hacker has already cracked it.¡± ¡°Trust me. That won¡¯t happen.¡± Grace confidently leaned back in her chair and whispered to Luke, ¡°Is he here yet?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be here in ten minutes,¡± Luke replied. Smiling, Grace exuded confidence. ¡°Everyone, just follow me downstairs to meet someone.¡± Everyone in the room was puzzled and even thought that she was kidding. ¡°Are you really asking everyone here to wee someone at a time like this?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t she understand how serious the situation is how?¡± ¡°This is ridiculous!¡± Grace paid no attention to thesements. As she stood up, she told everyone present, Don¡¯t regret it.¡± Suddenly, Benjamin stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. Though Albert felt uneasy, he had no choice but to follow the two major shareholders. With the president following along, how could the others stay behind? Naturally, the directors followed suit. With Grace in the lead, arge group of people stood behind her, eagerly awaiting someone¡¯s arrival. In the distance, a yellow cab approached them. Everyone was puzzled, for they thought that a significant person was arriving, but it turned out to be this? Following that, a gentleman towering six feet and two inches stepped out of the cab. He was dressed in a ck casual outfit, giving him a low¨C profile yet elegant appearance. A ¡°You¡¯re here!¡± The moment Grace saw Victor Lewis step out of the cab, she dashed forward and gave him a big hug. After that, she whispered in his ear, ¡°I¡¯m really counting on you this time, Victor.¡± ¡°Easy¨Cpeasy,¡± Victor calmly replied. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of it on the way here.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Smiling, Grace hooked her arms around his. ¡°Really? I knew you were the best.¡± ¡°Such a honey tongue.¡± He caressed her head affectionately. Victor worked at the National Cybersecurity Department and was ranked as the world¡¯s number one hacker on the dark web, known as AK. Thinking of the potential risks, Grace had contacted him and asked him toe to Pamore. Over the past three months, he had assisted in safeguarding However, she hadn¡¯t expected that trouble would appear so soon. It seemed she had underestimated the troublemaker. Amirate¡¯s general manager¡¯s actions were truly baffling and left everyone regretting their decision toe down. ¡°Allow me to introduce him. This is the engineer I invited to encrypt the project. He haspletely removed the source code from the dark web.¡± After saying that, Grace led Victor upstairs, leaving the voices of discussions behind her. ¡°It¡¯s already settled? It can¡¯t be true!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that? Do we know anything about him?¡± Remaining silent, Benjamin looked at the departing two people with a dark expression. Who was that? Why were they being so intimate in front of everyone? When they returned to the conference room, Albert checked the situation again and found that it was indeed as Grace had said. Instantly, he breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s finally settled.¡± He took a sip of water and nced at Victor, who was typing away at hisptop. ¡°How should we address you, Mr. Engineer?¡± ¡°Call me Double¨COh Eight.¡± Albert was taken aback by the name, wondering why someone would be called that. On second thoughts, he figured that the engineer probably wanted to keep his identity secret, so he didn¡¯t find it strange. Awkwardly, Grace smiled at Albert. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. His name is indeed quite unique.¡± She made a funny face at Victor, her second brother, but he gave no reaction. This time, Victor hade to help her during his vacation, so he certainly didn¡¯t want to reveal his identity. Yet, he just had to choose such an odd name. It was something only his peculiar mind could ¡°It¡¯s like you knew this would happen from the beginning, Ms. Lewis. You¡¯re amazing.¡± Grace nodded. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I simply considered the possibility of someone causing trouble.¡± ¡°Now that the major problem is resolved¡­¡± She turned around and raised an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s time to find the real leaker.¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Let¡¯s Go, Double¨COh Eight ¡°Am I right, Ms. Pate?¡± Grace looked at Nicole with a faint smile. At being suddenly called out, Nicole smiled awkwardly. ¡°You¡¯re right, Ms. Lewis.¡± As Grace fidgeted with her blue diamond ring on her finger, she looked at Nicole with a sharp gaze. ¡°Why did youe in sote, Ms. Pate?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Nicole pointed at herself. ¡°I went to the restroom. Can¡¯t I attend to my nature calls?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not as simple as a restroom break.¡± Grace took the documents Luke handed her and threw them all in front of Nicole. ¡°Weren¡¯t you informing your men who were bottom¨Cfishing Barnes¡® stock to stop?¡± Albert picked up the documents. He only read one page and immediately realized what she meant. His voice became notably lower, like the calm before a storm. ¡°Ms. Pate, please exin.¡± Although there was a dense mass of documents in front of her, Nicole hadn¡¯t even looked at them. She was growing anxious, for she couldn¡¯t believe that Grace had discovered her secret moves. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace smiled. ¡°There is enough evidence here.¡± ¡°You intentionally leaked the nanorobots¡® source code after they were shared with Amirate. ¡°Then, you tipped off the stock market, causing panic among the investors and leading to a massive sell¨Coff. ¡°With that, you were able toreap all the benefits and bottom¨Cfish Barnes¡® stock.¡± ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare say these things without proof, Ms. Pate.¡± Nicole quicklyposed herself and began to defend her actions. ¡°Mr. Barnes, I had people bottom¨Cfishing the stock to prevent it from falling into outsiders¡® hands. I really had no ulterior motives.¡± Albert had never imagined that one of his trusted directors would backstab him right under his nose. What was worse, he hadn¡¯t even noticed it. Instead, it had been exposed by one of his partners. Calmly, he said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, Mr. Hawkins, I will thoroughly investigate this and provide you with an exnation.¡± ¡°Mr. Barnes, with someone like this trying to sabotage our cooperation, I¡¯m concerned about our future coboration.¡± Grace spoke these threatening wo She was using the threat of withdrawing her investment. It had worked before, and she hoped it would work again. She had to ensure that this coboration was a sess. So Nicole was the ticking time bomb she had to guard against. Since Nicole had been working alongside Albert for years, strong measures were needed to force him to remove this threat. At this moment, Benjamin chimed in. ¡°Hawkins Group needs to reconsider the coboration as well.¡± Grace smiled at his words. It seemed like Benjamin had also considered the potential risks. While they weren¡¯t allies, they sharedmon financial goals. He couldn¡¯t afford to ignore these possible dangers. In fact, Grace had indirectly helped him by solving the dark web issue today. Helped him? She felt irritated thinking anout it. Faced with pressure from the investors and the hopeful eyes of the directors, Albert ultimately made a decision. ¡°Ms. Pate, starting today, you will no longer hold any position within Barnes Group.¡± In disbelief, Nicole wondered if Albert had really ¡­ fired her. ¡°As for the shares acquired through leaked information, I will leave that to ourwyers to handle the litigation.¡± Having lost everything, Nicole slumped in her chair. Grace got up to leave after receiving a satisfactory response from Albert. She walked over to Victor, who was rapidly typing on his keyboard. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Double¨COh Eight.¡± nkly, Victor raised his head and closed hisptop. ¡°Okay.¡± Affectionately, she helped him ce hisptop in his bag and then led him away. Albert watched their departure and couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°It¡¯s rare to see Ms. Lewis treat someone this way. I think he¡¯s more than just an engineer Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Chapter 90 He¡¯s Impotent ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± Benjamin said coldly. ¡°My crisis has been resolved, but I had to make some sacrifices.¡± Albert handed a bottle of water to Benjamin. ¡°What about you? I heard you¡¯re about to ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet.¡± Benjamin pushed away the bottle of water and left. : On the way back, Victor suddenly asked, ¡°Was the one who spoke up for you Benjamin?¡± Grace was annoyed at his words. ¡°He wasn¡¯t speaking up for me. He invested in the project too! ¡°Well, he¡¯s not bad¨Clooking. But since he¡¯s not interested in women, he¡¯s not suitable for you. It¡¯s good that you divorced him.¡± He nodded. Speechless, she thought, ¡°His mouth is really¡­¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. That¡¯s why I divorced him.¡± Back then when she had married Benjamin, Victor had been far away across the ocean, unable to travel back due to his responsibilities. To check Grace¡¯s husband¡¯s character, he had secretly hacked into Benjamin¡¯sputer and thoroughly checked it. Surprisingly, he had found that Benj At that time, Victor had suspected that Benjamin was impotent. He had sent the findings to Grace in an email, which she had promptly ignored. Looking back on their three years of S**less marriage, Grace did have her doubts about Benjamin¡¯s abilities in bed. But how had he ended up having a child with Yvonne? That was worth thinking about. ¡°Why did youe back alone this time, Victor? Where¡¯s my sister¨Cinw?¡± ¡°She¡¯s either still in my dreams or hasn¡¯t been born yet. In any case¡­ I haven¡¯t met her,¡® Victor replied innocently. ¡°I don¡¯t care. You need to find her soon. Otherwise, given your boring personality, you¡¯ll end up dying alone.¡± Grace shook his shoulder, making himugh. Her eldest brother, Aaron, was too mature and always stern, like their father. On the contrary, her third brother, Caleb, was wild. He was always more un Only her second brother, Victor, was calm and thoughtful. He would quietly listen to herints and wild ideas. Grace had Luke drive her back to thepany before having him drop Victor home to surprise Caleb. As expected, Caleb called her toin just moments after she had started work. ¡°Gracie! I can¡¯t believe it. Victor dismantled the humidifier in my room He continued, ¡°Come pick me up for a drive. It¡¯s better than staying here with a robot.¡± On the other end of the phone, Graceughed. ¡°You two, stay home and don¡¯t fight.¡± Receiving no solution for hisint, Caleb hung up the phone. Meanwhile, Grace continued to work diligently. When she finally raised her head, it was already 11 pm. She walked out and noticed that Luke hadn¡¯t left yet, so the two of them left the building together. Luke was driving Grace home when they reached a dimly lit intersection. As the traffic light turned green, he had just started to move when suddenly, arge group of menacing men rushed toward them. Each of them was wielding long knives, and they blocked the car¡¯s path. Luke attempted to reverse, but the rear of the car was also blocked. Those men pounded on the car windows and shouted for them to get out. ¡°Call the police, Ms. Lewis, and stay in the car. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± His voice was trembling. Though he had extensive experience as an assistant, he had rarely encountered such a situation. He tried to reassure himself and was about to open the door when Grace stopped him from the back seat. ¡°You going down won¡¯t help. They¡¯re here for me.¡± Grace was calm. ¡°You stay in the car. I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Swallowing hard, Luke looked at her through the rearview mirror and saw a determined gleam in her eyes. In that instant, he wasn¡¯t that nervous and afraid anymore. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The burly men outside continued to pound on the car doors. Suddenly, a leg with high heels kicked from inside the car, and the rear door flung open. The kick sent a man with the knife flying into the distant bushes. Everyone was shocked, and all eyes turned to the tattooed man lighting a cigarette. ¡°Boss, weren¡¯t we dealing with a weakdy today? No one said she would bring a b*dyguard with her!¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Dealt with the Thugs in Minutes Grace opened the door and stepped out of the car ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I had a good stretch.¡± She scanned the group of men in front of her. ¡± Are youing together, or one by one?¡± The group of burly men with knives were eager to fight her. They looked at their unconscious buddy in the bushes and then inside the car. When they realized that there was just one person, they let down their guard. Just then, the tattooed man with a cigarette approached Grace. ¡°You can see it yourself. We¡¯ve got the numbers. Hand over the thumb ring, and we¡¯ll go easy on you.¡® 11 Grace scoffed. ¡°I see. Richard sent you.¡± ¡°Stop talking, b*tch. Are you handing it over or not?¡± Grace swiftly snatched the cigarette from his mouth and extinguished it on his forehead; followed by a side kick that sent him flying. Sternly, she said, ¡°You¡¯re the one talking too much. I¡¯ll deal with you first.¡± ¡°Damn it, you dare hit me?¡± The tattooed man got up from the ground and spat out the teeth that had been knocked out of his mouth. ¡°Get her!¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The entire group closed in. One by one, they let out cries of pain as they were kicked away. In less than ten minutes, they were all on the ground, moaning in pain. Grace approached the tattooed man and looked at him in disdain. ¡°Are you the boss?¡± ¡°Kind¡­ of.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t like this when you said you were going to beat me.¡± Grace kicked him. ¡°Tie yourselves up in pairs and go to the police station.¡± ¡°No! Maybe we can skip that,dy. We promise there won¡¯t be a next time.¡± ¡°Do you want to die here on the street, or do you want to go to the police station and turn yourselves in?¡± Her gaze grew increasingly dangerous, making the tattooed man believe she meant every word she said. ¡°We¡¯ll go! We¡¯ll go!¡± Afraid that Grace might change her mind, the tattooed man quickly Seeing that everything had been settled, Grace got inside the car. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Luke.¡± This time, Luke looked at her with clear admiration in his eyes. But being a professional assistant, be quickly returned to normal. ¡°Certainly, Ms. Lewis. On the way back to Lewis Manor, Luke couldn¡¯t help but express his concern. ¡°Ms. Lewis, should we report this to the president?¡± ¡°No need. They were just a bunch of amateurs. I can handle them. With Richard¡¯s thumb ring still with me, he won¡¯t dare do anything serious.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°By the way, when we get back home, help me find the thumb ring.¡± Grace continued, ¡°After I won it that day, I probably threw it into the trunk of one of the cars. I remember it was in a red stic bag. Help me find it in the garageter.¡± Hearing that, Luke didn¡¯t know what to say. She had only remembered the thumb ring after Richard had sent out a team of thugs to retrieve it. Moreover, she kept something worth millions in a stic bag. Truly impressive! When Grace returned home, she found that Caleb and Victor were video chatting with Aaron, who was in Darai. In the background, an elderly man who seemed to be in good spirits was lying on a hospital bed. He was Harold Lewis, the true owner of the Lewis Corporation. ¡°Grandpa! You¡¯re awake!¡± Grace rushed to the screen. Tears welled up in her eyes, for she med herself for what had happened to him. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t listen to you and made you fall ill.¡± ¡°Silly girl. Let me have a good look at you.¡± An old but strong voice sounded. Grace wiped her tears and lifted her head. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll fly to Darai to see you tomorrow.¡± ¡°The doctor says I¡¯m recovering well, so don¡¯t worry. Oh, I heard from Aaron that you¡¯ve been inanaging Amirate¡¯s branch in Pamore excellently. You¡¯re m Harold continued, ¡°By the way, it will be my 70th birthday in a few days. You muste back to celebrate with me.¡± ¡°Grandpa, howe you¡¯re only asking Gracie to go back and not me?¡± Caleb chimed in. Suddenly, Harold¡¯s kindly expression turned stern. ¡°Why else? You said all sorts of stupid things at the concert, and Gracie had to endure insults from yo ¡°I¡¯m already being kind enough by not settling the score with you.¡± After being scolded, Caleb didn¡¯t dare retort and just mumbled, ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it. I was too excited at the concert.¡± X Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Cut Your Losses Noticing the tense atmosphere, Aaron tried to defuse it by asking Caleb, ¡°Even if Grandpa didn¡¯t ask you toe back, will you dare note?¡± ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s Grandpa¡¯s birthday. I have to be there.¡± Caleb didn¡¯t dare lift his head after being scolded. Suddenly, Grace chuckled, Only Aaron and Harold could control Caleb. By this point, Harold¡¯s anger had subsided. ¡°Assist Gracie well in the nanorobots project,¡± he instructed Victor. ¡°Oh, Grandpa, you don¡¯t need to remind Victor. He¡¯ll do his best.¡± Smiling, Grace embraced her two brothers. Victor responded nonchntly, ¡°Of course.¡± Seeing Grace so dedicated to her career, Harold felt at ease. ¡°Grandpa needs to rest. We¡¯ll talk next time,¡± Aaron said. The family then ended the video call. In the living room, Richard was leisurely sipping tea while waiting for good news. Habitually, he rubbed his thumb and remembered that his diamond thumb ring was still missing. His mood soured, but the thought of getting it back soon made him hum a happy tune. Meanwhile, his butler had been standing still for a while. When he noticed that the people he had sent out hadn¡¯t reported back yet, he quietly moved to After several attempts, the call finally connected. ¡°Hey! What¡¯s taking you so long with this simple task? Have you retrieved the ring?¡± ¡°This is the police station. We were just looking for you. Pleasee over to the station,¡± a voice on the other end of the line said. Shocked, the butler dropped his phone and hurried to Richard¡¯s side. ¡°We¡¯re in trouble, Mr. Quine Senior. Those men have been taken to the police station. The police want you to go there now.¡± This time, Richard not only smashed his teacup but also the teapot. He couldn¡¯t believe that a vixen who had risen to power through men had humiliated him. No. one had dared to disrespect him like this. ¡°Summon all the executives from the entertainment newspanies. I want this woman to be a pariah in Pamore!¡± At this moment, Benjamin coincidentally arrived at Quine Residence. Yvonne was supposed to get a prenatal check¨Cup that day. After escorting her into Quine Residence, he had originally nned to leave. However, he had noticed several familiar entertainment newspany executives gathering in the backyard. As he approach¨¦d, he overheard Richard¡¯s n. ¡°The information I¡¯m giving you is enough to fill several pages. Don¡¯t take any of them down without my permission.¡± Richard continued, ¡°If anyone does that, it means going against the Quines of Pamore! You all know the consequences.¡± Benjamin quickly left Quine Residence and returned to his car. He immediately called Grace. On the first attempt, the call was rejected. He patiently dialed again, finally getting through. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you this onest time. Quickly return Richard¡¯s thumb ring to him.¡± Grace¡¯s voice remained indifferent. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Why must you provoke him?¡± He was growing impatient, thinking that she just wouldn¡¯t listen. Just then. Grace snorted. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you and I both know who provoked whom in the first ce.¡± Yvonne had nned the car ident, and Grace had merely retaliated. ¡°He has gathered the entire entertainment newspanies to tarnish your reputation. Why escte things to this extent? It¡¯s just a small thumb ring.¡± ¡°Ha! Just a small thumb ring?¡± ¡°Cut your losses, Grace.¡± Benjamin¡¯s voice was stern. ¡°It¡¯s the same condition asst time. I¡¯ll cover the expenses.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Hearing that, he frowned. ¡°You¡¯re literally going against the world! Is it worth it for the sake of such a small matter?¡± ¡°Benjamin, you and Richard are fundamentally the same. Both of you see me as a powerless woman, perhaps lucky to have climbed the socialdder to This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°In your eyes, my dignity is worth nothing, not even as much as the dogs you keep. All that matters to you is whether your goals are achieved. You never After a brief pause, she continued, ¡°If I didn¡¯t have this diamond thumb ring today, I might not even have had the opportunity to negotiate with you, right? Grace¡¯s words left Benjamin speechless, for she had struck a chord with his thoughts. If she had still been his wife, he would have directly demanded her toe and apologize and return the diamond thumb ring willingly. Without that ring, he might have even chosen to stand back and observe, nursing his grievances against her. X Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Tainted Reputation ¡°Am I right?¡± Grace¡¯s mocking voice came through the phone. Yet, Benjamin showed no remorse. ¡°You¡¯re not capable of fighting Richard now. I¡¯m doing this for your own good.¡± ¡°Save your hypocrisy and let hime at me!¡± The call abruptly ended. Benjamin stared at the darkening screen with anger after being rejected. He thought, ¡°This stupid woman! Let¡¯s see how you¡¯ll handle this!¡± Just then, his surbordinate reported from the front seat, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, Larry just sent a text. He said there are some issues with the project in Frenda, and he needs you to go there person.¡± Benjamin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°Okay. Arrange the earliest flight.¡± The business in Frenda was important, which was why he had entrusted Larry with overseeing 1. it. Lately, Benjamin had been busy with hispany¡¯s affairs and had be much busier without Grace¡¯s help. He felt that he should let her go through some trials. When she had nothing left, he could give her a helping hand. That would make her return to work for Hawkins Group easily. After Grace hung up the phone, she turned to find Victor restraining Caleb, preventing him from rushing in to interrupt. When the call was over, Victor finally le ¡°Why did you stop me? I wanted to help Gracie scold that scumbag!¡± ¡°Are you itching for some beatings?¡± Victor warned Caleb with a re, and Caleb immediately backed down. Initially, Grace had been feeling down after the phone call, but she was cheered up by this scene. How could she be against the whole world when she had her family and friends behind her? With them, she had everything. She chuckled. ¡°Be gentle, Victor. Caleb¡¯s arm is still recovering.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! How can you be so hard on your dear little brother? I¡¯m going to tell Aaron and Grandpa!¡± Seeing Grace standing up for him, Caleb immedia ¡°I didn¡¯t touch your arm.¡± Victor calmly took a seat. ¡°If necessary, I¡¯ll have the family doctore over. I¡¯ll cover the expenses.¡± ¡°You!¡± Caleb turned to Grace. ¡°Scold him, Gracie!¡± Hurriedly, Grace escaped upstairs. ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. I have a lot of things to do tomorrow.¡± The next morning, Emily called. ¡°Babe! The inte is going crazy right now!¡± Grace was well aware of the situation and sighed. ¡°Is the whole inte criticizing me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just criticism; it¡¯s turned into full¨Cblown hatred!¡± Emily was frantic. ¡°I asked Zoey to take it down, but she said she couldn¡¯t. Deletingments doesn¡¯t have much effect either.¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. After hanging up, Grace rushed to check her social media and saw her name was the number one trending topic again. A prominent online influencer had directly named Grace, iming that she¡¯d had an affair with Simon while still married to Benjamin. They had even alleged that she¡¯d had an affair with Amirate¡¯s president to secure the position of general manager. The so¨Ccalled evidence included a photo of Grace and Caleb driving home together before her divorce and a picture of Grace meeting Aaron at a coffee shop in Darai. Then, a person iming to be her former ssmate posted a video of hallway bullying with the faces blurred, along with thement: ¡°She used to be a bully at our school, and we didn¡¯t even have to secretly record such v Infidelity and school bullying were sensitive words on the inte. Instantly, the inte exploded. ¡°So this is the real Grace!¡± ¡°It¡¯s already so good for her that a rich guy noticed her when she had no power or status. How dare she cheat on her husband?¡± ¡°Why must she have an affair with my Simon?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe Simon is also of such low character!¡± ¡°Someone who bullied ssmates at school can¡¯t be a good person!¡± ¡°Dig deeper!¡± #GracetheVixen and #GracetheBully simultaneously topped the trending list. Even Amirate¡¯s share prices dropped by ten percent as the investors lost confidence in the Caleb and Victor came to her room after learning about the trending controversy. ¡°Gracie, are you okay?¡± Caleb approached Grace and gently stroked her hair. ¡°Caleb, I¡¯m sorry for getting you involved in this mess.¡± ¡°I have plenty of loyal fans. I don¡¯t mind such a little thing,¡± he reassured her. ¡°I can help you delete all these posts, but it might attract the attention of the Cybersecurity Department due to the scale,¡± Victor suggested calmly. ¡°No need, Victor. Even if we delete them, there will be more. This is a well¨Cnned attack.¡± Was this Richard¡¯s retaliation Benjamin had mentioned? The impact this time was indeed greater than before. ¡°Aaron just called and said he will take the earliest flight back. He wants you to stay home for a few days and not go to thepany. Let Luke deal with X Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Time to Reveal Her Identity ¡°No way. I must stay strong at a time like this. I can¡¯t let the public think I¡¯m afraid.¡± They wanted to make her yield to the rumors, but the word ¡°yield¡± didn¡¯t exist in her dictionary. Grace lifted the covers and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. At Amirate Corporation¡¯s office, entertainment news reporters from all news tforms had been waiting. Just then, a red Porsche pulled up in front of them. In the car, Luke reminded Grace, ¡°Ms. Lewis, do you want to wear sunsses or a hat to shield yourself? These people will take pictures nonstop. It might affect your mood.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Smiling, Grace looked at her reflection in the car mirror. Her beauty had a touch of shrewdness, and she was very pleased. ¡°I want them to know that they can¡¯t affect me at all.¡± Luke got out of the car first. The security team was already prepared, forming a human wall to create a path and separating the reporters from them. After that, Luke opened the car door and waited for Grace toe out. Dressed in a high¨Cend, diamond¨Cencrusted dress, she radiated a dazzling charm. Her perfect smile was impable. The reporters thought that she would look downcast after being put in center of all the scandals, but she seemedpletely unfazed. Camera shes went off incessantly as Grace walked resolutely inside. ¡°Grace! Do you n to apologize to Mr. Hawkins for your infidelity during your marriage?¡± ¡°How long was your rtionship with Simon during your marriage?¡± ¡°Do you still remember the names of those you bullied?¡± ¡°Have you thought about how to atone?¡± At this moment, someone threw a stic cup from behind the reporters. It was about to hit the back of Grace¡¯s head when a swift figure appeared and deflected it with his hand. Sternly, Aaron looked in the direction the cup hade from and instructed the security team on the side, ¡°Find out who did that.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± As Grace stared at Aaron, who had suddenly appeared, she felt a tingling on her nose. She linked her arm with his, feeling a sense of dependence. Whenever something happened, her big brother would arrive at the earliest possible moment. Seeing Aaron, the reporters went even more insane. ¡°Mr. Lewis, have you seen Grace¡¯s scandals?¡± ¡°Will you choose to continue to believe in her and stay with her?¡± ¡°Will Mr. Lewis Senior allow such a notorious person to join the family?¡± These questions were all based on the assumption that the scandals were true, disregarding the facts. Aaron¡¯s face turned extremely dark, and he didn¡¯t want to talk to these irrational people. He held Grace¡¯s arm tightly and hurried her inside the building. When they reached his office, Aaron made a hot cup of coffee for Grace and looked at her with concern. ¡°How are you? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± Grace replied with a brilliant smile. Seeing her smile, Aaron yfully flicked her nose. ¡°You always like to tough it out. I told to stay at home, but you came out regardless.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The news andments were all so harsh, so I thought I shouldn¡¯t back down.¡± Seeing that she was still defiant, Aaron knew she was fine. you ¡°Before I came back, Grandpa said that he would officially announce your identity as the Lewis family¡¯s daughter on his 70th birthday. Then, the public w When Grace had been young, she¡¯d had to attend Royal Academy for her education. Harold had been worried that people would target her because of her identity, so he had kept her identity a secret. Later, Grace had developed a passion for the arts and didn¡¯t work in the family business. So her identity hadn¡¯t mattered much. Gradually, the public began to assume that the Lewis family only had three sons and no daug ¡°Since you¡¯re going back, this is the perfect opportunity to make the announcement.¡± Aaron looked at Grace. ¡°Are you prepared for it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She nodded confidently. ¡°Be a good girl, then. Stay at home for a few days, and in a couple of days, we¡¯ll head back to Darai. You can join uster.¡± As Grace was listening quietly, she received a message on her phone. ¡°Calico, some friends and I havee to study at Pamore University. Can we meet you?¡± When Grace read the message, she smiled and thought, ¡°These kids are so great! They actually Fulfilled their promise.¡± ¡®Sure. Where should we meet?¡± Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Calico ¡°How about we meet in front of Pamore University?¡± Suddenly, Grace realized that she shouldn¡¯t be going out these days. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up.¡± An hourter, there were still reporters at Amirate Corporation. They were waiting for Grace to appear with the hopes of getting more footage. At that moment, a car pulled up, and three innocent youngsters stepped out. Sharp¨Ceyed reporters immediately recognized the girl at the front as this year¡¯s SAT top scorer in Pamore, Sophia Maddison. The two boys behind her were no less remarkable¨C Otto Berry, who had scored first in science, and Robin Cooper, who had received the Writing Award. All three of them had faint surgical scars on their upper l*ps. They were scars from cleft l*p surgeries they had undergone as children. June was the time for SAT results, so apart from celebrity scandals, SAT was a hot topic for Instantly, cameras and microphones approached Sophia and her twopanions. ¡°First of all, congrattions Sophia, Otto, and Robin for getting into Pamore University with high scores.¡± Usually, children with facial imperfections might feel somewhat self¨Cconscious in front of the camera. However, the three children smiled confidently as they replied, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°The three of you have made it to the nationally coveted Pamore University from the most impoverished area in the mountains. Could you please share y Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°We had the support of a kind¨Chearted person named Calico. ¡°She funded all our school expenses and arranged for experts to perform surgeries on children born with cleft l*ps in the mountain region. ¡°She has been our guiding light.¡± Though reporters used harsh words when covering celebrity gossip, they maintained their professionalism when it came to the country¡¯s young talents. Before, they had learned about the backgrounds of these three children. Not only had they lived in remote mountain areas, but their parents were deceased too. In their vige, a significant number of children were born with cleft l*ps due to poor medical conditions for pregnant women. After that, a person known as Calico had funded the repair surgeries for nearly a thousand children with congenital cleft l*ps. Not only that, she had be their sponsor, providing them with the opportunity to leave the mountains and pursue their education. ¡°Can you tell us who Calico is? We would like to interview her.¡± Reporters all over the inte were searching for Calico. Sophia and herpanions shook their heads. ¡°We don¡¯t know who she is. We only contacted her through texts. But we came here today to meet her.¡± Just then, the person who had picked them up led them into Amirate Corporation¡¯s office. The reporters were left in awe. ¡°Does this mean Calico works at Amirate Corporation?¡± ¡°Of course! Such a kind¨Chearted person must be a highly capable middle¨Clevel manager.¡± ¡°That makes sense. We can¡¯t leave today, then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We have to stay put! We must wait for those three children toe out!¡± In the building, Sophia and herpanions followed the man in suit to the top floor. When they saw Grace, they were so surprised that they couldn¡¯t even speak. Seeing the three children in disbelief, Grace stood up and spread her arms. ¡°Hi kids, I¡¯m Grace Lewis. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Calico!¡± Otto was the first to snap out of his daze among the three. When he realized that the person who had been encouraging him through text messages was this elegantdy ¡°She¡¯s so beautiful¡­¡± Sophia couldn¡¯t help but exim. ¡°She¡¯s just like thedy I had imagined.¡± Robin smiled heartily. The three children were all a bit reserved and hesitant to approach, but Grace took the initiative to embrace all three of them. ¡°You made me so proud!¡± This statement touched the children¡¯s vulnerable sides. At the thought of the hardships they had endured to keep their promise, they couldn¡¯t hold back t ¡°We did it, Grace.¡± ¡°The questions were so difficult, but your encouragement kept me going.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Grace patted the heads of the three children. ¡°I know. You¡¯re all amazing.¡± Suddenly, Sophia thought of the top trending name online this morning and asked, ¡°Grace, are you the person thatizens are criticizing?¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Chapter 96 He Values Her More Now Smiling, Grace said, ¡°Yep, that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°How can they badmouth you? Let me go down and talk to them!¡± Robin was clearly the most hot¨Cheaded among the three. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. The truth wille out on its own.¡± Amused by their protectiveness, Grace smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine as long as the people I care about don¡¯t see me that way.¡± After that, she asked the children various questions, such as what they needed for their enrolment and so on. She assured them that she had already transferred living expenses to their bank ounts, so they should take good care of themselves. She also reminded them not to reveal her identity as Calico and then arranged for security to send them out through the underground parking. Once the three kids were safely sent away, she received a call from Timothy. He had been on business trips frequentlytely, all arranged by Grace. Since he had felt guilty, he had willingly followed her orders. On the phone, he first cursed the media for their hical nder, then consoled Grace. Finally, he expressed his desire to return home. Smiling, Grace cleared her throat and agreed. She asked him to go back to Darai after finishing his work in Mardovia to attend her grandfather¡¯s birthday celebration in a few days. Happily, Timothy hung up the phone. Just then, Aaron walked in to her office. Seeing his sister smile, he was relieved. ¡°There¡¯s a bit of an issue with the board of directors. I wanted to stay with you for two more days, but I have to leave today. ¡°I¡¯ll go back with Victor, so Caleb can keep youpany.¡± Grace pursed her l*ps and rested her chin on the desk. ¡°Caleb is too rowdy.¡± ¡°Then, you won¡¯t get bored with him around.¡± ¡°Alright. Good luck, you two.¡± Grace suspected that the drop in the share prices required Aaron¡¯s attention, so she didn¡¯t dare keep him back. Meanwhile, Luke was worried that Grace might not be in the mood to go out for lunch. So, he had a Michelin chefe with ingredients to cook at Amirate at noon. Seeing that she had a good appetite, he felt relieved. Before Aaron left, he had instructed Luke to pay attention to Grace¡¯s mood and make her happy. During the video conference with Barnes Group, that afternoon, Albert confirmed with Grace that the joint venture project wasn¡¯t significantly affected. After discussing the uing arrangements, she decided to call it a day. Security was tight, with guards forming a human barrier to block ess. There were also guards at all entrances and exits, preventing a repeat of that m Luke had parked a red Porsche in the center, with four securitypany vehicles in front and behind, escorting him. Grace elegnatly entered the car and left. This left the reporters behind them looking bewildered. ¡°What is happening? Mr. Lewis is supposed to hate her and kick her out of Amirate, and then we take some pity photos and mock her, right?¡± ¡°Why does it feel like he values her more now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s really crafty.¡± ¡°So are we staying or leaving?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t seen Calico yet!¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Let¡¯s wait for those three kids, then.¡± Lewis Manor was close to some private mountains, which were now fully guarded by security personnel. Not even a fly could get in. As soon as Grace entered the house, Caleb took her sl*ppers and helped her put them on. It was hard to imagine that the superstar idolized by fans would bend down to help his sister wear her sl*ppers. From his expression, Grace could guess that Aaron had warned him on the phone. ¡°You¡¯re being overly thoughtful today, Caleb.¡± It¡¯s all because of Aaron. He reminded me so many times on the phone just now. How could I After they had dinner, Gracey on the couch and stared into thin air. ¡°Caleb, I¡¯m so bored!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t go out now, so let¡¯s do something else.¡± Grace sat up with a glint in her eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s y a game!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea!¡± The two of them headed to the house¡¯s gaming room. Inside, there were top¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cline gamingputers. Grace and Caleb started ying a tower defense game. The game was called ¡°Legends of Triumph¡± and had nearly 800 million registered users. worldwide. After ying only two rounds, they were thoroughly defeated by the opposing team. Grace, feeling defeated, slumped in her gaming chair. ¡°Caleb, we¡¯re terrible. We need some help.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange for some assistance right away.¡± Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 The Dragon Is Mine Caleb made an international call. ¡°Wake everyone up to y ¡®Legends of Triumph¡® with my sister.¡± After that, he handed a professionally mixed cocktail to Grace. ¡°Wait a few minutes. They¡¯ll be online soon.¡± Gracezily agreed while sitting in her gaming chair with her legs curled up. On the other side of the ocean, Galloria was in the early hours of the morning. John Flynn, the person in charge of the EDF Esports Club, was instantly awakened by the phone call. He hurriedly ran to the doors of his team members¡® rooms and started frantically gathering them. Three minutester, the sleepy team members, wrapped in nkets, yawned one after another. ¡°John, it¡¯s the middle of the night, and we don¡¯t have a habit of training at this hour!¡± Despite the dark circles under his eyes, John forced himself to stay awake. ¡°Listen up, everyone! Our boss just called.¡± Hearing that, the team members instantly became alert. This mysterious behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes boss was a tycoon who gave them 300 million every quarter and even more for major tournament wins. Not long ago, EDF had won the ¡°Legends of Triumph¡± global finals, and the boss had given them a billion¨Cdor bonus. The weight of the money had been even more overwhelming than the honor of winning. ¡°Listen. Everyone must be online within 30 seconds! We¡¯re going to help the boss¡® sister destroy turrets!¡± Instantly, the team members rushed to theirputer desks. Once they were ready, John called Caleb. Thetter replied casually, ¡°Alright, make sure they focus on my sister¡¯s gaming experience when they y. Le ¡°Of course.¡± After Caleb hung up, he asked Grace to go online. A new game began, with topne, jungle, midne, and support all in ce. After Grace. In just 15 minutes, with Grace¡¯s final blow, the opposing team¡¯s turrets were all destroyed. The game ended before the opposing team even had a chance to react. They beganining in the chat. ¡°Seriously? Who on earth are you guys? How did you manage to kill us in such a short time?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve dominated ¡®Legends of Triumph¡® for years and have been champions in our regional league. This is embarrassing.¡± ¡°Shut up! You¡¯re embarrassing yourself by revealing that. Delete that message quickly!¡± Grace couldn¡¯t be bothered to type, so she turned on her microphone and said with a smile, An eye for an eye. I had to retaliate since you all sniped me as soon as I appea ¡°I was right! ¡®The Dragon is Mine¡® with mediocre skills is a girl!¡± ¡°Why is there such a weak yer on this team when the rest of them are so skilled?¡± ¡°1 Grace was annoyed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being weak? I can win as long as my teammates are great!¡± The other teammates didn¡¯t dare to speak. After all, they were world. champions. It would be embarrassing if people found out that they were stomping o However, as they looked at their IDs, they were all shocked. They had forgotten to switch to their smurf ounts as they had been too excited to log in. But it didn¡¯t take long for the opposing team to figure out something was amiss. ¡°Did you guys notice that her teammates¡® IDs look kind of familiar? One of them looks a lot like my idol¡¯s ID.¡± ¡°No way, take another look.¡± ¡°Oh my god! They really are my idols!¡± Soon, they recognized the other three IDs, and the chat exploded. ¡°No way! EDF¡¯s best yers are all here to y with a girl. She must have saved the world!¡± ¡°Is this real, or am I dreaming in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Hurry, call the boys in to meet the champions!¡± At that moment, the chat was inplete chaos, and everyone¡¯s headphones were about to explode with noise. Grace found it too noisy and said to her four world¨Cchampion teammates, ¡°Thank youall for The four yers quickly logged off, as if escaping for their lives. Just then, they received a text message, which they read out loud. ¡°Your ount has been credited with 100 million dors!¡± Instantly, they took off their headphones and cheered. Stomping on the rookies had really been worth it! Meanwhile, the other team members were eagerly waiting to y with the boss¡® sister. ¡°When will the boss¡® sister start the next game?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not ying anymore!¡± ¡°What? 100 million just for one game? That¡¯s so much!¡± After that night, ¡°Legends of Triumph¡± had a new permanent topic of discussion-¡°The Dragon is Mine¡± and her team of champion knights. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Every time EDF attended a tournament, they were asked about the girl from that night. But the EDF team members remained tight¨C l*pped, not revealing a single word. X Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Second ne Crash Caleb calmly instructed John, ¡°Ask them to focus on the tournament and look forward to the bonus,¡± He then hung up the phone. ¡°Since when did you invest in an esports team, Caleb?¡± Grace asked curiously, sipping her cocktail. ¡°Since I¡¯m terrible at ying games, I always lose, and my teammates make fun of me. So in frustration, I spent two billion dors to assemble a team.¡± Caleb continued, ¡°I just don¡¯t believe that you can¡¯t buy talent with money.¡± Smiling, he swayed in his gaming chair. ¡°This team is yours from now on. I¡¯m giving it to you today.¡± ¡°Well, thank you for that!¡± Grace replied with a wink. Just then, an unknown number called her, so she rejected the call without thinking. Surprisingly, the caller didn¡¯t give up and called a second time. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Grace, you know how powerful I am now. Return the thumb ring to me and apologize to Yvonne.¡± Richard¡¯s tone was arrogant. ¡°By the way, how does it feel to be insulted by everyone on the inte?¡± With a mocking smirk, Grace said, ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± She continued, ¡°Given that you¡¯ve been dominating the business world for decades, I thought you would have some other tricks up your sleeve. ¡°But it seems all you know are underhanded tactics. ¡°Cheating at Craps, using thugs to threaten me, spreading rumors All your tricks are just those of a local bully. Do you really have the reputation you i ¡°My tricks may not be something to show off, but they¡¯re enough to make sure you won¡¯t survive in Pamore.¡± Richard sneered. ¡°This is yourst chance. Return the thumb ring to me, and if I¡¯m in a good mood, I might have the media go easy on you. But if you still don¡¯t give it back¡­¡± He sounded as though he was holding back some powerful move. ¡°What will you do if I don¡¯t give it back?¡± ¡°In a few days, the chairman of Lewis Corporation¨CAmirate¡¯s headquarters¨Cwill celebrate his 70th birthday. ¡°Aaron might like you and not mind these rumors. But as his grandfather, Harold will certainly not ept you into the family.¡± Richard continued, ¡°If I speak up in front of Harold, let¡¯s see how long you can stay as a general manager!¡± Hearing that, Grace wanted tough out loud. ¡°I would wee that. Please be sure to tell Mr. Lewis Senior. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Her grandfather was too busy to pay attention to someone as insignificant as the Quine family¡¯s patriarch, let alone listen to what this local bully had to say. ¡°Hmph! Just you wait!¡± Richard prepared to hang up. ¡°Hold on,¡± Grace suddenly said. ¡°This is also thest chance I will give you. ¡°Make Yvonne apologize and admit to everything, and I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t end up crying too miserably.¡± ¡°In your dreams!¡± After a furious roar, Richard hung up the phone. Caleb, who had been listening, shook his head. ¡°He¡¯s too arrogant, making up just anything. Gracie, teach him a lesson.¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to find a good ce for his diamond thumb ring.¡± Grace smiled slyly. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. :.. A few dayster, at Darai Airport¡¯s terminal, the shrill sirens went off. Grace was wrapped in a nket given to her by the rescue team, but even so, she couldn¡¯t shake off the chill running through her b*dy. She looked toward the tarmac not far from the terminal, where a ne that was nearly falling apart was engulfed in mes. Ambnces arrived one afte She had never imagined that she would experience her second ne crash. The ne¡¯s engine had caught fire at an altitude of 60 miles from Darai Airport, and the airport had decided to make an emergencynding. However, when the ne had been just 30 feet from the ground, it had lost control again and crashed directly onto the tarmac. At the terminal, Grace clenched her hands tightly, trying to remain calm. Fortunately, she #15 BONUS In the face of idents, human strength truly felt microscopic. The rescue team members ran around the terminal. Updates on the progress of the rescue operations could be heard asionally from their walkie¨C talkies. ¡°How many people are still missing?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to confirm the numbers yet.¡± ¡°Hurry up! Someone is injured over there. Bring the stretcher!¡± Grace couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. 415 Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Chapter 99 I¡¯m Here The first ne crash had opened Grace¡¯s eyes to the truth about Benjamin and their marriage. As a result, she had be disillusioned that giving mor But during this second time, she had no one beside her. Mncholically, Grace stared at her shattered phone screen, and tears welled up In her eyes. Outside, a fierce wind raged, and a helicopter slowlynded. From it emerged a tall man in a suit, exuding an air of sophistication. The moment hended, he seemed to have found the person he was looking for. He began to stride toward his target with confident steps, Themotion caused by the helicopter¡¯s arrival drew the attention of the other rescued passengers. Everyone was curious about the person this man ¡°He¡¯s so hot! Which injured princess is he here to pick up?¡± Grace had no interest in looking in the direction they were pointing. But when she heard thatment, her tears flowed uncontrobly. Everyone else had someone to pick them up, except for her. Suddenly, the surroundings grew quiet, and the clear footsteps echoed in her ears. Grace couldn¡¯t help but lift her head to look at the owner of those footsteps. With the zes of a raging fire at his back, the man walked past the expectant injured passengers, heading toward Grace. Grace struggled to see who it was. Her vision was blurred by tears, so she could only see a strangely familiar silhouette. As it drew closer, she instinctively uttered a name. ¡°Xander?¡± The footsteps halted in front of Grace, and Xander cupped her face with his warm palms. His thumb gently wiped away her tears. ¡°I¡¯m here, Gracie.¡± At once, his deep voice smoothed away the unease in her heart. His hand held hers, making everything feel so real. Frowning, she scrutinized the man before her. He was hot and elegant, with profound features. She had thought she was alone in this world, but her knight had actually arrived long ago. Meanwhile, the people around them were screaming excitedly. ¡°My goodness. They look perfect together!¡± ¡°Picking her up with a helicopter? That¡¯s hot.¡± Under envious nces and the sound of countless cameras clicking, Xander lifted Grace in his arms and left the terminal. The helicopter¡¯s rotor des roared again, creating a whirlwind. Atst, it disappeared from everyone¡¯s view. The helicopter soonnded at Fulton Residence. Xander had the maid prepare a warm bath for Grace. After the family doctor confirmed that she was fine, he finally felt relieved. Approaching the bed, he gently tucked her in and said, ¡°Rest well.¡± Grace obediently nestled under the covers. Then, she suddenly opened her eyes again. ¡°Oh no, I haven¡¯t informed Grandpa yet. My family Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. must be so worried.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. I¡¯m sure everyone already knows.¡± Xander took out a tablet and showed Grace a news article. The headline read, ¡°The Love Life of the Wealthy Is Truly Enviable¡°. Below it was a picture of Xander carrying her out of the airport, and thements u made Grace blush. ¡°Oh my god! The way the wealthy date is beyond our imagination.¡± ¡°Though the image isn¡¯t very clear, they look like such a perfect couple!¡± ¡°I¡¯m shipping this couple hard.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so jealous!¡± Xander gently caressed Grace¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the articles. I¡¯ll take care of them.¡± Listening to his reassuring voice, Grace closed her eyes once more. As Xander gently closed the bedroom door, Hestia appeared behind him excitedly. ¡°Xander! Well done!¡± ¡°Mom, the media is just making things up. Don¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡± Yet Hestia couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. ¡°What conclusions? Mr. Lewis Senior and Grace¡¯s brothers are all here. They¡¯re waiting in the living room to s Sighing, Xander thought, ¡°Mom¡¯s really quick.¡± 11 Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Get To Know Me Harold and his three grandsons had been waiting in the living room for a while. When they had seen the news, they had felt relieved that the apple of their eye was safe. But as they thought about it, they realized something was amiss. How had these two already been portrayed as a couple on the inte? Caleb deeply regretted leaving on an earlier flight to meet his friends in Darai, leaving Grace to fly back alone. Meanwhile, Raymond was relieved to see his son and wifeing to the rescue. ¡°Xander, greet Mr. Lewis Senior.¡® Xander approached and politely nodded. ¡°Hello, Mr. Lewis Senior.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± Harold was dressed in an indigo suit. Though his hair was all gray, he still looked vibrant. Meanwhile, Aaron and Xander exchanged nces, acknowledging each other. They were ssmates and had a good rtionship. Victor analytically assessed Xander, thinking about sneaking into thetter¡¯sputer to check his character. On the other hand, Caleb was hostile. He was determined not to let anyone take Grace away from him. ¡°Gracie is sleeping,¡± Xander calmly said. ¡°You¡¯re.not calling her ¡®Gracie¡®!¡± Caleb couldn¡¯t hold back his temper. ¡°Be polite!¡± Harold warned Caleb. He turned to Xander and asked with amanding tone, ¡°The media is spreading news about you and Gracie. What are your thoughts on this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my wish to have Gracie in our family. The sooner we arrange the wedding, the better,¡± Hestia said excitedly. ¡°When Xander found out about Gracie¡¯s ne crash, he immediately dropped everything to go to the airport by helicopter to find her. He deserves a perf ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Raymond, of course, shared Hestia¡¯s approval of Grace as their daughter¨Cinw and quickly chimed in, saying, ¡°That¡¯s the best.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to say it. I want to hear it from your son.¡± Harold was serious. They were at Fulton Residence to confirm Grace¡¯s condition and rify this matter. Xander and Grace had had limited interactions, but he had still gone to the chaotic airport to find her. As a loving grandparent who wanted the best for his grandchild, Harold scrutinized Xander with a shrewd gaze. He was satisfied with what he saw. Xander was a gentle, young business prodigy who had raised apany to prominence. Even Aaron had vouched for his character. Harold felt that Grace¡¯s previous marriage hadn¡¯t gone well due to his oversight, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to y matchmaker if Xander had feelings for Grace. ¡°There¡¯s no rush in this,¡± Xander said. Half¨C smiling, Harold looked at Xander. ¡°Do you think Gracie isn¡¯t worthy of being with you because she¡¯s been divorced? She has many suitors out there!¡± ¡°Of course not! Xander isn¡¯t the kind who cares about past rtionships,¡± Hestia quickly exined while pushing Xander forward to speak. Facing the scrutiny of everyone present, Xander remainedposed. He felt that now was the time to express his feelings for Grace openly. ¡°I¡¯ve liked Grace for a long time. ¡°Although she appears strong, she hasn¡¯t fully recovered from the trauma of her past marriage. ¡°She might see me only as a brotherly figure. I hope everyone can give her some time to get to know me.¡± With this statement, Harold¡¯s admiration for Xander grew. Likewise, Grace¡¯s three brothers had no words to say. Xander was undoubtedly much better than Benjamin for respecting their sister to this extent. Meanwhile, Hestia and Raymond secretly gave their son a thumbs¨Cup in their hearts. Grace, who was standing outside the living room, felt loved. Thinking back to her self¨Cpity at the airport a while ago, she found herself hrious. Everyone in the living room was her family. They were all thinking about what was best for her. So why should she cling to the past and not pursue her own happiness? She was ready to start anew¨Cfor herself and for those who loved her. Joyfully, she returned to the bedroom, and a maid handed her a new phone. ¡°Ms. Lewis, there¡¯s a call for you.¡± While lying on the soft bed, Grace nced at the phone and waved her hand casually. ¡°Decline it and block it.¡± On the other side of the world, in Frenda, Benjamin heard the notification sound on his phone and knew he had been blocked again. ¡°Larry! Give me your phone to make a call!¡± 1 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 The Celebration Begins Larry¡¯s number was also blocked. As Benjamin watched the news showing Xander carrying Grace, he couldn¡¯t contain his jealousy and anger. Did that womanpletely disregard him as her ex¨Chusband? He forcefully pushed a pile of folders onto the ground, and his face turned dark. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, Harold Lewis, the chairman of Lewis Corporation, is celebrating his 70th birthday at Halifa Tower the day after tomorrow. ¡°We have been invited. Should we book our tickets now?¡± Lanny asked. ¡°Yes!¡± At night, the top floor of Halifa Tower was lit with a dazzling array of stars. The world¡¯s richest man, Harold, was celebrating his 70th birthday at the venu Everyone on the Global Rich List was invited. All ingredients for the catering had been imported from abroad and cooked by world¨Css Frendish chefs. The entertainment featured performances by a world¨Cfamous orchestra to ensure avish experience for the guests. That showed how much they valued this event. These days, the trending topics #GracetheVixen and #GracetheBully had gradually lost some of their heat. Instead, #FindCalico was gaining poprity as everyone on the inte was trying to locate the kind¨C hearted person named Calico, hoping to report her good deeds. The guests invited to the birthday celebrations were either rich or powerful, so security was extremely tight. The invited celebrities were all amazed by Lewis Corporation¡¯s grandeur. After all, it was Harold¡¯s 70th birthday, and it was rumored that he would introduce his never- before¨C seen granddaughter, which had generated a lot of anticipation. The lucky reporters selected to cover the event felt honored and were preparing for extensive coverage. At the same time, Grace was getting ready in the dressing room. Aaron had arranged for the most prestigious styling studio in Mardovia to provide an array of gorgeous dresses from around the world. He had instructed them, saying, ¡°Tonight, I want her to be the most morous person in the room.¡± Suddenly, Grace received a message from Xander. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for your entrance, Gracie.¡± Seeing that, Grace smiled sweetly. ¡°What are you smiling at?¡± Emily suddenly appeared from behind and leaned over to look at Grace¡¯s phone. At once, Grace locked her screen, blushing. ¡°I¡¯m not smiling.¡± She and Xander were still in the early stages of getting to know each other, so it was better not to make it public, at least not yet. Just then, Zoey and Lydia arrived together. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°I hereby announce the reunion of our squad in Darai!¡± Emily handed everyone a ss of champagne, and they raised their sses together. ¡°Let¡¯s celebrate our babe¡¯s return to the top of the food chain, trampling all the demons under her feet!¡± Zoey chuckled. ¡°After today, we won¡¯t have to deal with any rumors about you being amoner or seducing Mr. Lewis anymore.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. My babe is the granddaughter of the world¡¯s richest man!¡± Emily came over and linked arms with Grace. Lydia finished her champagne in one gulp. ¡°No one will dare criticize you anymore.¡± Smiling, Grace said, ¡°Thank you, sis.¡± At that moment, the styling team hung up one beautiful dress after another. They were exceptionally polite. ¡°Ms. Lewis, when do you want to start fitting the dresses?¡± ¡°Let my friends choose first. They need to look as beautiful as I do today.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± The styling team didn¡¯t dare object. With the eye of a professional shopper, Emily looked at each dress carefully. ¡°Babe, this one is perfect for you!¡± It was a pink chiffon gown adorned with numerous finely cut diamonds in the shape of flowers, from the bodice down to the hem. It exuded a subtle luxur Just then, the styling team took out a jewelry box from a silver case and presented it to Grace before exining professionally, ¡°This is an exceptional an Grace nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take that gown. I trust my friends¡® judgment.¡± After Lydia inspected the other jewelry sets, she nodded. ¡°The quality is excellent. It¡¯s undoubtedly top¨Ctier jewelry.¡± Seemingly casually, she asked, ¡°Um¡­ Where¡¯s Caleb?¡± ¡°Victor and Caleb find parties too noisy. They thought it would be better to have a family dinner at home afterward, so they won¡¯t be attending tonight.¡± Suddenly, Grace¡¯s eyes sparkled, realizing that this was the first time Lydia had spontaneously asked about Caleb. After she exchanged nces with Zoey and Emily, they started teasing Lydia endlessly. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 He Still Wants to Tattle The event was going smoothly outside the dressing room. In the center, Harold and Aaron were engaging in conversations with various guests. Their presence exuded authority and power. Just then, Richard, apanied by Yvonne, approached them from behind. ¡°Mr. Lewis Senior.¡± Richard¡¯s tone was slightly low, showing respect toward Harold. Though Harold was showing courtesy on the surface, his eyes were icy. ¡°Mr. Quine Senior, when did you make it back to the top 100 of the Global Rich L The undertone of mockery in his voice was evident. Richard felt somewhat embarrassed by his question. ¡°I¡¯m exactly at the 100th position.¡± The difference in power between Quine Group and Lewis Corporation was quite substantial. It had taken a great deal of effort for Richard to reach the to ¡°I heard that you¡¯re going to introduce your granddaughter to everyone tonight.¡± Smiling, Richard looked at Yvonne beside him and continued, ¡°My granddaughter is very easy to get along with. I believe she can be good friends w Yvonne offered a gentle smile. ¡°Mr. Lewis Senior, Mr. Lewis, it¡¯s an honor to meet both of you. Coldly, Aaron cast a stern look at her and said, ¡°My sister doesn¡¯t need friends who fake idents like you, Ms. Quine.¡± The mention of that incident made Yvonne¡¯s smile freeze on her face. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Richard naturally understood why Aaron had such an attitude. After all, Aaron was Grace¡¯s lover, so it wasn¡¯t out of ce for him to say a few words. He snorted in his mind and thought, ¡°Regardless, your grandpa won¡¯t let that woman into your family.¡± At this thought, he decided to find a moment to talk privately with Haroldter and discuss Grace¡¯s attempt to enter the family. ¡°Have fun, you two. We¡¯ll need to attend to other guests.¡± Harold raised an eyebrow and excused himself after ncing at the Quines. Smiling, Richard replied, ¡°Nice talking to you, Mr. Lewis Senior.¡± Instantly, Yvonne found Benjamin in the crowd. ¡°Grandpa, Benjamin is here too. I¡¯ll go and *15 BONUS ¡°That guy doesn¡¯t even want to marry you! Why bother clinging to him?¡± Richard was still angry about Benjamin unterally calling off the engagement. Yet Yvonne was determined. ¡°He will change his mind.¡± She held her dress and protected her belly while maneuvering through the sea of people to get to Benjamin. ¡°Benjamin, why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing?¡± Her face lit up. She was filled with hope. She thought that he still cared about her and the baby, and that was why he hade to Darai when she had told him she wasing. Initially, she had thought he wouldn¡¯te along since she hadn¡¯t received any reaction from him. ¡°It was ast¨Cminute decision,¡± Benjamin said, sipping champagne. His eyes weren¡¯t on Yvonne. It was as if he was looking for someone in the crowd. ¡°Benjamin, Grandpa is too busy to be with me. Can I join you in the uing activities as your family?¡± Hope shone brightly in Wonne¡¯s eyes. ¡°Regarding the engagement, I already exined it to Mr. Quine Senior. It¡¯s better if you and I keep some distance.¡± With that, Benjamin disappeared into Yvonne¡¯s hope was instantly extinguished, and she felt cold from the inside out. She clenched her fists and took a deep breath, trying to hold back the te The hatred in her eyes grew stronger. She believed it was all Grace¡¯s fault for seducing Benjamin, or else he wouldn¡¯t have changed his mind. Worried that herplexion might not look good and would tarnish the reputation of Quine Group, she went to the restroom to freshen up. Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered, she saw Grace. ¡°Hmph! It seems I see you everywhere!¡± a After washing her hands, Grace elegantly wiped them with a tissue and raised an eyebrow. ¡°I just wanted to ask you¨C where¡¯s the apology you promised?¡± She suddenly approached Yvonne, startling thetter to step back. Smiling, Grace said, ¡°Do you n to kneel before me on this special day?¡± ¡°In your dreams!¡± Yvonne retorted. ¡°You have the nerve to attend this event in those rags you¡¯re wearing. What gives you the right?¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Chapter 103 A Deliberate Disy Yvonne had put in a lot of effort into getting ready for this day. She had ordered the custom- made luxury attire a month ago. Despite being five months pregnant, the design of her fluffy skirt concealed her waistline. She looked moderately attractive. Grace calmlymented, ¡°If you cane, why can¡¯t I?¡± Then, she strolled out confidently. ¡°Stop right there, I¡¯m not done yet!¡± Yvonne followed her. The ground was wet. In an effort to look elegant, she had worn high heels. Her feet sl*pped, and she stumbled forward. ¡°Ah!¡± As she was about to hit the ground, she remembered the child in her belly. At that very moment, a strong hand grabbed her before pulling her into a protective embrace. Yvonne was in shock. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said as she gasped for breath. ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± the man responded. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. As his voice echoed in her ears, Yvonne¡¯s expression suddenly changed. She instinctively pushed away the man who had just saved her life. Without a word, she adjusted her dress and hurriedly fled. The man also left and entered the banquet. Grace felt a sense of strangeness as she observed them. Yvonne seemed to be very afraid of that young man in the gray suit. In the past, she would never have backed down from a confrontation, even when sh But why had she acted differently today? Grace realized it was time for her to head inside and change into her formal attire. Meanwhile, enchanting melodies filled the air within the banquet hall. The golden lights cast a radiant glow on the guests. People chatted and discussed the global development trends of the year while toasting with their sses. Aaron strode to the main podium. He turned his gaze to the band, prompting the musicians to The crowd hushed, eagerly anticipating the highlight of the day. Harold stood below. His hands folded behind his back as he observed his grandson with a sense of pride. He had always taken a step back from the limelight, allowing Aaron to shine in his moment. Despite the untimely loss of his son and daughter¨Cin¨C law, the remarkable legacy they had left behind in the form of their offsprings had filled Harold with profound satisfaction. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the 70th birthday of my grandfather, Mr. Harold Lewis.¡± Aaron raised his champagne ss in a cheerful toast. The guests lifted their sses with smiles on their faces as well. ¡°Today, I would like to introduce someone to all of you.¡± Aaron looked to his right, where a graceful figure was approaching. With a smile, he announced, ¡°My sister, Grace Lewis.¡± All eyes followed his gaze. The spotlight shone on the woman with a wless figure. The audience was left in awe. Grace wore a faint smile. She gracefully lifted her dress and stepped onto the stage. Her hairstylist had elegantly fastened her long, shiny ck hair, allowing a few loose strands to delicately drape over her exquisite corbone. Her makeup was stunning. With a touch of sharpness, it gave her a refined charm. The gown she wore was of collector¡¯s grade, radiating a brilliant shine beneath the lights. It featured diamond flowers that ran from the chest to the hem, The emerald gemstones in her jewelry were not only priceless but also extremely rare. Everyone was blown away by Grace. Besides her extraordinary beauty, her extravagant attire could rival a listedpany in terms of extravagance. All eyes turned to Benjamin./ The granddaughter of the wealthiest man had served as his secretary and spouse, and he had driven away. One couldn¡¯t help but wonder, did he regret it? Grace approached the microphone. Her starry eyes swiftly locked onto Xander in the crowd. Xander gave a faint smile and raised his ss, signaling to Grace. This made her blush uncontrobly. Benjamin observed the silent exchange of nces between the two. His gaze darkened. He was He had never imagined that Grace was the granddaughter of the world¡¯s richest man. After three years of marriage, he had never known that this woman was actually the granddaughter of a billionaire! She was¡­ remarkably adept at manipting people. An uncontroble surge of anger churned within him as he recalled the smile she and Xander had exchanged moments ago. His dark eyes red with an int They seemed to have a history together. Had she left him for Xander? Meanwhile, Yvonne was also struggling to ept the situation. As she observed Grace in the spotlight, memories of Yvonne¡¯s past arrogance came to her mind. It filled her with intense hatred and a desire to vent her inner anger through a loud scream. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 The Truth Unveiled Only ten steps separated Yvonne from the stage, yet it felt like an unbridgeable gap for her. She had once believed that her haughty status as a wealthy youngdy was beyondpare. But now she realized how utterly insignificant she was co ¡°Hi, everyone. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you all at my grandpa¡¯s birthday celebration,¡± Grace said with a warm smile. ¡°Recently, there have been lots of rumors about me, and I¡¯m sure most of you are aware of them.¡± These words instantly grabbed the interest of the surprised reporters, who quickly took photos to document this groundbreaking news. Grace, the general manager of Amirate Corporation¡¯s branch in Pamore, was Harold¡¯s granddaughter! Initially, people had assumed that she and Aaron were in a romantic rtionship. No one would have thought they were siblings. Now, they realized that the two did share quite a resemnce. Grace¡¯s smile faded, and she said seriously, ¡°I want to rify that Simon and I are just regr friends. Our friendship goes back further than my rtions ¡°Besides,¡± Grace nced at Benjamin and Yvonne before she continued, ¡°My marriage with Mr. Hawkins is history. I encourage everyone to leave the pa She spoke withposure and self¨Cassuredness, showing no trace of the awkwardness that often apanied interactions between former spouses. The situation was evident. A former wife was making a dignified statement, while the man who had cheated on her was attending an event with the wom The reporters turned their cameras toward Benjamin and Yvonne and started to take pictures of them. Benjamin remainedposed, but Yvonne began to feel uneasy under the bright lights. The public opinion was now shifting, and the criticism against her as the mistress would only grow. At that instant, the reporters¡® phones started buzzing. Upon checking their notifications, they were shocked. They raised their microphones swiftly and said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, we¡¯ve just learned that you are Grace was briefly taken aback. She realized that this was rted to Sophia¡¯s message, warning her about her identity being exposed. She smiled openly and responded, ¡°Yes, I am indeed the Calico,¡± ¡°What inspired you to donate to mountain areas and help children born with cleft l*ps? You have been doing it for ten years. Can you share some of your thoughts with us?¡± a reporter asked curiously. Grace smiled as she responded, ¡°I prefer to keep the reasons private. I just hope everyone can take practical steps to support the children in need, just like I do.¡± She continued, ¡°Besides, I would like to clear something up. I¡¯ve been attending, Royal Academy since I was five years old, and the rumors of bullying at ¡°As for that video, we¡¯ve already edited it to protect people¡¯s identities and will send it to your media¡¯s email addresses. ¡°We will issue a rification. You can rest assured, Ms. Lewis.¡± The reporters nodded, assuring her. It was really difficult to associate a kinddy who was greatly loved by children from impoverished areas with the image of a mean bully. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Initially, they had been surprised that Grace was the granddaughter of an incredibly wealthy man. Now, they were profoundly impressed by her nobility. It became evident how innocent Grace had been all along, despite the false usations against her. ¡°Everyone, I have one more announcement to make.¡± Aaron stepped forward from the back. ¡°I will be gifting all my shares to Grace and advocating for h As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd¡¯s reactions shifted from surprise to disbelief. This news meant that Grace would not only be the wealthiest person¡¯s granddaughter but also the president of the world¡¯s toppany! This level of status was something others could only dream of. Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 A Series of Misunderstandings ¡°In theing days, Lewis Corporation will filewsuits against all the entertainment media outlets involved in defamation. After that, we will spare no expense in acquiring thesepanies,¡± Aaron stated. His icy gaze briefly flicked toward Richard. In the crowd, Richard was holding a champagne ss. His expression underwent a drastic change as he felt an overwhelming sense of unease and app He couldn¡¯t have anticipated that the person whose downfall he had tried to orchestrate using the entire entertainment industry in Pamore would have such strong and influential backing. The journalists present were left astonished. Wasn¡¯t this outright suppression? The entertainment industry in Pamore will surely be chaotic soon. Meanwhile, GEM Magazine, led by Zoey, promptly published a report revealing Grace¡¯s identity and the benevolent actions of the Calico. This sparked fervent dcussions amongizens. ¡°Goodness gracious! How many good deeds in past lives does it take to be the richest person¡¯s granddaughter? I¡¯m so jealous¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s wealthy, kind¨Chearted, and, above all, so beautiful. That Hawkins man must be a fool to have divorced her!¡± ¡°He must be blind. Otherwise, how could he choose such an ordinary¨Clooking mistress as a recement?¡± ¡°I knew there would be a twist in this!¡± ¡°With all due respect, is there a possibility that Grace might have any lost siblings? I feel a connection between us. 11 Meanwhile, Grace held onto Aaron¡¯s arm as they descended from the stage. Upon reaching Harold, Richard/warmly approached them with a friendly smile and said, ¡°I never realized you were Ms. Lewis¡® grandfather. ¡°My sincere apologies for not recognizing your rtionship sooner. It¡¯s all a misunderstanding.¡± Richard¡¯s face bore an ingratiating smile. It appeared rather ufortable to those who were watching. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Harold snorted coldly and said, ¡°The things you¡¯ve done to my beloved granddaughter are far ¡°You sent thugs to harm my sister, used malicious words to defame her, and your granddaughter even caused her car ident,¡± Aaron said as his eyes ¡°It¡¯s about time we settled the score with Quine Group.¡± Richard hurriedly exined in a panic, ¡°My employees were the ones responsible for these actions. I know nothing about them!¡± Quine Group couldn¡¯t withstand Lewis Corporation¡¯s retaliation. The power disparity between both sides was far too significant. Richard¡¯s current efforts to make amends were a desperate attempt to save himself and hispany. Benjamin had decided to marry Grace, and now Quine Group had be enemies of Lewis Corporation. Their future prospects appeared to be quite ch ¡°Is that so? But I distinctly remember someone threatening me over the phone and iming they would expose me to my grandpa,¡± Grace said while rais Deep down, Richard regretted trying to intimidate and threaten her in the first ce. He felt like giving himself a big p. ¡°Ms. Lewis, here¡¯s the deal. Once my granddaughter has her child, I¡¯ll make sure she goes to prison for what she did to you. ¡°Not just that, I would personally offer you somepensation for the thugs who harmed you, as well as for the spreading of rumors and defamation. ¡°It¡¯s a gesture of goodwill on my part. What do you think?¡± Richard pledged earnestly. ¡°Hmph! Do you believe that a paltry sum canpensate for the suffering my granddaughter has endured? ¡°Do you think Lewis Corporation is that desperate for your money?¡± Harold¡¯s anger grew as he spoke. ¡°I absolutely didn¡¯t mean it that way. I truly want to make amends!¡± Richard responded. ¡°Truly? Are you sure?¡± Grace took a few steps forward and lightly tapped his arm with her fingertip. Richard nodded repeatedly, assuring her, ¡°Yes! Absolutely! 100%!¡± ¡°Luke, bring me the stuff,¡± Grace instructed calmly. ¡°Okay,¡± Luke replied. Initially, Richard wasn¡¯t quite sure what she was referring to. It wasn¡¯t until Luke brought a red stic bag and retrieved his cherished diamond thumb rin His eyes widened with astonishment when he saw it. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Heartbreaking Richard¡¯s cherished possession which he had treasured all his life, had always been handled with care and stored thoughtfully. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. However, when he saw Grace nonchntly carrying it in a stic bag, he felt a sharp pang of anguish in his heart. ¡°Miss¡­¡± he murmured. With a subtle nod from Grace, Luke handed the ring to Richard. Richard felt a sense of joy. He thought that Grace was generously offering to return the ring to him. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I didn¡¯t know that you¡¯re not only beautiful but also kind¨C hearted,¡± he said while his right hand couldn¡¯t wait to reim the ring that was rightfully his. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Grace said in a soft voice, ¡°If you¡¯re genuinely determined to make amends, show your sincerity by smashing it with a hammer.¡± ¡°What?¡± Richard responded. Smashing it? Richard thought he had misheard. His incredibly precious ring was going to be destroyed just like that with a casual suggestion? Richard was taken aback, struggling to hold back his emot ¡°This ring is worth at least a billion dors on the market, and you¡¯re suggesting we simply smash it?¡± Richard asked with disbelief. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who proposedpensating me? I thought this ring might serve as suchpensation. ¡°Or perhaps¡­ you¡¯re finding it difficult to let it go?¡± Grace said while she observed Richard¡¯s ever¨Cchanging expression, with her face devoid of any extra emotion. This was way beyond letting it go for Richard. It felt as if it was worse than just killing him right away! However, at this moment, in order to quell Grace¡¯s fury and salvage Quine Group, Richard was contemting carefully. He was trying to figure out the be He paused for a moment before he gritted his teeth and said, one word at a time, ¡°Get me a hammer.¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd instantly buzzed with excitement. Everyone gathered around to ¡°You sent thugs to harm my sister, used malicious words to defame her, and your granddaughter even caused her car ident,¡± Aaron said as his eyes grew colde ¡°It¡¯s about time we settled the score with Quine Group.¡± Richard hurriedly exined in a panic, ¡°My employees were the ones responsible for these actions. I know nothing about them!¡± Quine Group couldn¡¯t withstand Lewis Corporation¡¯s retaliation. The power disparity between both sides was far too significant. Richard¡¯s current efforts to make amends were a desperate attempt to save himself and his Benjamin had decided to marry Grace, and now Quine Group had be enemies of Lewis Corporation. Their future prospects appeared to be quite ch ¡°Is that so? But I distinctly remember someone threatening me over the phone and iming they would expose me to my grandpa,¡± Grace said while rais an eyebrow. Her red l*ps parted with a touch of arrogance. Deep down, Richard regretted trying to intimidate and threaten her in the first ce. He felt like giving himself a big p. ¡°Ms. Lewis, here¡¯s the deal. Once my granddaughter has her child, I¡¯ll make sure she prison for what she did to you. goes to ¡°Not just that, I would personally offer you somepensation for the thugs who harmed you, as well as for the spreading of rumors and defamation. ¡°It¡¯s a gesture of goodwill on my part. What do you think?¡± Richard pledged earnestly. ¡°Hmph! Do you believe that a paltry sum canpensate for the suffering my granddaughter has endured? ¡°Do you think Lewis Corporation is that desperate for your money?¡± Harold¡¯s anger grew as he spoke. ¡°I absolutely didn¡¯t mean it that way. I truly want to make amends!¡± Richard responded. ¡°Truly? Are you sure?¡± Grace took a few steps forward and lightly tapped his arm with her fingertip. Richard nodded repeatedly, assuring her, ¡°Yes! Absolutely! 100%!¡± ¡°Luke, bring me the stuff,¡± Grace instructed calmly. ¡°Okay,¡± Luke replied. +15 BO Initially, Richard wasn¡¯t quite sure what she was referring to. It wasn¡¯t until Luke brough red stic bag and retrieved his cherished diamond thumb ring from it. His eyes widened with astonishment when he saw it. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Reaping the Consequences Standing in the midst of the crowd, Yvonne¡¯s heart was seized with anxiety. She felt an inexplicable sense of unease. She clutched her dress tightly as her nervousness became evident to everyone. ¡°Grandpa ¡­¡± she spoke with a hint of plea in her tone. She feared that Richard might publicly abandon her. However, at this moment, Richard had already made up his mind. Thepany was the culmination of his life¡¯s work. He had been clear about his priorities from the start. ¡°Ms. Lewis, rest assured, I will make sure Yvonne pays for her actions,¡± Richard dered in front of the crowd. At this moment, he appeared humble and submissive before Grace, without any trace of his former charisma. Grace raised her chin slightly and remained silent. Without saying a word, Richard grabbed Yvonne and pulled her to Grace. He coldly instructed, ¡°Hurry up and apologize to Ms. Lewis ¡­¡± ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Yvonne said while she was still struggling. If she were to apologize to Grace in front of so many people, how could she ever maintain her pride and reputation in high societyter on? ¡°Apologize.¡± Richard¡¯s patience was running out. Yvonne understood that if she didn¡¯t apologize now, there was a good chance Richard would cast her aside. As a family outcast, she would be left with nothing. Hence, she gritted her teeth and set aside all her pride and self¨Cesteem. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± she said with a touch of regret in her voice. ¡°Hmph, after all the outrageous things you¡¯ve done, you think a mere apology is enough? You should know our beloved Grace nearly lost her life becaus of you,¡± Emilymented. Her words caused an even greater stir in the crowd. ¡°Of course Mr. Quine Senjor is afraid. Intentionally causing an ident is a criminal offense.¡± ¡°If apologies could fix everything, what would be the point of having the police?¡± ¡°If I were Ms. Lewis, I would have already called the police and put her behind bars for being a Yvonne¡¯s face turned pale as she listened to the crowd¡¯s discussions. She was visibly distressed. ¡°I¡¯m not a mistress, so stop making baseless usations!¡± Yvonne shouted loudly at the crowd. It seemed she was trying to affirm her words as she searched her surroundings for Benjamin. She fixed her gaze on him. She rushed forward and held onto Benjamin as if he were her only hope. ¡°Ben, you have to exin to everyone. I was never a mistress. When we first met, you didn¡¯t even know Grace!¡± However, Benjamin remained unmoved. He gazed coldly at Grace, who appearedpletely unaffected, as if she weren¡¯t in this at all. He was deeply h Benjamin showed no mercy. He roughly pushed Yvonne away in front of everyone. ¡°Ben¡­¡± she said while unable to maintain her bnce. She stumbled and tumbled to the ground. A sudden wave of pain surged in her lower abdomen, but she couldn¡¯t afford to be concerned about it at that moment. ¡°Ben, quick, exin to everyone!¡± she pleaded. At that moment, Yvonne looked disheveled, almost as if she were a clown. Benjamin appearedpletely unbothered, as if it had nothing to do with him. He didn¡¯t care about her at all. The onlookers watched coldly, as if they were witnessing aedy. ¡°Someone, seize her and take her to the police station immediately,¡± Richard ordered with a sense of moral duty, even if it meant taking action against hi Yvonne was taken aback upon hearing his words. With much effort, she managed to get up from the ground. ¡°Grandpa, please don¡¯t ¡­ don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t send me to the detention center, please, I beg you.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Richard remained unmoved by Yvonne¡¯s pleas, as if her words had fallen on deaf ears. Soon, some of the guards approached her. ¡°Ben, save me ¡­ Grandpa¡­ please don¡¯t ¡­¡± Yvonne cried as she tried to break free from the b*dyguards¡® clutches. However, the vast difference in strength between her and the burly guards made her efforts futile. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Saying Goodbye to the Past No one in the crowd dared to intervene. They watched in astonishment as Quine Group¡¯s guards escorted Yvonne away. Anyone involved in an extramarital affair should face its consequences. Nheless, the crowd was filled with continuous whispers and expressions of empathy. ¡°Quine Group and Lewis Corporation would have reached the stars if they had formed an alliance.¡± ¡°Benjamin had a perfect marriage with the heiress of the Lewis family, but he ruined it by cheating on her.¡± ¡°Benjamin must be kicking himself for his foolishness.¡± Amidst the crowd¡¯s judgmental looks, Benjamin looked at Grace, who stood out like a star. He felt a whirlwind of emotions churning within him. He had been in a state of profound shock ever since the truth had been revealed. The remarkable change in their statuses following the divorce made everything seem rather surreal. He recalled a time three years ago when Grace had taken the initiative to propose their marriage and agreed to keep their identities secret. He had been grateful for her thoughtfulness and maturity. Over the three years, she had truly fulfilled her role as a wife. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Benjamin couldn¡¯t help but wonder why a woman of her stature had married him while hiding her true identity. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I would like a private conversation about your rtionship with my sister,¡± Aaron said as he seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Benjamin stayedposed and unfazed, even with all the rumors and gossip surrounding him. His remarkableposure set him apart from the others. When one let go of preconceived notions, it was evident that Benjamin was a worthy match for ¡°What is it, Mr. Lewis?¡± Aaron straightforwardly said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, regardless of what you and Grace had or any misunderstandings between you two, it¡¯s all in the past now.¡± ¡°And?¡± Benjamin casually responded. He showed no signs of backing down from his innate sense of sophistication. Aaron couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. This man was indeed as tough as the rumors said. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, let¡¯s be frank. Grace has suffered enough during her three years with your family. Your family¡¯s actions haven¡¯t beenmendable either. ¡°If we delve into it, our family has its own share of things to hold you ountable for,¡± he said. ¡°Is that so? If rtionship matters could be resolved that easily, the world wouldn¡¯t have so many people struggling with love. ¡°Mr. Lewis, I hold you in high regard as Grace¡¯s brother, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can interfere in my personal affairs. ¡°As for the issues between Grace and me, no one should try to interfere,¡± Benjamin responded. Aaron¡¯s eyebrows rose in response. He said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I appreciate your boldness. ¡°But are you not concerned about my family¡¯s intervention? Although your family wields considerable influence in Pamore, you¡¯re nothing in the eyes of our family.¡± His message was clear. It left Benjamin with no doubt that the Lewis family wanted him gone like an elephant crushing an ant. However, Benjamin didn¡¯t seem concerned. He remarked, ¡°You never know until you try.¡± Their gazes locked in a tense moment. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that, Mr. Hawkins,¡± Aaron responded firmly. Clearly, he had dered war. Yet Benjamin showed no fear. He shifted his attention to Grace, who stood beside Harold. He couldn¡¯t resist her radiating smile and walked toward her. X Chapter 109 Chapter 109 hapter 109 Why Did You Hide Your Identity ¡°Grace!¡± Benjamin¡¯s voice rang out. Then, he turned to look at Harold, who was beside her. ¡± Mr. Lewis Senior, can I talk to her privately?¡± Harold remained silent and deferred the decision to Grace. She wore a subtle, emotionless expression, her l*ps curving slightly. ¡°Okay,¡± she said. As Harold walked away, he gave Benjamin a serious look. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, since you¡¯re divorced, just make a clean break and stop beating around the bus Benjamin offered no objection. He simply nodded slightly and watched him leave. ¡°What do you want?¡± Grace¡¯s expression remained calm, as if it were an ordinary conversation. Benjamin remembered the day they had gotten their marriage certificate three years ago. She had stood shyly by his side while the photographer had taken their first photo together. His thoughts drifted briefly, but as he regained his focus, he found himself looking straight at her face. ¡°Why did you conceal your identity and marry me three years ago?¡± He asked. Grace didn¡¯t expect him to ask this question, especially given that they were divorced now. The answer no longer held any meaning for her. ¡°Why do you want to know, Mr. Hawkins?¡± Benjamin stared at her intensely with eyes as deep as the uncharted depths of the ocean. ¡°Just answer me.¡® Grace lowered her eyes. Her thoughts drifted far away. ¡°My family didn¡¯t support us being together. But I felt like I couldn¡¯t live without you,¡± she said. Therefore, she had forsaken her identity and status, betrayed her family and friends, and chosen him without a moment¡¯s hesitation. However, the oue had been far from satisfactory. ¡°Well ¡°Well, at least now I¡¯vee to terms with reality and realized that it takes two for love to work. My one¨C sided affection only caused unnecessary pain. ¡°When I was younger, I had feelings for someone I shouldn¡¯t have, but now that I¡¯ve grown wiser, it¡¯s time to take a step back,¡± she continued. Grace concluded with a self¨Cdeprecating smile and said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, our conversation is over. I should get going.¡± She walked away, taking confident strides in her seven¨Ccentimeter¨Chigh heels. She had the image of a proud and self¨Creliant woman. Soon, the birthday celebrations came to an end. Information regarding Grace¡¯s background instantly surged to the top of the trending lists. Being the granddaughter of the world¡¯s wealthiest man attracted many peo Additionally, the revtion of the true identity of ¡°Calico¡± took over the trending topics. ¡°Unbelievable! Grace¡¯s real identity is incredibly prestigious!¡± ¡°Is this a plot from a story with a happy ending? A rich girl hides her identity to get married, and after a divorce, she bes the world¡¯s wealthiest wom make this up, would they?¡± ¡°The Hawkins family must be regretting it big time! Grace is not only beautiful and kind, but she¡¯s also extremely rich. It¡¯s as if she¡¯s the protagonist of a m When Frederick, who was far away in Pamore, saw the news, he sprang from his couch in disbelief. He stared at the news headline in astonishment. He thought he might have been mistaken and even pinched his thigh to make sure it wasn¡¯t a dream. It was painful! That meant this was all real! He casually forwarded the news to his group of friends. ¡°I¡¯m blown away! Grace is the daughter of the world¡¯s richest family!¡± he texted. Reflecting on his past behavior toward Grace, all the taunts he had thrown her way appeared utterly foolish. At one point, he had thought Grace had been lucky to go from being an ordinary person to being married to a wealthy man overnight. Little had he know He continued to text, ¡°What should I do? I feel like my face is stinging a bit. ¡°That¡¯s the world¡¯s richest Lewis family. Even a mere mention of their name can send shivers down the world¡¯s spine. I wonder if it¡¯s toote to apologize Frederick sent several messages in a row, but the group chat remained eerily silent. Certainly, it would be difficult for anyone toe to terms with such a dramatic turn of events. News about Grace remained in the limelight on the inte for a whole week before things gradually died down. Grace took a few days to rest at home before making the decision to return to Pamore. Aaron personally apanied her to the airport. Before boarding the ne, he handed her a document. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she asked. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Chapter 110 A Solemn Pledge email ¡°The equity transfer agreement has been sent to all members of the board via em ¡°This year¡¯s board meeting will be held in Pamore, where you will be publicly announced as the new president.¡± Even though Aaron had already announced this at Harold¡¯s 70th birthday celebration, firace still felt the weight of responsibility for taking over the entire Amirate Corporation ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too soon? You know, I¡¯ve only recently joined thepany, and there are many aspects of the business I¡¯m still not familiar with,¡± she said worriedly. ¡°Your capabilities are widely recognized. Remember, you single¨C handedly resolved the crisis that our family faced years ago, I believe in you, and I¡¯m sure you can manage Amirate well,¡± Aaron reassured her. ¡°But¡­¡± Grace still had doubts. Aaron extended his hand and gently ruffled her hair. He continued to reassure her, ¡°You¡¯re our family¡¯s cherished daughter. Leading Amirate is your destiny. So don¡¯t stress too much. ¡°We¡¯ll be here to help you, no matter what challenges mighte your way.¡± Grace felt a sense of warmth in her heart. ¡°Thank you. I will do my best,¡± she said. ¡°Go with confidence, and know that I wholeheartedly support you,¡± Aaron responded This statement was like a calming tonic for Grace, instantly putting her mind at ease. ¡°I understand, Aaron,¡± she replied. Upon her return to Pamore, David Smith, one of Amirate¡¯s employees, reviewed the details of the uing board meeting with Grace, Afterpleting all the necessary preparations, they finally had the board meeting At 9:00 am, the top floor of Amirate Corporation was bustling with all thepa ¡®s board directors. As soon as Grace made her entrance, all eyes were on her. She wore a professional outfit that radiated confidence, disying her strong and capable p Before she had be the president¡¯s assistant, there had been lots of rumors and spections about Grace¡¯s identity, which had been circting wide But no one had anticipated that Grace was the only daughter of the Lewis family. When this information surfaced, it caused a major stir within thepany,pletely. Grace took her seat at the head of the table. David then presented Aaron¡¯s equity transfer agreement. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, before wemence today¡¯s board meeting, I have an important personnel announcement to make. ¡°In my possession is the equity transfer agreement from the former President, Mr. Aaron Lewis, who has transferred all of his shares to Ms. Grace Lewis ¡°With this, I propose the election of Ms. Grace Lewis as the new President of Amirate Corporation,¡± David dered. As these words were spoken, therge meeting room suddenly filled with excitement and chatter. Whispers and discussions circted among those pr¨¦sent. Finally, Director Walker expressed the board¡¯s concerns. ¡°Mr. Smith, this decision appears somewhat rushed, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Director Walker was a senior member of thepany. His words carried a lot of weight. Once he spoke, the other directors quickly supported him. ¡°Exactly. While Ms. Lewis is a member of the Lewis family, her capabilities may not necessarily be suited for the role of president. Elevating her to this position so abruptly may not gain the confidence of many.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis is still quite young, and I assume she has limited experience. So I think we should give this more thought.¡± ¡°Managing such arge corporation like Amirate is no easy task. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to take Amirate¡¯s future lightly and jeopardize the well¨Cbeing of everyone.¡± Grace had foreseen that things wouldn¡¯t proceed too smoothly. The current collective rejection didn¡¯te as a surprise to her. ¡°Directors, I understand your concerns. Amirate Corporation is my grandfather¡¯s legacy and my older brother¡¯s lifelong endeavor. ¡°I am fullymitted to this responsibility and purpose, and I will ensure that Amirate thrives under my leadership,¡± Grace said firmly. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Her words carried a strong and unwavering tone, causing the room to fall silent. However, Director Walker gave a wry smile and said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, actions speak louder than words. $15 BOWUS ¡°What we¡¯re looking for isn¡¯t just empty promises, What concerns us is thepany¡¯s performance and the year¨Cend dividends. ¡°How can you ensure that our interests remain intact? Unless you make a solemn pledge and give everyone here some assurance, At that moment, David was about to say something, but Grace stopped him. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Then Leave Grace scanned the room, her gaze finallynding on Samuel Walker. She pursed her l*ps slightly, then asked, ¡°What do you mean, Director Walker?¡± ¡°You need to prove your worth with actual results. Why don¡¯t we settle for 30%? ¡°If you can improve thepany¡¯s performance by 30%, you¡¯ll get to be president, and we¡¯ll be satisfied. If not¡­ I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be so easily convinc ¡°I Samuel¡¯s words piqued everyone¡¯s interest. Raising performance by 30% was impossible, no matter how you looked at it. Not even Aaron could do it. He was clearly giving her an impossible mission. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Director Walker, we both know that an international corporation like Amirate struggles to increase its performance by 10% as it is. ¡°What are you trying to achieve by demanding 30%?¡± David couldn¡¯t help but protest. However, no one else dared speak up. Samuel didn¡¯t seem to care and said nonchntly, ¡°Well, because only a demand like that can prove Ms. Lewis¡® worth. ¡°If she can achieve that goal, everyone on the board of directors would agree to her bing president, not just me. ¡°Why, you!¡± David was so angry that he couldn¡¯t speak. However, Grace held him back before looking up at Samuel calmly. ¡°Are you being serious?¡± Samuel shrugged. ¡°Of course. Do you ept this challenge, Ms. Lewis?¡± Grace smiled, then said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve already made the challenge, it would be awkward if I didn¡¯t ept it. However ¡­¡± When she didn¡¯t continue, everyone in the meeting room started whispering amongst themselves. ¡°She actually epted it! Does she even know what 30% ofpany performance means?¡± ¡°That means she¡¯ll have to expand thepany¡¯s operations by almost a third. She would have to multiply profits for that to happen.¡± ¡°If she can do it, pigs can fly.¡± ¡°s, she¡¯s too young and naive. That¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t understand the difficulty of this task. Samuelughed, not even bothering to hide the disdain in his eyes. ¡°However, what? Feel free to speak your mind, Ms. Lewis.¡± ¡°We need actual consequences!¡± Grace said. Samuel hadn¡¯t expected Grace to be this perceptive. He had been trying to think of ways to lure her into his trap, and yet she had offered herself willingly Heughed and replied, ¡°If you say so, Ms. Lewis, then let¡¯s bet on it.¡± Grace didn¡¯t react at all. ¡°Alright. What are the stakes?¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t raise thepany¡¯s performance by 30% in one year, you¡¯ll have to quit your job and let the board of directors decide who bes our nex Grace¡¯s smile didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. As she looked up at Samuel, she asked, ¡°And if I can? 11 Samuel burst outughing in response. The way he saw it, Grace was just building castles in the air. Raisingpany performance by 30% was impossible. He was already mentally preparing to kick Grace off the board of directors, so he replied shamelessly, ¡°If you can, I¡¯ll give up my voting privileges on the ¡°After that, I¡¯ll take my yearly dividends but won¡¯t interfere in any of thepany¡¯s decisions. Everyone fell silent. ¡°Director Walker, you must look before you leap. This is no joke,¡± someone said in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve been with thepany for so long and contributed so much. Please don¡¯t say something like that in the heat of the moment.¡± To their surprise, Samuel waved his hand dismissively yet confidently, motioning for them to stop talking. ¡°I, Samuel Walker, am a man of my word.¡± Grace raised an eyebrow. ¡°Alright. Since Director Walker¡¯s already said so, it¡¯s a deal.¡± After the board meeting ended, David followed Grace back to her office worriedly.. ¡°Ms. Lewis, Director Walker and the others are clearly just making things difficult for you. Why even ept the bet? A 30% increase inpany perform Grace was well aware of that. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Date Me ¡°Do you think I have a choice?¡± she asked. She was new here. If she didn¡¯t have the results to back herself up, those old geezers would never submit to her. ¡°Director Walker¡¯s only being demanding because he doesn¡¯t want me to be president. If I had backed down, there¡¯s no telling how they¡¯ll keep making th ¡°So I might as well assert dominance,¡± Grace exined. ¡°But this bet is too risky. Director Walker was that arrogant because he knows you can¡¯t possibly increasepany performance by that much.¡± Grace grunted in agreement. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. Now, all that¡¯s left to do is roll up our sleeves and make it happen.¡± David was on her side as always. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Lewis. I¡¯ll do my best to help you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I need to hear.¡± Word about what had happened during the board meeting spread like wildfire throughout Amirate Corporation. Soon enough, everyone was talking abou When Timothy heard the news, he was a little surprised. ¡°Is it true? Is Mdy really that cool?¡± ¡°Of course. Ms. Lewis was so assertive and ambitious that those old men on the board couldn¡¯t even say anything in response.¡± Timothy let out an impressed whistle. ¡°That¡¯s Mdy, alright! She¡¯s so cool!¡± ¡°Still¡­ a 30% increase is noughing matter. Ms. Lewis just took a huge risky gamble.¡± Timothy raised an eyebrow and smirked in disdain. ¡°What do you know about her? She¡¯s choosing the road less taken, that¡¯s all.¡± Grace had just done what he had always wanted to do but never had the guts to execute. He couldn¡¯t help but see her in a new light. ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m falling even harder for Mdy now.¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Still Not Here Upon returning to Amirate Corporation, Timothy immediately barged into Grace¡¯s office. ¡°Mdy, now that your identity is public, why don¡¯t we just follow our parents¡® wishes and get married?¡± he asked. Grace decisively refused, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have no intention of marrying again at the moment. ¡°Then, when you want to get married, just let me know. I¡¯ll always be ready to marry you.¡± Grac felt a headacheing on and replied, ¡°Mr. Donegan, we¡¯re not a good match. I¡¯ve told you this before. Why are you so persistent?¡± ¡°What¡¯s not a good match? Please don¡¯t rush to judge. You haven¡¯t really gotten to know me, and yet you¡¯re rejecting me outright,¡± Timothy blurted out a ¡°Do you know me, then?¡± Grace retorted, leaving him momentarily lost for words. ¡°We can get to know each other gradually in the future. There¡¯s plenty of time¡­¡± he trailed off, starting tock confidence. Ultimately, he said determinedly, ¡°You think I don¡¯t know you well enough, and that¡¯s why you¡¯re rejecting me, right? From now on, I¡¯ll slowly get to know Grace was somewhat helpless, wondering why she couldn¡¯t get through to him. ¡°No¡­ Marriage needs a foundation of affection. Asting marriage is built on mutual love.¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll find a way to make you fall in love with me,¡± Timothy said confidently. There was a rare seriousness in his eyes. Grace was about to say something, but he beat her to it. ¡°My mind is made up. Don¡¯t worry. My love for you won¡¯t be a burden, and you won¡¯t feel any pressure. We have a lot of time ahead of us.¡± As he finished speaking, he wore a big smile and waved to her. ¡°Mdy, carry on with your work! I¡¯ll go back to work too.¡°. Watching his retreating back, Grace let out a small sigh. She became exceptionally busy, with meetings of all sizes happening one after another. The executive office on the top floor was frequently brightly lit. After hearing the reports from his subordinates, Samuel wore a disdainful expression. ¡°She¡¯s so good at putting on a show. I want to see how she can increase thepany¡¯s ¡°Director Walker, rest assured. We¡¯re well aware of the projects she¡¯s handling. At the moment, there isn¡¯t a single project that can turn the tide for her.¡± Samuel was very satisfied. ¡°You¡¯ve done well! Keep a close watch, and don¡¯t let her sl*p through the cracks.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°By the way, I asked you to arrange a meeting with Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Barnes. Any news on that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been confirmed for 7:00 pm tonight at Aroma Restaurant. Both Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Barnes will be present. The restaurant has already been informe ¡°Good. Remind me to attend on time.¡± ¡°Yes, Director Walker.¡± There was a deep, meaningful look in Samuel¡¯s eyes. The divorce between Benjamin and Grace had caused quite a stir in the city. The two of them were clearly not on good terms. As the saying goes, your enemy¡¯s enemy was your friend. If Samuel could win Benjamin over, he could have a higher chance of sess. At that thought, Samuel felt immensely satisfied. At 7:00 pm, Samuel had arrived at the restaurant early and was waiting in the private room. He looked at his watch and couldn¡¯t help but ask his assistant, ¡°It¡¯s thiste. Why haven¡¯t theye yet?¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. X Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Chapter 114 A Favor ¡°I¡¯ll make a call,¡± the assistant said as he pulled out his phone, but Samuel stopped her in her tracks. ¡°No need. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡± After about an hour, Benjamin arrived with Larry. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I¡¯ve heard so much about you,¡± Samuel said, approaching with a fawning smile on his face. Benjamin¡¯s expression revealed no emotion, leaving people unable to decipher his true thoughts. ¡°Director Walker, sorry for the wait.¡± ¡°No problem. I just arrived as well. But Mr. Barnes hasn¡¯te yet, so let¡¯s chat while we wait. 11 Samuel pulled out a chair for Benjamin. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, please have a seat.¡± Benjamin sat down, crossing his long legs casually. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, it¡¯s a great honor for me that you could spare your time today.¡± ¡°Director Walker, let¡¯s get to the point. If you have something to say, please go ahead,¡± Larry interjected. Samuel chuckled as he said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you truly have a discerning eye. Indeed, I invited you here today for a specific request.¡± Benjamin then spoke, ¡°As a board member at Amirate Corporation, you have no direct connection with Hawkins Group. May I inquire about the nature of your request?¡± Samuel didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Well, Mr. Hawkins, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware that our new president, Grace, is your ex¨Cwife.¡± As soon as Samuel mentioned Grace, Benjamin¡¯s gaze darkened, and his fingers rhythmically tapped the tabletop. While his expression seemed nonchnt, he had a rough idea of Samuel¡¯s intentions. Without revealing his thoughts, he encouraged Samuel to continue. ¡°Ms. Lewis is quite something. She¡¯s just taken on her position and boasted about boosting thepany¡¯s performance by 30%. ¡°Since she¡¯s so young andcking experience in the harsh realities of the business world, she Benjamin nced at him and asked, ¡°So what do you want me to do?¡± Samuel failed to perceive the hidden meaning in his words. He assumed that Benjamin despised Grace just as much as he did and wanted to teach her Thus, he openly shared his n. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I want to discuss Ms. Lewis¡® most critical project, the coboration between Hawkins Group, Amirate Corporation, and Barnes Group. ¡°If the project encounters issues, not only will she fail to make a penny, but she might also lose all the invested capital. ¡°In that case, she won¡¯t stand a chance of staying in thepany.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. While he spoke, he couldn¡¯t contain his smugness, as if he could already see Grace begging on her knees after the project failed. Samuel didn¡¯t notice as anger welled up in Benjamin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Director Walker, you¡¯ve certainly devised a cunning n.¡± There was a hint of mockery in his words. Engrossed in his own world, Samuel failed to notice anything amiss. Instead, he continued, In doing so, I will win the bet against her, and you will also ha Just then, the door to the private room was abruptly pushed open, and the atmosphere grew tense. Samuel was caught off guard. As he looked up, he froze in ce. Grace had appeared at the door, staring at him with a meaningful expression. ¡°Director Walker, it seems I arrived at an inconvenient time.¡± Grace¡¯s words were light, but they sent shivers down Samuel¡¯s spine. ¡°How ¡­ how did you get here?¡± Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Chapter 115 The Rumors Were Wrong A sly smile tugged at the corner of Grace¡¯s l*ps as she said, ¡°It seems you aren¡¯t too pleased to see me.¡± Despite her words, she couldn¡¯t resist stepping inside. The situation became somewhat awkward, as Samuel hadn¡¯t expected to be caught off guard by Grace. However, he was a seasoned yer and quickly regained hisposure. ¡°Ms. Lewis, why would you say that? I wholeheartedly wee you,¡± he said, getting up from his seat to make room for her. After taking a seat, Grace¡¯s eyes met Benjamin¡¯s for a moment. It seemed as though a spark had been ignited. She raised an eyebrow and broke the silence. ¡°Coincidentally, Mr. Hawkins is here too. It seems like I¡¯ve interrupted something.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an interruption. We were just talking about you. Little did we know that be Amirate¡¯s president as soon as you left Hawkins Group. you would ¡°Director Walker was just praising you, saying that your exceptional abilities could increase the board¡¯s performance by 30% in a year. Isn¡¯t that right, Ms. Lewis?¡± ¡°I only mentioned it in passing, and I hope you won¡¯t take offense.¡± Samuel now realized that the rumored conflict between Grace and Benjamin might not be entirely urate. He seemed to have miscalcted. In truth, Grace had overheard the men¡¯s conversation at the door. Samuel had indeed changed his attitude so fast. She knew his hidden agenda, but she hadn¡¯t expected Benjamin to show up. Was he teaming up with Samuel to go against her? Her eyes darkened, but her tone remained calm as she continued, ¡°That¡¯s indeed the case. Director Walker and I made a bet.¡± She directed her gaze at Samuel. ¡°Director Walker, now that our bet is public knowledge, we should aim for a dignified oue. Engaging in secret dea Samuel¡¯s face grew grim. He hadn¡¯t anticipated herck of leniency. However, now wasn¡¯t the time topletely sever ties with her. Hence, he exined with a forced smile, ¡°Ms. Lewis, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I believe my character is quite good. ¡°Since we had an agreement from the beginning, we should stick to it. I won¡¯t try to sabotage you.¡± Grace nodded in understanding. Since she had achieved her goal, she didn¡¯t want to linger any longer. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve expressed your intentions, I can rest assured. Director Walker, Mr. Hawkins, I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± With that, she stood up to leave. Benjamin also rose and adjusted his suit jacket. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± He left no room for her to refuse. The two of them left the private room, leaving Samuel bewildered. Weren¡¯t they divorced? Why wasn¡¯t it like the rumors said? ¡°Ms. Lewis!¡± As she left the restaurant, Grace ran into Albert. He took long strides and approached her. ¡°How did it go? Is everything sorted out?¡± Grace stopped in her tracks and looked at him. ¡°Mr. Barnes, I want to thank you for today.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for his information, there was no telling what Samuel and Benjamin might have plotted. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Fortunately, she had Samuel under control for now. Albert was about to speak when he caught sight of Benjamin approaching them at a leisurely pace. His l*ps curved into a slight smile, but his words closed the distance between them, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so polite with me.¡® Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Chapter 116 A Misunderstanding Grace smiled sincerely and said, ¡°No matter what, I owe you a favor for today. If you ever need my assistance in the future, feel free to ask.¡± Albert nodded slightly but gave her a subtle reminder. ¡°Director Walker isn¡¯t as simple as he appears. ¡°He¡¯s been doing business for many years, and his connections and scheming go beyond our understanding. You should be more cautious in the future. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be more careful.¡± Albert fixed his gaze on her and noticed some stray strands of hair near her ear. He reached out, as if to help her fix it. ¡°Mr. Barnes!¡± Benjamin¡¯s voice interrupted his movement. Albert smiled faintly, retracting his hand from mid¨Cair. Then, he turned to Grace and said, ¡°A few strands of your hair were loose.¡± ¡°What?¡± Her reaction was slightly dyed. On the other hand, Benjamin had walked to stand beside her, blocking Albert from her view. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Mr. Barnes is nning to marry Ocean Group¡¯s heiress. Allow me to extend my congrattions in advance. Congrattions on your uing marriage, Mr. Barnes!¡± Benjamin¡¯s words left Albert baffled. His marriage to Ocean Group¡¯s heiress had been decided by the family, and he had never announced it. It seemed Benjamin was well¨Cinformed about his personal matters. ¡°It¡¯s not a done deal yet. Your congrattions are a bit premature,¡± he replied, casting a nce at Grace. ¡°Once I find someone I genuinely care for and want to marry, I¡¯ll be sure to invite you to the wedding.¡± Benjamin was able to grasp the meaning behind his words¨CAlbert had his eyes on Grace. His heart surged with emotion. It felt as if something he possessed was being coveted, sparking his fury. On the other hand, Grace paid no attention to Benjamin. From the moment he had followed her outside, she hadn¡¯t spared him a single nce. ¡°Ms. Lewis, allow me to escort you,¡± Albert offered, ignoring Benjamin¡¯s furious gaze. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mr. Barnes. I drove here.¡± ¡°Then allow me to apany you to the parking lot.¡± Grace smiled and nodded. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Barnes.¡± As the two chatted and walked away, Benjamin¡¯s irritated expression was hard to ignore. He grabbed Grace¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Grace, I need to talk to you.¡± She frowned and instinctively pulled her arm away. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, please watch yourself.¡± Unlike her enthusiastic demeanor with Albert, she appeared cold and distant when dealing with Benjamin, maintaining a certain distance from him. ¡°Let¡¯s talk privately.¡± Benjamin managed to contain his anger and speak firmly. However, Grace tly refused. ¡°If you have something to say, say it here. I¡¯m quite busy and don¡¯t have much time.¡± Benjamin¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Director Walker-¡± ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you seemed to be coborating with Director Walker on something.¡± Thinking back to the conversation between Samuel and Benjamin in the private room, she felt a wave of disgust. Did Benjamin believe that she was young and inexperienced? Did he want to teach her a lesson? Yet he seemed to forget that she had already learned enough from him over the past three years. ¡°Do you even understand what you¡¯re saying?¡± Benjamin was on the verge of exploding. He found being misunderstood like this truly unbearable.. But because of his pride, he refused to exin himself. ¡°Do you think I would team up with him?¡± he gritted out. ¡°The reality is clear, and you know it. There¡¯s nothing more to say. Let¡¯s end it here,¡± Grace replied. Then, she turned to Albert. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± A meaningful look shed across Albert¡¯s face. Watching them leave, Benjamin vented his frustration by fiercely punching a pir nearby Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Your Ex¨CWife Meanwhile, a series of crashing sounds filled a private room in Aroma Restaurant as Samuel angrily destroyed everything in the room. ¡°You little brat! How dare you act so arrogantly in front of me?¡± He furiously kicked a chair, sending it crashing onto the ground. He narrowed his eyes. He couldn¡¯t let things go on like this. If he gave up now, he might be under Grace¡¯s control forever, with no chance to rise above. He took out his phone and made a call. ¡°I don¡¯t care what methods you use, but I want Grace to be humiliated and kicked out of Amirate Corporation.¡± After hanging up the phone, he was about to leave when he heard a knock on the door. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he asked cautiously. The next moment, the door was opened. ¡°Mr. Walker, our chairman requests your presence.¡± Samuel was puzzled. ¡°Who is your chairman?¡± ¡°Richard Quine.¡± Samuel was familiar with the name, but he had no dealings with Richard. ¡°What does Mr. Quine Senior want from me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you see him.¡± After a moment of consideration, Samuel chose to follow the person outside. At 11:00 pm, Halo Bar was bustling. The loud beat of the music stimted every nerve in people¡¯s bodies, making them more intoxicated and urging the On a couch in the corner, Benjamin wore a gloomy expression, looking rather unpleasant. He emptied one ss after another. ¡°Buddy, what¡¯s wrong with you? Are you in a bad mood?¡± Frederick leaned in with a concerned expression. However, Benjamin remained silent. Frederick was curious, as he rarely saw Benjamin in such a state. He couldn¡¯t resist teasing, ¡°Is this rted to your ex¨Cwife?¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, he could feel Benjamin¡¯s gaze intensifying. ¡°Oh my god, I guessed it right!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention that woman to me.¡± This was the first sentence Benjamin had spoken tonight. However, Frederick was thrilled as he asked, ¡°Did your ex¨Cwife upset you?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Benjamin said unkindly. Frederick sighed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s our fault for not having the foresight¡­¡± Every time he thought about how he had ndered Grace in various ways, he couldn¡¯t help but regret it. He had lost the opportunity to be friends with the Lewis family¡¯s heiress. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s just a woman. Cheer up! Look around; there¡¯s no shortage of women here. Tell me what type you want, and I¡¯ll arrange one for you right away.¡± Benjamin cast a cold, indifferent gaze around the ce as he uttered, ¡°Not interested.¡± ¡°Fine. Tonight, I¡¯m going to enjoy myself.¡± Frederick was about to approach the group of girls. At that moment, the music in the hall intensified, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to a woman in a seductive red dress. ¡°Oh my god, that woman is stunning! Quick, look!¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes lit up as he stared at the seductive woman in the center of the dance floor. She had long legs, a slim waist, and perfect proportions. Her seductive dance moves and alluring presence sent screams echoing through the venue. Even her back was enough to enchant thousands of men. Frederick couldn¡¯t help but whistle toward the center of the stage. The woman turned around, and the multicolored lights illuminated her. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Frederick was shocked when he finally saw her face. ¡°Damn, it¡¯s Grace!¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, Benjamin, who had been drinking on the couch, froze in ce. Frederick was now incredibly excited. ¡°Ben,e look. It¡¯s your ex¨Cwife!¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Stir Her Emotions Benjamin looked where Frederick was pointing and saw a familiar figure. Even if she were reduced to ashes, he would still recognize her. Hadn¡¯t she left with Albert? How could she be here? Grace¡¯s dancing was undeniably enchanting. The moment she appeared, she had captured everyone¡¯s attention. In just a short time, she had be the center of attention in the entire bar. Her smile was bright and exuberant, exuding an undeniable, self¨C assured radiance. Her beauty was otherworldly, causing Benjamin¡¯s heart to palpitate incessantly. This was a side of her that he had never seen before. He had never known that she could smile so gracefully. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Benjamin¡¯s emotions were in turmoil. He emptied his ss of wine in one gulp. The restraint he had maintained earlier was gone now. Without hesitation, he set down the ss and walked toward Grace. ¡°Wow! Grace, you¡¯re simply stunning!¡± Emily couldn¡¯t help but whistle. Amidst the music, she added, ¡°Bringing you out tonight was definitely worth it. Let¡¯s make the most of this night and indulge ourselves!¡± Grace felt alive with every fiber of her being at this moment. She clinked sses with Emily and said, ¡°Cheers!¡± The two of them exchanged a smile. Grace took a sip of the wine in her ss, relishing its taste. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she downed it in one go. ¡°Emily, wait for me a moment. I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± She set her ss down and walked in the direction of the restroom. However, just as she turned the corner, she saw Benjamin walking toward her. In an instant, the smile on her face vanished. She immediately turned and walked away, as if she had encountered a gue. Benjamin couldn¡¯t tolerate her attitude as he called out, ¡°Stop, Grace!¡± Grace sneered, but her steps quickened. Benjamin¡¯s eyes narrowed as he moved forward, pursuing her until he cornered her near the restroom. ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me!¡± Grace struggled against his grip, but he held on firmly. Thinking about what she had said to him about his collusion with Samuel just two hours ago, he felt furious. Fueled by alcohol, he blurted out, ¡°Grace, the rtionship between me and Director Walker isn¡¯t what you think. Who the hell would associate with a person like him-¡± Grace had no interest in listening to him. She simply kept struggling. ¡°Benjamin, let go of me! Meanwhile, Benjamin¡¯s eyes were fixed on her. Her unique fragrance filled the air around them. In that moment, he felt something stir within him. His b*dy began to change involuntarily, and he leaned in to k*ss her. Grace didn¡¯t hesitate to p him hard, causing his face to turn to the side. This ppletely woke him up. He realized what he had tried to do just now. ¡°Benjamin, is this fun for you?¡± Grace mocked him with a cold tone and an unapologetic expression. ¡°Or do you still see me as a ything you can summon and dismiss at will?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡± Benjamin tried to exin, but she pushed him away without a second thought. ¡°Stay away from me!¡± Her disdain was undisguised in her eyes. She turned and walked away. However, Benjamin didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his l*ps. ¡°Ben, are you okay?¡± Frederick inquired with concern. He had seen Grace p Benjamin just now. If it had been in the past, Benjamin would have made sure she regretted it, but he hadn¡¯t done anything today. In fact, he had smiled instead of getting a Had he been too stunned by the p? Benjamin touched his own cheek and recalled Grace¡¯s anger just now. At least she was no longer the emotionless and unfeeling person she had been. He could still stir her emotions. ¡°Yvonne!¡± Celia was the first to rush over, expressing concern. ¡°Yvonne, are you okay?¡± Yvonne instinctively clutched her stomach, feeling a subtle pain. She looked at Grace, who appeared visibly stunned, and shivered as she pointed at her. ¡°Why ¡­ why did you hurt my baby? Someone, help! Save my b X Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Yvonne Again At the same time, at the entrance of the bar, Celia tried calling Benjamin on her phone, but he didn¡¯t answer. A slender figure beside her asked urgently, ¡°Are you sure your brother is here?¡± Celia nodded repeatedly and said, ¡°Yvonne, there¡¯s no mistake. My brother is definitely here.¡± The person who had arrived was Yvonne. Before this, Richard had sent her to jail, and the Quine family hadpletely abandoned her. The Lewis family had submitted a whole lot of evidence and was now waiting for the court to conduct a trial. However, Yvonne¡¯s situation was unique¡ªshe was pregnant. Hence, she had been granted bail. She had called Benjamin and sent him messages, wanting to meet him, but he had never agreed to meet her. She¡¯d had no other choice but to find a way to sneak out of the hospital. Celia had informed her that Benjamin was at Halo Bar, so she hade here. ¡°Yvonne, let¡¯s go inside.¡± Celia led Yvonne through the bar. Yvonne¡¯s heart came to life in the lively atmosphere, but as she nced around, her steps involuntarily came to a halt. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Yvonne?¡± Celia asked curiously, following Yvonne¡¯s gaze. In an instant, she saw Grace and Benjamin not far away. ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s that woman again! She just won¡¯t leave my brother alone. Doesn¡¯t she know they¡¯re already divorced?¡± Feeling annoyed, Celia wanted to go and confront Grace, but Yvonne pulled her back. She kept her gaze fixed on them and witnessed Grace pping Benjamin. Not only was he not angry, but there was even a hint of indulgence in his eyes. Yvonne clenched her fists in silence. After seeing Grace walk away, Yvonne started walking toward her. At this moment, Grace¡¯s mood was extremely unpleasant. She returned to her seat and picked up her purse. Then, she turned to Emily. ¡°You guys have a great time. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Emily and her friends didn¡¯t seem like they nned on leaving until they were drunk. She waved at Grace and said, ¡°Alright, take care.¡± As Grace turned to leave, she found Yvonne standing before her. In just half a month, Yvonne had visibly lost a significant amount of weight. Grace had an eerie feeling seeing her. In theory, she should be locked up in the detention center. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. How had shee here? ¡°Surprised?¡± Yvonne spoke first, her eyes filled with hatred. If it hadn¡¯t been for Grace, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this situation today¨Cimprisoned and abandoned by her family. Everything was because of her. ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve got some skills, getting yourself out again,¡± Grace retorted with a hint of mockery. Yvonne¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Grace, are you feeling triumphant now?¡± Grace had a prestigious background, while she had be a prisoner and been abandoned by her family. The world was unfair. ¡°Grace, do you believe I can ruin your reputation?¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes revealed a calcting look. She had already made up her mind. A sense of foreboding welled up within Grace as she watched her. ¡°What are you nning?¡± Yvonne smiled, her gaze flickering toward Benjamin, who wasn¡¯t far away. Then, she reached out and grabbed her arm. ¡°Grace, I was wrong. Please spare me and my baby. I genuinely love Benjamin. Please, allow us to be toge Grace winced from the pain in her arm. ¡°Yvonne, are you out of your mind? Let go of me.¡± Yvonne smiled and forcefully pushed Grace away. Then, she fell to the ground with a heavy thud. ¡°Ah!¡± A miserable cry rang out. The people around them were startled by this sudden turn of events. ¡°Yvonne!¡± Celia was the first to rush over, expressing concern. ¡°Yvonne, are you okay?¡± Yvonne instinctively clutched her stomach, feeling a subtle pain. She looked at Grace, who appeared visibly stunned, and shivered as she pointed at her. ¡°Why ¡­ why did you hurt my baby? Someone, help! Save my b Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Same Old Tricks The music in the bar subsided due to the cry for help. ¡°Someone, help! Save my baby!¡± Grace watched this scene in disbelief. This wasn¡¯t the first time that Yvonne had pulled such an act. Was she addicted to acting now? Not, far away, Benjamin saw this unfold. His eyes gradually darkened as he strode over to where Yvonne had fallen. At this moment, he didn¡¯t have time to question why she was here. Yvonne tightly grasped his hand, her face contorted in pain. ¡°Benjamin, save me! Save our baby!¡± ¡°Ben, it¡¯s all Grace¡¯s fault for pushing Yvonne down. That¡¯s why she¡¯s in this state,¡± Celia used Grace. However, Benjamin remained unresponsive. It didn¡¯t appear as if Yvonne was acting. Hence, he reached out and held her. The next moment, his hand touched something, and he felt a damp sensation. ¡°It¡¯s blood! Ben, Yvonne is bleeding!¡± Celia eximed, causing the people around her to panic. ¡°What are you all waiting for? Call 911!¡± Someone in the crowd shouted, and everyone took out their phones. Without any hesitation, Benjamin lifted Yvonne and headed outside. Emily, who had arrived, saw this scene and asked, ¡°What happened? What¡¯s going on?¡± Grace smirked and said, ¡°It seems like I¡¯ve gotten myself into some trouble.¡± ¡°What?¡± Grace lowered her gaze, looking at the bloodstains on the ground. She hadn¡¯t expected Yvonne to be so ruthless as to harm her own baby. However, after a moment, she calmed down and nced at a nearby surveince camera. Her eyes darkened. Yvonne was urgently taken to the hospital. In the hospital, Benjamin and Celia waited outside the operating theater. It was unclear how much time had passed before a nurse hurried out of the operating theater. ¡°Which one of you is the family member?¡± Benjamin quickly asked, ¡°How is she now?¡± ¡°Are you the patient¡¯s husband? The patient has had a miscarriage and needs a uterine evacuation procedure. Please sign this consent form. It¡¯s urgent ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Benjamin was momentarily stunned upon hearing this news. ¡°The patient is in critical condition. Please sign quickly.¡± He took the pen and hastily signed his name. After the operation, Yvonne was transferred to a ward. Early the next morning, the Quines rushed to the hospital upon receiving the news. Richard¡¯s face turned slightly grim when he saw Benjamin. ¡°What exactly happened? Yvonne was perfectly fine, so how did she fall?¡± Benjamin¡¯s eyes darkened as he replied, ¡°We need to investigate this matter further to determine the truth.¡± However, Celia, who was standing beside them, pointed out, ¡°It was Grace! Yvonne fell because Grace pushed her.¡± Her words immediately silenced the corridor. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes. Yvonne fell because Grace pushed her. Mr. Quine Senior, you should report this to the police and have Grace arrested.¡± ¡°Celia!¡± Benjamin sternly reprimanded her. Celia had no choice but to keep quiet. Benjamin remainedposed as he said, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t draw conclusions until the matter is thoroughly investigated.¡± Richard sneered, his eyes filled with icy coldness. He couldn¡¯t forget the humiliation he had suffered in Frenda because of Grace. He had been forced to let it go because of her status as the Lewis family¡¯s daughter. But now, Yvonne¡¯s incident gave him a perfect excuse to deal with h properly. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Chapter 121 I Want the Truth ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s call the police!¡± Richard spoke, ring sharply at Celia with eyes like an eagle¡¯s. ¡°Since Ms. Hawkins said she saw it with her own eyes, then I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t let Yvonne be wronged. Ms. Hawkins, I hope that you can testify and speak truthfully about what you saw.¡® Celia hesitated. ¡°I ¡­¡± She bit her l*p. She had originally nned to testify, but after seeing Benjamin¡¯s expression, she could only swallow her words. She changed her tune. ¡°The lights were dim. I may not have seen things clearly.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She had actually changed her statement in front of Richard! Celia¡¯s heart was thumping rapidly, as if it were about to jump out of her throat. Richard said coldly, ¡°Ms. Hawkins, I just need you to tell the truth. Why are you being like this? 11 11 Celia lowered her gaze and looked at Benjamin for help. Richard¡¯s eyes gradually darkened. He had never imagined that, even at this time, Benjamin would still protect Grace. He used his authority as the most senior person present. ¡°Benjamin, Yvonne was pregnant with your baby! The baby is gone, but you¡¯re not even slightly father! ¡°Instead, you are doing your best to protect the person who hurt your baby. How could you do that and still have the nerve to face Yvonne?¡± . ¡°I apologize!¡± Benjamin spoke. ¡°I will arrange for someone to thoroughly investigate the truth of this matter.¡® ¡°Will you investigate it thoroughly, or are you just using this as a chance to protect that woman?¡± Richard said bluntly. Their argument could be heard in Yvonne¡¯s ward. Yvonne gripped the bedsheets tightly without a sound. Benjamin was clearly protecting Grace. He didn¡¯t care that she had lost the baby. If that was the case, then¡¯she would be merciless too. Even if she were to go to hell, she would take Grace down with her. ¡°Grandfather¡­¡± Yvonne¡¯s weak voice shattered the tense atmosphere between Benjamin and ¡°Yvonne¡¯s awake.¡± Celia pushed open the door and entered the hospital room first. **Yvonne, are you alright?¡± Yvonne said nothing but bit her l*p. Her eyes were brimming with tears as she stared directly at Benjamin. ¡°Ben, our baby is gone¡­¡± Benjamin¡¯s face was expressionless, as if none of this had anything to do with him. He went forward and looked down at Yvonne, who was deathly pale. He asked, ¡°What on earth happenedst night? Why did you fall down? I want to he When Yvonne heard this, tears began streaming down her cheeks, sttering onto her pillow. ¡°What are you trying to say? Do you think that I would risk our baby¡¯s life?¡± Benjamin said nothing, but his eyes remained fixed on her as he scrutinized her expression. ¡°I only want to hear the truth!¡± Yvonne looked at him in disbelief, and her l*p curled into a scornful smile. ¡°Benjamin, you don¡¯t want to believe that Grace would do something like this, d ¡°But the truth is that she pushed me! If she hadn¡¯t pushed me, I wouldn¡¯t have fallen. I wouldn¡¯t have miscarried! Grace is to me for all this!¡± Benjamin looked at her impassively. ¡°Is that so?¡± Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Teach You a Lesson Yvonne said in a d¨¦termined voice, ¡°Benjamin, I know that you may still have some sentiments toward her. After all, you were married for three years. ¡°But she¡¯s a cruel woman, and she¡¯s the one who pushed me. She killed our baby!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Benjamin said impassively. ¡°Since you say that she pushed you, then let¡¯s call the police. Let the policee and investigate it thoroughly, and we¡¯ll make sure to speak only ording to the truth.¡± Benjamin got up to leave after saying this. But at that moment, the door to the hospital room swung open. Grace was standing in the doorway, her arms folded. ¡°Grace, how dare youe here?¡± Yvonne lost it the moment she saw Grace, and she shouted at her angrily. Grace ignored her and said, ¡°I heard everything you said just now. I just want to ask Ms. Quine -did everything really happen the way you said?¡± ¡°Grace, you b*tch! You killed my baby!¡± Grace¡¯s eyes darkened, but she still said, ¡°Ms. Quine, you should watch what you say. Even a three¨Cyear¨Cold knows to do that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense! It was you! I¡¯m going to call the police right now, and they¡¯ll arrest you! I¡¯m going to get the bestwyer and make you pay for m Yvonne was shrieking at Grace, who maintained a calm expression throughout the tirade. ¡°You don¡¯t need to call the police. I¡¯ve already brought them here.¡± Grace turned and moved aside. ¡°Officers, you cane in!¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. As soon as she spoke, two.uniformed police officers entered the ward. Yvonne stared at them in shock. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Chapter 13 Excellent Acting Although Yvonne had been ranting about calling the police, she hadn¡¯t, expected it to be so soon! Grace hadpletely blindsided her with this move. ¡°Aargh!! Get out! All of you, get out!¡± Yvonne covered her ears and began screaming, looking like she hadpletely lost control. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Benjamin¡¯s expression turned grim, and he moved forward to talk to the police officers. ¡°She just had a miscarriage and is a little emotionally unstable at the moment. I hope that you can understand.¡± The two police officers exchanged looks and maintained a professional attitude. ¡°We received a report and came here to understand more about the situ ¡°Aahhh! My head hurts so much! Benjamin, my head hurts so much!¡± Yvonne grabbed Benjamin¡¯s hand while she screamed. ¡°My head feels like it¡¯s about to explode!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call the doctor for you,¡± Benjamin said, pressing the call button beside the bed. Yvonne waspletely out of control. ¡°Make them leave! Get out, all of you! I don¡¯t want to make a statement!¡± Benjamin reached out and hesitated before patting her on the shoulder as an act offort. Richard tried to negotiate, saying, ¡°Officers, she just lost her baby and is very unstable right now. Even if you were to question her, you may not get any answers. Perhaps you coulde again when she¡¯s better.¡± Upon seeing the situation, the two officers had no choice but to give up. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we¡¯lle over a bitter. However, ording to the situation reported, other officers have already gone to the scene to investigate. ¡°I¡¯m sure the results will be out soon. We¡¯lle over again when we have them.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you,¡± Richard said, and he rose to personally send off the police. When the police had gone, Yvonne red resentfully at Grace. Grace smiled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to keep acting?¡± ¡°Grace, you venomous woman. Karma will get you,¡± Yvonne said maliciously. Grace smiled, looking lethally beautiful. ¡°The unjust are doomed to destruction! Back at you, Ms. Quine.¡± ¡°B**ch! I¡¯ll make you pay for my baby¡¯s life!¡± Yvonne sounded very agitated. Grace replied calmly, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then why were you such a coward in front of the police? You can run, but you can¡¯t hide!¡± Grace didn¡¯t stay after she had finished speaking and turned to leave. Benjamin was about to rush after her, but Yvonne grabbed his arm. ¡°Benjamin, don¡¯t go!¡± Benjamin was impatient. He had already guessed the truth based on Yvonne¡¯s performance just now. The only reason he hadn¡¯t exposed her was because he still had some affection for her. It was strange, but even though their baby was gone, Benjamin didn¡¯t feel sad at all. Instead, he felt like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. ¡°¡®Yvonne, you just had a miscarriage. Rest well. I¡¯lle and visit you again.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Yvonne was unexpectedly strong and had an iron grip on Benjamin, tears falling thickly down her cheeks. She looked especially pathetic. Benjamin was too impatient and shook her aside. He rushed out in pursuit of Grace without even looking back. Outside the door, Grace was about to leave when Richard stopped her in the corridor. ¡°Ms. Lewis, let¡¯s talk.¡± Richard¡¯s tone brooked no argument. Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Chapter 124 A Billion¨CDor¨CSettlement Richard and Grace went up to the hospital rooftop. ¡°What do you want to talk to me about, Mr. Quine Senior? If it¡¯s about Yvonne¡¯s miscarriage, then I think there¡¯s nothing to say.¡± Richard looked at her sharply before saying seriously, ¡°I¡¯ve sent my men to check the security footage at the bar. ¡°The scene at the time wasn¡¯t captured on camera. If Yvonne insists that you¡¯re the culprit, do you think you can get away with it?¡± Grace smiled. ¡°The truth is the truth. Mr. Quine Senior, it seems like you still have the authority to make things happen your way.¡± There was a trace of mockery in her tone. Richard said immediately, ¡°The Lewis family might be the most powerful in Frenda. But in Pamore, if the Quines really want to do something, it will be do ¡°But I didn¡¯te here today to fall out with you, Ms. Lewis. I want to take this chance to agree on a settlement. Right now, it doesn¡¯t look good for anyon Grace raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°What kind of settlement are you thinking of, Mr. Quine Senior?¡± ¡°One billion dors! Let¡¯s just settle the incident with that, and we won¡¯t press charges against you.¡± One billion dors? Richard really was shameless! ¡°Mr. Quine Senior, I¡¯m afraid that that would be equal to daylight robbery. Or are you trying to say that Quine Group is now past its heyday and needs mo Grace exposed him ruthlessly. Richard continued boasting, ¡°One billion dors would only cover the loss of my thumb ring.¡± ¡°Oh! ¡°Oh!¡± Grace spread her hands. ¡°Well, be that as it may, it¡¯s impossible for us to settle. After all, I am determined to make Yvonne rot in jail.¡± Grace had made her stance clear. ¡°You¡¯re nning to go head¨Cto¨Chead with me then?¡± ¡°I¡¯m only refusing to use money to bury the hatchet. After all, you and I are both clear about what the truth is. How Yvonne lost her baby had nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°Is that true just because you say so? As long as Yvonne insists that it was you, you can¡¯t escape!¡± ¡°Mr. Quine Senior, you¡¯re only being so thick¨Cskinned because you think there¡¯s no evidence. You think that you can talk your way out of this. ¡°But how do you know that I don¡¯t have evidence?¡± Grace turned and left when she had finished speaking. Richard watched her go and snorted coldly. His wrinkled hands tightened soundlessly around his walking stick. He returned to the hospital room and saw that only Yvonne remained there, sobbing and crying. Benjamin was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Grandfather! I want that b*tch, Grace, dead!¡± Yvonne said savagely. Richard said coldly, ¡°If you want her dead, then find her weakness!¡± ¡°Grandfather, tell me what I should do!¡± An idea had already formed in Richard¡¯s mind. That afternoon, when the police came again, Yvonne insisted that she had miscarried because Grace pushed her. Somehow, the tabloids caught wind of this incident and posted it online. In a short amount of time, it became the top trending topic. ¡°Oh my! Is the heiress of the Lewis family that fierce? She got rid of the mistress¡¯s child!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a human life! Although homewreckers are vile, children are innocent. How could the heiress of the Lewis family do that?¡± ¡°Every life has a price. Even though it was just an embryo, this was a terrible incident. The heiress of the Lewis family will pay the price for her actions.¡± ¡°What kind of morals do you all have? Homewreckers should be cursed, and their children don¡¯t deserve to exist in this world! The heiress of the Lewis fa Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. All kinds ofments about this incident continued to umte online. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Public Statement There were even people who went to Amirate Corporation¡¯s official Twitter ount to leave There were all kinds of opinions, and the incident received an unprecedented level of attention. At this time, the Quines held a press conference and invited reporters from all the renowned mediapanies in Pamore. At the press conference, Yvonne wept as she used Grace of various crimes. She even revealed every detail about being pushed, and her words crea ¡°Ms. Quine, is what you¡¯re saying true? Did Ms. Lewis really cause your miscarriage?¡± Yvonne nodded while she wiped away her tears. ¡°Grace pushed me and made me fall down, which was why I miscarried! The doctor told me just now that because the fetus was already too big, the damage done to my b*dy is irreparable. I may never be a mother again ¡­¡± Yvonne burst into tears loudly. Everyone feltpassion for the weak. At her words, the reporters at the scene began to feel sympathetic toward her. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Don¡¯t be too sad, Ms. Quine.¡± ¡°There¡¯ll be justice for this incident. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Quine. Thew is just and will never let any criminal get away with it! In the same way, it will never unjustly use a righteous person! Lastly, Richard looked at the cameras, his old, lined face full of resignation. ¡°Every one of the Quine family is devastated at the loss of the baby.¡± ¡°Mr. Quine Senior, what do you n to do next?¡± ¡°We will get to the bottom of this incident. We won¡¯t just let it go,¡± Richard said righteously. ¡°But I know that everyone makes mistakes. We are willing to give Ms. Lewis a chance.¡± The reporters at the scene exchanged nces. Richard addressed Grace directly. ¡°Ms. Lewis, as long as you are willing to apologize to Yvonne, we won His words triggered another wave of heated discussion online. ¡°The Quines are so magnanimous! It¡¯s alreadye to this, but all they want is an apology. They won¡¯t even press charges!¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m starting to like the Quines!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s strange? Why would they forgive such a huge thing so easily? Something doesn¡¯t seem right here.¡± ¡°Forget it! Let¡¯s let the bullets fly and wait for the answer!¡± After watching the Quines¡® press conference, everyone was waiting for Grace¡¯s reply. The onlookers were waiting eagerly for drama, and the incident received a historically high level of attention. Less than an hour after the Quines¡® press conference, a video was released on Amirate¡¯s official website. The content of the video was the security footage from the bar, which faithfully showed the scene that had taken ce. The website experienced high tra It was noisy in the video, and they couldn¡¯t hear what Yvonne and Grace were saying. But the video clearly showed that it was Yvonne who had stepped forward to pull Grace. Grace hadn¡¯t pushed Yvonne! ¡°No way! Didn¡¯t Yvonne say that Grace pushed her? Why doesn¡¯t it seem that way in the video? ¡°I saw it too! She was the one who went to pull Grace! Grace didn¡¯t even look like she was pushing her!¡± ¡°I watched the video three times on repeat, and Grace definitely didn¡¯t push her!¡± ¡°Yvonne lied! She wanted to use public opinion to cyberbully Grace. She never thought that Grace would have a video of the security footage! Now Yvon if she wanted to.¡± After the video was released, Amirate issued an official statement. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Turning the Tables ¡°We are responding to the false reports about Ms. Lewis online. From the beginning to the end, Ms. Lewis never hurt anyone. ¡°The truth of this matter was investigated thoroughly by the legal authorities, and evidence was collected ording to thew. ¡°As for the false usations made by Quine Group, we reserve the right to take legal action.¡± Once the statement was released, the tide of public opinion turned immediately. ¡°The Quines tried to pull one over on everyone and ended up sabotaging themselves.¡± ¡°Anyone can see that this incident has nothing to do with Grace. They were just trying to put the me on h¨¦r! Now the joke is on them!¡± ¡°They even had the audacity to say that they wouldn¡¯t press charges! That¡¯s an obvious sign of a guilty conscience!¡± ¡°The Quines really are shameless!¡± But this wasn¡¯t the end. Just as the discussions online were in full swing, a voice recording was posted online. It was the conversation between Richard and Grace on the hospit ¡°Oh my, the Quines actually wanted to settle with Grace and even shamelessly asked for one billion dors!¡± ¡°One billion dors! The Quines are so greedy. That¡¯s daylight robbery!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen so much money in my life. I¡¯ve only seen that in my dreams.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t the actions of the Quines count as extortion? One billion dors! I think one billion dors in Monopoly money would be more appropriate.¡± Once the recording was revealed, the Quines suffered such extreme bacsh that they also became the trending topic of the day. Their n to oppress Grace using the pressure of public opinion had backfired, and now thements werepletely out of their control. When Richard saw the news, he fainted. Not only that, but after the recording was revealed, Quine Group¡¯s shares dropped continuously. Within half an hour, the prices had already dropped by 10%. Thepany¡¯s market value had An hourter, the drop in share price reached its limit. The Quines had be public enemy number one. ¡°They deserve it!¡± Emily couldn¡¯t help but say it when she saw all the insults online. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s lost her protection as a pregnant woman, and she can no longer be released on bail while waiting for trial. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Just the evidence that we provided, I think she can be sentenced to 20 years with no problem. Grace assented. ¡°That sounds about right!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s strange that Benjamin hasn¡¯t said a word up until now. Wasn¡¯t the baby in Yvonne¡¯s womb his?¡± Grace didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether or not he speaks up about it. Anyway, the two of us won¡¯t ever cross paths again after this.¡± ¡°Yes, babe! It¡¯s good that you think that way. There¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea! There are men everywhere! The Fultons¡® son seems pretty nice. Why don¡¯t you consider him?¡± Emily grin At the mention of Xander, Grace shook her head slightly. ¡°He¡¯s still a bachelor, and I¡¯ve already been married once. I shouldn¡¯t harm his reputation. ¡°Why do I have to find a partner anyway? Isn¡¯t it good just to focus on my career?¡± Emily hugged Grace and nted a few k*sses on her. ¡°Oh, babe! You¡¯ve be so clear- headed and rational! ¡°It makes sense; let¡¯s forget about men! You and I should focus on earning money. That would be the best thing for us.¡± Soon enough, Yvonne was taken away by the police, as there was ample evidence against her. Meanwhile, the Quines had be the object of public criticism, and Quine Group¡¯s clients began terminating their contracts one by one. They were in an unprecedented state of c Amirate Corporation took advantage of this and sessfully won over several of the Quines¡® clients. In just a few days, they managed to get severalrg Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Chapter 127 The Mysterious Futurelink Corporation ¡°Why does Grace seem to have a good life?¡± Samuel was feeling cynical. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Quine Group, one of the leading estatepanies in Pamore, would disappear in just a few days. All of this was inextricably linked to Grace. ¡°Mr. Walker, I think that Ms. Lewis is very bold. Your bet with her¡ª¡± Samuel scolded him at once. ¡°Shut up! She¡¯s a mere woman who wants to make it in this dog- eat¨Cdog business world. She can keep dreaming! ¡°Even if she¡¯s taken over Quine Group, it¡¯s still nothingpared to how huge Amirate Corporation is. Of course it¡¯s even more insignificant compared to 30%!¡± Despite his words, Samuel¡¯s gaze darkened. No matter what, he couldn¡¯t lose this bet. Grace had better watch out. Within a week, Quine Group dered bankruptcy. However, a mysterious person had quietly acquired what was left of Quine Group and invested a lot of funds in it. Within half a month, a newpany called Futurelink Corporation rapidly rose up the ranks in Pamore. Very soon, itid down roots in Pamore. Not long after, rumors about Futurelink Corporation began spreading through business circles in Pamore. ¡°Futurelink Corporation is so mysterious! The mysterious president hasn¡¯t revealed any information at all yet!¡± ¡°I also heard that Futurelink Corporation must have a powerful supporter! They must have deep pockets to be able to rise up in such a short amount of ti over one¨Cthird of the businesses in Pamore.¡± ¡°The Quines¡® decline was supposed to shuffle things around among the upper ss in Pamore. But we never expected Futurelink Corporation to suddenly appear! It¡¯spletely changed the game.¡± Grace and Luke passed through the hall and heard the people gathered at the reception gossiping. An hourter, the drop in share price reached its limit. The Quines had be public enemy number one. ¡°They deserve it!¡± Emily couldn¡¯t help but say it when she saw all the insults online. ¡°Yvonne¡¯s lost her protection as a pregnant woman, and she can no longer be released on bail while waiting for trial. ¡°Just the evidence that we provided, I think she can be sentenced to 20 years with no problem. Grace assented. ¡°That sounds about right!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s strange that Benjamin hasn¡¯t said a word up until now. Wasn¡¯t the baby in Yvonne¡¯s womb his?¡± Grace didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether or not he speaks up about it. Anyway, the two of us won¡¯t ever cross paths again after this.¡± ¡°Yes, babe! It¡¯s good that you think that way. There¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea! There are men everywhere! The Fultons¡® son seems pretty nice. Why don¡¯t At the mention of Xander, Grace shook her head slightly. ¡°He¡¯s still a bachelor, and I¡¯ve already been married once. I shouldn¡¯t harm his reputation. ¡°Why do I have to find a partner anyway? Isn¡¯t it good just to focus on my career?¡± Emily hugged Grace and nted a few k*sses on her. ¡°Oh, babe! You¡¯ve be so clear- headed and rational! ¡°It makes sense; let¡¯s forget about men! You and I should focus on earning money. That would be the best thing for us.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Soon enough, Yvonne was taken away by the police, as there was ample evidence against her. Meanwhile, the Quines had be the object of public criticism, and Quine Group¡¯s clients began terminating their contracts one by one. They were in Amirate Corporation took advantage of this and sessfully won over several of the Quines¡® clients. In just a few days, they managed to get severalrg The two of them looked straight ahead as they entered the elevator. Once the elevator doors closed, Grace spoke up first. ¡°There have been a lot of rumors about Futurelink Corporation recently.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis. The thing is that Futurelink Corporation is too mysterious and seems to be very powerful. Everyone is curious and in suspense. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the whole of Pamore wants to know the real identity of the legendary president behind Futurelink Corporation.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there any useful information at all?¡± Grace asked, puzzled. Luke shook his head gently. ¡°We¡¯ve investigated it. The only thing that¡¯s clear is that they are too powerful, so we couldn¡¯t find anything.¡± Grace felt a little frustrated. ¡°It looks like Futurelink Corporation is a formidable opponent!¡± ¡°Yes. There must be more to Futurelink Corporation¡¯s sudden entrance into Pamore than meets the eye. ¡°I have a feeling that when the people from Futurelink Corporatione in, there¡¯ll be a perfect storm.¡± Grace murmured in assent. ¡°Whether they¡¯re a friend or a foe, we need to be careful. Before we know their background, let¡¯s try our best to avoid them in business.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis.¡± The elevator doors opened. Grace walked out in her seven¨Cinch heels. The moment she reached her office, her secretary brought over her schedule for the day. ¡°Ms. Lewis, these are the arrangements for today. Please check this.¡± Grace took it and fl*pped through it. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Oh right, Ms. Lewis! This morning, we received an invitation from Futurelink Corporation!¡± When Grace heard about Futurelink Corporation, she stopped what she was doing. ¡°What invitation?¡± The secretary hurriedly handed it over. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Haute Couture Gown ¡°Three days from now, the Futurelink Corporation will have its grand opening reception. All the toppanies in Pamore are invited, including us.¡® Grace looked at the gold¨C embossed invitation, her eyes resting on the letters ¡°FL¡°. Futurelink Corporation¡¯s actions have recently garnered a lot of attention. Now it was having its grand opening reception, which was sure to be very lively. Perhaps it could even use this as a chance to get some new business for thepany. ¡°Okay. Put it on my schedule. I¡¯ll be there on time.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace took out her phone and called Emily. ¡°Babe, I¡¯ve got to attend a reception three days from now. Please choose a gown for me from your shop!¡± ¡°Are you referring to the Futurelink Corporation grand opening reception?¡± Grace raised her eyebrows. ¡°You¡¯ve heard about it too?¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯ve already gotten several orders for the reception. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll save the best we have for you. You¡¯ll be the belle of the ball!¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Thank you, but I want to keep a low profile.¡± ¡°Okay, no problem. Leave it to me.¡± The next day, Grace received a delivery. Inside, there was a beautiful purple haute couture gown. It was elegant and refined, and Grace immediately too ¡°Ms. Lewis, this gown is beautiful! It matches you perfectly!¡± the secretary said sincerely. Grace¡¯s eyes lit up with joy, and she sent a message to Emily. ¡°Babe, I love the taste is getting better and better!¡± But just a minute after she had sent it, she received a reply from Emily. gown. Your ¡°Babe, your gown is still at the shop! I was going to send it to you tomorrow, right before the event.¡± Grace was confused. She took a photo with her phone and sent it to Emily. ¡°Isn¡¯t this gown from you?¡± Emily replied, ¡°Nope!¡± Grace frowned slightly in confusion. At that moment, a video call popped up on her phone. She Grace picked up. ¡°Aunt Hestia!¡± ¡°Gracie, have you received the gown I sent you?¡± It finally dawned on Grace. ¡°Aunt Hestia, is this gown from you?¡± ¡°What do you think? Do you like it? I specially asked a designer to get it custom¨Cmade for you! ¡°Aunt Hestia, can you read my mind? How did you know I needed a gown? Not only that, you even sent it to me right on time!¡± Hestia said cagily, ¡°It just goes to show that you and I are attuned to each other¡¯s thoughts. But you must wear it tomorrow! I¡¯m waiting to see my baby stun everyone!¡± Grace had a nagging suspicion that Hestia knew too much. ¡°How did you know that I would be attending an event tomorrow?¡± ¡°I just made a guess.¡± Grace was doubtful, but Hestia justughed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m just teasing. Remember to wear it tomorrow!¡± With that, she hung up. Grace looked at the gown with satisfaction. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re the one!¡± The grand opening reception of Futurelink Corporation was held at thergest seven¨Cstar hotel in Pamore. The decor was decadent and luxurious. All the top families and socialites in Pamore, basically anyone who was anyone, were dressed to the nines to attend the event. As the time approached, the hotel¡¯s entrance filled up with a long line of expensive cars. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Shameless Bragging Grace styled her purple gown with ten¨C inch high heels, and she exuded charisma. She was stunning to begin with, but the gown entuated her perfect curves further. As soon as she appeared, she captured everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Wow! That¡¯s the heiress of the Lewis family. She¡¯s gorgeous, and she has such a great figure! She must be the object of everyone¡¯s envy here!¡± ¡°Exactly! Her gown is so chic! I wonder which designer made that haute couture gown. It looks amazing on her!¡± ¡°Benjamin must be blind! How could he cast aside such a gorgeous woman to fool around with someone like Yvonne? He must be dying with regret now ¡°You don¡¯t say! By the way, Mr. Hawkins is here today too ¡­¡± The crowd exchanged nces, smiling, and looked over at Benjamin. From the moment Grace entered, Benjamin¡¯s eyes had never left her. She was too beautiful today¡ª so beautiful that nothing else couldpare to her. ¡°Mr. Hawkins!¡± Larry broke Benjamin out of his daze. ¡°I went to ask around, and there¡¯s still no information about the president of Futurelink Corporation. The only information I could get was that he seems to be from Frenda. ¡°But this isn¡¯t reliable news, because no one has ever seen this mysterious person, and we don¡¯t even know if he¡¯ll be here tonight!¡± Benjamin¡¯s eyes darkened. The majority of the people attending tonight¡¯s reception must be here for the mysterious president! But this person was so skilled that Benjamin hadn¡¯t been able to find any leads at all, despite having exhausted all possible channels of information. He f slightly frustrated about that. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens tonight. I want to know what he has up his sleeve!¡± As Benjamin finished speaking, his eyes continued following Grace through the crowd. She was smiling as she mingled among the business tycoons, an When she had still been his secretary at Hawkins Group, she had attended many events like this one. Through those experiences, she had developed e After a round of mingling, Grace had already received numerous name cards. They would be helpful in expanding Amirate Corporation¡¯s business, so sh in her bag. She was getting a little tired from walking on her ten¨Cinch high heels, so after looking around, she walked over to a nearby couch. ¡°Ms. Hawkins, I heard that Futurelink Corporation¡¯s president is an eligible bachelor! You¡¯ve got to grab your chance tonight!¡± Celia was dressed to kill and was with her band ofckeys. Beforeing to the reception, she had asked around and found out that the mysterious president of Futurelink Corporation was very well connected. He was a force to be reckoned with, which was why Susan had pushed for Celia and Benjamin to attend the reception. She wanted Celia to snag the mysterious president of Futurelink Corporation. ¡°This president¡¯is really too mysterious. No one knows anything about him. What if he¡¯s hideous? Ms. Hawkins would be getting the short end of the stick Celia lifted her chin without thinking and said disdainfully, ¡°What are you talking about? He¡¯s not hideous!¡± Her words aroused everyone¡¯s curiosity. After all, no one had ever seen this mysterious president. But Celia¡¯s words implied that she had seen him. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Chapter 130 What¡¯s His Surname ¡°No way, Cece! Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯ve already gotten acquainted with this myst¨¦rious president?¡± ¡°Girl, if you are, then you really hid it well!¡± ¡°Hurry up and tell us, what does this mysterious president look like? Is he handsome?¡± Celia looked into their eager eyes and felt her ego inte. Although she had never seen this person, in her mind, she had already pictured his perfect profile. After all, a man with such a background and such strong skills couldn¡¯t be ugly. Therefore, she said shamelessly, ¡°I won¡¯t hide it from you. In actual fact, we met ages ago!¡± Upon hearing this, all herckeys exploded. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Wow, Cece, you¡¯re amazing!¡± ¡°The Hawkins heiress really is different from everyone else. You get all the firsthand resources. To think that in the whole of Pamore, you¡¯re probably the only person who¡¯s seen his real face!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Cece, quick, tell us. What kind of person is this mysterious president?¡± Celia was encouraged by their praise and didn¡¯t even blink as she continued lying. ¡°Well, he really is very handsome. He¡¯s just low¨Cprofile and doesn¡¯t like to make a fuss. That¡¯s why there are so many theories about him. ¡°But I know him quite well. I¡¯ll introduce him to you when he gets here.¡® Grace was sitting on the couch behind them. Upon hearing this, she couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing. Herugh immediately drew their attention. When she saw that it was Grace, Celia¡¯s eyes shed with anger. She could immediately tell that Grace was ¡°Cece, isn¡¯t this your ex¨Csister¨Cinw? Why is she so rude?¡± ¡°I heard that she¡¯s the heiress of the Lewis family, but I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s eavesdropping on 1. us. She has no ss whatsoever!¡± ?elia huffed coldly and said abruptly, ¡°What are youughing at, Grace?¡± As her name was called, Grace looked up and nced over at them. Then she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I couldn¡¯t bear it. It was too funny.¡± After that, Grace looked at the women beside Celia and continued, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to listen to ¡°Stop insulting us. I bet you¡¯re just jealous of Cece! After all, Cece is friends with the president of Futurelink Corporation, and he¡¯s way out of your league Grace smiled and looked at Celia. She asked, ¡°Is that true?¡± Celia had already spoken and couldn¡¯t take her words back. Plus, she had always wanted to teach Grace a lesson, so she said brazenly, ¡°Of course it is! Would I joke about something like this? I know him very well!¡± Grace nodded understandingly and said offhandedly, ¡°Since you know him so well, then tell me, what¡¯s the surname of this president that you keep ment Upon hearing this, Celia was lost for words. She didn¡¯t know who the president of Futurelink Corporation was at all. How could she know his surname? However, she had no choice but to say, ¡°I ¡­ Why should I tell you?¡± She sounded guilty. Grace exposed her mercilessly. ¡°Since you two are so ¡®close¡®, surely you would know his surname!¡± ¡°I do know it! Who says I don¡¯t? I just don¡¯t want to tell you! Grace, I know what you¡¯re trying to do. ¡°You just want to ride on his coattails! You¡¯re not trying to use him to climb up the socialdder, are you? Keep dreaming! I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t even spare you a nce!¡± Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Chapter 131 It¡¯s Xander Celia spoke agitatedly, but Grace merely smiled lightly and asked, ¡°Do you think I need to climb the socialdder?¡± It was a simple but lethal sentence. ¡°She¡¯s the heiress of the Lewis family, one of the richest families in the world. She¡¯s also the current president of Amirate Corporation¡­¡± Celia¡¯sckey s With that kind of family background, Grace was in a league of her own. If there was going to be any social climbing, Grace had set the standard people aspired to be! Celia¡¯s expression darkened at once. Grace looked at her with a smile ying on her l*ps. Immediately after that, she said, ¡°It looks like there¡¯s someone else who¡¯s trying to climb up the soci Celia burst out in anger. ¡°Grace, you were abandoned by my brother. You have no right to talk nonsense here. Watch out, or I¡¯ll rip your mouth apart.¡± Grace was impassive as she watched Celia get mad. In her eyes, Celia was aplete and utter clown. ¡°Celia, be quiet!¡± Benjamin suddenly appeared and stopped her. Celia had never imagined that Benjamin would continue to protect Grace to this day. She was extremely jealous. ¡°Ben!¡± Benjamin¡¯s gaze swept over her, and she shut up immediately. His eyes settled on Grace, but her expression was indifferent and distant. He was about to say something when the lights in the hall dimmed. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The crowd was filled with curiosity, and the noisy hall quietened down immediately. ¡°We warmly wee everyone to Futurelink Corporation¡¯s opening reception.¡± An emcee appeared on the stage and captured everyone¡¯s attention. Eve Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. curiously. ¡°Futurelink Corporation¡¯s entrance into Pamore would not have been possible without everyone¡¯s support. We hope to move forward hand¨Cin¨C hand with everyone here to create an even more beautiful future!¡± As soon as the emcee finished, the crowd burst into a lively round of apuse. ¡°He¡¯s been going on for ages, but where is the president of Futurelink Corporation? Who on earth is he, and why is he being so mysterious?¡± ¡°This president is really keeping everyone in suspense!¡± ¡°I just hope that we won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± There was silence. The conversations in the crowd were all about the president of Futurelink Corporation. It was clear that the mysterious president had already captured everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°I believe that everyone is curious about Futurelink Corporation, especially the man behind the scenes. Next, let us wee the president of Futurelink Corporation, Mr. Xander Fulton, up on stage for his speech!¡± As soon as the emcee finished, the crowd¡¯s curiosity reached its peak. They were unfamiliar with Xander¡¯s name. ¡°Cece, his name is Xander! What a hard name!¡± Celia was surprised, but the dim lights hid her awkwardness. ¡°What are you talking about? Xander is such a nice name!¡± She was showing off again by pretending like she and Xander were on a first¨Cname basis. ¡°Wow, are you already on a first¨Cname basis with him? Tell us the truth¨Care you dating this legendary Xander?¡± Celia raised her eyebrows and looked in Grace¡¯s direction before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. Xander and I don¡¯t have that kind of rtionship. ¡°But I¡¯ll be honest. Our families are keen on us getting together, but it¡¯s early days, so don¡¯t spread any rumors.¡± Chapter 132 Chapter 132 apter 132 Matching Outfits She was beating around the bush, but only Celia knew how guilty she felt at that moment. When Grace heard the emcee say Xander¡¯s name, she looked slightly surprised, but only for a moment. She thought of Hestia¡¯s call the other day. There had been so many clues leading up to this! She smiled gracefully and lifted her wine ss to her l*ps, downing it at once. At that moment, everyone was craning their n*ecks eagerly in one direction. As everyone waited in anticipation, a tall figure walked toward them step by step. He strode confidently, his face in the shadows, as he was walking agai The crowd could only see his face clearly once he walked onto the stage and the lights shone on him. The man was dressed in a purple suit that made him look very tall. He had refined features, a unique charisma, and amanding air that drew gasps of admiration from those around him with a single nce. ¡°Oh my, this man is so handsome! He¡¯s so handsome that I could die!¡± ¡°He¡¯s just my type!¡± ¡°Not only is he hot, but he¡¯s also so outstanding! Does he have any ws?¡± There was silence. Xander felt everyone¡¯s gaze on him but remained expressionless. His intense gaze swept through the crowd, finally settling on Grace. Their eyes met, and Grace nodded slightly. They were greeting each other across the crowd. ¡°Wow, Cece, Xander is looking at you!¡± When Celia heard this, she was startled and looked at Xander, but he had already looked away. She could only say sullenly, ¡°Alright guys, keep a low pr center of attention.¡± ¡°We get it! Cece, you¡¯re too low¨Cprofile!¡± Celia smiled awkwardly. At that moment, all she wanted to do was find a chance to leave quietly so that she wouldn¡¯t be exposed for her lies. ¡°Wee to the opening reception of Futurelink Corporation. I am Xander Fulton ¡­¡± On the stage, Xander briefly introduced himself, drawing continuous rounds of apuse. Finally, the mysterious mask of the president of Futurelink Corporation had been cast aside! Many business tycoons were crowding around Xander to initiate conversation with him, but he nodded politely while rejecting them all. He walked through the crowd toward the spot where his eyes had been the whole time. ¡°Cece, Xander ising over,¡± one of Celia¡¯sckeys said, pulling excitedly on her clothes. At that moment, Celia was shocked. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She hadn¡¯t expected Xander toe to her. What should she say? She became extremely nervous. But then, Xander stopped in front of Grace, and in front of everyone, he said, ¡°Hello, Gracie. It¡¯s been a while.¡± This threw the crowd into an uproar. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Do Xander and Grace know each other?¡± ¡°What kind of rtionship do they have?¡± ¡°No, no! Look, they¡¯re even wearing matching outfits! They look like a couple!¡± Countless eyes were fixed on Xander and Grace, and rumors began swirling around them. Grace smiled and said, ¡°I should¡¯ve guessed when Aunt Hestia called me. But still, I¡¯m a little startled.¡± Xander reached out and patted her head fondly. ¡°Startled? Aren¡¯t you pleasantly surprised?¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Chapter 133 So You Were Bragging Grace nodded slightly. ¡°Yes, I am!¡± Unbeknownst to them, their conversation was making everyone around them gawk in surprise. The crowd could clearly see Xander¡¯s affection for Grace. The intense way he looked at her made them seem like a couple in love. Everyone¡¯s curiosity was immediately aroused, especially because the two of them were wearing matching outfits in the same color! ¡°Are they really a couple?¡± someone in the crowd asked, igniting the me of gossip at once. Benjamin was standing nearby, and his expression darkened at once. He stared at the two of them, his eyes seeming to burn a hole in them. ¡°Mr. Fulton, have you two met before?¡± one of Celia¡¯sckeys asked. Xander looked at Grace and said, ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve known each other for many years. The crowd started whispering again at that. They had known each other for many years? That would mean that they had grown up together! That wasn¡¯t unexpected. After all, Grace was the heiress of the Lewis family, which was the richest in the world. Any man who had grown up with her would probably be just as capable as she was. Wasn¡¯t the fact that Futurelink Corporation¡¯s power was now growing rapidly in Pamore further evidence of that? When Celia heard this, her expression changed immediately. Just a moment ago, she had been shamelessly bragging to Grace about her close rtionship with Xander. She had never expected that Grace was the one who was secretly the top dog here! Now all she wanted to do was escape. She wished the ground would swallow her up. ¡°Gracie, let me take you to meet someone.¡± Xander held out his hand to her. Grace hesitated, feeling everyone¡¯s eyes on her. If she took Xander¡¯s hand with everyone looking, rumors would surely spread. She didn¡¯t mind that, but she didn¡¯t want to affect Xander. While she was hesitating, Xander didn¡¯t give her a chance to refuse and took her hand. At that moment, Grace felt the warmth emanating from his palm, Finally, the mysterious mask of the president of Futurelink Corporation had been cast aside! Many business tycoons were crowding around Xander to initiate conversation with him, but he nodded politely while rejecting them all. He walked through the crowd toward the spot where his eyes had been the whole time. ¡°Cece, Xander ising over,¡± one of Celia¡¯sckeys said, pulling excitedly on her clothes. At that moment, Celia was shocked. She hadn¡¯t expected Xander toe to her. What should she say? She became extremely nervous. But then, Xander stopped in front of Grace, and in front of everyone, he said, ¡°Hello, Gracie. It¡¯s been a while.¡± This threw the crowd into an uproar. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Do Xander and Grace know each other?¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°What kind of rtionship do they have?¡± ¡°No, no! Look, they¡¯re even wearing matching outfits! They look like a couple!¡± Countless eyes were fixed on Xander and Grace, and rumors began swirling around them. Gr¨¢ce smiled and said, ¡°I should¡¯ve guessed when Aunt Hestia called me. But still, I¡¯m a little startled.¡± Xander reached out and patted her head fondly. ¡°Startled? Aren¡¯t you pleasantly surprised?¡± Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Benjamin Is Annoyed Xander only stopped when they had reached the end of the corridor. ¡°Go in. The answer is inside.¡± Then, he gently pushed the door open and entered. ¡°Mr. Lewis Senior, I brought Grace.¡± Grace was startled. Following Xander¡¯s line of vision, she saw Harold sitting on a chair. ¡°Grandpa!¡± Grace was happily surprised. She ran over without hesitance and dove into Harold¡¯s embrace. ¡°Grandpa, why didn¡¯t you tell me that you wereing to Pamore?¡± ¡°I told him to keep it a secret because I wanted to give you a surprise.¡± Hestia¡¯s voice rang out, making Grace even more shocked. ¡°Aunt Hestia, you¡¯re here too!¡± Hestia came forward and tweaked Grace¡¯s nose. ¡°How could I stay away? We know all about that rousing speech you made to the board of directors!¡± Grace was embarrassed. ¡°Your bet with Mr. Walker isn¡¯t a secret anymore. What do you n to do next?¡± Grace stuck out her tongue sheepishly and said, ¡°Work hard and try my best to achieve my goal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! You¡¯re not giving up on yourself, which means you¡¯re pretty confident! That¡¯s good! You resemble my younger self!¡± Harold praised her with ¡°Now that Xander is also in Pamore, you two can work together. If there are any issues at work, discuss them with Xander,¡± Hestia continued. Grace looked at Xander curiously. ¡°So ¡­ Xander is stepping down from his position as the boss of Fulton Group anding to Pamore to run Futurelink Hestia nodded. ¡°Our families jointly funded Futurelink Corporation. It¡¯ll temporarily be handed over to Xander to manage.¡± No wonder. Grace had found the name ¡°Futurelink¡± and its initials ¡°FL¡± rather strange. Now she knew that it was formed from the initials of the Fulton and Grace smiled. ¡°Then, with Xander here to back me up, I can rule Pamore in the future!¡± Xander looked at her, not bothering to hide the affection in his eyes. When Grace returned to the hall with her arm around Xander¡¯s, the crowd was unable to tear their eyes away from them. Xander epted their stares calmly and mingled in the crowd with Grace, introducing her to the partners of Futurelink Corporation. Due to Benjamin and Grace¡¯s divorce, most people in Pamore had maintained a distance from Grace out of consideration for the Hawkins family. Theref? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Now that Futurelink Corporation was supporting her, many people changed their attitudes. As a result, Grace received several offers. ¡°What do you think? These projects will keep you busy for the rest of the year, right?¡± Xander whispered in her ear, making Graceugh. ¡°Thanks for helping out so much, Xander! I¡¯m one step closer to increasing my performance. by 30%.¡± Xanderughed and shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t set your sights so low.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. After all, I¡¯ve alreadyid all my cards on the table. I can¡¯t lose the bet! Otherwise, I¡¯ll lose my position.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here. No one can threaten your position.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll thank you in advance, then.¡± Their carefree conversation made them the object of envy. Among the crowd, one particr pair of eyes followed them, never wavering even for a secon Benjamin¡¯s expression turned grim as he recalled how he had been stopped outside when he had chased the two of them upstairs. There was a ¡®suppressed rage in his eyes as he drank continuously from his ss. It was a rich wine, but it tasted bitter in his mouth. After he had drunk countless sses, Benjamin strode toward Grace. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Crazy With Jealousy ¡°Ben!¡± He hadn¡¯t even taken two steps before Celia blocked his path. Benjamin¡¯s expression was cold and impatient. ¡°What?¡± Celia had been mocked by herckeys for bragging, so she needed Benjamin to help her regain her dignity. As far as she could see, only he could help her. After all, everyone in Pamore had to show respect to their family. ¡°Ben, how¡¯s your rtionship with Mr. Fulton from Futurelink Corporation?¡± At the mention of Xander, Benjamin¡¯s gaze chilled further, and his l*ps curled. ¡°I don¡¯t know him well, but there¡¯s someone who has a pretty good rtion Celia was startled and followed his line of vision. Immediately, she saw Grace and Xander in the crowd. The fire of jealousy med up in her immediately, and she clenched her fists. ¡°That b*tch, Grace! It¡¯s been such a short time since she left you, and now she¡¯s getting involved with Futurelink Corporation¡¯s president! She¡¯s shameless!¡± Not to mention that it was with a man as outstanding as Xander. He was way out of Grace¡¯s league! Benjamin could sense her jealousy, which seemed just as strong as his. He understood immediately. ¡°Do you have feelings for this Xander fellow?¡± Celia huffed coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a waste for such a good man to be with Grace?¡± She felt frustrated. She couldn¡¯t understand why Grace had such good luck and had so many aplished men surrounding her. ¡°Ben, help me!¡± Benjamin found her ridiculous and refused without hesitating. ¡°I can¡¯t help you.¡± Celia was a little disappointed. ¡°Do you still have feelings for Grace? Is that why you¡¯re protecting her so much?¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°None of your business!¡± ¡°Ben!¡± Celia stomped her foot angrily. ¡°No matter what you think, I¡¯m determined to have Xander!¡± Celia spoke very directly When she thought about how tactless herckeys were, she wanted nothing better than to p The only way she could regain her dignity was by getting Xander. At this moment, Celia was full of energy. ¡°I¡¯m Celia Hawkins. If there¡¯s something that I want, I¡¯ll get it, and I¡¯m determined to get Xander.¡± ¡°Do whatever you want, but don¡¯t me me for not warning you. Men always want what they can¡¯t have. Those that serve themselves up on a tter are to hurt Grace.¡± Celia wasn¡¯t listening to Benjamin at all. All she could think about was how to seduce Xander. So she just answered distractedly, ¡°Got it.¡± Then, Celia walked toward Xander and Grace. ¡°Mr. Fulton, I¡¯ve heard so many good things about you!¡± Celia greeted Xander, smiling. As a socialite from a well¨Cknown family, Celia was fair and pretty. She looked seductive as she looked coyly at Xander. Men were all visual creatures. She was sure that she was charming enough to attract a man like Xander. However, at that moment, Xander was conversing with a few directors and hadn¡¯t even noticed Celia. Celia was annoyed and continued speaking, ¡°Mr. Fulton, I¡¯m Celia from the Hawkins family. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± The words ¡°Hawkins family¡± sessfully caught Xander¡¯s attention. He nced at Celia and immediately guessed what she was doing. He had seen too many women like her. Xander waved his hand and pulled Grace close to him. Then he said, ¡°Hawk what? Do you know them?¡± When Grace saw Celia trying to be flirty, she just found it extremely off¨C putting. She couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°Oh, the heiress of the Hawkins family! She¡¯s my ex¨Csister¨Cinw.¡± A Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Chapter 136 You Need to Use Your Brain Xander¡¯s eyes turned colder when he heard Grace. He swirled the highball ss in his hand, making the bright red liquid inside ripple. He had always held a grudge against the Hawkins for how Grace¡¯s mother¨Cinw and sister¨Cin w had mistreated her. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Mr. Fulton!¡± Celia didn¡¯t seem to notice the change in atmosphere and extended her right hand toward Xander. Even after a while, her extended hand received no handshake from him. Somewhat embarrassed, Celia withdrew her hand. ¡°Mr. Fulton, you¡¯ve be the president of Futurelink Corporation at such a young age. ¡°I¡¯m honored to meet you today and hope that Hawkins Group can have the opportunity to work with Futurelink.¡± Xander smiled, but it didn¡¯t seem sincere. ¡°I appreciate thepliments, Ms. Hawkins, but let¡¯s skip the coboration.¡± His responsepletely humiliated Celia. People around were surprised that the neer, Xander, would treat the Hawkins family- the local bigwig¨Cin such a way. They secretly felt anxious for him. Likewise, Celia was taken aback, and the smile on her face froze. Eventually, she could no longer hold her smile. She had never been treated this way in Pamore before. ¡°Mr. Fulton, what do you mean by that? Are you not considering coborating with Hawkins Group?¡± Celia continued, ¡°Do you know what kind of presence Hawkins Group has in Pamore? Offending the Hawkins family has no benefits for you. Or¡­¡± As she nced at Grace, she added a hint of mockery to her tone. ¡°Or are you willing to antagonize the Hawkins family for this woman?¡± ¡°Ms: Hawkins, it¡¯s my business how I handle my affairs. You have no right to interfere.¡± Celia didn¡¯t expect Xander to be so protective of Grace. Instantly, her eyes turned red with jealousy. She didn¡¯t understand what made Grace so special, as thetter was a divorced woman. Yet she Was he blind? ¡°Mr. Fulton, do you know her so well that you dare stand up for her like this? Do you know she was nothing but a lowly dog in my family? Even a few barks from her would be annoying.¡± As soon as she said that, a loud p echoed as Grace¡¯s hand left five clear fingerprints on Celia¡¯s left cheek. In disbelief, Celia covered her face and eximed, ¡°Grace, how dare you hit me?¡± She wanted to charge at Grace but was restrained by Xander. ¡°Please behave, Ms. Hawkins.¡± Coldly, Grace stared at Celia and said, ¡°Your words severely insulted my dignity, and this p is to teach you how to behave. After all, we¡¯re all adults here. We must face the consequences of our actions.¡® Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°You!¡± Celia wanted to resist but couldn¡¯t break free from Xander¡¯s grip. ¡°I won¡¯t let this go, Grace, and neither will my family.¡± Grace smiled. ¡°Do you think you can represent the Hawkins family?¡± Her words shocked Celia for a moment. ¡°Remember, I have the backing of Amirate and the Lewis family. Do you think your brother would stand against them or sacrifice you for everyone else¡¯s Celia was furious. Every word Grace spoke felt like a stab in her heart, leaving her in agony. Grace was right. She couldn¡¯t represent her family, and Benjamin wouldn¡¯t confront Amirate for her, let alone the billionaire Lewis family.. ¡°Ms. Hawkins, you need to use your brain when you venture into the world. Or else, you won¡¯t even know how you got yourself into trouble.¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Have You Not Embarrassed Yourself Enough After saying that, Xander released Celia, leaving her looking furious. ¡°Don¡¯t be so smug, Grace. One day, I will kick you out of Pamore and ruin you.¡± Grace found Celia¡¯s threat amusing and casually nced over at Benjamin, who wasn¡¯t far away. She then said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, it seems that Ms. Hawkins has had a bit too much to drink and is talking nonsense. Could you please take her home?¡± Benjamin approached quickly with an unpleasant expression and grabbed Celia¡¯s arm firmly. ¡± Come with me!¡± ¡°Ben! I was just teaching this woman a lesson for you. Why are you dragging me away?¡± ¡°Have you not embarrassed yourself enough?¡± His words made Celia realize the judging looks people around them were giving her. She felt embarrassed and blushed at her actions earlier. In the end, they left the banquet hall with Benjamin forcefully pulling her away. Once they had left, Xander asked in concern, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Grace gently shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Did she use to bully you like this before? What kind of life have you been living for the past three years?¡± Xander¡¯s voice carried a hint of sympathy. Celia¡¯s earlier behavior was beyond his expectations, and it was difficult to imagine how difficult Grace¡¯s life must have been. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s all in the past. I won¡¯t let anything like that happen again.¡± Suddenly, Xander hugged her tightly. ¡°If she ever bothers you again, I promise you she¡¯ll regret it.¡± Her heart warmed at his words. ¡°Thank you, Xander. You¡¯re just like my brother.¡± The word ¡°brother¡± caused his expression to darken for a moment, and he let out a slight sigh. But his emotions quickly transformed. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I promised Mr. Lewis Senior that I would take good care of you.¡± Grace nodded with a smile. ¡°By the way, I have a meeting tomorrow morning about an investment in new nanotechnology engineering. Are you interested?¡± New nanotechnology had just started to emerge during the past two years, and the domestic market for it hadn¡¯t fully opened yet. Whoever seized the opportunity could greatly benefit from its future market expansion. are, what time is the meeting? I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Grace agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll have the driver pick you up tomorrow.¡± With their agreement in ce, Grace gently clinked her ss with his. ¡°Here¡¯s to a sessful coboration.¡± Futurelink Corporation¡¯s opening reception continued until 11:00 pm. As the guests left one by one, the hall became almost empty. Grace had a fruitful evening, collecting business cards from influential figures who rarely appeared and establishing intentions to work together with sev At that moment, a slender and elegant figure approached her. ¡°Ms. Lewis, may I escort you back?¡± The woman¡¯s tone was gentle and respectful. She was dressed in a professional suit, exuding maturity andpetence. Her exquisite makeup highlighted her unique charm. Smiling, Grace asked, ¡°You are ¡­ ?¡± She introduced herself gracefully. ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Fulton¡¯s secretary, Linda Snow. Mr. Fulton has some matters to attend to, and he¡¯s temporarily upied. You can tell me if you need anything.¡± As Linda spoke, she discreetly examined Grace. She had been Xander¡¯s secretary for many years and had apanied him throughout his journey to s Naturally, she had seen various womene and go in his life, but she had never seen him treat any of them the way he treated Grace. X ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. GET Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Chapter 138 You Can¡¯t Avoid Your Enemy Grace smiled graciously and declined. ¡°There¡¯s no need, Ms. Snow. Someone will be picking me up shortly.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll walk you to the door.¡± Linda gestured, not giving Grace a chance to refuse. After a nod, Grace left in her high heels. At the entrance, Xander was talking with a few of Futurelink¡¯s partners. He casually nced over and saw Grace approaching them. ¡°Alright, then, Mr. Leroy. We¡¯ll discuss the new nanotechnology project tomorrow at your office.¡± ¡°Sure, Mr. Fulton. I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± After seeing the partners off, Xander hurried over to Grace. When he saw her bare shoulders, he took off his coat. ¡°It¡¯s cold outside.¡± As he said that, he draped it over her shoulders. As she watched this scene, Linda remained calm on the outside, but she was actually surprised by Xander¡¯s unusual tenderness for Grace. ¡°My driver is here,¡± Grace spotted the familiar license te. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow, Xander.¡± Xander made a hum of acknowledgement and waved his hand after he had helped her into the car. It wasn¡¯t until the car disappeared into the distance that he withdrew his gaze. The next morning, the driver was waiting in front of Grace¡¯s house. She had changed into a professional outfit with meticulous makeup, appearingpetent. As soon as she got into the car, the driver handed her a stack ¡°Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fulton asked me to give these to you.¡± Upon fl*pping through them, Grace found that they were all information about the new nanotechnology project. Instantly, a hint of excitement shed in her eyes. ¡°Thank you. Mr. Fulton is really thoughtful.¡± As the driver started the car, she took the opportunity to review the documents. Today, they were going to meet Nexa Group, a foreign¨Cfundedpany and a leader in Pamore¡¯s nanotechnology industry. Once the driver stopped the car at thepany¡¯s entrance, Grace got out. Coincidentally, a familiar car pulled up from the other side and stopped in front of her. As the car¡¯s window rolled down, it revealed Larry¡¯s side profile. Smiling, he greeted her, ¡°What a coincidence, Ms. Lewis!¡± When Grace saw him, she became speechless. Since Larry was there, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess that Benjamin was in the backseat. At this moment, she couldn¡¯t help but think that Pamore was a really small ce. Grace politely returned the greeting, saying, ¡°Indeed, Larry.¡± Larry couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Ms. Lewis, are you here for a meeting about an investment as well?¡± ¡°You too?¡± Grace raised an eyebrow. As Larry adjusted his sses, he adopted a meaningful tone. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re going to Nexa Group too.¡± Hearing that, she thought, ¡°You really can¡¯t avoid your enemy.¡± As Larry finished speaking, Benjamin¡¯s voice came from the backseat. ¡°Park the car, Larry. We¡¯re getting out.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins.¡± The moment Benjamin stepped out of the car, he gazed at Grace, as though trying to see through her. ¡°New nanotechnology? It seems we¡¯repetitors today, Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace was slightly surprised. She hadn¡¯t known that Hawkins Group had ventured into the field of nanotechnology. However, she had grown ustomed to concealing her emotions and didn¡¯t reveal any surprise. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s see whoes out on top.¡± With those words, Grace walked into Nexa Group¡¯s building. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Smiling, Benjamin stared at her retreating figure and then followed closely behind. ¡°Ms. Lewis, Mr. Leroy is expecting you. This way, please.¡± hint of The receptionist led Grace and Benjamin to the conference room on the 17th floor. Inside, Grace deliberately chose a seat further away from Benjamin. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Chapter 139 His Protection Just as Grace took her seat, a woman in her early 30s walked in with high heels, wearing ck- framed sses, and exuding a serious air, Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Holding a stack of folders in her hand, she greeted Benjamin as soon as she entered, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Hearing that, Benjamin looked up and raised an eyebrow, clearly recognizing her. ¡°Ms. Gardner.¡± Nexa Group¡¯s director, Wendy Gardner, nodded slightly and turned toward Grace, Her eyes were filled with undisguised scorn. ¡°This must be Ms. Lewis, right?¡± Her tone was dripping with disdain. Sensing her hostility, Grace frowned. As far as she knew, she had never met this woman. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Grace Lewis.¡± Grace spoke politely, but Wendy crossed her arms arrogantly. ¡°I know you. You¡¯re Mr. Hawkins ex¨Cwife.¡± As her words fell, the atmosphere in the conference room turned cold. ¡°Ms. Lewis, at such a young age, you¡¯ve managed to secure the position of Amirate¡¯s president. It seems your capabilities are quite exceptional. I¡¯m just curious how much you understand about nanotechnology.¡± Grace smiled politely and replied, ¡°I have a basic understanding.¡± Wendy felt that Grace was just a decorative figurehead without actual abilities. Thetter had only be Amirate¡¯s president because of her family. Moreover, she had some issues with Grace, so when she had heard that herpany intended to coborate with Amirate, she had volunteered to atten this meeting to teach Grace a lesson. ¡°Ms. Lewis,petition can be fierce in the business world. If you¡¯re not prepared, I would advise you to step down early to avoid being ridiculed.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Ms. Gardner. I¡¯m indeed here to gain more experience,¡± Grace replied calmly, showing that Wendy¡¯s words didn¡¯t provoke her. Suddenly, Wendy grew furious and mmed her hand on the table. ¡°Gain more experience? How dare you say that, Ms. Lewis? What do you treat Nexa She continued speaking sternly. ¡°Are you just here to y house? Or are you suggesting that you have no intention to coborate with us and that you¡¯re ¡°Ms. Gardner, you¡¯re overthinking it,¡± a male voice interjected as the door to the conference room swung open. Dressed in a dark, custom¨C made suit, Xander appeared at the entrance. This stunned Wendy, for she knew Xander, the mysterious president of Futurelink. ¡°Mr. Fulton!¡± She immediately dropped her arrogant attitude toward Grace. Her change was a perfect example of how people would treat others ording to their social status. Xander approached Grace without paying much attention to Wendy. After pulling out a chair, he sat down and crossed his legs. Casually, he said, ¡°Ms. Gardner, you made a profound point, but Ms. Lewis is here at my invitation. ¡°Regarding this project with yourpany, we at Futurelink fully support Amirate. Unless, of course, you believe I¡¯m not qualified.¡± His words clearly conveyed his stance and showed his unwavering support for Grace. Wendy didn¡¯t dare to be haughty anymore and quickly denied it. ¡°Mr. Fulton, you¡¯ve misunderstood me. That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°Then what did you mean?¡± Xander wasn¡¯t backing down. Wendy had never expected that Grace would have such a close rtionship with Xander. If Grace was receiving protection from such a man, Wendy assumed that their rtionship was deep. But hadn¡¯t Grace just divorced Benjamin? Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Reluctant Apology Wendy couldn¡¯t help but think that Grace had strong tactics to have managed to gain Xander¡¯s support so quickly. It was no wonder that her cousin, Yvonne, had mentioned Grace¡¯s interference in her rtionship with Benjamin. She thought, ¡°Yvonne was right. This woman isn¡¯t easy to deal with.¡± With these thoughts in mind, she reluctantly humbled herself and quickly offered an apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Fulton. I shouldn¡¯t have said that. Please forg However, Xander replied, ¡°I¡¯m not the one you should apologize to, Ms. Gardner.¡± Wendy was bbergasted, for she couldn¡¯t bring herself to apologize to Grace. In her eyes, it was Grace¡¯s fault that the Quines had gone bankrupt and Yvonne had been imprisoned. She hade here today to teach Grace a lesson. ¡°Mr. Fulton, I ¡­¡± Xander stared at her and rhythmically tapped the table with his fingers. The atmosphere in the room became tense. His patience had its limits. Seeing Wendy¡¯s hesitation to apologize, he stood up and adjusted his jacket. ¡°In that case, there¡¯s no need for today¡¯s meeting. This project isn¡¯t a must for Futurelink anyway.¡± ¡°No, please!¡± Wendy hurriedly stopped him. Herpany had invested billions in the new nanotechnology project, and if she botched it, she could lose her job. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Lewis,¡± she said with all the strength she could muster. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose her job. Grace wasn¡¯t particrly forgiving, but given the importance of the coboration between the twopanies, losing the project because of Wendy¡¯s attit ¡°It¡¯s alright, Ms. Gardner.¡± As Grace said that, she nced at Xander. For some reason, the feeling of someone having her back in such a situation warmed her heart. On the other side, Benjamin had initially wanted to step in to help Grace, but he had been a step toote. Seeing Xander defend her, a feeling of emptiness surged through him, as if something that had once belonged to him had been taken away. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Seeing this scene from the side, Larry couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious for Benjamin. For some reason, he had a sense of foreboding that there was no turning back between Benjamin and Grace. ¡°Sorry for the dy, everyone. I rushed over here as soon as I finished the other meeting,¡± Nexa Group¡¯s president, Alvin Leroy, said apologetically. ¡°No problem, Mr. Leroy.¡± Benjamin was the first to respond. Alvin politely nodded to Benjamin beforeing over to Xander. ¡°I apologize for keeping you waiting, Mr. Fulton. Let¡¯s begin the meeting.¡± Only after Xander nodded did Alvin take his seat. Wendy was surprised to see how respectful her boss was toward Xander. In fact, Leroy was being more courteous than he was with Benjamin. She had known that Futurelink had strong backing and that Xander had a significant background, but she hadn¡¯t expected Alvin to be so apprehensive of him. At this thought, she clenched her hands and fixed her gaze on Grace. This woman was really something else. It was no wonder Yvonne had failed to out her. Yet, Wendy wasn¡¯t someone to be underestimated either. ¡°Ourpany¡¯s director, Ms. Gardner here, is one of the key people in charge of this project. Let¡¯s have her introduce the overall n and the basic preparations we¡¯ve made for the project¡¯s initial stages.¡± Alvin mentioned Wendy. Afterposing herself, Wendy stood up and walked to the front. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Wendy¡¯s Provocation ¡°First of all, thank you all for your trust. Nanotechnology is an emerging industry that has gained prominence in thest two years¡­¡± Wendy gave a detailed presentation confidently as she stood in the center, fl*pping through her slides. She sure was capable of holding the position of director. She delivered the presentation proficiently, showing her professionalism. After her presentation, she closed her file and smiled at everyone. ¡°So, these are my thoughts. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask, and we can discuss them together.¡± As Wendy spoke, she swept her gaze across the room, finally resting it on Grace. ¡°Ms. Lewis, as Amirate¡¯s president, you must have valuable insights to offer regarding our proposal. Why don¡¯t you share your thoughts with us?¡± Wendy directly shifted the conversation to Grace, and as soon as she spoke, everyone¡¯s attention turned toward Grace. Of course, Grace noticed the disdain in Wendy¡¯s eyes, but she just frowned and made no immediate move. Noticing that Grace wasn¡¯t saying anything, Wendy assumed that she was clueless and most likely hadn¡¯t understood anything from the presentation. Wendy¡¯s smug expression only grew as she continued to stare intently at Grace. Secondster, Grace smiled and addressed everyone in the room. ¡°I think Ms. Gardner exined her proposal quiteprehensively. There¡¯s really not Once Grace made thatment, Wendy grew more arrogant, thinking that she had been right to assume that Grace was clueless. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Did Grace think she could get away just like that? No way. ¡°Ms. Lewis, there¡¯s no need for modesty. I¡¯m rtively new in this field and could benefit from the insights of seniors here.¡± Wendy lowered herself but subtly mocked Grace¡¯sck of experience and capabilities. This started a discussion among the people in the room. Sitting at the table, Benjamin looked at Wendy. The warning was evident in his eyes. However, Wendy ignored him. She wanted to humiliate Grace. ¡°Although you¡¯re young, I believe you possess remarkable qualifications, Ms. Lewis. This could be a learning opportunity for me as a junior.¡± Wendy persistently pushed Grace. The room turned silent, with everyone focusing their attention on Grace. At this moment, Benjamin snorted. Grace had been his secretary for three years, so he knew her capabilities very well. However, he didn¡¯t want to interfere since Wendy seemed determined to embarrass Grace. So he waited to enjoy the show. Under the scrutiny of the audience, Grace stood up calmly and smiled with confidence. Since Ms. Gardner has repeatedly extended the invitation, I will share my thoughts briefly.¡± Wendy crossed her arms with a mocking expression as if saying, ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± After Graced walked over to Wendy, she opened Wendy¡¯s presentation slides. Looking ahead, she said, ¡°Ms. Gardner¡¯s ideas are quite innovative, and all the data presented is very clear. It reflects her strong professionalism.¡± She continued, ¡°I believe that after hearing her presentation, we all have a much clearer understanding of this project.¡± Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Underestimated Grace Grace¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it reached everyone¡¯s ears clearly. Her professional demeanor won the approval of most people in the room as well, ¡°However, there are several obvious mistakes that we can discuss.¡± Suddenly, Grace changed the topic, leaving everyone in the room puzzled. There was an air of disbelief as they exchanged nces. ¡°What are you talking about, Ms. Lewis?¡± Wendy was the first to speak up, and her voice was tinged with a subtle anger. She had meticulously reviewed her presentation slides, ensuring that the content was based on her research and was error¨Cfree. Wendy couldn¡¯t believe that Grace, who didn¡¯t understand anything, dared to im there were issues with her work. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I invited you to provide some input as Amirate¡¯s president. I didn¡¯t expect you to be an amateur. You don¡¯t know anything, yet you dare to speak so arrogantly!¡± Wendy was blunt. When it came to work, she considered herself a professional, much morepetent than Grace. So she didn¡¯t believe that Grace could find any ws in her slides. Without any signs of fear, Grace met Wendy¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you implying that your proposal is wless and has no mistakes?¡± Wendy scoffed. ¡°My proposal has been polished and reviewed by professionals in ourpany. There are no issues. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re more capable than them? Or do you just enjoy nitpicking?¡± Seeing this scene from the side, Alvin started sweating nervously. He quickly intervened. ¡°Ms. Gardner, please don¡¯t get agitated. Since there are different opinions, we can hear Ms. Lewis¡® insights first.¡± He nced at Xander and sought his opinion. ¡°What do you think, Mr. Fulton?¡± Xander¡¯s expression remainedposed. He appeared unfazed by the situation, and his trust in Grace was evident in his eyes. ¡°Ms. Gardner, there¡¯s no need to rush. I believe Ms. Lewis has expertise in this area and isn¡¯t here to nitpick about your proposal.¡± Wendy¡¯s face turned red upon hearing that, and she responded with disdain, ¡°Well, I¡¯d like to Grace remained calm, unbothered by Wendy¡¯s attitude. She fl*pped through the slides and paused on the first slide. ¡°First, I¡¯d like to point out an obvious mistake. If you take a look, ¡®nanobiology¡® and nanobiology theory¡® sound quite simr, but they are entirely different This statement sent the room into a buzz of shock and realization. Meanwhile, Wendy¡¯s face turned pale. It was a ring mistake, but she had failed to notice it. Benjamin couldn¡¯t help but smile. Grace¡¯s precision far exceeded his, not to mention Wendy¡¯s. ¡°Of course, this is just a minor issue.¡± As Grace said that, everyone¡¯s attention shifted to her. She fl*pped through the slides and pointed out several obvious errors, one by one. Everyone in the room felt like they were on a rollercoaster ride. On the other hand, Wendy was distressed, and her legs nearly gave up on her. She would have fallen if her assistant hadn¡¯t been there to support her. + Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Chapter 143 She Crushed It ¡°Ms. Gardner, are you okay?¡± Alvin couldn¡¯t help but express his concern while silently feeling anxious for Wendy. Grace had shown herpetence, proving Wendy¡¯s misconception about her cluelessness wrong. Wendy clenched her hands as she stared at Grace with a fiery gaze, but she managed to restrain herself. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± After Grace finished her exnation, the others began to ask questions and share their opinions. Grace confidently answered their questions and added relevant information, earning unanimous praise from everyone. She was teaching Wendy a lesson. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Apuse broke out, and Benjamin was the first to stand. He looked at Grace in admiration. Your professionalism is as strong as it was when you were a As soon as he said that, everyone exchanged nces and began discussing quietly. ¡°Ms. Lewis used to work for Hawkins Group?¡± ¡°Hawkins Group has very high standards for its employees. The fact that she worked there and excelled shows her strong capabilities.¡± ¡°How can a person who thrived at Hawkins Group be bad? We underestimated her.¡± ¡°I thought she was just a spoiled princess who knew nothing, but she has real skills.¡± Listening to thesements, Wendy felt a burning sensation in her cheeks, as if she had been pped in the face. ¡°Ms. Gardner, why are there so many errors in your proposal if you¡¯ve had it reviewed many times?¡± Benjamin asked, hitting the key point. Even though Wendy¡¯s proposal had so many issues, no one had pointed them out. Why was that? Nervously, Wendy nced at Alvin, but he ignored her. She lowered her gaze and humbly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was my mistake that the work wasn¡¯t done properly. I will make the necessary revisions.¡± However, Benjamin didn¡¯t seem satisfied. ¡°Ms. Gardner, please focus on improving your professional skills rather than attacking people.¡± The implication was clear. He was referring to her attitude toward Grace. Wendy was rendered speechless and looked at Benjamin in confusion. She was surprised that he was still protecting Grace, even though they were divorced. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Yvonne meant to him. ¡°In that case, there¡¯s no need to continue this meeting. We can discuss the investment when Nexa Group has a well¨C prepared proposal.¡± Xander clearly stated his position. As the most influential boss in the room, he had the absolute authority to make this decision. After his statement, he stood up and was about to leave. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Grace.¡± Grace didn¡¯t hesitate. She was only here because of Xander. Since Nexa Group had shown such ack of sincerity and presented a proposal full of erro down on them. There was no point in continuing to work with them. ¡°Okay, Xander,¡± Grace replied. The two of them left the conference room one after the other. Alvin hadn¡¯t expected the meeting to end like this and hurried to catch up with them. ¡°Mr. Fulton, I think there might be a misunderstanding ¡­¡± Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Failed Cooperation Alvin caught up with them at the elevator. ¡°Mr. Fulton, Nexa Group has made extensive preparations for this project and invested a substantial amount of money. ¡°If Amirate doesn¡¯t cooperate with us now, it will be a fatal blow for us. I hope you can give us another chance, Mr. Fulton.¡± However, Xander and Grace remained silent. As the elevator gradually approached their floor, Alvin was running out of ways to persuade them. ¡°Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis, I hope we can still have an opportunity to coborate. I apologize for the unexpected events today, but cooperation requires some The moment the elevator doors opened, Grace and Xander entered it. ¡°You can go back now, Mr. Leroy.¡± Alvin¡¯s heart sank, and he could only watch as the elevator doors closed. Just then, Benjamin approached Alvin with Larry. ¡°Mr. Leroy!¡± Alvin quickly came to his senses and was shocked when he saw Benjamin. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins?¡± Casually, Benjamin said, ¡°Today was an eye¨C opener. Let¡¯s avoid such jokes in the future. We¡¯re all part of the same circle, and it wouldn¡¯t be good if things like this spread.¡± Alvin felt defeated. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, is there no room for negotiation?¡± Benjamin offered him some advice instead. ¡°Mr. Leroy, understanding and using people effectively is one of the most crucial abilities for us leaders. I don¡¯t think I need to tell you that. ¡°I At his words, Alvin nodded repeatedly, clearly understanding what he meant. After everyone left, he called Wendy into his office. ¡°Mr. Leroy, I-¡°Just as Wendy started speaking, she received a p in the face. In disbelief, she covered her face and held back tears. ¡°Do you realize how much damage your actions today have caused thepany?¡± Wendy lowered her gaze. She hadn¡¯t expected things to escte like this. ¡°I was wrong, Mr. Leroy. I hope you can give me another chance.¡± Her attitude was now. # Alvin was furious, but he also knew that Wendy wasn¡¯t usually this thoughtless. So he asked, ¡± Do you have a grudge against Ms. Lewis?¡± Wendy remained silent. Suddenly, Alvin mmed his desk. ¡°In that case, from today on, hand over your work! You¡¯re suspended indefinitely.¡± ¡°Mr. Leroy!¡± Wendy panicked. ¡°This isn¡¯t as serious as you think. Please let me exin!¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Alvin¡¯s head was pounding, and he waved her out of his office. Wendy felt resentful but had no other choice. As she left the office, she was met with judgmental looks from her colleagues. She covered her face, her eyes filled with gloom. She quickly walked to her office and closed the door with a loud thud. Following that, she picked up her phone and dialed a number. ¡°Uncle¡­¡± As she began speaking, her voice trembled, and the frustration in her heart overflowed. On the other hand, Xander and Grace left Nexa Group and basked in the warm sunlight. He walked beside her and shared the information he had just d ¡°Ms. Gardner from Nexa Group is rted to the Quines. Yvonne is her cousin.¡± The moment Xander said that, the realization dawned on Grace. So that was the reason! ¡°No wonder she was targeting me with everything she said today. It¡¯s because of this.¡± She chuckled. + Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Was I a Jerk ¡°But I was well prepared, thanks to you. You shared the nanotechnology information with me beforehand. Otherwise, I might have been humiliated by Wendy ¡°Xander, are we still going to coborate with Nexa on this project?¡± Hearing that, Xander reached out and ruffled her hair. His eyes were full of tenderness, as if he were looking at a precious treasure. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Well, business is business. We should keep it separate from personal grudges.¡± Xander hummed in agreement and continued, ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll need to see Nexa¡¯s sincerity. But Gracie, can I discuss something with you?¡± As Grace looked at him, her eyes were extremely innocent, making his heart skip a beat. Some things needed to be said. ¡°Can you change the way you address me from now on?¡± Grace froze for a moment, followed by a confused expression. Before she could respond, Xander continued, ¡°Just call me Xan from now on. Everyone calls me Xander. It¡¯s not special at all.¡± ¡°Xan?¡± A hint of surprise shed in her eyes. Xander was pleased with that. ¡°Yes, just like that.¡± However, Grace felt somewhat ufortable with the new nickname. They had grown up together, and the habit of addressing him as Xander had been ingrained in her. It was hard to change that all of a sudden. ¡°But it feels strange.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it over time. It¡¯ll be a habit.¡± Xander looked cheerful. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you back.¡± With that, he took Grace¡¯s hand. His palm was broad and warm, different from the coldness that Benjamin had once brought her. She instinctively wanted to pull her hand back, but Xander held it firmly. As they walked away, Benjamin, who had been watching from a distance, had a dark expression. A chilly air emanated from his whole b*dy, making Larr Carefully, Larry asked, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, shall we go back as well?¡± However, Benjamin¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Grace. Even when they were out of sight, his anger showed no sign of subsiding. In the end, it turned into ¡°Larry, do you think I was really a jerk in the past?¡± The question took Larry by surprise. While Benjamin had his moments of being a jerk, particrly when he had an affair during his marriage, it wasn¡¯t something Larry could tell him. He assessed Benjamin¡¯s expression and saw a look of destion he had never seen in all the years they had worked together. He knew it was because of Grace. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Larry carefully replied, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, who among us is without fault? The past is in the past. ¡°If you truly want to win Ms. Lewis back, as long as you show sincerity, I believe she will be moved.¡± 3 This statement ignited a little hope in Benjamin¡¯s heart. ¡°Really?¡± Larry didn¡¯t want to extinguish his hope. ¡°But Mr. Hawkins, during your three¨C year marriage to Ms. Lewis, there were many unresolved issues, especially ¡­ Ms. Quine. ¡°After all, you and Ms. Quine had a baby together. Ms. Lewis may not be able to let that go.¡± Benjamin¡¯s eyes dimmed instantly. He couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. ¡°Do you think she cares?¡± Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Disappointed Samuel ¡°Women will never tolerate a third person in a rtionship, and Ms, Lewis is no exception.¡± However, that was in the past. The Grace who had had eyes only for Benjamin, indeed couldn¡¯t tolerate such things. But now, everything seemed to have changed. Benjamin took a deep breath, and all his despair disappeared in an instant. It was as though the somewhat dejected Benjamin from just now had just been an illusion. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Larry.¡± With that, Benjamin walked away. Right after Grace returned to her office in Amirate, an unexpected guest arrived. Samuel had received first¨Chand information that the coboration between Amirate and Nexa Group had soured. Delighted, he couldn¡¯t resist dropping by Grace¡¯s office to watch the fun. ¡°Ms. Lewis! It¡¯s been a few days, and you seem to be quite haggard. It looks like you¡¯ve been quite worried about work!¡± He sounded extremely gleeful. Without raising her head, Grace said, ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve got a lot of free time, Director Walker, to be wandering around my office.¡± Half¨Csmiling, Samuel walked up to her desk and pulled out a chair to sit down. ¡°Youngdy, you can¡¯t be too hasty. This performance can¡¯t be achieved in just a day or two. But it¡¯s quite a pity that you lost the chance to coborate with Nexa Group.¡± Grace¡¯s actions halted at his words. After she closed the file in hand, she raised her head and met his gaze confidently. ¡°You¡¯re quite well¨Cinformed, Director Walker. But you seem to be celebrating a bit too early.¡± Suddenly, Samuel burst intoughter. ¡°You¡¯re right, Ms. Lewis. It¡¯s still a long way from our one¨C year deadline. But achieving 30% of thepany¡¯s performance isn¡¯t that simple, and setbacks are inevitable. I just came to remind you out of concern for you and thepany.¡± His words dripped with arrogance. Samuel stood up and straightened his suit jacket. ¡°Young people should gain more experience. Live and learn, right? After this incident, I believe you¡¯ll make progress, which would benefit Amirate.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Following that, Luke walked in. He nced at Samuel before telling Grace, ¡°Ms. Lewis, Mr. Leroy from Nexa Group sent a new contract. To make amend Hearing that, Samuel¡¯s smiling face instantly turned sour. This twist had taken himpletely by surprise. Based on the information he had received, Nexa Group had refused to coborate with Amirate. He couldn¡¯t understand why they were now willing to offer a 5% profit concession. What was going on? ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. On the contrary, Grace couldn¡¯t help but smile. She hadn¡¯t expected Alvin to be so savvy. He truly was a real expert in the business field. Raising her brow, she looked at Samuel and said casually, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to disappoint you, Director Walker. I¡¯ve secured the coboration with Ne Samuel was irritated, but he didn¡¯t want to lose his temper in front of Grace. So he ground his teeth and forced a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve done quite well, Ms. Lew Having said that, he stormed out of the office. As Grace watched his angry departure, she couldn¡¯t help but suppress augh. She then looked at Luke and asked, ¡°Is this really Nexa Group¡¯s decision Chapter 147 Eavesdropping Chapter 147 Chapter 147 apter 147 Eavesdropping Luke ced the contract in front of Grace. ¡°Take a look for yourself.¡°, Grace hadn¡¯t expected that Nexa Group would be so sincere, ¡°Well, in that case, we¡¯ll agree to this coboration for now. But we¡¯ll need to finalize the contract after our next meeting with them.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis.¡± With this matter settled, Grace¡¯s mood instantly improved. She became energized and was more focused on her work. Since she was fully immersed in her work, she didn¡¯t notice that a figure had quietly entered her office. Upon seeing Grace so engrossed, Emily had a look of disbelief in her eyes. She hadn¡¯t expected Grace to be so deeply absorbed in her work. After walking up to the desk, she tapped on it a few times. However, Grace didn¡¯t look up and simply said, ¡°Yes, Luke. Could you make me a cup of coffe Emily was left speechless. Only when Grace noticed there was no response did she raise her head. At once, her eyes were filled with surprise. ¡°Emily? Why are you here?¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Emily sighed helplessly. ¡°Who did you think it was?¡± Grace quickly put down the documents in her hand and got up, grabbing Emily¡¯s arm. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you give me a heads¨Cup if you wereing? I thought you were Luke.¡± ¡°I called you, but you didn¡¯t answer.¡± Emily shrugged. At her words, Grace quickly picked up her phone and noticed that she had several missed calls. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! My phone was on silent.¡± Emily had no choice but to drop the matter. ¡°Never mind. You workaholic! You just forget everything once you¡¯re working. You haven¡¯t evene to the s Apologetically, Grace said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Emily.¡± Seeing how tired Grace looked, Emily couldn¡¯t help but feel for her. ¡°Alright, I forgive you. But your skin hasn¡¯t been looking greattely. How about we go Only then did Grace realize that she hadn¡¯t been taking care of her skin recently, and its condition had deteriorated significantly. ¡°Oh no. I really need to take better care of my skin.¡± Without hesitation, Grace followed Emily to a nearby spa. They selected a VIP room and enjoyed a full¨Cb*dy treatment, leaving them both feelingpletely rxed. As they were about to rest, they heard voicesing from the adjacent room. ¡°It¡¯s so rare for us to be out together. We should make the most of it and rx.¡± The person speaking was Susan. Although they hadn¡¯t seen each other f recognized her voice. ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, you¡¯re getting harder and harder to meet! Have you forgotten us after finding out that your daughter¨Cin¨C law is the granddaughter of the world¡¯s richest person?¡± The news of Grace being Harold¡¯s granddaughter was no longer new. There were no secrets amongst socialites, and various rumors had long been circting. In addition to that, Susan hadn¡¯t treated Grace well in the past, oftenining about Grace¡¯s shorings and even belittling her in front of her friend With Grace¡¯s true identity revealed, Susan¡¯s friends were eager to gossip. Though they were aware of Grace and Benjamin¡¯s divorce, they chose to y Susan was always arrogant and often gave them a hard time. Now that they had finally found a vulnerability in her, they naturally wanted to enjoy her mi ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, you should really consider introducing your daughter¨Cin¨C law to us. It¡¯s good to get acquainted. After all, you never know when we might need her help in the future.¡± X Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Chapter 148 I Treat Her Like My Own Daughter Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard that your daughter¨Cin¨C law has opened a boutique with unique clothing styles, and the business is booming. Many people are lining up to shop there.¡± ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, we¡¯re so close to each other. Why don¡¯t you inform your daughter¨Cinw, and we can go to her store to pick out a few outfits?¡± Without a word, Susan listened to the wealthydies praise Grace about anything and everything. Instantly, her face turned somewhat unpleasant. She had used to think that Grace was just an orphan from the countryside. So she had done many outrageous things to Grace and even pressured her t Now that it had been revealed that Grace was the daughter of the Lewis family, Susan deeply regretted her past behavior. If she had been kinder to Grace, she wouldn¡¯t be this embarrassed now. ¡°Why don¡¯t you say something, Mrs. Hawkins? Can you make it happen? If you can, I¡¯ll ask my girlfriends toe along, and we can help support your d inw¡¯s business.¡± Susan cleared her throat to hide her embarrassment. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t usually get involved in the younger generation¡¯s affairs,¡± ¡°Oh, Mrs. Hawkins, you¡¯re being too modest. We¡¯re talking about your daughter¨Cinw. It will just be a matter of your word.¡± ¡°She should pay you some respect, right? Or do you have no influence at all as a mother¨Cin-w?¡± The wealthydy¡¯sment was a direct challenge to Susan¡¯s pride. But as someone who valued her reputation, she knew it would be hard for her to remain in this social circle if she were to offend these wealthydies. With a smile, Susan said, ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m her mother¨Cin¨C law, so of course she listens to me. You want to go to her store to shop, right? No problem. I¡¯ll take you there some other day.¡± ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, I¡¯ve heard that your daughter¨Cinw is a skilled designer. Can she design a custom outfit for me?¡± Susan responded confidently, ¡°Of course, I will have her personally design it for you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so nice, Mrs. Hawkins. You must have a great rtionship with your daughter¨Cinw, right?¡± This question made Susan feel awkward. Back then, she had often criticized Grace in front of her friends, saying thetter was of a lowly background and didn¡¯t deserve Benjamin or the Hawkins Since Grace wasn¡¯t present, Susan acted and shamelessly stated, ¡°Of course! My rtionship with Grace has always been good. I¡¯ve always treated he Hearing this next door, Emily couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. ¡°How can someone be so shameless? She treated you so badly before. ¡°But now that she knows your true identity, she¡¯s shamelessly pping her mouth. Isn¡¯t she afraid of karma?¡± Grace was equally disgusted. ¡°Treated me like her own daughter? How ridiculous!¡± she thought. In the past, Grace had endured a lot and made manypromises for Benjamin¡¯s sake, only to be constantly bullied and exploited. She didn¡¯t have to endure anymore. ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, do you treat me like your own daughter? Why am I not aware of it?¡± Grace disrupted the wealthydies¡® conversation, leaving Susan stunned and dumbfounded. Being caught in such a situation made thetter feel extrem She looked at Grace and noticed that her appearance remained unchanged, but her demeanor had undergone a profound transformation. Before, Susan could proudly assert herself in front of Grace. But now, Grace exuded an intangible aura that made her instinctively feel inferior. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Her Heart Was Bleeding ¡°Ms. Lewis, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here,¡± one of the wealthydies greeted Grace, her eyes sparkling. ¡°We¡¯re here for a spa day with your mother¨Cinw. We were just talking about going to your store to pick out some clothes together!¡± Grace recognized thedy in front of her. It was Lauren Bates. ¡°Mrs. Turner, you¡¯re always wee to visit my store. But Benjamin and I are divorced, so Mrs. Hawkins here is no longer my mother¨Cin¨C law. Our rtionship isn¡¯t as good as she mentioned either.¡± Grace¡¯s words were casual, but they hit Susan like a heavy blow. Just a moment ago, she had been boasting in front of these wealthydies. Now that Grace had exposed the truth in such a brutal way, Susan¡¯s face tur Lauren was quite perceptive. At Grace¡¯s statement, she quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for my poor memory. I hope you don¡¯t mind, Ms. Lewis.¡± Although Grace was younger than her, she disyed a humble attitude and showed respect. with the way she spoke. The otherdies hoped to gain Grace¡¯s favor as well, so they talked more politely and even disregarded their rtionship with Susan. ¡°Ms. Lewis, we just bumped into Mrs. Hawkins. We¡¯re not that close.¡± ¡°We will try to avoid hanging out with her.¡® ¡°She treated you so poorly before. This might be her karma.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. This left Susan speechless. As she listened to the harshments from the wealthydies, her chest heaved, and her expression turned unpleasant. She had been kind to them in the past, but they had turned their backs on her just like that. ¡°Ms. Lewis, we need to go now. We¡¯ll talk to you next time.¡± just when the wealthydies wanted to leave, Grace stopped them. ¡°Wait,dies.¡± The wealthydies exchanged nces and cautiously asked, ¡°Is there something else, Ms. Lewis?¡± Grace nced at Susan¡¯s embarrassed expression and felt an unusual sense of satisfaction. Raising an eyebrow, she said in a good mood, ¡°Since you like our store¡¯s clothes, you¡¯re wee to shop anytime. We¡¯ll give you a discount.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Thedies¡® eyes lit up, as such an opportunity was as rare as winning the lottery. Grace nodded, and Emily took out a VIP card from her bag, handing it to Lauren. ¡°From now on, all of you will be our store¡¯s VIP customers. Feel free to Excitedly, Lauren epted the card. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Lewis. We will be sure to visit your store. ¡± As Susan watched the wealthydies leave, her face turned increasingly ugly. She used to be the center of attention among these ladies, but now she felt excluded. This was all because of Grace. Susan red at Grace, but she dared notsh out. ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, think before you speak next time. I hope you won¡¯t try to make connections with me anymore. After all, we¡¯re not really close.¡± At this moment, Susan¡¯s heart was bleeding. She regretted treating Grace so poorly in the past. If Grace had still been married to Benjamin, the Hawkins family would be inws with the world¡¯s richest family. Yet Susan had ruined the perfect marriage. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Chapter 150 How Can You Be So Shameless ¡°Grace,¡± Susan said with a forced smile. ¡°I admit I was wrong before, and I apologize to you. But Benjamin didn¡¯t do anything wrong. He has always loved you. ¡°Maybe you should consider getting back together with him. I promise, I won¡¯t interfere anymore.¡± ¡°How can you be so shameless?¡± Emily retorted mercilessly. ¡°Take a look at what kind of people you lot are. Even if all the men in the world died, would never choose Benjamin again.¡± Grace, upon hearing this, mentally gave Emily a thumbs¨Cup. my babe ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, I can treat what you said today as a joke. It¡¯s better to be honest in life and not try to elevate yourself by belittling others.¡± Susan¡¯s face turned pale, looking quite unsightly. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Even though she had already lowered herself so much, Grace still didn¡¯t show her any respect. This didn¡¯t look like the same Grace who used to be subm Susan wasn¡¯t willing to ept defeat. She silently reached into her bag and dialed Benjamin¡¯s number. She wanted him to see his woman¡¯s true colors. ¡°Grace, do you really have no feelings left for Benjamin?¡± Susan persisted. She thought Grace¡¯s words were insincere. Over the past three years, she had seen Grace do many humble things for Benjamin out of love. No woman would give up on her feelings so easily. Grace furrowed her brows, as she had also thought about this. Before Benjamin was brought up, she would still have some lingering feelings in her heart. Even if he hadn¡¯t loved her or cared about her, her heart wou But strangely, when he was brought up now, it was like they were talking about aplete stranger. It didn¡¯t stir the slightest emotion in her heart. ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, people change, and I¡¯m no exception. Besides, don¡¯t you think we should never make the same mistakes twice?¡± Grace said calmly. ¡°In your eyes, Benjamin may be the most outstanding son in the world. But in my eyes, he¡¯s just an ordinary person and a stranger to me.¡± When Benjamin heard these words through the phone, his hand tightened around the phone At that moment, he was in the middle of a high¨Clevel meeting at Hawkins Group. After hearing Grace¡¯s words, his face darkened, leaving all the executives puzzled. They didn¡¯t even dare to make a sound. Seeing this, Larry had a bad premonition. Risking being kicked out of the room, he softly asked, ¡°Are you okay, Mr. Hawkins?¡± The next moment, Benjamin stood up. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. You can continue.¡± His tone was icy. He left without looking back, leaving the others bewildered. They had no idea what was going 1. on. Meanwhile, Susan felt uneasy seeing Grace¡¯s nonchnt attitude. ¡°Grace, won¡¯t you regret this?¡± ¡°Mrs. Hawkins, one should be clear about their decisions. After all, I¡¯m not a garbage disposal center that takes in all kinds of trash,¡± Grace said. Then, s Susan was left standing there, looking confused. After a while, she took out her phone and said with a quivering voice, ¡°Ben, you heard that, right? That¡¯s your ex¨C wife. You heard how she bullied me.¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Extend an Olive Branch Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°You must avenge me, Ben! Hello? Ben?¡± Before Susan could finish her sentence, she heard the dial tone She was so infuriated that she couldn¡¯t catch her breath and smashed her phone. ¡°Grace, you vixen!¡± She couldn¡¯t contain her temper, and her face flushed bright red. Seeing that, people around her started gossiping and started to throw weird nces at her, When Susan noticed that, she wished she could find a hole to hide in, ¡°Mrs. Hawkins.¡± Just then, a mysterious figure in high heels approached her. With a smile on her face, Linda looked at her and greeted her politely. Susan had no idea who she was. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am. What¡¯s important is that I know Grace.¡± At the mention of Grace, Susan became alert. ¡°Are you with that vixen?¡± Linda replied, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, Mrs. Hawkins. I just wanted to invite you to have some tea to talk about Grace. Do you have the time?¡± Though Susan sensed that Linda had ulterior motives, she wanted to teach Grace a lesson. So she agreed. ¡°Sure! Where should we go?¡± Linda picked a ce and left with Susan. Aftering out of the spa, Grace felt refreshed and couldn¡¯t be happier. She thought about how she had oncepromised and allowed herself to be oppressed and bullied for Benjamin. But now she was back to being herse After returning to the office, she continued to work diligently. She finally finished reviewing the files on her table by the end of the workday. ¡°Luke, distribute these files to all the departments. We¡¯ll discuss them during the meeting tomorrow morning,¡± Grace instructed, then checked the time. ¡°Is there anything else to do today?¡± Luke noticed the dark circles under her eyes from working overtime for the past few days. So he said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, you should take a break from work. Go ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go home after I finish everything.¡± Luke couldn¡¯t persuade her, so he quietly set aside some non¨Curgent files. By the time Grace had finished her work, it was already night, and the city lights had silently turned on. Only then did she turn off herptop and grab her bag to leave the office. Her car was parked in the rightmost spot in the parking lot at level B1. Just as she got in her car and started it up, a Lamborghini Phantom stopped in front of her, blocking her way. This domineering behavior screamed Benjamin. Besides him, Grace couldn¡¯t think of anyone else who would act like that. Benjamin¡¯s deep eyes looked at Grace through the car window. He had been waiting here for hours. The cigarette butts were scattered all over outside the car, and the inside of the car was filled with the strong scent of smoke. He wasn¡¯t used to this sense of loss of control. Seeing the familiar car, Grace remained calm and unyielding. She even honked her horn. Suddenly, the car window slid down to reveal Benjamin¡¯s profile. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you. Can we talk?¡± Grace gripped the steering wheel tightly but remained unfazed. ¡°Talk about what? What¡¯s there to discuss between us?¡± Benjamin exined, ¡°You don¡¯t need to take my mom¡¯s remarks this afternoon to heart.¡± So it was about that. It seemed that Susan had gone to her beloved son toin again. Grace wasn¡¯t surprised. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Chapter 152 You¡¯re Insane ¡°What did she say this time?¡± Grace¡¯s attitude annoyed Benjamin. In his memory, she had always been gentle and meek. He couldn¡¯t fathom when she became so strong¨Cwilled. Or was this the real her? ¡°Grace, I¡¯ve heard some rumors about you, and I know you need to increase your performance. Hawkins Group can help you with that.¡± Benjamin was extending an olive branch to Grace. ¡°No need,¡± Grace curtly refused him. ¡°Is there anything else? If not, please make way.¡® At once, Benjamin felt a surge of anger. ¡°You don¡¯t want to ept my help even if you lose miserably?¡± Grace felt that something was wrong with him today. ¡°Lose? There is no such word in my dictionary. Besides, Mr. Hawkins, we¡¯re divorced, and Hawkins Group and Amirat? are nowpetitors. I¡¯m sorry, but your goodw shouldn¡¯t be wasted on me.¡± ¡°Hah! You¡¯re still as stubborn as ever, Grace.¡± Not wanting to engage with him any longer, she stepped on the gas pedal. This shocked Benjamin. Through the car window, he watched Grace¡¯s emotionless face, tinged with a hint of ruthlessness. ¡°What are you doing, Grace?¡± he blurted out. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Benjamin didn¡¯t budge, but Grace didn¡¯t give him a chance to reconsider. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. There was a violent collision, and his b*dy shook violently from the impact. His previously perfect Lamborghini Phantom was left with a deep indent on th ¡°Grace, you¡¯re insane!¡± he yelled at her in disbelief. The next moment, Grace looked at him with a defiant expression. ¡°Don¡¯t easily approach a woman¡¯s car, or I can¡¯t guarantee whether you¡¯ll even survive the next time.¡± A wicked smile yed on her l*ps,pletely disregarding Benjamin¡¯s distress. She sharply turned the steering wheel and stepped on the gas, speeding This was a tant provocation. Benjamin¡¯s veins bulged, and he was so furious that he punched the steering wheel. He wanted to catch up, but he couldn¡¯t even start the engine. ¡°I¡¯ll remember this, Grace.¡± As Grace watched Benjamin¡¯s car disappear in the rearview mirror, her smile gradually faded. She didn¡¯t know why she had been so impulsive when facing Benjamin earlier. She had even considered taking both of them down together. It was madness! Grace thought to herself, ¡°Grace, you must be insane to even think about risking your life for such a man!¡± The cold wind outside the window eventually snapped her out of her irrationality. Just then, her car¡¯s built¨Cin phone rang. ¡°Mdy, my flight justnded. Would you like to pick me up?¡± Timothy¡¯s annoying voice came through the speaker, and Grace raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is all the business in Frenda settled?¡± Timothy was quite proud of his abilities in his field. ¡°I¡¯ve secured several major clients, and thepany¡¯s performance for the next year will increase by Grace couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge his capabilities, and her initially somber mood brightened at the mention of major clients. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange for your colleagues to celebrate your return.¡± you Suddenly, Timothy turned anxious. ¡°Wait, I justnded, and the first thing I did was call you. Aren¡¯t you moved at all?¡± ¡°¡­ I am. Your dedication truly moved me.¡± ¡°So are youing to pick me up? Otherwise, I¡¯ll have to wait at the airport all night.¡± Timothy sounded pitiful. Hearing that, Grace made a U¨C turn at the intersection. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pick you up at the airport.¡± Timothy was ted. ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the arrival terminal.¡± Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Timothy eagerly waited for Grace at the airport. He finally saw Grace¡¯s car slowly approaching half an hourter. He excitedly waved at her. Shortly after, the car came to a steady stop in front of him. ¡°Woohoo, you¡¯re finally here, Mdy!¡± Seeing him all dusty and exhausted but still showing no sign of fatigue, Grace said, ¡°Thank you so much for your hard work.¡± He opened the car door and got in. Beaming, he replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s my honor to serve you, Mdy.¡± Grace started the engine and asked, ¡°Shall I take you home?¡± ¡°How about we grab a meal first? It¡¯s a privilege to dine with you,¡± Timothy responded. Grace raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± Timothy didn¡¯t have any specific preferences. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Mdy, I¡¯m not a picky person. As long as it¡¯s filling, it¡¯s good for me.¡± Grace thought for a moment. After that, Timothy took out an exquisite gift box from his bag and handed it to her. ¡°Here you go, Mdy, a gift for you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Grace looked surprised. Timothy looked excited. ¡°You¡¯ll know once you open it, but it¡¯s best to wait till you get back.¡± Grace waspletely puzzled. She had no clue what Timothy had up his sleeve. ¡°So mysterious.¡± ¡°You bet,¡± Timothy responded with a proud look on his face. Grace eventually chose a Kidhnian restaurant. After parking the car, the two of them stepped out. Timothy couldn¡¯t stop talking, sharing funny stories from his time in Frenda as they walked together. Grace couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have such a vibrant life outside of work.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not what you think! I was just rxing with friends,¡± Timothy responded anxiously. ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± she said. However, Timothy felt like Grace wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. He hurriedly exined, ¡°Mdy, trust me. I¡¯mmitted to you, and there haven¡¯t been any o Grace found it a bit unusual to see him so serious. ¡°Alright, I believe you,¡± Grace replied. The waiter led them to a table by the window. While they settled in, Celia and a few of her friends had coincidentally finished their meal nearby and were about to leave. ¡°Hmm, who is she dining with?¡± Celia asked as she looked at Timothy with suspicion. Her mind was racing, but she couldn¡¯t recall any information about him. Hence, she took a photo of the two of them with her phone. She looked at the picture of Timothy on her phone but couldn¡¯t remember him at all. ¡°Who is that man? Do you know him?¡± Celia asked her friends who were with her. Since Timothy rarely socialized in Pamore, the wealthy young women with Celia also shook their heads. ¡°We don¡¯t know. But the woman sitting across fr ¡°It looks like she¡¯s the Lewis family¡¯s heiress! ¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her! The heiress of the richest family! Pinch me; is this real?¡± ¡°I never thought I would actually get to see her in real life! I¡¯m so lucky!¡± Celia became annoyed when she heard the excitement in her friends¡® voices. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into all of you? You have such limited aspirations!¡± she remarked. ¡°Oh, you have no idea, Celia! Grace is our idol,¡± they responded. ¡°What did you say?¡± Celia asked in astonishment. The rich young women were already in awe of Grace. After all, she was a woman who was single¨C handedly running a sessfulpany, demonstrating her remarkable capabilities. X Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Chapter 154 An Easy Target Besides, these rich, young women usually just enjoyed life without taking their work seriously. Their families strongly believed they should learn how to manage the family businesses from Grace, so they naturally regarded her as their idol. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. I need to take a photo with my idol for my social media! It¡¯s bound to get lots of likes,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get an autograph as well! Then I¡¯m going to frame it and hang it in my living room.¡± ¡°Celia, youing?¡± Celia lookedpletely puzzled. She couldn¡¯t understand how her friends could regard Grace as their idol. ¡°No. You ¡­¡± She didn¡¯t even get to finish her sentence because her newpanions couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen. They were already rushing excitedly ¡°Ms. Lewis, may I take a photo with you?¡± one of the women asked. Grace was caught off guard by their sudden appearance as they ran toward her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have to decline your request,¡± she responded politely when confronted with so many unfamiliar faces. The young women appeared to be disappointed. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯m a huge admirer of yours. Can you please sign this for me?¡± one of the women asked. Grace couldn¡¯t make sense of it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not a celebrity, so I can¡¯t sign anything for you,¡± she replied. ¡°But you¡¯re our idol!¡± ¡°Indeed, an idol, pretty please?¡± The women pleaded. Grace found herself feeling a mix of amusement and bewilderment. How had she be their idol? The next moment, Celia walked up to her in high heels, looking somewhat disgruntled. ¡± Grace, are you showing off?¡± she asked with an unpleasant tone The young women were all taken aback and asked, ¡°Celia, do you know Ms. Lewis?¡± Celia snorted. ¡°Not only do we know each other, but we were quite close. Haven¡¯t any of you ¡°Ms. Lewis, that is, Grace, used to be my sister¨Cinw, but she¡¯s divorced my brother now and was even driven out of our family,¡± she answered without holding back. Celia looked smugly at Grace. Deep down, she couldn¡¯t help but think that once these women discovered the truth, they would likely lose their admiration for Grace. She found it quite Timothy, who was sitting at the table as well, couldn¡¯t tolerate it any longer when he saw Celia insulting Grace, ¡°Where did you get your d*rty mouth from? The restroom? Have you been eating shit?¡± The rich, young women couldn¡¯t hold back and burst intoughter upon hearing him. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Celia pointed at Timothy and shouted angrily, ¡°What are you saying? You, a little nob*dy, must be Grace¡¯s new favorite, right? ¡°She¡¯s a woman with a long list of past rtionships. Do you even know if you¡¯re the umpteenth for Grace?¡± She was truly asking for trouble! Violence against women should never be condoned, but if it had been an option, Timothy would have intervened long ago. ¡°It seems your parents didn¡¯t teach you proper manners,¡± Grace said with a stern expression, her tone unfriendly. Celia remained unapologetic. ¡°Did I say something wrong? Aren¡¯t you the one getting involved with men left and right? How can you y the righteous role when you¡¯re such a slut? Grace swiftly pped Celia without warning. Celia shouted, ¡°Grace, have I been too lenient with you, or have I be an easy target for you? You¡¯ve actually hit me again!¡± Grace calmly rubbed her hand. ¡°You¡¯re right. It was quite effortless. Since your parents didn¡¯t do their job, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson myself.¡± GET Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Chapter 155 I Want Her Reputation Ruined Celia reached out with the intention of pping Grace back. However, Timothy firmly grabbed her arm and said, ¡°Touch her and see what happens!¡± Celia struggled but couldn¡¯t break free. ¡°Grace, tell him to let go of me,¡± she said. As the young women watched the scene unfold, they exchanged nces of disapproval. Their aversion to Celia grew stronger. ¡°Ms. Hawkins, what you did to my idol was totally uneptable. Stay away from me from now on.¡± ¡°What makes you think you can defame my idol as you please? Why don¡¯t you take a good look at yourself?¡± ¡°I had heard about your bad reputation, but I thought it was just rumors. Now it seems that they were all true.¡± The young women quickly distanced themselves from Celia. Celia was fuming. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say this when you were taking my stuff? Now you turn against me because of her!¡± she said furiously. ¡°Heh, your stuff! It¡¯s all worthless junk. I gave it to my maid a long time ago.¡± ¡°Exactly, those are just minor favors. Did you think we¡¯re that easily impressed?¡± ¡°How much are your cheap belongings even worth? Tell me! I don¡¯t want to be involved with you just because of them.¡® Grace sat there and enjoyed the drama unfold. She hadn¡¯t expected Celia to be abandoned by her so¨Ccalled friends like this, and it was rather amusing for her. ¡°Mdy, would you like to go somewhere else? This ce is getting a bit unappealing for me,¡± Timothy suggested as he released Celia and wiped his ha The disgust in his eyes was clear; as if Celia were something d*rty. ¡°Sounds good. Staying here is indeed affecting my appetite,¡± Grace responded as she stood up to leave. But the young women stopped her in her tracks. ¡°Ms. Lewis, could you sign this for me, please?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯re my idol! Can I take a photo with you?¡± Celia watched on as Grace was surrounded by her admirers. She felt a burning frustration deep However, she could do nothing but watch as Grace posed for photos and signed autographe When Grace was done, the young women were still not satisfied as they watched her leave They couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°Did you guys notice? Ms. Lewis has incredible skin. It¡¯s like porcin. I wonder what skincare products she uses to achieve such amazing results.¡± ¡°I noticed too. There isn¡¯t a single pore on her face, I¡¯m so jealous!¡± ¡°It would be wonderful to be friends with Ms. Lewis! But I¡¯m not sure if we¡¯ll ever be the lucky!¡± The young women couldn¡¯t stop talking about Grace. Theypletely ignored Celia, who stood beside them. It was as if thetter were invisible, Celia let out a cold snort and took her phone out. She checked the photos she had taken as a n formted in her mind. After the young women left, she made a call, ¡°Are you a reporter from Fashion Weekly? I have some juicy gossip here. Are you interested?¡± Upon hearing this, the woman on the other end of the line thought it might involve a major celebrity. They asked, ¡°Which female star is it? Price doesn¡¯t m However, Celia coldly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t want money. I just want to see her reputation ruined.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Don¡¯t Mess With Grace The person got excited when they heard about juicy news that could potentially damage someone¡¯s reputation. ¡°Can you tell me which female celebrity t Celia calmly stated, ¡°It¡¯s about Grace Lewis, the one from Amirate Corporation. I have evidence of her promiscuous behavior.¡± Upon hearing this, the reporter¡¯s excitement vanished. In a city asrge as Pamore, someone would have already given a heads¨Cup. Therefore, no media outlet dared to invade Grace¡¯s privacy anymore. ¡°Oh, what kind of evidence?¡± The person asked, seeming uninterested, but Celia didn¡¯t seem to notice. She was still determined to reveal Grace¡¯s true colors this time so that everyone could get a good look at her. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ll send the photos to your email. You must make sure to publish the news,¡± she said. ¡°Sure,¡± the other person responded in a dismissive manner, but Celia still eagerly sent the photos. She thought she would find some gossip about Grace on the news the next day. But to her surprise, there was no entertainment news about Grace at al Even entertainment reporters refused to answer her calls. ¡°Wow, you sure have an incredible knack for keeping things under wraps, Grace,¡± Celia muttered in frustration, but she wasn¡¯t nning to give up. She considered an alternative n. If the entertainment industry wouldn¡¯t work, she would find a different approach to expose Grace¡¯s true colors to Ben She stormed into Hawkins Group and marched straight into Benjamin¡¯s office. ¡°Ben, take a look at Grace. Ever since she left you, she¡¯s been fooling around with one man after another. What¡¯s gotten into her?¡± she said. As Grace¡¯s name came up, the atmosphere in the office grew tense. Nevertheless, Celia continued to speak without showing any signs of concern, all the while passing the photos from her phone to Benjamin. Benjamin took a brief look at the photos on her phone. His expression turned grim. He didn¡¯t expect that Grace¡¯s rtionship with Timothy would have pr Was Timothy, the man he had once considered his close friend, really pursuing his ex¨Cwife? He couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold snort as he thought about his previous fallout with Grace.¡± Have you had too much free time as ofte?¡± he asked. Celia had a puzzled expression on her face and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Benjamin rapped on the table and remarked, ¡°Have I been so generous with your allowance that you¡¯ve forgotten yourself?¡± The mention of her allowance left Celia visibly unsettled. Her current allowance was already meager. She wouldn¡¯t be able to survive if Benjamin were to deduct more. ¡°Ben, please don¡¯t cut my allowance! I¡¯ll disappear right away¡­¡± She pleaded. Benjamin¡¯s expression grew serious as he ordered, ¡°Hold it right there.¡± ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Celia asked cautiously. However, Benjamin pointed at her phone and said, ¡°Delete those pictures. Don¡¯t ever think about messing with Grace again. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯ll send you to Firalden for ten years, and you won¡¯t be allowed toe back.¡± Celia was on the verge of crying. ¡°Ben, it¡¯s hard to believe you would treat me like this just because of the b*tch Grace. I¡¯m your sister!¡± Celia said pitifully. ¡°Delete the photos now,¡± Benjamin retorted coldly. Those four words sent shivers down Celia¡¯s spine. Beforeing here, she had believed that Benjamin would join forces with her against their mutual adversary. To her surprise, he had actually acted against his own interests. ¡°I¡¯ll delete them, I swear! Please, don¡¯t send me to Firalden. I promise I won¡¯t mess with Grace ever again,¡± Celia pleaded earnestly. Benjamin gave a subtle nod to her as he observed her reaction. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Chapter 157 I Knew You Were the One ¡°Remember what we discussed today. If you insist on getting yourself into trouble, there won¡¯t be anyone else to me but yourself.¡± Benjamin said. After numerous assurances, Celia finally left the office. When she was gone, Benjamin stared out the window with a stern expression. He was so lost in thought that he didn¡¯t realize that Larry had entered his office. Benjamin averted his gaze and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that someone has been aggressively acquiring ourpany¡¯s shares recently. Given the way things are shaping up, it¡¯s clear they have ma ¡°What have you got?¡± Benjamin asked. ¡°The other party is being extremely cautious, and there haven¡¯t been any leaks yet. But our people are tracking them closely, so if they make another mo uncover some clues,¡± Larry answered. ¡°Right, let¡¯s refrain from doing anything that might tip them off,¡± Benjamin remarked. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins,¡± Larry responded. Benjamin shifted the conversation and asked, ¡°Back when Grace worked in ourpany, did she have any colleagues that she was particrly close to?¡± Larry thought for a moment and answered, ¡°Grace was diligent, meticulous, and had good interpersonal skills as a secretary. But I would say no. She wa Benjamin felt somewhat disappointed. ¡°All right, you can go now,¡± he ordered. Larry couldn¡¯t understand what Benjamin was thinking. He noticed that Benjamin had been rather concerned about Grace as ofte. Meanwhile, in the office on the top floor of Amirate Corporation, Grace had just concluded a video conference with a multinational conglomerate. There was a knock on her office door. ¡°Come in,¡± she said. Timothy walked in with a cheerful expression. ¡°Mdy, these two documents require your signature.¡± Grace sighed in helplessness. Despite her many attempts to correct his way of addressing her, Timothy had remained unresponsive to her. ¡°Can you change your way of addressing me now that we¡¯re in the office?¡± she asked. Timothy wore a yful expression and stated, ¡°Mdy, that¡¯s not possible¡­ unless you agree to watch a movie with me this weekend.¡± Grace was left speechless. She took the documents from him and opened them to take a look. After ensuring that everything was in order, she proceeded to sign them. ¡°Mdy, if you don¡¯t like watching movies, we can do something else. How about that?¡± Timothy suggested. Grace sighed in exasperation and replied, ¡°Do you have too much free time on your hands? If so, you should spend more time working.¡± She didn¡¯t want him to focus on her too much. During the entire week he had been back, he had been asking her the same set of questions repeatedly. The questions primarily centered around dining She genuinely had no interest, but Timothy remained undaunted by her refusal. He persistently asked her the same questions day after day. ¡°Mdy, have faith in my ability to boost thepany¡¯s performance. As a little reward, how about going on a date with me?¡± Timothy proposed in a casual tone. Grace sighed, starting to lose her patience. She reluctantly exined, ¡°I¡¯ve just gone through a divorce.¡± Timothy didn¡¯t seem to care much and responded, ¡°I know. Grace looked solemn and stated, ¡°I currently have no intentions of getting married again.¡± Timothy nodded slightly and then said, ¡°That¡¯s fine. I can wait.¡± Grace resorted to herst resort after she noticed his unwavering interest. ¡°You¡¯re not my type,¡± she said. To her surprise, Timothy moved closer with a big smile on his face. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you tell me your type, and I¡¯ll adjust ordingly?¡± Timothy proposed. Grace was genuinely surprised by his persistence. ¡°Timothy, why does it have to be me?¡± Timothy couldn¡¯t help but chuckle self¨Cdeprecatingly. He responded, ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®why¡®. I just + Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Complete Disregard ¡°Grace, I admit I made a mistake in the past. If I had known that I would be engaged to you, I wouldn¡¯t have turned it down. ¡°But it¡¯s not toote. You¡¯re single, and I am too. Whenever you¡¯re ready, I can be your choice, ¡°Timothy confessed. After saying this, he intended to leave her room. However, Grace stopped him. ¡°Timothy, I hope you understand that you deserve better. There¡¯s no need to waste your time on me.¡± He responded, ¡°You¡¯ll always be the best in my eyes. Mdy, don¡¯t feel pressured. ¡°My feelings for you are my own, and whether you choose me or not, it¡¯s entirely up to you. I can handle the result, no matter what it is.¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. With those words, Timothy left the office. However, Grace found herself troubled and distracted throughout the entire day because of his words. During this time, she had mainly been friends with Timothy and nothing more. But he was just as determined as a bull, and he wouldn¡¯t give up easily. Grace sighed, forcing herself not to dwell on the matter. She proceeded to immerse herself in her work. Just before the end of the day, she received a call from Hestia. ¡°Aunt Hestia, is something up?¡± Grace answered the call. Hestia could clearly sense Grace¡¯s fatigue through the phone. She asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been very busytely, haven¡¯t you?¡± Grace smiled warmly and replied, ¡°Not too bad, Aunt Hestia!¡± However, Hestia was well aware that Grace was a workaholic, much like her son, Xander. ¡°How abouting over for dinner tonight? I¡¯ve prepared a delicious homemadesagna, your favorite,¡± Hestia suggested. ¡°Sure! I¡¯ve been craving your cooking. Just thinking about it makes my stomach growl,¡± Grace replied. ¡°My dear, don¡¯t be constantly caught up in work. Set aside some time to enjoy life. I¡¯ve already asked Xander to pick you up, and he should be at your of ¡°Xander is here?¡± Grace asked surprisingly. ¡°He should be arriving anytime now,¡± Hestia responded. As they were speaking, Grace had already spotted Xander outside her office through the window. She had a warm smile on her face as she replied, ¡°I see him! See you tonight, Aunt Hestia!¡± She hung up the phone and left right away. ¡°Xander!¡± She called. Xander raised an eyebrow and yfully ruffled her hair. ¡°Did we forget our previous arrangement?¡± Grace yfully stuck out her tongue and said, ¡°Hehe, I was just messing with you, Xan!¡± She whispered softly, so only they could hear each other. Linda Snow disyed a calm expression as she observed them from behind. But she was burning on the inside. She thought about the information she had obtained from Susan and her private investigation. Her initial surprise had slowly evolved into a feeling of disdain toward Grace. How could a divorcee like her deserve someone like Xander? ¡°Ms. Lewis!¡± Linda took the initiative to greet Grace, who then noticed her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you¡¯re¡­ ?¡± Grace asked curiously. Linda remained silent and directed her gaze at Xander instead. She had wanted Xander to introduce her to Grace. But at this moment, Xander¡¯s focus was solely on Grace. He didn¡¯t seem to notice Linda¡¯s presence a ¡ªhe didn¡¯t even give her a fleeting nce. She had been by his side for many years. It was the first time she feltpletely disregarded by him. Nheless, she remainedposed. She extended her hand for a handshake and greeted Grace with a smile. ¡°Hello, Ms. Lewis. We¡¯ve met before. I¡¯ Snow.¡± Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Grace recognized Linda and gracefully shook hands with her. ¡°Oh, yes. Hello.¡± ¡°Mr. Fulton speaks highly of you. He mentioned that you are exceptionally beautiful and have a wonderful personality as well. ?? ¡®After meeting you in person, I think you indeed live up to your reputation, Ms. Lewis,¡± Linda expressed with eloquence. Grace was a bit surprised upon hearing this. She turned to look at Xander and said, ¡°I never thought you¡¯d see so many good qualities in me, Xan!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve always been wonderful,¡± Xander replied affectionately. Grace¡¯s l*ps curled up and formed a lovely smile. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back. I¡¯m getting hungry!¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xander agreed, seemingly in a good mood as well. The three of them descended the stairs together. Linda took the initiative to reach for the driver¡¯s seat and got into the car. ¡°Ms. Snow, please take us to Lakeside Haven,¡± Xander requested. Linda smiled and replied, ¡°As you wish, Mr. Fulton.¡± The car smoothly drove away. As she watched the buildings pass by outside the window, Grace couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I think we should be able to secure the contract with Nexa this time. Both ourpanies are about to sign the agreement in the next couple of days.¡± Xander nodded lightly and said, ¡°This project is indeed promising. It might be a bit challenging in the initial stages, but once it¡¯s on track, it will get much smoother.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s all thanks to your help in facilitating this. That¡¯s why things have been progressing so smoothly.¡± Grace expressed her gratitude sincerely. ¡°Thank you so much, Xan.¡± Upon hearing this, Xander furrowed his brow slightly and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so formal with me.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Grace grinned and replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Linda observed how Grace and Xander interacted with each other. She was surprised by how much Xander had done for Grace. It left her feeling somewhat puzzled. ¡°Mr. Fulton, there¡¯s a pastry shop at the uing intersection that Madam Fulton really likes. Would you like me to pull over for a moment?¡± Xander recognized the bakery since Hestia had mentioned it before. ¡°Yes, please pull over. I¡¯ll go and grab some,¡± he said. Linda parked the car at the nearby parking spot. ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± Grace suggested, ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯ll be just a minute,¡± Xander assured. Since Xander had insisted, Grace reluctantlyplied. Once Xander had left, Linda said, ¡°Madam Fulton has a thing for these sweet treats. I¡¯ve run errands for her several times before.¡± Linda¡¯s words undoubtedly hinted to Grace that she had a close rtionship with Hestia. She even knew Hestia¡¯s preferences well. Grace found Linda¡¯s behavior somewhat unusual. She casually asked, ¡°Ms. Snow, you¡¯ve been with the Fultons for years, haven¡¯t you? What made you decide toe to Pamore all of a sudden ¡°It¡¯s been six years since I started working for them. Coming to Pamore was also Mr. Fulton¡¯s decision. ¡°I guess it¡¯s because, after spending so many years at the Fultons, I¡¯ve grown used to many things. You know, it¡¯s tough to change when you¡¯re already used to certain things,¡± Linda exined. ¡°But it¡¯s not impossible, isn¡¯t it? If you genuinely want to change, you can,¡± Grace remarked with a somewhat yful tone. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Ms. Snow?¡± Linda nodded with a smile and responded, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right! However, I¡¯ve also heard some rumors about you. Weren¡¯t you previously married?¡± Grace could sense a hint of intrigue in the air, much like the scent of tea. ¡°When I was younger and immature, I made some wrong choices and went through a divorce after that. You seem to be very interested in my past,¡± Gra Linda gave Grace a quick nce before shifting her gaze toward Xander, who was returning to the car. She added, ¡°Mr. Fulton is truly an exceptional ind Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Not Worthy of Him ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Those who can stand toe to toe with him are undoubtedly individuals of equal excellence,¡± Linda continued. Grace understood the underlying message in her words. However, she hadn¡¯t expected such words toe from an assistant. ¡°Ms. Snow, you¡¯re certainly diligent in your work, even showing concern for the boss¡¯s personal life. ¡°But I must remind you that your involvement seems a bit too extensive,¡± Grace responded. Linda hadn¡¯t anticipated Grace¡¯s straightforwardness. Therefore, she had no reason to hide anything. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯m considering Mr. Fulton¡¯s best interests as well. After all, if you and Mr. Fulton were to be a couple, the rumors and gossip wouldn¡¯t be pleasant. ¡°Perhaps you wouldn¡¯t mind, but what about Mr. Fulton? Do you think he wouldn¡¯t mind?¡± Linda asked. Just as she finished speaking, Xander returned with the pastries. He opened the door and immediately sensed the tension in the car. He looked concernedly at Grace and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Linda¡¯s words had undeniably caused unease in Grace¡¯s heart. 1 Although her family had encouraged her to spend time with Xander to see how things would go, they seemed to have overlooked his feelings. The tiny ember of hope in her heart was extinguished in an instant. She shook her head in response and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We were just chatting.¡± Linda had initially thought that Grace wouldin to Xander, but to her surprise, Grace didn¡¯t say a word. Linda remarked, ¡°Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis and I get along well. Maybe we can spend more time together in the future.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Xander asked Grace again. Grace concealed her unease and quickly said, ¡°What are you waiting for? Let¡¯s head back. Aunt Hestia is waiting for us!¡± Xander didn¡¯t dwell on it any further and instructed Linda to drive to Lakeside Haven. The car came to a steady stop in the vi¡¯s yard. Hestia was waiting at the entrance. ¡°Gracie, Grace rushed into Hestia¡¯s arms. ¡°Aunt Ilestia, I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± Hestia¡¯s love for Grace was apparent. ¡°A couple of days ago, I was out shopping and found several pieces of jewelry that would perfectly match you. I bo ¡°Wow! Thank you, Aunt Hestia!¡± ¡°silly girl, you¡¯re most wee,¡± Hestia responded. The two of them shared an extremely close bond, resembling a genuine mother¨Cdaughter rtionship. Meanwhile, Nander waspletely overlooked by Hestia. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder who her real child was. Linda was surprised to see that Grace had such a close rtionship with Hestia. A hint of astonishment flickered in her eyes. Just moments ago, she had been bragging to Grace about her rtionship with Hestia. But she had never realized that all of that was nothing special in Grace¡¯s eyes. ¡°Madam Fulton!¡± Linda restrained her emotions and warmly greeted Hestia. It was only when she spoke that Hestia noticed her. ¡°Ms. Snow, what are you doing here?¡± Hestia questioned. Hestia had a deep appreciation for Linda¡¯s professionalpetence. Over the years, Linda had gone above and beyond to serve the Fultons. But Hestia¡¯s only issue with Linda was that she was exceptionally attractive, which made her stand out among the other secretaries. It was risky to have such a beauty around her son. It hadn¡¯t bothered her much before. However, if she wanted to set up Xander with Grace, she couldn¡¯t allow Linda to remain near him any longer. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Aunt Hestia¡¯s Power In just a moment, Hestia had made up her mind. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. However, Linda had no idea what the older woman was thinking. She hurriedly replied, ¡°Mr. Fulton asked me to drive them here.¡± Hestia merely responded with an ¡°oh¡± and cast a resentful look in Xander¡¯s direction. Xander scratched his nose, not understanding why Hestia was looking at him like that. Without further dy, Hestia immediately drove Linda away. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Linda, your task is consideredplete. ¡°Since my goddaughter is here today, I won¡¯t keep you around for dinner. We¡¯ll set up another time for you to visit our home as a guest.¡± Upon hearing that, Linda¡¯s expression changed subtly, but she quickly regained herposure. ¡°Sure, Madam Fulton. In that case, I¡¯ll head back now.¡± Then, she turned toward Xander. ¡°Mr. Fulton, I¡¯ll take my leave then.¡± Xander simply nodded in response. Linda clenched her fists tightly. She was reluctant to leave, but she couldn¡¯t find a valid reason to stay right now. After she left, Hestia turned to Grace. ¡°Oh, sweet Gracie, don¡¯t you worry! He won¡¯t be having any more female assistants around him in the future. Wha romances.¡± She then red at Xander. ¡°Quickly get her transferred from her current position, or I¡¯ll make sure you regret it.¡± Xander didn¡¯t have any objections to that. After all, Hestia¡¯s words are final. On the other hand, Grace was surprised by how direct Hestia was. However, she soon asked, ¡°Aunt Hestia, didn¡¯t you say you made my favoritesagna? I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°You little foodie, get inside quickly,¡± Hestia responded. They sat down and ate together, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. ¡°Gracie, have some more of your favoritesagna,¡± Hestia said. Grace looked at the overflowing te of food in front of her and said, ¡°Aunt Hestia, that¡¯s plenty. I won¡¯t be able to finish it if you give me more.¡± However, Hestia said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. If you can¡¯t finish it, give it to Xander. After all, he¡¯s been eating leftovers since he was a child.¡± Xander put on a confused expression. He couldn¡¯t help but feel like an innocent victim in this banter. ¡°Mom, I seriously wonder if I¡¯m really your biological child,¡± Xander said as he helplessly shook his head. But Hestia wasn¡¯t one to spare his feelings. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve told you¨Cyou were a foundling. You don¡¯t even have any self¨Cawareness.¡± Xander had no option but to remain silent and finish his meal. After the meal, Hestia engaged in a casual conversation with Grace. They discussed a variety of topics. She also presented a piece of jewelry she had purchased a few days earlier and helped Grace wear it. It was a sapphire n*e, a rare find on the market, and quite costly. The single small gem alone was valued at least in the millions of dors. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s really beautiful!¡± Grace expressed. Hestia nodded in contentment and then turned to Xander. ¡°You see, your mother¡¯s taste is as good as ever, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s beautiful! Just like the person wearing it,¡± Xander responded. Grace was utterly surprised. She had never known that Xander could be so charming with his words. Hestia silently observed their interaction and felt so pleased to see that Xander had finally caught on. ¡°The next time youe across something nice, remember to buy it for my Gracie. No penny- pinching,¡± she said. Xander appeared to be very receptive to the advice, but his gaze remained fixed on Grace. ¡°Okay,¡± he replied. Grace couldn¡¯t help but smile. The feeling of being cherished warmed her heart. She put her arm around Hestia¡¯s and said, ¡°Aunt Hestia, you¡¯re the best ¡°Of course, Gracie. In my heart, you¡¯ve always been like family to me.¡± She just wished that the day when they officially became a family woulde soon. Hestia couldn¡¯t resist giving a warning look to Xander, one that seemed to say, ¡°If you dare let my daughter¨Cin¨C law get away, you¡¯re going to get it from me!¡± Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Chapter 162 A Lingering Sense of Unease Xander understood what Hestia¡¯s look meant, but he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Grace was somewhat distant toward him. It seemed like the path ahead was going to be long and challenging. ¡°Oh, by the way, Gracie, I know you¡¯re interested in design. Professor n Morris from the School of Design at Pamore University is an old ssmate of mine. ¡°In a couple of days, he¡¯ll be hosting a design exhibition in Pamore. I have an invitation for it. You and Xander can go on my behalf,¡± Hestia offered. A faint, yful smile appeared at the corner of Grace¡¯s l*ps. Her interest was piqued. ¡°Sounds good! It¡¯s a great opportunity to learn something new,¡± she responded. Hestia¡¯s heart leaped with joy as she nced at Xander, who realized that she was creating an opportunity for him and Grace to spend time together. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go together,¡± Xander added. Hestia nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good. I can rest with both of you going together. But, young man, remember to take good care of Grace,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aunt Hestia. Xander is a true gentleman. I¡¯ll be in safe hands,¡± Grace reassured, stepping in to support Xander. Hestia couldn¡¯t stop smiling when she saw how well they got along. As a renowned professor in clothing design at Pamore University¡¯s School of Design, n had been teaching for decades and had taught a multitude of students. His designs had won numerous awards, both nationally and internationally, making him highly respected locally. As a result, his design exhibition attracted a wide range of professionals and design enthusiasts from various backgrounds. At the entrance, Susan pulled Celia aside and asked, ¡°Cece, have you submitted your design work to Professor Morris? ¡°You¡¯re already a second¨C year student. If you want to pursue postgraduate studies under Professor Morris, you should act quickly so that you don¡¯t miss the opportunity.¡± Celia couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed by Susan¡¯s constant nagging. Frustrated, she replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already submitted my work, so rest assured! I have confidence in my designs. It¡¯s just a matter of time before I get into Professor Morris¡® postgraduate program.¡± Susan breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good. When you meet Professor Morrister, make sure to leave a good impression.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Try to get him to ept you in advance, so you can start your postgraduate studies after your senior year.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Celia responded. Lost in their own thoughts, the mother and daughter entered the exhibition hall. Celia looked around, hoping to spot n, but after a thorough scan, she still hadn¡¯t been able to see him. Just then, she froze on the spot. ¡°Grace? Why is she here?¡± she asked. The mere mention of that name immediately made Susan¡¯s expression sour. ¡°Heh, that b*tch!¡± Susan muttered. She vividly remembered herst confrontation with Grace, which had left her seething with anger, but she couldn¡¯t do anything about it. ¡°Mom, what is she doing here?¡± Celia asked with a sense of unease creeping into her voice. ¡°She¡¯s probably here to check out the art exhibition. It has nothing to do with us. Just ignore her,¡± Susan said, not taking Grace seriously. However, Celia was getting a little worried. ¡°Mom, what if she¡¯s here to cause trouble? She knows I want to apply for Professor Morris¡® postgraduate prog Susan patted Grace¡¯s back, trying to reassure her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She doesn¡¯t know anything about design, and your skills speak for themselves. Professor Morris won¡¯t overlook your abilities just because of what she says.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Celia¡¯s difort intensified. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Chapter 163 The Hawkins Family¡¯s Decline However, Susan still didn¡¯t think Grace¡¯s presence there mattered. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t overthink it. Remember what I told you¡ª just make a good impression on Professor Morris.¡± Meanwhile, Grace had arrived at the exhibition with Xander. The two made a striking pair with their good looks and drew the attention of many. While most people didn¡¯t know much about Xander, they had heard quite a bit about Grace through rumors. ¡°Ms. Lewis is now divorced, but she seems to be living a luxurious life, and her malepanion doesn¡¯t look too shabby. He¡¯s much better than Mr. Haw ¡°You¡¯re right! This man doesn¡¯t seem to belong to our circle. Who is this gentleman?¡± ¡°Do you know Futurelink Corporation? That rising conglomerate? That man is the CEO of thatpany!¡± The crowd gasped in surprise. ¡°No wonder he¡¯s with Ms. Lewis. They make a perfect couple!¡± ¡°Indeed, Ms. Lewis is such a fortunate woman! She has a great background, looks beautiful, and is sessful. She¡¯s done wonders for Amirate.¡± ¡°What¡¯s even more impressive is that she managed to find such a great guy after her divorce. Her ex¨Chusband, Mr. Hawkins, must be regretting it.¡® 11 Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. As Celia listened to the discussions among the crowd, her face turned bright red with anger. ¡°What are you all saying? My big brother doesn¡¯t regret it at all. She was fickle and unfaithful and got kicked out of our family,¡± she snapped. The onlookers didn¡¯t hide their disdain when they saw Celia. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Ms. Hawkins? We heard that you¡¯re aiming to be Professor Morris¡® postgradua ¡°Professor Morris has high standards for his students, and not just anyone can make the cut.¡± Celia coldly snorted and said, ¡°Whether I make it or not is none of your concern! It¡¯s your mouth that needs to be cleaned. Please refrain from spreading this.¡± The crowd remained unimpressed. ¡°Ms. Hawkins, we didn¡¯t say anything wrong!¡± ¡°Yeah, you used to disrespect Ms. Lewis. You treated her poorly, not realizing her true value. and prestigious background. Now, your family probably wan ¡°And speaking of that, I heard that your family is currently facing challenges thanks to the Lewis family. Your company has lost quite a few significant projects. Hasn¡¯t your big brother mentioned this to you?¡± ¡°You still think your family is the top dog in Pamore, just like before? Times have changed.¡± Celia was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t paid much attention to thepany¡¯s affairs. After all, she had always believed in Benjamin¡¯s abilities. But what was going on? ¡°Quit gossiping here, all of you! Do you think I¡¯m not aware of my own family¡¯s matters? You assholes, you better watch your backs.¡± Upon hearing this, the onlookers didn¡¯t bother to continue entertaining Celia and dispersed. They collectively moved toward Grace while disying remarkable manners. Grace¡¯s prestigious status had attracted the interest of many socialites and heiresses, all of whom wanted to befriend her. Celia couldn¡¯t help but feel ufortable when she saw how the crowd surrounded Grace and fawned over her. But she also remembered Benjamin¡¯s warning not to mess with Grace. ¡°Cece, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Susan¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Astonishing Artwork ¡°I just took a walk around, and I couldn¡¯t find your work. Are you sure you handed it over to Professor Morris?¡± Susan asked. Celia quickly snapped back to reality. ¡°I submitted it. Maybe it¡¯s on the other side. Let me take you there.¡± With that, the two of them headed to the other side of the design exhibition. Meanwhile, Grace remainedposed as she was surrounded by people. After a round of interactions, she greeted everyone and then found a couch where she could sit and rest. Xander brought her a ss of champagne and handed it to her. ¡°How¡¯s it going? Are you tired? !! Grace shook her head. ¡°Not at all.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Xander continued, ¡°I just took a look around. There are rtively few design works by Professor Morris himself at today¡¯s exhibition. The rest of them are ¡°I heard that Professor Morris is nning to retire and is looking to take on a sessor, so he¡¯s using this opportunity to assess the students¡® abilities.¡± Grace nodded. ¡°I see. Let¡¯s go and take a look as well.¡± The two of them strolled down the hallway where the design works were disyed. Grace couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. ¡°These pieces of artwork are really good, both in terms of design and concept. It seems like a lot of effort was put into them.¡± Grace praised the work, and Xander followed ¡°That¡¯s impressive. This student is only a freshman this year. To be able to design so well in their first year, they must have a natural talent. ¡°But there¡¯s one design that¡¯s likely to be the center of attention today.¡± Xander¡¯s words instantly piqued Grace¡¯s interest. ¡°Really? Where is it?¡± Xander pointed in a direction not far from them. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s in that area where arge crowd has gathered.¡± ¡°Since the crowd is enamored with that artwork, it must be really outstanding,¡± Grace said, bing more curious by the second. She didn¡¯t hesitate to lead Xander over to take a closer look. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! Celia has actually produced such an amazing piece.¡± ¡°The use of color in this design is bold! The perspective is truly innovative. If it¡¯s made into a product, I can¡¯t imagine how stunning it will be.¡± ¡°To create such a work, one must have a strong foundation. Professor Morris¡® students are undoubtedly a talented bunch.¡± ¡°Ms. Hawkins, your future is incredibly promising!¡± The crowd consisted of industry experts who couldn¡¯t stop praising Celia¡¯s design showcased at the exhibition. Celia was delighted to ept theirpliments, and even Susan was beaming with pride. The gloom that had been hanging over Celia from being overshadowed by Grace hadpletely lifted. ¡°Our Celia has a natural talent for design. Although she¡¯s just a second¨Cyear student this year, she has dedicated a lot of effort to her studies,¡± Susanmented. Her face grew even more triumphant when she saw Grace approaching. ¡°In the future, our Celia will be pursuing her graduate studies under Professor Morris. Being able to learn from him is a clear recognition of her talent! ¡°Unlike certain individuals who don¡¯t have a clue, yet are still trying to get themselves involved,¡± Susan said as a clear reference to Grace. Yet she was smarter about it this time. She knew that Grace had a significant background and couldn¡¯t be offended easily. Therefore, she hadn¡¯t named But Grace still sensed the underlying tone in her words. She raised an eyebrow and didn¡¯t pay much attention to Susan. Instead, her gaze was fixed on the design everyone was praising. She waspletely stunned the moment she saw it. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Chapter 165 She Didn¡¯t Design This ¡°Ms. Hawkins, there must be a unique design story behind such a remarkable design. Can you share it with us?¡± someone asked eagerly. Celia smiled gracefully and said confidently, ¡°Actually, this artwork was inspired by a show I attended in France. ¡°It conveyed the independence and intellectual beauty of women. That¡¯s why I chose bold colorbinations to highlight the essence of femininity. ¡°The details in the cuffs and cors are also meticulously designed. You can see the thought put into the overall concept ¡­¡± Once Celia finished exining, those around her couldn¡¯t help but offer their appreciation for her work. ¡°Wow, Ms. Hawkins, you really have a unique understanding of design. It¡¯s no wonder you¡¯ve produced such an excellent piece. ¡°I¡¯m interested to know if you¡¯re currently considering a partnership with a design studio. A designer as exceptional as you would be a valuable addition to our studio. ¡°Ourpany specializes in fashion too. A talented designer like you should consider ourpany once you graduate.¡± With that, the person handed Celia a business card. Celia epted it with a smile and politely replied, ¡°Thank you!¡± She enjoyed the feeling of being admired by everyone and couldn¡¯t help but feel ted. With a hint of arrogance, she looked around. But her eyes eventually met Grace¡¯s, which held a touch of mockery. Celia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Feeling uneasy, she quickly averted her gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem a bit off. Is everything okay?¡± Xander asked with concern as he noticed something was amiss with Grace. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just surprised by how brazen people can be, even when they¡¯re stealing.¡± Grace¡¯sment left him puzzled. Xander didn¡¯t understand what she meant. Grace examined Celia¡¯s design from a fair perspective andmented, ¡°This artwork is really good, and it¡¯s no wonder it¡¯s getting so much praise. It see Grace cleared her throat and dropped a bombshell. ¡°But she didn¡¯t design this.¡± The crowd reacted with surprise. Shortly after, n appeared, surrounded by people. A familiar face was walking alongside him. Dressed in a ssy suit, Frederick looked unusually formal, a rare sight that caught everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Professor Morris, you¡¯re here!¡± ¡°Professor Morris, the designs on disy today are absolutely dazzling. Your students are truly talented.¡± ¡°Especially this one¨Cit¡¯s arguably the best design here today.¡± n made his way through the crowd and reached the artwork designed by Celia. Celia saw n and felt a rush of excitement. She seemed a bit nervous and overwhelmed as she called, ¡°Professor Morris!¡± n nodded slightly and asked, ¡°Is this your design?¡± ¡°Yes, Professor Morris,¡± Celia confirmed. n¡¯s gaze lingered on the design as he carefully assessed it. ¡°Impressive. To have such a skill at such a young age, you must have put in a lot of effort,¡± he remarked. Celia was filled with excitement and gratitude. ¡°Thank you for yourpliment, Professor.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± n asked. Frederick, who was standing nearby, quickly introduced her. ¡°Her name is Celia. She¡¯s Benjamin Hawkins¡® sister.¡± n nodded in approval. He then said with admiration, ¡°You¡¯re a promising talent. Keep it up. ¡°I Celia responded with determination, ¡°Yes, I will continue to work hard.¡± ¡°Professor Morris, I¡¯m her mother!¡± Susan chimed in. ¡°It¡¯s truly an honor for my daughter to receive your recognition. I hope that in the future, she will have the opportunity to study under your guidance.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. GET Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Where¡¯s the Proof As Susan spoke, she r¨ªudged Celia with a grin. Celia seized the opportunity to speak. ¡°I n to apply for your graduate program in my senior year and hope for a chance to study design with you.¡± n nodded in understanding and encouraged her. ¡°Keep up the good work.¡± After that, he left under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Susan¡¯s heart filled with excitement when she heard n¡¯s response. She grabbed Celia and eximed, ¡°Celia, it¡¯s looking very promising! You need to keep pushing forward. Don¡¯t let me down!¡± Celia couldn¡¯t hide her delight and responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom! I¡¯ve got what it takes.¡± Joining n¡¯s graduate program was well within her reach. However, the next moment, Grace approached her with a grim expression. ¨C For some reason, Celia felt an urge to avoid her. ¡°Let¡¯s talk!¡± Grace said, her words carrying an unspoken weight. Celia tried to ignore Grace. As she was about to leave, Grace reached out and firmly grasped her wrist. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Feeling guilty?¡± Susan hurried over and asked, ¡°Grace, what the hell are you doing? Let go of Cece!¡± Grace ignored Susan and turned her attention back to Celia. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance. Can we talk privately?¡± The crowd of onlookers couldn¡¯t help but exchange curious nces at the unfolding scene. Celia took a deep breath and reluctantly agreed, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll be fine. I need to have a private conversation with her¡­¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Susan was worried. She gave Grace a disapproving re and asked, ¡°What¡¯s there to discuss with this woman? Who knows what ulterior motives she might have?¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Celia reassured her. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mom. Don¡¯t worry! She wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to me in front of everyone here.¡± Upon hearing this, Grace couldn¡¯t help but give them a mocking smile. Celia¡¯s uneasiness grew, and her hands anxiously grasped the edges of her cloth As they left the hall and walked along the corridor, Grace stopped and asked, ¡°Celia, how did Celia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The inevitable moment had arrived. Since the original design was in Celia¡¯s hands now, Grace wouldn¡¯t be able to prove that the design wasn¡¯t hers, even if she knew the truth. So Celia mustered her courage and responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Grace let out a cold snort. ¡°Are you genuinely clueless, or just pretending? Listen to your own conscience and ask yourself¡ª is that truly your design? I¡¯ve never seen a thief act so self- righteous before.¡± Celia looked around to ensure nob*dy was around them. Then, she snapped, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a thief? Can you prove that the design is yours? ¡°Show me the original design, then. Without any proof, what are you making a fuss about here? ¡°Do you honestly believe that being wealthy makes you superior? Well, let me rify. Yes, I meticulously recreated the design based on your drawings. ¡°But what does that change? Even if you reveal the truth now, who¡¯s going to believe you?¡± Grace was surprised that Celia remained so oblivious to her wrongdoing and even turned the situation around. ¡°I¡¯ve met people who are shameless before, but your audacity is truly remarkable. While I can¡¯t present the original draft, stolen goods are stolen goods,¡± ¡°You have no proof.¡± Celia crossed her arms with a defiant expression. ¡°Without evidence, it¡¯s all just talk. Anyone can make baseless usations. Just remember, nder is a crime, and I can sue you for it,¡± she added. Grace chuckled in response. She had initially wanted to discuss the matter privately with Celia, considering that thetter was only a second¨Cyear student. She hadn¡¯t wanted to ruin Celia¡¯s future. But now she found herself amused by thetter¡¯s audacity. + Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Chapter 167 We Can Never Be Friends However, it was clear that Celia didn¡¯t particrly appreciate Grace¡¯s gesture. ¡°Celia, I¡¯m going to give you one more chance. Withdraw this artwork from the exhibition by yourself, or else you¡¯ll regret it,¡± Grace warned. Celia remained unfazed and ignored Grace¡¯s warning. ¡°Do as you please,¡± she confidently replied, before walking away with her head held high. As she pushed open the ss door, she bumped into Frederick. ¡°Frederick, what are you doing here?¡± Instead of answering her question, Frederick asked casually, ¡°When did you and Grace be such good friends?¡± Celia sneered, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Who would possibly be friends with her? She¡¯s the heiress of the Lewis family now. I can¡¯t possibly reach her level.¡± Her words were dripping with sarcasm and underlying tension. ¡°Ahhh,¡± Frederick said in understanding and chose not to delve further into the matter. Celia didn¡¯t pay any more attention to him and haughtily walked away with her nose in the air once again. After she left, Frederick lowered his gaze and looked at his phone screen, which showed that the recording was still running. Right now, it had been reco counting. He narrowed his eyes as he pressed the stop button and saved the recording forter. ¡°Ms. Lewis, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Frederick took the initiative to greet Grace. He seemed more polite today and less condescending than before. Grace raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Professor Morris?¡± Frederick smirked. His tone was,ced with a hint of humor as he replied, ¡°We share the samest name, so there¡¯s definitely a connection. ¡°Are you also interested in bing my father¡¯s graduate student? But with your qualifications, it might not be the best fit.¡± Grace quickly realized that n and Frederick were father and son. It seemed that Benjamin¡¯s friends were quite remarkable. ¡°I see,¡± Grace responded before attempting to walk away. ¡°By the way, Grace!¡± Frederick called out to her again. He was reluctant to acknowledge his past before, but facts spoke louder than words. ¡°What is it?¡± Grace asked. Frederick then scratched his nose awkwardly and said, ¡°I¡¯d like to apologize for my past unfriendly attitude and how I looked down on you. It was my mis Did he, a good friend of Benjamin¡¯s, just apologize? ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°No need for that. We just had different perspectives.¡± Grace was indirectly expressing her unwillingness to ept his apology. ¡°No, Grace. Setting aside our connection with Benjamin, can we simply be friends?¡± Grace was taken aback. But she also sensed an underlying motive here. ¡°I assume you¡¯re not apologizing to me as a person but rather because of my status, am I right?¡± Grace asked. Just like that, she had exposed his true intentions. Frederick wanted to exin, but Grace cut him off. ¡°There¡¯s no need for exnations. I can understand. ¡°But there¡¯s one thing I must rify¨CBenjamin and I will never have any mutual friends.¡± In other words, she and Frederick would never be friends. Just then, Frederick felt his phone in his pocket. He had initially nned to reveal the recording, but he decided against it. ¡°Well¡­ I understand. If we can¡¯t be friends, let¡¯s settle for acquaintances.¡± Grace didn¡¯t say anything further and walked away. After she left, Frederick took his phone out and called Benjamin. When Grace returned to the main exhibition hall, Xander said, ¡°Gracie, let me take care of this matter.¡± He had already contacted the main creative team to have Celia¡¯s work removed from the exhibition. + Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Exposing the Truth However, Grace gently shook her head, her tone resolute. ¡°No, what¡¯s mine is mine, and I want to take it back myself.¡± She looked at Celia in the crowd. At this moment, Celia was basking in the limelight as she engaged in conversations with numerous industry leaders. Whenever Grace looked, Celia wore a faint, provoking smile, challenging Grace as if she were saying, ¡°What can you do to me?¡± Just then, a waiter approached Celia politely. ¡°Ms. Hawkins, Professor Morris would like to see you.¡± Celia nodded. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go over right away,¡± she replied before turning to follow the waiter. At that moment, n was engaged in a conversation about Celia¡¯s work with some friends. When Celia approached, he signaled to her and said, ¡°My friend, Mr. Gordon, is very interested in your design. He would like to hear more about your design philosophy and initial inspiration for this piece.¡± Celia nodded and turned to Mr. Gordon. She exined, ¡°For the concept of this piece, I mainly focused on the growing importance of women¡¯s independ society. ¡°My initial idea was to create clothing that highlights women¡¯s independence, and that¡¯s how the first draft of this piece came about. It was finalized after Mr. Gordon listened to Celia¡¯s exnation while nodding appreciatively. However, he seemed to have something on his mind, but he wasn¡¯t sure how to topic. ¡°Ms. Hawkins, your design concept is indeed unique and innovative, and your work has certainly captured my attention,¡± Mr. Gordon said, wearing a somewhat hesitant expression. Celia hurriedly asked, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Mr. Gordon pondered for a moment before responding, ¡°Ms. Hawkins, there is nothing wrong with your design. ¡°It¡¯s just that there seems to be a certain discrepancy between your design concept and the actual work. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a misunderstanding on my pa Celia became anxious. Without her realizing it, her voice grew louder. ¡°Mr. Gordon, I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re trying to say. Are you suggesting that my work is giarism?¡± Mr. Gordon shook his head. Out of respect for n, he tried to maintain the peace and said, Nevertheless, Celia continued, ¡°Mr. Gordon isn¡¯t the first to question my work.¡± With a sweeping nce at the crowd, she fixed her gaze on Grace. ¡°Someone else just questioned my work moments ago, using it of being giarized.¡± Silence immediately engulfed the room as her words fell. Everyone was puzzled. n¡¯s expression turned grim. He wasn¡¯t sure what Celia was trying to do. However, Celia was determined to prove herself. This design was indeed her work, and no matter who questioned it, they couldn¡¯t provide any evidence to prove otherwise. Therefore, she boldly said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, you also had doubts about me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Grace¡¯s eyes darkened when Celia singled her out. She had a rough idea of what Celia intended to do. She looked at Celia deeply, as though she were observing a ridiculous clown. Then, she calmly replied, ¡°You¡¯re right. I indeed had my doubts about you because the artwork you submitted today clearly is not your own design.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Her words caused amotion in the crowd. ¡°Is this for real? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Ms. Hawkins really has some nerve! She dared enter someone else¡¯s design in the exhibition.¡± ¡°But hang on; look at Ms. Hawkins¡® attitude. It seems like she¡¯s the one being used unfairly. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush to judgment. Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± The crowd rushed over to watch the drama unfold like eager spectators. Despite being exposed by Grace in public, Celia remained undaunted and continued addressing the curious crowd. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Show Me Your Proof ¡°You say this isn¡¯t my design, huh? Well, go ahead! Show me some proof! If you can¡¯t, I¡¯ll have to sue von for defamation,¡± Celia dered with confidenc She didn¡¯t think that Grace would be able to provide any substantial proof. That was why she didn¡¯t hold back with her harsh words, Nevertheless, Grace was upfront and admitted, ¡°It¡¯s true that I can¡¯t present any concrete evidence.¡± ¡°Seriously, using someone of giarism without any proof?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s practically a baseless usation!¡± ¡°I never thought the prestigious Ms. Lewis would be like this.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Celia used to be her sister¨Cinw. Maybe she¡¯s acting out for revenge!¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s pretty scary.¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Celia couldn¡¯t help but revel in the fact that public opinion seemed to be firmly in her favor. The crowd was highly perceptive. Celia was determined to leave Grace in tears today. ¡°Well, if you can¡¯t present any evidence, you may apologize to me. Then, I¡¯ll think about letting you off,¡± Celia taunted. Grace gave her a scornful smile. ¡°Apologize? You¡¯re hardly worth it.¡± Celia¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Grace, you brought this upon yourself! Don¡¯t me me for not holding back.¡± Grace calmly replied, ¡°I can¡¯t provide substantial evidence, including the original draft of this design. That¡¯s because you stole it.¡°. These words caused an abrupt change in Celia¡¯s expression. She pointed her finger at Grace and eximed, ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s nonsense or not, the truth will ultimatelye to light,¡± Grace replied. The crowd began to piece together the puzzle upon hearing Grace¡¯s confident tone. ¡°Did Ms. Hawkins really steal someone else¡¯s design?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say!¡± ¡°But Ms. Hawkins looks quite confident. So she couldn¡¯t have done it, right?¡± Celia was growing increasingly anxious. ¡°Grace, don¡¯t make baseless usations. When did I ever steal your design?¡± She asked. Grace replied nonchntly, ¡°You can¡¯t even clearly exin your own work¡¯s concept. Isn¡¯t that quite absurd?¡± Celia retorted, ¡°Who says I can¡¯t? I just did it a moment ago!¡± Mr. Gordon, who was nearby, shook his head and spoke up. ¡°In my opinion, the design concept for this work is different from what Ms. Hawkins just exined.¡± Grace nodded in agreement. She continued, ¡°In fact, this work is indeed inspired by the idea of female independence, but it carries anotheryer of meaning. ¡°In today¡¯s society, women face various definitions and have to juggle multiple roles¨Cbeing a daughter, a wife, and a mother. They live their lives through these roles, but often forget to be themselves. ¡°So, in designing this work, I aimed to not only show women¡¯s independence but also to challenge societal definitions and empower women to be themselves, to love themselves, and to retain their vitality.¡± As Grace spoke, her words resonated clearly with everyone present, including Benjamin, who had just arrived. At this moment, he stood several yards away from Grace, watching her confidently address the crowd. A glimmer of admiration appeared in his eyes. As the people around them listened, a brief silence was followed by enthusiastic apuse. Mr. Gordon was the first to speak. ¡°Absolutely! That is the very feeling this artwork initially evoked in me! Can you confirm that you are indeed the original designer?¡± Grace nodded and responded, ¡°Yes, I created this piece three years ago.¡± At that time, she had closed her boutique right after marrying Benjamin. She had stored her remaining new designs in the household¡¯s storage cab. She had never imagined that Celia would steal them. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Chapter 170 It Ends Here and Now Celia had a particrly unpleasant expression at this moment, but she was unwilling to admit defeat. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Grace, do you have to spout nonsense in front of everyone? Where¡¯s your proof? Do you think you can just change the truth with a few words?¡± she ask Despite her guilty conscience, Celia maintained her defiant tone as she sought support from the crowd. Finally, she spotted Benjamin, who was her beacon of hope. With a desperate look on her face, she rushed toward him. ¡°Ben! Your ex¨Cwife is falsely using me. She resents us so much that she¡¯s trying to ruin my future as revenge, and that too, right in front of everyone.¡± sheined. Then, Celia pulled Benjamin toward Grace. However, Grace¡¯s expression remained indifferent. For some reason, even though she was standing right before him, Benjamin felt as though they were worlds apart. In the current situation, if it were indeed proven that Celia had stolen the design, her career prospects as a designer would be utterly destroyed. All the years she had dedicated to studying design would go to waste, and her future would be destroyed. As Celia¡¯s older brother, regardless of the truth behind this matter, Benjamin couldn¡¯t let Grace ruin Celia¡¯s future. So his first words were, ¡°Grace, are you done causing trouble?¡± Grace had initially thought she had misheard. Then, a faint smile formed on her face, though her eyes showed no amusement. She retorted, ¡°Trouble? In your eyes, does it look like I¡¯m merely causing trouble? Or do you consider stealing someone¡¯s work to be insignificant?¡± Benjamin¡¯s face remained stern. ¡°Celia wouldn¡¯t steal your design. This must be a misunderstanding.¡± Benjamin was quick to defend his sister. It seemed almost predictable, but after all, they were family. ¡°You must be overthinking. Do you really think-¡± Grace was about to say more, but Benjamin interrupted her. ¡°Grace, do you really have to ruin her?¡± Grace chuckled and responded unapologetically, ¡°Yes. So what? I¡¯m no saint. Am I supposed to have unlimited tolerance, regardless of what she does? Benjamin didn¡¯t want to continue arguing with Grace in such a situation. ¡°Let¡¯s put an end to this matter,¡± he said more gently. Grace found the situation truly absurd. ¡°Benjamin, what¡¯s the point of pretending here? Do you think I should turn a blind eye just because Celia is your sister?¡± Grace asked. Benjamin¡¯s expression turned notably sour. ¡°Grace, I must admit I was wrong about you.¡± Grace remained unfazed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s never toote to realize the truth, especially since we¡¯re already divorced, right?¡± Her casual attitude only seemed to annoy Benjamin. But she didn¡¯t give him a chance to say anything more. ¡°It¡¯s quite amusing,¡± Grace continued. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, my ex¨C husband, is going to great lengths to protect his sister here! But any form of deception is unforgivable in my eyes.¡± Grace¡¯s voice was as cold as ice. ¡°As a designer, giarism is a grave crime in the industry! Stealing someone else¡¯s work is a truly shameful act.¡± The audience nodded in agreement. n¡¯s expression grew darker. He couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed to see such a scene at his own exhibition. ¡°Ms. Lewis is absolutely right,¡± he admitted, feeling a weight of shame on his shoulders. ¡°giarists should be condemned publicly. Stealing someone else¡¯s work ispletely uneptable. ¡°Allowing it today will only make it harder to prevent in the future. We should collectively resist giarists within our industry. ¡°Ms. Lewis, if you can prove that this design is yours, please provide the evidence. Let¡¯s rely on solid facts and proof,¡± he suggested. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Presenting the Evidence In the face of the overwhelming pressure from the crowd, Celia instinctively crossed her arms and wore a smug smile, then turned to look at Grace. ¡°They¡¯re right, Ms. Lewis. You should present some evidence to back your ims! Otherwise, I might have to call the police,¡± Celia teased, waving her ph Although Benjamin wanted to stop her, Celia paid no heed. A little distance away, Frederick contemted taking out the recording but found himself locking eyes with Grace. At that moment, Grace remainedposed, as if everything was well within her control. She calmly said, ¡°Celia, are you so sure that I can¡¯t produce any evidence? It¡¯s quite a coincidence, but I do enjoy being prepared, especially when ites to my work.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Celia asked as her expression froze. Grace ignored her and turned to the crowd. ¡°I have the evidence, and it¡¯s right here on this design.¡± The audience looked puzzled. ¡°What do you mean? There¡¯s nothing unusual about this design.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t keep us in suspense. Show us the evidence.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, did you put a watermark on the design, by any chance?¡± Grace smiled faintly and responded, ¡°Exactly! It might not be so obvious if Ms. Hawkins had merely copied the design, but she copied it exactly as it is, making it extremely clear.¡± With that, she confidently walked over and took the design. Then, right before everyone¡¯s eyes, she turned the design upside down. ¡°Everyone, please take a look at the n*eckline¡¯s position. I have a habit of cing a mark at the n*eckline of my designs. ¡°You can clearly see the button¡¯s cement and the lines forming the initials GL¡®,¡± she exined. Following Grace¡¯s statement, the crowd clearly noticed the initials ¡°GL¡± outlined on the design¡¯s n*eckline. Although the color was faint, the letters were undeniably present. The truth was evident for all to see. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this actually has Ms. Lewis¡® initials! Shame on Ms. Hawkins for copying someone¡¯s work so shamelessly!¡± ¡°Copying and still managing to make mistakes, she¡¯s quite the talent!¡± ¡°She was pretending to be aggrieved just a moment ago, but now that the truth is out, how can she even stay here? I don¡¯t know how someone like her has the qualifications to be a designer.¡± ¡°Stealing someone else¡¯s hard work! Ms. Hawkins, your actions don¡¯t befit a designer.¡± Celia¡¯s face turned especially unpleasant. She couldn¡¯t believe her eyes as she stared at the faint letter imprints. She stumbled and nearly fell. She had never expected that Grace had such a trick up her sleeve! She had foolishly believed that Grace couldn¡¯t produce any evidence. Now, the truth was clear to everyone. Celia¡¯s face was filled with shame and regret. She wished she could find a ce to hide. The looks she received from the people around her were full of scorn and disdain. She desperately tried to avoid their gazes. Benjamin¡¯s expression also became particrly grim. He had defended Celia earlier. But now that he had been proven wrong in public, he couldn¡¯t help Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Amidst all of this, there was just one individual at the scene who seemed to be in a good mood. / Frederick was reeling from this unexpected turn of events. He couldn¡¯t help but admire Grace¡¯s intelligence, which everyone had underestimated. He felt a bit disappointed that his recording had gone unused. n¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°Ms. Hawkins, I don¡¯t have high requirements for designers your age and certainly don¡¯t expect much from them. ¡°But giarism is a clear vition of industry standards,¡± he said sternly. Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Digging One¡¯s Own Grave ¡°Professor Morris, it¡¯s not like that. Please, let me exin! I know I acted impulsively, and I deeply regret it. ¡°I¡¯m begging for your forgiveness! I promise I¡¯ll never do such a thing again,¡± Celia pleaded with tearful eyes. n remained unmoved and said, ¡°Ms. Hawkins, I don¡¯t rmend you pursue joining my graduate program. Perhaps your academic performance might pass the threshold, but in terms of behavior and ethics Celia was in deep trouble. Rejection from n in their close¨Cknitmunity would make it nearly impossible for her to pursue a career in design in the future. Susan waspletely stunned as well. She quickly stepped forward. ¡°Professor Morris, Celia made a mistake. Please, give her another chance! She¡¯ll work very hard; I¡¯m sure of it,¡± she reassu On the side, Grace said, ¡°Regardless of how exceptional one¡¯s grades are, academic misconduct renders them irrelevant. Perhaps it¡¯s best to consider a ¡®No, Professor Morris! Even saints have their ws. Celia is still young. Please don¡¯t let this mistake ruin her entire life!¡± Susan implored. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The crowd around them couldn¡¯t help but gossip and point fingers at Celia. n didn¡¯t say anything more but turned his attention to Grace and walked up to her. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ve established a boutique. Apparently, it¡¯s known for its unique designs and is highly favored by the young women of the c ¡°Looking at your work now, I must say that you truly live up to your reputation. Your designs have a distinct charm. I hope we can coborate in the future Grace modestly replied, ¡°Professor Morris, your praise means a lot to me. Thank you for your kind words. I¡¯ll continue to work hard.¡± n greatly admired Grace¡¯s calm andposed demeanor. With a slight nod, he left with Mr. Gordon by his side. ¡°Professor¡­¡± Susan wanted to say something more, but npletely ignored her. She stomped her foot in frustration but was left with no recourse. The crowd dispersed once n left, but the news of the fiasco at the exhibition was bound to spread quickly through Pamore¡¯smunity like wildfires in a forest. Susan was deeply frustrated, and she struggled to hold back her tears. The promising future she had carefully nurtured for Celia had been destroyed, and she med It all on Grace. With an expression of unbridled hatred, Susan directed her anger at Grace. ¡°Grace, why don¡¯t youe after me instead? What¡¯s your issue with Celia? Grace was rather speechless. Then, she said, ¡°It appears that you still haven¡¯te to terms with your own mistakes and insist on shifting me onto o ¡°This is pure revenge! tant revenge! 1-¡± Susan was seething and reached out to p Grace. The next second, Benjamin swiftly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Enough!¡± As soon as Susan realized it was Benjamin, her defiance waned. Her expression changed instantly as she put on an aggrieved expression. ¡°Ben, your sister¡¯s future has been ruined by this woman. You must help Cece!¡± Susan pleaded. Benjamin coldly retorted, ¡°One reaps what one sows.¡± ¡°What are you saying? We¡¯re talking about your sister! How could you say such a thing as her brother?¡± Susan couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Benjamin¡¯s expression was hard to read. ¡°Celia, from today onward, you¡¯ll drop out of Pamore University and start working at thepany. You are not allowed to touch anything rted to design again.¡± Celia burst into tears upon hearing that. ¡°Ben! Please, no! I don¡¯t want to drop out.¡± Benjamin remained unfazed. ¡°There¡¯s no room for negotiation in this matter. If you refuse to work at thepany, I¡¯ll cancel all your credit cards. You wo Chapter 173 Drive Her Further Away Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Drive Her Further Away Celia waspletely shocked by Benjamin¡¯s firm stance. In fact, she was too afraid to even Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. move. ¡°Mom¡­¡± she muttered. Susan was also taken aback by Benjamin¡¯s harsh decision, but she attempted to reason with him. ¡°Ben, what on earth are you doing?¡± ¡°You yed a role in her actions as well. Overindulging a child can lead to terrible consequences,¡± Benjamin firmly responded. Susan was left speechless. ¡°Ben ¡­¡± Feeling utterly humiliated, Celia fled the scene without giving it a second thought. Worried that Celia might do something rash, Susan quickly followed as she called out, ¡°Cece, wait for me!¡± Grace had no interest in their family matters, but the oue was somewhat satisfactory. At that moment, Xander walked up to her, patting her shoulder as a gesture of constion. ¡± The truth is out. Let¡¯s go.¡± Grace nodded in response. ¡°Alright.¡± Xander cast a cold, emotionless nce toward Benjamin. His icy stare sent a shiver down Benjamin¡¯s spine as he observed the two standing together, a sight that was hard to behold. ¡°Grace, now that you¡¯ve got what you wanted, are you satisfied?¡± Benjamin remarked with a less¨Cthan¨Cfriendly tone, with one hand in his pocket. Grace smirked. ¡°It¡¯s not about being pleased. It¡¯s more like someone digging their own grave.¡± At this moment, Benjamin couldn¡¯t help but feel that Grace had be a stranger to him. The Grace he used to know previously hadn¡¯t exhibited this level of assertiveness. ¡°Celia¡¯s current situation is the result of her own actions, but you had the option to show mercy,¡± he said. This was what puzzled him the most. From what he knew, Grace was a kind¨C hearted person who wouldn¡¯t destroy the future of a young girl in front of everyone like that. However, the current Grace was relentless. How would the Hawkins family establish themselves in their social circle after this? ¡®Show mercy?¡± Grace rolled her eyes, showing no inclination to be lenient. ¡°Before you respect someone, they need to have some self¨Crespect first.¡± It was clear that Celia had been deliberately provoking her, but Grace had chosen not to go along with her. Xander firmly stood by Grace¡¯s side and remarked with a cold tone, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, it seems you haven¡¯t quite grasped the situation. Are you willing to go to any lengths just to protect your family?¡± Benjamin retorted without mincing words, ¡°Mr. Fulton, I¡¯m talking to my ex¨Cwife. It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Xander showed no signs of backing down. ¡°As long as it involves Grace, it¡¯s my business as well. Mr. Hawkins, it seems that Hawkins Group hasn¡¯t been too busytely, allowing you the leisure to Upon hearing this, Benjamin¡¯s expression changed instantly. Hawkins Group had recently faced significant setbacks, losing several major projects, all of which were attributed to Lewis Corporation. Aaron had always been a man of his word, so Benjamin wasn¡¯t surprised by this. However, he hadn¡¯t anticipated Xander to be involved in this matt ¡°Are you dering war against me?¡± Benjamin felt like his authority was being challenged.* ¡°You can see it that way. The future will reveal who will prevail in the business world,¡± Xander responded. Their eyes locked with tension mounting. Neither was willing to back down an inch. Xander had already harbored the intention of teaching Benjamin a le ¡°Gracie, let¡¯s go!¡± Xander reached out and took Grace¡¯s hand. Grace hesitated for a moment and instinctively thought about withdrawing her hand. However, she found herself momentarily unable to react when she looked into Xander¡¯s deep, cap She allowed Xander to lead her as they left the scene with confidence. As they walked away, Benjamin¡¯s hands clenched silently. Frederick, who had been observing the situation from the sidelines, finally stepped forward. ¡°Buddy, acting like this may only drive her further away,¡± hemented. Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Chapter 174 A Private Invitation ¡°What do you mean?¡± Benjamin was perplexed. Frederick didn¡¯t hold back anymore and directly yed the recording for him. ¡°Well, this is the real reason I asked you toe today ¡­¡± Benjamin listened to the recording. As it went on, his expression grew increasingly grim. ¡°I think Grace did give Celia a chance, but she didn¡¯t appreciate it. She continued to taunt Grace instead! No one can endlessly tolerate someone without boundaries,¡± Fre Benjamin¡¯s hands clenched silently. A wave of regret washed over him. For the first time, he appeared lost and stood there in a daze. After a long pause, he muttered, ¡°I misunderstood her ¡­¡± As Grace was about to leave, a young man caught up with her. ¡°Ms. Lewis, wait up,¡± he said. She didn¡¯t recognize the man and asked with curiosity, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯m Professor Morris¡® assistant,¡± the man said. He handed her a business card with gold letters. ¡°Ms. Lewis, this is a special invitation from Professor Morris. He requested that I deliver it to you,¡± he continued. Grace¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of surprise. It¡¯s an invitation! ¡°Professor Morris mentioned that there were many guests at the design exhibition today, and he apologizes for anypses in attention. ¡°He would like to invite you for a private meeting at his home this weekend,¡± the assistant exined. Grace¡¯s eyes sparkled with surprise. After all, they were talking about n Morris, one of the most influential figures in Pamore¡¯s design industry. Grace couldn¡¯t contain her excitement and nodded graciously. ¡°Please convey my gratitude to Professor Morris. I¡¯ll be sure to be there in time.¡± ¡°Certainly. Have a safe journey home,¡± the assistant replied. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. On her way back, Grace examined the invitation in her hand. She couldn¡¯t help but let out a Standing beside her, Xander couldn¡¯t resist yfully saying, ¡°Gracie, is there something special about this invitation? Your face lit up like a star when you Grace beamed. ¡°Nan, this is an invitation from Professor Morris! It¡¯s incredibly valuable.¡± ¡°Oh! It seems like this invitation does hold great significance,¡± Xander acknowledged. Grace nodded. ¡°Well, it¡¯s quite a delightful surprise,¡± At the very least, it indicated that n appreciated her designs. ¡°I have to share this good news with Emily ¡­¡± Grace sent a message to Emily, who responded with three exmation marks upon learning about the invitation from n. In the end, Emily added, ¡°Babe, you¡¯re amazing! We¡¯re talking about Professor Morris! I¡¯m so jealous.¡± Grace knew what Emily was getting at, so she suggested, ¡°Do you want to join me?¡± ¡°Can I?¡± Emily asked. Grace responded, ¡°Of course. Emily wouldn¡¯t miss such a great opportunity. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go, even if it means the store will be closed,¡± Grace said as she imagined Emily¡¯s excited face in her mind. She tucked her phone away and watched the buildings pass by outside the car window. However, there was still a hint of sadness in her eyes. Just then, her phone, which was resting in herp, started ringing. Grace was surprised after ncing at her phone. Without hesitation, she declined the call. However, the caller was persistent and made several more attempts, while Grace continued to reject all of them. Xander, looking puzzled, asked, ¡°Who¡¯s calling?¡± Grace didn¡¯t even try to hide it. She revealed the identity of the caller with just two words: ¡± Benjamin Hawkins.¡± She opened the call log as she spoke and immediately blocked Benjamin¡¯s number. She felt as if she could finally live in peace again. Benjamin¡¯s expression turned dark as he heard the cold beep of the dial tone on the phone. Beside him, Larry didn¡¯t dare to utter a word when he noticed that. Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Chapter 175 She Knew About Fashion Design However, Larry thought of the message he had just received. He decided to take the risk and said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I just received a call from the prison. They said Ms. Quine attempted suicide!¡± Silence filled the room immediately. Perhaps it had been too long since anyone had heard anything about Yvonne. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Benjamin asked. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing the prison guards found out in time. She has been sent to the hospital. She just said that she wanted to see you,¡± Larry exined. Yvonne had been sentenced to ten years in prison after she was found guilty of intentionally trying to cause a traffic ident. She was currently serving her sentence in prison. After the copse of the Quines, Richard was nowhere to be found as well. Benjamin hadn¡¯t seen Yvonne since then. ¡°Tell the prison guards that I refused,¡± Benjamin said coldly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins,¡± Larry responded. Just as Larry was about to leave, Benjamin stopped him and asked, ¡°Where is Celia now?¡± ¡°Ms. Hawkins should be at home.¡± ¡°Block all her cards for me. Don¡¯t allow her to spend a single penny,¡± Benjamin ordered. Larry was a bit surprised. Then, he agreed, ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins. I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± After Larry left, Benjamin remained alone in therge room. He looked at the city¡¯s bright lights and busy streets, feeling a deep sense of loneliness. For several consecutive days, Grace had been busy with work at the office and barely had a moment to spare. By the time the weekend finally arrived, she had already canceled all her socialmitments. That morning, Emily had prepared a gift for Grace. She was waiting in her stylish sports car outside Grace¡¯s house. She texted, ¡°Come out quickly. I¡¯m here!¡± Grace, who was still groggy from sleep, saw her message. ¡°So early!¡± Grace got out of bed, pulled back the curtains, and saw the familiar car. ¡°Babe, it¡¯s too early.¡± However, Emily was brimming with excitement. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re talking about Professor Morris, after all! Beingte would make us seem ungrateful and rude, you know!¡± Grace was left speechless. ¡°Hurry up! I¡¯m waiting for you here.¡± Upon Emily¡¯s insistence, Grace hurriedly finished getting ready and headed out. n¡¯s residence was located in the eastern vi district, Royal Vista Estates. In the past, the area had been nothing more than barrennd. But it had been transformed into a highly sought¨Cafter real estate location thanks to government nningter on. Since this was a private gathering, the attendees were individuals with close ties to n. Hence, Grace¡¯s appearance was somewhat unexpected. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Grace Lewis, the CEO of Amirate Corporation? What brings her here?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know? Professor Morris personally invited her.¡± Upon hearing that, a woman standing nearby furrowed her brows. ¡°Why would Professor Morris invite her? She¡¯s a businesswoman. Does she even know about design?¡± ¡°Really, May? Don¡¯t you know that she owns the popr boutique in Pamore that¡¯s all the rage these days?¡± Upon learning this, May Elliot reacted with surprise. Her eyes held a touch of scrutiny as she looked at Grace. ¡°I never expected her to be familiar with fashion design as well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, the clothes designed by Grace are adored by many elite youngdies in Pamore. People wait in long queues outside her boutique to buy he May was well aware of this fact. Yet, as n¡¯s most aplished student, she understood that today¡¯s private gathering was likely in preparation for Pamore¡¯s first¨C ever fashion show. On top of that, it was being hosted by n himself. Emily listened to everyone¡¯s discussions and became interested. ¡°Babe, it sounds really exciting! Are you not interested?¡± Grace raised an eyebrow and responded, ¡°We shall see!¡± However, the workload was likely to be heavy forrge¨Cscale fashion shows like this. Seeing everyone¡¯s enthusiasm, nmented, ¡°For this fashion show, I certainly hope that everyone is able to participate. ¡°However, the lead designer for this event hasn¡¯t been finalized yet. Any thoughts from all of you?¡± As soon as he said that, May, who was standing by, had a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. She had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. When everyone heard the question, they exchanged hesitant nces, but none of them mustered the courage to speak up. After all, taking on the role of the lead designer wasn¡¯t something that ordinary individuals Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. could handle. It demanded a high level of expertise and skill. ¡°Professor¡­¡± May was the first to speak up. ¡°I think I can give it a try!¡± Upon hearing this, n hummed softly but didn¡¯t immediately agree. May pressed her l*ps together, feeling a tinge of disappointment. She had been studying design with n for five years! She had done a lot of design work, including some truly remarkable ones. She believed that she could take on the role of lead designer without any problems. But it seemed that n refused to give her a chance. ¡°Ms. Lewis, what do you think?¡± n threw the question at Grace, and everyone¡¯s eyes immediately turned to her. There was confusion, surprise, and a hint of envy among the crowd. Chapter 176 Pamore Fashion Show Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Pamore Fashion Show ¡°Professor Morris is here!¡± someone eximed, prompting May to redirect her gaze toward n. ¡°Professor!¡± May disyed a respectful attitude. n nodded slightly and bypassed her to approach Grace. ¡°Ms. Lewis!¡± he called. Grace was pleasantly surprised and quickly greeted him. ¡°Professor Morris!¡± n smiled. ¡°This is a private gathering, so there¡¯s no need to be formal.¡± Everyone present could see the special treatment n was giving Grace. May, who was standing behind, hurried over. ¡°Professor, so this is the Ms. Lewis you mentioned,¡± shemented. As she spoke, May extended her hand toward Grace for a handshake. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m May, Professor Morris¡® student!¡± n added, ¡°May is my most aplished student. She has a great talent for design. I hope you two will have the chance to learn from each other.¡± Grace reached out to ept May¡¯s handshake and said, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Grace. Nice to meet you.¡± They exchanged greetings. ¡°Today, I invited everyone here for an important matter regarding Pamore!¡± n called everyone together and began speaking. Just as he finished speaking, someone interjected. ¡°Is it about the fashion show in Pamore next month?¡± n nodded. ¡°Everyone present here is a renowned fashion designer in Pamore. I believe each one of you can contribute to this fashion show.¡± Upon hearing this, people became excited and began whispering to each other. ¡°This is the first fashion show, in Pamore, and it has garnered significant attention. If we can showcase great designs, we will surely make a name for ou ¡°Previous fashion shows were always held abroad, but this year, it¡¯s being held in Pamore for the first time. It¡¯s quite an honor for us and also a great opp He continued, ¡°We can try incorporating some local elements into the designs, showcasing our culture to the world. ¡°Let foreigners take a good look and see that our sense of fashion is definitely not inferior to *15 BONUS Emily listened to everyone¡¯s discussions and became interested, ¡°Babe, it sounds really exciting! Are you not interested?¡± Grace raised an eyebrow and responded, ¡°We shall see!¡± However, the workload was likely to be heavy forrge¨Cscale fashion shows like this. Seeing everyone¡¯s enthusiasm, nmented, ¡°For this fashion show, I certainly hope that everyone is able to participate. ¡°However, the lead designer for this event hasn¡¯t been finalized yet. Any thoughts from all of you?¡± As soon as he said that, May, who was standing by, had a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. She had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. When everyone heard the question, they exchanged hesitant nces, but none of them mustered the courage to speak up. After all, taking on the role of the lead designer wasn¡¯t something that ordinary individuals could handle. It demanded a high level of expertise and skill. ¡°Professor¡­¡± May was the first to speak up. ¡°I think I can give it a try!¡± Upon hearing this, n hummed softly but didn¡¯t immediately agree. May pressed her l*ps together, feeling a tinge of disappointment. She had been studying design with n for five years! Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. She had done a lot of design work, including some truly remarkable ones. She believed that she could take on the role of lead designer without any problems. But it seemned that n refused to give her a chance. ¡°Ms. Lewis, what do you think?¡± n threw the question at Grace, and everyone¡¯s eyes immediately turned to her. There was confusion, surprise, and a hint of envy among the crowd. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Aggression Grace looked puzzled. As everyone¡¯s eyes turned to her, her heart beat faster. Grace said, ¡°I don¡¯t know much about this fashion show. I¡¯m sure my seniors know more than Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. I do.¡± There was a sense of modesty in her words. n was very satisfied with Grace¡¯s attitude, which was humble and not overbearing at all. ¡°Ms. Lewis, would you like to try to take on the role of lead designer for this show?¡± he asked. As soon as these words left his mouth, the crowd was stunned. It seemed that n had a lot of confidence in Grace. Was he directly appointing her right now? However, Grace didn¡¯t seem to have had any impressive work to showcase. This wouldn¡¯t be well¨Creceived by the industry. Surprised by this news, Grace was about to speak. But the surrounding individuals couldn¡¯t help but voice their opinions first. ¡°Professor Morris, Ms. Lewis has limited experience. It might have been too bold for her to ept such a huge responsibility.¡± ¡°Yes! I believe in your student, May. She¡¯s more suitable to be the lead designer this time. After all, May has managed all types of projects, almost all of which were wlessly executed.¡± ¡°May¡¯s design style is also very unique, and among ourmunity, her abilities are definitely top¨Cnotch.¡± Compared to Grace, everyone had more confidence in May. This was all part of the unspoken agreement among everyone present. After all, their knowledge of Grace was mostly based on online gossip and nothing more. They also couldn¡¯t believe that a young, unheard¨C of designer like Grace could produce remarkable work. If the fashion show were to fail, it would bring disgrace to everyone involved. ¡°Professor Morris, please reconsider your decision!¡± Upon hearing everyone¡¯s words, May felt a significant weight lift off her heart. Despite this, she remainedposed, carefully observing n¡¯s expression. In the end, she decided to speak up for herself. Emily listened to everyone¡¯s discussions and became interested. ¡°Babe, it sounds really exciting! Are you not interested?¡± Grace raised an eyebrow and responded, ¡°We shall see!¡± However, the workload was likely to be heavy forrge¨Cscale fashion shows like this. Seeing everyone¡¯s enthusiasm, nmented, ¡°For this fashion show, I certainly hope that everyone is able to participate. ¡°However, the lead designer for this event hasn¡¯t been finalized yet. Any thoughts from all of you?¡± As soon as he said that, May, who was standing by, had a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. She had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. When everyone heard the question, they exchanged hesitant nces, but none of them mustered the courage to speak up. After all, taking on the role of the lead designer wasn¡¯t something that ordinary individuals could handle. It demanded a high level of expertise and skill. ¡°Professor¡­¡± May was the first to speak up. ¡°I think I can give it a try!¡± Upon hearing this, n hummed softly but didn¡¯t immediately agree. May pressed her l*ps together, feeling a tinge of disappointment. She had been studying design with n for five years! She had done a lot of design work, including some truly remarkable ones. She believed that she could take on the role of lead designer without any prob But it seemned that n refused to give her a chance. ¡°Ms. Lewis, what do you think?¡± n threw the question at Grace, and everyone¡¯s eyes immediately turned to her. There was confusion, surprise, and a hint of envy among the crowd. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Chapter 178 This Damn Competitiveness But May didn¡¯t think that there was anything wrong with what she had said. In her eyes, the moment n chose Grace instead of her, it had already caused a rift in their teacher¨Cstudent rtionship. Therefore, May pursed her l*ps and said bluntly, ¡°Professor, your chosen candidate doesn¡¯t seem like much.¡± n¡¯s expression darkened. When Grace saw this, she made a decision. ¡°Ms. Elliot, I¡¯m willing topete with you.¡± May nodded. ¡°Good. You¡¯ve got guts. But I¡¯ll be straight with you. ¡°I¡¯m going to show you no mercy, so you¡¯d better be prepared to lose.¡± May was very confident in her own abilities. Grace answered calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. However, Ms. Elliot, we should always remember to respect our teachers.¡± May¡¯s expression changed immediately. ¡°Who are you to lecture me?¡°. Grace replied confidently, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t presume to do so. I was just reminding you.¡± May looked at n. She was clearly embarrassed by Grace¡¯s words. ¡°Professor, I¡­ n waved her off. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. We¡¯re all old now. We should hand the stage over to you youngsters. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, show us what you¡¯ve got and let everyone see for themselves. ¡°I¡¯m sure the audience has keen eyes and can clearly tell who the winner is.¡± May¡¯s eyes darkened. She was just toopetitive. She had to win. ¡°Grace, let¡¯s let our skills do the talking. Three dayster, bring your work. I want to see how good you really are.¡± Grace didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Okay. Then, it¡¯ll be down to our work.¡± Their eyes met, and both of them carried a strong energy. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Right after that, May turned and left. Everyone there had seen all kinds of things before. They were gleeful at the sight of Grace and May having a face¨C off and refusing to back down. Someone even tried to fan the mes of the fire. ¡°n, don¡¯t make a fuss out of things. May has been with you for so many years! Don¡¯t make things awkward. ¡°May has always been a reliable, hard worker. Why are you making things difficult for her because of a newbie? It doesn¡¯t seem right. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to thispetition, even though the result is a given. But ¡­¡± The man who had spoken nced at Grace with mirth in his eyes. He didn¡¯t think that she would be able to win. ¡°¡­ n, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll regret it!¡± At his words, the crowd exchanged nces and smiled knowingly. Only n remained as calm as ever. ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty. We don¡¯t even have the results yet. Don¡¯t get too happy, either. After all, he whoughsstughs longest.¡± No one disagreed with him. ¡°Right. Then let us wait for the result three days from now.¡± After everyone left, only Grace, Emily, and n remained in the room. Emily was a tactful person and knew that Grace and n needed to talk. She turned to Grace and said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you in the car.¡± Then, she left Grace and n alone. Grace didn¡¯t really understand why n had chosen her. As if sensing her questions, n spoke first. ¡°Don¡¯t think about it too much. Just take it seriously and make a design.¡± His words were full offort and encouragement. Grace swallowed back what she had been about to say. She didn¡¯t want to disappoint him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Chapter 179 His Thoughtfulness When Grace returned to the office, she handed over all the rtively unimportant projects to Luke. Then, she focused on studying all the rted material for the uing fashion show. When night fell, the top floor Amirate Corporation¡¯s office was still brightly lit. Xander came up to the top floor office with an armful of materials. He could see Grace through the window. She was so absorbed in her work that she w softened. He knocked on the door, then pushed it open and entered. The moment he walked in, he saw designs scattered all across the floor. Xander bent down and picked them up one by one. Grace was chewing on the end of her pencil, her face scrunched up in a frown. When she saw Xander, all her defenses came crashing down at once. ¡°What should I do, Xander? I haven¡¯t got any ideas and can¡¯t draw anything!¡± Xander picked up all the designs, arranged them, and then walked toward her. ¡°If you can¡¯t draw anything, then rest for a while. Don¡¯t push yourself too m Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Grace pressed her l*ps together. ¡°But one day has already gone by. I only have two days left.¡± Xander reached out and patted her on the head. Then, he grabbed the pencil she was holding and took her hand. ¡°Rest for a while. Come out and take a walk with me.¡± Grace was surprised. ¡°What? Where are we going?¡± Xander looked mysterious as he pulled her outside. Grace hurried to keep up with him. The two of them got in the elevator and went down to the basement. Xander stuffed her into the passenger seat of the car. Grace was still confused. ¡°Xander, where are you taking me?¡± Xander kept her guessing, ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the car¡¯s engine purred to life, and he drove out. Grace calmed down bit by bit as she looked at the buildings shing by outside the window The car wove through the city and finally came to a quaint¨Clooking street. Xander found a parking spot and parked the car. Grace locked around and was startled. ¡°The cultural center! What did you bring me here for?¡± Xander turned off the engine and took out the key. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m taking you to find inspiration.¡± Grace looked at him skeptically, but she still got out of the car. The cultural center was full of people walking around at night. Grace and Xander walked side by side on a paved brick road. From the back, they looked perfectly harmonious. ¡°Xander, what is that?¡± Grace grabbed Xander¡¯s arm curiously and pointed at the crowd in the distance. Xander looked over and exined. ¡°It¡¯s a puppet show! Do you want to go and have a look?¡± Grace had grown up in Frenda since childhood and wasn¡¯t familiar with puppet shows. She found it very unique as she watched people perform with the puppets behind the screen. She asked, ¡°What are they doing?¡± Xander pointed to the people behind the screen and said, ¡°Look, they¡¯re controlling the puppets behind the scenes and using pop music to tell a story. ¡°They¡¯re also using instruments and melodies to apany the story to help immerse people in it. This is part of our traditional Kidhnian culture.¡± Grace nodded in understanding. ¡°I see. Let¡¯s go and take a look.¡® The two of them walked through the crowd and reached the front row. The people were telling the story of the famous y, ¡°East Side Story¡°. Grace gave it her full attention. Even when it had ended, she still felt like she hadn¡¯t seen enough. ¡°Xander, this puppet show is so interesting!¡± Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Fountain of Inspiration Xander was atnused, ¡°Shall we continue looking at the rest?¡± Grace was in awe and asked, ¡°Is there something more interesting than this?¡± Xander wanted to surprise her. ¡°You¡¯ll find out in a moment. After that, he led Grace along another street, where there was a traditional dance performance. Then, the two visited an embroidery workshop and saw many ssic embroidery pieces. They were immersed in an atmosphere of ssical culture, Finally, they passed by a pottery shop that had many porcin trinkets. Grace¡¯s eyes lit up, and she suddenly said, ¡°Zander, I understand why you broug Grace looked at the porcin trinkets and thought about everything they had seen that night. She recalled the fashion show material that she had been an idea began to take shape in her mind. ¡°Pen! Hurry and give me a pen!¡± Grace said excitedly. When Xander saw this, he hurriedly took out a pen from his pocket and handed it to her. Grace was flustered because there was no paper to draw on. ¡°What should I do? I¡¯ve got inspiration all of a sudden, but there¡¯s nowhere for me to draw!¡± As she spoke, Grace rushed impulsively into the porcin pottery shop and took some tissues from them. Without hesitating, she began to draw on the tissues with the pen. When the shop owner saw that, he said sternly, ¡°What do you two think you¡¯re doing?¡± Xander took out a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it over to the shop owner, making thetter shut up immediately. Having taken the money, he tactfully withdrew to give them space. Grace was absorbed in her own world as she drew intently, sketching out the image in her mind with broad strokes of the pen. Xander stood beside her and kept herpany. After some time, a draft had taken shape. Grace proudly waved it in front of Xander. ¡°There! What do you think of this piece? Its design is based on the p Grace had excellent artistic skills. The clothes she had drawn had perfectly incorporated the elements of porcin pottery. It was innovative and unique, and its air of refined luxury caught ¡°It¡¯s great!¡± Grace looked pleased. ¡°The target audience of this fashion show isn¡¯t just locals. Many people. from the fashion industry overseas will also be paying att ¡°Therefore, this will be a good window to the world outside. If we can incorporate the elements of our traditional culture into the clothes we design, we could pave a new path going forward. ¡°At the same time, we can use this opportunity to spread our country¡¯s traditional culture so that foreigners can also feel the essence of our five¨C thousand¨Cyear¨Cold history.¡± Xander nodded in approval as he listened to Grace talk enthusiastically. ¡°That¡¯s good! This design matches the theme perfectly and epasses our love for our country as well as our confidence in our culture.¡± Grace took hold of Xander¡¯s arm in excitement. ¡°Thanks Xander. You helped me find inspiration and passion for this design. Now my mind feels like it¡¯s about to burst with information! I can¡¯t wait to draw everything.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Xander was in shock. His heart was beating wildly as she approached him. He wanted to say something, but Grace beat him to it. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Xander.¡± Xander looked at her and nodded. By the time they returned to the office, it was already 11:00 pm. Grace wasn¡¯t tired at all. She sat in the office by herself, drawing intently, while Xander remained by her side through it all. As time passed, Grace was unable to fight her fatigue any longer and slumped on the table in deep sleep. At this time, Xander walked over to her and stared at her sleeping figure, his gaze tender. Ultimately, he couldn¡¯t resist it and bent down to k*ss her lightly on the cheek. Then, he carried her in his arms and put her on the bed in the lounge. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Chapter 181 You Followed Me That night, Grace slept deeply all the way until noon the next day, when she finally woke up. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Grace rolled over, and the nket sl*pped off of her. She looked around and realized that she had fallen asleep in the officest night. ¡°Come in!¡± Grace called out after she had gotten dressed. Just as she finished, Luke entered, carrying breakfast. When he saw Grace, he said respectfully, ¡°Good morning, Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace nodded in reply, but she was still confused. Luke hurriedly exined, ¡°Mr. Fulton asked me to prepare this for you. I must say, a very thoughtful person, especially when ites to you.¡± Grace blushed, a little embarrassed. She walked over to her desk and saw a note. he really is ¡°Morning, Gracie. I got Luke to bring the breakfast over for you. Remember to eat it.¡± The Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. note ended with a smiley face. Grace couldn¡¯t help but smile. She felt that Xander was still young at heart. She raised her eyebrows, looking like she was in a good mood. After she had eaten breakfast, she finished up the details on her design. It kept her busy for the whole day. After work, Grace left the office with her design drafts. When she drove her Porsche out, a silver Bentley on the street opposite sped up and followed her. Grace drove onto the highway and nced at the rearview mirror. She couldn¡¯t be more familiar with that license te number. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel and stepped on the gas, speeding up. Behind her, Benjamin noticed that and maintained the same speed as her, keeping the distance between them constant. Grace watched him follow her the entire way. Finally, she turned the wheel sharply and stopped at the side of the road at a corner. The Bentley that had been following her stopped nearby. Grace opened the door and got out of the car. She walked over to the Bentley in annoyance and knocked on the driver¡¯s window. The window slowly wound down, revealing Benjamin¡¯s side profile. ¡°Benjamin, why are you following me?¡± Benjamin looked up at her angry expression and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened that day. Celia has left Pamore University, and she¡¯ll never touch He blurted the words out in a rush. Surprise shed in Grace¡¯s eyes, but she raised her eyebrows. ¡°That is your personal matter, Mr. Hawkins. You don¡¯t need to report it to me.¡± The next second, Benjamin opened the car door and stood in front of her. His six¨Cfoot¨Ctall figure made Grace seem even more petite than usual, and anyone who saw her would have the urge to protect her. ¡°She is an adult and needs to face the consequences of her actions.¡± Grace smiled with a hint of scorn. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you¡¯re also an adult. You should also have the awareness of an adult and stop bothering your ex¨C wife, don¡¯t you think?¡± Benjamin¡¯s gaze darkened, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down. ¡°You and Xander ¡­ How far has your rtionship progressed?¡± Grace was startled by his question. ¡°Are you following me?¡± ¡°No!¡± He hadn¡¯t followed her. He had just wanted to exin Celia¡¯s matter to her. He hadn¡¯t known how to start, so he had just been waiting outside Amirate Corporation for the past two days. That was how he had personally seen Grace and Xander leave together. He also knew that Xander had stayed at Amirate Corporation all nightst night and had only left this morning. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Think of Something New He admitted that he was jealous. In fact, he was bursting with jealousy. ¡°Do you have feelings for him?¡± Benjamin stared at her, asking the question he wanted to ask the most. ¡°This is my personal business and has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Benjamin grabbed her wrist and forced her toward his car. Grace struggled. ¡°Benjamin, let go of me!¡± ¡°Say that you don¡¯t have feelings for Xander.¡± Grace was furious. ¡°Are you crazy? I¡¯m free to like whoever I want!¡± ¡°Say it! Grace, I just want to hear you say it.¡± Grace struggled to get free. ¡°I like him! I like him a lot! I¡¯m crazy about him! Are you satisfied now?¡± There was a sh of despair in Benjamin¡¯s reddened eyes. He felt like he had just been stabbed in the chest, and it throbbed in pain. Grace grabbed the chance to get free. She stumbled backward, her eyes wary. ¡°Benjamin, no matter who I like, it has nothing to do with you. Even if there was no Xander today, there would still be Xeno or Xender ¡­ or any other ma ¡°But that person will never be you. Do you understand?¡± As Grace spoke, her eyes misted over. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. It felt like she was a hair¡¯s breadth away from having a nervous breakdown. Benjaminughed mirthlessly and punched the car window. The ss shattered and fell to the ground. Immediately, bright red blood trickled down his arm and dripped on the ground. Grace turned and left without looking back. She got in her car and fastened her safety belt. From the rearview mirror, she could still see the figure standing there. Finally, she stepped on the pedal and sped off. At that moment, Benjamin¡¯s phone started ringing, but he ignored it. Instead, he simply watched Grace¡¯s car leave, But the caller was very persistent and called him incessantly. Finally, Benjamin looked at the shing number on the screen. He picked up the call. ¡°What is ¡°Mr. Hawkins, Ms. Quine tried tomit suicide again.¡± Suicide again? Benjamin said scornfully, ¡°Can¡¯t she try something new for once?¡± ¡°No, Mr. Hawkins! It¡¯s quite serious this time. She¡¯s already been in the emergency room for almost two hours and hasn¡¯t come out yet. The doctors have notified us three times that she¡¯s in critical condition.¡± Benjamin clenched his fists. He really wanted to ignore this news, but he couldn¡¯t do it. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, the Quines are all here. Even Mr. Quine Senior is here.¡± If that was the case, it meant that things were already very bad. ¡°Which hospital is she in? Tell me the address, and I¡¯lle over immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins.¡± After he hung up, Benjamin drove in the direction of the hospital as per Larry¡¯s message. Grace didn¡¯t know that Yvonne was in the hospital because she had tried tomit suicide. At this moment, she was heading to n¡¯s home with her design drafts. Just like three days ago, the house was filled with professionals from the design industry. They were all more experienced than she was. There were even a few more new faces that Grace didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Ms. Lewis, you¡¯re here!¡± When Mr. Gordon saw Grace, he took the initiative to greet her. ¡°May is already here. She¡¯s inside.¡± Grace nodded and continued to walk in n¡¯s direction. ¡°Ms. Lewis, you only took three days toplete the design drafts?¡± The person who said this sounded disbelieving. After all, three days felt too short, n Even if it was a top designer, they might not be able to finish it, let alone Grace. ¡°Ms. Lewis, as per our decision three days ago, you will hand in your drafts today. Everyone here is well¨Cknown in the fashion industry, and we do things fair and square.¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Losing Wouldn¡¯t Be Embarassing ¡°Today, everyone holds the right to vote. If your vote count is lower, you will be eliminated.¡± Grace smiled faintly. Since she had chosen topete against May, she naturally epted this rule and didn¡¯t say much. n liked herposure, His eyes were filled with admiration. May arrogantly raised her chin and then took out her own design. ¡°Now that Ms. Lewis is also here, let everyone here take a look at our designs.¡± As soon as she said that, everyone gathered around. May had a determined look on her face. Then, she unfolded the blueprint. The design was revealed before everyone¡¯s eyes. Everyone¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration as they looked at the design. It was undeniable that May possessed remarkable design abilities. She was highly skilled. Whether it was the brushstroke outlines or the meticulous handling of colorbinations, everything was of top¨Cnotch quality. ¡°No wonder she is Professor Morris¡® student. It takes at least a decade of dedicated practice to achieve this level of proficiency. May, you truly left us all i ¡°The style of this outfit is trendy and reminiscent of the recent fashion trends in Pamore. The color palette for this collection is also fresh and perfectly ma season.¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°This design is wless. If I were to rate it, it would definitely be at least 90 points out of 100!¡± May felt a sense of pride as she listened to everyone¡¯s praise. The design perfectly aligned with the theme of the fashion show and had consumed a significant amount of her time. She hadpleted it a month ago. She wasn¡¯t surprised that she had received such praise. She turned to n and asked, ¡°Professor, what do you think?¡± n examined the design. With a quick nce, he had already formed an opinion. Although the design may not be jaw¨Cdropping for him, it showcased her utmost capabilities. ¡°May, your design is truly remarkable. It demonstrates forward¨C thinking concepts and exhibits a unique style. If this clothing line were to be produced, it would undoubtedly receive positive feedback in the market,¡± he Upon hearing n¡¯s words, the crowd grew more excited. ¡°Then, my vote goes to May!¡± ¡°I will also vote for her.¡± ¡°She absolutely deserves my vote.¡± Just like that, May received several votes. She felt satisfied with the recognition from everyone and couldn¡¯t hide her pleased expression. She was confident in her impending victory. However, out of respect for n, she reminded everyone, ¡°Hold on a moment. Let¡¯s not vote just yet. We haven¡¯t seen Ms. Lewis¡® work.¡± At that point, all eyes turned towards Grace, filled with anticipation. May¡¯s design was impressive, and no one believed that Grace¡¯s work could surpass hers. Someone couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Ms. Lewis, show us your design!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to feel too pressured. May is among the most talented designers in our generation. Losing to her wouldn¡¯t be embarrassing.¡± ¡°May¡¯s design for the theme is already outstanding. It will be tough to surpass that!¡± Grace remainedposed as she listened to everyone¡¯s remarks. She calmly presented her design, unfolding it slowly in front of everyone¡¯s eyes. At that moment, time seemed to stand still. Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixated on the design sketch. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Chapter 184 n¡¯s Keen Eye ¡°This¡­ this¡­ Is it inspired by delicate ceramic patterns?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen someone incorporate such elegant patterns reminiscent of delicate ceramics into clothing. It¡¯s truly captivating!¡± ¡°This is a perfect fusion of artistic influences, showcasing the unique characteristics of ancient Pamore aesthetics. It¡¯s absolutely remarkable!¡± ¡°I mean, why can¡¯t I take my eyes off it? Look at the elements of ssical art cleverly integrated there¡­¡± ¡°This¡­ It¡¯s not just a piece of clothing! It promotes Pamore¡¯s rich artistic heritage. Such a masterpiece deserves to be showcased at an event like this.¡± May looked at Grace¡¯s design work. Besides being amazed, she couldn¡¯t think of anything else to say. She hadpletely overlooked the long history of culture. Her face turned pale in an instant. Her own work incorporated the popr Pamore style, aiming to cater to local preferences. But it inadvertently gave the impression of blindly conforming to local trends. She had overlooked the richness of Pamore¡¯s culture and failed to recognize that such elements were currently mainstream. Promoting the local culture should be the priority for a fashion show that was being held locally. She had veered off track in this aspect. May knew she had thoroughly andpletely lost. ¡°Professor Morris, your keen eye is truly remarkable for you to have discovered such a talented designer like Grace!¡± ¡°Only Grace¡¯s grand and magnificent creations can truly emb*dy the spirit of Pamore. There¡¯s no doubt that she deserves to be the lead designer.¡± ¡°I cast my vote for Grace.¡± ¡°I¡¯m also voting for Grace.¡± The majority¡¯s opinion became clear as many people¡¯s opinions shifted. It was almost unanimous. In the end, Grace¡¯s vote count overwhelmingly surpassed May¡¯s without any suspense. Although May was reluctant to ept it, the winner had been decided. ¡°Professor, I have lost. Grace, the lead designer position for this project should rightfully be yours.¡± Grace nodded slightly and responded, ¡°I appreciate your concession.¡± However, May couldn¡¯te to terms with this oue. ¡°Grace, since you¡¯re the lead designer, lead the team well and make this fashion show an unfor Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! We will do our best,¡± Grace responded. Ma? clenched her fists. She gripped the corners of her clothes tightly and left the scene as the crowd watched on. No one knew how angry she felt! She had prepared for this so meticulously and for so long, only for her to end up losing to a neer. Not only that, but even her position as n¡¯s best student was now in doubt. How could she ept this? ¡°Congrattions, Grace! This fashion show is now in your hands.¡± ¡°We believe that Pamore¡¯s fashion show will make its mark in the world.¡± n¡¯s expression was filled with approval. ¡°Grace, after this fashion show, I have an earnest request that I hope you will consider,¡± he teased. Grace shed a hint of doubt, then asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t reveal it now. Let¡¯s discuss it after the fashion show ends,¡± he responded. Although Grace was puzzled, she still smiled and nodded. ¡°Then, I will work hard in the uing month.¡± n acknowledged her determination and added, ¡°I heard that Amirate Corporation has various clothing manufacturing factories, right?¡± Amirate Corporation had a wide range of businesses. Indeed, they had some clothing manufacturing factories under their name. Grace had expected n to pay attention to that. Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Chapter 185 The Best Actress Award n continued, ¡°As far as I¡¯m concerned, you don¡¯t need to seek any more investors. ¡°The task of manufacturing the clothing for this show can bepletely entrusted to Amirate¡¯s subsidiarypany. Even the subsequent orders can be Upon hearing this, Grace¡¯s eyes shone with excitement. This would further boost Amirate¡¯s overall performance! She was filled with joy and overwhelmed with gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Professor Morris!¡± she said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so formal, my child,¡± n responded. ¡°After all, I appreciate talent. A promising talent like you shouldn¡¯t be wasted.¡± n¡¯s words were a clear affirmation of Grace. Grace, however, felt a little embarrassed and said, ¡°Professor Morris, you praise me too much. IT nughed. ¡°My dear, you have truly won my heart!¡± As the conversation unfolded, the crowd around them detected an underlying meaning behind n¡¯s words. It was widely known that n had been on the lookout for a sessor for the past two years. The design industry, including numerous design students f Yet, to everyone¡¯s surprise, none of them had met his criteria. Ultimately, Grace was the unexpected choice. A sense of envy arose among some of them. Grace really was a fortunate woman, hadn¡¯t she? Meanwhile, at the hospital, Benjamin strolled, taking measured steps. Larry greeted him, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you¡¯re here. Ms. Quine is fine now. She was just taken into the ward,¡± Benjamin halted his steps abruptly. A hint of mockery shed across his eyes as he smirked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just tell me she¡¯s in critical condition? How did she recover so quickly?¡± Larry¡¯s face gave away how ufortable he felt. He had never expected Yvonne to orchestrate such a scene, that too in collusion with the doctors. ¡°Sir, why don¡¯t you go and see Yvonne?¡± Benjamin snorted. There was no warmth on his face. ¡°Since she¡¯s fine, then let her be.¡± As he was about to turn around, Larry stopped him and said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, you should still see her! If you don¡¯t, who knows what she will do next time.¡± After all, she had made one suicide attempt after another. Even the prison guards had been reprimanded because of her. Benjamin found it suspicious. She was being so unruly in prison, of all ces. What did she actually want? He had onlye here today out of guilt toward the Quine family. But now it seemed that Yvonne was going to absolve him of his guilt. ¡°Which ward is she in?¡± Benjamin inquired. Larry pointed to furthest room. ¡°It¡¯s the one with two police officers guarding the entrance.¡± Benjamin proceeded toward the room. After confirming his identity andpleting the necessary registration, the police granted him ess to the ward. As Benjamin pushed open the door, the scent of disinfectant grew stronger in the air. Yvonney lifelessly on the hospital bed. Her gaze was unfocused She only snapped out of her trance when Benjamin approached her. With a glimmer of joy in her eyes, she sat up abruptly. ¡°Benjamin, you finally came!¡± Her sudden movement identally tugged at the needle on the back of her palm. It must have hurt, but she didn¡¯t so much as flinch. ¡°I thought I would never see you again. I never expected you would actuallye,¡± she continued. She seemed to be overwhelmed by emotions. As she spoke, her eyes welled Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. tears. Benjamin looked at her coldly, his face devoid of any form of sympathy. He lightly pressed his l*ps together and said, ¡°After all these acts, I think you should be eligible for the Best Actress award.¡± Yvonne shook her head in disagreement. up with ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Benjamin!¡± she protested, her eyes shifting toward the police officers Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Make a Deal Yvonne continued, ¡°I¡¯m not acting. If I hadn¡¯t done this, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to see you at all.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve seen me, what difference does it make? Are you still acting in front of me?¡± Benjamin asked callously. There was a hint of contempt in his eyes, If it hadn¡¯t been for Yvonne, he and Grace would never have reached this stage. Yvonne burst into tears. She reached out to pull on Benjamin¡¯s arm, but he shook her off. Yvonne couldn¡¯t help butugh bitterly. ¡°What, I¡¯m not even allowed to touch you? But¡­ don¡¯t forget that you Hawkins will always owe my family! It¡¯s a de that you will owe us forever.¡± Benjamin clenched his fists soundlessly. This was the issue. He had no way to refute her. Yvonne had always used this against him, leaving him no choice but to concede to her. ¡°If you say something too many times, it will lose its power,¡± Benjamin said coldly, a hint of warning in his tone. Yvonne said recklessly, ¡°Then, I think that this is thest time I¡¯ll say this. Benjamin, let¡¯s make a deal.¡± She lowered her voice so that only Benjamin could hear her. ¡°I know that you don¡¯t want to owe my family anymore. Then let¡¯s just settle it once and for a ¡°Get me out of here. I don¡¯t want to be in jail any longer. If you give me back my life, then our families will be even.¡± Her condition was tempting. ¡°Benjamin, you can consider this carefully. This is just a small thing for you and your family. You just need to find an outstandingwyer to overturn my ve ahead of time.¡± ¡°Hmph! Let you out so that you can continue to do those despicable things?¡± Benjamin felt that it was ironic. Yvonne shook her head. ¡°No. I just want to live a good life. When I get out, I¡¯ll leave Pamore and start afresh. I¡¯ll never show up in front of you again. I¡¯ll e just begging you to leave me a way out.¡± At the mention of Grace, Benjamin¡¯s expression changed slightly. When he looked back on it, he realized that he and Grace had had a lot of misunderstandings because of Yvonne. If it hadn¡¯t been for Yvonne, perhaps they might still have a chance¡­ Enunciating each word, he said coldly, ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡± His answer was direct, leaving no room for doubt. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. However, Yvonneughed, as if she wasn¡¯t taking him seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a rush, Benjamin! It won¡¯t hurt to consider it properly. After all, you wouldn¡¯t want to have that obligation to the Quines hanging over you It was the same statement again. It was the same reason. He had heard it so much that he was already sick of it. Benjamin pinched her chin roughly, no holding back at all. ¡°I¡¯m telling you now. Stop dreaming. If you feel that ten years in jail isn¡¯t enough, then I¡¯ll find someone to collect more evidence. That will raise the stakes for you. ¡°You can rot in jail for the rest of your life.¡± After he finished speaking, Benjamin let go of her and wiped his hands vigorously, as if Yvonne were something d*rty. Yvonne¡¯s face contorted in anger. She lunged at him suddenly and grabbed him. ¡°Benjamin, are you really going to be that heartless? All those years we had together, and I still can¡¯tpare to Grace?¡± She had a crazed look in her eyes. ¡°Have you forgotten what you said to me? Or has that woman bewitched you somehow to make you so unfeeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, you just wait until I get out! I¡¯ll tear her limb from limb!¡± she shrieked. 2 Chapter 187 Chapter 187 hapter 187 Her Real Self The more she spoke, the more agitated Yvonne became. She ground her teeth as if she were about to tear Grace to pieces in the next moment. Upon hearing her threat, Benjamin pushed her away immediately. He wasn¡¯t surprised that something so venomous hade out of Yvonne¡¯s mouth. But he would no longer give her the chance. Without hesitating for even a moment, Benjamin turned around and left. He didn¡¯t care how much Yvonne screamed at him. He just acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard anything. As soon as he left the ward, he went to Richard, who was standing at the end of the corridor. He kept walking toward him. He hadn¡¯t seen Richard for a few months, and it seemed that thetter had aged a lot all of a sudden. His hair was streaked with white at his temple, and the of fatigue in his expression. Richard didn¡¯t know how demented Yvonne was. In fact, he thought that Yvonne and Benjamin had had a good conversation. So he raised his eyebrows, his l*ps curling up. There was a light in his eyes, as if the exhaustion on his face earlier had just been an illusion. ¡°Yvonne and I have the same opinion. A life for a life. This is a fair deal!¡± Benjamin put his hand in his pocket with a hint of contempt. ¡°That¡¯s not how you settle a score, Mr. Quine Senior. At your age, you should be enjoying life. Why are you interfering with the affairs of the young people As he spoke, Benjamin seemed to think of something. He said provocatively, ¡°Oh, right, I forgot. I¡¯m afraid your family¡¯s current situation can¡¯t support your usual lifestyle. But that¡¯s okay. Even if you have to go out and get a job at the age of 70, no one¡¯s going tough at you.¡± His words angered Richard. ¡°You¡­ Benjamin ¡­ You asshole!¡± Benjamin ignored his insults, straightened up, and left disdainfully. In the car, Benjamin nced outside the window. ridiculous mistake he had made. In the past three years, he had ignored Grace countless times and pushed her away from him time and time again, all for Yvonne. He realized he had made too many mistakes. He suddenly missed Grace so much. If he could just see her¡­ Without hesitation, Benjamin started the engine and sped off. Grace had sessfully be the chief designer for Pamore¡¯s fashion show. When she left n¡¯s house, she couldn¡¯t resist messaging Xander first. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Xan, I bagged the chief designer role for the fashion show! Not only that, but Professor Morris even agreed to use Amirate¡¯s garment factory to manufacture all the clothes for the fashion show.¡± Grace quickly tapped out a long string of words and sent it to him. In less than half a minute, she received Xander¡¯s reply. ¡°Congrattions! That means that your chance of winning the bet with Mr. Walker has increased further.¡± 1 Grace smiled slightly. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. If it hadn¡¯t been for you, things wouldn¡¯t have gone so smoothly.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for us to be so formal with each other.¡± Grace blushed. She didn¡¯t know why, but her heart rate sped up. She thought for a moment and replied, ¡°How about I buy you dinner tonight?¡± ¡°Okay, sure.¡± Grace looked at the words on her screen. She was in a good mood. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tonight, then.¡± After she sent the message, Grace put her hands in her pockets and got in the car. She hadn¡¯t noticed a ck Volkswagen in the distance that had also started its engine. The driver stared aggressively in Grace¡¯s direction, an intense ha Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Can We Still Be Friends The woman stepped on the gas pedal. She had a wild impulse to destroy Grace. If only Grace disappeared from this world, then she would be the chief designer for Pamore¡¯s fashion show, without question. That way, no one would be able to take that position from her anymore. May gripped the wheel tightly. Right at that moment, a Bentley suddenly stopped in front of Grace¡¯s car, and May abruptly stopped driving as well. Benjamin had asked Larry to check Grace¡¯s whereabouts, and he had sped all the way here. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Once he parked the car, he hurriedly opened the door and got out. Grace frowned. Benjamin was like a piece of gum that she couldn¡¯t get rid of. ¡°Grace!¡± The moment he saw her, Benjamin¡¯s emotions flooded out. He really wanted to make it up to her. He wanted topensate her for the wrongs he hadmitted in the past. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, do you have a lot of free time?¡± Grace¡¯s tone was frivolous. She didn¡¯t really want to give him any attention. Benjamin pressed his l*ps together. Then, he said, ¡°Grace, no matter what the past was like, it¡¯s all over now. I think¡­ can we ¡­ can we be friends?¡± Grace thought she had heard him wrong. What kind of joke was this? Was Benjamin actually requesting to be friends with her? ¡°Mr. Hawkins, have you been drinking? Or are you delirious?¡± Benjamin¡¯s deep gaze was intense as he stared at her. ¡°Grace, listen to me! In the past, we had a lot of misunderstandings because of Yvonne. ¡°But now Yvonne is getting the punishment she deserves, and I no longer have anything to do with her. So I really do want to start over with you. Starting with friendship-¡± Graceughed out loud. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve made a mistake! I don¡¯tck friends. I¡¯m also very particr. Not everyone is worthy of being my friend.¡± Benjamin understood the sarcasm and rejection in her tone. But he really had realized his previous wrongdoings and just wanted to make up for those mistakes as a friend. Was that not allowed? ¡°Mr. Hawkins, do you think the reason I dislike you so much is because of Yvonne? Do you think that if she¡¯s out of the picture, I¡¯ll ept you again and make up with you?¡± Benjamin was puzzled. ¡°Won¡¯t you?¡± Grace lowered her eyes, a smile ying about her l*ps, and revealed the ugly truth to him word for word. ¡°Even today, you still don¡¯t understand. The biggest problem between us is you. ¡°You were a really terrible husband. In the three years that we were married, you didn¡¯t even fulfill a tiny bit of your responsibility as a husband. ¡°You even allowed your mother and your sister to make things difficult and awkward for me on purpose. You allowed me to be ndered and for people to make rumors about me. You never even had an ounce of trust in me. ¡°You had an affair during our marriage and paraded around town with that homewrecker. When my life was in danger, you didn¡¯t even care. ¡°You made me waste three years of my youth and made me realize that those three years weren¡¯t worth it at all.¡± Once she had finished, she felt a chill in her heart. Benjamin had pushed her away from him himself. He was also the one who had personally killed every bit of love she¡¯d had for him. After she had gone through all of that ¡­ How dare Benjamin think that a light apology and a request to start over would be enough to make her mend things with him? He must be dreaming! Didn¡¯t he know? Sometimes it was just toote. Grace closed her window and stepped on the gas. She left without saying another word. Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Chapter 189 No Courage to Love Again Benjamin stood stiffly where Grace had left him, feeling like there was a chill piercing through him. Did this mean that she wasn¡¯t even going to give him a chance? Benjamin felt like things hadpletely gone out of control. It seemed that he would never be able to catch her. He felt inexplicably anxious. At that moment, May drove past him in her car. Benjamin turned and frowned. He watched May leave in the same direction as Grace, and for some unknown¡¯reason, his heart did a somersault in his ch Without any hesitation, he followed them in his car. Meanwhile, Grace called Emily while she drove. ¡°Babe, my design draft was passed! I got the position of chief designer for this year¡¯s fashion show. It¡¯s going to be held in Pamore!¡± When Emily heard this, she was filled with joy. ¡°Congrattions, babe! Shall we celebrate tonight?¡± Grace said hurriedly, ¡°I¡¯m meeting Xander tonight.¡± ¡°Wow! What is this? Hurry up and tell your best friend.¡± Grace shook her head slightly. ¡°What are you thinking? Xander and I are like siblings. Don¡¯t think of any nonsense!¡± Emily didn¡¯t believe it at all. ¡°Tsk, I think you¡¯re just being oblivious! But really, Xander is a hundred times better than that ex¨C husband of yours. Don¡¯t be blind, girl. If you miss such a good man, then you might end up alone for life.¡± Grace half¨Cjoked. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be alone for life then!¡± Emily wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°No way! Grace, tell me the truth. Do you still have feelings for Benjamin?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s going on with you?¡± Grace pressed her l*ps together and looked ahead. What she could be sure of now was that she hadpletely let go of Benjamin. She had just wasted She no longer had the courage to love. ¡°Hey, talk to me!¡± ¡°Alright, alright! I think we should let matters of the heart be. It¡¯ll take its own course. ¡°Right now, all I¡¯m thinking about is how to improve thepany¡¯s performance and do well at this fashion show. Anything else can be shelved for now.¡± Grace had just finished speaking when a ck Volkswagen suddenly shot out in front of her and came right at her, heading for a collision. Grace¡¯s eyes widened. A sense of dread filled her, and she broke out in a cold sweat. Without thinking, she sharply turned the wheel to the right. At the crucial moment, a Bentley appeared and blocked her, colliding straight with the Volkswagen instead. There was a huge crash. It rang in her ears. Grace saw that the Bentley now had a huge dent in it, and there were plumes of ck smoke rising from the car¡¯s hood. Her eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Babe, what¡¯s the matter? What happened?¡± Emily¡¯s anxious voice came through the phone. Grace didn¡¯t have the capacity to answer. She recognized that car. She knew who the owner of the car was. Without hesitation, Grace opened the door and got out of her car. She stumbled as she ran to the Bentley. Through the window, she saw Benjamin slumped over the steering wheel with blood all over his face. At that moment, her heart sank. Grace kept knocking on the car window, screaming. Her voice was trembling. ¡°Benjamin, wake up! Hurry up and wake up!¡± He seemed to have heard her calling for him, and he slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Gr¨CGrace ¡­¡± He was still calling her name, even in his half¨Cconscious state. He seemed to see her silhouette. Then, his hands fell limply down beside him, and he fell Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. unconscious. X Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Not an ident ¡°Benjamin¡­¡± Grace shouted loudly in a hoarse voice. No matter how much she shouted, Benjamin didn¡¯t react at all. In the driver¡¯s seat of the Volkswagen, May was also shocked by this sudden turn of events. She hadn¡¯t expected someone toe out of nowhere and save Grace with no regard for their own life. But right now, she couldn¡¯t stay here. Without hesitation, May spun the steering wheel quickly, even though her car was severely damaged. She left the scene at a high speed. Grace forced herself to calm down and called emergency services. ¡°Hello, 911? There¡¯s been a car ident here, just along Pamore Main Road¡­¡® As she looked at the unconscious Benjamin, her hands shook. The ambnce came very quickly and took Benjamin to the hospital urgently. In the hospital corridor, Grace gradually calmed down and called Luke. ¡°Luke, I got into a car ident.¡± Luke immediately became rmed. ¡°Are you okay? Where are you? I¡¯lle over right away.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need¡­¡± Grace looked up at the operation theater¡¯s doors, which were shut. The moment the car ident had happened reyed in her mind. That Volkswagen had clearly been driving in her direction. If Benjamin hadn¡¯t suddenly appeared and blocked that car, she would probably be the one lying in there. Grace¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°A Volkswagen was responsible for my car ident. Go and check who owns that car immediately. The perpetrator ran away from the sc wasn¡¯t an ident.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll check it right away.¡± After she hung up, Grace leaned against the wall, gripping her phone tightly. In a while, the Hawkins family rushed to the hospital. Susan was the first to show up, and she exploded when she saw Grace. ¡°Grace, you b*tch! Did my son get into a car ident because of you? He was still calling her name, even in his half¨Cconscious state. He seemed to see her silhouette. Then, his hands fell limply down beside him, and he fell unconscious. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. X Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Chapter 191 He Actually Cares for Her ¡°The patient has an external injury on his forehead where he got cut by ss. We¡¯ve already treated and bandaged it. He also has a second¨C degree concussion, but other than that, there aren¡¯t any big problems.¡± Upon hearing this, Grace breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Benjamin was fine. ¡°Thank you, doctor. My son is fine! He¡¯s fine.¡± Susan thanked him profusely, feeling like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. ¡°The patient is awake. We¡¯ll be shifting him to a ward soon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. That¡¯s good.¡± After the doctor left, the nurses wheeled Benjamin out of the operation theater. There were bandages wrapped around his head and a few dried streaks of blood on his face. He didn¡¯t look as refined as he usually did. Susan dashed over, almost in tears. ¡°Ben, are you alright?¡± Celia, who had remained quiet until then, also said in concern, ¡°Ben, you scared us! Good thing you¡¯re alright.¡± Benjamin looked at them. Heforted them. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Susan was still worried. ¡°How can I not be worried? This isn¡¯t just a small thing. If something happened to you, how could I live?¡± Benjamin frowned, but his eyes were on Grace, who was standing in the distance. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Their eyes met, but neither of them spoke. To Benjamin, it felt like even though Grace was standing in front of him, they were miles apart. ¡°Grace ¡­¡± Benjamin called her name. Grace replied softly, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you¡¯re alright.¡± Benjamin wanted to say something else, but the nurse didn¡¯t want to dawdle in the corridor. She pushed Benjamin toward the ward, but Benjamin¡¯s eyes never left Grace. In the ward, Benjamin noticed that Grace hadn¡¯t followed him. He was a little agitated and was about to get up, but the nurse stopped him. ¡°Your condition is still unstable. You need to rest Benjamin didn¡¯t care. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡® He was about to get out of bed, shocking Susan, who had juste in. ¡°Ben, what are you doing? Lie down!¡± Benjamin was very stubborn. ¡°Where is Grace? Where is she?¡± Susan was furious. Why was Benjamin so fixated on Grace? He had never been like that before. ¡°Why are you still thinking about her?¡± Celia was annoyed too. Her rtionship with Benjamin had be very chilly because of all the conflicts between her and Grace. But Benjamin obviously still had Grace in his heart. ¡°Where is she?¡± Just as Benjamin finished speaking, Grace appeared in the doorway. She leaned against the door frame, her expression impassive. She said slowly, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± The moment he saw Grace, Benjamin finally felt reassured. He asked out of concern, ¡°Are you alright? Did you get hurt?¡± Grace hadn¡¯t expected him to be concerned about her. It was like the sun had risen from the west. However, she found Benjamin¡¯s actions today very unexpected. She had never thought that he would show up for her during a time of danger. After this, she felt like she owed him a debt. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mr. Hawkins. Thank you for your concern. But your car was totaled. I have 20 million dors here. I think it will be enough for you to get a new car.¡± Grace spoke in a business¨C like manner, without any emotion whatsoever. Benjamin¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Setting Bouridaries He had thought that their rtionship would be less tense after this incident. However, Grace just took a check out of her pocket. Benjamin¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Grace raised her eyebrows. ¡°A new Bentley only costs 5 million dors. The remaining bnce is just to express my gratitude to you, Mr. Hawkins.¡± Benjamin was furious. 20 million dors? She was just throwing money at him. He had only done what he did out of a basic instinct to protect her. That was all. Why did it seem so different in her eyes? Seeing his grim expression, she remained silent. Grace continued, ¡°20 million dors should be enough. If you don¡¯t think it¡¯s enough, just tell me a number.¡± ¡°Grace! What do you think of me?¡± Benjamin looked angry. He was still a patient. Didn¡¯t she care about the rtionship between them? Susan and Celia were watching beside them, bbergasted. Was 20 million dors nothing to Grace? There was even a hint of envy in their eyes. Grace really dide from a very good family. Ever since Benjamin had limited their finances, even taking out 2 million dors had be difficult. They had a sudden urge to take that check. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Grace, what are you doing?¡± Susan suddenly asked as she walked toward Grace. She sneaked a nce at the check, her eyes shining. When Grace saw this, she gave it to Susan and said, ¡°Take it, Madam Hawkins.¡± Susan was delighted. She was just about to reach out and take it when Benjamin stopped her. ¡°Mom,e here right now!¡± Susan felt that it was a huge loss. They were talking about 20 million dors! What was the point of not epting 117 Benjamin was furious. Who did Grace think he was? Grace had seen through Susan¡¯s thoughts and stuffed the check in her pocket. ¡°Madam Hawkins, since you¡¯re Benjamin¡¯s mother, please take this chec When Grace finished speaking, she turned around and left. 20 million dors would repay the debt she owed Benjamin, and they would be even. To her surprise, she met Frederick the moment she stepped out. He had rushed over as soon as he had heard the news. ¡°Well, Ms. Lewis, what a coincidence!¡± Frederick was still asckadaisical as always. There was even a hint of mockery in his tone. He had never imagined that Benjamin would put his life on the line to save Grace. How touching! ¡°Ben is fine, right?¡± Grace didn¡¯t want to talk to him, so she said, ¡°Go in and find out for yourself.¡± Unexpectedly, Frederick sniggered. ¡°Judging by your expression, I expect that there¡¯s nothing much wrong with him. But I¡¯m pretty touched that he was willing to risk his life to save you. He¡¯ Grace remained silent but rolled her eyes at him. ¡°If I were to be moved over such a small thing, then should I just forget about all the stuff he¡¯s done to hurt me?¡± Frederick scratched his nose awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I mean, after this, you can see that he¡¯s sincere about you, right? Why don¡¯t you consider giving him a chance?¡± After all, Grace and Benjamin were now on par with each other. They were a perfect match, As long as Grace was willing, If they got together again, they would be the ultimate power couple! Grace¡¯s expression darkened as she listened to Frederick. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible?¡± After all, she wasn¡¯t a masochist! Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Mind Your Own Business What Benjamin had done today couldn¡¯t erase how much he had hurt Grace in the past. ¡°If you have so much time on your hands, then read more books and gossip less. Mind your own business!¡± Grace snapped at Frederick in a hostile tone. Her stance was clear. Frederickughed awkwardly. ¡°Alright then, let me go and see how Ben is.¡± With that, he escaped as soon as possible. When Grace came out from the hospital, she got a call from Luke. ¡°I¡¯ve checked the car. The owner of the Volkswagen is May Elliot, and she was the on today.¡± Upon hearing that name, Grace snorted. ¡°Her target must have been me.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis. But it doesn¡¯t seem like a premeditated crime. It seems as if she justmitted a crime on the spur of the moment.¡± Grace pressed her l*ps together. ¡°Who else does she have in her family?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also checked that and found that she¡¯s an orphan. She grew up in the orphanage, and after that she got into Pamore University based on her own a ¡°While she was studying, she also relied on the donations of kindhearted people and was a frugal, hardworking student. Eventually, she was able to finish her studies.¡± It sounded pretty uplifting and encouraging. ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already detained her. What do you want to do with her?¡± Although Luke was asking for Grace¡¯s opinion, judging by the Lewis family¡¯s way of dealing with things, it was clear that what awaited May was either ma Either way, there would be no trace left. So it all depended on what Grace said. Based on that, Luke would make his subordinates solve this troublesome problem. ¡°Collect the evidence and hand it over to the authorities so they can decide.¡± Luke was surprised. ¡°Ms. Lewis, are we just going to let her get away with this so easily?¡± Grace didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the normal, legal way of doing things?¡± If she wanted to punish someone, this was the way she would do it. She would also show some mercy, but she wasn¡¯t a saint. She wouldn¡¯t repay someone who hurt her with kindness. But¡­ she felt that May¡¯s design skills were very good. May must have worked harder than others as she grew up. It couldn¡¯t have been easy for her to walk her path in life from the orphanage to where she was today. Grace didn¡¯t want May to destroy her entire life ove mistake. She wanted to give May a way out. ¡°But Ms. Lewis¡­ she put your life in danger.¡± ¡°So let her reflect on that in prison. I believe that she will realize her mistakes after her time in prison and start again.¡± After hearing Grace, Luke had no choice but to do as she said. ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis.¡± Luke had just finished speaking when there was a screech of brakes and an eye¨Ccatching, red sports car stopped in front of Grace. Before she had time to react, Emily got out of the car. She breathed a huge sigh of relief when she saw Grace. ¡°Babe, you almost scared me to death! Are you alright? Are you hurt?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Emily¡¯s tone was full of concern. Grace hung up and exined, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡°, ¡°That¡¯s good! But what on earth happened? Why did you get in a car ident all of a sudden?¡± Grace sighed. ¡°What else could it be? I became the chief designer of the fashion show. May just didn¡¯t want to ept that she had lost!¡± Emily was furious. ¡°Damn, in broad daylight? She really is reckless! But ¡­ she must have wanted to kill you. How is it that there isn¡¯t even a scratch on you?¡± Grace filled her in on how Benjamin had saved her. When Emily heard that, she blinked, and her expression became twisted. ¡°You¡¯re saying¡­ that Benjamin saved you?¡± Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Won¡¯t Make the Same Mistake Grace responded with a soft hum. ¡°Damn it, did he suddenly grow a conscience? Even if he did, you¡¯re not going to forgive him that easily, are you?¡± Grace shook her head slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve repaid the favor.¡± That statement piqued Emily¡¯s curiosity. ¡°How? Did you offer your b*dy or something? Let me tell you. If you dare to forgive that guy or even reconcile with him, I ¡­ I¡¯ll crash my head into a pillow.¡± Grace quickly grabbed her. ¡°Hey.¡± Seriously, she continued, ¡°I told you that I¡¯m over him. I won¡¯t make the same mistake again.¡± Emily believed her words. ¡°That¡¯s good. Forget about him. Let me take you out to have some fun.¡± However, Grace remembered that she had a date with Xander. ¡°I can¡¯t. I have ns with Xander.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. You only have Xander on your mind. Why not ask him to join us?¡± Grace hesitated for a moment. ¡°Let me ask him.¡± ¡°Come on! Why do you need to ask? Just send him a location. I¡¯ll teach him a lesson if he doesn¡¯t show up.¡± Emily¡¯s words rendered Grace speechless. That night, Emily took Grace to a bar, and they danced together with a group of girlfriends. Emily dragged Grace onto the dance floor. ¡°Listen to me. Right now, forget all your worries and just have fun.¡± With the booming music ying, they danced freely. After a while, Grace returned to their table and ordered a ss of juice. It had been a while since Celia had gone out to have fun since her giarism scandal had been exposed. She was afraid of being recognized and ridiculed during the day. Now, it was nighttime. And with Benjamin hospitalized and in no condition to keep tabs on her, she finally had the chance to step out for some fresh air. ¡°A ss of whiskey, please,¡± Celia said to the bartender. ¡°Sure, miss. Please wait a moment.¡± Sitting at the bar counter, Celia scanned the surroundings and happened to spot Grace. Instantly, she sneered under her breath. Benjamin was still in the hospital because of her. Yet she dared to enjoy herself here? However, Celia was no longer as arrogant as before. She hadn¡¯t forgotten Benjamin¡¯s warning. In the end, she looked away reluctantly. ¡°Ms. Hawkins? Is that really you?¡± Celia frowned, having no recollection of the stranger approaching her. ¡°Who are you?¡± Wendy didn¡¯t expect Celia not to recognize her, so she felt somewhat annoyed. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? We met at Yvonne¡¯s birthday party.¡± At the mention of Yvonne, Celia finally remembered. ¡°You¡¯re Yvonne¡¯s cousin?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± Celia didn¡¯t have a good impression of Wendy, so she replied with a forced smile, ¡°What a coincidence.¡± However, Wendy didn¡¯t mind at all and sat down beside Celia. For the past couple of months, Wendy had been actively looking for jobs since she had been fired. It was all thanks to Grace. ¡°Have you visited Yvonne?¡± she asked. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Since Yvonne had been imprisoned, Celia had avoided visiting her to avoid any suspicion. Yet due to her ego, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve been too busytely. How¡¯s Yvonne doing? Is she okay in prison?¡± Wendy shook her head slightly. ¡°It¡¯s prison. How can she be good there? All of this is thanks to that woman,¡± Wendy said, ncing at Grace, who wasn¡¯t Celia knew that Grace was the one who had sent Yvonne to prison. It seemed that Grace had caused a lot of harm. + Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Teach Her a Lesson ¡°She¡¯s something. Normal people can¡¯t do anything to her.¡± Celia didn¡¯t want to provoke Grace. If Benjamin found out, she might not be able to stay in Pamore any longer. Yet Wendy was itching for revenge. She said, ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for her, I wouldn¡¯t have lost my job. Now I¡¯m jobless, hanging out in bars every day. Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s detestable?¡± Celia nodded in agreement, but she didn¡¯t say much. She knew she couldn¡¯t get involved in Wendy¡¯s feud with Grace. ¡°Wendy, if you hate her so much, why don¡¯t you teach her a lesson?¡± Hearing that, Wendy smiled, and her expression changed. Instead of responding to Celia, she said, ¡°You also hate her, don¡¯t you?¡± Celia shook her head. ¡°Even if I hate her, I can¡¯t do anything about it. I can only hate her in my heart.¡± Wendy scoffed. ¡°Are you so timid, or are you afraid you can¡¯t beat her?¡± Her words provoked Celia and stirred her anger. Despite having gone against Grace so many times, she had never won once. Deep down, she felt resentful. Why should Grace always have her way, seizing every opportunity? If possible, Celia really wanted to teach her a lesson. Yet she wasn¡¯t a fool. She knew she couldn¡¯t beat Grace, so she hid her resentment to avoid being used as a pawn. ¡°Ha! If you can beat her, go ahead. Why drag me into it?¡± Celia wasn¡¯t falling for it. Noticing that Celia¡¯s guard was up, Wendy said, ¡°We may not win alone, but how about joining forces? Are you interested in giving it a try?¡± At these words, Celia became interested. She knew she couldn¡¯t handle Grace alone, but with Wendy, their chances would improve. She had endured so much because of Grace. Now was the ti ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Wendy gave a mysterious smile and downed her drink. Then, she took out a bag of white powder from her pocket. ¡°Here, take a look.¡± ¡°A ss of whiskey, please,¡± Celia said to the bartender. ¡°Sure, miss. Please wait a moment.¡± Sitting at the bar counter, Celia scanned the surroundings and happened to spot Grace. Instantly, she sneered under her breath. Benjamin was still in the hospital because of her. Yet she dared to enjoy herself here? However, Celia was no longer as arrogant as before. She hadn¡¯t forgotten Benjamin¡¯s warning. In the end, she looked away reluctantly. ¡°Ms. Hawkins? Is that really you?¡± Celia frowned, having no recollection of the stranger approaching her. ¡°Who are you?¡± Wendy didn¡¯t expect Celia not to recognize her, so she felt somewhat annoyed. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? We met at Yvonne¡¯s birthday party.¡± At the mention of Yvonne, Celia finally remembered. ¡°You¡¯re Yvonne¡¯s cousin?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± Celia didn¡¯t have a good impression of Wendy, so she replied with a forced smile, ¡°What a coincidence.¡± However, Wendy didn¡¯t mind at all and sat down beside Celia. For the past couple of months, Wendy had been actively looking for jobs since she had been fired. It was all thanks to Grace. ¡°Have you visited Yvonne?¡± she asked. Since Yvonne had been imprisoned, Celia had avoided visiting her to avoid any suspicion. Yet due to her ego, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve been too busytely. How¡¯s Yvonne doing? Is she okay in prison?¡± Wendy shook her head slightly. ¡°It¡¯s prison. How can she be good there? All of this is thanks to that woman,¡± Wendy said, ncing at Grace, who wasn¡¯t Celia knew that Grace was the one who had sent Yvonne to prison. It seemed that Grace had caused a lot of harm. GET IT NOW Curiously, Celia asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Good stuff. Something that can make people infatuated.¡± Her words were ominous. She was clearly up to no good. Hearing that, Celia shivered involuntarily. ¡°What do you want to do, exactly?¡± Wendy¡¯s expression gradually darkened. ¡°I want to ruin her.¡± At this moment, Celia hesitated. If she did such a vile act, she would never hold her head high again. Moreover, the current Grace was no longer someone who could be bullied. Her status wasn¡¯t to be underestimated. If they were exposed, there would be serious repercussions for the whole Hawkins family. Celia couldn¡¯t risk it. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°You can do it on your own. Don¡¯t drag me into it. I don¡¯t want to resort to such despicable means.¡± Wendy couldn¡¯t believe how cautious Celia was. Had Grace scared her into submission? ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t dare? Don¡¯t you want to see Grace begging for mercy in front of you? Imagine her kneeling before you and pleading for forgiveness. Wou Hearing that, Celia began to visualize it. ¡°What if things go wrong?¡± She was still concerned. Noticing her hesitation, Wendy lost patience. ¡°What can go wrong? She never made it easy for me, so why should I let her off? Just watch how I handle her!¡± With that, Wendy stood up and called over a waiter. Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Chapter 196 On Someone¡¯s Invitation After she gave the waiter instructions, Wendy¡¯s eyes gleamed with malicious intent. She patted Celia¡¯s shoulder and whispered in her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to record a video. I want to make her go down in disgrace and leave Pamore for good.¡± Hearing that, Celia felt a shiver go down her spine. This version of Wendy was unnerving. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t do that.¡± However, Wendy didn¡¯t give her a chance to refuse. ¡°Even if you can¡¯t, we¡¯re on the same boat now. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± Her words carried an implicit threat. Celia nced toward Grace, her eyes deepening in thought. She made a decision. Meanwhile, upstairs in the bar, a man strolled over and said teasingly, ¡°What brings you here, Mr. Fulton?¡± When Xander noticed the man, he raised an eyebrow and extended his fist for a fist bump. ¡® It¡¯s been quite some time.¡± ¡°Indeed. You¡¯ve been in Pamore for some time now, and you didn¡¯te looking for me.¡± Evan Martin walked up to Xander, the dim light highlighting his face. ¡°What brings you here, Xander?¡± Evan asked. He had been Xander¡¯s junior at university. They had known each other for many years and kept a good rtionship. || These days, the news of Xander giving up everything in Frenda for a woman anding to Pamore had spread throughout their circle. To be honest, Evan was quite curious about the woman who had managed to melt this iceberg of a man. ¡°I¡¯vee on someone¡¯s invitation.¡± Xander lightly grazed his l*ps with his teeth, exuding an air of confidence. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you gave up your position and status at Frenda to be the president of a newly established, smallpany just to make a woman ha Evan continued, ¡°Let me guess, is that ¡®someone¡® my future sister¨Cinw?¡± Hearing that, Xander smiled. It was rare to see Xander smile, and Evan couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Bingo! It looks like my future sister¨Cin¨C law has graced my bar with her presence today.¡± Xander frowned, still not quite used to the word ¡°sister¨Cinw¡°. After all, he and Grace hadn¡¯t crossed that line yet. They were just friends. So he patted Evan on the shoulder and said, ¡°It¡¯s a bit early to call her your ¡®sister¨Cinw¡® now, but it¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± He sounded very sure. Evan looked surprised. ¡°Really? You haven¡¯t won over her yet?¡± Xander cleared his throat, trying to hide his unease. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of time ahead.¡± With just one sentence, Evan could sense Xander¡¯s deep affection. ¡°It seems you¡¯re deeply in love, Xander,¡± he teased. Xander¡¯s gaze remained on Grace in the crowd. He said, ¡°I¡¯ve waited for so many years. A little more waiting won¡¯t hurt.¡± At the very least, he had to wait until Grace was ready to let go of her past and open her heart to him. Happiness coulde a bitter. As long as it was genuine, Xander didn¡¯t mind waiting. Evan followed Xander¡¯s gaze and looked over. But in the next moment, the cheerful look in his eyes gradually faded away. X Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Timely Appearance Xander was the first to react. Without any hesitation, he immediately turned and headed downstairs. Grace was sitting at a table and scrolling through her phone. Just then, a waiter approached her with a tray. ¡°Miss, this is aplimentary drink from our bar tonight. Would you like to try it?¡± Without waiting for Grace to refuse, the waiter ced the drink in front of her. Grace picked up the ss, but before she could take a sip, Xander¡¯s voice interrupted her. ¡± Gracie!¡± His steps were noticeably hurried. With just a few steps, he reached Grace and swiftly took the ss from her hand. Puzzled, Grace looked at him, and their eyes locked. Xander reached out and pulled her close. They seemed quite intimate to onlookers. In truth, he was using this as an opportunity to whisper in her ear, ¡°The drink is spiked.¡± Grace immediately knew what she should do. ¡°Where have you been, Xan? Why did youe sote?¡± Xander affectionately smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for a while. This bar is owned by a junior from my university days. Do you want to go say hello?¡± Grace agreed with a smile. With the questionable drink in her hand, she followed Xander to leave the bar area. In a private room on the second floor, the waiter who had served Grace was now on his knees, pleading. ¡°Mr. Martin, I didn¡¯t mean to. Please forgive me Evan¡¯s expression had turned extremely grim. Someone had dared to tamper with drinks in his bar! It was as if they were asking for trouble. ¡°Who¡¯s behind this, and how much were you paid?¡± he asked intimidatingly. The waiter didn¡¯t hold back any information and promptly took the cash out of his pocket. ¡± This is all the money that woman paid me. She told me to find a gigolo and then take thedy to Room 888 in the adjacent hotel after she drank the spiked beverage.¡± With a loud crash, Evan smashed the ss on the coffee table in front of him. ¡°You have some nerve! Do you realize the consequences of what you¡¯ve done today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Martin. I won¡¯t ever do it again. Please spare me. I was blinded for a moment. I swear, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Despite the waiter¡¯s pleas, Evan remained unmoved. He ordered his men to bring up the surveince footage. ¡°Which woman is it?¡± Without hesitation, the waiter pointed at Wendy¡¯s face in the surveince footage. ¡°It¡¯s her.¡® Grace walked in just then. She had already heard everything when she was at the door. With just one nce at the screen, she recognized Wendy. Evan was surprised to see Grace. He hadn¡¯t expected that the woman who had captivated Xander was none other than Benjamin¡¯s ex¨Cwife, Grace. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I apologize for what happened. But don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be lenient in handling this matter.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. With that, a few ck¨Cd b*dyguards immediately stepped forward and took the waiter away. Considering Evan¡¯s usual methods, the waiter¡¯s fate was easy to predict. He would either end up seriously injured or dead. + Grace didn¡¯t say much and didn¡¯t interfere with Evan¡¯s decision to handle the situation. Her gaze was fixed on Wendy¡¯s face on the screen. ¡°I know this woman.¡± 11 Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Chapter 198 A Taste of Their Own Medicine Grace¡¯s gaze shifted to Celia, who was beside Wendy in the footage, and she couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°Are those two in cahoots now?¡± Xander also noticed Celia and decided it was time to take a firm stance against her continuous meddling. ¡°Leave this to me.¡± However, Grace interjected, ¡°Since they want to cause trouble for me, let me handle it.¡± Hearing that, Xander agreed. ¡°Alright.¡± Evan immediately caught on and asked, ¡°Ms. Lewis, how do you n to deal with this? Rest assured. No matter what you choose to do, I¡¯ll support you unconditionally.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes turned dark as she uttered, ¡°It¡¯s simple. Let them have a taste of their own medicine.¡± With those words, she picked up the ss containing the spiked drink. ¡°Since there is some good stuff in here, let¡¯s have Wendy try it too.¡± She smirked. Evan understood what she meant. ¡°No problem. Leave it to me.¡® In the bar area, Wendy couldn¡¯t find Grace, so she assumed that her n had seeded. Happily, she called over a waiter and ordered a bottle of whiskey. ¡°That b*tch should be in the hotel by now. Let¡¯s go there half an hourter to enjoy the show.¡± Wendy poured a ss of whiskey for Celia. Hearing that, Celia felt uneasy. ¡°Don¡¯t you think what you did was a bit too much?¡± Yet Wendy paid no attention and downed her own ss of whiskey. ¡°Too much? I don¡¯t think so. I want Grace to know she has to pay for her actions. She can¡¯t bully just anyone. ¡°I¡¯ve already informed the media and invited a few popr inte celebrities to live¨C stream in the hotel roomter. I want to see her reputation crumble,¡± Wendy said. Celia couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Yet, despite the fact that she found Wendy¡¯s n quite ruthless, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction. Grace had oppressed her for so long. Now, she could finally get her revenge. She just hoped Wendy wouldn¡¯t let her down this time. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Martin. I won¡¯t ever do it again. Please spare me. I was blinded for a moment. I swear, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Despite the waiter¡¯s pleas, Evan remained unmoved. He ordered his men to bring up the surveince footage. ¡°Which woman is it?¡± Without hesitation, the waiter pointed at Wendy¡¯s face in the surveince footage. ¡°It¡¯s her. Grace walked in just then. She had already heard everything when she was at the door. With just one nce at the screen, she recognized Wendy. Evan was surprised to see Grace. He hadn¡¯t expected that the woman who had captivated Xander was none other than Benjamin¡¯s ex¨Cwife, Grace. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I apologize for what happened. But don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be lenient in handling this matter.¡± With that, a few ck¨Cd b*dyguards immediately stepped forward and took the waiter away. Considering Evan¡¯s usual methods, the waiter¡¯s fate was easy to predict. He would either end up seriously injured or dead. Grace didn¡¯t say much and didn¡¯t interfere with Evan¡¯s decision to handle the situation. Her gaze was fixed on Wendy¡¯s face on the screen. ¡°I know this woman.¡± Chapter 198 A Taste of Their Own Medicine Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Grace¡¯s gaze shifted to Celia, who was beside Wendy in the footage, and she couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°Are those two in cahoots now?¡± Xander also noticed Celia and decided it was time to take a firm stance against her continuous meddling. ¡°Leave this to me.¡± However, Grace interjected, ¡°Since they want to cause trouble for me, let me handle it.¡± Hearing that, Xander agreed. ¡°Alright.¡± Evan immediately caught on and asked, ¡°Ms. Lewis, how do you n to deal with this? Rest assured. No matter what you choose to do, I¡¯ll support you Grace¡¯s eyes turned dark as she uttered, ¡°It¡¯s simple. Let them have a taste of their own medicine.¡± With those words, she picked up the ss containing the spiked drink. ¡°Since there is some good stuff in here, let¡¯s have Wendy try it too.¡± She smirked. Evan understood what she meant. ¡°No problem. Leave it to me.¡± : In the bar area, Wendy couldn¡¯t find Grace, so she assumed that her n had seeded. Happily, she called over a waiter and ordered a bottle of whis ¡°That b*tch should be in the hotel by now. Let¡¯s go there half an hourter to enjoy the show.¡± Wendy poured a ss of whiskey for Celia. Hearing that, Celia felt uneasy. ¡°Don¡¯t you think what you did was a bit too much?¡± Yet Wendy paid no attention and downed her own ss of whiskey. ¡°Too much? I don¡¯t think so. I want Grace to know she has to pay for her actions. She can¡¯t bully just anyone. ¡°I¡¯ve already informed the media and invited a few popr inte celebrities to live¨C stream in the hotel roomter. I want to see her reputation crumble,¡± Wendy said. Celia couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Yet, despite the fact that she found Wendy¡¯s n quite ruthless, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction. Grace had oppressed her for so long. Now, she could finally get her revenge. She just hoped Wendy wouldn¡¯t let her down this time. Celia had hesitated at first, but by now, all her doubts had vanished. All she wanted was to see Grace¡¯s miserable fate. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting to hear good news, Wendy.¡± Celia didn¡¯t hesitate, raising her ss to her l*ps. ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel exhrated when I think of Grace being ravished and exposed to the world. Let¡¯s see if she can remain smug.¡± Wendy said triumphantly, ¡°Me too! Doesn¡¯t she seem like such a proud and upright person? Hahaha! From today onward, she¡¯ll fall from grace.¡± Unbeknownst to both of them, Grace heard every word they said clearly. She smirked when she realized that these two were in cahoots. If that was the case, there was no need for her to show any mercy. Before long, Wendy began to feel something was amiss. Her b*dy inexplicably grew hot, and she became increasingly parched. ¡°Waiter, can you bring me a ss of water?¡± Noticing Wendy¡¯s difort, Celia couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Wendy drank arge ss of water but still felt no relief. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I need to use the restroom. With that, she left. However, Wendy didn¡¯t return, even after a long time, leaving Celia puzzled. Gradually, Celia herself began to feel that something was off with her b*dy. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Shot Themselves in the Foot ¡°Miss, are you feeling unwell?¡± A waiter approached Celia with concern. Celia rubbed her head and shook it. But when her eyes met the waiter¡¯s, the fiery sensation within her intensified. In a daze, she subconsciously moved closer to the waiter. ¡°It¡¯s a bit hot.¡± The waiter immediately understood. ¡°There¡¯s a hotel next to our bar. Shall I take you there to rest?¡± Celia nodded, her flushed face growing even hotter. In a semi¨Cconscious state, she followed the waiter and left. Upstairs, Evan¡¯s men reported, ¡°Everything is settled, Mr. Martin.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Evan looked at Grace and shrugged. ¡°Is there anything else I can do for you, Ms. Lewis?¡± Grace swirled the drink in her ss, seeming aloof. Smiling, she said, ¡°Thanks, Mr. Martin. Now, let¡¯s see how evil their scheme was. Hearing that, Evan couldn¡¯t help but shudder. Indeed, the saying was true¨Cnever mess with a woman. ¡°Mr. Martin, your bar serves good drinks,¡± Grace casually remarked. Raising an eyebrow, Evan replied, ¡°If you like them, feel free toe and taste our new menu whenever you want.¡± As he said that, he didn¡¯t forget to nce at Xander with a cheeky smile. ¡°Xander will be picking up the tab anyway. I¡¯ll make sure to save the best drinks for you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re truly a businessman, Mr. Martin, always thinking about profit.¡± Evan wanted to spur them on and said, ¡°Oh no, Ms. Lewis. If it¡¯s for you and Xander¡¯s wedding, I can cover all the expenses.¡± Grace almost choked when she heard that. Meanwhile, Xander shot Evan a warning look, but thetter remained unfazed. After all, he had spoken the truth. ¡°Since we¡¯re talking about this, we should talk about the date.¡± Grace quickly waved her hand. Before she could speak, Xander stepped forward and took her hand. ¡°Let me take you home, Gracie.¡± Grace was caught off guard and obediently set down the ss in her hand. She followed Xander out, but it felt like they were running away from someth Seeing this, Evan couldn¡¯t help but smile. This heiress to the Lewis family seemed quite different from the rumors. She was rather cute in person. In the car, as Grace gazed out of the window at the passing scenery, she felt clear¨Cheaded. ¡°Evan was just joking. You don¡¯t need to take it to heart.¡± Xander kept his eyes on the road and spoke casually. For some reason, Grace felt a slight tinge of disappointment hearing that, but she concealed it well. As she lowered her gaze, she replied, ¡°I think he must have misunderstood. It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll exin it to him the next time we meet.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Puzzled, Grace looked at him. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Exining will only make things worse, so there¡¯s no need to exin.¡± After that, Xander asked, ¡°Do you regret what you did tonight?¡± Grace shook her head. She didn¡¯t regret anything she had done to Celia and Wendy tonight. It was the retribution they deserved. ¡°If I say I regret it, I¡¯ll be a saint. They brought this upon themselves. They tried to ruin me, but now they¡¯ve just ended up shooting themselves in the foot Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Almost Lost Her Mind ¡°Being merciful to your enemies is being cruel to yourself.¡± That was what Aaron often told Grace. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the rest. You just focus on preparing for the fashion show,¡± Xander said. ¡°Okay.¡± As soon as Grace arrived home, a new hashtag rose to the top of the trending list online. # HeiressDownForAThreesome Minutes ago, various well¨C known entertainment media from Pamore had gathered outside Room 888 of a hotel with cameras and microphones aimed at the tightly closed door. ¡°I heard that a popr actress is having fun with her new boyfriend inside. Make sure the camera is on target.¡± Another reporter chimed in. ¡°What popr actress? Isn¡¯t it a rising star?¡± ¡°Wait. I got news that a popr actress is cheating here.¡± Several reporters had exchanged puzzled nces. Why were the messages they had received different? Regardless, they had been curious about what was going on in the room. Just then, a popr inte celebrity had started a live broadcast. ¡°Hey, guys. Can you guess what secrets are hidden in this room? Let¡¯s watch and see. Remember to give me a like and follow my channel.¡± Someone suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s just open the door. Everything will be clear then.¡± After reaching a consensus, they had called for the hotel staff. The hotel staff had knocked on the door first. After receiving no response, he had used the room key to open the door. In an instant, all the reporters had swarmed inside, directing their cameras toward the bed. Seeing the messy scene, most had guessed what had happened. What had surprised them were the three heads peeking out from under the covers. Two women and one man had been lying together on the bed. ¡°What the hell? What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°Oh my, a threesome? That¡¯s wild.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see their faces. If it¡¯s really some popr actress, this will be a huge scoop.¡± Someone had approached the bed and lifted the covers, revealing Wendy¡¯s face. The reporters had started snapping photos without hesitation. Wendy had beenpletely confused. She hadn¡¯t been able to wrap her head around what was happening. The chaotic noise around her had caused a She had been aching all over and hadn¡¯t been able to muster any strength. Yet she had still tried to slowly open her eyes. The next second, she had screamed at the top of her lungs. Jolting awake instantly, Wendy had looked at the cameras and reporters facing her and almost lost her mind. ¡°What are you doing? Get out! Get out!¡± Lying beside her, Celia had also been roused awake by themotion. At that moment, she had been stark n*ked. When she had opened her eyes and witnessed the scene, she had felt utterly shattered. ¡°Ah!¡± Wendy was just an ordinary person, and the reporters hadn¡¯t been able to recognize her. Some had even sighed in disappointment. Where was the popr actress scandal? Some reporters had been considering leaving. However, when Celia had shouted, some reporters had recognized her. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Isn¡¯t she ¡­ the Hawkins family¡¯s heiress?¡± As this revtion spread, their disappointed expressions had turned into delight. ¡°Oh my, really?¡± ¡°This is a scoop. A scoop!¡± The reporters had immediately started to snap photos, making Celia to cry out, ¡°What are you doing? Get out! Stop taking pictures!¡± i will upload daily new chapter..plz bookmark this site.thanks Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Promiscuous Heiress Celia had been too agitated, causing the nket over her to sl*p off her shoulders. She had ended up exposing her b*dy. ¡°Oh my, so alluring! So, this is how heiresses from prestigious families are behind closed doors?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Quickly take pictures! These photos alone will sustain us for a lifetime. ¡°The Hawkins family is doomed.¡± Hearing the gossip, Celia had felt like her head was about to explode. What in the world had happened? As she had been caught in the midst of the chaos, she had grown increasingly agitated and fainted. Meanwhile, Wendy had wanted to flee, but she hadn¡¯t been able to find her clothes in the room. She had beenpletely n*ked, so she had no way of escaping. They had had no choice but to watch as the reporters had continued to take pictures of them. Wendy had known then that she was doomed. However, things hadn¡¯t stopped there. Thanks to the inte celebrity¡¯s live stream, everything that had happened in the room had been broadcast to countless online viewers. As a result, the news quickly spread across the inte, andizens started heated discussions. ¡°What the heck? Is that really the Hawkins family¡¯s heiress? She¡¯s busty!¡± ¡°Wow, a threesome! Thanks for capturing and uploading such a S**y scene. It¡¯s a visual feast!¡± ¡°I wonder how much it is for a night with the Hawkins family¡¯s heiress. I¡¯d love to have a taste of an heiress.¡± ¡°Hey, you got it wrong. I think it should be about how much you¡¯d get paid for sleeping with her. The guy in the middle is likely a professional in the trade. ¡°Wow, so the Hawkins family¡¯s heiress likes to find gigolo!¡± The onlinementary varied, but it was looking far from good. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Benjamin, who was recovering in the hospital, received a call from Larry. As he listened, his Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Believe Her for the First Time ¡°Babe, have you seen the news?¡± Zoey asked on the phone. ¡°Yep. You¡¯re amazing,¡± Grace responded as she looked at the pictures of Celia and Wendy that were circting online. She had to admit that the reporter was quite skilled. Every picture was particrly alluring and aroused people¡¯s curiosity. Chuckling, Zoey continued, ¡°I¡¯ve talked to the social media person in charge about this news. It won¡¯t be removed from the trending list for at least three days. Since they want to be famous, let them enjoy it this time.¡± There was no denying that Zoey could be really ruthless if she wanted to be. Grace felt extremely grateful to have such a friend on her side. ¡°Thank you, babe. By the way, when are youing back to Pamore?¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I still have some business to attend to in Darai. I¡¯ll probably be back by the end of the month. I¡¯ll contact you and Emily when I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯m ready to wee you home anytime.¡± After a brief chat, the two hung up. At the same time, Hawkins Group¡¯s stocks continued to plummet thanks to Celia¡¯s fall to disgrace. In just half a day, thepany¡¯s market value had reduced by billions. In the top¨Cfloor office of Hawkins Group, Larry was reporting thetest situation to Benjamin. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I¡¯ve informed all the media outlets in Pamore, and they have removed the rted posts on their ounts. But this matter has had a huge impact, and it¡¯s impossible topletely erase the posts. ¡°Also, it seems that someone is intentionally fueling the situation. We can¡¯t seem to remove it from the trending list. ¡°And the reporters have also swarmed our office¡¯s entrance. They want to interview you.¡± As Larry spoke, his tone noticeably dropped. Benjamin had bandages on his head, but he remained as fierce as ever. It was so obvious that they were being targeted. With his many years of experience in the business industry, Benjamin knew what was going 1. on. So he asked directly, ¡°Have you found out who¡¯s behind this?¡± Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Larry cautiously nced at him, hesitating to speak. ¡°Speak up. I want the truth.¡± Only then did Larry hold his breath and say, ¡°It seems like it¡¯s Ms. Lewis.¡± ¡°What? Grace?¡± Benjamin asked in disbelief. Larry nodded cautiously. At this moment, he dared not breathe too loudly, afraid of being subjected to Benjamin¡¯s wrath. Just as Benjamin was about to rage, he thought of something else. ¡°It can¡¯t be. Why would Grace target Hawkins Group?¡± If she wanted to target them, she would have done so a long time ago instead of waiting until today. She could have acted when Aaron had tried to cause trouble for Hawkins Group. Why wait until now? Could there be another reason? The only reason Benjamin could think of was Celia. What had Celia done to provoke her? Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. For the first time ever, Benjamin chose to believe in Grace. He suppressed his anger and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Celia?¡± ¡°Madam Hawkins has taken her back to Hawkins Manor. She should be at home right now.¡± ¡°Take me home.¡± With these words, Benjamin hurried back to Hawkins Manor. In the well¨C lit living room at Hawkins Manor, Celia held Susan and cried bitterly. Her wails echoed throughout the mansion. Meanwhile, Elizabeth sat in the main seat with a cold expression. She didn¡¯t say a word. Such immoral behavior truly wasn¡¯t befitting of the Hawkins family¡¯s heiress. Celia had utterly disgraced their name. How would they ever hold their heads high in high society after this? X Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Chapter 204 You Reap What You Sow ¡°I know, Grandma. I¡¯ll investigate this matter thoroughly.¡± Elizabeth waved her hand, giving Benjamin the green light to proceed. After receiving her permission, Benjamin turned to Celia. Even though she was crying her heart out at this moment, he had no sympathy for her. ¡°Tell me what happened.¡± Celia¡¯s crying abruptly stopped, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to speak. She couldn¡¯t tell Benjamin the truth. After all, he had warned her not to provoke Grace. Yet she hadn¡¯t been able to resist, and look where it hadnded h She truly couldn¡¯t face Benjamin or her family. She was also afraid that there would be no ce for her left in her family if she told the truth. ¡°Mom.¡± Celia could only turn to Susan. However, Susan was also careful of Benjamin and his mood, so she remained silent. Benjamin lost his patience. ¡°Celia, tell the truth.¡± Trembling, Celia said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so mad, Ben. I¡¯m the victim now. As my brother, won¡¯t you help me get justice?¡± ¡°Enough, Celia.¡± Benjamin held back his anger, but his veins were bulging on the back of his hand. He looked at her coldly. ¡°Did you provoke Grace first? Have you forgotten what I told you?¡± Celia had never seen this side of Benjamin. She shook, unable to withstand the pressure. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, Ben. I didn¡¯t do anything. The drug was Wendy¡¯s, and she had someone set up Grace. I didn¡¯t know what happened, but in the end, it turned out like this.¡± 11 As Celia exined, she truly felt wronged. She¡¯d had so little to do with the situation, but she had ended up suffering the most. ¡°Just tell me did you get involved or not?¡± Celia wanted to deny it, but Benjamin had such an overbearing presence. In the end, she nodded. Seeing that, Benjamin snorted. ¡°You heard that? She provoked Grace first. I guess she¡¯s also the one who schemed to ruin Benjamin spoke each word clearly, and each word struck his own heart. For the first time in their three years of marriage, he had chosen to believe Grace instead of solely believing others¡® words. It turned out that she had indeed been worthy of his trust. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°You reap what you sow,¡± Benjamin said coldly. Then, he turned to Susan. ¡°Are you still going to confront Grace?¡± Hearing that, Susan felt weak and slumped onto the couch. Benjamin then looked at Elizabeth. ¡°Grandma, you don¡¯t have to worry about this matter. Leave it to me.¡± Elizabeth sighed. ¡°This is truly a family tragedy.¡± With that, she got up and left the living room. This time, Benjamin wasn¡¯t nning on showing anyone mercy. ¡°Sebastian, pack up Celia¡¯s things. Larry, book the next flight to Astana and take Celia to the airport.¡± Larry responded quickly, ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins.¡® Celia was dumbfounded. ¡°Ben, no. I don¡¯t want to go to Astana.¡± Susan also begged him, saying, ¡°Ben, please don¡¯t do this. I only have one daughter. If you send her away, I won¡¯t be able to live.¡± s, no matter how much they begged, Benjamin paid no attention to their pleas. Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Chapter 205 A Stunning Bodycon Dress Celia¡¯s scandal continued to circte online. To mitigate the damage, Benjamin held the next quarter¡¯s productunch for Hawkins Group in advance. They shared thetest research findings about nanorobots as well. His swift response sessfully diverted public attention from Celia¡¯s scandal to Hawkins Group¡¯s new product. In just a week, Hawkins Group¡¯s share prices started to recover. ¡°Tsk, tsk. Benjamin is really skilled at handling situations like this,¡± Emilymented. Hearing that, Zoey said, ¡°It¡¯s just standard procedure for capitalists. By the way, I heard that Celia has been sent overseas. I guess she won¡¯t be causing any trouble for now.¡± ¡°She¡¯s truly despicable. She has done so many outrageous things. Honestly, I think Benjamin has shown her mercy.¡± ¡°She¡¯s his sister, after all. He can¡¯t be too ruthless, can he?¡± As Zoey and Emily spoke, they both turned to look at Grace. Zoey said, ¡°Babe, Celia¡¯s doomed. As for Wendy, I¡¯ve made it impossible for her to find a job in Pamore.¡® Slowly, Grace sipped her coffee. ¡°Everyone has to face the consequences of their actions. So I can only summarize it with ¡®serves them right¡®.¡± Hearing that, Emily couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Well summarized.¡± ¡°By the way, how¡¯s the progress on the fashion show?¡± Zoey asked. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°The drafts have beenpleted. Once they are finalized, we¡¯ll start production. I believe we¡¯ll be ready by the end of the month. It was Grace¡¯s first time taking on such arge fashion show, and she relied heavily on Luke to handle many of the details. So far, things had been running smoothly. ¡°Babe, you¡¯re amazing! Come here, give me a hug.¡± As Emily said that, she leaned in for a hug. The next moment, she saw an elegant figure and was shocked. ¡°Look who¡¯s here!¡± At her words, the other two women turned to look at the neer. Perplexed, Xander checked his attire and realized everything was in order. Approaching them, he asked, ¡°Excuse me, what are you three lovelydies looking at?¡± Zoey¡¯s gaze kept shifting between Grace and Xander. There was no denying that they looked quite good together. ¡°Why are you here, Mr. Xander?¡± Zoey teased. On the side, Emily joined her. ¡°No need to ask. He¡¯s obviously here for someone.¡± Grace felt so awkward that she wanted to hide. Yet Xander smiled and took out a document. ¡°Let¡¯s get down to business, shall we?¡± The three women finallyposed themselves and focused on the document. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Grace asked. Xander opened the document and exined, ¡°Gracie, your uing fashion show has a retro theme, right? I happened to find a stunning b*dycon dress that perfectly fits the theme.¡± As he fl*pped the pages, they saw a picture of a floral¨Cthemed b*dycon dress with a vintage look. At first nce, it was simply breathtaking. ¡°Wow, this b*dycon dress is beautiful.¡± ¡°It looks unique and stunning.¡± Xander was pleased with their reaction. He continued, ¡°This b*dycon dress is from the 1990s, and it¡¯s a valuable piece of clothing. Every stitch was hand sewn.¡± ¡°So where is it now? Can we borrow it as a centerpiece for the fashion show? It will definitely wow the audience.¡± Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Sherry rk¡¯s Sudden Appearance Grace couldn¡¯t help but exim at its beauty. This had been Xander¡¯s purpose foring today. ¡°This b*dycon dress is currently housed in the National Museum, but it will be auctioned off at a charity event tonight.¡± As soon as he said this, Emily couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. ¡°What are we waiting for? We need to buy it, no matter the price.¡± Zoey agreed. ¡°Since this b*dycon dress can y such a significant role in your fashion show, we must get it.¡± Grace couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the b*dycon dress. After a moment, she turned to Xander. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Xander.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you tonight.¡± Suddenly, both Emily and Zoey chimed in. ¡°We¡¯reing too.¡± At 7:00 pm, the group arrived at Pamore Grand Hall, the venue for the charity auction. The hall was bustling with Pamore¡¯s elites. Emily and Zoey were dressed elegantly in matching outfits. As soon as they entered the hall, they attracted many curious nces. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Ms. Jenkins from Pamore¡¯s top boutique? She¡¯s here, too?¡± ¡°The person next to her looks familiar. Oh, right, she¡¯s the chief editor of Pamore¡¯s top fashion magazine, GEM Magazine.¡± ¡°They¡¯re actually best friends! They look stunning together.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go and get to know them.¡± Due to their reputation, many people approached them to engage in conversations. Emily and Zoey both had exceptional conversational skills and exhibited grace in their every move. In no time, they had exchanged a significant number of business cards. When Grace entered the hall holding Xander¡¯s hand, the people in the hall were left in awe. Grace was looking more beautiful than ever. She wore an ethereal dress that perfectly showcased her grace. She lived up to her reputation Standing next to her, Xander exuded an air of elegance. The two of them made a charming couple. Despite their knowledge of Grace¡¯s previous marriage to Benjamin, people couldn¡¯t help but think Grace and Xander looked perfect for each other. ¡°Ms. Lewis, it¡¯s an honor to have you at this charity auction.¡± The organizer approached them respectfully. Grace only smiled. ¡°Since it¡¯s a charity auction, it¡¯s my pleasure to be here and contribute.¡± ¡°We hope you¡¯ll find what you want at our auction.¡± The people around her were all savvy as well. Since they were well aware of Grace¡¯s prestigious status, they eagerly approached her to make her acqua ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯m Connie Lambert from Brisco Group. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯m Naomi. I hope we can work together in the future.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, mypany is very interested in several new projects from Amirate. We might have a chance to work together.¡± Facing the crowd, Grace maintained a poised and confident demeanor. She was neither aloof nor overly enthusiastic. She left people guessing about he ¡°Mr. Fulton, it¡¯s been a while.¡± A woman dressed exquisitely in a high¨Cend couture dress approached them. Grace recognized her as Sherry rk, a popr celebrity. Sherry was beautiful, but there were clear signs of stic surgery on her cheekbones and l*ps. At this moment, Sherry¡¯s eyes were glued to Xander, and her admiration for him was evident. ¡°Have we met before?¡± Xander asked. Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Competition at the Auction Sherry had seen many things, so even though Xander didn¡¯t give her the time of day, she remained unfazed. ¡°I understand, Mr. Fulton. You must have met a lot of people and forgotten about me. I¡¯m Sherry rk. We actually met at Futurelink Corporation¡¯s grand Xander listened, but he still showed no sign of remembering her. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t recall. He was straightforward, and his response almost bordered on rejection. Hearing that, Sherry smiled awkwardly. Meanwhile, Grace couldn¡¯t help but find the situation amusing. She was surprised that Xander could remain unmoved when such a stunning woman was standing right in front of him. Just then, Benjamin entered the hall, wearing a handmade ck suit. Benjamin had chosen to attend this charity auction to restore Hawkins Group¡¯s reputation. He intended to make a charitable donation and regain public f ¡°Mr. Hawkins, it¡¯s an honor to have you here.¡± The organizer approached him with great respect. After all, Benjamin was a prominent figure in Pamore. Even if the Hawkins family had gone through some hups, their current position in Pamore remained among the top tier. As a small¨Cscale organizer, they dared not offend Benjamin, so they gave him a seat in the front row. Coincidentally, Grace and Xander were seated right next to him. From the moment Benjamin saw Grace, his eyes never left her. When he noticed Xander beside her, his expression subtly changed. He took his seat without saying a word. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Wee to tonight¡¯s charity auction, everyone. All proceeds from this auction will be donated to the local Red Cross to support the elderly and orphans.¡± As the opening remarks drew to an end, the charity auctionmenced. ¡°Now, we have our first item up for auction tonight, a bracelet donated by Brisco Group, with a starting bid of 100 thousand dors.¡± ¡°110 thousand dors.¡± ¡°130 thousand dors.¡± ¡°150 thousand dors.¡± One wave of bids followed another, eventually closing at 200 thousand dors. Grace couldn¡¯t help but ask softly, ¡°Xander, what did you donate?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing valuable.¡± Grace acknowledged with a nod and didn¡¯t ask further questions. However, her gaze inadvertently met Benjamin¡¯s. Ignoring him, she looked away calmly. The auction continued. ¡°Next, we have our fifth item up for auction, an Omega men¡¯s watch donated by Mr. Xander Fulton from Futurelink Corporation, with a starting price of 50 As the host¡¯s voice trailed off, Sherry, seated in the back, was the first to raise her paddle. One million dors.¡± Her bid created quite a stir among the audience. People turned to look at her. Yet Sherry merely smiled, disying an unwavering determination. 11 ¡°What the heck? What¡¯s Sherry up to? The watch isn¡¯t worth more than 600 thousand dors. Is she out of her mind?¡± Emily couldn¡¯t help butment. Meanwhile, Zoey nced in Grace¡¯s direction and added, ¡°I think she¡¯s into Xander.¡± Emily was taken aback. ¡°Seriously? How dare she try to steal Grace¡¯s man? What¡¯s she thinking?¡± In her eyes, Grace was the best, and anyone trying to pursue Grace¡¯s man needed some courage. Zoey continued, ¡°Even if she wants to, she has to see if Xander thinks the same. It seems like we¡¯re in for some drama tonight.¡® Emily quickly caught on. ¡°Alright, this youngdy bid one million dors. Is there any higher bid?¡± ¡°One million dors, going once.¡® ¡°One million dors, going twice.¡± ¡°One million dors, going thrice-¡± Just as the host was about to finalize the deal, Grace, sitting in the front row, raised her paddle. ¡°Two million dors!¡± Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Devious Grace ¡°A watch worth hundreds of thousands of dors has a two¨Cmillion¨Cdor bid? This is unbelievable.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Look at who bid for it. That¡¯s Ms. Lewis. She¡¯s so rich that she could crush someone with her money.¡± ¡°For her, two million dors is pocket change. It¡¯s not even worth mentioning.¡± Listening to the surroundingments, Sherry sneered and raised her paddle once more. Three million dors.¡± The host was getting excited. ¡°This youngdy has bid three million dors!¡± Without hesitation, Grace raised her paddle again. ¡°Five million dors.¡± ¡°Wow! Am I hearing correctly? A watch being sold for this much is outrageous!¡± ¡°Even if she¡¯s rich, she shouldn¡¯t waste it like this.¡± ¡°What do you know? It¡¯s all for a good cause, and donating more is a kind gesture.¡± Puzzled, Xander looked at Grace and whispered, ¡°I think that¡¯s enough.¡± Although he didn¡¯t understand why she was bidding so much for the watch, it was clear that the current price far exceeded its actual value. Yet Grace reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xan.¡± Grace¡¯s words were barely out of her mouth when Sherry raised her bid once more. ¡°Six million dors,¡± she said, unflinching, as though six million dors wasn¡¯t a big deal to her at all. ¡°Eight million dors,¡± Grace countered. At her bid, Sherry¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Ten million dors.¡± This extremely high price set a new record for the night. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became electric: ¡°Is Sherry out of her mind? Ten million dors for this watch?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t understand. She¡¯s got so much money that she doesn¡¯t know where to spend it. ¡°Have you noticed that Sherry seems like she¡¯speting with Ms. Lewis?¡± ¡°This is the game of the rich. Let¡¯s just watch.¡± This time, after Sherry¡¯s bid, she waited for Grace to bid again. Ten million dors was her limit, and if Grace chose to increase the bid, Sherry would have to give up. ¡°Ten million dors, going once!¡± the host eximed excitedly. Sherry looked at Grace with anticipation, but thetter remained calm. The host finally announced, ¡°Ten million dors, and it¡¯s sold!¡± Hearing that, Sherry sat in disbelief, her face turning pale. Instantly, apuse filled the room. ¡°Congrattions to Ms. rk for acquiring this watch for ten million dors. Pleasee over to the front to settle the payment.¡± She had spent ten million dors on a watch. Sherry was livid! She had expected Grace to raise the bid, but thetter had chosen to stop at ten million dors! Sherry winced at the cost. But with all eyes on her, she had no chance to back out and reluctantly stood up to swipe her card. Seeing Sherry¡¯s distressed expression, Emily and Zoey exchanged a nce. ¡°Sherry really got taken for a ride.¡± ¡°Grace is definitely doing this on purpose. She raised the price of a watch worth only hundreds of thousands of dors to ten million dors to show her k lesson.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t I notice before that Grace is so devious?¡± Emily shook her head slightly. ¡°Poor Sherry.¡± ¡°She had iting. Who asked her to covet something that didn¡¯t belong to her? It¡¯s just ten million dors, but it¡¯s a valuable lesson for her.¡± The auction reached its climax with the sale of the watch. Everyone was eager to see what was next. Soon, it was time for the much anticipated b*dycon dress. 2 Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Pretending to Be Someone She Wasn¡¯t ¡°Alright, next up, we have a floral¨Cthemed b*dycon dress from the 1990s. It has a vintage feel and a collectible value. The starting bid for this b*dycon dress is 500 thousand dors.¡± ¡°550 thousand dors.¡± ¡°600 thousand dors.¡± ¡°700 thousand dors.¡± Quickly, the b*dycon dress was bid up to one million dors. Seizing the opportunity, Grace bid. ¡°1.5 million dors.¡± When the people around saw it was Grace, they put down their paddles, not intending to But unexpectedly, Benjamin raised his paddle at this moment. ¡°1.8 million dors.¡± This was the first time he bid tonight, and he was trying to snatch this b*dycon dress from Grace¡¯s hands. ¡°Wait, what¡¯s happening? Benjamin and Grace are actuallypeting?¡± ¡°Ex¨Cwife versus ex¨Chusband. Who wille out on top?¡± ¡°I¡¯m suddenly excited!¡± Grace didn¡¯t expect Benjamin to bid. Frowning, she immediately followed up. ¡°2.2 million dors.¡± In response, Benjamin raised his paddle again. ¡°Three million dors.¡± He looked determined to buy that dress. In fact, he hade tonight for this b*dycon dress, as it had originally belonged to the Hawkins family. It had been part of Elizabeth¡¯s dowry when she had gotten married. But it had been pawned off during Hawkins Group¡¯s early days. After Hawkins Group had ovee the crisis, Benjamin had always wanted to buy this dress back. However, it had ended up in a museum and had been deemed not for sale. Today, it had finally been brought out for auction. So Benjamin was determined to get it. ¡°Four million dors.¡± Grace also wanted this b*dycon dress. 14 If she could have it for the fashion show, it would wow the audience. ¡°Six million dors. The two of thern kept bidding, showing no hesitation, as if several million were just numbers to them. ¡°Eight million dors. ¡°Ten million dors.¡± ¡°14 million dors.¡± 11 The bidding for the dress reached 20 million dors. Frowning, Benjamin looked toward Grace, but at this moment, her attention was solely focused on getting that b*dycon dress. He saw the anticipation in her eyes, which were filled with longing, as if she were looking at something she cherished deeply. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, we¡¯ve reached 20 million dors. Are you still bidding?¡± The host deliberately reminded him. Clenching his paddle, Benjamin hesitated for a moment. In the end, he put his hand back down. ¡°Alright, 20 million dors, going once.¡± ¡°20 million dors, going twice.¡± ¡°Congrattions to Ms. Grace Lewis, who acquired this b*dycon dress for 20 million dors!¡± As the host spoke these words, Grace let out a deep sigh of relief. Even though she paid several times more than its value, she had finally gotten her hands on the b*dycon dress. The audience was shocked. Benjamin had given up just like that? Or was it because he still had some feelings for Grace? People spected, but Benjamin just lowered his gaze, showing no expression. Grace stood up and went to the counter to settle the bill. Xander followed on her left, not noticing that Benjamin had also stood up and followed. However, at the payment counter, they saw Sherry looking distressed while making a phone Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. call. ¡°Jayda, just lend me three million dors. I¡¯ll pay you back next month.¡± It appeared she was asking for money, and the other party didn¡¯t seem too willing to lend her. Sherry looked troubled. It wasughable. She really was pretending to be someone she wasn¡¯t. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Chapter 210 I Hope You¡¯ll Move On Soon Ignoring Sherry, Grace took out her card. But as she was about to hand it over to the staff, Xander took a step ahead and said, ¡°Use this one.¡± Grace quickly refused. ¡°No, Xan. Just use mine.¡® Yet he smiled and replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so polite with me. Consider this dress a gift from me, wishing for your career to flourish and for your fashion show to be a massive sess.¡® 11 ¡°What?¡± Grace was surprised. She wanted to say something, but Xander didn¡¯t give her a chance to refuse. He handed the card to the staff. Just like that, he spent 20 million dors for the floral¨Cthemed b*dycon dress. Grace hesitated, feeling that Xander was being too good to her. The staff packed the b*dycon dress and ced it in front of Grace. What had been merely stunning on the stage was now mesmerizing in person. Grace couldn¡¯t take her eyes off it. Each stitch and thread was so unique, and the craftsmanship had a vintage charm. It was truly a piece of art. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Such a beautiful b*dycon dress was hard not to love. ¡°Thank you, Xan.¡± Xander reached out and ruffled her hair. ¡°I¡¯m d, as long as you like it.¡± The obvious affection in his eyes made Benjamin, who wasn¡¯t far away, burn with anger. ¡°Grace!¡± Benjamin walked forward and stopped in front of them. His gaze inadvertently caught sight of the b*dycon dress in her hand. When Grace saw him, the smile on her face disappeared instantly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins?¡± As Benjamin noticed her distant behavior¨Ca stark contrast to her attitude toward Xander¨Che became jealous. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a bit thoughtless to ept a gift worth 20 million dors?¡± His question made her speechless. ¡°Does it have anything to do with you?¡± Benjamin continued, ¡°When a man is willing to spend so much money on a woman, he surely has ulterior motives. Grace, you should be careful not to be deceived.¡± Hearing that, Xander shielded Grace and responded bluntly, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, are you implying something?¡± ¡°You know what I¡¯m implying.¡± Benjamin wasn¡¯t going to back down. Their eyes met, and the tension between the two men was palpable. Neither of them was willing to yield. Suddenly, Grace chuckled. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, this is none of your concern. Or have you forgotten that we no longer have any rtions?¡± ¡°Grace, are you just going to move on so quickly from our three¨Cyear rtionship?¡± At those words, Grace¡¯s eyes darkened. In his eyes, it seemed like the chaotic three years were all they had had. He appeared to have forgotten all the things they had been through. He had no idea why she had been so determined to marry him in the first ce. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, people look forward. The past is the past. Why should we bring it up?¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t forget!¡± Hearing that, Grace smiled. Back when she had been wholeheartedly dedicated to him, Benjamin had turned a blind eye to her. Now that she didn¡¯t want him anymore, he was suddenly showing her such deep affection. If this had happened before their divorce, she might have believed his words. But now, she just let out a relieved smile and said, ¡°Then, I hope you¡¯ll move on soon, Mr. Hawkins.¡± Benjamin¡¯s heart skipped a beat at her words. He realized there were things he could no longer grasp. ¡°Grace, must it be this way?¡± ¡°It has been this way for a long time, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Grace¡¯s stance was crystal clear. She left no room for doubt. Benjamin felt like his heart had been pricked with a needle, making it ache. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Thank You for Giving Up Benjamin struggled to restrain his emotions. Yet he maintained a calm facade and changed the topic. ¡°This b*dycon dress is nice.¡± Grace sensed his interest in the dress and asked, ¡°Are you interested in this dress too, Mr. Hawkins?¡± Benjamin didn¡¯t exin much. He simply said, ¡°Everyone likes nice things, don¡¯t they?¡± Hearing that, Grace noticed that he seemed to be implying something but didn¡¯t dwell on it.¡± Well, thank you for giving up, Mr. Hawkins.¡± With that said, she turned to leave. Benjamin didn¡¯t say anything else and just watched her walk away. The next moment, Sherry, who was standing nearby, shamelessly approached him. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, can you lend me three million dors?¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. When Benjamin turned around and saw her eager face, a hint of mockery shed in his eyes. I¡¯ve never had the habit of lending money to others.¡± Sherry was embarrassed to receive such a clear refusal. But now, she had no way to get ten million dors. In the end, she was forcefully kicked out by the security. After Benjamin left the auction, his mood remained unpleasant. He sat in the driver¡¯s seat of his car and smoked one cigarette after another. Soon, the car was filled with smoke. IT As he looked at the scattered cigarette butts, he couldn¡¯t hold back and called Larry. ¡°Check all- the recent projects Grace has been handling at Amirate. Larry didn¡¯t ask much and just replied, ¡°Okay, Mr. Hawkins.¡± Then, Benjamin continued, ¡°I want results in an hour.¡± After hanging up the phone, he started the car and drove away. Larry was quick at his job. In less than an hour, all the information about the projects Grace was handling was sent to Benjamin¡¯s phone. Benjamin went through them one by one. There were some routine projects and some coborations with people in Frenda. When he saw the name ¡°Timothy¡°, he couldn¡¯t help but pause. Unexpectedly, Timothy was doing well at Amirate and was handling several major projects. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, it seems that Ms. Lewis hasn¡¯t been handling any projects at Amirate recently,¡± Benjamin raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°So what has she been busy withtely?¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis took over from Professor Morris to handle a fashion show that will be held in Pamore this year. She¡¯s the chief designer.¡± At those words, Benjamin¡¯s movements came to a sudden halt. He seemed to have thought of something. ¡°You mean Pamore¡¯s fashion show?¡± No wonder Grace had bought that b*dycon dress. It must be for the fashion show. ¡°I remember the organizers approaching us before, wanting to rent a venue from Hawkins Group.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins. But weren¡¯t you nning on rejecting it?¡± Without even lifting his head, Benjamin said, ¡°I¡¯m not rejecting it anymore. Give them the venue. Consider it a sponsorship.¡± Larry was so shocked that his mouth hung wide open. The rental for Hawkins Group¡¯s venue was at least several million dors per day. Yet Benjamin had decided to sponsor it for Grace¡¯s sake. ¡°Understood, Mr. Hawkins. I¡¯ll arrange it right away.¡± As the chief designer for the fashion show, Grace focused all her attention on the designs. She was personally involved in every detail, big or small. Therefore, she had no idea that Hawkins Group was providing the venue for the fashion show. Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Teach Her a Lesson It wasn¡¯t until the rehearsal day before the fashion show that Grace heard about the sponsorship from Emily. ¡°Babe, I heard that Hawkins Group is sponsoring this venue. Benjamin will also attend tomorrow¡¯s fashion show and give the opening speech.¡± Grace was surprised. ¡°When did Hawkins Group start doing charity?¡± Emily bluntly pointed out, ¡°It¡¯s definitely because of Celia¡¯s incidentst time. It had a certain impact on Hawkins Group¡¯s reputation. They must be doing all of t ¡°Babe, do you think Benjamin intentionally joined this event because he knows you¡¯re the chief designer?¡± Although Emily didn¡¯t know it, she had hit the nail on the head. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking, Emily.¡± Grace knew Benjamin better than anyone. He had never cared about anything rted to her. So how could he possibly do something so unconventional for her? Besides¡­ ¡°Benjamin¡¯s current affairs have nothing to do with me. He and I are just parallel lines. We don¡¯t cross each other.¡± Yet Emily said, ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that someone might not see it that way.¡± ¡°How he sees it is his business,¡± Grace replied. She couldn¡¯t control others. She could only manage her own actions. Meanwhile, at Amirate Corporation, Samuel hadn¡¯t been idle. His bet with Grace was still ongoing, so he was keeping an eye on her. ¡°Director Walker, as of late, Timothy has been responsible for all thepany¡¯s major projects, while Luke is handling the smaller projects. Ms. Lewis has been busy with the fashion show and rarely appears at thepany. ¡°But this fashion show has brought in several million in revenue for thepany. I heard that Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°After tomorrow¡¯s show, we should expect even more orders. By then, the revenue in the clothing sector will increase at least five times.¡± As Samuel listened to the report on Grace¡¯s impact on thepany¡¯s performance, his expression turned visibly upset. Compared to previous years, this year¡¯s performance had already multiplied several times. If this trend continued, Grace might really turn the tables. And when that happened, the one leaving Amirate would be Samuel himself. With a cold expression, he rhythmically tapped his fingers on the desk. ¡°The fashion show is tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°Yes, Director Walker.¡± Samuel smirked, showing a sinister smile. ¡°Five times the revenue isn¡¯t that easy to achieve. What do you think would happen if she messed up the fashion show?¡± Hearing that, his subordinate couldn¡¯t help but shiver. He answered timidly, ¡°Ms. Lewis would probably lose money. For such a big fashion show, the loss won¡¯t be small. It could easily be tens of millions of dors.¡± Samuelughed. ¡°Tens of millions of dors! Consider it a lesson for her. That girl is still too young topete with me.¡± As he said that, he waved his hand, signaling for his subordinate toe closer. Then, he whispered something, and the subordinate immediately answered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Director Walker. I¡¯ll handle this matter perfectly.¡± ¡°Remember, leave no traces, and don¡¯t let anyone connect this matter to me. If even a hint of this leaks out, you¡¯ll pay with your life.¡± ¡°Understood, Director Walker. I know what to do.¡± After his subordinate left, a smug expression appeared on Samuel¡¯s face. ¡°Grace, oh Grace. I¡¯ll teach you how to behave this time,¡± he thought. Chapter 213 Chapter 213 hapter 213 Never Really Got to Know You The fashion show in Pamore was grand. Many internationally renowned fashion designers, emerging talents in the industry, and well- known media reporters from around the world attended the Within seconds, the venue was bustling with people, eagerly anticipating the sessful staging of the highly anticipated fashion show. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Grace arrived early at the venue and was busy backstage. Emily apanied her, assisting with overseeing the makeup artists working on the models and ensuring that all outfits were perfectly matched with the The show was crucial, so Grace had to closely monitor every detail. There was no room for error, Grace remained tense throughout the preparations. Noticing that, Emily handed her a ss of water. ¡°Here, have some water.¡± Grace took it and thanked Emily. 11 Afterpleting all the preparations, the two finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°The guests have mostly arrived. There¡¯s still an hour before the fashion show starts. You can take a break.¡± Grace hummed in acknowledgement. Suddenly, her phone in her pocket rang. When Grace checked the caller ID, she saw that it was Caleb. Caleb hadn¡¯t contacted her in a long time. Why was he suddenly calling her today? Grace walked out of the backstage area and found a quiet spot to answer the call. ¡°Gracie, why did you take so long to answer the phone?¡± Seeing Caleb¡¯s erged face on the screen, Grace teased, ¡°Why did you suddenly think of me today, Caleb?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about you all along! I know that you¡¯ve been busy, so I didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡± Grace hummed, obviously dissatisfied with his exnation. Caleb continued, ¡°I heard you have a fashion show today. Congrattions, Gracie!¡± Grace smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve prepared a gift for you. It should be arriving soon. Remember to ept it Instantly, Grace¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°What are you sending for me?¡± Caleb kept her guessing. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon.¡± When Grace saw him acting mysteriously, her curiosity deepened. Just as she was about to say something, she caught sight of Benjamin walking toward ¡°Caleb, something came up. I¡¯ll talk to youter.¡± With that, she ended the call. At this point, Benjamin had already reached in front of her. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had such great talent in fashion design. How much do I not know about you, Grace?¡± Benjamin¡¯s words were filled with astonishment. He had just passed by backstage. When he saw the outfits on the models, a hint of amazement shed in his eyes. He had thought that Grace was exceptionally capable and good at handling almost anything work¨Crted. But now he realized that she not only had an extraordinary business mindset but also had such expertise in fashion design. Grace responded with a wry smile, ¡°There are many things you don¡¯t know, Mr. Hawkins. It¡¯s not toote to find out now.¡± As Benjamin lowered his gaze, he said in a self¨Cdeprecating tone, ¡°It seems I really haven¡¯t taken the time to get to know you before.¡± His response rendered Grace speechless. She didn¡¯t want to continue this topic with him. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter much now. Since you¡¯re here to watch the show today, please go to the audience seats. You shouldn¡¯t be backstage.¡± She straightfo Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Chapter 214 The Show Is Ruined Grace remained indifferent. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I¡¯m not the person you should be seeing. Yvonne is still in prison. If you have time, go visit her.¡± As the name came up, Benjamin¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Don¡¯t mention her.¡± However, Grace smiled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Hawkins? Did your first love turn into a nightmare?¡± Benjamin suppressed the anger within him. ¡°Grace, things between me and her are not what you think. Why won¡¯t you believe-¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mr. Hawkins. It¡¯s an important day for me today. Bringing up past matters will only bring bad luck.¡± Grace didn¡¯t care about anything between him and Yvonne. She had no interest in any aspect of their rtionship. ¡°I have to go now. Feel free to walk around.¡± With that, Grace walked away without looking back. However, when she returned backstage, chaos awaited her. ¡°Gracie, you¡¯re finally back. We¡¯ve got a problem.¡± Emily anxiously pulled her arm. Grace quickly asked, ¡°What happened? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The clothes are ruined.¡± Hearing that, Grace hurried over and saw several pieces on the table that were cut into pieces. Grace picked one of them up. Seeing that they were all unrecognizable, she asked shakily, ¡± What happened?¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, we just left for a moment, and when we came back, it was like this.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know who did this.¡± ¡°What do we do now? The fashion show is starting in half an hour.¡± ¡°These are all centerpieces. The show is ruined.¡± The models whispered to each other, mostly sighing in resignation. Emily fumed. ¡°Which bastard did this? If I find out who it is, I¡¯ll tear them apart!¡® At this moment, someone from the front came to urge them. ¡°Ms. Lewis, the stage is ready. The models can take their positions.¡± Seeing the chaotic situation, Grace forced herself to calm down. ¡°How much time is left?¡± Emily checked her watch. ¡°We have 26 minutes until the show starts, but the full program will take around 40 minutes before our segment.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Grace reexamined the shredded clothes and made a determined decision. ¡°Give me a pair of scissors and a pack of needles and thread.¡± Without hesitation, the staff handed them over. Emily asked, ¡°Gracie, what are you nning to do?¡± Grace pressed her l*ps together. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I can salvage this. We can¡¯t let the show be aplete disaster.¡± Then, she got to work. She hung the clothes on the mannequin, took the pair of scissors, and started to trim the fabric. Meanwhile, in the front hall, many guests were already seated, and cameras were focused on the center stage. This fashion show had attracted the attention of many, and the global media representatives were preparing Although Samuel hadn¡¯t received an invitation, he was also there, seated in an inconspicuous spot. Just then, Samuel¡¯s assistant, Zane Brown, approached him. Zane looked at the stage and then whispered, ¡°Director Walker, I did as you told me to. Don¡¯t worry. It was done discreetly and perfectly.¡± Hearing that, Samuel smiled. ¡°Good. I¡¯m eager to see how Grace will handle this situation.¡°.. As he spoke, a hint of triumph shone in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t wait to see Grace kneel and beg for mercy. Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Buying Time ¡°What do we do, Gracie? The show is about to start in five minutes. Can we make it?¡± In the backstage area, Emily paced back and forth, looking anxious. Grace¡¯s hands were moving quickly, but the clothes weren¡¯t taking shape. ¡°Maybe we can ask the organizers to dy it a bit,¡± Emily suggested, but Grace stopped her. ¡°No, this show is crucial. If we ask for more time, it will have a significant impact.¡± ¡°Then what should we do? We can¡¯t just wait like this, can we?¡± Grace¡¯s hands moved faster as she sewed with the needle and thread. After some thought; she said, ¡°Unless ¡­ we find a suitable excuse.¡± ¡°The show is starting. What excuse would be suitable?¡± The backstage staff were all deep in thought, exchanging puzzled nces. Yet they couldn¡¯t think of any excuse. ¡°In the worst¨Ccase scenario, let the models in the first round walk an extrap. That way, we can at least gain an extra 10 minutes.¡± At that, everyone else voiced their thoughts. ¡°But those reporters aren¡¯t fools. If we make the model walk anotherp, they will suspect there¡¯s a problem backstage.¡± ¡°This show has attracted a wide range of audiences. If this bes a problem, it won¡¯t end well.¡± At this point, Grace¡¯s forehead was covered in sweat. Yet she dared not stop. She continued to Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. work on the clothes in her hands. Finally, the time was up. On stage, the host had already begun the opening remarks. ¡°It¡¯s started. Hawkins Group¡¯s president will soon take the stage to address the audience. All models from the first round, please take your positions.¡± Em At this point, they were left with no other option but to go on. The models followed the instructions and got ready. Emily quickly asked, ¡°How much longer do you need, Gracie?¡± Grace bit her l*p and said, ¡°15 minutes.¡± After a deep breath, Emily nodded and told the models, ¡°Ladies, try to slow down and buy us ¡°Okay, Emily. We¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Emily nced toward the stage. At this moment, Benjamin stood on the stage, dressed in a suit. As the major sponsor of this fashion show, he had considerable authority. Emily watched the time pass on her watch. Yet when the five minutes were up, Benjamin still showed no sign of stopping his speech. A hint of surprise appeared in her eyes. Inrge¨Cscale shows like this, every minute was precisely scheduled. Benjamin had initially nned for a five¨Cminute speech, but now it had been ten minutes, and he still showed no signs of concluding. ¡°Grace, is Benjamin helping us buy more time?¡± Emily boldly spected. Yet Grace just slightly frowned. After thest stitch, she cut off the thread with scissors. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s done. It¡¯s done.¡± Emily nced at the clothes in Grace¡¯s hands. After her alterations and sewing, although there was less fabric, the clothes seemed to have gained more The design was more prominent and more elegant. It was a refreshing sight. ¡°Where¡¯s the model? Come over. Change your outfit.¡± Emily called the model and handed the outfit to her. Then, she checked the time and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°We made it. There¡¯s still time.¡± Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Going on Stage Grace breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Then, she raised her eyes and noticed Benjamin on the stage. He was standing against the light, so she couldn¡¯t see his face clearly. But she could hear his calm voice through her ?earpiece. At that moment, she understood his intentions. Benjamin¡¯s speechsted a full 15 minutes, far beyond the originally nned time. However, the reporters in the audience didn¡¯t feel bored because he talked about the future ns of Hawkins Group. It was something that was closely rted to the people present, especially those from Pamore. So everyone listened attentively. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Director Walker? Why is Mr. Hawkins¡® speech taking so long?¡± Zane asked softly. Samuel could guess that Benjamin was intentionally dragging his speech on, but he didn¡¯t think that a little over ten minutes could change anything. ¡°Do you have a n B?¡± he asked. Zane replied confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re well¨Cprepared. No matter what, this fashion show will be a disaster.¡± Right after Benjamin finished his speech, the first group of models was ready to go on stage. At this moment, a staff member rushed over. ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem, Ms. Lewis. The model in charge of the floral b*dycon dress injured her foot.¡± Surprised, Grace quickly stood up. ¡°What happened? Where is she?¡± When she followed the staff member to a nearby dressing room, she found the model who was supposed to wear the floral b*dycon dress. Thetter was curled up on the floor. She was in pain, and her foot was bleeding profusely. ¡°Quick, bring the first¨Caid kit over,¡± Grace called out. Soon, the staff member brought the first -aid kit. ¡°What happened? How did you get injured?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was trying on high heels. There was a razor de inside, and I got injured. It¡¯s going to be my turn to go on stage soon. What should I do now that my foot is like this?¡± At once, Grace¡¯s heart sank. It seemed that someone had deliberately nned this. She took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Can you still walk?¡± The modei shook her head. On the side, Emily eximed, ¡°This is a disaster! Where can we find another model now? And it has to be someone who can wear the b*dycon dress.¡± Grace looked at the b*dycon dress and had a bold idea. ¡°Get the makeup artist to do my makeup.¡± Once Grace said this, Emily immediately understood. Her eyes suddenly brightened. ¡°Right! Why didn¡¯t I think of that? Gracie, you can do it! No one is more suitable than you.¡± Grace replied with a soft hum. They had to try whatever they could now. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. On the stage, after the first group of models walked out, it had already created a small buzz. The audience and reporters present gasped when they saw themed clothes. They were all amazed. ¡°Oh my God! Isn¡¯t that the traditional pottery pattern? They actually used that to make clothes.¡± ¡°And it also incorporates the idea of puppet shows and traditional dances. That¡¯s bold!¡± ¡°But honestly, these clothes look pretty good.¡± Reporters snapped photos of each piece as the models walked on stage, afraid of missing any details. ¡°It¡¯s amazing! Those aren¡¯t clothes. They¡¯re literally wearing art!¡± ¡°I swear, these clothes will definitely be popr.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely something that will set a trend.¡± Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Dazzling the Audience ¡°It might even be a global sensation.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. When Samuel heard the discussions around him, the majority of which were in support of the fashion show, his face turned gloomy. Beside him, Zane wiped the sweat from his forehead. Then, he whispered, ¡°Director Walker, they lost their centerpieces. It¡¯s going to be a disaster after t Unexpectedly, as soon as his words fell, a model wearing a centerpiece stepped onto the stage. When she appeared, the whole venue fell silent. Everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on the center of the stage. The centerpiece, modified on¨Csite by Grace, featured bold colors and innovative styles. Most importantly, it was truly unique, capturing everyone¡¯s undivided attention. ¡°Quick, snap photos! The cut of this dress is outstanding. It¡¯s the best style tonight, for sure.¡± ¡°This designer is so amazing! She showcased apletely new style.¡± ¡°After it¡¯s over, I must interview her.¡± ¡°She was able to design such unique clothing, spreading our retro fashion worldwide. This kind of designer must be filled with patriotic enthusiasm.¡± ¡°She deserves all the hype and news we¡¯ll be writing to promote her.¡± At this point, Samuel¡¯s face was indescribably ugly. He couldn¡¯t sit or stand. Nothing felt right. As he looked at the clothes on the stage, a huge wave of emotions surged in his eyes. He had really underestimated Grace. Who knew that she was capable enough to actually redesign shredded fabric into apletely new outfit? Most importantly, she had done it in such a short amount of time. Suddenly, Samuel coughed violently. Zane quickly stepped in to support him. ¡°Director Walker, are you okay?¡± Samuel sneered and pushed Zane away. ¡°Is this what you¡¯ve done?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know how it turned out like this. But rest assured, Director Walker. I have a n B.¡± Samuel gritted his teeth. But to their immense surprise, Grace appeared on the stage the next second. She was dressed With her graceful figure, her movements exuded a ssical charm. It was as if she had walked out of the 1990s. With just one nce, everyone present was stunned. ¡°That¡¯s so beautiful! Too beautiful! This b*dycon dress is simply stunning! Every stitch gives off such a retro vibe. It¡¯s like a piece of art!¡± ¡°The model and the b*dycon dress blend perfectly together, as if they were tailor¨Cmade. I can¡¯t take my eyes off her.¡± ¡°This is the highlight of tonight, right? It¡¯s really stunning. Truly too stunning.¡± The audience was bursting at the seams with excitement. Cameras were shing incessantly at Grace on stage, and even the live broadcast channel was flooded with arge number of fans. The barrage had taken over the entire screen. ¡°Oh my, this model is so beautiful. She has such a ssical beauty vibe.¡± ¡°But she looks so familiar. I feel like I¡¯ve seen her somewhere.¡® ¡°Oh, I recognize her now. She¡¯s the heiress of the Lewises, the world¡¯s richest¨Cfamily!¡± ¡°The heiress is out there walking on stage. But she¡¯s too hot.¡± ¡°I dere that from today on, I¡¯m a fan of Ms. Lewis. That will never change.¡± ¡°But this b*dycon dress also looks familiar. Ah, I remember now. Half a month ago, this b*dycon dress was auctioned for a staggering 20 million dors.¡± Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Chapter 218 We Won¡¯t Tolerate It ¡°What? 20 million dors for a dress?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wrap my head around that ¡­ but I think it¡¯s really worth it!¡± Grace had no idea what theizens were saying. She walked on stage¨Cconfidently, every move showing her elegance. Everyone in the audience was captivated. Especially Benjamin, who was standing not far away from her. At this moment, his eyes could no longer contain anything else. His eyes were filled with only her. Soon, Grace finished her walk. As she got off the stage, her legs went weak. Suddenly, she fell into someone¡¯s arms. Caleb quickly caught her and embraced her. Grace looked surprised. ¡°Caleb! Why are you here?¡± Smiling, Caleb let her go. ¡°I said I would give you a gift, but you never came to open it. So I opened it myself and came to look for you.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Grace finally realized that his ¡°gift¡± was himself. ¡°Wow, thank you, Caleb! Let me change my clothes. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal after the show.¡± Caleb hummed in acknowledgement. His eyes carried a hint of affection for his sister. After that, Grace quickly walked to the dressing room to change clothes. When Caleb turned around, his gaze met Benjamin¡¯s unexpectedly. Instantly, sparks filled the air. Caleb snorted coldly. Ignoring Benjamin, he turned away. The fashion show was a great sess. As soon as it ended, it became a trending topic on several trending lists. Even foreign media websites were eager to write about it. Suddenly, discussions about the fashion show reached an unprecedented level of buzz. When Grace came out after changing clothes, the reporters immediately swarmed around her and surrounded her. ¡°Ms. Lewis, did you design all the clothes in today¡¯s fashion show?¡± ¡°Where did you get your inspiration?¡± With her graceful figure, her movements exuded a ssical charm. It was as if she had walked out of the 1990s. With just one nce, everyone present was stunned. ¡°That¡¯s so beautiful! Too beautiful! This b*dycon dress is simply stunning! Every stitch gives off such a retro vibe. It¡¯s like a piece of art!¡± ¡°The model and the b*dycon dress blend perfectly together, as if they were tailor¨Cmade. I can¡¯t take my eyes off her.¡± ¡°This is the highlight of tonight, right? It¡¯s really stunning. Truly too stunning.¡± The audience was bursting at the seams with excitement. Cameras were shing incessantly at Grace on stage, and even the live broadcast channel was flooded with arge number of fans. The barrage had taken over the entire screen. ¡°Oh my, this model is so beautiful. She has such a ssical beauty vibe.¡± ¡°But she looks so familiar. I feel like I¡¯ve seen her somewhere.¡± ¡°Oh, I recognize her now. She¡¯s the heiress of the Lewises, the world¡¯s richest¨Cfamily!¡± ¡°The heiress is out there walking on stage. But she¡¯s too hot.¡± ¡°I dere that from today on, I¡¯m a fan of Ms. Lewis. That will never change.¡± ¡°But this b*dycon dress also looks familiar. Ah, I remember now. Half a month ago, this b*dycon dress was auctioned for a staggering 20 million dors.¡± Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Running Into Wendy ¡°I¡¯ve already looked into it.¡± Xander walked out of the darkness and stood in front of Grace. ¡°All the surveince footage from the venue has been reviewed, and we found some traces. But we can only see the perpetrator¡¯s back. There¡¯s no clear sho ¡°What? Someone really destroyed it on purpose!¡± Emily was furious. ¡°Can the police identify the person with only his back?¡± Grace asked. Xander patted her shoulder tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He can¡¯t escape.¡± Hearing that, Grace finally felt relieved. ¡°Everyone has worked hard during this period. I¡¯ve booked a private room at the club. Let¡¯s go and enjoy ourselves!¡± When Xander said this, the staff members around them cheered. ¡°Yay! Thank you, Ms. Lewis!¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Fulton!¡± Meanwhile, Grace turned around and pulled Caleb. ¡°Let¡¯s go and have some fun together.¡± Caleb shrugged and agreed. ¡°Sure.¡± But Grace didn¡¯t intend to let him off so easily. She immediately called Lydia. As expected, when Lydia heard that Caleb was going, she immediately asked for the address. An hourter, everyone arrived in thergest private room at Utopia Club. When Lydia saw Caleb, she took the initiative to greet him. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± Caleb replied with a courteous and polite smile, ¡°Indeed.¡± Lydia¡¯s eyes dimmed a little at his reply. At this moment, Grace came over to greet her. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Come and sit.¡± After speaking, she pulled Lydia to sit next to Caleb. ¡°Waiter, bring the wine!¡± Emily called the waiter. Meanwhile, Zoey sat in front of the karaoke machine and picked out songs. ¡°Gracie, what do you want to sing? I¡¯ll help you select it.¡± Grace replied, ¡°Anything is fine.¡± As soon as she said that, the leading waitress ushered people in with a bottle of wine. ¡°Deardies and gentlemen, your wine is here.¡± Upon hearing this voice, Grace found it familiar for some reason. She raised her eyes and looked at the source of the voice. When her eyes met the waitress¡®, it seemed like the air had suddenly be still. Wendy had never expected to see Grace again in this way. She subconsciously looked away, pretending not to recognize Grace. ¡°Please, enjoy. If you need anything, please ring the service bell at any time.¡± After saying that, she walked out of the private room, almost as if she were fleeing. At this moment, her face paled. When the door closed, her colleague couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Wendy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Wendy waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m fine.¡± Seeing her response, her colleague didn¡¯t linger and left on her own. Wendy¡¯s eyes gradually darkened. The events fromst time were still vivid in her memory. Not only had she lost her reputation, but she had also been unable to find a formal job in the vast city of Pamore. In order to survive, she¡¯d had no choice but to be a waitress at the club. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. All of this was thanks to Grace. Wendy knew that Grace had had a hand in the incident back then. Needless to say, she was extremely upset to see Grace being treated like the center of the universe while she had ended up like this. Why? Why did she live such a difficult life while Grace thrived? Wendy snorted coldly, and a sinister look appeared in her eyes. Then, she walked away defiantly. ¡°Gracie, what are you looking at?¡± Xander followed her gaze but only saw a woman¡¯s back. Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Truth or Dare Grace frowned slightly and withdrew her gaze. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°What are you guys doing? Fill your sses.¡± Emily came over with a ss. The atmosphere was lively. ¡°Just drinking like this is boring. How about ying something special?¡± Zoey suggested, but her eyes were shifting between Lydia and Caleb. Those two hadn¡¯t said a word to each other after they had sat together. As best friends, thedies were naturally Lydia¡¯s best cheerleaders. Zoey and Emily shared a nce, then pulled Grace and Xander together to y a game. Grace asked, ¡°What game are we ying?¡± Zoey smirked. ¡°What else? Truth or dare, of course.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Emily agreed first, and everyone sat around. ¡°Let me exin the rules. It¡¯s simple. Whoever the bottle points at must choose between truth or dare. No cheating. Of course, the loser has to drink.¡± Zoey added, ¡°If there¡¯s no problem, let¡¯s start. With that, she took the lead in spinning the bottle. ¡°Five, four, three, two, one.¡± The bottle pointed directly at Emily. ¡°Really? I¡¯m the first one?¡± Zoey said, ¡°Enough talk. Truth or dare?¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Truth, of course.¡± Zoey and Grace exchanged nces. Finally, Grace asked, ¡°Tell us the name of your crush in three seconds.¡± ¡°What?¡± Emily was stunned. Then she smiled happily. ¡°I¡¯m single, and I¡¯m proud. I don¡¯t have a crush on anyone. I¡¯ll drink. 11 Without hesitation, Emily raised the ss in front of her and downed it. Zoeymented, ¡°Tsk, tsk, so quick. But you must be honest. No lying, or double the penalty. ¡± Emily assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± In the second round, Emily spun the bottle, and it happened to point at Xander. This time, cheers erupted from Zoey and Emily. ¡°Wow, wow, wow! Xander, speak up. Truth or dare?¡± Xander smiled, and his gaze shifted toward Grace. Finally, under everyone¡¯s expectations, he made his decision. ¡°Dare.¡± Understanding his intentions, Zoey and Emily said in unison, ¡°In that case, drink a love shot with Gracie.¡± Just then, Caleb spoke up. ¡°No! Xander is the one ying the game. What does it have to do with Gracie?¡± Instantly, Lydia kicked him, and the puzzled Caleb nced at her. Yet she pretended not to notice and joined in the cheering. ¡°I think that¡¯s a great idea. ¡°Wait, Gracie.¡± Caleb wasn¡¯t stupid. His eyes shifted between Xander and Grace, and he roughly understood the situation. Those two seemed to have something going on between them. Grace didn¡¯t mind. She took the ss and called out, ¡°Xander.¡± The two interlocked their arms, and with everyone cheering them on, they drank it all in one 1. go. ¡°Wow! Not bad, not bad. You two are simply made for each other!¡± Emily eximed, and the atmosphere suddenly reached a climax. Meanwhile, Grace felt awkward. As she looked at Xander, she felt her face burn. Her heart was still pounding wildly even after she put her ss down. The game continued. ¡°Your turn, Xander. Spin the bottle.¡± Just then, the door to the private room swung open. Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Fire ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, your fruit tter is here.¡± A waitress briskly walked up to them and ced the fruit tter on the table, Unnoticed by everyone, the waitress locked the door to the private room as she left. Outside the door, Wendy pulled out the key, her eyes darkening. ¡°Grace, since you won¡¯t let me live well, then let¡¯s all die together,¡± she thought. Somehow, she got hold of gasoline. She aimed it directly at the door of the private room and poured it fiercely, not sparing the corridor either. After that, she took out a lighter, lit it, and threw it at the gasoline without hesitation. In an instant, mes surged and spread rapidly. Wendyughed loudly and thought, ¡°Grace, you¡¯re going to die today!¡± ¡°Ah! Fire! Fire!¡± A staff member in the corridor was the first to notice the fire and immediately triggered the fire rm system. Instantaneously, the corridor was filled with screams and cries for help. ¡°Help! This ce is on fire! Everyone, run!¡± Inside the private room, Xander was the first to react. ¡°Oh no! There¡¯s fire.¡± After speaking, he instinctively grabbed Grace and walked toward the door. Panicked, everyone in the room stood up and headed toward the door. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why won¡¯t the door open?¡± As Xander spoke, Caleb hurried forward to try opening the door, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± At this moment, smoke was gradually entering the room. ¡°Quick, cover your mouth and nose with towels.¡± Everyone was in a state of panic. The private room only had one exit. Since the door was locked, they were trapped inside. ¡°Quick, make a call.¡± Emily took out her phone, and dialed the fire emergency number. Meanwhile, Grace also called Luke. ¡°There¡¯s a fire here. Arrange for rescue immediately.¡± Hearing this, Luke couldn¡¯t sit still. He quickly arranged for people to go and put the fire out. Emily assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± In the second round, Emily spun the bottle, and it happened to point at Xander. This time, cheers erupted from Zoey and Emily. ¡°Wow, wow, wow! Xander, speak up. Truth or dare?¡± Xander smiled, and his gaze shifted toward Grace. Finally, under everyone¡¯s expectations, he made his decision. ¡°Dare.¡± Understanding his intentions, Zoey and Emily said in unison, ¡°In that case, drink a love shot with Gracie.¡± Just then, Caleb spoke up. ¡°No! Xander is the one ying the game. What does it have to do with Gracie?¡± Instantly, Lydia kicked him, and the puzzled Caleb nced at her. Yet she pretended not to notice and joined in the cheering. ¡°I think that¡¯s a great idea. Love shot!¡± ¡°Wait, Gracie.¡± Caleb wasn¡¯t stupid. His eyes shifted between Xander and Grace, and he roughly understood the situation. Those two seemed to have so Grace didn¡¯t mind. She took the ss and called out, ¡°Xander.¡± The two interlocked their arms, and with everyone cheering them on, they drank it all in one 1. go. ¡°Wow! Not bad, not bad. You two are simply made for each other!¡± Emily eximed, and the atmosphere suddenly reached a climax. Meanwhile, Grace felt awkward. As she looked at Xander, she felt her face burn. Her heart was still pounding wildly even after she put her ss down. The game continued. ¡°Your turn, Xander. Spin the bottle.¡± Just then, the door to the private room swung open. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. X GET IT NOW In the room, Caleb and Xander exchanged nces. After that, they used their feet to kick the door, but the door remained closed. The smoke in the room was getting thicker. Everyone coughed violently. ¡°What do we do? We can¡¯t get out.¡± Emily was anxious. The smoke stung her eyes, and she couldn¡¯t catch her breath. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll get out. We¡¯ll definitely get out.¡± Graceforted her. Xander and Caleb kept kicking the door. The next moment, the door was kicked open with a loud bang. But the raging fire instantly spread in, causing Xander and Caleb both to step back. ¡°The fire¡¯sing in. Move back quickly.¡± At this moment, the fire had already engulfed the entrance, and no one dared to approach. Zoey couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. With a trembling voice, she asked, ¡°Are we going to die here today?¡± ¡°No, we won¡¯t die.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We won¡¯t die.¡± Grace reassured them. After looking around the private room, she picked up a cushion from the couch. ¡°Quick, wet these cushions.¡± Everyone followed suit. However, the smoke in the room grew thicker, and the mes approached them. Lydia couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and threw herself into Caleb¡¯s arms. ¡°Caleb, since we might die today, it would be toote if I didn¡¯t tell-¡± The next moment, Caleb covered her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. We¡¯ll all get out of here.¡± Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Critical Mornent Lydia shook her head as she coughed violently. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to speak. ¡°Caleb, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve wanted to tell you for a long time. I¡¯ve liked you for a very, very long time.¡± However, Caleb didn¡¯t hear her words clearly. Seeing her in distress, he kept her close in his arms. He only said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk. The oxygen is getting scarce. Talking will make it hard for you to breathe.¡± Lydia didn¡¯t care. She seemed to sense that death was approaching them. Even though she could barely keep her eyes open from how much they were stinging, she stayed close to Caleb. Even in thest moments of her life, she wanted to be with him. At this moment, everyone¡¯s eyes were red. What had once been a joyful situation had turned into a matter of life and death. Just then, Xander saw a fire extinguisher on the wall outside. Without hesitation, he took off his clothes to cover his head and rushed out. ¡°Xander!¡± Xander¡¯s b*dy was roasted by the mes/ But with lightning speed, he took the fire extinguisher off the wall. He opened it and sprayed it toward the source of the fire. ¡°Gracie,e out quickly! Ev With his words, everyone ran toward the exit. At the critical moment, an rm sounded outside. ¡°Lydia,¡± Caleb called out to her. s, Lydia had already fainted. On the other side, Grace was coughing and couldn¡¯t open her eyespletely. Feeling the air getting thinner, she was about to suffocate. Suddenly, her legs gave way, and she fell. Before losing consciousness, she seemed to fall into a warm embrace. Grace thought she was about to die. She had a very long dream. When she woke up, three days had passed. In a hospital in Frenda known for having the world¡¯s best healthcare system, almost all the Lewises were waiting in a ward. Worried, Harold looked at Grace lying on the hospital bed and finally asked, ¡°When will she wake up?¡± Aaron stood on the side and replied, ¡°Grandpa, the doctor said Gracie is fine. Don¡¯t worry. I believe she¡¯ll wake up soon.¡± Yet Harold pounded his cane in anger. ¡°How long is ¡®soon¡®? She¡¯s been sleeping for three days! 11 Aaron could only reassure him. ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ll go ask the doctor again.¡± As he spoke, Grace slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a vast expanse of white, with the strong smell of disinfectant in her nose. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. It took a while for her toe to her senses. ¡°Grandpa, Gracie is awake.¡± Caleb was the first to speak. Victor rushed to Grace¡¯s bedside, his tone gentle. ¡°Gracie, you¡¯re finally awake.¡± The others also gathered around. However, Grace¡¯s brain was still foggy. When she saw Harold and her brothers, she asked, Grandpa, Aaron, Victor, Caleb. What happened to me?¡± Her voice was hoarse, making her brothers feel sorry for her. 11 Caleb replied, ¡°Did you forget? We were caught in a big fire at the club. In the end, you fainted. 11 At his words, Grace¡¯s memories slowly returned. As if remembering something important, she quickly asked, ¡°Where are Emily and the others? How are they?¡± Calebforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Everyone is fine. The most important thing now is your health.¡± Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Xander Saved Her Aaron¡¯s eyes darkened as he said, ¡°Grace, you scared all of us, especially Grandpa. He hasn¡¯t slept for three days.¡± Grace looked at Harold apologetically. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Harold held her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize to me. You¡¯ve been through such a big incident, and your b*dy suffered heavy injuries. Fortunately, that boy from the Fulton family risked everything to save you from the fire.¡± At the mention of Xander, Grace looked around but didn¡¯t see him. She immediately asked, ¡± Grandpa, where¡¯s Xander?¡± Behind her, Aaron and Caleb exchanged nces. Finally, Aaron said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Xander is fine, but his arm and back got burned. He¡¯s currently being treated in the next room. Aunt Hestia is there with When she heard that, Grace couldn¡¯t stay in bed any longer. She quickly got up. ¡°What did you say? Xander got injured?¡± At the mention of that, Caleb felt guilty. He had protected Lydia at that time but failed to protect Grace. Because of that, Harold and his two brothers had criticized him severely. This time, Grace was safe all thanks to Xander. Their family really owed him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The world¡¯s top doctors are treating him. He¡¯ll be fine. What about you? Do you feel any difort now?¡± Grace shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± With that, she was about to get up, but Harold stopped her. ¡°Grace, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Grandpa, I want to see Xander. I won¡¯t be at ease until I see him.¡± Harold was helpless. ¡°Don¡¯t be so anxious. I¡¯ll have a nurse bring a wheelchair to take you over. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Grandpa. I¡¯m not that weak.¡± However, Grace couldn¡¯t beat Harold when it came to being stubborn. In the end, she could only sit in the wheelchair and let Aaron wheel her over to Xander¡¯s ward. Inside, Hestia was watching over Xander. His back had been severely burned, and he was lying face down on the bed. ¡°Xander.¡± Hearing the voice, Xander tried to sit up but was pressed down by Hestia. ¡°You have injuries on your back. Don¡¯t get up.¡± Grace also quickly added, ¡°Xander, don¡¯t move.¡± At her words, Xander had no choice but to continue lying face down. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Seeing Grace, Hestia asked with concern, ¡°Gracie, are you okay? Do you feel alright?¡± Grace nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Aunt Hestia. How¡¯s Xander doing?¡± ¡°Luckily, you¡¯re fine. Don¡¯t worry. Xander is strong. These injuries will heal with time.¡± Although Hestia had spoken in an indifferent tone, Grace felt bad for him. ¡°Xander, does it still hurt?¡± Xander shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Realizing that the two most likely had something to talk about, Aaron and Hestia tactfully left the ward. Once they were outside, Hestia asked, ¡°Aaron, have they found out the cause of the fire?¡± At the mention of this, Aaron¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Aunt Hestia, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve already uncovered the truth of the matter. This fire was in no way an ident. It was ars the arsonist under control.¡± When Hestia heard that, her expression became displeased. ¡°They have such audacity,mitting such an act in broad daylight. It almost cost Gracie a ¡°She will pay for this.¡± Aaron was always efficient and ruthless in his actions. He said, ¡°Rest assured, Aunt Hestia. Even if you hadn¡¯t brought it up, there¡¯s no way my family would let her off the hook.¡± Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Teaching Wendy a Lesson ¡°Good. Tearing her apart wouldn¡¯t be excessive. This matter is in your hands now.¡± The Lewis and Fulton families had reached an understanding. It was clear what kind of fate. awaited Wendy. In a dim and damp room, Wendy¡¯s hands and feet were bound together. Her eyes were covered with a ck cloth, and a smelly sock was stuffed into her mouth. She couldn¡¯t speak and could on At this moment, the door to the dark room was opened, and footsteps approached her. When Wendy felt someone¡¯s presence, she struggled incessantly and whimpered, seemingly pleading for mercy. Grace stood there, looking down at Wendy coldly. Finally, she said, ¡°It¡¯s me, Grace.¡± As her voice sounded, Wendy¡¯s movements abruptly stopped. She looked toward Grace¡¯s direction, but she couldn¡¯t see anything. Grace reached out to remove the ck cloth. Suddenly, fear filled Wendy¡¯s eyes, and her b*dy trembled. In contrast, Grace scoffed coldly. ¡°What? Are you afraid now? Why weren¡¯t you afraid when you set the fire?¡± Wendy shook her head in fear. Tears filled her eyes and flowed uncontrobly. However, Grace showed no mercy. She reached out and removed the smelly sock from Wendy¡¯s mouth. Following that, Wendy¡¯s trembling voice sounded. ¡°Grace, I was wrong. Please spare me.¡± Graceughed, but herughter had no warmth. ¡°Spare you? Why didn¡¯t you think of sparing me when you set the fire?¡± Wendy had obviously been aiming to take Grace¡¯s life. The fire had been so big. If it hadn¡¯t been for the rescue services¡® timely arrival, everyone would have perished in the mes. Now, Wendy had the gall to ask Grace to spare her. That would never happen. ¡°Grace, I didn¡¯t mean it. I was just angry and wanted to teach you a lesson. I never thought of While Wendy had been locked away there, countless cockroaches and rats had crawled by, and the corrosive odor had filled her nostrils. It was unbearable. It was even worse than killing her. ¡°Heh, this is nothing. Lydia got lung pneumonia because of you and is still being treated in the hospital. Xander has second¨Cdegree burns on his back and scars of various sizes on his arms, all thanks to you. ¡°You harmed my friends and family, and you¡¯re asking me to spare you? Wendy, do you think so highly of yourself?¡± Wendy kept begging for mercy. ¡°Grace, please kill me. Kill me. Give me a quick death! Please!¡± She really couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She continuously knocked her head on the wall, begging for mercy. Before long, a gash appeared on her forehead, and fresh blood stained her entire face. However, Grace didn¡¯t relent at all. She looked coldly at Wendy, as though she were looking at a clown performing. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Finally, she said, ¡°I won¡¯t take your life, but I will make you suffer.¡± ¡°No, Grace! Don¡¯t!¡± Wendy¡¯s desperate screams filled the entire room. Without looking back, Grace strode away decisively. After Grace left, a snake slithered in, hissing slowly. Wendy¡¯s greatest fear was snakes. At the sight of the snake, her eyes filled with terror. ¡°No! No!¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 Chapter 225 How Dare She Mess With Our Princess After that, Wendy fainted immediately. Outside the room, Caleb couldn¡¯t help but sneer as he watched the scene on the monitor. The mockery in his eyes was evident. ¡°That snake isn¡¯t poisonous, but she¡¯s scared to the point of fainting.¡± Victor couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°Girls are afraid of snakes, even if it¡¯s just amon snake. But today is just the beginning. ¡°In the days that follow, we will put a snake in there every day to see her limits. How dare she mess with our little princess? If we don¡¯t drive her crazy, how will she p Victor¡¯s words frightened Caleb, making thetter get goosebumps all over his b*dy. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do it ording to the n.¡± As for Grace, she didn¡¯t care about what happened to Wendy. After she handed Wendy over to her two brothers, she didn¡¯t ask about Wendy¡¯s fate. Instead, she returned to the hospital to stay with Xander. In truth, Xander¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t that bad. But he stayed in the hospital for half a month due to arrangements made by both families. Grace, who had been staying in Frenda, didn¡¯t know what had happened in Pamore. Caleb was the one who showed her the news he had seen online. ¡°Look, your fashion show was very sessful this time.¡± ¡°Really?¡± A glint of surprise shed in Grace¡¯s eyes as she casually took the iPad from him. ¡°Take a look for yourself. On top of the media reporting it in Pamore, it¡¯s also made quite a buzz internationally. ¡°Thements fromizens are diverse, with 90% being positive. I think Amirate has received quite a lot of orders after this fashion show too, right?¡± While listening to Caleb speak, Grace scrolled through the news. Sure enough, whether it was professionals or domestic and foreignizens, the reviews for the fashion show were all positive. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Indeed, the fashion show was exceptionally sessful. ¡°This is wonderful! We organized a fashion show and also promoted our retro fashion to the world. We made a great impact!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re the best, Gracie.¡± Receiving Caleb¡¯s praise, Grace couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Thank you, Caleb. I¡¯ll continue to work hard.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang. As she looked at the caller ID, she suddenly turned serious. Curious, Caleb asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± Instead of answering him, Grace answered the call. She said respectfully, ¡°Hello, Professor Morris.¡± When n heard Grace¡¯s voice, he finally felt at ease. Grace, I heard you were in a fire. Are you okay?¡± Grace was surprised that n had received this news. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Professor Morris. Don¡¯t worry. ¡°That¡¯s good. I heard you¡¯re in Frenda now. When are youing back?¡± At his question, Grace became puzzled. ¡°Professor Morris, do you need me for something?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten what I said before? The fashion show was such a sess. You not only organized it well but also did an excellent job. ¡°It¡¯s trulymendable. So I want to find a time for us to meet and talk.¡± Grace had the impression that n was implying something. However, she didn¡¯t think much about it. Now that Xander¡¯s condition had improved, she would only stay in Frenda for a day or two before returning to K ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll visit you after I return to Kidhna.¡± n¡¯s face lit up at Grace¡¯s affirmative reply. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be waiting for your good news.¡® ¡°I After Grace hung up the phone, Aaron walked over with an unpleasant expression. Seeing this, Caleb immediately restrained the yful look on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Aaron? What happened?¡± Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Chapter 226 There¡¯s No Lead Aaron looked at Grace. ¡°Grace, Luke just called.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. At the mention of Luke, Grace guessed what it was about. ¡°Is it about what happened at the fashion show?¡± Aaron nodded. ¡°We found the person who damaged the clothes. He admitted to entering the backstage area with a pair of scissors and cutting the clothe Grace was furious. ¡°Anything else?¡± Aaron continued, ¡°I investigated him. He¡¯s an orphan with no family or ties. He had received a million¨C dor transfer the day before the incident, but we can¡¯t trace the origin of the transfer. ¡°And he¡¯s tight¨Cl*pped. He¡¯s only admitted to his actions and won¡¯t reveal who instructed him to do them.¡± Upon hearing this, Grace roughly understood the situation. ¡°So there¡¯s no other information avable?¡± Aaron hummed. ¡°The other party is obviously hiding in the shadows as they target you. It¡¯s hard to guard against. Think carefully. Have you offended anyone recently?¡± Grace shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But there are quite a few people who can¡¯t stand to see me doing well.¡± At her words, Aaron¡¯s expression turned uglier. ¡°Could it be because of Benjamin?¡± Yvonne was a good example. ¡°Or the Quine family?¡± Yet Grace shook her head. ¡°Now that the Quine family has fallen, they probably can¡¯t easilye up with such arge sum of money.¡± Grace¡¯s reasoning made sense./But apart from this, Aaron couldn¡¯t think of anything else. ¡°Aaron, since he has admitted it, let¡¯s handle it ording to the rules of our family.¡± Aaron understood what she meant. ¡°If someone provokes our family, they naturally have to bear the consequences. I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± Grace nodded reassuringly. However, Aaron was still worried about her. ¡°Gracie, Pamore is a dangerous ce. Grandpa and I are really worried about you being there alone. ¡°How about leaving everything in Amirate behind and returning to the headquarters here?¡± Grace immediately rejected his suggestion. ¡°I can¡¯t, Aaron. I made a bet with Director Walker. I have to improve the company¡¯s performance within a year. If I can¡¯t do it, I can leave then. It¡¯s too early now.¡± ¡°But¡± Aaron wanted to say something more, but Grace interrupted him. ¡°Aaron, I know you¡¯re worried about me. But I can¡¯t give up halfway. How would others see me in the future? ¡°Also, I¡¯m a Lewis. If the news about me giving up so easily goes out, it would be a disgrace to our family.¡± This statement left Aaron speechless. ¡°Gracie.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Aaron. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of myself. Really, just give me a year. ¡°If I lose the bet with Director Walker after a year, you won¡¯t have to say anything. I¡¯lle back on my own.¡± Aaron couldn¡¯t win against Grace. But he absolutely couldn¡¯t let her take risks with her life, so hepromised. ¡°You can go back, but you must ept the b*dyguard I¡¯ve arranged for you Grace blinked, hesitating for a moment. Seeing that Aaron was unhappy enough as it was, Grace simply agreed. ¡°Okay, Aaron, I promise you. It¡¯s just a b*dyguard. It can put both you and Gran win.¡± Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Ridiculed Aaron only let Grace leave Frenda after she agreed to his condition. Once Grace reached Pamore, the first thing she did was visit n. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. In a professor¡¯s office at Pamore University, n was with several students, studying Grace¡¯s work from the fashion show. ¡°Professor Morris, the sess of this fashion show is closely rted to the design of the centerpiece,¡± one of n¡¯s students, Ashton Weaver, said. n agreed to Ashton¡¯sment. ¡°Yes, the design this time really stood out. Our university has received invitations from severalrge foreign shows.¡± ¡°Really? Professor, does that mean we can get a chance to go abroad to watch the show?¡± Another student¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Of course! But this opportunity wasn¡¯t easy toe by. Before this, the international fashion world was very dismissive of our work. They even belittled us, saying that we couldn¡¯t design clothes that would be loved in global markets. Now we¡¯ve finally shown our strength.¡± ¡°This is truly inspiring.¡± The group of university students in their 20s were very excited, except for one person. There was no joy on his face. Instead, his expression showed a hint of sarcasm. ¡°This design is in and unremarkable. The designer really has no sense of design.¡± As soon as he spoke, everyone quieted down. ¡°Tyson, what do you mean by that? Don¡¯t you appreciate our designs either?¡± Tyson Burton snorted disdainfully. ¡°This designer¡¯s skills are obviously far inferior to May¡¯s. What were you thinking, Professor Morris? How could you let fashion show?¡± At the mention of May, n¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly. The others had heard about May¡¯s situation, and they chose to keep silent. ¡°Tyson, speak carefully. If you can¡¯t, then shut up.¡® ¡°Everyone knows that you admire May, but in this case, she was obviously in the wrong. We have to recognize that instead of blindly favoring her.¡± At once, Tyson looked like he had just eaten a lemon. ¡°What do you guys know? What has May ¡°Isn¡¯t she better than Grace? But Professor Morris was biased and didn¡¯t give May this opportunity.¡± Everyone awkwardly exchanged nces. Meanwhile, n¡¯s face was stern. At this moment, Grace arrived. ¡°Professor Morris.¡± When n saw her, his stiff face softened a little. ¡°Grace, you came at the right time. We were discussing your work.¡± Upon seeing Grace, the other students had a glint of admiration in their eyes, as if they were seeing their idol. ¡°Ms. Lewis, please have a seat.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, let me pour you some water.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, you¡¯re my idol. Can I intern at yourpany after graduation?¡± Facing everyone¡¯s warm wee, Grace smiled. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re wee.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s great! When I graduate, I¡¯ll report to Amirate right away.¡± Seeing everyone circling around Grace, Tyson thought of May, who was still in jail, and felt extremely upset. In his eyes, Grace had grabbed the opportunity for the fashion show from Mary by relying on her family background. So he sarcastically said, ¡°This society really is a ce where background matters. Relying on your identity and background, you can do whatever you want. ¡°Clearly, you have no real skills, but you snatched the dream opportunity that others longed for. How dare you still shamelessly boast here? Do you really think you¡¯re something?¡± Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Bing n¡¯s Student ¡°Tyson, what are you talking about? Ms. Lewis won the chief designer position based on her abilities. Now that the fashion show is over and the response is good, it¡¯s evidence of her capabilities Tyson was dismissive. It was almost as if he had the word ¡°disdain¡± written on his face. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s it? Anyone could have done that. It doesn¡¯t necessarily have to be her.¡± ¡°Tyson, that¡¯s enough!¡± Ashton stepped forward to stop Tyson, but thetter remained unmoved. ¡°Grace, do you dare say you didn¡¯t use your connections for this?¡± When this was asked, Grace¡¯s face showed no change in expression. She raised her eyes and looked at Tyson. She couldn¡¯t recall meeting him, so she didn¡¯t understand where his hostility came from. But there was one thing she had to make clear. ¡°I obtained the chief designer position this time fair and square without any of your so¨Ccalled d*rty tricks.¡± Hearing that, Tyson burst intoughter. ¡°Who would believe you? Do you guys believe it?¡± At this moment, Ashton stepped forward. ¡°Tyson, the chief designer was decided based on a fairpetition between May and Ms. Lewis. It was chosen through a unanimous evaluation. Don¡¯t make a scene here!¡± Bewildered, Tyson looked at Ashton. His mind was still a bit muddled. Why was this different from what May had told him? Just then, n sternly called out, ¡°Tyson! I don¡¯t care what happened today, but I have to tell you, Grace¡¯s designs are undeniably impressive. ¡°Since you¡¯re all here today, I¡¯ll say what has been on my mind for a long time.¡± As soon as n said this, everyone¡¯s eyes turned to him. n looked at Grace. ¡°Grace, even before the fashion show, I touched on this subject, but I didn¡¯t say it directly. I asked you toe here today because ¡°I¡¯m getting old and nearing retirement. So I¡¯ve always wanted to find ast student to pass on some of my design skills. Would you like to be my studen As his words fell, the office immediately became silent. Bing n¡¯sst student was something many people dreamed of. Even in this there were people who had been looking forward to this opportunity. But now, he had given this opportunity to Grace. That was enough to show how highly he regarded Grace. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. group, Grace was stunned for several seconds before she spoke. ¡°Professor Morris, are you serious?¡± n chuckled. ¡°Just answer my question, Grace.¡± Grace took a deep breath. Suddenly, Ashton spoke. ¡°Say yes, Ms. Lewis! Professor Morris rarely makes requests like this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Ms. Lewis. This is a rare opportunity. None of us can get it, even if we beg.¡® ¡°Your skills are undeniable, and we all admire you. Just say yes!¡± 11 Seeing everyonepliment Grace like this, Tyson felt out of ce. He snorted coldly and turned to leave. Under everyone¡¯s expectant eyes, Grace nodded after all. ¡°Yes! It¡¯s my honor to be your student, Professor Morris.¡± Hearing Grace¡¯s affirmative reply, everyone couldn¡¯t help but cheer, and n looked pleased. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s not wait. How about we make the announcement today?¡± Ashton suggested. n looked at Grace. ¡°What do you think, Grace?¡± Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Grace smiled. ¡°You¡¯re my teacher now, Professor Morris. Whatever you say goes.¡® Hence, everyone helped with the preparations, and soon, someone brought a microphone to Grace. Grace took it and walked up to n¡¯s. After a small bow, she announced, ¡°I hereby dere myself as Professor Morris¡®st student. With the change of status, I¡¯ll address him as Mr. Morris from now on.¡± Smiling, n pulled out a little gift from his pocket and handed it to her. ¡°Here, Grace.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Morris.¡± After the announcement was made, n was so delighted that he wanted to show off Grace to everyone. He didn¡¯t stay idle. He took his phone out and sent messages to several experts in the industry. It was as though he was announcing the news to the world. After Grace left Pamore University, she saw a slender figure standing not far away. Before she could get closer, Timothy spotted her and walked toward her quickly. ¡°Mdy! You¡¯re back.¡± Grace was surprised to see him. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Timothy studied her from head to toe before saying, ¡°I heard you were in a fire. Are you injured? Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Timothy breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her say that. During this period, he had been doing business in Dunhill and hadn¡¯t been in contact with anyone in Kidhna. He hadn¡¯t heard about the fire until he had s So he had rushed back as soon as he could. Seeing that Grace was okay, Timothy finally felt relieved. ¡°Did you just get off the ne?¡± Grace pointed to the suitcase nearby. Timothy didn¡¯t deny it. Instead, he took out a stack of documents from his bag and handed them to Grace, like he was showing off. ¡°Take a look. These a Grace looked at the thick stack of documents with disbelief. She couldn¡¯t help but admire Timothy¡¯s business ability. ¡°So many?¡± Feeling proud, Timothy said, ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve been in Dunhill for a whole month toplete all of this. What do you think, Mdy? Do you think I¡¯m amazing? Am I much better than Benjamin?¡± Grace silently gave him a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°Timothy, you¡¯re indeed my key yer.¡± Timothy grinned. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, will you consider me? Not only am I good at business, but I¡¯m also definitely good at being a boyfriend.¡± Grace tapped him. ¡°Alright, stop bragging. Come with me to the office.¡± Smiling, Timothy sat in Grace¡¯s car, and they left together. At Amirate Corporation, thepany¡¯s employees were very respectful when they saw Grace. ¡°Good afternoon, Ms. Lewis.¡± ¡°Good afternoon, Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace nodded in response to each of them and entered the elevator with Timothy. Just then, several front desk staff gathered together and whispered, ¡°What¡¯s the rtionship between Ms. Lewis and Timothy? It looks like there¡¯s something going on between them.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk! Do you know that Timothy is pursuing Ms. Lewis?¡± ¡°Really? Isn¡¯t Ms. Lewis divorced?¡± ¡°More than just divorced. Ms. Lewis¡® ex¨Chusband is Benjamin Hawkins, the president of Hawkins Group.¡± ¡°Mr. Hawkins? Wasn¡¯t he just downstairs?¡± As they spoke, they scanned their surroundings. They immediately spotted Benjamin sitting on a couch in the lobby. Everyone was stunned. ¡°Why is Mr. Hawkins here?¡± ¡°He¡¯s been here for several days. I heard he¡¯s been waiting for Ms. Lewis.¡® ¡°Does he want to reconcile with Ms. Lewis? Two men are pursuing one woman! What juicy gossip is this?¡±Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Greetings With Hidden Intentions ¡°Wait, two guys vyirig for one girl? Do you remember Mr. Fulton, who was all chummy with Ms. Lewis before? Word on the street is that Mr. Fulton is now Mrs. Lewis¡® go¨Cto guy.¡± ¡°Oh my, this is too melodramatic!¡± Before they could dive deeper into the conversation, Benjamin stood up from the nearby couch, with Larry trailing him like a shadow. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, it¡¯s just some people spinning tales. Don¡¯t let it get to you.¡± Benjamin stayed silent. His eyes were dark, and his expression was beyond frosty. It was as if he had just stepped out of a freezer. The two of them walked to the elevator¨Cone in the lead, the other following. ¡°Mdy, there¡¯s still plenty of potential in the Dunhill market. I¡¯m considering making it the main focus for the next three years.¡± ¡°Your n sounds solid. If we make it big in Dunhill, our profits could skyrocket.¡± ¡°Mdy, you can count on me for this. I won¡¯t disappoint you ¡­ Crude oil is where our future¡¯s at¡­¡± As Timothy and Grace chatted, they made their way out of the elevator. But their conversation hit a speed bump. ¡°Look who¡¯s back. Ms. Lewis!¡± Timothy¡¯s words hit a sudden stop as a voice called out. Grace turned to see a man. She smirked, giving a little wave as she walked over. ¡°Director Walker, what¡¯s up? Fancy meeting you here!¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I heard that you went through a near¨Cdeath experience and almost lost your life. I was concerned, so I came to check on you. Are you okay?¡°! Typical. A greeting with hidden intentions. Grace smirked. ¡°Thanks for your concern, Director Walker. I¡¯m fine! It was nothing major.¡± Samuel nodded with a smile and an elder¨Clike demeanor. ¡°That¡¯s good. Ms. Lewis, the fashion show you organized was very sessful and brought a He continued, ¡°But the financial statements for the first quarter are out, and we are far from the promised 30% increase in performance. Ms. Lewis, you need to keep working hard!¡± Grace raised her eyes, confidently meeting his gaze. ¡°It¡¯s only been one quarter. Why are you being so anxious? Our deadline is a year. It¡¯s uncertain wh last day.¡± ¡°That makes sense, Ms. Lewis! I¡¯m just reminding you out of goodwill.¡± Samuelughed exaggeratedly and was about to leave. But Grace stopped him. ¡°Director Walker, when did you be interested in fashion design?¡± Samuel¡¯s smile instantly froze. He felt a bit uneasy but managed to maintain hisposure. ¡°I have a bit of interest in all aspects of thepany¡¯s business. Fashion is just one of those areas.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes narrowed. She wasn¡¯t satisfied with his answer. She had reviewed the surveince footage from the fashion show and coincidentally spotted Samuel in the audience. She wasn¡¯t one to believe in such coincidences. ¡°Director Walker, you sure are diligent.¡± There was a hint of sarcasm in her words, but Samuel pretended not to understand. He walked away, but somehow it looked like he was fleeing. When the elevator opened, Samuel hurriedly entered but collided head¨C on with Benjamin, who happened to being out. ¡°Mr. Hawkins?¡± Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Chapter 231 You Can¡¯t Stop Me There was a hint of surprise in Samuel¡¯s eyes when he saw Benjamin. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, what brings you to Amirate?¡± Benjamin nced at Samuel, exuding a regal presence. With a single look, he had already asserted dominance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Am I not wee at Amirate Corporation?¡± Samuel forced a smile. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, how could that be¡­ It¡¯s just that it¡¯s not a convenient time for Ms. Lewis to see you at the moment¡­¡® Samuel¡¯s words were vague, hinting at uncertainty. He was smart, so of course he hadn¡¯t missed Benjamin¡¯s intentions. Benjamin didn¡¯t avert his gaze. Instead, he looked at Grace and Timothy and said, ¡°Whether it¡¯s convenient or not isn¡¯t up to you, right?¡± Samuel felt awkward. He could only manage an apologetic smile. ¡°You¡¯re correct, Mr. Hawkins ¡± But Benjamin paid him no more attention. Leaving Samuel behind, he headed toward Grace. When Grace saw Benjamin, her brows furrowed slightly in concern. Even when Benjamin called her, she acted like she hadn¡¯t heard. Instead, she went ahead and opened the door to her office. Larry felt awkward. He rubbed his nose and decided to move away. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I¡¯ll be waiting for you outside,¡± Larry said. As Benjamin reached the office door, Timothy stopped him. The two former friends faced off intensely. ¡°Benjamin, what are you doing here?¡± Timothy spoke first. ? ¡°Are you trying to stop me, Timothy?¡± Benjamin asked. Without looking away, Timothy straightforwardly said, ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to see you. Please leave.¡± Benjamin narrowed his eyes. His pride made him raise his chin. He countered, ¡°Do you think you can stop me?¡± Timothy remained firm and responded, ¡°Even if I can¡¯t, I still have to try! I won¡¯t let you in ¡­¡± They stood in a stand¨Coff. Neither was willing to back down. ¡°Heh, Timothy, I never thought we would end up so estranged,¡± Benjamin remarked in a self deprecating tone. But Timothy remained unmoved. ¡°Benjamin, you¡¯re divorced. Why bother getting involved with her again?¡± Benjamin¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°Who told you I¡¯m here to get involved with her?¡± Timothy was surprised. ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re here?¡± Benjamin simply said, ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you. Why bother? Even if she doesn¡¯t end up with me, it definitely won¡¯t be you.¡± As soon as Benjamin said that, Timothy¡¯s expression turned unpleasant. ¡°Shut up,¡± he snapped. Benjamin paid him no mind. ¡°I¡¯m just stating the facts.¡± Timothy clenched his fists, managing to restrain himself. ¡°Heh, it doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s not me! As long as she¡¯s happy, even if that happiness isn¡¯t from me Timothy¡¯s words sent a shiver through Grace. She had never imagined Timothy felt so deeply for her. It left her at a loss for words. She couldn¡¯t respond. Nor could she bear such love from him. She spoke up. ¡°Let him in.¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Timothy was surprised. ¡°Mdy-¡± But Grace continued in a matter¨Cof¨Cfact tone, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, state your business, or leave if there¡¯s none.¡± Seeing this, Timothy had no choice but to step aside and allow Benjamin to enter. Benjamin¡¯s gaze burned into Grace as if he could see through her. Grace furrowed her brows, feeling uneasy. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, what brings you here?¡± Benjamin pursed his l*ps and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± He had heard about Grace¡¯s experience with the fire. Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Confident as Always He knew that she had been injured and had even gone as far as to follow her to Frenda. However, the Lewis family had hidden her too well. He stayed in Frenda for ten days but hadn¡¯t been able to find her. After he had returned to Pamore, he had been waiting for her at Amirate Corporation. Grace concealed all her emotions. She calmly said, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, is this your way of showing concern? I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°Seeing you well puts my mind at ease,¡± Benjamin said. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. He paused momentarily and continued, ¡°The nanotechnology robot project with Albert has progressed to a critical stage. The productunch is next mon He had shifted the topic to work. This time, Grace didn¡¯t refuse. After all, it was a project she was managing. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll arrange my schedule.¡± In truth, Benjamin had overheard Grace¡¯s conversation with Samuel earlier. He had figured that Grace needed help. So he continued, ¡°Ms. Lewis, Hawkins Group is now involved in several new projects. If you¡¯re interested, we can continue our partnership ¡­¡± Without hesitation, Grace declined. ¡°There¡¯s no need, Mr. Hawkins.¡® Benjamin self¨Cmockingly lowered his eyes, concealing his emotions. ¡°Is it because you want nothing to do with me? Aren¡¯t you always clear about keeping personal and professional matters separate?¡± His words didn¡¯t anger Grace or stir the slightest ripple in herposure. She replied, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, your confidence remains unwavering. However, Amirate Corporation has already found a new partner, Futurelink Corporation. It¡¯s best if there isn¡¯t any excessive involvement with Hawkins Group¡­¡± Her words were straightforward. Benjamin was unimpressed. He said with disdain, ¡°Futurelink is a newpany. It¡¯s still finding its footing, but it¡¯s already rushing forward with projects? ¡°Mr. Hawkins, have you never learned how to respect others?¡± Grace retorted. ¨C Benjamin¡¯s expression turned somewhat unpleasant. ¡°Is that how you see me, Grace?¡± There was a sense of loss in his words when he called her by her name. Grace stated, ¡°It¡¯s the reality, isn¡¯t it?¡± Suddenly, Benjamin felt like he shouldn¡¯t havee here today. But he had been so eager to see her. So he softened his tone and said, ¡°This Saturday is Grandma¡¯s birthday. She¡¯s been mentioning you. If you have time, she would appreciate it if you cou Grace had always responded better to a gentle approach. So Benjamin brought up Elizabeth, the only person in the Hawkins family who had shown Grace any warmth. After the divorce, Grace and Elizabeth hadn¡¯t seen each other again. Grace¡¯s heart softened when she thought about how kind Elizabeth had been to her. ¡°Grandma¡¯s birthday, you say? I¡¯ll visit her. Let¡¯s not discuss anything else, Mr. Hawkins,¡± Grace asserted. However, Benjamin seemed to ignore thest part of her sentence. He knew that Grace still cared about particr things to some extent. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the Hawkins Manor on Saturday.¡± After saying that, Benjamin turned and left without waiting for Grace¡¯s response, as if afraid she would change her mind. He had already made up his mind. But this time, he would put all his hopes on Elizabeth. After Benjamin left, Grace sat alone, lost in thought. Seeing this, Timothy walked over. He tapped the table and said, ¡°Mdy, are you still thinking about Benjamin?¡± Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Be Friends When Romance Fails Grace snapped back to reality, looking puzzled. ¡°What?¡± Timothy seemed to sense a unique atmosphere between Grace and Benjamin, so he said with a hint of disappointment, ¡°If you¡¯re willing to go back to him, I¡¯ll respect your decision.¡± Grace chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you suddenlycking confidence?¡± Timothy quickly added, ¡°If my rival is Benjamin, losing to him isn¡¯t something to be too embarrassed about. ¡°But Mdy, you need to think it through. The old issues are still there. If you two want to get back together, at least resolve those issues first.¡± Upon hearing that, Grace retorted, ¡°Who said I want to get back together with him?¡± Timothy¡¯s eyes lit up as he stared at her. ¡°Mdy, do you mean ¡­ Grace shook her head slightly. ¡°I have no intention of getting back together with him, at least for now,¡± Timothy eximed, ¡°Mdy, does that mean I still have a chance?¡± Grace raised her eyes, meeting his gaze. She nned to make things clear with him today. ¡°Timothy, are you so certain that I¡¯m your ultimate choice in this lifetime?¡± Timothy nodded without hesitation. ¡°100% percent. You¡¯re the woman I want. I was blind before. If I had known that you were the one I had been arranged to marry, I wouldn¡¯t have refused. I just hope there¡¯s still a chance for us.¡± Grace lowered her eyes. She had never expected Timothy to be so stubborn. She had once thought that his feelings were just a fleeting fancy, a momentary passion. Now, she couldn¡¯t give him the response he sought. She could only let him give up altogether. ¡°Timothy, resign from Amirate Corporation. With your abilities, you shouldn¡¯t stay here forever. You deserve better. Even if you return to Donegan Enterprises, it¡¯s better than staying here.¡± Timothy had already figured out what she was getting at. He said, ¡°Mdy, are you trying to ¡°I don¡¯t mean that. It¡¯s just that staying at Amirate doesn¡¯t allow you to utilize your talents to the fullest.¡± Timothy seemed unfazed. ¡°But I don¡¯t mind, as long as I can stay by your side.¡± ¡°Timothy! I will sign your resignation letter. Whether you agree or not, this is how it¡¯s going to be.¡± The office fell silent all of a sudden. Both of them stayed silent, neither saying another word. After what felt like a long time, Timothy slowly spoke, ¡°Mdy, if this is what you want, I¡¯ll agree. But no matter what, my feelings won¡¯t go away just beca ¡°If I could, I would genuinely like to bind myself to you through this arranged marriage, even if it means merely having you as a part of my life. I¡¯m willing Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Timothy raised his gaze, seeing her wherever he looked. ¡°Mdy, let¡¯s be friends if we can¡¯t be lovers. After all, we¡¯ve known each other since childhood.¡± Grace looked at him and finally said, ¡°Fine.¡± Little did she know that Timothy was taking advantage of the situation. ¡°All lovers start as friends. Mdy, even if I leave Amirate and return to Donegan Enterprises, my heart will still be with you. Do you understand?¡± He added, ¡°I won¡¯t resign so quickly. I¡¯ll take responsibility for the Dunhill project until it¡¯spleted, then decide whether to leave. But my ultimate goal is to see you happy ¡°Timothy¡­¡± Grace wanted to say something more, but Timothy smiled resignedly. ¡°What? Are you having second thoughts about letting me go now?¡± Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Elizabeth¡¯s Birthday Banquet ¡°Don¡¯t be modest. I just believe that you will find your happiness,¡± Grace said sincerely. Timothy looked rxed and nodded in agreement. He didn¡¯t say anything, but his eyes reflected how resolute he was in his decision. In the following days, Grace was busy catching up on the work that had been pending since she had been busy with the fashion show. When Saturday finally arrived, she could take a break. Early in the morning, she received a call from Elizabeth. ¡°Gracie, will you being to Hawkins Manor today?¡± Grace hesitated a bit. But she sensed the anticipation in Elizabeth¡¯s tone and decided to agree. ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s your birthday, so I¡¯ll definitely be there on time.¡± Overjoyed, Elizabeth smiled. ¡°Good, good, good! I¡¯ll be waiting for you here.¡± ! After hanging up the phone, Grace looked out of the window. The morning sunlight streamed Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. into the room, casting a warm glow. The weather was perfect today. Grace took out the emerald jewelry she had bought at the auction and called for the housekeeper, Britley Lawson. ¡°Britley, help me find a gift box to pack this.¡± ¡°Yes, madam.¡± Britley quickly wrapped the gift. Grace admired the packaging. ¡°You¡¯re very good at this.¡± ¡°Madam, where are you heading today?¡± Britley asked. ¡°Hawkins Manor,¡± Grace replied. Britley didn¡¯t ask too much after that. Later, Grace chose a white Maserati in the garage and drove to Hawkins Manor. Since it was Elizabeth¡¯s birthday, Hawkins Manor was bustling, and the atmosphere was lively. The Hawkins family always ced great importance on Elizabeth¡¯s birthday. Various luxury cars were already lining the parking spots outside the house. People had brought gifts and were gathered in the grand hall to express their wishes. However, Elizabeth¡¯s gaze kept darting toward the entrance, as if she were anticipating ¡°Mom, today is your birthday, and Geraldine has specially prepared a gift for you.¡± Benjamin¡¯s aunt¨Cin¨C law, Olivia Henderson, pulled her daughter, Geraldine Hawkins, over to offer birthday wishes. ¡°Grandma, happy birthday.¡± Elizabeth withdrew her gaze. She smiled and nodded. ¡°Very thoughtful of you. Thank you.¡± However, Olivia linked her arm with Elizabeth¡¯s. ¡°Mom, since it¡¯s your birthday, let¡¯s talk about Geraldine¡¯s love life. She¡¯s 25 years old now¨C the perfect age to consider marriage. Do you know any eligible candidates around?¡± ¡°Mom, what are you talking about?¡± eximed Geraldine. She was clearly annoyed. But Olivia persisted, ¡°Sweetie, you¡¯re at the age where marriage is on the table. It¡¯s not right to be 25 years old and still not have a partner.¡± Geraldine felt frustrated. She retorted, ¡°My personal life is none of your business!¡± Undeterred, Olivia pulled a stack of documents from her bag, saying, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve done some research. I¡¯ve gathered information on eligible candidates u As she walked over, Susan couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°Seriously, Olivia? It¡¯s Mom¡¯s birthday, and you¡¯re bringing up all this matchmaking stuff.¡± Susan¡¯s rtionship with Olivia, her sister¨Cinw, had always been a bit rocky. But there was nothing Olivia could do. Although Susan was Michael¡¯s second wife, she had given birth to a son! X Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Don¡¯t Call Me That Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. With a son as outstanding as Benjamin, Olivia couldn¡¯t help but feel overshadowed by Susan. Meanwhile, Olivia¡¯s whole life revolved around Geraldine, Her remark hit a nerve. Susan¡¯s expression darkened. It felt like a jab to her heart. ¡°Well, Celia is just going to be in Astana for a while. She¡¯ll be back eventually,¡± Susan replied weakly before retreating. Olivia imed victory. Then, she pulled Elizabeth into the conversation. ¡°Mom, check this out. Xander Fulton, the president of Futurelink Corporation. He is handsome and talented. He turned thepany around in a few months. He¡¯s a real catch ¡­¡± Elizabeth furrowed as she interrupted, ¡°Enough for now. W Pouting, Olivia reluctantly agreed, ¡°Alright, Mom.¡± Then, she turned her attention to Geraldine. ¡°Geraldine, take a look! This guy, Xander, seems to fit your taste.¡± However, Geraldine showed no interest. Her gaze remained fixed on the entrance. When she spotted Benjamin walking in, her dull eyes instantly lit up. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll go over there for a moment,¡± she said before swiftly walking toward Benjamin. ¡°Benjamin¡­¡± Benjamin saw Geraldine approaching. He greeted, ¡°Ms. Geraldine, you¡¯re here.¡± Geraldine, who was only two months older than Benjamin, felt annoyed when he addressed her so formally. She yfully scolded him, ¡°I¡¯ve told you so many times not to call me ¡®miss¡®. It makes me sound old.¡± ¡°Haha, Ms. Geraldine, you¡¯re not old at all,¡± Frederick said, earning a re from Geraldine. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that!¡± Geraldine warned. Taken aback, Frederick quickly corrected himself. ¡°Alright, alright. We can¡¯t just call you¡® Geraldine¡®, can we?¡± Geraldine¡¯s expression softened a bit. She turned to Benjamin and asked, ¡°Benjamin, I heard you got divorced. Is it true?¡± T Benjamin¡¯s eyes darkened, and his smile faded slightly. Those familiar with him knew it was a sign of displeasure. Frederick hastily interjected, ¡°Geraldine, maybe you shouldn¡¯t bring that up.¡± However, Geraldine paid no mind. ¡°That woman, Grace, was never worthy of you. It¡¯s good that you divorced her,¡± she continued. Frederick tried to stop her. ¡°Ms. Geraldine¨CI mean, Gerdaline! Let¡¯s not discuss this further ¡­ Frederick carefully gauged Benjamin¡¯s expression. Sensing Benjamin¡¯s displeasure, Geraldine pouted. ¡°Tsk, tsk, are you still thinking about her, Benjamin?¡± Benjamin ignored herment and said, ¡°Geraldine, it¡¯s Grandma¡¯s birthday today, so let¡¯s focus on her. There¡¯s no need to bother with my affairs.¡± With that, Benjamin turned to leave, and Frederick quickly followed. Geraldine became frustrated. She had just spoken the truth. Grace had never been a match for him! At the entrance, Frederick caught up with Benjamin and teased, ¡°What¡¯s up with you? Did you get upset because someone badmouthed Grace?¡± Benjamin let out a cold snort and gazed into the distance. He chose to remain silent. Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Ovvereacting Frederick couldn¡¯t resist pressing on. ¡°When they were causing all that trouble for Grace, why didn¡¯t it bother you? ¡°Now that I¡¯ve just made a few remarks, why are you having a strong reaction? Benjamin, it seems like you¡¯re taking this a bit too seriously, don¡¯t you thin Benjamin responded calmly, ¡°Are you feeling chatty today?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Frederick became even more curious after seeing his evasive reply. He reached out, hooking \his shoulder. ¡°Brother, aren¡¯t you waiting for someone?¡± The ¡°someone¡± in Frederick¡¯s words naturally referred to Grace. A slight movement appeared at the corner of Benjamin¡¯s mouth. ¡°Are you too free?¡± Frederick quickly denied, ¡°No, just a bit curious.¡± ¡°Let me remind you¨Cnow that you¡¯ve figured out your feelings and want to win Grace back, you need to show sincerity for the mistakes you made in the past. Just admit them and stand upright! Take the hits, and make it right! In simple terms, just treat her better,¡± he continued. Benjamin remained unimpressed and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t need you to tell me.¡± Just as they were talking, a white Maserati came into view. Frederick couldn¡¯t help but whistle, sounding whimsical, ¡°Buddy, here shees.¡± Grace parked the car in the designated spot, grabbed the gift, and got out of the car. Most of the people who came today were close rtives of the Hawkins family. They were somewhat aware of the gossip surrounding Grace and Benjamin, especially their high¨Cprofile divorce. Whispers and discussions ensued among some, unable to hide their surprise. ¡°Why is she here?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t they divorced? Could, they have reconciled?¡± ¡°She¡¯s the Lewis family¡¯s heiress, with a status and background far superior to that of the Hawkins family. Marrying her is considered an extraordinary aplishment for the Hawkins family.¡± Grace kept her eyes straight ahead, ignoring what others were saying. She walked elegantly in a flowing azure dress. It entuated her slender figure, and her steps were confident in high heels. Benjamin took the initiative to greet her. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Grace nodded slightly, considering it a greeting. ¡°Where¡¯s Grandma?¡± Benjamin quickly responded, ¡°Inside. Let me take you in.¡± On the side, Frederick couldn¡¯t help but suppress augh. Still, he waved to Grace. ¡°Long time, no see. I heard you¡¯ve be my old man¡¯s student, so you¡¯re practically family now.¡± Grace gave a simple acknowledgment without saying much. She declined Benjamin¡¯s offer to walk her inside and walked in alone. ¡°Grandma!¡± Upon seeing Grace, Elizabeth approached her and took her hand. ¡°Gracie, you¡¯re here.¡± There was now a sea of smiling faces among the Hawkins family rtives who had once looked down on Grace with disdain and mockery. They were fu ¡°Grace, it¡¯s been a while, and you look more beautiful than ever.¡± Benjamin¡¯s younger aunt, Ava Hawkins, was the one who had just spoken. In the past, she and Susan had often picked on Grace. But now, it seemed lik ?? ? ¡°I heard your grandfather is Harold Lewis. I would like to meet him if there¡¯s a chance,¡± Ava added. Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Chapter 237 How Shameless Can You Be ¡°I heard you¡¯re the new CEO of Amirate Corporation. That¡¯s quite impressive. Your uncle¡¯spany downsized recently, leaving him jobless. Please con Grace remained silent, not immediately responding. But Ava didn¡¯t see anything wrong with her suggestion. ¡°Your uncle used to be just a team leader. So I believe joining Amirate and bing CEO should be no problem for him.¡± Elizabeth overheard the conversation and wasn¡¯t pleased with Ava¡¯s remarks. Ava ignored the awkward atmosphere and continued, ¡°Considering we¡¯re all part of the same family, arranging a job at Amriate shouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± Grace countered bluntly, ¡°What are you talking about? He¡¯s still part of the Hawkins family. With the size and influence of Hawkins Group, finding a job shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Our family business might be small, but it can surely amodate such a ¡®b Her response was straightforward. She had hit a nerve. Ava¡¯s demeanor shifted abruptly. Grace¡¯s words hit Ava¡¯s sore spot. The idea of being limited to the Hawkins Group because of her husband¡¯s shori ¡°Grace, what¡¯s with your attitude? It was just a simple request. No wonder Benjamin dumped you,¡± Ava retorted. ¡°Enough, Ava! Shut up and stop causing trouble here.¡± Elizabeth scolded her daughter sharply. It turned out that she had been too lenient with Ava. Feeling resentful, Ava muttered, ¡°Mom! I just wanted her to help. We¡¯re family, after all.¡± ¡°How shameless can you be?¡± Elizabeth¡¯s stern words silenced Ava, who left in frustration. Realizing the embarrassment her daughter had caused, Elizabeth apologized, ¡°Grace, don¡¯t mind her words.¡± Grace shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Grandma!¡± In her eyes, Ava¡¯sments were akin to a dog¡¯s barks, so she ignored the unnecessarymotion. ¡°Grandma, I got you a gift. I wish you a long and happy life.¡± Grace offered a gift to Elizabeth, but Benjamin took it first, revealing an expensive emerald n*e. ¡°Look at this gift. Your taste is getting better,¡± he said. Grace replied, ¡°It¡¯s a bit better than before.¡± Her words had a double meaning. Benjamin N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Elizabeth intervened, sayirig, ¡°Grace, your presence here is the best gift.¡± Grace insisted, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s the least I can do. It¡¯s all thanks to your care that I was well during the thr¨¦e years I spent here.¡± Elizabeth nodded and took her hand. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± On the other side, Ava was furious. She was an elder in the family, yet Grace hadn¡¯t shown her any respect. Being rejected in front of so many people wa However, considering Grace¡¯s status, Ava didn¡¯t dare to do anything and could only fume from the side. Geraldine appeared at some point. Ava, irritated, said, ¡°Why are you following me? I want some time alone.¡± Geraldine remained unfazed. She turned and looked toward the bustling scene in the hall, with Grace in the center. It was a stark contrast to Grace¡¯sck of status in the Hawkins family before. In the past, hardly any family member had considered Grace Benjamin¡¯s wife. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Sowing Discord Nowadays, with Grace¡¯s elevated status, most people eagerly sought to align themselves with her and attempt to win her favor. This left Ava feeling quite uneasy. ¡°Aunt Ava, do you know why Celia was exiled to Astana?¡± Geraldine asked. Since Ava¡¯s marriage, she had rarely been involved in the Hawkins family¡¯s affairs. Hence, she was unaware of what had happened to Celia. Susan had only told her that Celia had gone to study in Astana. But what kind of ce was Astana, exactly? Even if the Hawkins family were in decline, they wouldn¡¯t send their child somewhere like that. Ava was unclear about the specifics, so she asked, ¡°Do you know the details?¡± Geraldine gestured toward Grace in the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s because of her, of course.¡± ¡°You mean Grace? Does she really have such influence?¡± Geraldine looked at Ava as if thetter were underestimating Grace. ¡°Have you forgotten how Celia and Aunt Susan used to mistreat her? She¡¯s simply seeking justice. It¡¯s betterte than never! ¡°Now that she has power, she has taught Celia a significant lesson. I heard Benjamin has already rified that Celia probably won¡¯t return, ever.¡± Ava¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Grace holds grudges like this?¡± She had often mocked Grace, regrly calling her names and belittling her. If Grace sought revenge, Ava would indeed be in a difficult situation. ¡°Aunt Ava, you may not know, but it¡¯s not just Celia. Even Aunt Susan couldn¡¯t avoid her influence.¡± ¡°What? Susan is her mother¨Cinw! She¡¯s Grace¡¯s elder! How can Grace be so audacious? It¡¯s outrageous!¡± Seeing that Ava was agitated, Geraldine continued to add fuel to the fire. ¡°They are already divorced, so Aunt Susan doesn¡¯t count as her mother¨Cin¨C law. That¡¯s why she acts without reservation! Moreover, considering your situation¡­¡± Ava felt a sense of fear. She had married someone from an average family with little power, If Grace decided to target her, it would be as easy as crushing an ant under her shoe. Feeling desperate, Ava turned to Geraldine. ¡°I watched you grow. What should I do now? Should I apologize, hoping she¡¯ll let me off the hook?¡± She was about to apologize, but Geraldine stopped her. ¡°It won¡¯t help, Aunt Ava. She doesn¡¯t care about you anymore. She could have easily helped Uncle get a job if she wanted to. She didn¡¯t help because she looks down on you and your family.¡± That sessfully pissed Ava off. She red at Grace, muttering, ¡°Ugh. What a b*tch.¡± ¡°So if you go to apologize to her, she might make things difficult for you.¡± Feeling lost, Ava asked, ¡°Then what should I do?¡± Geraldine smirked. She said slowly, ¡°It¡¯s simple. Since she¡¯s not kind, she can¡¯t me us for being cruel. Do you want to teach her a lesson? That¡¯s even simpler.¡± After speaking, Geraldine leaned in and whispered something. Ava couldn¡¯t help but smile triumphantly. ¡°You¡¯re right! Striking first is the key. As an elder, I can¡¯t let her trample on us.¡® Meanwhile, many guests present at Hawkins Manor were drawn by Grace¡¯s status and sought to form a connection with the Lewis family. Hence, they ac Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. with her. Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Going With the Flow In an instant, Grace was surrounded by everyone. She was the center of attention. Elizabeth was pleased as she watched. But Susan, who was sitting in a corner of the hall, felt frustrated. These people were so used to going with the flow. When circumstances had favored Susan, they had been quick to admire her. With Grace in the spotlight now, they were hurrying to align themselves with her. This reminded Susan of Celia, who was enduring hardships in Astana while Grace was thriving. She felt uneasy at the thought. ¡°Mom, she¡¯s no longer part of our family. Why did you invite her?¡± Susan asked. Displeased, Elizabeth responded, ¡°Grace is my guest. What makes you think you have the right toment? If you have free time, go to the kitchen. Don¡¯t be a nuisance here.¡± Seeing no other option, Susan headed toward the kitchen. At this moment, Elizabeth instinctively covered her chest, feeling a slight pain. Her old ailment was acting up again. She stood up and walked toward the stairs, climbing to the next floor. ¡°Grace,¡± Geraldine called out as she approached through the crowd. Grace had a favorable opinion of Geraldine, who had never been as troublesome as the other members of the Hawkins family. ¡°Geraldine!¡± Geraldine smiled and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a significant change in you after not seeing you for a while.¡± Grace chuckled. ¡°Geraldine, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s bing more and more attractive.¡± Suddenly, Geraldine remembered something. ¡°I just saw that Grandma wasn¡¯t feeling well. It seems like her recurring chest pain is acting up again.¡± Grace couldn¡¯t help but express concern upon hearing about Elizabeth¡¯s health. ¡°Is she alright? Scanning the surroundings, Geraldine casually remarked, ¡°It¡¯s strange. Grandma has been away for a while. She hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± Worried, Grace¡¯s gaze swept the area. When she couldn¡¯t find Elizabeth among the guests If Grace decided to target her, it would be as easy as crushing an ant under her shoe. Feeling desperate, Ava turned to Geraldine. ¡°I watched you grow. What should I do now? Should I apologize, hoping she¡¯ll let me off the hook?¡± She was about to apologize, but Geraldine stopped her. ¡°It won¡¯t help, Aunt Ava. She doesn¡¯t care about you anymore. She could have easily helped Uncle get a job if she wanted to. She didn¡¯t help because she looks That sessfully pissed Ava off. She red at Grace, muttering, ¡°Ugh. What a b*tch.¡± ¡°So if you go to apologize to her, she might make things difficult for you.¡± Feeling lost, Ava asked, ¡°Then what should I do?¡± Geraldine smirked. She said slowly, ¡°It¡¯s simple. Since she¡¯s not kind, she can¡¯t me us for being cruel. Do you want to teach her a lesson? That¡¯s even After speaking, Geraldine leaned in and whispered something. Ava couldn¡¯t help but smile triumphantly. ¡°You¡¯re right! Striking first is the key. As an elder, I can¡¯t let her trample on us.¡± Meanwhile, many guests present at Hawkins Manor were drawn by Grace¡¯s status and sought to form a connection with the Lewis family. Hence, they actively engaged in conversations with her. GET IT NOW Chapter 239 Going With the Flow In an instant, Grace was surrounded by everyone. She was the center of attention. Elizabeth was pleased as she watched. But Susan, who was sitting in a corner of the hall, felt frustrated. These people were so used to going with the flow. When circumstances had favored Susan, they had been quick to admire her. With Grace in the spotlight now, they were hurrying to align themselves with her. This reminded Susan of Celia, who was enduring hardships in Astana while Grace was thriving. She felt uneasy at the thought. ¡°Mom, she¡¯s no longer part of our family. Why did you invite her?¡± Susan asked. Displeased, Elizabeth responded, ¡°Grace is my guest. What makes you think you have the right toment? If you have free time, go to the kitchen. Don¡¯t be a nuisance here.¡± Seeing no other option, Susan headed toward the kitchen. At this moment, Elizabeth instinctively covered her chest, feeling a slight pain. Her old ailment was acting up again. She stood up and walked toward the stairs, climbing to the next floor. ¡°Grace,¡± Geraldine called out as she approached through the crowd. Grace had a favorable opinion of Geraldine, who had never been as troublesome as the other members of the Hawkins family. ¡°Geraldine!¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Geraldine smiled and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a significant change in you after not seeing you for a while.¡± Grace chuckled. ¡°Geraldine, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s bing more and more attractive.¡± Suddenly, Geraldine remembered something. ¡°I just saw that Grandma wasn¡¯t feeling well. It seems like her recurring chest pain is acting up again.¡± Grace couldn¡¯t help but express concern upon hearing about Elizabeth¡¯s health. ¡°Is she alright? 11 Scanning the surroundings, Geraldine casually remarked, ¡°It¡¯s strange. Grandma has been away for a while. She hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± Worried, Grace¡¯s gaze swept the area. When she couldn¡¯t find Elizabeth among the guests ¡°Sure, take your time.¡± Grace turned and headed toward the staircase. Having lived in Hawkins Manor for three years, she was familiar with every corner. Grace reached Elizabeth¡¯s room and called, ¡°Grandma, are you inside?¡± Upon entering the room, she received no response. After a thorough search, she came across one of the household staff. The housekeeper respectfully addressed her, ¡°Madam!¡± Grace smiled. ¡°No need to call me ¡®madam¡®. Just Ms. Lewis is good.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis.¡± She inquired, ¡°Have you seen Grandma?¡°! The housekeeper pointed to the rightmost room. ¡°Mrs. Hawkins Senior seems to have gone in there.¡± Grace thanked the housekeeper and approached the room. However, after a few steps, she stopped abruptly. She looked at the room before her. She remembered that this was the forbidden area in Hawkins Manor. On her first day in Hawkins¡® Manor three years ago, Elizabeth had informed her that she could enter any room except this one. ¡°Grandma, are you inside?¡± Grace called softly, not taking another step forward. When she didn¡¯t get a response, she turned away. Unexpectedly, the room¡¯s door opened slowly, just slightly ajar. Grace hesitated momentarily, then reached out and pushed the door open. The room was filled with ancient and elegant furniture covered in dust. It was bathed in sunlight streaming through the window, creating a surreal atmosp Grace took a couple of steps. As she looked around, she froze in ce, shocked by what she saw. Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Embarrassing Moment ¡°What are you doing?¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. At the doorway, Benjamin¡¯s voice carried a hint of anger. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he strode over to Grace and forcefully took her hand without saying a word. Before Grace could react, he briskly led her outside. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Grace looked up with disbelief in her eyes. Benjamin frowned but offered no exnation. ¡°Regardless of what you just saw, don¡¯t dwell on it.¡± Grace became increasingly puzzled. She felt like there were some dark secrets hidden in there. ¡°This is just too strange,¡± Grace muttered, recalling what she had just seen. She stared at Benjamin¡¯s face and finally asked, ¡°Why is your ck and white photograph hanging on the wall like a dead man¡¯s? Are you a ghost?¡± Benjamin was annoyed. ¡°Nonsense. You¡¯ve got it wrong.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Grace asked again. As she spoke, she realized that she had unconsciously pulled her hand away from Benjamin¡¯s firm grip. Benjamin¡¯s hands were empty, but he patiently suggested, ¡°The birthday banquet is about to start. Let¡¯s go downstairs.¡± Grace had her doubts, but she wondered if she might be overthinking things. After all, Benjamin was standing perfectly unharmed in front of her, wasn¡¯t he? ¡°What about Grandma? Is she okay?¡± Grace asked. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Grace exined, ¡°I heard that Grandma wasn¡¯t feeling well, so I came upstairs to check on her. Benjamin gave her a suspicious look. ¡°Grandma is fine, but next time, don¡¯te in here again.¡± Grace lowered her gaze and nodded. The two of them walked down the corridor, one after the other. Just as they reached the end of the staircase on the ground floor, something suddenly fel ¡°Careful!¡± Benjamin instinctively pulled her arm, moving her aside and using his own b*dy to shield her from the iing object. With a loud thud, the object heavily hit Benjamin¡¯s back. The next second, he was covered in colorful paint. It was truly embarrassing. Everyone around them turned toward the scene, surprised by what they had just witnessed. Meanwhile, Benjamin found himself in an awkward situation. When had he ever appeared ¡°Are you okay?¡± Grace asked with concern. Themotion had already attracted a crowd. ¡°Benjamin, what happened? How did you end up like this?¡± Geraldine asked. She was the first to rush over, with a worried expression on her face. The onlookers were equally shocked. ¡°How did a bucket of paint suddenly appear, and why did it fall from upstairs?¡± ¡°Benjamin, are you hurt?¡± ¡°Are you feeling any difort anywhere?¡± Apart from a bit of pain where he had been hit on the back, Benjamin was fine. It was just that he needed to clean up the paint on his b*dy. He looked toward Grace, who had gotten lost in the crowd as they swarmed around him. Without much hesitation, he approached her. ¡°Grace, can you help Grace was puzzled. ¡°What did you say?¡± But Benjamin didn¡¯t want to give her a chance to refuse. He tried to reach out and pull her, but she swiftly avoided him. Although she appreciated Benjamin for shielding her from the paint, agreeing to his request in front of so many people wouldplicate things between ¡°Benjamin, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll help you clean up,¡± Geraldine said as she red at Grace indignantly. X GET Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Chapter 241 It Would Be Great If We Weren¡¯t Family Without hesitation, Benjamin replied, ¡°I only want her.¡± Feeling frustrated, Grace declined, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, this might not be appropriate.¡± Benjamin¡¯s expression grew serious, the displeasure evident on his face. But he couldn¡¯t forcefully insist in front of so many people, so Geraldine eventually led him away. After they left, Elizabeth hurried over to Grace and asked, ¡°Are you okay, Grace?¡± Grace returned to her senses. Shaking her head, she said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Grandma. Are you feeling better?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, just the usual¡­¡± Ava came downstairs, holding the ear of a boy covered in paint. They were talking. The boy Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. had two paintbrushes, and his tearful face was distressed as Ava led him down. ¡°You idiot, look at the mess you¡¯ve made!¡± The boy burst into tears, his cries echoing through the hall. Elizabeth looked displeased and scolded coldly, ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself.¡± Ava hadn¡¯t expected that she would make Benjamin look so disheveled instead of Grace. If Benjamin found out, he might not take it lightly. So she quickly took the initiative to apologize. ¡°Mom, the child didn¡¯t know any better. We didn¡¯t expect that Benjamin would get covered in paint. Please me the child. I¡¯ve already scolded him ¡­¡± Elizabeth¡¯s expression remained grim. She ignored Ava and pulled Grace, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Grace.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes darkened. A subtle sense of unease crept over her. Meanwhile, only Geraldine and Benjamin were left in the room after the household staff had left. Benjamin was facing away. Unaware that Geraldine hadn¡¯t left, he began to undo his coat. The next moment, Geraldine rushed forward and said, ¡°Benja A hint of passion flickered in Geraldine¡¯s eyes. ¡°Geraldine, you don¡¯t need to bother. Could you please leave?¡± Geraldine¡¯s hands froze in mid¨C air. As she lifted her gaze, she met Benjamin¡¯s deep eyes. The emotions she had suppressed for so many years were seeking an outlet. ¡°Benjamin, imagine if ¡­ if we weren¡¯t cousins. Wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?¡± Benjamin¡¯s eyes filled with surprise upon hearing those words. Without hesitation, he forcefully pushed her away. ¡°Geraldine, you must be drunk. You¡¯re spouting nonsense.¡± Geraldine hurriedly approached him, intending to express her feelings. ¡°Benjamin, I haven¡¯t had a drop of alcohol. Just seeing you makes me feel drunk. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. If you like being here, I¡¯ll leave.¡± Benjamin promptly walked away. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Burnt Bridges Geraldine couldn¡¯t suppress a self¨Camused smile as she saw Benjamin walking away. She was sober now. She looked down and clenched her fists. Her face showed how frustrated and embarrassed she felt after being rejected. She couldn¡¯t help thinking about the incident downstairs when Benjamin protected Grace almost instinctively ¡­ Weren¡¯t they divorced? Why did it seem like there was still something between them? Geraldine¡¯s eyes darkened at the thought. After Benjamin finished showering and returned to the hall in fresh clothes, he searched around but found no sign of Grace. Seeing this, Elizabeth sighed, saying, ¡°Grace has already left¡­¡® Benjamin was surprised. He sounded a bit reproachful as he asked, ¡°Grandma, didn¡¯t you ask her to stay?¡± ¡°Tell me the truth. What are you thinking? I told you to take care of Grace, but you insisted on causing trouble. Now that you¡¯re divorced, you¡¯re eagerly c foolish? ¡°Elizabeth was clearly unhappy with him. ¡°Grandma! What are you saying?¡± Benjamin retorted. ¡°Did you sort out your messy rtionships back then? If I remember correctly, you were the one who cheated first and even got someone pregnant,¡± Elizabeth responded Benjamin¡¯s expression turned serious when Elizabeth brought up the past. Elizabeth usually spoiled him, but there was no leniency in this matter. ¡°Once bridges are burned, only ashes remain. Remember that. If you want Grace to forgive you, you must repent for the rest of your life. 1 ¡°But if she can¡¯t get over this, don¡¯t force it. Perhaps your rtionship has trulye to an end.¡± Benjamin frowned at Elizabeth¡¯s words. No longer able to focus on the banquet, he returned to his bedroom alone. On the balcony, smoke filled the air as Benjamin covered the ground in ash. After some time, Benjamin made an international call. ¡°How did the investigation go about After hearing the response, Benjamin ended the call and put out his cigarette. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll book a flight ande over immediately.¡± Benjamin acted swiftly and flew overseas that night. After leaving Hawkins Manor, Grace didn¡¯t return to the office. Instead, she went to the boutique. It had been a while since she had visited. The store¡¯s business was as good as ever. Emily had hired two assistants to help out as well. Emily greeted Grace with delight. ¡°Hey, babe! Howe you¡¯re here today?¡± Grace smiled. ¡°I was just passing by. How¡¯s the business here? Is everything going well?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Everything¡¯s fine.¡± Seeing how distracted Grace looked, Emily couldn¡¯t help but pull her over and ask, ¡°Babe, what¡¯s going on with you today? Why do you seem like you¡¯re hiding something?¡± Grace pursed her l*ps and voiced her inner doubts. ¡°What do you think ¡­ about someone leading a good life, but there¡¯s a ck and white photograph of him hanging at home? Doesn¡¯t that seem a bit unu After all, ording to Pamore tradition, such an act might be considered inauspicious. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Emily didn¡¯t understand what Grace was talking about. ¡°If someone is living well, why hang their ck and white photo on the wall? Doesn¡¯t that mean death? Most people wouldn¡¯t do such a thing¡­¡± That was precisely what Grace was thinking. However, she couldn¡¯t help but think of the forbidden room in Hawkins Manor and the photo hanging on the wall. Was all of this just a coincidence? Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Chapter 243 A Potent Remedy Emily interrupted Grace¡¯s thoughts. ¡°By the way, since you¡¯re here, I suddenly remembered something. We had a customer who specifically requested that you design a dress for ¡°What kind of dress?¡± Grace asked. Emily fl*pped through the customer order forms on the counter and handed it to Grace. ¡°The offer is three million dors, and there¡¯s no deadline. As long as you¡¯re avable within Grace raised an eyebrow and took the order. The order was quite straightforward, with no extravagant details, only leaving a name and a phone number. ¡°So weird. Does she have any specific requirements for the dress?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t say anything. She just mentioned that she wants to discuss it with you in person whenever you¡¯re avable. Should we take this order?¡± Grace smiled, looking pleased. ¡°Why not? ept it. This can be considered a big order for our boutique, so we should definitely take it. ¡°Leave this matter to me. I¡¯ve been busy at the office recently, but I¡¯ll contact her once I have some free time.¡± ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll do it ording to your n.¡± The next day, Grace arrived at the office early in the morning. Coincidentally, she ran into Timothy downstairs. Timothy, dressed in a suit, looked quite different from his usual style. However, upon seeing Grace, hisposed demeanor crumbled. ¡°Good morning, Mdy!¡± Timothy greeted Grace with a cheerful smile, presenting himself as a warm and friendly man. He quickly caught up with Grace and entered the elevator together. ¡°Mdy, are you here for the meeting?¡± Timothy asked. Grace nodded. Timothy¡¯s smile widened even more. As usual, Amirate held a meeting every Monday morning. Grace had rarely attended them before, so Timothy found it somewhat surprising that she was here today. ¡°The main focus of today¡¯s meeting is the project in Dunhill. We¡¯ll finalize the budget, and we¡¯ll participate in the bidding tomorrow,¡± Timothy informed Gra Grace was familiar with Timothy¡¯s business capabilities and knew how enthusiastically he approached work. Despite that, she couldn¡¯t resist teasing him. ¡°Are you confident?¡± Timothy took a deep breath, disying unwavering determination. ¡°Mdy, rest assured! Not many canpete for this project. Besides ¡­ this should b you down.¡± Grace¡¯s l*ps curled up in response. She turned to him and asked, ¡°Have you decided to leave?¡± Timothy nodded. ¡°But, Mdy, even if I physically leave Amirate, my heart will still be here.¡± ¡°In that case, when you secure this project, I¡¯ll hold a celebration for you.¡± ¡°Sure! Mdy, you have my word.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Great. I¡¯ll be looking forward to hearing good news.¡± Grace¡¯s encouragement was like a powerful tonic for Timothy. He felt buoyant, and his good moodsted throughout the meeting. Timothy stood in front of everyone and spoke confidently. His every action and expression were dazzling, earning praise from the others in attendance. There was no doubt that Timothy looked quite handsome when he was serious! All budget reports have been organized. After the meeting, they will be submitted to Ms. Lewis for approval,¡± Timothy concluded, scanning the room and Grace. ¡°Any other suggestions or opinions on this matter?¡± Grace asked. In the meeting room, everyone nodded in approval. ¡°No issues here. Mr. Donegan has considered all aspects thoroughly, and the budget is within our estimated range.¡± ¡°We look forward to good news from Mr. Donegan tomorrow.¡± Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Defiance Timothy¡¯s project received unanimous approval. After the meeting, Grace was the first to leave the conference room, followed closely by Luke, who was reporting on work. As Grace and Luke approached the office door, they were suddenly called out, ¡°Grace!¡± Following the voice, Geraldine walked gracefully in front of Grace. Grace was surprised. Since her divorce, she hadpletely severed ties with the Hawkins family. She hadn¡¯t been in contact with any of the rtives. Geraldine had never visited h either. How had Geraldine found her here? Despite her confusion, Grace politely asked, ¡°Ms. Geraldine, what brings you here?¡± Geraldine raised the thermos and smiled. ¡°Grandma asked me to bring some chicken soup you.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. for Grace nodded. She closed the file and handed the documents to Luke. ¡°Proceed as you suggested.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis.¡± After Luke left, Grace turned her attention to Geraldine. ¡°Ms. Geraldine,e and have a seat in my office.¡± Geraldine agreed and followed Grace into the office. Geraldine was surprised by the change in Grace¡¯s demeanor. Previously, Grace had always been submissive and respectful in the Hawkins family, even Though she had some authority with Benjamin, she had never been taken seriously in the Now, as the CEO of Amirate Corporation, Grace emanated a presence that seemed to impose some degree of pressure on Geraldine. This dynamic was entirely new. ¡°Grace, you¡¯ve changed so much!¡± Geraldine remarked as they entered the office. ¡°Have a seat, Ms. Geraldine.¡± Geraldine sat on the couch and handed over the thermos. ¡°Give it a try. Grandma specifically asked me to bring this for you.¡± Grace nodded, maintaining polite yet distant courtesy. ¡°Thank Grandma for me. I appreciate Geraldine smiled. ¡°No need for thanks. In Grandma¡¯s eyes, she had always considered you her granddaughter, even after your divorce from Benjarnin. H Grace stayed silent, giving nothing away. Opening the thermos, Geraldine served a bowl of soup to Grace and continued, ¡°Grace, have you never considered reconciling with Benjamin? After all, it¡¯s Grandma¡¯s biggest wish.¡± Grace epted the bowl. ¡°Ms. Geraldine, some things don¡¯t need to be discussed further,¡± Grace replied in a seemingly casual yet resolute manner. Clearly skeptical, Geraldine said, ¡°But Grace, Benjamin cares a lot about you. You saw it at Grandma¡¯s birthday banquet. He¡¯s always the first one to step forward to protect you.¡± Unexpectedly, Grace shifted the conversation. She asked, ¡°Ms. Geraldine, are you in a rtionship?¡± Geraldine instinctively gripped the hem of her clothes, feeling a bit nervous. Stammering, she replied, ¡°I ¡­ It¡¯s just that the right person hasn¡¯te along yet. I don¡¯t want to settle down for now.¡± Taking a sip of the soup, Grace said, ¡°Funny coincidence, I don¡¯t want to settle down either.¡± Being with Benjamin would meanpromising herself, letting go of the past, and just settling! The underlying message was clear. Geraldine, however, seemed to miss the point. She couldn¡¯t help but feel secretly delighted. As long as Grace doesn¡¯t entangle with Benjamin, it would be fine. However, she hadn¡¯t just visited to deliver the soup. She has more important matters to attend 1. to. So she chuckled awkwardly and continued, ¡°Alright! Consider this just me being nosy.¡± Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Stealing Data ¡°Well, even if you¡¯re not with Benjamin, I will always treat you like a sister,¡± Geraldine added. As soon as she said that, there was a knock on the office door. Grace set aside her bowl, took a tissue to wipe her mouth, and said, ¡°Come in. Timothy entered the office, carrying a stack of documents. Spotting another person in the room, he resumed his usual serious demeanor. ¡°Ms. Lewis, these docu Grace nodded slightly. ¡°Just put them on my desk.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis.¡± Geraldine was shocked to see Timothy. ¡°Timothy, what are you doing here?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Upon hearing this, Timothy raised his eyes and looked at Geraldine. As Benjamin¡¯s long¨C time friend, how could he not recognize Geraldine? Moreover, he knew one of her secrets. With a faint smile, Timothy replied, ¡°I work at Amirate Corporation!¡± Geraldine was really surprised. Why was the heir of the Donegan family willing to work at Amirate Corporation instead of the prestigious Donegan Enterprises? Geraldine wanted to ask more, but Timothy didn¡¯t give her the chance. He turned to Grace and said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head out.¡± Once he left, Geraldine¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She felt like Timothy wasn¡¯t as friendly toward her as he used to be. Grace put down her bowl and asked, ¡°Ms. Geraldine, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Geraldine quickly regained herposure and replied, ¡°Nothing at all. Have you finished? I¡¯ll go and wash the dishes.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± With that, Grace walked out of the office, leaving Geraldine alone in the spacious room. Geraldine stood up. She approached Grace¡¯s desk and noticed the documents that Timothy had delivered just moments ago. A glint of excitement shimmered in her eyes. Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone, opened the file, and took a photo. By the time Grace returned, Geraldine was back on the couch. She quickly stood up, took the thermos from Grace, and said, ¡°Sorry for bothering you, Grace I won¡¯t continue to interrupt your work. I¡¯lle visit you another day.¡± With that, Geraldine turned, about to leave. Grace didn¡¯t insist and called her secretary to see Geraldine off. Geraldine quickly refused. ¡°No need, Grace. I can find my own way back.¡± ¡°Alright. Take care then.¡± After leaving Amirate Corporation, Geraldine immediately called someone. Her voice was filled with excitement. ¡°Guess what I¡¯ve got in my hands?¡± Azy male voice came through the phone. ¡°Isn¡¯t it some business secret?¡± The man¡¯s guess was spot¨Con. After all, Geraldine had dealt with such matters more than once. With a triumphant expression, Geraldine said, ¡°Weren¡¯t you negotiating the Dunhill project before?¡± The other person paused, clearly taken aback. ¡°Dunhill project? We were nning to give up ¡­ Timothy Donegan from Amirate Corporation is too formid Geraldine chuckled confidently. ¡°What if I tell you I have their quotation for the bid? Will it be secured, then?¡± Chapter 246 Chapter 246 Chapter 246 She¡¯s Not Worth My Concern ¡°Now that you have that in hand, things are about to get more interesting¡­¡± After hanging, Geraldine casually yed with her phone, and her eyes shimmered excitedly. She hadn¡¯t expected that a visit to Grace¡¯spany would be so fruitful. She smirked, thinking, ¡°Oh, Grace! Get ready to ept your loss at tomorrow¡¯s bidding!¡± After Geraldine left, Timothy seized the opportunity to return to Grace¡¯s office. He appeared more serious than usual and inquired, ¡°Grace, what was Geraldine doing here?¡± Grace looked up at him and teased, ¡°Seems like you¡¯re quite concerned about her?¡± Timothy scoffed, ¡°Concerned about her? She¡¯s not worthy.¡± He then approached Grace with an unprecedented seriousness in his gaze. ¡°Mdy, Geraldine is very mischievous. We should be careful.¡± His gaze shifted to the side, where the documents were. ¡°As everyone knows, the Dunhill project has a huge profit margin. Many people are eyeing it. I¡¯m afraid Geraldine might do something¡­¡± Upon hearing his words, Grace became more serious as well, losing her previous indifference. Geraldine¡¯s actions today had indeed seemed too coincidental. Grace pondered for a moment. Then, she raised her eyes and exchanged a nce with Timothy. Both of them instinctively looked toward the hidden cam ¡°What has she done? We can find out by checking out. A red Ferrari was waiting outside Grace¡¯s house early the next morning. Timothy checked his watch and waited silently in the car. About half an hourter, Grace appeared within his line of sight, dressed in a white suit. Timothy¡¯s eyes brightened. He could feel his heartbeat pick up He opened the door and got out. Leaning against the car, he waved at Grace. ¡°Mdy, good morning!¡± Grace was surprised to see him. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Timothy smirked, and the corners of his mouth curved mischievously. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m here to A He opened the car door and made a courteous gesture. Grace shook her head helplessly and got into the car. Then, Timothy drove the car out slowly. On the way, he looked at Grace through the rearview mirror and said, ¡°Mdy, actually, I can go to the bid alone today ¡­¡± Without lifting her eyes, Grace replied, ¡°You worked overtime untiltest night. Your eyes are still red from theck of sleep.¡± Timothy chuckled. ¡°Serving thepany is my honor.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fool around. It¡¯ll be on you if we can¡¯t secure the project today.¡± Timothy¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Rest assured, boss. I won¡¯t let you down.¡± As he finished speaking, he stepped on the pedal. Soon, they arrived at Times Building for the bid. Timothy parked the car in the garage. Then, he and Grace took the elevator up. The bid for the Dunhill project was a significant event. The participatingpanies were all well¨Cknown in Pamore. When Grace and Timothy stepped out of the elevator, someone recognized Grace and greeted her, ¡°Ms. Lewis, you¡¯re here!¡± Timothy whispered, ¡°This is Mr. Liam Jackson, CEO of Jackson Realty. He benefited the most from the fall of Quinne Group.¡± Grace nodded, acknowledging the information. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Inevitable Victory Grace smiled and extended her hand. ¡°Hello, Mr. Jackson!¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, you¡¯re truly outstanding. Under your leadership, Amirate Corporation is gradually reaching new heights.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jackson.¡± ¡°You¡¯re here for the Dunhill Project as well? Ourpanies are going topete head¨Cto- head today.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all just ying to our strengths, you know?¡± With a sly smile, Timothy replied, ¡°Well then, Mr. Jackson, let¡¯s wait and see.¡± The atmosphere tensed up. Grace sensed Timothy¡¯s hostility toward Liam. ¡°Sure. We¡¯ll meetter.¡± Liam nced meaningfully at Grace before leaving confidently. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, he¡¯s our biggestpetitor today,¡± Grace said calmly. Impressed by Grace¡¯s insight, Timothy teased, ¡°Mdy, I find myself admiring you more and more.¡± ¡°Stop ttering and speak sensibly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m speaking the truth.¡± Timothy looked disdainfully at Liam and continued, ¡°Seeing his confident behavior, if he gets. what he wants, his pride will skyrocket.¡°¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. The higher you stand, the harder you fall,¡± Grace remarked. The two exchanged a nce and walked toward the venue. Guided by the waitstaff, they took Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. their seats as per the organizer¡¯s arrangements. Little did they know that they hadpletely overlooked Geraldine, who was sitting in the corner and casting a disdainful look at them. At that moment, Liam approached Geraldine, patting her shoulder. ¡°How¡¯s it going? Did you submit the bid?¡± Geraldine raised an eyebrow, looking pleased. ¡°Rest assured, it¡¯s already been submitted.¡± Liam took a seat beside her. ¡°I¡¯ve made thorough preparations for today¡¯s bidding war. ¡°I paid a deposit of 100 million dors to the suppliersst night, urging them to work overtime and prepare the materials we need. If we win today, we ca ¡°So quickly?¡± Geraldine hadn¡¯t expected him to act so swiftly. ¡°I¡¯m just taking advantage of the situation. I hope today¡¯s results won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Geraldine was quite confident at this point. She withdrew her gaze and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! This project is bound to belong to us. Let¡¯s see how mise The two exchanged smiles, demonstrating a silent understanding. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the restroom. You keep an eye on things here,¡± Geraldine said, getting up and heading toward the restroom. However, when she came out, Grace intercepted her at the door. ¡°Ms. Geraldine, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here!¡± Grace greeted Geraldine with a sarcastic smile. During the three years of her marriage to Benjamin, she hadn¡¯t interacted much with Geraldine. At most, they would meet during family gatherings. Additionally, Geraldine had never treated her as harshly as other members of the Hawkins family. Initially, Grace had shown some leniency toward Geraldine. However, now that leniency had vanished. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Data Error Geraldine was genuinely surprised and somewhat uneasy, but she still mustered a greeting to Grace. ¡°What a coincidence, Grace! Are you also participa Grace chuckled lightly and replied, ¡°It¡¯s for ourpany¡¯s new project. Take a look. By the way, Ms. Geraldine, when did you start working at Jackson Realty?¡± Geraldine was astonished that Grace knew about this. Had Grace also learned about the stolen. data? Geraldine felt nervous. She clutched her clothes and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been working there for quite some time. It¡¯s just that you didn¡¯t know.¡± Grace acknowledged with an ¡°oh¡± and looked at herself in the mirror. ¡°The Dunhill project is indeed excellent. It involvesrge¨Cscale crude oil and mining projects, ensuring profits for thepany for at least the next five years,¡± Gracemented. Geraldine felt a sense of pride upon hearing this. ¡°Really? With such a huge profit margin, we won¡¯t have to worry about business performance for the next five years if we win the bid.¡± Grace nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. So everyone is keeping a close eye on it, hoping to secure this project.¡± She paused momentarily and continued, ¡°At first, I had no intention of getting involved in this project. However, due to some errors in the data from the te Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. supervise.¡± In an instant, the atmosphere changed. Geraldine was dumbfounded. ¡°Data errors?¡± Grace seemingly nodded casually. ¡°Yes, we just found out about it yesterday afternoon. Fortunately, the corrections were made promptly, and there wasn ¡°However, if we had participated in the bidding with the original data, even if we won, it would have resulted in a loss for us.¡± Upon hearing this, Geraldine¡¯s face turned pale. She couldn¡¯t believe what she just heard. ¡°You changed the n?¡± Grace admitted, ¡°The team made some miscalctions, so I had to makest¨Cminute corrections.¡± Geraldine¡¯s face had lost all its color by now. She hastily walked out. Grace¡¯s eyes remained cold as she watched Geraldine¡¯s somewhat panicked figure. Geraldine hurriedly found Liam and grabbed his arm urgently. ¡°Mr. Jackson, we need to retrieve the bid document quickly!¡± Concerned about her distressed expression, Liam asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been fooled! There was an error in their data. If we bid with this amount, we¡¯ll incur losses. Moreover, you just invested 100 million dors, and it¡¯ ¡°What are you saying?¡± Liam became agitated and shot up from his seat. As he spoke, he briskly walked toward where the bid documents were being submitted, coincidentally crossing paths with Grace, However, at this moment, Liam had no attention to spare for Grace. He quickened his pace toward the area where bids were being submitted. Unfortunately, Liam was a step toote. The time for submitting bids had already passed, and once the bid documents were submitted, they couldn¡¯t be retrieved. Geraldine looked anxious. She asked, ¡°What do we do, Mr. Jackson? We¡¯re in deep shit now.¡± Liam¡¯s chest heaved, wearing a stern expression. He forced himself to calm down and consoled, ¡°If there¡¯s an error, even if we submit the bid document, we won¡¯t win. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± However, he had spent 100 million dors but wouldn¡¯t get any returns, making no profits for him. It was such a waste. Liam was furious. ¡°All thanks to your brilliant idea! Wait until the bidding is over, and you¡¯ll see how I deal with you.¡± Geraldine felt a jolt in her heart. She quickly shifted me. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. It¡¯s that despicable b*tch, Grace! This time, she really fooled me-¡± Liam rebuked her sternly, ¡°That¡¯s enough! Shut up! One more word from you, and I¡¯ll kick you Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Doomed Geraldine was intimidated by Liam¡¯s imposing demeanor and dared not take another breath. When she returned to the hall, the bid was already underway. ¡°Alright, next, we will proceed with Project 0781. The participatingpanies are Hawkins Group, Amirate Corporation, Jackson Realty, and Draco Corporation¡­ The host fl*pped through the cards in his hand and concluded, ¡°The winning enterprise for this project is Amirate Corporation. Congrattions!¡± Grace and Timothy stood up as the host¡¯s words fell, and enthusiastic apuse erupted in the hall. After the bid was over, Liam called the supplier. ¡°Mr. Grey, there may be some changes in our cooperation. Can you terminate the agreement?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°What? A breach of contract penalty of five million dors? Mr. Grey, can we discuss this matter?¡± After the other party had finished speaking, Liam hung up the phone, and the beeping sound echoed in the handset. Liam fumed in frustration. ¡°Damn it, these bastards!¡± Gedine observed him cautiously from the side. She dared not utter a word. When Liam turned back, he looked at her and strode over. Grabbing her wrist, he said, ¡°Geraldine, look at what you¡¯ve done!¡± His enraged voice echoed through the corridor. Geraldine was trembling with fear. ¡°This mess is partly your fault! If you can¡¯te up with five million dors, I¡¯ll strip your skin off!¡± Liam¡¯s fierce words showed no mercy. As he let go of her abruptly, Geraldine stumbled and fell heavily to the ground. She was utterly stunned. Five million dors? She couldn¡¯te up with that much money, even if she sold herself! ¡°Mr. Jackson, spare me, please! There won¡¯t be a next time¡­ Mr. Jackson 11 No matter how she pleaded, Liam ignored her, leaving her alone. Geraldine pounded the floor forcefully, her mind filled with one thought. She was doomed. She couldn¡¯t sit by idly or bear this loss in vain. Just then, she seemed to have thought of something. As she slowly got up from the floor, her eyes fell on Grace, who was standing nearby. She was genuinely startled. Her b*dy went limp, and she fell again. For the first time, Geraldine felt utterly miserable. She quickly got up again. At this moment, Grace was already standing in front of her. Unlike the kindness she had shown in the past, Grace¡¯s expression was now cold. Before Geraldine could speak, a sharp p echoed in the corridor. Geraldine¡¯s face was turned to the side, and five bright red fingerprints appeared on her left cheek. Holding her face, she spoke through gritted teeth. ¡°Grace, how dare you hit me?¡± Grace showed no mercy. ¡°It¡¯s just a p. Considering your actions, it¡¯s quite light.¡± ¡°Grace, on what grounds do you think you can do this?¡± Grace took out her phone and opened a surveince video. ¡°Take a good look! This is evidence!¡± At a nce, Geraldine¡¯s face turned pale, and she reached out, trying to snatch Grace¡¯s phone. ¡°Give it to me! Give it to me now!¡± Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Don¡¯t Judge Me by My Past Geraldine tried to snatch Grace¡¯s phone. However, she missed the mark, as Grace deftly avoided her. ¡°Stealingpany secrets can lead to imprisonment. If I hand this video over to the police, will they arrest you?¡± Grace said with a sly smile. Geraldine looked at her in disbelief, her eyes filling with panic. She realized something and quickly changed her expression, pleading, ¡°Grace, please ¡­ please don¡¯t!¡± If Grace gave it to the police, her life would be over! ¡°I¡¯m begging you, Grace! Don¡¯t give it to the police. I was truly wrong¡­¡± Geraldine continued pleading incessantly, hoping Grace would spare her. Timothy smirked as he watched from the side, with a touch of mockery in the corner of his mouth. ¡°Why take such risks in the first ce? Ms. Geraldine, this probably isn¡¯t your first time, right?¡± Geraldine couldn¡¯t afford to think about that now. She urgently pulled Grace¡¯s arm, lowering herself. of you ¡°Grace, I know you¡¯re the best. I beg you, give me a chance! I promise to stay far away from you in the future. I won¡¯t appear in front ever again. I¡¯m begging you to delete this video, okay?¡± Grace watched her coldly, showing no signs of softening. ¡°Geraldine, do you think I¡¯m that easy to deceive?¡± Shaking her head, Geraldine said, ¡°It¡¯s not like that! Grace, don¡¯t judge me by my past. Think of the Hawkins family¡¯s and Benjamin¡¯s reputation! Can you please spare me?¡± This statement was ridiculous. ¡°The Hawkins family? Benjamin? Do they even show me respect?¡± Grace chuckled. Geraldine looked surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to be with Benjamin again?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Graceughed. ¡°That¡¯s the funniest joke I¡¯ve ever heard in my life.¡± Then, she added, ¡°Geraldine, I¡¯ll give you a chance. Surrender yourself to the police within three days. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll personally send this video over. The choice is yours!¡± With that said, Grace walked away. After she left, Geraldine seemed to lose all her strength and slumped to the ground. As she left Times Building, Grace sincerely congratted Timothy. ¡°You deserve credit for securing this project. How about a party tonight?¡± Timothy smirked, revealing a nonchnt smile. ¡°Just a party? No other rewards?¡± Grace paused for a moment, then nodded with a smile. ¡°Since you¡¯re the hero of Amirate Corporation, I need to think about what kind of reward to give you.¡± Timothy¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Alright, I look forward to it.¡± After saying that, he took out the car keys. ¡°Wait for me here. I¡¯ll go get the car.¡® As Timothy left, a Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom smoothly parked in front of Grace. The window slowly slid down, revealing Aaron. ¡°Grace.¡± ¡°Aaron, howe you¡¯re here? ¡°I have something to discuss with you. Get in the car.¡± After informing Timothy, Grace got into Aaron¡¯s car. As the car started moving, the driver navigated his way through the roads and onto the elevated highway. Grace¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of astonishment as she looked at the passing buildings outside the window. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Unexpected Aaron rarely came to Pamore. But he had suddenly shown up today with no prior notice. So she asked directly, ¡°Aaron, do you have any business in Pamore?¡± Aaron remained silent and handed a folder to her. ¡°Look! This is the material for bail that Benjamin submitted to the local detention center, as well as the supplementary material for a shortened sentence. ¡°All of this is about Yvonne. It¡¯s obvious that his goal is to get Yvonne out of jail.¡± This was news to Grace. There hadn¡¯t even been any signs of this before. Grace¡¯s eyes became cold as she fl*pped through the documents. ¡°Benjamin is surprisingly sentimental. He¡¯s being very quick to get the person he miss ¡°Yvonne has done so many unforgivably immoral things, it won¡¯t be easy to get her out.¡± Grace¡¯s gaze darkened, and she said, ¡°I¡¯ve already intervened, but Benjamin¡¯s attitude is very aggressive. You could say that he¡¯s putting in the utmost e After a pause, Aaron asked, ¡°Gracie, what I want to know is what you think.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°His affairs are none of my business.¡± A simple sentence made the boundaries between her and Benjamin clear. Aaron understood. ¡°Then don¡¯t worry about this anymore. I¡¯ll take care of it. If they want to get her out, there will be a price to pay. The only question is w Grace hummed in assent. She hadplete confidence in Aaron. Then, Aaron took out his phone and called someone, giving them instructions. After he hung up, he seemed to think of something and changed the subject. He asked, ¡± Gracie, you¡¯ve been spending quite a lot of time with that guy from the Donegan family. Are you nning on¡­ ¡°Aaron!¡± Grace cut him off before he could finish. ¡°Making an alliance of marriage has always been a one¨Csided decision made by families. We¡¯ve never been asked about our opinion on the matter. ¡°Now that the arranged marriage has fallen through, let¡¯s just leave things as they are. Timothy and I are kind of friends right now, and there¡¯s nothing els Aaron couldn¡¯t helpughing out loud at her words. ¡°Is it as simple as friendship? I can see that Timothy is putting in a lot of effort into working at Amirate, and I hear that he¡¯s already managed to obtain the Dunhill project. Don¡¯t you have anything to say about that?¡± ¡°Aaron, work is work, and personal rtionships are personal. The two can¡¯t be mixed.¡± Aaron couldn¡¯t resist asking again. ¡°Then what about Xander? What do you think about him?¡± Xander had risked his own life to save Grace. Everyone could see his feelings for her. Additionally, with the long history between their families, Xander w Grace said in resignation, ¡°Aaron, Xander is such a good person. How could I be worthy of him?¡± Aaron retorted, ¡°Gracie, when did you start tock so much confidence? You are doted on as our family¡¯s heiress. In terms of your status, what part does Grace shook her head slightly. ¡°Feelings aren¡¯t about whether or not we¡¯re worthy. It¡¯s just¡­ I feel a little afraid.¡± Because of this, she had kept avoiding Xander¡¯s feelings. She knew that it was because she had been hurt before, and now she could no longer easily b Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Lewis Family¡¯s Attitude ¡°Gracie, remember this. You shouldn¡¯t doubt yourself just because of one failed rtionship. In my opinion, you¡¯re worthy of the best.¡± Grace¡¯s heart warmed at his words. ¡°I know, Aaron. It¡¯s so good to have all of you.¡± Aaron reached out and ruffled her hair. ¡°What¡¯s with you being so formal? In matters of the heart, it¡¯s how you feel that counts. But you also have to face Grace nodded, but she felt that Aaron was being unusually talkative today. ¡°Aaron, when did you be such a gossip?¡± ¡°Have I? I¡¯m just showing concern for you. After all, we can¡¯t be careless with matters that lesson. concern your lifelong happiness. Since I¡¯ve been deceived once, I should learn my ¡°You can¡¯t fall down in the same ce twice. As long as that person isn¡¯t Benjamin, no matter who you end up with, our entire family will support you.¡± Aaron¡¯s words made his stance clear. It was also what the rest of their family thought. Grace murmured in assent. ¡°Okay, Aaron. Don¡¯t worry.¡± As she finished speaking, Grace felt brighter. Her gaze turned to the window as she sank deep in thought. Meanwhile, back in Amirate¡¯s office, Samuel was fidgeting with the new crystal trinket he had just bought. Just then, there was a knock on the office door ¡°Who is it? Come in.¡± The office door was pushed open, and Zane immediately walked in. He reported, ¡°Director Walker, we have secured the Dunhill project.¡± As he finished, the trinket in Samuel¡¯s hands fell to the ground with a loud crash. Tens of millions of dors were gone in an instant. Samuel¡¯s gaze darkened, his heart stinging at the loss. ¡°What did you say? We got this project?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s the news I got from the bid¡¯s venue. Amirate got the tender.¡± Samuel¡¯s expression looked terrible. He had never imagined that Grace would surprise him so much. ¡°Is it as simple as friendship? I can see that Timothy is putting in a lot of effort into working at Amirate, and I hear that he¡¯s already managed to obtain the Dunhill project. Don¡¯t you have anything to say about that?¡± ¡°Aaron, work is work, and personal rtionships are personal. The two can¡¯t be mixed.¡± Aaron couldn¡¯t resist asking again. ¡°Then what about Xander? What do you think about him?¡± Xander had risked his own life to save Grace. Everyone could see his feelings for her. Additionally, with the long history between their families, Xander was obviously the best Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. candidate. Grace said in resignation, ¡°Aaron, Xander is such a good person. How could I be worthy of him?¡± Aaron retorted, ¡°Gracie, when did you start tock so much confidence? You are doted on as our family¡¯s heiress. In terms of your status, what part does Grace shook her head slightly. ¡°Feelings aren¡¯t about whether or not we¡¯re worthy. It¡¯s just¡­ I feel a little afraid.¡± Because of this, she had kept avoiding Xander¡¯s feelings. She knew that it was because she had been hurt before, and now she could no longer easily b X GET IT NOW Dunhill was a huge project, with a long duration and high profits¡­ From the profits of this project alone, it would be enough to reach 10% of Amirate Corporation¡¯s annual profits for the year. Grace had truly surprised him. ¡°Director Walker, I don¡¯t think that this was solely because of Ms. Lewis. Ultimately, it¡¯s Timothy. ¡°You had asked me to investigate him before. He doesn¡¯t really have much of a background. If we kick him out of thepany, it¡¯ll be like cutting off Ms. Samuel harrumphed coldly. ¡°Not having a background is a good thing. It means we can do with him as we please. But can we just get rid of him?¡± ¡°I heard that Timothy himself is thinking of leaving Amirate.¡± Samuel raised his gaze, and his eyes seemed like bottomless pits. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just what I¡¯ve heard. There isn¡¯t any news at the moment. At the most, he¡¯ll stay to oversee the Dunhill project, but once it¡¯s over ¡­¡® Samuel grunted coldly, not bothering to disguise the scorn on his face. ¡°Timothy¡¯s capabilities are evident to everyone, but the Dunhill project won¡¯t bepleted so easily. Although we got the tender, there could be unexpected developments in the future.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s only half a year left for the wager between you and Ms. Lewis. ording to current developments, thepany¡¯s profits this year are alread This was exactly what Samuel was worried about. Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Too Late For Regrets If things continued to progress at this rate, there was a high chance that Grace would win the bet. But Samuel wouldn¡¯t admit defeat until the final moment. ¡°What are you so anxious about? Isn¡¯t there still about half a year left? Getting a project done is difficult, but destroying a project is easy.¡± Samuel¡¯s gaze darkened. He seemed to have resolved to burn all his bridges. He had been in the business world for a long time, and he wasn¡¯t about to young woman who had just started out. ¡°We have to find a way to get rid of that Timothy fellow.¡± ¡°Director Walker, I have an idea about that.¡± Samuel raised his eyebrows, looking pleasantly surprised. ¡°Tell me what your idea is. Zane leaned close to his ear and said something in a low voice. Samuel was all smiles as he said, ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve learned a lot through all your year ¡°Yes, Director Walker.¡± That night, Grace had arranged a celebratory party for Timothy at the Phil*ps Bar and had invited all her employees. Everyone was gathered together, cr ¡°Let us congratte Mr. Donegan for obtaining the Dunhill project!¡± ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Donegan!¡± ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Lewis!¡± ¡°To Amirate bing better and better!¡± As the drinks flowed, everyone grew a little tipsy. Grace was worried that they weren¡¯t fully enjoying themselves, so she made up an excuse to leave. Timothy was worried about her, so he said at once, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Grace declined politely, ¡°No, it¡¯s your party. Have fun with everyone. I¡¯ve already called a driver, so there won¡¯t be any problems.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see you to the door then.¡± Grace was unable to dissuade him, so they walked to the entrance together. ¡°Hurry up and back to the party. The driver¡¯s should be here any minute.¡± go Dunhill was a huge project, with a long duration and high profits¡­ From the profits of this project alone, it would be enough to reach 10% of Amirate Corporation¡¯s annual profits for the year. Grace had truly surprised him. ¡°Director Walker, I don¡¯t think that this was solely because of Ms. Lewis. Ultimately, it¡¯s Timothy. ¡­¡­.. ¡°You had asked me to investigate him before. He doesn¡¯t really have much of a background. If we kick him out of thepany, it¡¯ll be like cutting off Ms. Lewis¡® right arm.¡® 11 Samuel harrumphed coldly. ¡°Not having a background is a good thing. It means we can do with him as we please. But can we just get rid of him?¡± ¡°I heard that Timothy himself is thinking of leaving Amirate.¡± Samuel raised his gaze, and his eyes seemed like bottomless pits. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just what I¡¯ve heard. There isn¡¯t any news at the moment. At the most, he¡¯ll stay to oversee the Dunhill project, but once it¡¯s over ¡­¡± Samuel grunted coldly, not bothering to disguise the scorn on his face. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Timothy¡¯s capabilities are evident to everyone, but the Dunhill project won¡¯t bepleted so easily. Although we got the tender, there could be unexpected developments in the future.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s only half a year left for the wager between you and Ms. Lewis. ording to current developments, thepany¡¯s profits this year are already at least more th higher thanst year¡¯s.¡± This was exactly what Samuel was worried about. Timothy was in no hurry. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll leave when you¡¯ve gotten in the car. Seeing that he was stubborn, Grace didn¡¯t say anything further. E & ERF 11 Timothy grabbed the opportunity and said casually, ¡°Looking back, I¡¯ve been in Amirate for about half a year already. ¡°Time flies. When I first came to Amirate, I didn¡¯t know that you were the woman my family had wanted me to marry.¡± There was regret in his tone. If he had known earlier, he would never have said that he wanted to cancel the alliance. But now, it was toote for regrets. ¡°Grace, if we could start over, I think I would definitely ept my parents¡® arrangement and marry you. Grace thought that he had drunk too much that night and hurriedly said, ¡°Timothy, have you been drinking too much? Go and rest so you can sober up!¡± Timothyughed. ¡°Perhaps I have! Anyway, in my heart, you will always be Mdy.¡± ¡°Alright, hurry up and get back. The driver¡¯s here.¡± Grace got in the car and waved to him. Timothy watched her leave before turning and entering the bar again. In the car, Grace scrolled through her phone in a bored manner. At this moment, the brakes suddenly screeched. Grace lurched forward and collided heavily with the back of the seat in front of her. When Grace came back to her senses, she asked while rubbing her head, ¡°What is it? What happened?¡± But the driver looked panicked as he pointed outside the window and said, ¡°Look outside ¡­¡± At this moment, the car was surrounded by a bunch of young gangsters riding motorcycles. All of them were staring sharply at Grace like predators. X Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Obstacle ¡°Go and get the phone of the woman called Grace¡­¡® As soon as the order was given, a few young gangsters surged forward and sinashed the car¡¯s windows with hammers. With a bang, the car windows shattered into pieces, showering Grace with shards of ss. With a piercing sound, the car¡¯s rm system began to wail. ¡°You¡¯re Grace! Give me your phone.¡± The gangsters stuck their heads in through the window pane to grab Grace¡¯s phone out of her hand. Grace leaned sideways to dodge them and kicked the man¡¯s head urately and firmly. Immediately, blood began spurting from his nose. ¡°What are you trying to do in broad daylight?¡± The man was in pain as he covered his face. ¡°You b*tch! Watch me kick your ass.¡± He moved forward as soon as he finished speaking. But before he could, a few sleek ck cars rushed up behind him. As the cars brakes squealed to a stop, the young gangsters were immediately surroun trained b*dyguards. They were like a heavenly army that had appeared at an almost supernatural speed. All of them were strong and over six feet tall. They immediately sca ¡°What are you gaping for? Run!¡± But they were already surrounded and couldn¡¯t run at all. As for the man who had been challenging Grace, he was scared out of his mind and had retreated back several steps. At this moment, the lead b*dyguard hurried over to Grace and asked respectfully, ¡°Ms. Lewis, are you alright?¡± Grace¡¯s expression was cold as she swept the ss shards off her b*dy. Every movement she made struck fear into the hearts of those watching. Even though she didn¡¯t say a single word, everyone around her could feel the pressure of her presence. ¡°Ms. Lewis, let us handle these people! Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll pay for what they did today.¡± As the b*dyguard finished speaking, Grace opened the door and got out. She swept them all with a cold gaze, and the young gangsters shuddered with fear. They had lost all their previous bravado. ¡°You seem to be very interested in my phone. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything very special about this phone, is there?¡± The gangsters were shocked. Wasn¡¯t the person they were looking for a frail youngdy? Why did she look like someone from the mafia? They had really hit a wall here! Before they coulde back to their senses, Grace¡¯s voice rang out again. Her tone was as cold as ice. ¡°Tell me. Who told you toe here, and what The lead gangster wasn¡¯t even 20 years old yet and had never dealt with this kind of situation. He was so scared that he began begging for mercy and to ¡°Someone gave us 200 thousand dors and told me to delete the videos on your phone.¡± Grace could easily guess who it was, and she smiled coldly. ¡°And now? Do you still want to delete it?¡± ¡°No, no¡­ Please have mercy on us! We didn¡¯t know any better, and we¡¯re sorry to have offended you. Please don¡¯t hold it against us. We don¡¯t want the The lead gangster was trembling all over, and he was having difficulty speaking. Grace snorted coldly and fiddled with the phone in her hand. She sounded casual, but her words still induced deep fear in the gangsters. ¡°If you would ept just 200 thousand dors, you must really becking money. I¡¯ll give you 400 thousand dors, but I want you to do something for m 400 thousand dors? The lead gangster¡¯s eyes shone with desire. He didn¡¯t even hesitate before answering, ¡°As long as you ask, we¡¯ll do everything you want us to do.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Chapter 255 Chapter 255 hapter 255 This Woman Is Too Noisy At Hawkins Manor, Geraldine was pacing back and forth with her phone in hand, looking ¨¢ little anxious. There were drops of sweat on her nose. The clock on the wall was already pointing to 11:00 pm, but there was still no news from that bunch of young gangsters. Geraldine hadpletely lost patience and was about to change her shoes to go out. At that moment, she heard the sound of motorcycles from outside. Looking pleased, she hurriedly opened the door. ¡°Tiger, how did things go?¡± Tiger was the lead gangster. He took off his helmet and looked expressionlessly at Geraldine before saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Geraldine.¡± Geraldine was lost for a moment and asked quickly, ¡°Why are you apologizing? Didn¡¯t it go well? That¡¯s impossible! There¡¯s so many of you, and you couldn¡¯t deal with a single, frail woman?¡± Tiger was lost for words. ¡°Ms. Geraldine, are you sure that you didn¡¯t get the wrong information?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Geraldine. I¡¯ll return the 200 thousand dors to you, but I need you toe with me now.¡± Geraldine didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Tiger spread his hands and exined, ¡°Taking people¡¯s money means helping them with their business. We¡¯re working ording to the rules.¡± When he finished, the gangsters behind him came forward and grabbed hold of Geraldine. ¡°Tiger, what are you doing? Did you take money from that b*tch, Grace? How much did she give you? I¡¯ll give you more!¡± Tiger replied, ¡°Ms. Geraldine, this isn¡¯t about money.¡± Then, he tied her up. ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me right now! I¡¯m from the Hawkins family, and if you do this, then the Hawkins will never let you get away with it!¡± No matter how much Geraldine yelled and shouted, the gangsters showed no mercy. Finally, Tiger could stand it no longer and said, ¡°This woman is too noisy. Tape up her mouth. ¡°Tiger, you can¡¯t do this! Tiger-¡± Geraldine hadn¡¯t finished speaking when her mouth was taped shut with transparent tape. Then, the gangsters took her to the police station, where Tiger personally handed over the security footage to the police. Grace¡¯swyer also went with them. Finally, Geraldine was used of stealing corporate secrets and was locked up at once. When the Hawkins received the news, it was already the next day. Benjamin had just come home from overseas and was still suffering from jetg when he was cornered at home by his uncle and Geraldine¡¯s father, Titus Hawkins. In the living room, Benjamin sat on the couch as he sipped coffee to refresh himself. Titus and Olivia were sitting on either side of him, sobbing as they c ¡°Benjamin, I¡¯m begging you. Please save Geraldine ¡­¡® ¡°I heard that Grace was the one who sued her and imed that she had stolen Amirate¡¯s internal data. Geraldine and Grace rarely interacted, and it¡¯s impossible that she would do something like that! There must be a misunderstanding. ¡°You and Grace were once husband and wife, so let¡¯s just settle this privately. Don¡¯t let your cousin get sued.¡± Benjamin was speechless. As he finished his cup of coffee, he looked less exhausted. Yet he remained impassive, as if this had nothing to do with him. Seeing this, Titus had no choice but to change tracks. He went upstairs to look for Elizabeth. Elizabeth had been meditating. She was furious upon hearing the news. Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Chapter 256 She Will Be Jailed ¡°Geraldine isn¡¯t young anymore. How could she be so careless? I think this will be a good lesson for her.¡± ¡°Mom, Geraldine is my only daughter! If she goes to jail, how will I live?¡± Elizabeth wasn¡¯t moved by that. ¡°She¡¯s already an adult and has to face the consequences of her actions.¡± Titus hadn¡¯t expected that Elizabeth would be so stubborn. ¡°Mom, if anything happens to Geraldine, then I won¡¯t live either. If you want to lose a son at your old age, then that¡¯s your choice.¡± After tossing these words at her, Titus stormed out angrily. Elizabeth in resignation. In the end, she had no choice but to look for Benjamin. ¡°Benjamin, could you talk to Grace about this? She has a soft heart. Perhaps you could discuss if there¡¯s any way to settle this?¡± Benjamin had already changed into a new suit. His expression was cold as he looked straight ahead. ¡°Grandma, let¡¯s hand this matter over to the legal department and let them handle it.¡® He couldn¡¯t bring himself to go to Grace and ask for her leniency. After all, stealingpany secrets wasn¡¯t a small thing. A piece of core data could ruin Therefore, he didn¡¯t want to intervene in this matter. Olivia, who was listening, thought that Benjamin had agreed to help. She stopped crying and wiped her tears away, smiling. 11 ¡°Benjamin, I knew you would help! I knew you wouldn¡¯t just ignore your cousin. Geraldine¡¯s already been locked up for a night. You¡¯ve got to get her out q Benjamin smiled slightly scornfully. ¡°Aunt Olivia, don¡¯t be too happy. Stealingpany secrets isn¡¯t a small crime. There will be at least a three¨C year sentence.¡± ¡°Three years? We can¡¯t have that!¡± Olivia panicked immediately and grabbed Benjamin as if he were her lifeline. ¡°You know that your uncle and I only have one daughter. If she goes to jail, how will the two of us live? Go and talk to Grace. No matter how much it cost Benjamin scoffed self¨Cdeprecatingly. ¡°Aunt Olivia, I think you think too highly of me. Grace and I are divorced. I won¡¯t intervene in this matter. The legal department will handle it as they see fit.¡± Then, Benjamin walked out the door without another look back. In the car, Larry looked at Benjamin, who seemed exhausted. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Mr Hawkins, you¡¯ve juste back from overseas. You don¡¯t ne to the office.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Benjamin¡¯s brow was furrowed, and he said nothing. He had taken what Elizabeth had said to him at the birthday party to heart. That was why he had gone overseas to investigate the truth. But too much time had passed since everything had happened, and there wasn¡¯t much that he could find out any longer. Therefore, he could only get to the root of the problem to resolve things. ¡°How are things with Yvonne?¡± Benjamin asked, turning his gaze away. Larry pushed his sses up the bridge of his nose, looking rather awkward. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, this might not be easy.¡± Benjamin raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°When the Lewis family learned that you wanted to get Ms. Quine out, they used their connections. Now the higher¨C ups have made their stance clear. Unless a huge sum of bail is paid¡­¡± Larry pressed his l*ps together and shook his head, but Benjamin understood what he meant at once. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°One billion dors.¡± One billion dors? That was daylight robbery! Benjamin¡¯s expression darkened. One billion dors wasn¡¯t a huge sum for the Hawkins. Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Real Name But Yvonne wasn¡¯t worth that much money! ¡°Three months. I only need to bail her out for three months. Ask if the bail can be halved. If they agree, send the money immediately!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins.¡± At Amirate Corporation, Grace was having an international meeting. Once the meeting was over, Luke knocked on her office door. ¡°Ms. Lewis, a representative from Hawkins Group¡¯s legal department is here. They want to Grace instructed, ¡°Let ourwyers handle this. Just report the result to me.¡® ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis.¡± Luke left and turned to see Samuel at the door. Luke¡¯s face was expressionless as he greeted Samuel politely, ¡°Director Walker.¡± Samuel smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Ziegler, you¡¯re an old face that¡¯s been by Mr. Lewis¡® side for years. You don¡¯t need to be so formal with me.¡± Luke inclined his head slightly. ¡°Is there anything I can help you with, Director Walker?¡± Samuel looked at the closed office door. ¡°I¡¯m here to see Ms. Lewis.¡± When he finished, he walked straight toward Grace¡¯s office. ¡°Ms. Lewis, are you busy?¡± Upon hearing who it was, Grace covered the documents she was holding and looked up with a slight smile. ¡°Director Walker, what brings you here?¡± Samuel sat down on the couch without waiting for her invitation. Then, he made an expression as if he were hesitating. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯vee here today becaus tell you.¡± Grace smiled humorlessly and replied, ¡°What could possibly make you personallye to see me, Director Walker?¡± Samuel didn¡¯t bother hiding anything and spoke directly, ¡°It¡¯s about Mr. Donegan.¡± Samuel paused for a moment on purpose to see Grace¡¯s reaction. However, Grace remained as imperturbable as always. ¡°What about Mr. Donegan?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. When Samuel heard her ask this, he looked regretful. ¡°Ms. Lewis, it seems like you still don¡¯t know! Our ountant, Mr. Turner, has reported Mr. Donegan.¡± Grace frowned and looked stern. ¡°What happened?¡± Samuel pretended to be surprised. ¡°What? Didn¡¯t your subordinates tell you? I heard that Mr. Donegan has been using his authority for his personal gains and has embezzled a huge sum of money. Mr. Turner found out and has reported him to authorities.¡± ¡°What?¡± Grace stood up at once, looking very severe. ¡°Mr. Donegan emblezzed money? That¡¯s ridiculous!¡± Timothy was the heir of Donegan Enterprises. Why on earth would he want that bit of money? Samuel couldn¡¯t resist smiling when he saw how big Grace¡¯s reaction was. ¡°Ms. Lewis, this is human nature! We can¡¯t resist temptation, especially when it¡¯s such a big temptation.¡± Grace remained firm. ¡°He would never do something like that.¡± Samuel smiled as he shook his head. ¡°Ms. Lewis, you really do trust him! But the truth trumps all arguments. Perhaps a few million dors is nothing to y ¡°But to an ordinary employee like Mr. Donegan, who just earns a sry of a couple of tens of thousands of dors a month, that¡¯s a huge sum of money. Not to mention the Graceughed. She looked coldly at Samuel. It was obvious that someone was trying to frame Timothy, but the person responsible was being too careless. They didn¡¯t even know who Timothy was, and yet they were trying to frame him for embezzlement? The heir of the Donegan family lusting after just a few million dors? Grace became calm at once and said in a measured tone, ¡°Director Walker, have you investigated this thoroughly? We must not wrongly use anyone.¡± Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Innocence Although Grace¡¯s reaction was unexpected, Samuel didn¡¯t think much of it. He just thought that she was flustered by the turn of events and hadn¡¯t had tim Hence, he said, ¡°The disciplinary inspection department will find out whether he¡¯s been wrongly used or not. They¡¯re currently at thepany right now. Would you like to go and have a look, Ms. Lewis?¡± Grace looked meaningfully at him, then got up and walked out. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. In Timothy¡¯s office, a bunch of people in uniform were currently collecting all kinds of evidence. Timothy was sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, lo ¡°Have you finished checking? If you have, can you stop interrupting my work?¡± Timothy said fl*ppantly. The people in uniform ignored him and continued to look through his things. Timothy snorted coldly, his gaze gradually bing icy. When Grace walked in and saw the scene, she looked extremely displeased. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The man in uniform who was leading stopped and greeted Grace. He said, ¡°Hello, Ms. Lewis. We are carrying out our duty. Someone made a report that Grace¡¯s l*p curled as scorn filled her eyes. ¡°After looking for such a long time, have you found anything?¡± The people there exchanged nces and said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, we¡¯re still checking. Currently, we haven¡¯t found any useful information, but¡­¡± At this, the leader looked at Timothy and said hurriedly, ¡°Next, we¡¯ll be checking Mr. Donegan¡¯s bank ount to see if there has been any transfers of hu At this moment, Samuel came up and said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, they¡¯re just doing their job. Let¡¯s not disturb them. They will surely investigate whether Mr. Doneg ¡°I believe that these public officials wouldn¡¯t unjustly use a good person, and of course they won¡¯t let a criminal go either.¡± Timothy was unhappy to hear that and turned to Samuel. ¡°What nonsense are you saying? Who the hell are you calling a criminal? Speak clearly!¡± Samuel replied calmly, ¡°Mr. Donegan, don¡¯t get all worked up. Everything will be investigated. ¡°Cooperate, my ass! You¡¯re probably the one behind all this! ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m on the straight and narrow, and I don¡¯t care if you investigate me. But if you don¡¯t find anything today, then you owe me an exnation.¡± Samuel looked at Timothy meaningfully. ¡°Mr. Donegan, don¡¯t be so sure of yourself. If we really do find something, it won¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°What the hell are you saying? I¡¯ll beat your ass up!¡± Upon seeing this, Grace hurriedly said, ¡°Timothy!¡± Timothy looked at Grace, and his temper gradually subsided. Grace walked over to him and said, ¡°I trust you. I believe that you wouldn¡¯t do anything against thispany, and it¡¯s not like you would want a couple of million dors anyway.¡± Her words calmed Timothy down. After all, Grace was his mdy! ¡°That¡¯s right! I don¡¯t care about just a few million dors!¡± Timothy added, looking coldly at Samuel. Grace¡¯s expression was stern as she continued, ¡°But someone has reported you, and the authorities are investigating ording to protocol. Let¡¯s just co Timothy grunted in agreement and spread his hands. ¡°Go ahead and investigate. I¡¯d like to see what you can find.¡± Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Does Your Face Hurt When Samuel saw Grace and Timothy working seamlessly together, he huffed coldly inwardly. Then he looked meaningfully at Mr. Turner, who was standing in the distance. Mr. Turner understood at once and walked over to Timothy. ¡°Mr. Donegan, we want to check your cash cards. Please cooperate.¡± Timothy huffed coldly and took out his wallet from his pocket. Then, he took out the cards inside and ced them on the table, one by one. His movements carried a hint of scorn, but the cards he took out left all the onlookers bbergasted. There were several limited¨Cedition ck cards from the top five banks in the country, and there was even a gold card from UBS! Mr. Turner was shocked. ¡°These¡­ these are your bank cards?¡± Timothy huffed coldly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to check? Check them then! But I think that the cards here would have a limit over a few million dors.¡± any of Mr. Turner wiped the sweat off his forehead and said weakly, ¡°Are all your cards real? They aren¡¯t fake, are they? They have to be under your name.¡± Timothy folded his arms. ¡°Then, have a look and see if it¡¯s my name or not.¡± Mr. Turner took a ck card from the pile at random and stuck it into the POS machine, his hand trembling. ¡°What¡¯s the password?¡± Timothy spat out, ¡°There¡¯s no password.¡± Mr. Turner couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. After pushing the card in, it opened the main interface immediately. When he saw the remaining bnce on the card, he dropped the POS machine in shock. Upon seeing this, Samuel sternly reprimanded, ¡°You useless thing, why is just checking a cash card scaring you so much? Quick! Is there anything abno Mr. Turner was astonished. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, then the bnce on Timothy¡¯s cash card was over 100 million dors. And this was just one bank card. There were still more than ten cards in front of him! If every card had 100 million dors, then wasn¡¯t there more than one billion dors right here? Why on earth would someone who had more than a billion dors in their ount want a few million dors? This¡­ this waspletely ridiculous! ¡°Director Walker, perhaps you should check it yourself?¡± Samuel didn¡¯t understand what was going on. He took the POS machine and was shocked when he saw the bnce. ¡°This ¡­ this¡­. This is all yours?¡± Timothy said sarcastically, ¡°If it isn¡¯t mine, then is it yours? Did you see how much there is inside?¡± Samuel hadn¡¯te to his senses yet. Timothy had so much money on his card? ¡°If I remember correctly, this card should have more than 130 million dors. The card beside you has about 200 million dors. And of course, it¡¯s needless to say that UBS has more. There¡¯s about 700 million dors in there.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. If all that money was changed to cash, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that there would be a mountain of money. But Timothy rattled on as if he were just saying a string of numbers. Who on earth was he? How was he so wealthy? Why couldn¡¯t they find out any information about his identity? ¡°So do you still think that I would embezzle a few million dors?¡± Timothy asked, although the answer was clear. But Samuel still wasn¡¯t willing to give up! ¡°Even if you have this much money on your cards, it doesn¡¯t mean you didn¡¯t embezzle. Check the details and see Timothy spread his hands, looking unconcerned. ¡°Go ahead and investigate. I don¡¯t care. You can check whatever you want. ¡°However, Director Walker, once you¡¯re done investigating, you owe me an exnation.¡± 212 Chapter 260 Chapter 260 ¡°Or was this a trap you devised? What¡¯s your goal? To get me kicked out of Amirate?¡± There was silence. Timothy¡¯s words were deliberate and left Samuel unable to retort. Samuel stammered, unable to say anything coherent. Timothy ignored him and looked at Grace. He asked, ¡°What do you think, Ms. Lewis?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Grace looked coldly at Samuel and said calmly, ¡°Mr. Donegan is the heir of the Donegan Enterprises in Frenda. Our families had once arranged a marriage between u ¡°Now we¡¯ve all seen what Mr. Donegan is capable of and how he single¨Chandedly obtained the Dunhill project. I believe that Mr. Donegan is owed an exnation for today¡¯s events.¡± Grace swept a nce across the room and finally looked at Mr. Turner. The contempt in her eyes was evident. ¡°Since you reported him, that means you have evidence, right? ¡°Show us the evidence. If you can¡¯t, then you can be charged for falsely using someone. You can be jailed for that.¡± Mr. Turner had just been acting ording to Samuel¡¯s orders. How had things be like this? Hadn¡¯t they said that they had already prepared all the evidence and that all he had to do was report? What was happening now? Mr. Turner fell to his knees and said to Samuel, ¡°Director Walker, save me! I don¡¯t want to go to jail!¡± Samuel¡¯s expression was dark as he hurriedly distanced himself. ¡°What do your actions have to do with me?¡± ¡°Director Walker, we¡¯re rtives! You can¡¯t just stand by and watch me die!¡± Samuel panicked. ¡°Ms. Lewis, don¡¯t listen to him. Even though we¡¯re distantly rted, we¡¯re not very close. We don¡¯t usually interact either. He¡¯s obviously framing me by s ¡°Director Walker, weren¡¯t you the one who gave me the orders? You said that I just had to report Mr. Donegan and that you would take care of the rest. ¡°What¡¯s going on now? Are you making me the scapegoat?¡± Samuel was furious. ¡°Shut up!¡± He pointed at Mr. Turner and said, ¡°He¡¯s talking nonsense! I¡¯ve never instructed him to do Grace didn¡¯t listen to Samuel¡¯s assertions. She squatted down to look at Mr. Turner and said,.¡± Mr. Turner, you¡¯ve been in thispany for a while. You k ¡°I can give you a chance today, but everything you say from now on must be the truth. Otherwise, no one can help you.¡± Mr. Turner nodded emphatically. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Lewis, I¡¯ll only speak the truth! Only the truth!¡± Grace coldly asked, ¡°Who ordered you to do this? What benefits did they promise you?¡± Mr. Turner hurriedly answered, ¡°It was Director Walker! No, it was his assistant, Mr. Brown, who found me. They said that Mr. Donegan was blocking the ¡°He also said that once it was done, he would give me a million dors so that I could leave. Mr. Brown was the one who gave me all the instructions.¡± When Samuel heard that, he quickly tried to assert his innocence. ¡°It was Zane! That traitor! I can¡¯t believe he did something like this in my name. I won¡¯t let him Chapter 261 Chapter 261 ¡°Or was this a trap you devised? What¡¯s your goal? To get me kicked out of Amirate?¡± There was silence. Timothy¡¯s words were deliberate and left Samuel unable to retort. Samuel stammered, unable to say anything coherent. Timothy ignored him and looked at Grace. He asked, ¡°What do you think, Ms. Lewis?¡± Grace looked coldly at Samuel and said calmly, ¡°Mr. Donegan is the heir of the Donegan Enterprises in Frenda. Our families had once arranged a marriage between u ¡°Now we¡¯ve all seen what Mr. Donegan is capable of and how he single¨Chandedly obtained the Dunhill project. I believe that Mr. Donegan is owed an exnation for today¡¯s events.¡± Grace swept a nce across the room and finally looked at Mr. Turner. The contempt in her eyes was evident. ¡°Since you reported him, that means you have evidence, right? ¡°Show us the evidence. If you can¡¯t, then you can be charged for falsely using someone. You can be jailed for that.¡± Mr. Turner had just been acting ording to Samuel¡¯s orders. How had things be like this? Hadn¡¯t they said that they had already prepared all the evidence and that all he had to do was report? What was happening now? Mr. Turner fell to his knees and said to Samuel, ¡°Director Walker, save me! I don¡¯t want to go to jail!¡± Samuel¡¯s expression was dark as he hurriedly distanced himself. ¡°What do your actions have to do with me?¡± ¡°Director Walker, we¡¯re rtives! You can¡¯t just stand by and watch me die!¡± Samuel panicked. ¡°Ms. Lewis, don¡¯t listen to him. Even though we¡¯re distantly rted, we¡¯re not very close. We don¡¯t usually interact either. He¡¯s obviously framing me by s ¡°Director Walker, weren¡¯t you the one who gave me the orders? You said that I just had to report Mr. Donegan and that you would take care of the rest. ¡°What¡¯s going on now? Are you making me the scapegoat?¡± Samuel was furious. ¡°Shut up!¡± He pointed at Mr. Turner and said, ¡°He¡¯s talking nonsense! I¡¯ve never instructed him to do Grace didn¡¯t listen to Samuel¡¯s assertions. She squatted down to look at Mr. Turner and said,.¡± Mr. Turner, you¡¯ve been in thispany for a while. You k ¡°I can give you a chance today, but everything you say from now on must be the truth. Otherwise, no one can help you.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Mr. Turner nodded emphatically. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Lewis, I¡¯ll only speak the truth! Only the truth!¡± Grace coldly asked, ¡°Who ordered you to do this? What benefits did they promise you?¡± Mr. Turner hurriedly answered, ¡°It was Director Walker! No, it was his assistant, Mr. Brown, who found me. They said that Mr. Donegan was blocking the ¡°He also said that once it was done, he would give me a million dors so that I could leave. Mr. Brown was the one who gave me all the instructions.¡± When Samuel heard that, he quickly tried to assert his innocence. ¡°It was Zane! That traitor! I can¡¯t believe he did something like this in my name. I won¡¯t let him Chapter 262 Chapter 262 hapter 262 Best Partner For the first time, Timothy felt that being part of the Donegan family was a good thing. ¡°Ourpany is taking a certain amount of risk by taking on the Dunhill project alone, so I suggest finding apany whose capability is on par with ours to coborate with. ¡°That way, we can greatly minimize our risk coefficient.¡± When speaking about work, there was no sign of fl*ppancy on Timothy¡¯s face at all. He continued, ¡°Among the leading corporations in Pamore, apart from Hawkins Group, Futurelink Corporation has the strongest finances. ¡°If we join forces, it will definitely maximize the results.¡± Grace looked surprised. ¡°Are you talking about coborating with Futurelink Corporation?¡± Timothy assented, ¡°Futurelink Corporation is the best choice. Of course ¡­¡± Timothy paused for a moment and looked up at Grace. ¡°There is another choice, which is Hawkins Group.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Benjamin?¡± Grace blurted out, then shook her head gently. She immediately vetoed it and said, ¡°We won¡¯t consider Hawkins Group. Let¡¯s go with Futurelink Corporation.¡± After all, she no longer wanted to have any work entanglements with Benjamin. ¡°Okay. Futurelink Corporation has strong finances, and if ourpanies coborate, we will be able to win this battle. ¡°I¡¯ll get in touch with the president of Futurelink Corporation. But this president seems quite mysterious. He doesn¡¯t appear in public much.¡± Grace said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about getting in touch. You probably know the president of Futurelink Corporation.¡± Timothy looked confused. ¡°I know him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Xander, the heir of Fulton Group.¡± ¡°Him?¡± Timothy was shocked. Xander Fulton was like a legend in their circle. He was a child prodigy, a top Harvard student, a business genius ¡­ All of these titles were impressive. The name Xander had always lived in legend, and although they both lived in Frenda, they had never had any personal interactions. But¡­ when had hee to Pamore? Not to mention the fact that he was the mysterious president behind Futurelink Corporation! Then, Timothy looked at Grace. ¡°You and Xander know each other?¡± Grace smiled and nodded. ¡°We don¡¯t just know each other; we¡¯re very close.¡± Since Xander had gotten injured in the fire in order to save her, he hadn¡¯te back yet. However, the two of them kept in touch via phone from time to time. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then he¡¯s undoubtedly the best choice. But ¡­¡± Timothy pressed his l*ps together, feeling a strong jealousy surge up in him. ¡°Mdy, it¡¯s just a coboration. You must not be charmed by Xander. ¡°I have no choice but to admit that he is pretty impressive, maybe even a teeny bit more impressive than me. But! You two don¡¯t suit each other!¡± Grace didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. She asked, ¡°How do you know that we don¡¯t suit each other?¡± Timothy was worried. If his rival had been Benjamin, he wouldn¡¯t be worried at all. After all, there was a history there. But if it was Xander, who was the cream of the crop in terms of looks, capabilities, and family background, then he had a less than 30% chance of winnin In the end, he looked gloomy. ¡°If it¡¯s Xander, then I¡¯ll ept my defeat. But mdy, matters of the heart must not be decided carelessly. You must think carefully before you act.¡± Graceughed resignedly and shook her head. ¡°Alright! It¡¯s just work. Why are you talking about personal rtionships?¡± ¡°Okay, mdy! It¡¯s just work!¡± Timothy reminded her. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s work hard!¡± When Grace finished speaking, she turned and left his office. Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Chapter 263 I Got Out Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Mr. Ziegler, what¡¯s on the work schedule for today?¡± Luke was half a step behind Grace as he reported her schedule. ¡°There¡¯s an international video conference at 10:00 am. At 2:00 pm, you have an appointment with Mr. Barnes to discuss the project, and tonight at 7:00 chairman and his wife¡¯s anniversary party-¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve got it.¡± As soon as she finished, Grace¡¯s phone rang from her pocket. ¡°Hello, babe. Are you busy?¡± Emily¡¯s voice traveled from the other end of the line. ¡°The client I told you aboutst time came to the boutique today. It¡¯s the one who spent three million Grace pushed the door open to her office and walked in. ¡°When?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already asked her. Any time before 12:00 pm will be fine.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it.¡± Emily hung up and took a cup of coffee over to the client. ¡°Ms. Gold, please wait a moment. Our designer wille over soon.¡± The woman she had addressed nodded slightly and didn¡¯t speak. At that time, a familiar figure stopped in the shop doorway. Yvonne had been released from prison that day. The first thing she had done was go on a shopping spree with the card Benjamin had given her. She had bought a huge pile of clothes, bags, and makeup, and she had even gone to a fashionable salon to get a new hairstyle. She had been walking on thin ice in prison for the past couple of months. No one knew how much she had suffered every day. Luckily, she was finally out. She looked up at the boutique in front of her, and her gaze darkened gradually. She huffed coldly. Then, she walked into the shop. The moment she entered, Yvonne pointed at the new designs on the mannequins and said boldly, ¡°This one and this one. Wrap them all up for me.¡± Emily came up and was about to speak when she stopped in shock. The smile on her face disappearedpletely. ¡°Homewrecker Quine, you¡¯ve actually gotten out!¡± Emily was vexed and rudely called Yvonne a homewrecker to her face. Yvonne was furious, but she didn¡¯t lose her temper. She said coldly and sarcastically, ¡°What are you standing there for? Get me the clothes!¡± Emily crossed her arms and said, ¡°This shop only serves members. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re not a member of our shop, you homewrecker.¡± Yvonne¡¯s expression stiffened, and she snorted contemptuously. ¡°Then make me a member.¡± As she spoke, she pulled out the ck card Benjamin had given her and put it in front of Emily. Without looking at it, Emily said bluntly, ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± ¡°You!¡± Yvonne really wanted to lose her temper, but she hadn¡¯t forgotten what Benjamin had said to her. She had just gotten out of prison and had no wish to go back there. ¡°Who cares about these rags? Anyone who buys these is an idiot!¡± Then, she took the ck card and was about to leave. However, she seemed to think of something and turned back. ¡°Tell Grace that I¡¯m out of prison. The score between us needs to be settled sooner orter. Tell her to wait for me ¡°Whatever score needs to be settled between us, let¡¯s settle it now.¡± Grace¡¯s voice rang out without warning. In the next second, she had reached Yvonne. Yvonne looked at Grace, who looked elegant and gorgeous. She couldn¡¯t express the fire of jealousy burning in her. She had been suffering a living hell in prison while Grace was leading such a refined life. Yvonne¡¯s fists clenched, and sheughed coldly. ¡°Grace, you never thought I woulde out, did you?¡± Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Chapter 264 No Entry for Yvonne and Dogs ¡°Did youe out to cause trouble again?¡± Grace said scornfully. Yvonne¡¯s expression changed, but she suppressed her rage and smiled instead. ¡°Do you know why I managed to get out? ¡°Benjamin paid a huge amount of bail! Do you get it, Grace? There¡¯s only ever been one person in his heart, and that¡¯s me. You¡¯re just the ex¨Cwife that he looked down on.¡± When Grace heard this, she betrayed no emotion and crossed her arms expressionlessly. ¡± Then stay together forever. Don¡¯te out and hurt others.¡± ¡°You!¡± Yvonne gritted her teeth and red venomously at Grace. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Grace, I¡¯ll make you go through everything that I had to experience.¡± ¡°If you want to go back to prison and stay there, then go ahead and try!¡± Grace¡¯s voice was intimidating. It felt like a physical blow to Yvonne, who had just gotten out of prison. Yvonne shuddered. She never wanted to step foot in prison again. ¡°Just you wait.¡± Yvonne spat vehemently. But just as she had finished speaking, the woman who had been sitting on the couch behind them looked over. The woman was just taking a small sip of her coffee, but then an icy voice rang out. ¡°Since when have homewreckers be so arrogant?¡± Yvonne frowned and looked toward the voice. It was an unfamiliar face. The woman had maintained her appearance very well and looked like she was in her 30s. Although Yvonne couldn¡¯t do anything to Grace, she thought that she could vent her anger on the woman in front of her. So she pointed at the woman rudely and said in fury, ¡°How is it any of your business?¡± The woman¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°You uneducated peasant! If you¡¯re a homewrecker, then at least be self¨C aware. Who gave you the audacity toe and be arrogant in front of the rightful partner?¡± ¡°You b*tch, watch me tear your mouth to pieces ¡­¡± Yvonne was about to lunge over. But in the next moment, Grace grabbed her wrist. ¡°Yvonne, that¡¯s enough! This is my territory, and she is my guest. Don¡¯t you dare touch her!¡± Grace flung Yvonne aside once she had finished speaking. Yvonne stumbled off bnce and fell to the floor. At once, Yvonne¡¯s face turned pale. She clenched her fists and red at Grace. Emily picked up a broom. ¡°What trash is this? Get out of here at once!¡± This was the first time that Yvonne had been humiliated like this. She was physically pushed out of the shop. ¡°Yvonne, you can¡¯te here. If I see you again, I¡¯ll kick you out every time Iy eyes on you.¡± With that, Emily shut the door. After a while, she hung a sign on the door. It said, ¡°No entry for Yvonne and dogs.¡± Yvonne stamped her foot in anger. The frustration in her chest threatened to overwhelm her. But there was nothing she could do except leave with her tail between her legs. ¡°I do apologize for disturbing you just now, ma¡¯am,¡± Grace said apologetically. The woman on the couch was elegant, and there was admiration in her eyes when she looked at Grace. She smiled slightly and looked up at her. ¡°You¡¯re Grace?¡± Grace had no recollection of her, but the woman¡¯s tone clearly indicated that she knew her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Grace. May I ask who you are?¡± ¡°Gracie, this is Ms. Gold. She¡¯s the one who specifically asked for you as the designer for her gown.¡± Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Chapter 265 A Familiar Sight ¡°You were the one who designed the main outfit for the Pamore fashion show, right? It was excellent. I heard many stories about you in Palisia.¡± As she spoke, she held out her hand to Grace. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Helena Gold.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Gold. Thank you for sticking up for me just now. If you come to our shop to choose clothes in the future, I¡¯ll give you a 20% discount every time.¡± Helena smiled and said teasingly, ¡°I just spoke ording to my conscience, but it looks like I gained some benefits.¡® 11 Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Are you here tomission a custom¨Cmade haute couture gown?¡± Grace asked. There was a hint of a smile in Helena¡¯s eyes, and she said, ¡°I want a haute couture gown with a floral theme for an event. The first person I thought of wa ¡°Of course. Let me take your measurements right now.¡± Grace took Helena¡¯s measurements, and the two of them had a delightful conversation. Before she left, Helena gave Grace a business card. ¡°When the gown is done, give me a call. Thank you for your hard work.¡± Grace took the card. ¡°You¡¯re wee. Take care.¡± When they had seen Helena off, Emily hurriedly took out her phone and gave it to Grace. ¡± Babe, look! I thought she looked familiar! It turns out that she Surprise shed in Grace¡¯s eyes when she saw the Google search. ¡°I never thought that she was part of the mainstream fashion world. She¡¯s a fashion vlogger with tens of millions of fans.¡± ¡°No wonder she has such sharp eyes and had such a unique opinion of every piece in our shop! She¡¯s an expert!¡± Grace murmured in assent. ¡°Then, we have to make the gown really good this time.¡± The two of them chatted for a while more, then Grace said goodbye to Emily and left. However, the moment she entered the shopping mall¡¯s lobby, she saw Yvonne walking over from a distance with her arm hooked through Benjamin¡¯s. It was a familiar sight. However, Grace¡¯s current state of mind waspletely different. When Benjamin saw Grace, his eyes lit up. Without thinking, he pushed aside Yvonne¡¯s arm But in the next moment, Grace grabbed her wrist. ¡°Yvonne, that¡¯s enough! This is my territory, and she is my guest. Don¡¯t you dare touch her!¡± Grace flung Yvonne aside once she had finished speaking. Yvonne stumbled off bnce and fell to the floor. At once, Yvonne¡¯s face turned pale. She clenched her fists and red at Grace. Emily picked up a broom. ¡°What trash is this? Get out of here at once!¡± This was the first time that Yvonne had been humiliated like this. She was physically pushed out of the shop. ¡°Yvonne, you can¡¯te here. If I see you again, I¡¯ll kick you out every time Iy eyes on you.¡± With that, Emily shut the door. After a while, she hung a sign on the door. It said, ¡°No entry for Yvonne and dogs.¡± Yvonne stamped her foot in anger. The frustration in her chest threatened to overwhelm her. But there was nothing she could do except leave with her tail between her legs. ¡°I do apologize for disturbing you just now, ma¡¯am,¡± Grace said apologetically. The woman on the couch was elegant, and there was admiration in her eyes when she looked at Grace. She smiled slightly and looked up at her. ¡°You¡¯re Grace?¡± Grace had no recollection of her, but the woman¡¯s tone clearly indicated that she knew her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Grace. May I ask who you are?¡± ¡°Gracie, this is Ms. Gold. She¡¯s the one who specifically asked for you as the designer for her gown.¡± Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Chapter 266 I¡¯m Back Benjamin kept staring in the direction where Grace had walked off. Then, he asked, ¡°Yvonne, you did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you? You knew that Grace w ¡°Benjamin, you¡¯ve misunderstood me!¡± ¡°Fine. You and I know very clearly what kind of character you have! I didn¡¯t bail you out so that you coulde here and be arrogant and out of control. ¡°I¡¯m warning you¨Cstay far away from Grace. If not, I¡¯ll personally send you back to jail again. Silence ensued after his threat. Yvonne was furious and wanted to pull on Benjamin¡¯s arm, but he cast her off. ¡°Enough. Stop faking it here. I¡¯ve given you the card. Just buy what you want to get, and next time, don¡¯t call me.¡± After he had said his piece, Benjamin ignored Yvonne¡¯s stricken expression and left, leaving her only with the view of his retreating figure. In the car, he took out his phone and made a call. ¡°I told you to watch Yvonne. What developments have there been?¡± ¡°Mr. Hawkins, there hasn¡¯t been anything amiss as of now.¡± ¡°Watch her closely. If there¡¯s any sign at all, report it to me at once.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hawkins.¡® 11 Benjamin hung up and tossed his phone aside. He looked back toward the distance, looking lost. When he thought about how impassive Grace had looked, he felt like he would never be able to catch ¡°Gracie, I¡¯m back in town.¡± Grace had just finished her video conference when she saw the message Xander had sent her. Her eyes lit up with joy, and she hurriedly called back. ¡°Xander! You¡¯re back in Pamore?¡± On the other end of the phone, Xander looked up at the splendid Amirate Corporation office in front of him and said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back. I heard you had a co ¡°Xander, can you read my mind? How do you know about everything?¡± ¡°I¡¯m downstairs, right outside your office.¡± Grace was surprised and walked to the window. When she looked down, she saw the familiar ck Rolls Royce. ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯ll be right down.¡± Grace hung up and went downstairs with a stack of documents, but Xander was already waiting for her. When he saw her, Xander strode forward. ¡°Take it slow. Don¡¯t rush.¡± Grace immediately checked his b*dy all over and asked concernedly, ¡°How are you? Is everything alright?¡± Xander ruffled her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I recovered ages ago.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t scar, will it?¡± Xander¡¯s heart warmed, and he saidfortingly, ¡°No, it won¡¯t. Only then did Grace rx. ¡°That¡¯s good, then.¡± Xander took her hand. ¡°It¡¯s time to eat. Let¡¯s go have a meal.¡® ¡°Okay,¡± Grace answered, but she was looking at their tightly intertwined hands. She allowed him to keep holding her hand. At that moment, the warmth emanating from his palm made her feel safe. They chose a popr local vegan restaurant because Grace liked vegan food. After they had ordered a few specials of the day, they handed the menu to the waiter. ¡°No onions, no mushrooms, and go easy on the dressing.¡± ¡°No onions, no mushrooms, and go easy on the dressing.¡± They said it almost simultaneously. Grace looked at Xander, shocked that he knew her taste and preferences so well. The waiter couldn¡¯t help but say teasingly, ¡°Sir, you know your girlfriend¡¯s tastes very well.¡± Girlfriend? Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. There was a hint of uneasiness on Grace¡¯s face, and without thinking, she took the ss in front of her and began drinking furiously. Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Chapter 267 The Crazy Dog Is Out Xander¡¯s expressi¨®n was calm as he handed the menu over. ¡°That¡¯s it! We¡¯ll order again if needed.¡± When the waiter had left, Grace finally put down her ss and said, ¡°Xander, how did you know that I don¡¯t eat onions or mushrooms?¡± Even Benjamin, who had been married to her for three years, knew nothing about this. How did Xander know her so well? Xander looked intensely at her and finally said, ¡°Your older brother told me.¡± ¡°Aaron?¡± Xander nodded, but didn¡¯t say that he knew about her preferences because of how closely he had observed her. Grace didn¡¯t doubt him. ¡°Grace, is that really you?¡± A sudden voice made Grace raise her eyebrows. The next second, Ava had already appeared in front of her. Her gossipy eyes looked greedily at Grace and Xander with no regard for anything else. As Benjamin¡¯s aunt, she had never liked Grace. She had just never expected Grace to get together with such an impressive man after leaving the Hawk ¡°What kind of rtionship do you two have with each other?¡± Ava asked. Grace had no affection for the Hawkins family, especially Ava. She was a big¨Cmouthed gossip. ¡°Ms. Ava, does this have anything to do with you?¡± Ava had harbored hatred toward Grace ever since her previous rejection of her. Now that Grace had spoken back to her, she felt flustered. She said rather rudely, ¡°What¡¯s this then? After leaving our family, did you get yourself a boy toy? But this man is miles below Benjamin¡¯s league. I can¡¯t s If Ava had been talking about her, Grace wouldn¡¯t have been so angry. But she just had to talk about Xander. Grace retorted, ¡°Where did this crazy doge from, and why is it biting wantonly?¡± ¡°Are you calling me a dog?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you one?¡± Ava flushed bright red, but Grace didn¡¯t care. ¡°Your husband¡¯s still job¨C hunting, right? Do you think he would still be able to get a job if I made somements within the industry circle?¡± She had to get Ava where it hurt! Upon hearing that threat, Ava wilted immediately. Grace was no longer who she had been in the past, and Ava was no match for her. Opposite them, Xander smiled and wiped the corners of Grace¡¯s mouth for her with a napkin. Ava seethed further when she saw that. However, there was nothing she could do, so she stamped her foot and left. The two of them were unaffected by Ava¡¯s appearance. After eating, they went to Futurelink Corporation. The staff members at Futurelink Corporation didn¡¯t really know Grace, but Xander had introduced her during a whole¨C staff meeting before. She was thepany¡¯s honorary director. Therefore, when everyone saw her, they greeted her courteously, ¡°Hello, Ms. Lewis!¡± Grace looked confused. After she got into the elevator, she asked, ¡°Xander, why did they greet me like that?¡± She knew that Futurelink had been jointly established with funds from the Fulton and Lewis families, but she had never worked there. Xander smiled fondly. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that you hold 49% of Futurelink¡¯s shares?¡± Grace was shocked. ¡°49%?¡± Didn¡¯t that mean that she had a lot of authority at Futurelink Corporation? This meant that the coboration with Amirate Corporation would naturally go smoothly. After all, good things should be kept within the family! ¡°Xander, why didn¡¯t you tell me this before?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote to tell you now.¡± As the two of them got out of the elevator, they ran into Linda. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Chapter 268 First Meeting After the previous incident, Linda had been demoted. While her original position was assistant to the president, she was now manager of the sales depa Linda was very unhappy about this. She had personally gone to see Xander several times, but he had rejected her heartlessly each time. After thinking long and hard, Linda had realized that only one person could influence Xander¡¯s thoughts. That person was Grace. ¡°Mr. Fulton.¡± Linda inclined her head slightly to greet Xander. Then, she looked at Grace, maintaining a respectful attitude. ¡°Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace smiled back at her in reply before walking into Xander¡¯s office. Linda followed her with a pile of documents in her arms. ¡°Mr. Fulton, here are some documents from the sales department that need your signature.¡± Xander sat down with a pen and signed his name with a flourish. While Xander had been away from the office, a pile of work had umted on his desk, waiting to be taken care of. Grace sat on the couch and waited Feeling bored, she fl*pped through a magazine. By the time Xander was finished, Grace had long been unable to resist her fatigue and had fallen asleep against the couch. Xander put the documents down and tiptoed over to her. He pulled a thin nket over her. At that moment, it felt as if time had stopped. He stared at her sleeping face, and his thoughts began to wander. It had been the year that Xander had turned seven years old. Since childhood, Xander had always had a wish. When he saw that a sweet little girl with two pigtails was his neighbor, he had found her adorable. At that time, he had been extremely envious and had kept badgering Hestia. ¡°Mom, can you give birth to a little sister for me?¡± ¡°Mom, please give me a little sister!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of my little sister obediently and I¡¯ll protect her¡­¡± Hestia had also wanted a daughter, but her health had declined severely after she had given birth to Xander. It was difficult for her to get pregnant again ¡°Sweetie, I¡¯ll buy you a doll for you to think of as your sister, okay?¡± Xander had pushed her away angrily. ¡°I don¡¯t want a doll. I want a little sister!¡± Hestia hadn¡¯t been able to do anything but sigh in resignation. As the days had passed, Xander¡¯s wish for a little sister had never wavered. He couldn¡¯t even remember what day it had been. He could only remember that it had been a winter¡¯s day, and there had been sunlight for the first time in a long time. That day, the sunlight had been soft, filling the bright blue sky with warmth. ¡°Xander,e downstairs. Your little sister is here.¡°. Xander had thundered down the stairs in his Dr. Martens boots and immediately spotted a chubby little girl. She had been dressed in red riding clothes and looked very striking. At that time, Grace had just been five years old! She had looked at him with big, round eyes. Hestia had introduced him to her. ¡°Gracie, this is Xander!¡± At that, Grace had beamed and said sweetly, ¡°Xander!¡± Hestia had been busy fussing over her. ¡°Come over here! From now on, she will be your little sister!¡± Xander had been over the moon. He had a little sister! He finally had a little sister! ¡°Gracie likes riding horses. There¡¯s a little pony at the door. Can you take her to ride it?¡± Hestia asked. Little Xander had nodded seriously and said firmly, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll take good care of her.¡± The first time Xander had taken care of Grace, he had been very careful. He had helped Grace Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. up on a stool to get on the pony. ¡°Be careful, Gracie! Don¡¯t touch the horse¡¯s rump!¡± Little Grace had nodded obediently. ¡°Okay, Xander!¡± Chapter 269 Be My Husband Little Xander had felt warm and fuzzy at the sound of her calling his name. He had taken the job of leading her seriously and had taken her riding in the g Little Grace¡¯s eyes had flickered from side to side as she asked a series of questions. ¡°Xander, why doesn¡¯t the pony talk?¡± ¡°Why is the sky blue?¡± ¡°Why do birds fly?¡± ¡°Why are there boys and girls?¡± Little Grace had had an unending supply of questions, but little Xander hadn¡¯t been impatient at all. He had answered every question for her patiently. ¡°Wow, Xander, you¡¯re so great! You know everything!¡± Little Grace had looked at him with adoration, as if there were pink stars shooting out of her eyes. Little Xander had felt extremely satisfied by that. This little sister was so adorable! ¡°Gracie, could you just be my little sister?¡± Little Grace had shaken her head at that. ¡°No!¡± As she spoke, she began counting on her fingers very seriously. ¡°I have three brothers at home ¡­ and if I add you, I¡¯ll have four older brothers!¡± Little Xander¡¯s face had fallen at once. He had felt a surge of jealousy. ¡°You have three older brothers, but I only have you as a little sister!¡± Little Grace had blinked. Then, she had taken Xander¡¯s little hand. ¡°Then don¡¯t be my older brother. Be my husband.¡± Little Xander had jumped up in shock when he had heard that. He had already turned seven years old, after all. He had known many things that other children didn¡¯t! For example, he had learned that boys would marry girls when they grew up! After they got married, they could call each other husband and wife and be with each other forever! Then, they could have a little baby. But his mother had also said that marriage wasn¡¯t to be done lightly. So he asked, ¡°Why do you want me to be your husband?¡± Little Grace had been full of innocence. ¡°Because my older brother said that every little girl only has one husband when they grow up. So Xander, do you want to consider being my husband?¡± Little Xander had thought that it was a great idea. That way, this adorable little sister would be with him forever! ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s pinky swear.¡± ¡°Pinky swear.¡± Their tiny fingers had intertwined together into a beautiful promise. However, the next day, little Xander had been woken by someone crying loudly. He had opened his eyes sleepily to see Little Grace beside him, her face streaked with tears. At that moment, he had panicked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Little Xander had hurriedly tried tofort her, but no matter how much he had tried, little Grace hadn¡¯t stopped. In fact, she had cried even harder. ¡°Don¡¯t cry-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a toy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a doll.¡± ¡°Shall I take you riding?¡± Little Xander had been beside himself with worry and sweating, but there had been nothing he could do. At that moment, Hestia had pushed open the door and walked in. She had picked Grace up in her arms worriedly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Gracie? Why are you crying, sweetheart?¡± Little Grace had been distraught as she dove into Hestia¡¯s embrace. ¡°Aaron said that I can¡¯t sleep on the same bed with a boy or I¡¯ll get pregnant ¡­ I don¡¯t want to get pregnant ¡­ want to have a little baby¡­¡± I don¡¯t Gracie had begun crying even louder as she spoke. Hestia had been amused by what she had heard. ¡°Sweetie, you won¡¯t get pregnant!¡± At that, Little Grace had stopped crying abruptly, and she had looked at Hestia hopefully, her face still streaked with tears. ¡°Really?¡± Hestia had nodded firmly. ¡°You and Xander aren¡¯t married, and you¡¯re both little kids. Little kids don¡¯t have children.¡± Little Grace had nodded, half¨Cunderstanding. Then, she had smiled in relief. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 ¡°Okay, Xander!¡± Chapter 269 Be My Husband Little Xander had felt warm and fuzzy at the sound of her calling his name. He had taken the job of leading her seriously and had taken her riding in the g Little Grace¡¯s eyes had flickered from side to side as she asked a series of questions. ¡°Xander, why doesn¡¯t the pony talk?¡± ¡°Why is the sky blue?¡± ¡°Why do birds fly?¡± ¡°Why are there boys and girls?¡± Little Grace had had an unending supply of questions, but little Xander hadn¡¯t been impatient at all. He had answered every question for her patiently. ¡°Wow, Xander, you¡¯re so great! You know everything!¡± Little Grace had looked at him with adoration, as if there were pink stars shooting out of her eyes. Little Xander had felt extremely satisfied by that. This little sister was so adorable! ¡°Gracie, could you just be my little sister?¡± Little Grace had shaken her head at that. ¡°No!¡± As she spoke, she began counting on her fingers very seriously. ¡°I have three brothers at home ¡­ and if I add you, I¡¯ll have four older brothers!¡± Little Xander¡¯s face had fallen at once. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. He had felt a surge of jealousy. ¡°You have three older brothers, but I only have you as a little sister!¡± Little Grace had blinked. Then, she had taken Xander¡¯s little hand. ¡°Then don¡¯t be my older brother. Be my husband.¡± Little Xander had jumped up in shock when he had heard that. He had already turned seven years old, after all. He had known many things that other children didn¡¯t! For example, he had learned that boys would marry girls when they grew up! After they got married, they could call each other husband and wife and be with each other forever! Then, they could have a little baby. But his mother had also said that marriage wasn¡¯t to be done lightly. So he asked, ¡°Why do you want me to be your husband?¡± Little Grace had been full of innocence. ¡°Because my older brother said that every little girl only has one husband when they grow up. So Xander, do you want to consider being my husband?¡± Little Xander had thought that it was a great idea. That way, this adorable little sister would be with him forever! ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s pinky swear.¡± ¡°Pinky swear.¡± Their tiny fingers had intertwined together into a beautiful promise. However, the next day, little Xander had been woken by someone crying loudly. He had opened his eyes sleepily to see Little Grace beside him, her face streaked with tears. At that moment, he had panicked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Little Xander had hurriedly tried tofort her, but no matter how much he had tried, little Grace hadn¡¯t stopped. In fact, she had cried even harder. ¡°Don¡¯t cry-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a toy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a doll.¡± ¡°Shall I take you riding?¡± Little Xander had been beside himself with worry and sweating, but there had been nothing he could do. At that moment, Hestia had pushed open the door and walked in. She had picked Grace up in her arms worriedly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Gracie? Why are you crying, sweetheart?¡± Little Grace had been distraught as she dove into Hestia¡¯s embrace. ¡°Aaron said that I can¡¯t sleep on the same bed with a boy or I¡¯ll get pregnant ¡­ I don¡¯t want to get pregnant ¡­ want to have a little baby¡­¡± I don¡¯t Gracie had begun crying even louder as she spoke. Hestia had been amused by what she had heard. ¡°Sweetie, you won¡¯t get pregnant!¡± At that, Little Grace had stopped crying abruptly, and she had looked at Hestia hopefully, her face still streaked with tears. ¡°Really?¡± Hestia had nodded firmly. ¡°You and Xander aren¡¯t married, and you¡¯re both little kids. Little kids don¡¯t have children.¡± Little Grace had nodded, half¨Cunderstanding. Then, she had smiled in relief. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Unrequited Love The sound of a knock interrupted Xander¡¯s thoughts. He snapped out of his thoughts, and only then did he realize he had lost hisposure. ¡­.. Seeing Grace peacefully asleep, Xander didn¡¯t disturb her. Instead, he walked to the door and stopped the group of people who hade to report to hi ¡°Let¡¯s go and handle this in the conference room.¡± The group exchanged nces in confusion, not understanding why the location had been changed at thest minute. Nevertheless, they obediently went to the conference room. Grace was sleeping soundly. When she woke up, the spacious office was empty. As she got up, the thin nket on her slid off and fell to the floor. She quickly picked it up. The next moment, the door to the office was pushed open. Xander walked in, and their eyes met. In a low and melodious voice, he said, ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Grace looked a bit awkward. ¡°Did I sleep for a long time?¡± ¡°Well, not too long.¡± Xander walked up to her with a faint smile. ¡°Do you want to walk around?¡± Grace was surprised. ¡°Can I do that?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Grace nodded, and Xander took her on a tour of thepany. The scale of Futurelink was huge. It was hard to believe that apany that had opened its office here less than half a year ago had be so big. The staff members were well¨Ctrained and very efficient in their work. Xander walked with Grace and introduced her to several major departments and their respective heads. After a while, the two arrived at the sales depart ¡°Ms. Snow, who¡¯s the person following Mr. Fulton over there?¡± a colleague quietly asked Linda. Linda raised her eyes and saw Grace not far away. Her eyes darkened as she said, ¡°Ms. Lewis, a director of thepany.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis? Is she the one Mr. Fulton introduced us to at the employee meeting before?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rtionship between her and Mr. Fulton? They look quite close.¡± ¡°Do you think she¡¯s Mr. Fulton¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Another colleague added, ¡°I think so. When has Mr. Fulton ever been so nice to a woman? He personally led her on a tour of thepany. He¡¯s never b ¡°Right. He doesn¡¯t even have a female secretary by his side. We used to suspect there was something wrong with him, but now I think he¡¯s been deliberately avoid ¡°Oh my! Where can we find such a good man? I think Mr. Fulton is the only one.¡± As Linda listened to her colleagues¡® discussion, her face turned ugly. She used to be Xander¡¯s secretary, the only female secretary. Yet she had been transferred to the sales department. All of this was undoubtedly rted to Grace. ¡°Focus on your work and stop gossiping!¡± Linda sternly reprimanded them. Her colleagues looked at each other. They dared not say anything more and Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. After Linda left, they gathered again. ¡°Why do you think Ms. Snow was transferred from the president¡¯s office to the sales department?¡± ¡°And did you notice she¡¯s unusually concerned about Mr. Fulton¡¯s affairs? That¡¯spletely beyond the usual concern a subordinate has for a superior.¡± ¡°Does she have feelings for Mr. Fulton? But he¡¯s already taken, so is it unrequited love?¡± Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Elegance at the Racecourse ¡°Right. I think so too. But how could Mr. Fulton be interested in a secretary? Even if he¡¯s looking for a partner, it should be someone like Ms. Lewis, who has aparable background. #1 Linda stood at the door, listening to her colleagues¡® words. Aplex mix of emotions filled her, and she silently clenched her fists. Instantly, gloom filled her eyes. Meanwhile, after Grace and Xander toured thepany, she gained a rough understanding of thepany¡¯s operations. Xander asked, ¡°What do you think, Gracie? Have you considered cooperating with Futurelink?¡± Grace raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Do I still need to consider? I don¡¯t want outsiders to profit. It¡¯s a done deal.¡± Xander hummed in acknowledgment. ¡°Okay. We can have the personnel from bothpanies coordinate tomorrow and sign the contract as soon as po ¡°Sounds good! Xander, we¡¯re really efficient at our work, aren¡¯t we?¡± As they chatted and walked along the corridor, Xander couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Since we¡¯re done with work, how about we go out and rx a little?¡± Grace¡¯s eyes were filled with surprise. ¡°Where do you want to take me?¡± Xander pressed his l*ps together and walked up to her. ¡°I remember you used to like riding horses when you were a child. How about going to the racecourse?¡± Grace was somewhat surprised. ¡°You actually remembered! But it¡¯s been a long time since Ist rode a horse. Now that you mention it, I do feel like riding one. Shall we go to the raceco Without hesitation, Xander agreed directly. ¡°Sure.¡± Then, he drove with Grace to the racecourse. It was a weekday, so there weren¡¯t many people at the racecourse. As soon as Xander and Grace reached there, some staff members came forward, showing a respectful attitude. ¡°Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace was puzzled. This was her first time at the racecourse, yet they seemed to recognize her. ¡°Bring that white horse over,¡± Xander ordered directly. A staff member nodded. Following that, a beautiful adult white horse was brought over to Grace. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. At first nce, a hint of surprise appeared in Grace¡¯s eyes. ¡°This horse is really beautiful!¡± Xander took the reins and led the horse to Grace. ¡°Try it.¡± The white horse seemed to understand and obediently crouched down in front of Grace. ¡°This horse understands!¡± Grace said, and then mounted the horse. The white horse slowly stood up, taking graceful steps. Behind them, the staff brought Xander¡¯s usual ck horse. After he mounted it, he rode to Grace¡¯s right side, and the two of them galloped on the raceco Little did they know that Geraldine and Benjamin had just arrived at the entrance of the racecourse. After Grace had sent Geraldine to prison for stealing Amirate¡¯s secrets, Hawkins Group had paid 30 million dors to reach a settlement with Amirate. Only then had Geraldine gotten the chance to be released. Since the Hawkins had taken care of this matter, they let her work at Hawkins Group as Benjamin¡¯s secretary. Hence, Geraldine was apanying Benjamin to meet a client at the racecourse. ¡°Benjamin, when is Mr. Watsoning over? It¡¯s so hot here. Shall we go inside and wait for him?¡± Geraldineined while using a document to shi Hearing that, Benjamin frowned slightly. He had no favorable feelings toward Geraldine, who had never experienced any hardships. But considering the fact that Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Behind¨CThe¨CScenes Boss Benjamin only said, ¡°You can go over by yourself.¡± Geraldine tightly bit her lower l*p. Seeing Benjamin unfazed, she stayed beside him. Soon, their client, Corbin Watson, finally arrived. ¡°Sorry for beingte, Mr. Hawkins.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. When it came to work, Benjamin was wless. He extended his hand toward Corbin. ¡°No problem, Mr. Watson. I¡¯ve heard that you enjoy horseback riding, so I purposely arranged to have the meeting here, hoping to witness your skills on horseback.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Hawkins. I¡¯ve heard that you also have some experience with horsemanship. Let¡¯s share our stories today.¡± As they spoke, they walked toward the racecourse. Geraldine wasn¡¯t interested in horseback riding, so she stayed in the resting area. ¡°Waiter, get me a ss of juice,¡± Geraldine said to the waiter behind her, and then sat on the couch. She raised her eyes, looking toward the direction of the racecourse. The next moment, her gaze fell on a familiar figure. She almost instinctively jumped up. A strong sense of hatred filled her. ¡°Grace? Why is she here?¡± Geraldine looked around for Benjamin. Seeing that he was in the opposite direction of where Grace was, her tensed heart gradually rxed. However, she narrowed her eyes in thought. Who was the man next to Grace? ¡°Miss, your juice.¡± The waiter ced the juice on the side. Geraldine came back to her senses and called out to the waiter, ¡°Wait.¡± 11 Then, she handed a few ten¨Cdor bills to the waiter. Pointing to Xander, not far away, she asked, ¡°Who¡¯s that man?¡± Following her gaze, the waiter exined, ¡°That¡¯s our boss, Mr. Fulton.¡± ¡°Your boss?¡± Geraldine was extremely surprised. Grace was actually dating the boss of the racecourse? This was shocking news! ¡°What¡¯s your boss¡® name?¡± The waiter shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss. I can¡¯t tell you that.¡± Since Geraldine couldn¡¯t get any answers, she let the waiter leave. However, her gaze never left Grace. After all, thest incident had entirely been a trap Grace had set for her. Geraldine subconsciously touched her cheek. She had been pped by Grace once. Now, she had to make Grace pay for it, no matter what. With this thought, a scheming look appeared on Geraldine¡¯s face. On the other hand, as Grace ran a fewps freely on the racecourse, she exuded a carefree and confident air. ¡°Gracie, do you want to take a break?¡± Xander suggested. ¡°Sure.¡± As Grace said that, she stopped and handed the horse over to the staff member. After that, she went to the lounge with Xander. As soon as they left, a figure quietly sneaked into the stable. Grace and Xander werepletely unaware. Just as they had sat down in the lounge, Benjamin and Corbin arrived. Benjamin had noticed Grace long ago. But Corbin took the lead and walked toward Xander. ¡°Mr. Fulton, I didn¡¯t expect to run into you here. Are you here to ride as well?¡± Corbin was very attentive and spoke to Xander respectfully, seeming to lower himself before thetter. However, Xander just nodded slightly, remaining expressionless. ¡°Mr. Watson, are you here for horseback riding too?¡± Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Provocation Didn¡¯t Work Corbin nodded repeatedly. ¡°I came to talk about coboration with Mr. Hawkins and also to ride a horse. I wonder if you¡¯re interested in riding together, Mr. Fulton?¡± However, Xander directly refused. ¡°Sorry, this isn¡¯t a good time.¡± Corbin looked at Grace beside him and understood. ¡°I see, Mr. Fulton. I won¡¯t disturb you, then. Let¡¯s meet another time.¡± After exchanging greetings with Xander, Corbin left. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, shall we go?¡± Benjamin spoke coldly, ¡°No, Mr. Watson. Let¡¯s end our coboration here.¡± Hearing that, Corbin was confused. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, that wasn¡¯t what you said just now.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Benjamin replied without mercy, ¡°As you said, that was just now.¡± Corbin didn¡¯t understand what he had done wrong. But considering Hawkins Group¡¯s power, even if he was angry, he couldn¡¯t vent. He could only snort and leave. Benjamin stood on the side silently. His eyes were fixed on Grace, as though he were burning her with his gaze. When Grace felt his gaze, she frowned and looked up, meeting his eyes. Benjamin couldn¡¯t help but think of thest time they had been at the racecourse. But back then, they had beenpeting for a project by riding horses. The image of Grace¡¯s carefree and confident attitude on horseback was still vivid in his mind. ¡°Grace, would you like to ride together?¡± Benjamin extended an invitation. But Grace mercilessly rejected him. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Hawkins. I¡¯m not interested.¡± Benjamin¡¯s face darkened, looking displeased. At this moment, Geraldine approached them. Despite the smile on her face, her eyes were fixed on Grace. ¡°What a coincidence, Grace. You¡¯re here too.¡± Her tone was friendly,pletelycking the anger from theirst encounter, as if the previous incident had never happened. Surprised by Geraldine¡¯s shameless attitude, Grace responded, ¡°Are you here for horseback riding as well, Ms. Geraldine?¡± Geraldine smiled. ¡°It¡¯s boring to ride alone. How about a horse race together?¡± Hearing that, Grace directly declined. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m not interested.¡± Yet Geraldine said nonchntly, ¡°Are you not interested, or are you afraid? Grace, are you afraid of me after thest incident, so you don¡¯t want to ride h Grace ignored Geraldine¡¯s provocation. Bluntly, she said, ¡°That¡¯s right. I don¡¯t want to ride horses with you. Any problem with that?¡± Grace¡¯s retort left Geraldine at a loss for words. Her expression was rather ugly. ¡°Grace, are you really not going to show me any courtesy?¡± Grace felt speechless. ¡°Who are you? Why should I show you courtesy?¡± Geraldine was irritated and clenched her hands into fists. She looked at Benjamin and said, ¡± Benjamin, how about you go with me?¡± Benjamin also responded unkindly, ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± Geraldine felt embarrassed that she had been rejected in public. As the daughter of the Hawkins family, she had never experienced such humiliation before. Ignoring her, Grace turned to Xander, saying, ¡°Xander, let¡¯s go feed Snowy and then leave.¡± Xander agreed with a nod, his eyes filled with affection. ¡°Sure.¡± The two left together,pletely ignoring the unpleasant expressions on Benjamin¡¯s and Geraldine¡¯s faces. Geraldine couldn¡¯t get over it and said resentfully, ¡°Who does Grace think she is? She¡¯s so arrogant!¡± Benjamin retorted with no trace of politeness, ¡°Shut up!¡± Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Snowy¡¯s Fright Geraldine, filled with anger, issued a fierce threat. ¡°Just wait. I¡¯ll make her pay today.¡± Benjamin frowned and grabbed her arm. ¡°What did you do?¡± Before she could answer, Grace¡¯s scream came from the stable. ¡°Ah!¡°. Grace wanted to feed Snowy, but he had suddenly be agitated and charged directly toward her. This situation frightened Grace. For a moment, she forgot how to react. As she watched the horse rush toward her, Xander protected her at the right time. He pushed her down and held her tightly. ¡°Watch out!¡± Snowy, however, seemed angry. He struggled against the reins, attempting to break free and charge out of the stable. Grace sensed something was wrong. She had years of experience dealing with horses, and she could feel that something was strange with Snowy. ¡°Xander, something¡¯s wrong with him.¡± Xander also noticed. ¡°Snowy is usually gentle. He has never behaved like this.¡± Just then, Benjamin rushed in and asked with concern, ¡°Grace, are you okay?¡± Seeing Geraldine behind Benjamin, Snowy suddenly acted more forcefully, charging toward a pir. Xander hurriedly protected Grace. ¡°Watch out!¡± In the next moment, Snowy broke free from his reins and rushed toward Geraldine. Terrified, Geraldine quickly ran away. ¡°No! Stay away!¡± But the enraged horse followed her. In a sh, Geraldine stumbled and fell. Snowy galloped and trampled over her back. A cry of pain echoed through the air. Geraldine wore an agonized expression, but Snowy continued, trampling over her b*dy twice more. Seeing that, the staff members rushed to the scene. Sternly, Xander called out, ¡°Snowy!¡± Snowy had lost his sanity and was roaring continuously. Fortunately, the staff members had arrived in time and rescued Geraldine from underneath the horse. However, Geraldine had already fainted from the fright. Grace¡¯s eyes narrowed. She exchanged a nce with Xander, who quickly instructed the staff, ¡± Hurry, call an ambnce.¡± Seizing the opportunity, Grace approached Snowy. By now, Snowy had calmed down. As Grace got closer, he showed no signs of the previous aggression. Grace couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that something was amiss with him. Meanwhile, Benjamin¡¯s expression was grim. Ignoring Geraldine, he walked over to Grace, asking, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Grace couldn¡¯t help but be curious. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re concerned about the wrong person?¡± Yet Benjamin responded impolitely, ¡°She brought this upon herself.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Grace¡¯s eyes turned dark. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, do you know the truth behind this?¡± Though Benjamin remained silent, his silence served as an answer for Grace. ¨C Soon, an ambnce arrived and took Geraldine away. Grace approached Xander. ¡°Xander, this incident isn¡¯t that simple.¡± Xander reassured her. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Geraldine was severely injured, with multiple bruises on her back from the horse¡¯s hooves. Even her face suffered some injuries. When she woke up, she started shouting, ¡°That b*tch, Grace! She did this. She ordered the horse to attack me!¡± Although Olivia was unaware of the situation, she became furious when she heard Geraldine¡¯s usations. + Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Chapter 275 I¡¯m Sorry ¡°This Grace keeps shing with our family. What did we do to provoke her? She keeps treating you like this. ¡°Geraldine, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely demand an exnation from her on this matter. With your injuries, even that racecourse can¡¯t escape responsibility.¡± Geraldine seemed to have thought of something. ¡°Mom, Grace¡¯s current boyfriend owns that racecourse. They¡¯re in cahoots.¡± ¡°This is outrageous! Does she think our family is easy to mess with?¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Olivia was extremely furious. She only had one daughter, and thetter was being mistreated like this. Just as Olivia was about to leave, Benjamin stood straight at the door. Olivia sneered. ¡°Benjamin, you heard it too. This is all that b*tch¡¯s doing. Don¡¯t let her off the hook this time.¡± Benjamin smirked, and his l*ps revealed a touch of mockery. ¡°Aunt Olivia, I think you don¡¯t understand your daughter well enough.¡± Olivia was puzzled. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Benjamin directly stated, ¡°I was there at the scene.¡± Hearing that, Olivia was shocked. ¡°Benjamin, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still favoring that b*tch. She did this to Geraldine! She even bullied your mom and your Olivia¡¯s words were like a heavy blow, striking directly at Benjamin. The shot he had fired three years ago were hitting him now. He had always thought that after marrying Grace, he could just leave her there like a decoration. For the past three years, she had been obedient, ying the role of a dutiful wife without causing him any trouble. Even when she had been bullied by his mother and younger sister and had been treated in an unfriendly manner by the rest of the family, Grace had endured it all. She had neverined to him, and he had never experienced the hardships she had been through. Benjamin couldn¡¯t imagine how she had endured all of that. Now that they were divorced, he realized how wrong he had been. ¡°Aunt Olivia, I¡¯ll tell you the truth. Today¡¯s incident has nothing to do with Grace. If you go after her, you¡¯ll be going after me. If that happens, Hawkins Group won¡¯t give a penny to your family,¡± Olivia was so angry that she felt like spitting blood. As she pointed her finger at Benjamin, she couldn¡¯t utter aplete sentence. ¡°Benjamin, you¡¯ve been blinded by that woman!¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say. Think about it carefully.¡± Olivia was in distress, but she didn¡¯t dare to go against Benjamin. After all, her family depended on Hawkins Group to survive. If Benjamin didn¡¯t give them money, they wouldn¡¯t be able to make it. At this moment, Olivia saw Grace standing not far away and angrily shouted, ¡°You b*tch! How dare youe here?¡± As she said that, she made a move to attack Grace but was held back by Benjamin. ¡°Aunt Olivia, have you forgotten what I just said?¡± Olivia was shocked. As if drained of all her strength, she could only lean against the wall to avoid copsing. Grace ignored Olivia and walked straight toward Benjamin. Without hesitation, she took out her phone and handed it to Benjamin. ¡°The evidence is here. Take a look.¡± Benjamin didn¡¯t take the phone. He already knew what was inside. ¡°Grace, I¡¯m sorry.¡± GET IT NOW Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Chapter 276 First Come, First Served Benjamin¡¯s words carried a strong sense of powerlessness. But some things couldn¡¯t bepensated for with words. Grace raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, Mr. Hawkins. Why should you apologize?¡± Benjamin shook his head. ¡°This apology is from the old me.¡± ¡°Stop it, Mr. Hawkins.¡± As Grace said that, she looked at Olivia, who wasn¡¯t far away. ¡°I intend to get to the bottom of this matter.¡± ¡°Okay, I support any decision you make.¡± Benjamin had already made his stance clear. Olivia panicked. ¡°Benjamin, are you also going to side with this arrogant woman? Your cousin is lying in that bed!¡± Benjamin remained indifferent. ¡°We¡¯re all adults. We have to take responsibility for our actions.¡± ¡°What did Geraldine do that you¡¯re treating her like this? Remember, she¡¯s the one lying in the hospital bed now!¡± Olivia was seething. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you¡¯re nning to do, but don¡¯t even think aboutying a hand on Geraldine.¡± There was no emotion on Grace¡¯s face. ¡°We won¡¯t do anything, but the police might.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, two uniformed police officers walked in. ¡°We received a report of a disturbance at the racecourse. Who is Geraldine Hawkins?¡± Olivia grew anxious at the sight of the police. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± The leading officer walked up to her and showed her his police badge. ¡°This is my police badge. Can anyone point out Ms. Geraldine Hawkins? We¡¯re summoning her ording to thew.¡± Olivia staggered and quickly held her forehead. ¡°My head hurts. I can¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± Seeing that, Grace was speechless. Olivia¡¯s acting was too awkward. But with the police here and solid evidence, Geraldine couldn¡¯t escape now, even if she wanted 1. to. Grace yawned and walked to Xander, who had been waiting for her. ¡°Xander, let¡¯s go back.¡± Xander took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s chilly outside. Be careful not to catch a cold.¡± With that, the two turned and left. Seeing this scene, Benjamin hurriedly caught up, grabbing Grace¡¯s wrist from behind. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you back.¡± Grace frowned, trying to break free. She said coldly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mr. Hawkins. There¡¯s no need for the trouble. You should deal with the aftermath of this matter here.¡± However, Benjamin casually said, ¡°There¡¯s no rush for that.¡± Ignoring Grace¡¯s refusal, he followed her closely. Grace had no choice but to quicken her pace. However, Benjamin stuck to her like chewing gum. At the hospital entrance, Grace couldn¡¯t tolerate it anymore. ¡°Benjamin, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Not enough.¡± As soon as Benjamin spoke, Xander stood in front of Grace, blocking her. The two five¨Cfoot- nine¨Cinch¨Ctall men had a powerful presence. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, this is a bit too much,¡± Xander warned. But Benjamin wasn¡¯t afraid at all. He knew that if he backed down today, he would never be able to lift his head in front of Xander in the future. He was determined to win Grace over. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Since he had won over her effortlessly three years ago, he was sure he could do the same three yearster. ¡°Mr. Fulton, has no one told you about the saying ¡®firste, first served?¡°¡± Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Chapter 277 She Doesn¡¯t Want to Lie to Him Xander coldly snorted. ¡°That depends on who came first and who cameter.¡± A trace of suspicion shed in Benjamin¡¯s eyes. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Xander didn¡¯t hide anything and said straightforwardly, ¡°It¡¯s been three years, Benjamin. This time, I won¡¯t let Grace go to you again.¡± His words were clear. Grace raised her eyes and looked at him, feeling like she had missed something. Benjamin sneered. ¡°Do you¡¯re capable enough? Who do you think is in charge here, Fulton?¡± Xander calmly responded, ¡°In the past, it might have been the Hawkins family. But we¡¯re living in different times now. You can try if you want, Mr. Hawkin.¡± The tension in the air was palpable, as though a fight was going to break out at any time. Benjamin nodded slightly, feeling the thrill of having a worthy opponent. It had been a long time since he had had such a formidable opponent. ¡°You want topete with me? I¡¯ve never lost since I was a child. I¡¯ll certainly have Grace and teach you a lesson.¡± At his words, Xander smirked. ¡°That depends on whether you have the abilities.¡± After saying that, both men looked at Grace. Benjamin took the initiative. ¡°Grace,e with me.¡± On the contrary, Xander remained silent, leaving the choice to Grace. ¡°Mr. Hawkins, I¡¯m not an object. I¡¯m a person¨Ca living person. Perhaps I did have some feelings for you in the past, but now all those feelings have disappeared.¡± After saying that, Grace looked at Xander. With just a nce, Xander understood everything. He didn¡¯t want to force her or pressure her. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. It was just a childhood joke, but he had taken it seriously. Xander lowered his eyes, concealing the disappointment in them. Unexpectedly, the next moment, Grace walked up to him. Summoning her courage, she spoke to Xander. ¡°Xander, let¡¯s go home.¡± Xander looked up. A glint of light shed in his previously dim eyes. He looked into her eyes, The little girl, who had followed him since childhood, had be independent and strong. And unknowingly, he had formed deep roots of affection for her. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go home.¡± He held her hand, gripping it tightly as if he had seized the whole world, and walked past Benjamin. ¡°Grace, have you thought it through?¡± Benjamin shouted at her retreating figure. However, Grace ignored him, and her steps became more determined. Benjamin clenched his fists, and his heart was already empty. In the car, Grace seemed a bit uneasy. She carefully observed Xander¡¯s expression and finally mustered the courage. ¡°Xander, just now-¡± ¡°Gracie, do you remember what I told you on your 18th birthday?¡± Grace was slightly startled. Her thoughts drifted, and finally, she revealed a broad smile. ¡°You said that I don¡¯t need to pretend in front of you. I can just be myself. ¡°But, Xander, I want to say that for now, I don¡¯t have thoughts of being in a rtionship.¡± She didn¡¯t want to lie to him. In this whole world, he was thest person she wanted to lie to. ¡°I know,¡± Xander replied calmly. ¡°Don¡¯t feel pressured, Gracie.¡± Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Unexpected Incident Xander focused on the road with his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. At the same time, he tried his best to control his emotions. Calmly, he said, ¡°Follow your heart. Even if you always consider me a brother in your heart, that¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t force yourself to do things you don¡¯t like.¡± Grace knew that Xander understood her the most in the whole world. She didn¡¯t want to let his feelings down. So perhaps she could really try to take this brave step. ¡°I know, Xander.¡± Xander smiled with relief. ¡°I¡¯ll have the representative of the Dunhill project from Futurelink go to Amirate tomorrow, and we can sign the contract, okay?¡± Grace took a moment to catch up with this sudden change of topic. ¡°Sure! I look forward to working with you, Mr. Fulton.¡± The next day, the representative from Futurelink arrived at Amirate early in the morning. At 10:00 am, the representatives from the twopanies signed the contract. ¡°Mr. Fulton, from now on, our twopanies are like one big family. We¡¯ll need mutual support in our business dealings,¡± Grace said with a smile. Meanwhile, Xander stared at her and replied, ¡°Naturally, Ms. Lewis. The Dunhill project has a long duration and a significant financial investment. I wonder when we can go for a field visit together.¡± Grace had already nned for this. ¡°Next week is fine. I¡¯ve already asked my assistant to arrange the schedule. Would you be avable then?¡± Xander pondered for a moment and replied calmly, ¡°I think I will be.¡± The two exchanged a smile. As they left the office, Grace couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. ¡°Xander, I suddenly realized that you look quite hot when you¡¯re serious.¡± ¡°Gracie, you¡¯re getting better at your words. But still, you need to do your job well.¡± t Grace nodded repeatedly. ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Fulton.¡± She personally escorted Xander out of the building, and as they left thepany, he stopped. Go back inside. There¡¯s no need to see me off.¡± Grace agreed with a nod. ¡°See you next week.¡± As she said that, she waved to Xander. At that moment, Grace¡¯s attention was entirely on Xander. She waspletely unaware that a car was speeding toward her from the side. Suddenly, they heard a screeching sound. Grace turned around, seeing the caring straight at her. In that instant, she forgot to react. ¡°Watch out!¡± Xander rushed over, pushing her to the ground. The two rolled for a moment, and the next second, there was a loud bang. The car had crashed straight into a pir, and the sound of shattering ss filled the air. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Someone,e quickly! A car hit the pir!¡± ¡°The driver is still in there. Call for help!¡± ¡°Why are you still standing there? Help them! Call 911!¡± The surroundings were filled with chaotic voices. Gracey on the ground, feeling dizzy and Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. unable to get her bearings. ¡°Gracie, are you okay? Are you hurt?¡± Xander¡¯s concerned voice sounded in her ear as he checked her for injuries. Shaking her head, Grace replied, ¡°Xander, I¡¯m fine.¡® Xander helped her up from the ground. Meanwhile, more and more onlookers gathered around. Given that it was such a significant incident, rms were ringing throughout the building. Broken ss was scattered on the ground, and the car was dented. There was smoke rising from its back. It was stuck and unable to move. Looking at the car, Gr¨¢ce felt a strange familiarity. ¡°Xander, I think I¡¯ve seen this car before.¡± Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Possible Murder Xander¡¯s eyes narrowed. He signaled Grace to stay in ce and not move. Then, he walked up to the driver¡¯s seat. The driver was wearing a patient¡¯s gown. It was a frail¨Clooking woman with blood on her head. She was lying motionless in the driver¡¯s seat. When Xander pushed her, he finally saw her face. ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± Grace also saw the person in the driver¡¯s seat. It was none other than Geraldine. ¡°How did she get out? Did she just¡ª¡± A bold spection emerged in Grace¡¯s mind. ¡°Was she trying to kill me?¡± she muttered. The realization hit her after that. This wasn¡¯t an ident at all. It was an attempted murder. Did Geraldine want to kill her? A wave of fear surged through Grace. It had been such a close call. If Xander hadn¡¯t been there to push her away and shield her, she might have- Grace didn¡¯t dare to think about it, but she was afraid. Xander could tell what she was thinking from her expression. He went forward andforted her. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here.¡± In that moment, she turned much calmer. The police, firefighters, and emergency personnel arrived at the scene quickly. A cordon was set up. Since the incident urred at Amirate, Grace, as the person in charge, went to the police station to make a statement. Xander apanied her throughout the process. After finishing with the statement, Grace finally noticed that Xander¡¯s arm was bleeding. She quickly pulled his arm over. ¡°Xander, you¡¯re injured!¡± Xander tried to hide his pain. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a minor injury.¡± Yet Grace insisted. ¡°It¡¯s not minor. You¡¯ve scraped off such a big piece of skin. Come on, let me take you to the hospital.¡± Xander wanted to refuse, but Grace¡¯s worried look melted his heart. He gave up and allowed Grace to take him to the hospital. ¡°Doctor, please help him treat the wound.¡± The doctor pushed his sses up his nose and looked at the coin¨Csized scar, momentarily stunned. Just as he was about to say something, he looked up and was dumbfounded. Xander Fulton? N?velDrama.Org is the owner. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. The doctor, Mateo Graham, was about to speak, but Xander made a hushing motion. Mateo wasn¡¯t stupid. Looking at Grace¡¯s concerned expression, he guessed what was going on. He pretended to look closely. ¡°Miss, your boyfriend¡¯s wound seems a bit serious.¡± Grace¡¯s attention was solely on Xander, so she didn¡¯t notice anything strange. She said with concern, ¡°Doctor, please, quickly treat his wound.¡± Mateo reassured her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With me here, nothing serious will happen.¡± Then, he looked at Xander. ¡°Miss, you have such a good boyfriend. Handsome and rich.¡± From the beginning, Grace had found the doctor¡¯s words strange. Now, they seemed weirder. ¡± Doctor, how do you know he¡¯s rich?¡± Suddenly, Mateo was at a loss for words. He quickly coughed and finally noticed Grace¡¯s appearance. ¡°Wait a minute. Why do familiar?¡± you look Grace¡¯s eyes shed with surprise. ¡°Familiar? Have we met before?¡°¨C Just then, Mateo recognized Grace. ¡°The Lewis family¡¯s daughter, Grace Lewis?¡± Grace searched extensively in her mind for information about Mateo but found nothing. ¡°Do Behind her, Xander coughed softly. ¡°He¡¯s Mateo Graham, my college buddy. You met him at my graduation party before.¡± Chapter 280 Chapter 280 Chapter 280 The Gracie You¡¯ve Been Thinking About After this brief introduction, Grace quickly greeted Mateo. ¡°Nice to meet you, Dr. Graham.¡± Mateo chuckled. ¡°Well, well, well, Xander. You came to the emergency department even when your injury isn¡¯t serious at all. Others might think that som ¡± Hearing that Xander was fine, Grace breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s good that he¡¯s okay. I appreciate your help, Dr. Graham.¡± Mateo came over with gauze and iodine to tend to Xander¡¯s wound, saying, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just be more careful next time. Try not to fall again.¡± After finishing the treatment, he turned to Grace and said, ¡°All done. You can go to the front desk to settle the payment, Ms. Lewis.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With that, Grace walked out. Seeing her retreating figure, Mateo couldn¡¯t resist teasing Xander. ¡°If I remember correctly, she¡¯s the Gracie you¡¯ve been thinking about, right?¡± He sounded very certain, as if he had discovered an interesting fact. He continued, ¡°You justck dating experience. No wonder you¡¯ve been pursuing her for so many years without sess. This isn¡¯t how you do it.¡± After clearing his throat, Xander humbly asked, ¡°Do you have any good advice?¡± It was rare to see Xander being so humble. It truly was a historic moment. Mateo¡¯s eyes were filled with amazement. ¡°Is this still our famous Mr. Xander?¡± With a mischievous smile, he continued, ¡°No worries, Xander. I can give you a couple of tips. In love, you have to be sincere. Of course, it¡¯s also okay to ¡°But I can see she¡¯s quite interested in you. Put in some effort and quickly date her. We¡¯re all looking forward to the wedding.¡® When Xander and Grace left the hospital, Xander¡¯s arm was wrapped in bandages. In fact, it was just a minor wound. But Mateo thought that wouldn¡¯t have much effect, so he had insisted on using a bandage. Xander thought it was a bit exaggerated. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. He wanted to remove it, but Grace stopped him. ¡°Xander, your wound has just been treated. ¡°When you get home, avoid getting it wet, and let your assistant handle things as much as possible.¡± Xander¡¯s movements halted, and he even found the bandage on his hand somewhat pleasing. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡® At that moment, the sound of an ambnce approached from a distance. Soon, the ambnce came to a stop, and a nurse wheeled down a patient. Grace nced at the patient¡¯s face and recognized her. It was Geraldine. Grace and Xander exchanged a nce, sharing the same understanding. Xander¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°I will not tolerate this matter.¡± Geraldine¡¯s condition was dire. She had already been injured from being trampled by a horse. So the additional impact from the car ident had sent her into a vegetative state. When Luke informed Grace of this news, she had just finished a meeting. Exiting the conference room, Luke reported, ¡°The police are investigating it, and the initial findings suggest that this wasn¡¯t an ident. They suspect Geraldine of intentional homicide, and she¡¯s currently under police control.¡± Grace¡¯s expression remained calm. Everything seemed within her expectations. ¡°What about the Hawkins family?¡± ¡°They haven¡¯t taken any action yet, but to avoid implicating Hawkins Group, Benjamin has already sealed off this information.¡± ¡°Have thewyers handle the follow¨Cup.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace returned to her office and continued, ¡°The Dunhill project involves two major sectors, including crude oil and mining.¡± Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Meet at the Usual ce ¡°We¡¯ve already reached a coboration agreement with Futurelink. In the initial stages of the project, I¡¯ll personally go there to oversee it.¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, do you need me to go with you?¡± Grace nodded. ¡°Prepare yourself. When the timees, go with Futurelink and take the main team along.¡± After confirming the work, Grace sent a message to Xander. Unexpectedly, her phone rang abruptly. She looked at the shing number on the screen and answered expressionlessly. Benjamin¡¯s voice came through the phone. ¡°Grace, I heard you¡¯ve reached a coboration agreement with Futurelink.¡± Grace raised her eyes and nced out the window. ¡°You seem to be well¨Cinformed, Mr. Hawkins.¡± ¡°Are you sure you want to choose him over me? Working with Hawkins Group has a better chance of sess, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Yet Grace responded, ¡°Mr. Hawkins, the die is cast. There¡¯s no need for more words.¡± But Benjamin wasn¡¯t willing to ept it. When had he ever lost? ¡°The Dunhill project isn¡¯t as simple as it looks. If you¡¯re going to Dunhill, be careful. If you need help, Hawkins Group-¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need, Mr. Hawkins. Thest thing Amirate wants is help from Hawkins Group. ¡°If you¡¯re that free, you should take care of your family matters first. You wouldn¡¯t want that to affect your work, would you?¡± Benjamin understood what Grace was implying. ¡°You can rest assured. I won¡¯t let anyone who hurt you get away with it,¡± he said earnestly. But Grace just smiled lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t need to be updated on your family matters. Also, I have no interest in listening to your chit¨Cchat.¡± After saying that, she hung up the phone. As Benjamin tightly gripped his phone, his eyes darkened, and his face looked ugly. At that moment, Yvonne pushed the door and walked in. *15 BONUS ¡°Benjamin, are you okay?¡± With a cold face, Benjamin snapped, ¡°Get out!¡± His aggressive demeanor startled Yvonne. She pretended to be subservient and approached him. ¡°Benjamin, did something happen? You can tell me. We can share the burden together.¡± Benjamin raised his eyes and pinched her chin. ¡°You think you¡¯re worthy of that?¡± With that, he pushed her away without mercy. ¡°Benjamin, is there no ce for me in your heart?¡± Yvonne asked unwillingly. ¡°Don¡¯t you care about me or our child we once had?¡± At the mention of this, Benjamin¡¯s face became even more unsightly. If it hadn¡¯t been for Yvonne and that so¨Ccalled child, he and Grace wouldn¡¯t be where they were today. ¡°Yvonne, am I being too polite to you? Don¡¯t forget what I told you. Stay away from me during this time, or I won¡¯t mind sending you in again.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Benjamin, are you still thinking about Grace? ¡°But don¡¯t you know that she doesn¡¯t love you at all? If she really loved you, how could she leave so decisively? Benjamin, wake up!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Benjamin scolded coldly. Ignoring her, he decided to leave the office himself. Yvonne felt a burning anger inside, but she had no way to vent. She took out her phone, hesitated for a long time, and finally dialed a familiar number. ¡°Let¡¯s meet. I¡¯ll wait for you at the usual ce.¡± Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Weren¡¯t We Doing Something Serious In a magnificent hotel, the amorous sounds of a man and a woman filled the air. After a passionate encounter, Yvonne leaned against the head of the bed and took a deep drag of a cigarette dangling between her fingers. The n*ked man beside her pulled her into his arms and spoke in a light tone. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, and your skills have clearly regressed. It seems like prison life didn¡¯t treat you well.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Yvonne blew a smoke ring. ¡°Cut the crap. I called you out for something serious.¡± The man chuckled. ¡°Okay. Weren¡¯t we doing something serious?¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes darkened as she extinguished the cigarette. ¡°Benjamin is starting to suspect me, but he can¡¯t present any evidence at the moment.¡± The man¡¯srge hand began to roam over her b*dy as he said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry if there¡¯s no evidence. We just need to be careful.¡± Seriously, Yvonne swatted his hand away. ¡°Regardless, I must be Mrs. Hawkins. Even if that fails, I want to make Grace, that b*tch, try living in pris Smiling wickedly, the man lifted her chin. ¡°It¡¯s not nice to think about another man while you¡¯re in my bed. ¡°You did so much to get Benjamin to marry you, but you failed. Do you really think you have a chance now?¡± At the mention of this, Yvonne felt regret. She had indeed put in so much effort. Yet not only had she failed to win Benjamin¡¯s heart, but she had also dragged her family down. She had heard that her grandfather was still working to pay off debts. Out of guilt, she hadn¡¯t dared to face her family even after being released from prison. ¡°Marrying Benjamin is the only way to turn things around.¡± The man chuckled. ¡°Good luck with that.¡± Seeing the man unmoved, Yvonne pulled his arm forcefully. ¡°You¡¯re not going to help me?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. There¡¯s nothing I can do about rtionships.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t or won¡¯t?¡± Yvonne was straightforward. She knew him too well. So, she leaned in, cupped his cheek, and nted a big k*ss. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I only want the identity of Mrs. Hawkins. I¡¯ll still be yours.¡± The man was pleased with her approach. ¡°It seems like I didn¡¯t waste my effort on you. Just a reminder¨C Benjamin¡¯s sess in Pamore means he¡¯s not foolish. Be careful not to ruin everything.¡± ¡°What can I do? Besides bing Mrs. Hawkins, I have no other way topete with Grace.¡± Noticing that Yvonne was doing everything to challenge Grace, the man decided to be upfront about it. ¡°Bing Mrs. Hawkins might not be possible, but dealing with a woman can be simple. I heard Amirate is in talks for a project in Dunhill, and Ms. Lewi ¡°Dunhill is a messy ce. It¡¯s an easy task to take a few lives.¡± Hearing that, Yvonne became delighted. ¡°Are you serious? But I don¡¯t want her life right now. I just want her in prison. I want her to experience the miserable life there and to torment her little by little.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all you want to do?¡± Understanding Yvonne¡¯s intentions, the man bluntly said, ¡°Sending her to prison is easy. Justmit some crime, ensure it¡¯s beyond the influence of the ¡°Even if she doesn¡¯t want to go to prison, it¡¯ll be difficult to avoid.¡± Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Completely Ignored Yvonne suddenly had an idea. ¡°Tell me. Do you have any good ideas?¡± The man leaned over, pressing her down, and whispered seductively, ¡°If you want to know, serve me well.¡± After that, the room was filled with another round of amorous sounds. The next day, Grace had packed her bags early in the morning. Before she set off, she received a call from Aaro?. ¡°Gracie, I heard you¡¯re going to Dunhill.¡± Grace knew she couldn¡¯t keep anything from Aaron, so she replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going with Xander.¡± ¡°I have a friend in Dunhill. If you need anything, you can contact him.¡± Grace hummed in acknowledgement. ¡°Thanks, Aaron. I¡¯m not a child anymore. There¡¯s no need to worry about me.¡± Yet Aaron was still concerned. ¡°Is Luke going with you?¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°The other employees are taking ater flight. We¡¯ll meet in Dunhill the next day.¡± Hearing Grace¡¯s response, Aaron felt reassured. With Luke and Xander there, watching over her, there shouldn¡¯t be any major problems. He reminded her. ¡°You¡¯ve been independent since you were young and always had a mind of your own. I won¡¯t interfere. But safetyes first when tra ¡°After reaching Dunhill, I¡¯ll tighten your security a bit more. The security there isn¡¯t great. Be careful.¡± ¡°I know, Aaron.¡® As Grace spoke, she nced casually and spotted Xander not far away. She waved to him and then continued speaking on the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With Xander around, nothing will happen. I¡¯ll talk to youter.¡± After hanging up, Grace quickly walked over to Xander. ¡°Xander.¡± Xander smoothly took the suitcase from her hand and handed it to his assistant. Then, he held Grace¡¯s hand, leading her onto a private ne. 10 The ne circled in the air for over five hours before smoothlynding at Dunhill Airport. The localpany working with Amirate had already arranged for personnel to pick them up. So when Grace and Xander emerged from the private passage at the airport, they saw a crowd holding arge sign in Kidhnian that read, ¡°Wee to Dunhill, Ms. Lewis and Mr. Fulton!¡± Grace walked over andmunicated with them in fluent Eliganese. ¡°Are you from Soraya Group?¡± A young man in his 20s brightened up upon hearing her words. ¡°Are you Ms. Lewis?¡± Grace nodded, and they followed him through a corridor. ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯m Coby, the assistant from Soraya. Our director has been waiting for you in the car for quite some time. ¡°We¡¯ll first take you and Mr. Fulton to the hotel for you to recover from the jetg. You cane to thepany tomorrow.¡® Grace had no objections to their arrangements. Following Coby out of the airport, they saw a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was dressed professionally and was standing not far away. Sh Upon seeing Grace and Xander, the woman¡¯s eyes lingered on Grace for just a second before she reached her hand out toward Xander. ¡°Wee, Mr. Fulton.¡± Grace waspletely ignored. Xander raised an eyebrow and took the initiative to introduce them. ¡°This is Ms. Lewis, the president of Amirate Group and the leader of our project.¡± At his words, the woman smiled and seemed to just notice Grace. ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Lewis. I¡¯m Vivian Myers.¡® Grace politely greeted her, ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Myers.¡± X Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Distinct Treatment Vivian exchanged smiles with Grace, but her attention was on Xander. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you toe in person this time, Mr. Fulton. Soraya Group warmly wees you. It must have been a long journey. Let me take you to th hotel first.¡± Xander¡¯s expression darkened, and he curtly replied, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Myers.¡± Suddenly, two luxury cars stopped in front of them. Vivian gestured toward Grace. ¡°Please get in, Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace nodded slightly. As she got into the car, Xander followed and took a seat next to her without hesitation. Then, he said to Vivian, ¡°Ms. Myers, it¡¯s fine for Ms. Lewis and me to share a car. Vivian was annoyed. Her expression slightly changed, but she suppressed her emotions. ¡°Sure, Mr. Fulton. I¡¯ll follow behind you.¡± As the car door closed, the vehicle slowly pulled away. Grace pouted and said jealously, ¡°Xander, Ms. Myers wanted to share a car with you. Aren¡¯t you afraid of hurting her pride?¡± Xander turned his head to look at her and reached out to ruffle her hair. ¡°What¡¯s going on in that little head of yours? Don¡¯t think about this nonsense.¡± Grace stifled augh. It was the first time she had seen Xander so serious. yfully, she teased. ¡°Got it, Xander. But Ms. Myers is so beautiful. Don¡¯t you feel anything?¡± Xander coldly replied, ¡°No.¡± Instantly, Grace¡¯s mood lifted. Even the wind blowing in her face felt gentler. However, when they reached the hotel, Grace¡¯s smile disappeared. The hotel¡¯s decor seemed outdated, with a design that looked seven or eight years o Vivian got out of the car and approached them. ¡°Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis, let¡¯s go inside.¡± Grace was adaptable and had nothing to criticize, but Vivian¡¯s next words left her dumbfounded. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°This is the best hotel in our area. We hope you have afortable stay.¡± Best hotel? This? Grace started questioning her life choices. Xander seemed to notice her reaction and asked, ¡°Are you not used to it?¡± Grace shook her head. Since they were traveling, even if she wasn¡¯t ustomed to it, she had to make do. However, her optimistic thoughts didn¡¯tst long. In the room, there was a in wooden bed with slightly yellowed sheets. Seeing that, Grace was on the verge of a breakdown. ¡°Ms. Lewis, this is your room. The room card is here,¡± Vivian considerately said, then looked at Xander. ¡°Mr. Fulton, your room is upstairs. Let me take you there.¡± Xander gave Grace a reassuring look and followed Vivian out. Once they were gone, Grace seriously assessed the room. Not only the bed sheets were yellowed, but the curtains and windows had signs of wear and tear. Grace consoled herself, thinking, ¡°Just a few days, and it¡¯ll be over soon.¡± Then, she took a deep breath. ¡°Mr. Fulton, this way.¡± Vivian led Xander to the best room on the upper floor, with facilitiesparable to a five¨Cstar hotel in Kidhna. Facing such a spacious room, Xander¡¯s eyes darkened, and he asked, ¡°Ms. Myers, is this your way of hosting guests?¡± There was an implicit usation in his tone. Smiling, Vivian exined, ¡°Mr. Fulton, we only have two good rooms in this hotel. I¡¯ve Chapter 285 Chapter 285 already taken one.¡± Chapter 285 Afraid of a Mouse So there¡¯s only this one left for you, Mr. Fulton.¡± After saying this, Vivian took out a room card from her bag. She stared at his profile with a seductive gaze, then handed the room card to Xander. As she winked, she said, ¡°Mr. Fulton, I¡¯m staying next door. Feel free toe over anytime for some in¨Cdepth discussions.¡± Without waiting for Xander¡¯s response, she swayed her hips and left. Xander nced at the room card. Without hesitation, he threw it into the trash. He took out his phone, intending to call Grace. However, Grace had already rushed up with her suitcase. Seeing Xander, she ignored everything. She disregarded her suitcase and pounced into his arms. With a trembling voice, she said, ¡°Xander, there¡¯s ¡­ th Her face had turned pale from shock, and her b*dy was shaking. Upon seeing her look like a shocked kitten, Xander couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. ¡°Well, then. You can stay in my room tonight.¡± Grace nodded eagerly, not hesitating for a moment. Xanderforted her. ¡°It¡¯s just a mouse. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Grace whimpered and shook her head. ¡°Not just a mouse. It was a really big one. As she said, she left his embrace. It was then that she noticed the stark contrast between his room and hers. Grace felt like crying. ¡°Xander, isn¡¯t the difference in treatment too obvious?¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give you the master bedroom. I¡¯ll sleep on the couch tonight.¡± Grace nodded obediently and closed the door. Xander handed her sl*ppers and ced the suitcase in the bedroom. When Grace sank into the bed, she instantly rxed. ¡°Ah, this big bed is sofortable.¡± Grace turned over and hugged a pillow. She wished she could never leave the bed. After lying on the bed for a while, she grabbed her pajamas and headed to the bathroom. By the time she had finished showering, she was already too tired. Yawning, she came out with a hairdryer in hand. Meanwhile, Xander was still working on hisptop. Seeing her, he closed theptop immediately. When he noticed how exhausted she was, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit guilty. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. He took the hairdryer from her hand. ¡°Lie down. I¡¯ll blow¨Cdry your hair.¡± Gracey down, her head naturally resting on his thigh. There was no hesitation, as if it were the most ordinary thing. Xander took the hairdryer and slowly dried her hair. By the time he was done drying her hair, she had already entered dreand. Xander then unplugged the hairdryer and quietly ced it on the side. He gazed at her sleeping face with a gentle expression. As he leaned forward, he gently k*ssed her forehead. He whispered, ¡°Good night, Gracie.¡± When Grace woke up the next day, the sun was already shining brightly through the window, casting a warm glow in the room. Pulling open the curtains, she was greeted by a beautiful, sunny day. When she exited the bedroom, Xander had already ordered breakfast from the hotel. Seeing her awake, he pulled her to the bathroom. ¡°Freshen up first, thene for breakfast.¡± Looking at herself in the mirror, Grace blinked, graduallying back to her senses. She remembered showering and blow¨Cdrying her hairst night. But how had she ended up in the bedroom? Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Chapter 286 How Could She Be the Lewis Family¡¯s Daughter The moment Grace realized that she and Xander were the only ones in the room, her face blushed. She didn¡¯t have to think twice to figure out that Xander must have carried her into the room. ¡°Ah, Grace! You¡¯re in deep trouble,¡± she regretfully said, paying no attention to Xander beside her as she promptly ushered him out. Xander was bewildered, but he shook his head in resignation. When Grace finished freshening up, Xander had already left the room. She sighed deeply, then sat down at the dining table and earnestly began eating breakfast. However, halfway through her meal, the doorbell rang. Thinking it might be Xander returning, Grace got up to open the door. ¡°Xander, didn¡¯t you take your ess card?¡± She froze abruptly. The sight that greeted her wasn¡¯t Xander, but a surprised¨Clooking Vivian. Pointing at Grace, Vivian seethed with anger. ¡°You ¡­ you stayed herest night?¡± Grace looked innocent as she asked, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Fuming, Vivian asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Fulton? Where is he?¡± Grace spread her hands and said, ¡°He¡¯s not here. Is there something wrong, Ms. Myers?¡± Vivian spoke bluntly. ¡°We¡¯re about to leave, Ms. Lewis. Don¡¯t keep people waiting.¡± With that, she mmed the door shut and strode away, leaving a puzzled Grace blinking in Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. surprise. When Grace went downstairs, a group of people was already waiting. Luke came forward respectfully. ¡°Ms. Lewis.¡± Grace nodded slightly. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± She then looked at Xander, momentarily forgetting the events of the previous night, and waved casually. Watching their exchange from the side, Vivian looked displeased. But she was reluctant to cause a scene in front of Xander, so she controlled her temper. ¡°Mr. Fulton, today we¡¯ll visit Soraya Group. There¡¯s a meeting in the morning, and in the In front of Xander, Vivian¡¯s tone was gentle, and her attitude was friendly. She perfectly maintained the image of a capable director. Xander nodded slightly and walked to Grace. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Gracie.¡± Grace agreed and led the way. Xander followed closely, a half¨Cstep behind her. The two of them walked in sync, disying their perfect chemistry. Vivian couldn¡¯t hide her dissatisfaction. ¡°Ms. Myers, who¡¯s this Ms. Lewis? Why does Mr. Fulton seem different around her?¡± Her assistant, Gina Smith, couldn¡¯t help but gossip. Arrogantly, Vivian replied, ¡°She¡¯s just a young woman. Nothing special. By the way, I asked you to check her background. Did you find anything?¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Myers. I checked, but found nothing. She seems to have a good rtionship with the Lewis family.¡± ¡°The Lewis family? Which one?¡± ¡°The wealthiest family in Frenda.¡± ¡°That Lewis family? Could she be from that family?¡± Vivian took a bold guess, but Gina shook her head. ¡°If she¡¯s from that Lewis family, how could she end up here? ¡°I¡¯ve inquired thoroughly. The Lewis family only has one daughter, who has been pampered since childhood. Since she was born into such luxury, how could shee out to work like this?¡± Hearing that, Vivian agreed. After all, who would want to work instead of staying home and enjoying being the heiress of the wealthiest family? Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Chapter 287 There¡¯s No Coboration Without Me ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just a coincidence that she shares the same surname as the Lewis family.¡± ¡°I agree. Look at her. Does she seem like a wealthy youngdy?¡± Vivian nced in that direction and concurred with Gina. ¡°Never mind. She¡¯s not my target for today.¡± Gina nodded. ¡°Rest assured, Ms. Myers. I know your target is Mr. Fulton.¡± Vivian acknowledged it with a hum, not denying Gina¡¯s statement. Gina continued, ¡°Mr. Fulton is such a high¨C quality bachelor. Ms. Myers, you have to get him. Men like him are rare. Once in hand, it¡¯s like achieving a social ss breakthrough.¡± Arrogantly, Vivian said, ¡°Of course. Men like innocent women asionally, but generally, they prefer someone S**y and charming. I don¡¯t believe I can¡¯t win him over.¡± After saying that, she confidently followed the group. The team took an MPV to Soraya Group. As the leading enterprise in Dunhill, it was splendidly decorated. Banners were hung at the entrance that read, ¡°Wee to Soraya Group, Ms. Lewis and Mr. Fulton.¡± When the group got out of the car, cheers erupted from the crowd. They escorted Grace and Xander into Soraya Group¡¯s lobby. ¡°Mr. Fulton, our conference room is on the 22nd floor. Please follow me.¡± Vivian walked up to Xander, seeming extremely amodating. Grace wanted to join them, but was stopped by Gina. ¡°Ms. Lewis, let¡¯s take the next elevator.¡± Displeased, Grace frowned slightly. The elevator doors closed quickly. Only then did Xander notice Grace hadn¡¯t entered. He asked Luke, ¡°Where¡¯s Gracie?¡± Luke quickly responded, ¡°She probably didn¡¯te in. Should I go down and check?¡± Vivian hastily exined, ¡°The elevator is full. It¡¯s okay. My secretary didn¡¯te in either. She¡¯ll bring Ms. Lewis up in a while.¡± Xander didn¡¯t say much to that. The group proceeded directly to the 22nd floor, where Soraya Group¡¯s president, Keh Williams, had been waiting. H room. 14 +16 RGNUS Meanwhile, when Grace reached the floor, the meeting had already started. However, Gina intercepted Grace at the door. ¡°Ms. Lewis, the meeting has begun. It might be inappropriate to enter midway. How about I take you to the lounge to rest for a while?¡± At this moment, Grace¡¯s suppressed anger finally exploded. With a stern face, she asked, ¡°Is this your decision, or is it Soraya Group¡¯s decision?¡± Calmly, Gina replied, ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯m just being considerate. After all, the professionals are already in the meeting. Entering abruptly might disrupt the flow, which wouldn¡¯t be appropriate.¡± ¡°So you took it upon yourself to stop me?¡± Gina nodded slightly, adopting a professional attitude. ¡°I¡¯m considering the coboration between our twopanies.¡± Grace had had enough. ¡°Believe it or not, if I don¡¯t get in there today, there¡¯s no coboration to discuss.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Gina sneered, ¡°Ms. Lewis, are you kidding me? Or do you think too highly of yourself? ¡°A coboration worth billions of dors between twopanies isn¡¯t that simple. Do you think the coboration will be canceled just because of you? Th Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Grace Went Missing Grace sneered, a chilling intent filling her eyes. ¡°Even an assistant can be so arrogant. I find it hard to see Soraya Group¡¯s sincerity. But I¡¯ll kindly remind you that if you dare to act, you should be prepared to face the consequences.¡± With that, Grace turned to leave. Gina didn¡¯t care. In her eyes, Grace was just trying to intimidate her. Having worked in the corporate world for so many years, Gina had seen it all. She didn¡¯t take Grace¡¯s words seriously. Grace left Soraya Group¡¯s office and sat back in the car. She took her phone out to y a game. Meanwhile, there wasplete silence in the conference room. Frowning, Xander sat in the main position without saying a word. The entire room¡¯s mood dropped to a freezing point. Keh wiped the sweat from his forehead and cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. Fulton, do you see any issues with our coboration?¡± Xander didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he raised his wrist to check his watch. It had been 20 minutes. Why hadn¡¯t Grace arrived? At this moment, Luke rushed in, looking concerned. ¡°Mr. Fulton, I couldn¡¯t find Ms. Lewis anywhere.¡± Xander stood up abruptly. He dialled a number on his phone as he walked out, leaving everyone in the room puzzled. Seeing that, Vivian hurriedly followed. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Mr. Fulton, our meeting hasn¡¯t finished yet. Where are you going?¡± Xander didn¡¯t bother with her. When he heard the dial tone on the other end of the call, his brow furrowed even more. Grace wasn¡¯t someone who acted without reason. She had never hung up his calls before. What happened today? ¡°Have you seen Grace?¡± Xander asked. Vivian was slow to react. She had just asked Gina to stop Grace from entering the conference room. She didn¡¯t know that Xander cared about Grace so much. Feeling somewhat guilty, she stammered, ¡°Mr. Fulton, I came up with you. How could I have seen Ms. Lewis?¡± At her answer, Xander pressed the elevator button to go down without asking further. ¡°Mr. Fulton, has something happened to Ms. Lewis? Do you need my help?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Two icy words were enough to show his resolute rejection: As the elevator doors closed, Vivian turned to find Gina. ¡°Wha happened?¡± Gina whispered something, and Vivian¡¯s face changed instantly. ¡°I just told you to stop her outside the conference room. Why did you chase her out?¡± ¡°I just followed your instructions, Ms. Myers.¡± Vivian became impatient. ¡°Enough. Xander has left everyone behind to find Grace. It seems her identity isn¡¯t simple.¡± Hearing that, Gina panicked as well. If they got to the bottom of this, she might lose her job, and it would be the end for her. ¡°What should I do, Ms. Myers? I¡¯ve just had a falling out with her.¡± ¡°You fool! You couldn¡¯t even handle such a small task. If this is investigated fater, you¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± Gina suddenly became flustered and reached out to grab Vivian¡¯s arm. ¡°Ms. Myers, you must help me.¡± ¡°Enough! Let me think,¡± Vivian coldly reprimanded. Gina ced all her hopes on Vivian. ¡°Ms. Myers, if you can help me this time, I¡¯ll listen to everything you say in the future.¡± Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Xander¡¯s Protection Vivian remained silent. However, deep in her heart, she pondered the nature of Xander and Grace¡¯s rtionship. There was a knock on the car window. Grace looked up to see Xander standing outside the car. It seemed like he had appeared out of nowhere. At this moment, she was in the middle of ying an intense mobile game. Grace looked away and focused on the screen. Her hands moved swiftly and effortlessly, quickly defeating her opponent. As the word ¡°winner¡± shed on the screen, Grace finally put down her phone and opened the car door. ¡°Xander.¡± Grace pursed her l*ps, clearly unhappy. Xander¡¯s expression softened, and he asked, ¡°What happened? Why are you ying a game in the car?¡± Grace shrugged and said, ¡°What else could it be? Someone said I didn¡¯t deserve to be in the meeting room and kept me outside.¡± As soon as Xander heard that, his face instantly darkened. ¡°It seems they don¡¯t want to work with us. In that case, let it be. He got into the car and instructed the driver to drive. As the car moved, Grace watched the scenery outside the window. She was overwhelmed with emotions. It felt quite nice to be protected. ¡°Xander, that project is worth millions of dors. Are you going to let it go so easily?¡± Grac asked. Xander turned his head and ruffled her hair. ¡°No project is more important than you.¡± Grace smiled. She felt overjoyed by his words. ¡°Your words put me on cloud nine. It¡¯s just a pity for Timothy. He was the one who negotiate this coboration.¡± Xander felt a hint of jealousy, but he remainedposed. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I can also negotiate projects. It¡¯s just a million¨Cdor project. I¡¯ll just pay them whatever they ask for. But don¡¯t mention other men in front of me again.¡± Grace blinked, feeling that Xander was quite manly and domineering.. ¡°Why are you so domineering and petty?¡± Xander replied without hesitation, ¡°Every man is petty when ites to the woman they love. Grace¡¯s heart raced, and her face turned red. The woman he loved? He seemed to have bewitched her with his words. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± she protested. She quickly looked away, as if she hadn¡¯t understood his words. But a small smile yed on her l*ps when he couldn¡¯t see her face. At that moment, a pleasant ringtone broke the intimate atmosphere in the car. ¡°Mr. Fulton, where did you go?¡± Luke spoke through the phone. Xander answered calmly, without looking away, ¡°Cancel the partnership with Soraya Group.¡± Luke hesitated on the phone, not fullyprehending the situation. Before he could react, Xander had already hung up. Seeing this, Keh asked cautiously, ¡°Mr. Zier, what¡¯s going on? Where did Mr. Fulton and Ms. Lewis go? Is this meeting still happening?¡± He threw a barrage of questions at Luke. Thetter just smiled faintly, and his words left Keh dumbfounded. ¡°Mr. Fulton said someone made Ms. Lewis upset. He gets upset whenever she¡¯s upset. Sinc he¡¯s not happy, this partnership is canceled.¡± After saying that, he ignored Keh¡¯s reaction, turned around, and led his team away. Keh stumbled and almost fell as the situation unfolded. His secretary quickly caught hir preventing him from further embarrassment. Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Cancel the Partnership After Luke and his team had left, Keh lost hisposure and roared, ¡°What the hell is going on? Who¡¯s the idiot that offended Ms. Lewis? Tell me!¡± Everyone looked at each other and held their breaths. They were facing his full fury. Vivian had never seen Keh so angry, and she trembled in fear. ¡°Mr. Williams, I checked the surveince and found out someone stopped Ms. Lewis outside the meeting room.¡± Keh¡¯s secretary rushed over and reported. Keh¡¯s blood boiled. ¡°Who the hell is idiotic enough to stop Ms. Lewis?¡± The secretary lowered her head and pointed at Gina. ¡°Was it you?¡± Gina had been singled out. Someone pushed her, making her sl*p and fall. She ignored the pain as she crawled on the ground, begging Keh, ¡°Mr. Williams, it was an ident, I thought¡ª¡± Keh kicked her hard in the shoulder. ¡°You thought? What did you think? Don¡¯t you know that¡¯s Ms. Lewis from Pamore? You didn¡¯t think at all! Why are you even in thispany?¡± ¡°Mr. Williams, I¡¯m sorry! I won¡¯t do it again. Please forgive me, I beg you,¡± Gina pleaded, ignoring the pain in her shoulder. Keh ordered furiously, ¡°What are you begging me for? Go and beg Ms. Lewis! If you don¡¯t appease her today and get us this project, you can get ou Gina nodded and promised, ¡°Mr. Williams, don¡¯t worry. I know what to do. I¡¯ll find Ms. Lewis and beg for her forgiveness.¡± With that, she quickly got up from the ground and ran out. Keh gritted his teeth and cursed Gina inwardly. ¡°What are you all standing there for? Get back to work!¡± Everyone dispersed instantly, rushing back to their seats, fearing Keh¡¯s anger might be directed at them next. Grace returned to the hotel. Before she could rest, she received a call from Keh. ¡°Ms. Lewis, what happened today was an ident. My staff was ignorant. I hope you can ¡°Our partnership is imminent. Letting such a small matter affect our coboration isn¡¯t worth it.¡± Grace snorted at his words. ¡°A small matter? Mr. Williams, Soraya Group is a bigpany. Is this how you treat guests?¡± ¡°Ms. Lewis, I¡¯m truly sorry! I have warned that assistant. If you¡¯re still unhappy, I can fire her right now. I just hope you can calm down-¡± Grace interrupted, ¡°How you handle this is your business. There¡¯s no need to tell me. But our partnership ends here. Mr. Williams, there¡¯s no need for fur After saying that, Grace hung up. Xander approached her with a ss of juice and handed it to her. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ve already investigated it. Apart from Soraya Group, anotherpany in Dunhill has solid qualifications. We can work with them.¡± ¡°Moreover, thispany has been a long¨Ctimepetitor of Soraya Group. If Keh finds out we chose his rival, he¡¯ll probably be furious.¡± Grace took the juice and took a sip. She said calmly, ¡°Then let¡¯s get another partner.¡± Chapter 291 Nobody Insults Grace Chapter 291 Nobody Insults Grace Xander acted quickly. Both Amirate and Futurelink simultaneously announced the termination of their partnership with Soraya Group. For a moment, Soraya Group waspletely paralyzed. Vivian looked at the chaotic state of thepany, finding it hard to believe that all of this had happened because of that woman, Grace. She took out her phone and called Timothy, who had constantly been in contact with her. "Mr. Donegan?" Timothy was unaware of what had happened in Dunhill and responded politely, "Ms. Myers, is everything going well with the coboration?" Vivian didn''t answer his question, but instead, she asked, "Mr. Donegan, I want to ask you about something. Is Ms. Lewis a special VIP or something?" Upon hearing this, Timothy realized that something was wrong. He asked, "What''s going on, Ms. Myers? What happened?" Vivian pursed her lips and exined truthfully, "Amirate Corporation and Futurelink Corporation have canceled their partnership with us." Upon hearing this, Timothy lost hisposure. He asked agitatedly, "What''s going on? Ms. Myers, you''d better give me a good excuse." Vivian, however, shifted all the me to Grace. "It''s all because of Grace. My assistant identally offended her, and she immediately canceled the partnership. It¡¯s a project worth millions of dors, but she just called it off!" Timothy immediately became furious. "Wait a second! Ms. Myers, are you saying that you pissed Grace off? Do you know who she is? How dare you offend her so foolishly? It serves you right that you lost the partnership!" Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. "No, Mr. Donegan¡ª" Vivian wanted to defend herself, but Timothy didn''t allow her to do so. "Let me make it clear to you. It wouldn¡¯t matter much if you offended anyone, including me. But if anyone insults Grace, be prepared for the consequences. "Yourpany might lose some money due to losing the partnership. But if anything happens to Grace, I''ll make sure that Soraya Group disappears forever." After saying that, Timothy hung up the phone. Vivian waspletely dumbfounded as she listened to the dial tone. Her heart began to fill with fear. Was this Grace woman that formidable? Even Timothy was afraid to offend her, yet Vivian has recklessly insulted her. At this moment, Vivian wanted to hit herself! But it was toote for her to regret it. The partnership had fallen through, Gina had been fired, and she herself had been implicated in this mess. She had already been demoted from a director to an ordinary employee. Such drastic changes had urred in just one day. Vivian waspletely ruined. ¡­ Meanwhile, Grace was ying a game on her phone in a hotel. She had recently be addicted to a defense game, which was quite interesting. After she had finished a round, Xander approached her and said, "I''ve assigned Luke to handle the remaining matters regarding Soraya Group." "The person in charge of Acme Group, apanyparable to Soraya Group, has also contacted us. They were eager to finalize the details when they heard we wanted to work with them." Grace nodded. "Xander, you¡¯re too efficient. Since that''s the case, let''s work with Acme Group." "Sure, they have already arranged for us to visit a mine in the afternoon. Will you go?" Grace replied casually, "Alright." Chapter 292 Visiting the Mines Chapter 292 Visiting the Mines The head of Acme Group had been waiting at the hotel entrance early in the afternoon. Upon seeing Grace, he greeted her with great respect. "Ms. Lewis, I''m George Lockwood, Acme Group''s president. Here''s my business card." "Wee to Dunhill, and thank you for choosing Acme Group." Grace nodded slightly and took his business card. The name "George" was printed on the golden business card. Grace smiled. "Mr. Lockwood, I''ve heard a lot about you." "Ms. Lewis, you''re too kind." With that, George gestured for her to get in the car. "Wee, Ms. Lewis and Mr. Fulton!" Grace and Xander got into the chauffeured car. As the car drove along, George enthusiastically acted as a tour guide, talking about the scenery and specialties of Dunhill until they reached the mine. George spoke hesitantly, "Ms. Lewis, although Dunhill is a small ce, we''re well-developed in mining, agriculture, and farming. Today, let''s visit the mines first, and we can go to the farmster." "Thank you, Mr. Lockwood," Grace said. She got out of the car with Xander. Looking around, she found that it was deste, with only towering mine deposits. Workers were busy in the mines, and some were going down into the mines for operations. George handed her a safety helmet and said, "Ms. Lewis, the mines are a dangerous ce, so please be careful." He then handed a helmet to Xander. "Shall we head to the first mine?" George led Xander and Grace into the mines. Along the way, he enthusiastically exined the workings of each mine. Grace truly felt the hardship of the mine workers, especially those digging coal underground. They were covered in soot, and only their eyes were visible. They were bent over as they carried baskets of coal and climbed up the stairs of the mines. "How many hours do they work in a day?" Grace asked. George quickly replied, "The frontline mine workers work very hard. They work at least 12 hours a day. But they are paid ording to their hours, and it''s good pay. "However, they face many dangers when working in the mines, and the risks are much higher for them than for those working above, so most underground workers don''t have families. They choose to go underground to earn more money." The poor lived quite rigorous lives. At this moment, Grace understood their difficulties. "There''s a rest area ahead. We can take a break and go have some tea." Grace wasn''t in a very good mood at the moment. Xander hugged her shoulder and asked softly, "What are you thinking?" Grace came back to her senses and shook her head slightly. "Nothing. I just think that these miners work very hard. It''s not easy for them to survive." Xander reassured her, "Society has a clear hierarchy. Everyone has their part to y. Don''t overthink it." Grace nodded. "I understand, Xander." "Are you tired? Let''s go and take a break," Xander suggested, leading Grace to the mine''s rest area. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. George personally brewed them a pot of the famous local tea. Grace took a sip. It was sweet and had a lingering aftertaste. After putting the teacup down, Grace whispered to Xander, "I''m going to the restroom." Chapter 293 An Extensive Search Chapter 293 An Extensive Search After speaking, Grace stood up and walked toward the restroom. However, she didn''t notice that several pairs of eyes had been fixed on them, watching her walk away alone. The people hurried in the direction she had left. "Mr. Fulton, at Dunhill, besides the Soraya Group, only Acme Group has the strength to negotiate the million-dor project with you and Ms. Lewis. What do you think of this partnership?" Xander didn''t directly answer him, even though Acme Group was indeed their best option. He remained calm. "This partnership is important to all threepanies, and we must be cautious." "After the investigation, bothpanies will develop a feasible n, assess the risks, and then we can discuss the partnership further." Xander chose his words carefully. It was hard for anyone to figure out his ns. George had been in the business for so many years, so he understood what Xander was doing. "I agree! We can take it slow and steady! But Mr. Fulton, Acme Group will not disappoint you." The two continued chatting for a while. However, Xander was getting impatient. He raised his wrist, checked the time,pletely ignoring George, and walked in the direction Grace had left. George was puzzled and quickly caught up. "Mr. Fulton, what''s going on?" Xander paced forward and said, "Why has Grace been gone for so long?" George roughly understood what was happening as he observed Xander''s demeanor. But he hadn''t expected Xander to be so concerned about Grace. Could they be a couple? He hadn''t heard about it before. George reassured him, "Mr. Fulton, don''t worry. Our mining site is sorge. Could Ms. Lewis have gotten lost?" Xander didn''t believe this exnation. He was overwhelmed with anxiety, and he rushed to the restroom, barging in without hesitation. "Gracie, are you in here?" However, after checking every stall, he found no sign of Grace. Xander frowned. He grabbed George and asked, "Are there other restrooms around the mining site?" N?velDrama.Org is the owner. George shook his head. "Currently, this restroom is the closest to the lounge. Isn''t Ms. Lewis in there?" Xander realized that something was wrong. Without hesitation, he took out his phone and called the bodyguard. "Block every exit from the mining site. No one is allowed in or out. Find Grace, even if you have to rip this ce apart." George also quickly arranged for his men to find her. "Hurry, find Ms. Lewis! Everyone has to look for her!" After giving the orders, George wiped the sweat from his forehead. He would be held responsible since this had happened on his watch. "Mr. Fulton, don''t worry. Ms. Lewis will be fine ¡­" Xander was not in the mood to listen to his nonsense. He started searching for Grace himself. An hour passed, and he had searched every corner of the mining site. However, Grace seemed to have disappeared without a trace. George was also panicking. "Mr. Fulton, the mining site is so big. We haven¡¯t found her after searching everywhere. Could she have already left?" Xander didn''t answer George. Even though he waspletely distraught, he reminded himself to stay calm. Chapter294 In the Face of Danger Chapter294 In the Face of Danger Xander found Grace''sst known location using his phone. The signal had disappeared an hour ago. The location was within the mine. "Continue searching. She must still be in the mine. Don''t bother returning if you can''t find her," Xander sternly ordered. Then, he immediately called Aaron. In less than half an hour, Aaron and Caleb arrived on a private ne with a team. A fleet of private nes flew by their side, creating a spectacr scene. Even George, who was ustomed to grand asions, had never seen such a disy and was surprised by Grace''s identity. The people Aaron had brought with him had undergone formal training. They were more efficient and sharper than ordinary bodyguards. They had even brought search dogs. After the nended, Aaron, Caleb, and Xander gathered together. The three didn''t say anything, but they shared a mutual understanding. They divided the teams and started searching for Grace one by one. "Caleb, organize the team to conduct a thorough search within a five-mile radius with the mine as the center. Find Gracie," Aaron instructed. "Okay," Caleb replied without hesitation, and he organized the search. However, Dunhill was different from Pamore. Cameras were everywhere, making the search more challenging. They found nothing after a thorough search of the mine and the five-mile radius. Xander waspletely distraught. "We''ve searched everywhere except for the underground mines," George reported to him nervously. Xander regained his determination upon hearing this. "Then start searching the underground mines. Leave no stone unturned." However, George stopped him. "Mr. Fulton, it''s very dangerous. It will be impossible to go down without any mining experience. No one can afford to bear the responsibility if anything happens." Aaron listened to their conversation and chimed in without hesitation, "We must go, even if it''s dangerous." Caleb added, "We''ll turn the entire mine upside down today. I will tten all of Dunhill if we don''t find Gracie!" George was dumbfounded, but he couldn''t stop the three of them. After a careful analysis, Aaron concluded that since there were no traces within the five-mile radius, it was unlikely that Grace had left the mine. So they focused on the underground mines. They were determined to find her, even in the face of great danger. Xander changed his clothes and was the first to descend into the mine, followed by Aaron and Caleb. The structure inside the mine wasplex, and oxygen was scarce. A slight misstep could lead to falling into the mine and death. Yet the three showed no fear, inching their way through the mine, searching for Grace. There were a total of ten mines. They had already checked eight of them, but there was no sign of Grace. Ten hours had passed since her disappearance, and the sky had darkened. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Xander, Aaron, and Caleb emerged from the mine, exhausted. They sat on the ground, unlike their usualposed selves. "Mr. Fulton, Mr. Lewis, we''ve checked eight mines and haven''t found her. Could she have left?" Caleb considered this possibility, but his men had already set up awork in Dunhill, not just in the mine. They had searched within a five-mile radius and even expanded it to ten miles. It was an exhaustive search. Chapter 295 God Helps Those Who Helps Themselves Chapter 295 God Helps Those Who Helps Themselves "Keep searching. There are still two more mines. If we can''t find her, we¡¯ll get help from the military," Aaron ordered. Xander quickly stood up, ignoring how tired he felt, and entered the ninth mine with determination. God helped those who helped themselves. Finally, at 3:00 am, Xander found Grace in thest mine. Grace had been dehydrated and hadcked oxygen for over ten hours. She was already in critical condition. Xander carried her on his back. Climbing the stairs one at a time, he took Grace out of the mine. The medical team was already on standby, and as soon as Grace came out, she was urgently handed over to the medical staff for emergency treatment. Time passed slowly as Aaron and Caleb waited outside the emergency room anxiously. Even though they were exhausted from searching all night, they put aside their weariness and focused on Grace. "Who the hell put Gracie in the mine? I¡¯ll kill him when I catch him!" Caleb yelled angrily, looking furious. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Aaron, on the other hand, didn''t speak. He looked at Xander, who was in a daze not far away. Then, he asked, "Xander, think carefully. What happened? Did you guys offend someone or make any enemies?" Xander looked up and locked eyes with Aaron. "Soraya Group," Xander spat. They had terminated their cooperation with Soraya Group, so thetter might want revenge now. Without hesitation, Xander ordered someone to deal with Soraya Group. "I want Soraya Group to go bankrupt by the end of the day." Aaron and Caleb thought this punishment was too light. "Can bankruptcypensate for what Gracie suffered today?" Xander replied, "This is just the beginning." Seeing this, Aaron and Caleb didn''t intervene. They left everything to Xander, believing that he would handle this matter well. Shortly after, Keh was apprehended. He staggered and knelt before Xander with a thud. "Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis¡¯ disappearance has nothing to do with us! I beg you, spare Soraya Group! I beg you! I would do anything you want!" Xander didn''t waver, even after hearing his words. "If it wasn''t you, who was it?" Keh kept shaking his head. "Mr. Fulton, you can investigate it. I have nothing to do with this. It had nothing to do with Soraya Group. I swear here that if this has anything to do with me, you can punish me however you want to." As Keh finished speaking, Xander''s men returned with a report. "Mr. Fulton, we''ve got it!" Xander, Aaron, and Caleb stood up simultaneously. "Tell me, what did you find?" "Mr. Fulton, we found the people who took Ms. Lewis. It was a group of six people, all of whom had criminal records. "They nned to escape after throwing Ms. Lewis into the mine, but luckily, our men caught them." "Give me their information and photos," Xander said coldly, and his subordinate handed them over. Xander nced at them. He didn''t recognize any of them. "Keep them under control and don''t let them escape. Also, find their motives. I want results before dawn." "Yes, Mr. Fulton." Chapter 296 The Miracle Worker Chapter 296 The Miracle Worker After everyone left, relief washed over Keh, and he copsed. Xander waved his hand, and someone dragged Keh away. The lights in the emergency room were still on. Xander, Aaron, and Caleb were anxiously waiting for news. It was almost dawn when the lights in the operating room finally went out. The three of them got up and walked toward the door. The doctor came out and took off the mask. Xander asked, "How is she? What''s her condition?" The doctor sighed and said, "Her oxygen level was too low. Even though we saved her, she might not wake up." Despair filled Xander''s eyes, his voice trembling as he asked, "What ... What are you saying?" "Mr. Fulton, our facilities here are limited. We can''t do anything. Ms. Lewis is likely to stay in a coma." "That''s impossible!" Caleb''s eyes were red, and he said with determination, "Gracie won''t stay in aa! She won''t." He refused to believe things would turn out this way. At this moment, Aaron''s mind was in chaos. "Isn''t there any other way?" he asked. The doctor shook his head as if he were pronouncing a death sentence. But after a pause, he continued, "Perhaps there is one person who can do something." As soon as he said that, everyone''s eyes lit up, and they grabbed him. "Who is that? We will do anything as long as it can save Gracie." The doctor sighed. "However, he may not be willing to help Ms. Lewis." "Who is he? Where is he? I''ll send someone to find him now," Aaron said anxiously. The doctor pursed his lips, looking troubled. "Although he is highly skilled, he is elusive. People can''t simply find him. Moreover, there is a golden time to treat Ms. Lewis. If we dy any longer, I''m afraid ..." Before the doctor could finish, Caleb quickly asked, "How much time do we have? We will spare no effort in doing anything." "She has six hours." "Six hours?" This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "Yes, so it''s almost impossible! There may be hope if we can find him in time. Otherwise ..." Upon hearing this, Xander seemed to realize something. "The person you''re talking about, is it the renowned miracle worker, Dr. Henry?" The doctor nodded repeatedly. "Yes, that''s him! But Dr. Henry is hard to find. No one knows where he is." Before he could finish, Xander took out his phone, searched his contacts, and dialed a number. At this moment, Henry was on vacation in Havai with a woman in his arms, basking under the sun. The sudden call disrupted his mood. "Who is it? Can''t you see it''s not a good time?" Before he could finish speaking, he sat up briskly upon seeing the caller ID on the screen. Without hesitation, he answered the phone. "Boo hoo, you finally thought of me. Why are you suddenly calling me? You don''t know how much I''ve missed you during this time. I heard you left Frenda and went to Pamore. I almost followed you there!" Xander showed no interest in Henry''s endless chatter. He went straight to the point and asked, "Where are you?" Henry chuckled, "In Havai. Why? Do you want toe?" "You have three hours to get to Dunhill. You''ll bear the consequences if you don''t make it in time." Chapter 297 Dr. Henry Saves the Day Chapter 297 Dr. Henry Saves the Day Henry had never heard Xander speak in such a serious tone. He put aside his joking attitude and asked, "What happened?" "You have to save a life!" Henry understood the urgency upon hearing that one short sentence. He hung up and immediately got up. The beautiful woman behind him shouted, "Henry, are you leaving just like that?" Henry didn''t bother to respond. "Everyone, go back and mind your own business." With that said, he ignored the calls of thedies and arranged for someone to get a private ne. ¡­ After a two and a half hour flight, Henry finally arrived at the Dunhill Hospital. "Is that Dr. Henry?" "Oh my god! Am I seeing things?" "It''s Dr. Henry!" Henry couldn¡¯t care less about the fawning of the so-called medical team. He had already reviewed Grace''s examination reports on the ne and had formted a surgical n. As soon as he got there, he changed into surgical attire and entered the operating room. The light outside the operating room lit up again. "Is this guy reliable?" Caleb was somewhat skeptical. Aaron said, "Dr. Henry''s name isn''t a joke. So far, he hasn¡¯t had a failed operation. If he can''t save Gracie, then ..." Aaron trailed off. He hadn''t expected the situation to be so grave this time. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. "Aaron, don''t worry, nothing will happen." Xander rarely tried to cheer someone up. Aaron nodded. "After Gracie recovers, we¡¯ll take matters into our own hands. No one who dared to harm her will be spared." As soon as he finished speaking, a man with a group of people barged in. "Mr. Hawkins, you can''t go there!" Benjamin was seething with anger. "Get out of my way!" The bodyguard didn¡¯t budge. "Mr. Hawkins, don''t make things difficult for us." "Where is Grace?" Benjamin asked sternly, but the bodyguard remained silent. At this moment, Aaron walked over and said coldly, "What are you doing here?" Benjamin backed down before Aaron. He asked immediately, "Where is Grace? How is she?" "Benjamin, you two are already divorced. She has nothing to do with you. Our family wants nothing to do with you. Please leave." Benjamin was annoyed, but he calmed himself down. "I brought a medical team. If needed¡ª" "There¡¯s no need." Aaron rejected his offer without hesitation, not giving Benjamin any chance. "Mr. Hawkins, please leave." Benjamin frowned, feeling upset. He stared at the closed door of the operating room. No one knew that he rushed to Dunhill after learning about Grace''s situation. He had even brought the best medical team from Pamore to ensure her safety. But now he couldn''t even get the chance to see her. "Mr. Lewis, there''s no need to get rid of me. I''ll leave when she''s okay." Aaron sneered, "You can do as you please." Then, he turned around and ignored Benjamin. Benjamin stood alone in the corridor, waiting quietly. The surgery took a long time,sting a full eight hours. When the light outside the operating room went out, everyone was tense. "Dr. Henry, how is my sister?" Aaron rushed forward and asked anxiously, grabbing Henry''s arm. Henry took off his mask and stretchedzily, but he looked toward Xander with a rxed expression. Chapter 298 Out of Critical Condition Chapter 298 Out of Critical Condition "Don''t worry, I''ve never had an unsessful operation. Ms. Lewis should be fine now, and I believe she will wake up soon." Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Everyone felt a sense of relief after hearing this. Xander reached out and patted Henry''s shoulder. "Well done!" However, the atmosphere took a turn as Henry tilted his head and rubbed against Xander''s shoulder, saying, "Xander, I worked so hard, and all I get is that. Aren''t you being a bit ungrateful?" Xander pushed Henry''s head away and said, "Just ask for whatever you want. Even if it''s the moon, I''ll get it for you." Henry was delighted. "You said it. Don''t go back on your word." With that, Henry yawned and said, "I''m so tired from the tedious work. I''ll take a nap first ande get my rewardter." Xander gestured for the bodyguards behind him to take Henry to rest. On the other hand, a group of doctors were gushing in the operating room. "How is this possible? Her brain was deprived of oxygen for so long, yet nothing happened." "This is simply a miracle." "Dr. Henry is truly amazing!" "I''ve decided to use this case for my next academic paper! Dr. Henry is my idol!" Everyone marveled at Henry''s medical skills, even studying them like a textbook. After Grace was out of critical condition, she was moved to a VIP ward. Xander stayed by her side the whole time. Caleb was outside the ward. He wanted to push the door open, but Aaron stopped him. "Give them some time alone!" Seeing this, Caleb pursed his lips. "I''ll skin that guy alive if he mistreats Gracie!" Aaron patted Caleb on the shoulder. "Others may doubt, but even a blind man can see Xander''s sincerity toward Gracie after so many years. We don''t need to interfere. But for now, we still have some things to deal with." Caleb was well aware of what Aaron meant. Grace''s disappearance had caused quite a stir. After all, she was a daughter of the Lewis family, and such a significant incident in Dunhill had already rmed the military. Even the mayor of Dunhill had personallye to apologize. Aaron needed to handle these matters soon. "Let''s go. We have to work together." "Okay." After speaking, the two brothers turned and left. However, when they reached the corner, they saw Benjamin leaning against the wall. "Why are you so shameless? You''re divorced, but you''re still clinging to Gracie like glue! You had never treated her well back then." Caleb rebuked him bluntly. He couldn''t care less that Benjamin was a well-known businessman in Pamore. "Even if you''re her brother, it''s not your concern." Benjamin''s words angered Caleb. "Benjamin, do you think hurting her once isn''t enough? You cheated on your wife and kept a mistress. Any one of those things is worse than any sin!" Benjamin looked at him boldly and uttered, "I didn''t cheat!" He spoke in an intimidating tone, but Caleb treated it like a joke. "Benjamin, do you think your words make any sense?" "Even if so, I still have to say it." It was time to reveal some truths. He shouldn''t bear the brunt of it forever. Caleb wanted to say more, but Aaron stopped him. "I respect your courage to pester others constantly. However, it would be best for us to part on good terms. Grace just survived a dangerous operation. You don''t need to stay here all the time." Chapter 299 Met When They Were Young Chapter 299 Met When They Were Young "Mr. Lewis, where I stay or go is none of your concern." Benjamin made himself clear. Aaron knew that it was futile to waste any words on Benjamin. "Mr. Hawkins, everyone knows to catch the next train when it misses a station. After all, the train won''t turn back, even if you stay at the station. You should understand this logic." After saying that, Aaron left with Caleb. "Aaron, should we just leave him here?" Caleb was still reluctant to leave, but Aaron said, "What can we do if he doesn''t leave?" "But Gracie doesn''t want to see him!" "We must believe that she will make the right choice. She knows who''s worth spending a lifetime with." After hearing this, Caleb calmed down and said, "Let''s hope so." ¡­ Meanwhile, Grace felt like she had been in a long nap and had a long dream. She dreamed of five years ago, the first time she met Benjamin. She was studying for her master''s degree at Coronia University School of Design. It was her first time leaving home, and her family was worried. "Gracie, I bought a house opposite the university and arranged bodyguards and housekeepers for you. Don''t make things difficult for yourself," Aaron reminded her on the phone. Grace replied, "Don''t worry! I''m here to study, and living on campus is enough. I''m all grown up now. I can take care of myself. Don''t worry about me." "But you''ve never been away from us. We''re still worried." Grace shook her head helplessly. "Aaron, I''m already 20 years old. I''m not a child anymore. I had to leave sooner orter." She finally managed to convince Aaron after a long talk. Hanging up the phone, she sighed. The next second, someone stumbled toward her. Before Grace could react, she lost her bnce and fell heavily to the ground. A sharp pain shot up her back. The person who had bumped into her was just a teenager. The teenager apologized profusely in Eliganese. Grace decided to let him off since he was young. She slowly stood up with the help of her suitcase. Before she had the chance to say anything, the teenager disappeared. Grace was puzzled. "How did he disappear like that?" Before she finished speaking, she froze. Then, she checked her bag and noticed that her purse was missing. "No way! I got robbed the moment I arrived here?" Grace stomped in anger as she thought of the teenager who had bumped into her. "That damn thief! I hope I never see him again. If I do, I''ll kill him!" As soon as she said that, she heard a chuckle behind her. Grace turned around and noticed a handsome man sitting on a bicycle, smiling at her. He had ck hair and pale skin. He was obviously from Kidhna. She blurted, "What are youughing at? What''s so funny?" Benjamin crossed his arms and sized her up. He thought that she looked very cute with her puffed- up cheeks. Then, he raised an eyebrow and said, "You should pay attention to your safety when going out. Next time, you might not meet a heroic young man like me." After saying that, he threw a wallet at her. "You''re wee!" Then, he waved at her and left on his bike. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Grace looked at her stolen purse and couldn''t help butugh. Then, she watched him as he left. But one nce had been enough tost a lifetime. What had happened back then was firmly etched into her memory. Chapter 300 He Was Worried About Her Chapter 300 He Was Worried About Her They met again more than a monthter. Grace finished ss and walked out of the lecture hall. A group of people were gathered around, and there were bursts ofughter. Soon after, someone attacked her in Eliganese. "You Kidhnian people are especially stupid, acting like dogs." "In the past, you were a weak country, and now you''re still a bunch of weaklings." "Even after so many years, you Kidhnians are still beneath us." Grace remained silent when she heard them. She furrowed her eyebrows, and anger boiled within her. Who were these foreigners? How dare they insult her so baselessly? Just as she was about to step forward to argue, she heard the sounds of punches and kicks, apanied by a man''s screams and reluctant shouts. "Fuck! How dare you hit me?" Before he could finish, another solid punchnded on him. "That''s for you! How dare you insult us? I¡¯ll show you what a true Kidhnian fight looks like!" Benjamin finished speaking and ruthlessly punched the foreigner in the face. There was a chorus of painful cries. Grace walked over and saw him teaching those foreigners a lesson. His movements were smooth and relentless. In no time, he had knocked down several foreigners. Benjamin stood up, rubbed his arms, and looked down with disdain. "What kind of foreign crap are you showing off before me? It''s best to stay away from me in the future, or I¡¯ll beat you every time I see you." With that, he turned around. Grace finally saw his face clearly, and she was pleasantly surprised. "It''s you!" Benjamin looked up and recognized Grace. He strode over, grabbed her arm without a word, and walked away quickly. "You were so cool! Those foreigners were way out of line! How dare they insult us? They don¡¯t know how powerful our country is now. The weaklings they mentioned were from the past. "What you did today was awesome! I wish I had beaten them up myself." Benjamin didn''t respond. Along the way, Grace spoke a lot, but he remained silent, not saying a word. He led Grace to a quiet ce and finally released her hand. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. "Were you there the whole time?" Benjamin asked. Grace nodded with no attempt to hide anything. "I saw the whole thing! You taught them a lesson." Benjamin scratched his head regretfully. "Do you know those people are the school bullies? You walked out so boldly today. What if they come after youter?" Grace hadn''t expected him to worry about her safety. She felt touched inside and smiled brightly. "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine. They won''t do anything to me." But Benjamin still seemed concerned. "In the future, try not to go out alone. Wait until things settle down a bit." Grace couldn''t bear to refuse his kindness and nodded. "Don''t worry, I understand." "Okay, where do you live? Do you want me to take you back?" Benjamin asked. Grace looked around and pointed in the direction of the dormitory. "Over there!" Without a word, he escorted Grace back to the dormitory and waited for her to go in before leaving. Chapter 301 Step Forward Chapter 301 Step Forward Grace''s roommates had noticed someone escorting her back and immediately started gossiping. "Who was that guy just now? Is he your boyfriend? He looks so handsome!" "Yeah, he''s so muscr and hot!" "When did you get a boyfriend? Why didn''t I know about this?" Facing a barrage of questions from her roommates, Grace hurriedly exined, "He''s not my boyfriend. Don''t overthink it." "What! He''s not your boyfriend! What''s his name? Can you introduce him to me?" This question caught Grace off guard. They had met twice, but she hadn''t even asked for his name. "Well, I''ll ask him next time and let you know." Her roommates were clearly disappointed, but Grace raised an eyebrow. Thinking she must make things clear next time, Grace eagerly anticipated their next encounter. However, Grace saw him again the very next day. Her roommates pulled her over and asked, "Grace, isn''t that the guy who walked you back yesterday? Why is he being taken to the office?" Surprised, Grace followed them and found the group of foreigners who had been beaten the day beforeining to the lecturers. "Sir, this is the guy. He beat us up for nothing yesterday." "It''s an offense to hit people! You have to punish him!" "I think you should expel him." Benjamin smirked in the face of the usations from these foreigners. He didn''t exin himself. Instead, he said in fluent Eliganese, "It seems I was too gentle yesterday. Next time, I''ll make sure to knock your teeth out!" "Stop!" the lecturer intervened sharply. "I won''t tolerate your arrogance! I''ll report this to the principal and have you expelled!" Unfazed, Benjamin scoffed, "Whatever!" This angered the lecturer, who threatened to call the principal. Just then, Grace rushed out without hesitation. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. "That''s not what happened!" Grace exined the whole story in Eliganese. The lecturer didn''t rush to handle matters after hearing her exnation. Instead, he fell deep in thought. He was familiar with Grace. In fact, the whole staff at school knew who Grace was. They would have ignored it if someone else had spoken up, but this was Grace they were dealing with! After some thought, the lecturer sternly asked the foreign students, "Is what she said true?" The foreign students hesitated, avoiding eye contact. His anger intensified. "Instead of studying, you''re causing trouble around school! Since that''s the case, I''ll report to the school and make sure you face the consequences." The foreign students were publicly punished by the school, and the matter ended there. After leaving the office, Benjamin looked at Grace with a smirk on his face and said, "I didn''t expect you to be so brave. Aren''t you afraid they wille after youter?" Grace shook her head, "They don''t have the guts! " Especially not with the bodyguards Aaron arranged for her. "Hmm, not bad! You''re very brave. I''ll remember this favor today and repay you next time I get the chance." Chapter 302 Strangers When They Met Again Chapter 302 Strangers When They Met Again Grace smiled and said, "It¡¯s fine. You¡¯re the agent of justice. What they said yesterday was too much. I would have given them a good beating, too." But Benjamin protested, saying, "Women shouldn''t dirty their hands by getting violent. Leave it to the men!" Then, he stopped and joked, "I forgot to ask your name. What''s your name?" "Grace Lewis." Benjamin nodded. "I¡¯ll remember it." Grace asked, "And you? What''s your name? I can''t just call you ''hey'' whenever I see you." Benjaminughed and looked at her curiously. "If you want to know my name, meet me at the school''s west gate the day after tomorrow at 3:30 pm. I''ll tell you then." Grace was annoyed. "What''s all the suspense for?" But he waved at her and said, "Don''t forget, 3:30 pm the day after tomorrow. See you then!" Grace pursed her lips. She wasn¡¯t happy with it, but she also couldn''t help but look forward to it. Time slowly ticked by, and Grace waited patiently for the day toe. She started getting ready and dressed up in the morning, choosing her best outfit. By early afternoon, she was already waiting at the school''s west gate. However, he didn''t show up. A few days had passed since then, and Grace''s anticipation turned into disappointment. She never saw him again, even after she graduated from her master''s program. Grace thought that she would never see him again in her life. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. She didn''t see him again until two yearster, when she returned to the country after graduation. She had a transit flight from Pamore to Frenda and ran into him at the airport. Benjamin was in a suit and carried himself in an utterly different manner than before. He had the same good looks, but without his usual carefree air. Instead, he looked grave, almost making her think she had mistaken him for someone else. But he was indeed the man standing in front of her. "Hey, wait ¡­" Grace approached and stopped him, feeling angry and upset. "Why did you stand me up two years ago? Do you know how long I waited for you?" Grace thought that he would give her an exnation if she asked him about it tantly. She decided to forgive him, even if he didn''t give her a convincing excuse. But Benjamin looked at her with a strange look, frowned slightly, and asked with a straight face, "Who are you?" One simple sentence had almost sent her to tears. It turned out that the man she had been thinking about had already forgotten her. Grace put on a brave face and asked again, "Don¡¯t you remember me? I''m Grace. Grace Lewis." Benjamin sneered mockingly. "That¡¯s such an overused pick-up line." After saying that, he left with a group of people. Grace wasn¡¯t about to give up easily. She quickly caught up with him. "You haven''t told me your name yet!" Benjamin answered impatiently, "This is the first time anyone has asked for my name in Pamore. If you¡¯re going to flirt, do your homework, and you won¡¯t embarrass yourself." His sarcastic words left Grace dumbfounded. She couldn¡¯te back to her senses even after he left. And when she finally did, Benjamin was long gone. That was when Grace decided to stay in Pamore. Chapter 303 Just A Dream Chapter 303 Just A Dream She learned his name from others¡ªBenjamin Hawkins. Since then, his name had been like a spell deeply engraved in her heart. It also became her nightmare. What happened next seemed to be fate. She identally saved Benjamin''s grandmother. Upon learning that Elizabeth was looking for a wife for Benjamin, Grace volunteered without hesitation and became Mrs. Hawkins. Three years of married life yed out in her mind like a movie, and the chaotic memories constantly reminded her of her initial mistake. However, she had spent three years without understanding why Benjamin couldn''t remember her. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Grace''s eyshes fluttered, then she slowly opened her eyes. The smell of disinfectant filled her nose, and she gradually woke up. It turned out that it had all been a dream. "Gracie, you''re awake." She heard a pleasantly surprised voice beside her. She smiled faintly at Xander. "Xander, what happened to me?" "You''ve been unconscious for three days. You scared us. Fortunately, you finally woke up." Grace recalled being drugged from behind before falling into darkness. "Someone drugged me." After saying that, she shuddered with fear. At that moment, Aaron entered the room. "Don''t worry! We''ve caught the person who drugged you, but this matter isn''t as simple as it seemed." Grace furrowed her brow, puzzled. "Aaron, who did this? Is it Soraya Group?" Aaron shook his head. "Soraya Group doesn''t have the audacity to do such a thing!" Then who could it be? Aaron and Xander exchanged a nce. They didn''t want Grace to worry about this, so Aaron said, "Whoever it is, leave it to us. You need to recover and take care of yourself. Don''t worry about anything else." "But¡ª" Grace wanted to say more, but Xander took her hand and said, "It''s more important for you to stay healthy. You shouldn''t think about anything else." Seeing this, Grace softly agreed, "Okay, I understand." Xander changed the topic and said, "We''re almost done discussing the coboration with Acme Group. Once you get better, we can sign the contract and secure the deal." Grace nodded upon hearing this. "Good, we still need to monitor this project closely." Xander watched her carefully and reluctantly added, "There''s one more thing I must tell you." "What is it?" "Benjamin has been waiting outside for several days. Do you want to see him?" Grace was unfazed by the mention of this name. She simply said, "No. Ask him to leave." Respecting her wishes, Xander replied, "Alright, I understand." Grace turned her head and looked out the window. She had fallen for him willingly, so she should ept that she had lost. Now, she had truly chosen to move on and not cling to the past. ¡­ Grace stayed in the hospital for a week. During this time, many people visited her, including the mayor of Dunhill, government officials, and some big shots. But Aaron had stopped all of them from seeing Grace. After a week of peaceful recovery, Grace was discharged from the hospital. Chapter 304 Rejected Chapter 304 Rejected On the day Grace was discharged, Xander gave her arge bouquet. "Gracie, I hope you stay healthy and happy every day from now on." Grace epted it with a smile. "Thank you, Xander!" Caleb also walked over with a smiling face, his gaze lingering on the two. "I must say, Gracie, you scared us this time. You don''t know how bad the situation was that day. It''s all thanks to Xander. He found Dr. Henry, who brought you back from the brink of death. We need to thank him." At the mention of Henry, Caleb realized that he had disappeared since Grace''s surgery. He couldn''t help but ask, "Where''s Dr. Henry? Why haven''t we seen him?" Xander exined, "He went on vacation. He''s always hard to find. Don''t worry about him." "Anyway, he''s my lifesaver, so we must thank him properly someday," Grace said earnestly. Xander nodded. "I''ll arrange a meeting next time." They left the hospital room. A few momentster, they stopped in their tracks. They saw Benjamin standing up slowly, not far away. His gaze was fixed on Grace. After a few days of not seeing each other, he looked worn out, but his eyes were sharp and lively. Caleb was about to say something when Xander stopped him. "Gracie, we''ll wait for you outside." Grace didn''t say anything until they left. Then, Benjamin spoke, "Are you okay?" Grace smiled lightly and said calmly, "I''m fine. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Hawkins." "Grace, I was really worried about you." But Grace asked calmly, "Why are you still here?" "I couldn''t feel at ease until I saw you." Grace nodded and said, "Now that you''ve seen me, you can go back." "Grace!" Benjamin stopped her. His words were filled with affection. "I had never known someone could be so important to me until I learned that your life was in danger. I realized that you have already taken an important ce in my heart." Grace chuckled lightly. "Mr. Hawkins, are you joking? Where were you when I survived a near-death experience during a ne crash? "That was the most vulnerable moment of my life. But where were you? Let me think ... you seemed to be apanying your lover in the hospital for a prenatal check-up." And she had just happened to witness that. "No, Grace. It''s all a misunderstanding," Benjamin exined, but Grace thought it was futile. "Mr. Hawkins, I don''t understand. Why are you so persistent? Nothing will happen between us again. Just ept it and let go!" "Grace, can''t you¡ª"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Grace shook her head, and he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. "Mr. Hawkins, fate brought us together, and fate tore us apart! Stop talking about our rtionship from now on." She had said what needed to be said. She walked away heartlessly, leaving him to watch as she left. Benjamin felt a sense of defeat for the first time in more than 20 years. He wondered what he should do with Grace. As Grace walked out of the hospital, she saw Caleb and Xander waiting for her outside. Chapter 305 Letting Go Chapter 305 Letting Go Caleb and Xander remained silent as they approached her. Caleb simply said, "Get in the car." Grace got into the car, and they drove away. She gazed out of the car window. She was filled with an inexplicable sense of sadness inside. Of course, she felt sad. She had spent five years yearning for Benjamin. Those had been vital years of her life. However, Grace was willing to let go since she had tried her best. She had once been filled with passion and recklessness. It was a pity that things had ended in regret. After a pause, Grace looked away and asked, "Where are the people who drugged me?" Caleb cleared his throat and said, "Why do you ask? Aaron will handle it. You shouldn''t get involved." But Grace insisted, "I want to see them." This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Caleb and Xander exchanged nces. Xander said, "Aaron has them under his watch now. You have to get his permission if you want to see them." Grace took out her phone to make a call, but Caleb stopped her, saying, "Gracie, you''re so stubborn. It''s impossible to change your mind. Forget it. I''ll have the driver take us there." The driver followed Caleb''s instructions and turned around, heading toward their new destination. Dunhill had rough roads with many hills and peaks. They didn''t have a good transportation system, either. The group left the city and continued along a small road. After about half an hour, they finally reached their destination. It was a vige. Two groups of bodyguards were standing at the entrance. When they saw Grace, they greeted her respectfully, "Ms. Lewis." Grace nodded slightly and asked, "Where are they?" "In there!" "Take us there." Led by the bodyguards, the group walked through the corridor and headed inside. Even from a distance, they could hear cries mixed with the sound of whipping. "Ms. Lewis, they are inside." Then, the gate was pushed open, and they were met with the thick smell of blood. Grace instinctively covered her nose. What came into view were several Kidhnians. They were already battered and on the verge of copse. Upon seeing Grace, fear filled their eyes. Grace sneered, signaling for the person whipping them to stop. Then, she looked at them and said, "Speak up! Who ordered you to do this? What is your purpose?" The group exchanged looks with each other and shook their heads. Their mouths were gaping open, but there were no words. Aaron exined, "I already told you. These people are smart. They swallowed a drug that made them mute after we caught them. So now, none of them can speak." Grace was annoyed. She hadn''t expected her opponents to be so cunning! "If you can''t speak, then write it down with your hands. I want to know who that person is." After saying that, Grace instructed the others to untie them and handed each of them a piece of paper and a pen. "I''m giving you a chance to live. As long as you write down the name of the person who ordered you, I will spare your lives. Otherwise, you won''t see the sun tomorrow." Her words were very threatening. The men began to tremble involuntarily. They looked at each other, but no one moved. Grace mmed the table. "What are you waiting for?" When she finished speaking, one man picked up a pen and wrote something on the paper. After finishing, he handed it to Grace. However, Grace''s face darkened when she saw the content. Chapter 306 Useless Trash Chapter 306 Useless Trash The note read, "You won''t get anything from me! My life is worthless. It doesn''t matter if you kill me." Grace tore the paper apart, sneering, "You think you''re tough! Do you think I can''t find out? The men remained unmoved. Grace spoke up. "Pamore, Max Stiller." One name sent them into a puddle of confusion, and the men seemed nervous. Grace narrowed her eyes and said, "I guess I was right." "No, this has nothing to do with Max. We didn''t like you and wanted to shut you up." Grace didn''t believe their excuses. "It''s a bitte for all this now," Grace said, already standing up with her back to them, her tone cold. "If you''re acting worthless, we''ll treat you like trash!" "Yes, ma''am." Grace finished speaking and left without looking back, and the others began to plead desperately when they realized Grace was serious. "Ms. Lewis, spare us." "We were wrong." "We won''t do it again." "Please, give us a chance." But Grace said nothing and ignored them, walking out mercilessly. Aaron couldn''t help but say, "These people are despicable. We''ve given them a chance, and they don''t appreciate it. Now they learn their lesson." Grace finally stopped. Her eyebrows furrowed. She said, "I have nothing to do with Max from Pamore, and I haven''t offended him. Why does he want to kill me?" Aaron''s face turned grave when this was brought up. "This matter isplicated. I''m already looking into it, and we''ll have results soon." Grace nodded and said, "I''ll handle it when I return to Pamore." With that, the three of them left. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡­ At the hotel, George was already waiting at the door. He had arranged the highest standard of amodation for Grace and ensured her safety with top-notch security since the incident at the mines. "Ms. Lewis, if you need anything, just let us know. We are ready to serve you at any time." Grace nodded politely. "Thank you, Mr. Lockwood." "Not at all! It''s what I should do." Xander added, "The partnership details with Acme Group have been finalized. We can sign the contract whenever you want." George was delighted. He eximed, "Thank you, Mr. Fulton and Ms. Lewis, for giving us this opportunity. We will do our best to ensure the sess of this coboration." "Since there''s no other issue, let''s set a date and sign the contract." Grace sealed the deal with one sentence. ¡­ The next day, Acme Group held a grand signing ceremony and invited reporters from all over Dunhill. Grace and George sat in the front seats and signed their names before everyone. Then, the venue erupted in enthusiastic apuse. Keh was watching the news on TV. He was so angry that his blood boiled. They had lost such a good opportunity because of a single mistake. There was a knock on the door, interrupting his thoughts. "Come in." Vivian walked in with some documents. "Mr. Williams, please look at the budget for this new project." Chapter 307 Give Me Another Chance Chapter 307 Give Me Another Chance However, as soon as Vivian spoke, she saw the live broadcast in the office. Her eyes widened in shock, and she stood there dumbfounded. "How ... how is this possible?" Vivian murmured to herself, her face filled with disbelief. It turned out that Grace was the heiress of the Lewis family. That meant that Vivian offended someone she shouldn''t have. She felt so regretful that she wanted to pop some pills to calm herself down. Seeing this, Keh snapped, "Look at what you''ve done. Our partnership with Amirate Corporation has fallen through. Do you know how much thepany will lose?" Vivian shivered. However, she wasn''t thinking about thepany''s losses, but Grace. She had offended Grace. If Grace wanted to settle the score in the future, it would be as easy as crushing an ant. "Mr. Williams, Gina was the one that caused this. It has nothing to do with me. Now that Gina has been fired, please calm down." This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Keh sighed helplessly upon hearing this. Now that things havee to this, what was done was done. "Forget it. Leave." Vivian felt relieved and left the office dejectedly. As soon as she stepped out, she made a phone call. "Prepare some luxurious gifts for me. It must be the top-notch ones. I''lle pick them up right away." After hanging up, she couldn''t care less about her work and left thepany quickly. ¡­ On the other hand, Acme Group organized a party after the signing ceremony. As the most honored guests of the party, Grace and Xander naturally enjoyed the highest level of hospitality. During the party, various businesspeople from Dunhill came over to make a toast to them. "Ms. Lewis is truly outstanding at business and everything else. I really admire you!" "It''s a blessing for Dunhill to have Amirate Corporation here, and we look forward to working with you in the future." "We''ve all witnessed Ms. Lewis'' capabilities. I hope I have a chance to work with Amirate Corporation too." Grace smiled and silently epted their praise as she downed a few more drinks. Xander noticed her face was red and helped her drink a few sses of wine. At this moment, someone teased, "Ms. Lewis, you have such a wonderful partner. Mr. Fulton is like the finishing touch to the beautiful painting of life!" Grace blushed even more. She nced at Xander, disappointed to see him maintain a straight face. However, the next moment, Xander said, "It''s an honor to stay by her side." Grace shed a bright smile and tugged at Xander. "I''m tired. Let''s go outside for some fresh air." He agreed and exchanged greetings with the surrounding guests. Then, the two slipped out of the banquet. They took in the fresh air, and Grace felt much more awake. She turned to Xander and asked, "Are you bothered by what they said?" Xander raised an eyebrow in confusion. But when his eyes met hers, he gently shook his head and said, "Actually, they read my mind. " Grace''s heart pounded. It felt loud on this quiet night. Xander looked at her affectionately, as if he had a lot to say. But in the end, he just said, "Gracie, when can you give me a chance?" Chapter 308 Filled With Regret Chapter 308 Filled With Regret Grace quickly turned away, too shy to look at him. Even though he had made his feelings clear, she still dared not respond to him in the slightest. For a moment, time stood still. After a long pause, Xander took the initiative to reach out and stroke her hair. "You don''t have to give me an answer now. Take your time to think it over. I''m not in a hurry." Only then did Grace raise her eyes and look at him. Memories of them together shed through her mind. Perhaps she would never find someone who treated her as well as he did. "Xander, give me a little more time, okay?" Xander nodded and replied, "Sure." Grace took a deep breath, raised her eyes, and looked toward the distant sky. Even though she had tried hard to forget the past and let go of the obsession in her heart, for some reason, a part of her still missed the passionate young man who had fought for justice on the university campus. Grace couldn''t help but think of Benjamin. However, he wasn''t the same man as before. "I want to see Ms. Lewis! Let me in." "Sorry, miss! Ms. Lewis is currently attending a party and cannot meet guests." At the entrance, the security guard tried to stop Vivian, who was trying to force her way in. However, Vivian exerted all her strength to push through, leading to a conflict with the security guard. "Look at all the gifts I brought. They''re all for Ms. Lewis. Can''t you make an exception and let me in?" The security guard remained firm. "I don''t have the authority to do that unless Ms. Lewis gives me permission." Vivian stamped her foot in frustration, but now she had no way in. Just then, Grace and Xander walked out. Seeing Grace, Vivian''s eyes lit up, and she waved at Grace from a distance. "Ms. Lewis, I''m Ms. Myers from Soraya Group. We''ve met before. Do you remember?" Grace furrowed her brow, not understanding what Vivian was up to. The security guard quickly approached her, asking, "Ms. Lewis, this youngdy insists on seeing you and has been causing amotion here for quite some time." Grace waved her hand, saying, "Let her in." With that, Vivian rushed in. She beamed as she stood before Grace. "Hi, Ms. Lewis! I''m here to apologize to you. "I made a mistake. I should''ve been more considerate and thoughtful. I''m here to apologize and hope you can ept these gifts." After speaking, Vivian presented the gifts she had brought, including some luxurious skincare, makeup, and health supplements. Grace looked at them in surprise. She asked, "Ms. Myers, you don''t have to go to such an extent for an apology." However, Vivian persisted. "Ms. Lewis, I know you might still be angry. Gina was the one who stopped you from entering the conference room. "But she had already been fired. That idiot was too shortsighted and offended you. Think of this as a harsh lesson for her." This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Grace turned to look at her. With a slight smile, she said, "Ms. Myers, I heard that Gina was your assistant." Chapter 309 The Anonymous Parcel Chapter 309 The Anonymous Parcel Vivian''s expression fell, and she hastily exined, "That''s all in the past. She has nothing to do with me now." Grace wasn''t an idiot. Vivian''s behavior today was a stark contrast to before, and there could only be one reason for such a difference. It was simple. Vivian must have learned about her true identity! Graceughed, but the smile didn''t reach her eyes. "Ms. Myers, a mere assistant wouldn''t have the guts to do such a thing on her own unless ... she was instructed by someone." Vivian''s face turned pale at her words. She still wanted to exin herself. Nevertheless, Grace had no intention of listening to her exnation. "Ms. Myers, spend more time focusing on your work. Stop getting involved in useless matters. Us businesspeople talk by showing results." With that, Grace turned around and left with Xander. She had nothing more to say. Vivian was left standing there, rooted to the spot. Deep down, she regretted everything. ¡­ After Amirate Corporation signed the partnership with Acme Group, Acme Group''s stocks soared. By the time the market closed, they had increased their value by 10%. Thepanies that had been wavering between Soraya Group and Acme Group now flocked to support thetter.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. The twopanies had been equally matched before this. In a short time, Acme Group rose up the ranks, leaving Soraya Group in the dust. On the day after signing the contract, Grace returned to Pamore. As she entered thepany, Samuel was already waiting for her. Seeing Grace, he greeted her with a broad smile. "Ms. Lewis, you''re back?" Grace smiled. "The partnership is done, so I came back. Is there something you need, Mr. Walker?" Samuel said, "I just heard some rumors. They said you had a little ident in Dunhill. I came to check on you out of concern. I''m relieved to see that you''re fine." Grace raised an eyebrow and replied, "Thanks for your concern. I''m fine. After all, how can I get sick with such a big project going on?" Samuel faked a smile. "You''re right! Ourpany is strong with you as the cornerstone." Grace nodded slightly but didn''t say more. She walked into her office. As the door closed, the smile on her face disappeared. She immediately asked Luke, "Did you find any clues about Max?" Luke replied, "Max operates very mysteriously, like a snake. It''s a bit challenging to investigate him." Grace tapped her fingers on the desk and said, "If nothing works, get our people on the dark web to find him. I refuse to believe that we can''t find any leads." "Yes, Ms. Lewis." As Luke finished speaking, another secretary knocked and entered. "Ms. Lewis, there''s a package for you!" Grace furrowed her brow. She hadn''t bought anything recently, so why would there be a package? "Can you find out who the sender is?" The secretary looked at the package and said, "There''s nothing written on it." Grace hesitated for a moment. "Bring it here." But Luke was a step ahead. "Let me take it!" He took the package from the secretary and weighed it in his hand. It didn''t seem heavy, more like a set of documents. "Ms. Lewis, let me open it." Chapter 310 Yvonnes Challenge Chapter 310 Yvonne''s Challenge Grace nodded. Luke took out a small knife and opened the package. Suddenly, photos scattered all over the floor. He quickly picked them up and handed them to Grace. "Ms. Lewis, take a look!" Grace smirked upon seeing those photos. "Now, everything makes sense." She hadn''t expected the mastermind behind the scenes to be someone she knew. "Since Yvonne is involved, this has just be more interesting." Grace smiled and said coldly, "Thest time, she got lucky and only spent a few months in prison. This time, I''ll make her understand that there are people and things she shouldn''t mess with." "Ms. Lewis, shall I handle this matter for you?" Grace shrugged. "It''s fine. I''ll personally take care of this." ¡­ Meanwhile, Yvonne was unaware that her scheme had been exposed. She thought Grace was as good as dead in Dunhill. So she was in a very good mood and went shopping with the ck card Benjamin had given her. She bought so much stuff that the bodyguards'' hands were full. Only then did she stop. Then, she came to Grace''s boutique, pointed at the store, and said to the bodyguards behind her, "Secure this store for me! I want to renovate it into a beauty store selling imported cosmetics and skincare products. "Then, hire some technicians to help with beauty treatments. Nowadays, young girls love beauty. The business will be booming," Yvonne said with a dreamy expression. She was unaware that Emily was watching her in the background. Without hesitation, Emily picked up a water basin and sshed it at Yvonne. Screams echoed throughout the ce. Yvonne felt her clothes get drenched, and she couldn''te to her senses. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Emily sneered, "You''re daydreaming in broad daylight! Are you awake now?" Yvonne wiped the water off her face, looking very disheveled. But she pointed at Emily and shouted, "You wench, how dare you ssh water on me? I''m going to kill you." With that, Yvonne lunged toward her. Emily showed no fear, and her eyes were cold. She remained cool until Yvonne approached her. Then, she grabbed Yvonne''s arm, kicked her leg, and threw her out. There was a heavy thud as Yvonne fell to the ground, looking ferocious as she yelled and screamed. Emily pped her hands. "You''re so weak, yet you act so arrogantly before me. Don''t you know what I used to do?" Yvonne felt like her ribs were about to break, and her body ached all over. She hadn''t expected that Emily, who looked delicate, would be so strong. Even getting up from the ground was difficult for her right now. So she shouted at the bodyguards, "What are you standing there for? Come over and help me!" Seeing this, the bodyguards quickly walked over and helped her up. Yvonne almost leaned entirely on the bodyguards for support, but she still refused to admit defeat. "Emily, let me tell you. Grace is already dead. I''ll see how arrogant you can be now!" Chapter 311 She Spoke to You Chapter 311 She Spoke to You Emily''s face fell when she heard that. "What did you say?" Seeing her panicked expression, Yvonneughed maliciously. Finally, the day she had been waiting for had arrived. "You don''t believe it? But it''s true. Grace is as good as dead in Dunhill, and I believe this news will reach here soon." Emily was furious now. She grabbed a broom and swung it at Yvonne. "You bitch! You''re nothing but a homewrecker, or trash in the garbage dump! How dare you spout nonsense here? Watch me beat you to death!" Yvonne quickly dodged and jeered, "Hahaha! You can keep cursing me!" "Curse me all you want. Grace won''te back to life. Her body might not even be returned in one piece. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. "I advise you to prepare for her funeral. Pray hard, and she might bless you in the afterlife." Emily remained silent, and her eyes turned red. Then, she chased after Yvonne and gave her a hard p on the face. However, Yvonne felt no pain as she continued tough heartily. Her bodyguards quickly intervened and stopped Emily. They apprehended her, and Emily struggled against them to no avail. In the end, she was forcefully pushed to the store''s entrance. Yvonneughed sinisterly. She limped and ced an arm on her waist, sneering. "You''re all too inexperienced to stand against me! Grace is nothing to me, even if she tried! It''s quite regrettable that I didn''t witness Grace''s death with my own eyes!" After saying that, she turned around without hesitation, leaving behind a bewildered Emily. For a moment, Emily stood there in a daze. When she finally regained her senses, she immediately took her phone out and called Grace. However, Grace didn''t answer, despite multiple attempts. Emily''s heart sank. Feeling a sense of dread, tears streamed down her face uncontrobly. "Grace, please answer the phone!" Emily called several times, but Grace didn''t pick up. Finally, she threw the phone aside, sat on the ground, and cried. ¡­ Meanwhile, Grace was in a meeting, and her phone was with her secretary. After the meeting, the secretary promptly handed Grace the phone. "Ms. Lewis, you have over ten missed calls." Grace furrowed her brows, took the phone, and found they were all from Emily. She returned the call without hesitation. Emily was still immersed in grief and couldn''t hear anything, shutting herself off from the world. As the phone rang repeatedly, she regained someposure. Upon seeing the shing number on the screen, she eximed joyfully, "Gracie, you finally answered the phone!" Grace furrowed her brows, sensing the distress in Emily''s voice, and quickly asked, "What''s wrong? What happened?" Emily cried with joy when she heard her familiar voice. "You''re fine! You''re fine! That''s all that matters." Then, Emily wiped her tears and cursed Yvonne. "Yvonne''s always spouting nonsense. She said you were dead. I never want to see her again. If I do, I''ll tear her apart." Grace caught on quickly. "Yvonne spoke to you?" Chapter 312 Meeting Max Chapter 312 Meeting Max Emily hummed and said, "That vile woman is bing more and more arrogant." Grace tried to calm her down. "Let her gloat some more. Her time wille. I''ll settle the score between her and me." There was a glint in Grace''s eyes. After she hung up, Luke walked in. "Ms. Lewis, we''ve contacted Max. He has invited us to meet at Pan Manor tomorrow at 8 pm." A sly smile appeared on Grace''s lips. "Tell him we''ll be sure to arrive on time." Luke reminded her, "Should we inform the headquarters in Frenda and arrange for some men as backup?" "There''s no need. Bring our local security personnel. We''re meeting him out in the open. This is a lawful society. They won''t do anything foolish." "Yes, Ms. Lewis." After Luke left, Grace looked out of the window, overlooking the entire city. She tapped rhythmically on the desk as if she were calcting something. ¡­ The next evening, a group of bodyguards waited at the entrance of Amirate Corporation at 7:00 pm. Grace didn''t tell anyone about the meeting. She got into the car and went alone. The ck car was modified to look sleek. It cruised along the road and finally arrived at Pan Manor. "We''re here, Ms. Lewis." Grace was dressed in a ck suit. She looked very elegant and graceful as she got out of the car and walked in. Just as she arrived at the door, she heard a chuckle. "Ms. Lewis, you''re brave toe alone. It''s truly admirable." Grace looked up to see a man in his 40s sitting in the main seat. He was chubby. He clearly gained weight as he aged. "Max, I''ve heard so much about you!" Grace walked in confidently. Only then did she notice the man sitting next to Max, who had been watching her since she had entered. She recognized him. It was the man in the photo with Yvonne, the one called Shane. Shane''s eyes darkened as he fell into deep thought. "Ms. Lewis, please have a seat!" Max greeted Grace. Then, he instructed someone to get her a drink. "What are you waiting for? Pour my best wine for Ms. Lewis." Grace didn''t even falter. Her gaze fell on the chessboard in front of Max. They seemed to be in the middle of a game of chess, and the situation was evenly matched, with no clear winner yet. "Ms. Lewis, any thoughts on my chess game?" Max couldn''t help but ask with a glint in his eyes. He had no other hobbies in life and happened to be fond of chess. But he hadn''t encountered a worthy opponent in so many years, which troubled him. Grace hadn''te here to y chess today. She hade to demand an exnation. So she smiled faintly and replied, "I''ve learned chess before, but my skills are not refined enough to y professionally." Shane couldn''t help but smile and say, "Ms. Lewis, you''re too modest." Then, he turned to Max. "Max, why not have a game with Ms. Lewis?" Max was intrigued. "Sure! Ms. Lewis, what do you think?" Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Grace raised an eyebrow. She hadn''t forgotten her purpose foring here. "Max, shouldn''t you give me an exnation for what your people did at Dunhill recently?" Chapter 313 Wolf In Sheeps Clothing Chapter 313 Wolf In Sheep''s Clothing Max was unaware of this matter, so he asked in confusion, "Exin what?" Grace smiled calmly and replied, "Now that things havee to this point, there''s no need for you to y dumb." Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Max''s face immediately darkened, and he turned to Shane. "What happened? What did you do to offend Ms. Lewis? Tell me the truth." Shane''s expression turned dark, and he leaned in to whisper something. Upon hearing it, Max mmed the table, eximing, "You reckless idiot!" Startled, Shane quickly tried to appease him. "Max, don''t be mad. It was a moment of impulse." Max tried to calm himself down and stay level-headed before Grace. Shane had been with him for many years. He was Max''s right-hand man. It seemed unlikely that he would dispose of Shane just for Grace. So he smiled apologetically and said, "Ms. Lewis, perhaps there''s a misunderstanding here?" Grace had a rough idea of what was happening and responded, "Max, I almost lost my life, and you''re telling me that it''s a misunderstanding?" Max knew Grace''s identity. Although he had some influence in the city, he didn''t dare openly confront Grace. Thus, he yed the mediator and poured a ss of wine and offered it to Grace, saying, "Ms. Lewis, my men were ignorant to offend you. Take this as a token of my apology. Let''s forget the past and put a full stop to this." Grace snorted coldly, extended her hand, and knocked the ss over. The ss fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. Shane shouted in agitation, "Grace, don''t be ungrateful. Max has already apologized to you humbly. What more do you want?" Grace looked at Shane and said, "What do I want? It''s simple. I want your life!" Her words were filled with threat. Everyone present couldn''t help but shiver. They hadn''t expected her tomand such power with her words. After a few seconds, Shaneughed, openly disying his disdain for Grace. "You want my life? That depends on whether you have what it takes." Grace lowered her eyes and fiddled with her fingers. She seemed rxed, but her words sounded eerie. "I wouldn''t havee today if I didn''t." Seeing Grace''s determination, Max quickly intervened. "Ms. Lewis, calm down. It''s not good for your body!" Despite Max trying to smooth things out, Grace had to take Shane away today. This man had nearly taken her life and had to be held ountable. "Max, make your decision. Will you hand him over or not?" Max remained silent, but Shane became impatient. "Max, we can''t let a woman lead us by the nose. Who does she think she is? Just say the word, and I''ll take care of her." Max made a gesture, silencing Shane instantly. He stood up, returned to his seat, and looked at the chessboard before him. He then said, "Ms. Lewis, how about a game?" "Max, why y chess at a time like this? This woman is arrogant. Let''s just teach her a lesson." "Shut up." Max was angry. Since Grace had walked in, he had been acting like a wolf in sheep''s clothing. This was the first time he had lost his temper. Shane dared not say anything and stood silently on the side. Chapter 314 Chess Is a Gamble Chapter 314 Chess Is a Gamble "Ms. Lewis, what do you think?" Grace could guess Max''s intention, but she made herself clear. "Max, putting chess aside, you have to give me an exnation." Max reset all the chess pieces. While rearranging the pieces, he spoke calmly, "Of course. Let''s use this game to determine the winner. "If you win, you can take Shane away, and I won''t say another word. If you lose, we''ll forget anything happened, and we can put this in the past." The general idea was that the chess game was like a gamble. Upon hearing Max''s words, Shane''s expression rxed a bit. He knew Max was protecting him. After all, Max''s chess skills were second to none in Pamore. Grace had no chance of winning against him. "So, Ms. Lewis, what do you say?" Shane couldn''t help but jest, knowing that if Grace agreed, she would undoubtedly lose. Grace shook her head. Max thought she was backing out. His expression darkened, but to his surprise, Grace added, "The stakes seem a bit too small for this gamble." Max was very intrigued. "What do you propose?" Grace looked at him gravely and said, "How about we add more weight to the stakes? What do you think? "I think you''ve been in power for quite some time. How about we change the yer?" Shane burst out, "Grace, what do you mean? How dare you suggest taking down Max? You would have to go through us!" Grace ignored him and looked at Max. "If you lose, I''ll change the helm of your little faction. How about that?" Max''s face darkened, seemingly evaluating the sincerity of Grace''s words. Sensing that she wasn''t joking, he regained his confidence and said, "Ms. Lewis, if you win, I''ll give up my position to you. I''m willing to acknowledge you as the leader and follow your orders. I will heed your everymand." His statement left everyone around them stunned. No one had expected Max to make such a big bet on a simple chess game. The entire fate of their gang was subjected to this game. As everyone was confused, Max added, "But if I win, in addition to putting our past behind, I want you, Grace, to marry me." Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. The surrounding people went into an uproar. In unison, they cheered, "Max! Max! Max!" Grace''s face instantly turned dark. She clenched her hands into fists and silently swore to teach this group of people a lesson. "So, what do you say?" Max asked. After a brief hesitation, Grace said, "Let''s begin!" The crowd cheered, and all eyes shifted to the chessboard. Grace chose the white pieces, and Max chose the ck pieces. Grace made the first move, officially starting the game. Everyone''s hearts were on edge as they eagerly watched the chess match. At first, Max appeared confident and yed casually. But halfway through the game, his expression turned grave, gradually bing more serious. Chapter 315 Victory and Defeat Chapter 315 Victory and Defeat Shane watched from aside and whispered, "Max, shall we take a break?" Max quickly shushed him. "Silence while watching chess. Don''t you understand such a simple rule?" Shane kept quiet and looked toward Grace. She remained calm without faltering throughout. Even though this chess game involved her marriage, she wasn''t flustered. Shane sneered, thinking Grace was putting up an act. "Hey, no, you can''t take my knight!" Max quickly spoke up, interrupting Grace''s move, "I made a mistake." As he spoke, he returned the piece and sneered, "It''s all because of Shane. He distracted me and messed up my thinking. Ms. Lewis, can I redo my move?" Grace didn''t speak, but she looked at him incredulously. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Max looked a bit uneasy. He should understand such a basic rule after ying chess for so many years. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, you can take it!" So, he took his piece off the board, and the evenly matched game now clearly favored Grace. Beads of sweat appeared on Max''s forehead. After so many years, he had encountered such a formidable opponent for the first time. Grace''s skills were indeed not to be underestimated. Max took the game more seriously than before, and a single chess game took over an hour without a clear oue. Both yers were very patient. "Ms. Lewis, you''re the first person to awe me. I''m surprised that you were able to make it so far." Max had been ying chess for over 20 years. No one who yed chess with him couldn''t make it to 30 moves, but Grace was clearly better than him. "Max, you''re too kind. My grandfather taught me chess when I was a child. I rarely y chess in my daily life." Max was shocked to hear that. A casual chess yer had managed to catch him, a seasoned chess yer, off guard. "Ms. Lewis, you''re too modest." Grace moved herst chess piece, putting Max in a checkmate. "Checkmate." Max''s hand trembled. His pieces were surrounded. His eyes widened in disbelief. He had lost. Shane quickly stepped forward and eximed in disbelief, "How is this possible? How could Max lose?" But the chessboard was there. It couldn''t be faked. Grace shrugged, looking rxed. "Max, what do you say?" Max closed his eyes in utter defeat. Then he patted his chest, took a deep breath, and said, "I lost." As soon as he said this, the surrounding staff, who had previously been excited, all fell silent. Even Shane was dumbfounded. Max had lost. That meant that he would let Grace take over the gang. Then, Grace would settle the score for what he had done. Shane''s back was already covered in cold sweat. "Max! It''s just a chess game. This doesn''t count." Max rubbed his head, looked at him coldly, and said, "A gentleman''s word is his bond. Ms. Lewis, you won fair and square!" With that, Max stood up and extended his hand toward Grace. "Ms. Lewis, I yield to you. Please ept my respect." Chapter 316 Shes The Boss Chapter 316 She''s The Boss Seeing this, the people around also yelled in unison, "Boss!" Shane was unwilling to ept reality as he watched the scene unfold. He couldn''t believe that everyone was acknowledging Grace as their leader. It would be hard for him to survive in the future. "Shane, what are you still standing there for? Hurry up and beg Ms. Lewis to let you off!" Max scolded. But Shane wouldn''t yield easily. However, he had no choice. After some thought, he reluctantly kneeled to grovel. Grace was also stunned. She hadn''t expected Max to be so influential. It was impressive indeed. "Okay! Thank you, all of you." Max quickly ordered his men to stand in line. Then, he approached Gracepliantly and said, "Ms. Lewis, from now on, we''re all under your command. It''s up to you to handle what Shane did. You can do whatever you want to him." Grace yed with her fingers and said, "I''m not interested in his life, but I want him to do something for me." Shane was relieved to hear this. At least his life was temporarily out of danger. "Gra¡ªMs. Lewis," Shane immediately corrected himself. "Please give your orders." Grace replied, "What I want is simple: an eye for an eye. Do you understand?" Shane hesitated. After all, Yvonne had been with him for many years. It was hard for him to do that to her. Grace noticed his hesitation. "What''s the matter? You don''t want to do it?" She leaned in and stared coldly at Shane. Her gaze was so domineering and intense. Grace continued, "You don''t want to? Or are you willing to take the punishment for her?" Shane shivered. He had no choice at all. His life was on the line, and he had to choose to save himself. "Give me three days. I''ll make sure the results please you." Grace nodded, seemingly satisfied with his response. As she turned around to leave, Max stopped her. "Ms. Lewis, what about us? Any orders for us?" "I will find you when I need you. In the meantime, you''re in charge." Max nodded. "Thank you. Safe travels, Ms. Lewis!" Everyone bade farewell to Grace, shouting, "Safe travels, Ms. Lewis!" She was treatedpletely differently from how she had been when she first came there. As soon as Grace left, she saw Xander leaning against the car angrily. Xander stood up and walked toward her. Grace felt a little guilty when she saw him. "Xander, why are you here?" Xander reached out and rubbed her head. "Gracie, you''re getting bolder. How dare youe here alone? Do you know who Max is? He''s one of the most dangerous criminals in Pamore. He''s ruthless and dominant." Grace blinked her eyes. She didn''t think so. In fact, she even thought Max was quite cute. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. "Xander, calm down. I''m fine, aren''t I?" Xander sighed helplessly. He knew everything about what happened inside from his staff, but he was still worried. What if Grace had had an ident? What would he do then? "Gracie, please promise me that no matter what you do in the future, you''ll inform me first." Chapter 317 Now You Know Chapter 317 Now You Know Grace nodded obediently and said, "Don''t worry, Xander, I understand." "Well, now that Max is willing to be under yourmand, things will be much easier for you in Pamore in the future." Grace hadn''t anticipated this. The way she saw it, she had just reluctantly taken on another follower. Little did she know that this small act today had already caused a huge stir in the organized crime circle of Pamore. ¡­ Yvonne waspletely unaware of what had happened. At this moment, she was sitting in the VIP room of the hotel, fixing herself up. After dressing up, she smiled at herself in the mirror. Just then, there was a knock, and Yvonne brightened up, quickly opening the door. "Darling, you finally came." The door opened. She was familiar with Shane, but unlike before, he was apanied by several burly men today. Yvonne''s face fell, and she asked, "Shane, why are you here with so many people today?" Shane looked serious. He didn''t answer her question. Instead, he waved his hand, and the people behind him retreated. Then, he entered the room and closed the door. Yvonne approached, "Shane, what''s going on today? Are you upset? Let me change that." As she spoke, Yvonne''s hand began to wander, gradually tracing downward until it almost reached his groin. But Shane grabbed her hand and stopped her. "Enough! I''m not in the mood today." Yvonne was stunned. In all these years, Shane had never spoken to her in such a tone. When she snapped out of it, she still smiled. "Shane, how did you handle Grace''s matter? Is she dead now?" At the mention of Grace, Shane turned around and looked at Yvonne. "What do you think?" Yvonne noticed nothing unusual with his behavior and continued, "Hahaha, that wretched Grace is finallypletely gone. Now, no one would step on me anymore." Hearing her, Shane said lightly, "You should stop daydreaming." Yvonne''s face faltered. "What do you mean? Did you make a mistake?" Shane stared at her and mocked, "Yvonne, of all people, why did you have to piss off Grace? Even I underestimated her." Shane was beginning to regret this. Why had he helped Yvonne? He had thought Grace was just an ordinary rich kid. Who would have thought that even Max would submit to her and allow her to order them around? He was Max''s subordinate and was no match for Grace. "Shane, what do you mean? Is Grace still alive?" Shane nodded. Yvonne''s face turned pale. She knew Grace, and if she was still alive, she would surely investigate the truth behind this matter. Would it lead back to her? "Shane, Grace won''t find out about me, will she?" Shane reached out and touched her head, then lifted her chin. "What''s wrong? Are you scared now?" This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. For the first time, Yvonne felt like Shane''s gaze was unfamiliar and somewhat frightening. "Shane, will you protect me? You won''t hand me over to Grace, will you?" Yvonne sobbed tearfully, "Please, Shane! Don''t hand me over to Grace! I beg you!" Chapter 318 Benjamin Interferes Chapter 318 Benjamin Interferes No matter how much Yvonne pleaded, Shane remained firm. In the end, he even pushed her away. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Shane ordered the people at the door, "Someone, tie her up for me." However, no one came in. Shane frowned in confusion and walked to the door. "I told you toe in and tie her up. Didn''t you hear ¡­" Before he could finish speaking, he was met with an intense gaze. The man was very domineering, making Shane feel pressured. "Mr. Hawkins, why are you here?" Benjamin didn''t answer him and strode in. When Yvonne saw Benjamin, it was as if she had grabbed onto a lifeline. She hurriedly rushed over. "Benjamin, you''re here? Please save me!" Benjamin stopped in his tracks. He looked down at her. There was no pity in his eyes, only disgust. "Mr. Hawkins, you didn''te here for her, did you?" Shane asked, and Yvonne was filled with joy. "Benjamin, take me away! Please take me away! I promise to obey you in the future, and I won''t do anything to Grace again." Benjamin snorted. His tone was cold. "Shane, I''m taking her with me. I''ll return her to you in two hours." Shane was puzzled, but he didn''t dare to confront Benjamin directly. He nced at Yvonne and said, "Mr. Hawkins, is this woman worth your trouble? Why not just let me throw her somewhere in Dunhill?" Benjamin didn''t look away. "I''m just informing you, not negotiating with you." After saying that, he ignored Shane''s expression and ordered his men to take Yvonne away. Furious, Shane clenched his fists and smashed the wall. "Benjamin, we''ll see what happens." ¡­ Benjamin took Yvonne to an antique and picturesque house. As soon as they entered, the bodyguards mercilessly threw Yvonne to the ground. Staggering, Yvonne got up from the ground and walked toward Benjamin. "Benjamin, I know deep down you care about me. Save me. Take me away from Pamore, okay?" she pleaded. Benjamin, however, remained frosty. "Yvonne, you know why I took you away. I just want the truth." Yvonne asked in confusion, "What?" Benjamin turned around, his gaze deep, staring intently at her face. "Whose child was it back then?" Yvonne was puzzled for three seconds before she slowly came to a realization. Looking at Benjamin''s grave expression, she seemed to have found a trump card and burst into laughter. Herughter echoed in the hall. After some time, Yvonne finally stopped. She began to negotiate with Benjamin. "You brought me out just for this? Let me guess, you did it for Grace, right?" Although Benjamin''s real intent had been exposed, he remained firm. "You just need to tell me the truth." Yvonne shook her head. "Benjamin, you can believe that the child was yours, right? After all, it''s gone now. Even if you deny it, there''s no evidence, right?" Yvonne spoke arrogantly, as if she had caught Benjamin''s weakness. Chapter 319 Threatening Him Chapter 319 Threatening Him Yvonne continued, "It''s not hard if you want me to tell the truth. But you have to promise me to send me away from Pamore and give me arge sum of money, enough for the rest of my life." "Okay." His answer surprised Yvonne. She had never expected Benjamin to go to such lengths for Grace. "Benjamin, why regret it now?" "You don''t have to waste your time. My patience is limited." Yvonne shook her head slightly. "Benjamin, I''m not stupid! I know you won''t let me leave if I tell you now. Unless ¡­ you can personally help me leave. Once I''m out, I''ll tell you the truth." Benjamin remained silent and looked at her in disgust. "No one has ever attempted to threaten me." With that, he ignored the surprised look on Yvonne''s face and ordered the bodyguards toe in. "Hand her over to Shane. We''ve already exceeded the two-hour time limit." Yvonne panicked, realizing that Benjamin wasn''t joking. "No, Benjamin, I ... I ..." Benjamin didn''t respond, but the bodyguard reached Yvonne, dragged her away, and headed toward the door. Yvonne felt a chill run down her spine. She knew that Shane would kill her if she was handed over to him. She didn''t want to die. "Benjamin, the child wasn''t yours. That night, you were drunk, and nothing happened between us. I set you up to think the child was yours." Yvonne sobbed as she spoke. When she finished, the bodyguard stopped, and Yvonne copsed. "Benjamin, I know I''ve made mistakes. Please, save me. I don''t want to die!" N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Tears rolled down Yvonne''s cheeks. At that moment, the door opened, and Grace stood there. She seemed like a bystander,pletely unconcerned. She looked up, meeting Benjamin''s gaze. Once, her eyes had been filled with affection and passion. Now, they were as calm as a stillke. "Mr. Hawkins, did you invite me here for this?" Grace had already figured out what was happening. She continued, "You sent me the package, didn''t you?" Benjamin didn''t deny it. Grace understood his intentions. He had made an borate n to rekindle the me between Yvonne and Shane to simply prove that he was no longer involved with Yvonne. The child from back then had nothing to do with him. Benjamin waved his hand, and the bodyguard took Yvonne away. Soon, only Grace and Benjamin were left in the hall. Once, they had been husband and wife for three years. Now, they were strangers, as if they had never known each other. "Grace, if Yvonne was the cause of our divorce, does this resolve our misunderstandings now? Nothing ever happened between me and her. So, can we start over?" Grace remained silent. Benjamin had always carried himself proudly. He had never had to humble himself andy down his pride for anyone. But today, he had done it just to exin the truth to Grace. Chapter 320 Its Pointless Chapter 320 It''s Pointless Grace lowered her gaze and remained silent. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Benjamin continued, "I know Yvonne has done a lot to hurt you, and she will face the consequences. You must be curious about why I got her out of prison, but it''s all for today." Upon hearing this, Grace looked up at Benjamin. "Mr. Hawkins, thank you for everything you''ve done, but it''s pointless." Benjamin panicked and eximed, "No, Grace! How can it be pointless?" Grace didn''t answer him, but deep down, she knew. Even if nothing had happened between Benjamin and Yvonne, nothing could fix the damage he had done to her. The ne crash had opened her eyes to who Benjamin truly was. She now knew not to make the same mistakes. So, she continued, "Mr. Hawkins, happiness can''t be forced. Words can''t heal a wounded heart. I''ve let go of our rtionship. Please don''t waste more time on me." Once Grace finished speaking, she turned away without hesitation. Benjamin tried to reach out to her, but he couldn''t even grab her clothes. In the end, he watched helplessly as she left. At that moment, he suddenly realized how important Grace was to him. Some time passed. Benjamin''s body had be numb, and his bodyguard finally entered. "Mr. Hawkins, what should we do to the woman outside?" Benjamin slowly gathered his thoughts. His eyes were void of any emotion. "Hand her over to Shane. It''s up to fate whether she lives or dies." "Yes, Mr. Hawkins." ¡­ After leaving, Grace had been in a gloomy mood. She sat in the car, staring out the window, her thoughts drifting far away. Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. "Hey, Aaron." Aaron could sense her bad mood from the other end of the line. "I heard you''ve subdued thergest criminal ring in Pamore, the one led by Max?" Grace immediately responded, "Aaron, word travels to you so fast!" "Of course. I care about you. But it doesn''t sound like you''re happy." Grace quickly denied it. "It''s nothing. I''m just lost in thought, a little distracted, that''s all." "Gracie, you''ve created quite a few surprises for me. Under your leadership, Amirate Corporation has been flourishing, and thepany''s performance has been increasing. "Coincidentally, Frenda is hosting a business summit soon. Why not go take a look and rx a bit?" Grace thought it was a good idea. "Sure. When is it?" "Three dayster. Come back if you have the time." Frenda was Grace''s home country, and she wanted to return after being away for so long. So she agreed. "Okay, I''lle back as soon as possible." After organizing matters at thepany, Grace and Luke went back to Frenda the next day. The private nended directly at the Lewis family''s airstrip. Victor had been waiting for her, and when he saw hering down from the ne, he waved. "Gracie!" Grace ran toward him and threw herself into Victor''s arms. "Victor, I missed you so much!" Victor rubbed her head lovingly. "You little rascal, you''re such a sweet talker." Grace yfully stuck out her tongue. "No, it''s the truth." Chapter 321 Her Brothers Spoil Her Chapter 321 Her Brothers Spoil Her "Grandpa heard you were back and specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes." Grace''s face lit up. "Wow, I''m so spoiled!" "You little glutton," Victor teased, and as the siblings bantered, they got into the family vehicle. Lewis Manor sprawled across thousands of acres, and it took over ten minutes to drive from the airstrip to the main estate. When they got there, the staff were already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Grace, they greeted her with great respect, "Hello, Ms. Lewis!" Grace smiled in acknowledgment and walked inside. It was rare for her to return home, so all three brothers had gathered. Harold was delighted, too. He pulled Grace aside and chatted with her for a long time. He finally let her go when she yawned repeatedly around 10 pm. "Alright! You''ve traveled for such a long time. You must be tired. Rest now. Don''t forget the chess match with this old man when you wake up tomorrow." Grace nodded. "Okay. Goodnight, Grandpa!" She stood up and left. As she ascended the spiral staircase, she saw her three brothers leaning against the wall, apparently waiting for her. Aaron spoke first. "It''s been so long since you returned. I''ll take you shopping tomorrow. Pick some clothes and jewelry you like." Victor continued, "Aaron, you''re so boring! Gracie, I''ll take you to my newly opened esports club tomorrow. The service there is fantastic, and you''re guaranteed to have a great time." Caleb cleared his throat and said, "Gracie, there are several new restaurants in Coral Lane. The food is excellent. Do you want to try them?" The three brotherspeted to get Grace''s attention, leaving her somewhat amused. "I''m really tired. Can we talk about this tomorrow?" Aaron, Victor, and Caleb exchanged nces and said gravely, "No, you have to choose one." Grace rolled her eyes, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She hesitated momentarily, then smiled. "How about each of you apany me for half a day?" This answer seemed to satisfy them. The three brothers'' expressions improved, and Caleb took the lead and said, "Then, I''ll take the morning tomorrow." Victor quickly added, "Afternoon for me!" Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Aaron, seeing this, had to relent. "Fine, I''ll apany you to the business summit the day after tomorrow." It was perfect! Grace nodded happily. "Okay, I''m happy with the arrangement." After seeing her three brothers off, she finally returned to her room. She quicklyid down on her soft bed and soon fell deep asleep. ¡­ The next morning, Grace opened her eyes to see a face before her. "Ah!" Grace almost instinctively pushed him away, and upon realizing that it was Caleb, she let out a deep breath. "Caleb, it''s early. What are you doing?" Caleb quickly approached her again. "What? Didn''t we agree yesterday that I would take you to taste the food at Carol Lane? Did you forget?" Grace patted her head and said, "I didn''t forget, but you''re too enthusiastic." Caleb handed over the limited-edition clothes he had picked for Grace. "I have to be! You rarelye back. I have to put on a good performance." Grace shook her head helplessly, took the clothes from him, and went to the dressing room to change. She had to admit that Caleb knew her well. Chapter 322 Running Into an Old Classmate Chapter 322 Running Into an Old ssmate Her clothes fit her perfectly, right down to the size. It waspletely in line with her style as well. "Caleb, your taste is as good as ever," Grace praised him. Basking in thepliment, Caleb replied, "Well, of course. It depends on who I''m picking clothes for." Grace remarked, "My future sister-inw is in for a treat!" Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Caleb hastily interrupted, "What sister-inw? I don''t even have a girlfriend. Stop that nonsense." Grace chuckled. "What''s the big deal? Don''t be shy. Hurry up. We should get going." To avoid being recognized by fans on the streets, Caleb deliberately disguised himself before driving off in a sports car with Grace. They arrived at the most famous localmercial street, the paradise for luxury shopping. It integrated high-end dining and shopping, making it the preferred spot for shopping. Grace got out of the car first and waited on the side of the road for Caleb to park the car. However, soon after, she heard a woman say, "Grace, it is you!" Hearing the familiar voice, Grace furrowed her brows and turned around. She spotted her lifelong arch-nemesis, Shirley Lowe, with her two sidekicks standing behind her. Grace didn''t want to deal with her, but out of courtesy, she politely greeted them, "What a coincidence." Shirley''s family was in the electronics business, and she had been pampered by her family since childhood. She barely qualified as a heiress, though. When Grace had been in school, she had kept her identity a secret from everyone but the school''s higher-ups in order to avoid standing out among the other students. She had even worked part-time to support the stray animals. Most of her ssmates had thought that she came from a poor family and was a schrship student. Such a status stood out at a prestigious school. Moreover, Grace had excelled academically and won schrships every year, while Shirley had never been able to catch up. Shirley, who was verypetitive, had developed a grudge against Grace throughout everything. As for Grace, she had never exined anything and simply let her achievements speak for themselves. "Grace, we haven''t been in touch since graduation. Where have you been all this time? You managed to find a job, couldn''t you?" Shirley spoke mockingly. Not wanting to engage with her, Grace casually remarked, "I''m unemployed! What about you? nning to introduce a job for me?" "Shirley has taken over the family business now, Wonderful Electronics! She''s the general manager. She''s earning hundreds of thousands of dors annually. " "Maybe if you y nice, Shirley can arrange a job for you." Shirley''s two sidekicks spoke one after the other. They stood in front of Grace arrogantly. Shirley also nodded. "It''s not difficult to get you a job. Ourpany happens to need a janitor. Want to give it a try?" As soon as she said this, the two sidekicks, Nora and Kimberly, burst intoughter. "How about that? Shirley is looking out for an old ssmate like you. You can get 300 dors a month as a janitor! That job is perfect for someone poor like you." Not wanting to waste time arguing with them, Grace turned around to leave. However, Shirley wasn''t willing to let this opportunity pass. She quickly reached out and grabbed her arm. Chapter 323 Exposing Her Lies Chapter 323 Exposing Her Lies "Don''t leave just yet. We rarely see each other. You don''t have to feel bad, even if you''re not doing well. We won''t make fun of you." Shirley looked at her with sympathy. "It''s quite a coincidence. I happened to be having a meal with some ssmates. Why not join us? After all, you will never get into any of the high-end restaurants. Come and experience it with us." Grace smiled and chastised in annoyance, "Shirley, are you ever going to stop? "You were always behind me when we were in school. Why are you still behaving like this now? You''re acting arrogant just because you have some money. "Don''t you know there will always be someone better? Be careful. You might bite off more than you can chew." Shirley hadn''t expected Grace''s mouth to be as sharp as ever. She had never managed to take advantage of Grace before, and now she couldn''t argue with her. However, this only strengthened her determination to give Grace a hard time. Today, she would teach Grace a lesson and make her realize that they were worlds apart. People like Grace from poor backgrounds only deserved to be at her service. "It''s just old ssmates having a meal together. Grace, don''t be rude." As Shirley spoke, she gave herckeys a look. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. They quickly caught on and approached Grace, tugging at her sides. "Shirley is inviting you to dinner as a gesture of goodwill. Not everyone gets this opportunity. Don''t refuse her." They pulled her into the car without giving Grace a chance to refuse. Grace had no intention of paying attention to them, but their persistence ignited a fire in her heart. Since they were so insistent, Grace wouldn''t hold back. In the car, Shirley deliberately ced her newly bought Hermes bag before them. Nora quickly said, "Shirley, is this thetest style? I heard it''s very expensive. It''s over a hundred thousand dors for one bag." Kimberly added, "It''s not just about money. You need to be a VVIP to get one. This is a limited edition. Shirley, I''m so jealous." Shirley enjoyed the ttery, feeling triumphant. She watched Grace carefully, thinking thetter probably wouldn''t even recognize the brand, and pretended to exin. "It''s just a bag, nothing special. Last month, my dad gave me a vi worth only five million dors." "Wow! A five-million-dor vi is a luxury home!" "Shirley, I want to visit your house." Shirley cleared her throat and said, "It''s still under renovation. I''ll invite you all when it''s done." "Shirley, you''re so generous." "That''s right, Shirley! We love you so much!" Grace was speechless. She couldn''t help butugh. Shirley''s expression suddenly turned dark. "What are youughing at?" Grace shrugged and said, "Nothing. I just find your conversation amusing." Nora quickly chimed in, "I think you''re just jealous of Shirley. After all, you could never earn five million dors, let alone buy a vi, even if you worked your entire life." "That''s right, jealousy is a disease that needs to be cured." Upon hearing that, Grace mercilessly exposed Shirley. "Isn''t that bag fromst year''s collection? The new one this year lookspletely different." As soon as she said that, Shirley''s face fell, and she hastily retorted, "Grace, you''re spouting nonsense. You don''t understand this stuff at all." "You know clearly if it''s nonsense. Care topare it with the official website''s new models?" Chapter 324 The Reunion Chapter 324 The Reunion Grace''s words made Shirley feel nervous, and she instinctively took her bag. "Humph, you''re just a country bumpkin. What do you know? I can''t be bothered to argue with you." N?velDrama.Org owns this. However, her twockeys exchanged a nce. They didn''t believe Shirley would carry an outdated bag either. But they thought she was acting off. However, they remained loyal and said, "Shirley, let''s ignore her. We''ll let her knowter that we''re very different people." Shirley felt better to hear that. Grace chuckled inwardly, curious to see what tricks they had up their sleeves. ¡­ Meanwhile, Caleb parked the car and exited the parking lot, but he couldn''t find Grace. He quickly called her. However, Grace immediately hung up and texted him. "Caleb, something came up. I''ll contact you later." Caleb sighed and replied with a simple "Okay." Shirley took Grace to the most upscale local restaurant in Frenda. It was a members-only ce, and those who could afford to consume here were wealthy or influential. When Shirley got out of the car, a waiter approached her with a smile. "Ms. Lowe, pleasee inside." Shirley proudly responded, "I reserved a private room earlier. Take us there." "Yes, Ms. Lowe." The waiter led the four of them inside, and theckeys couldn''t resist taking out their phones to take pictures, excitement in their eyes. However, Grace remained calm and unmoved. Thinking that Grace might be overwhelmed by such a grand asion, Shirley said, "We will meet our old ssmatester, Grace. Don''t be nervous." Grace replied with a question. "Are they cannibals? Why should I be nervous?" Shirley was speechless for a while before she managed to retort. "Grace, I''m teaching you manners. Don''t act like a country bumpkin who has never seen anything." Grace shrugged indifferently. Shirley stomped her feet in frustration. She hated how indifferent Grace was. "Ms. Lowe, we''ve arrived." The waiter had taken them to the VIP room. Shirley took some cash from her bag and handed it to the waiter. "Thank you." The waiter epted the tip and smiled broadly. "Have a great time, Ms. Lowe!" After the waiter left, Nora said, "Shirley, you''re too generous. You tipped the waiter so much!" "Yeah, Shirley. It''s nice to be rich." Shirley looked at Grace and urged, "Let''s go." Theckeys opened the door, letting Shirley enter first, followed by Grace. However, they stopped Grace before she could enter. Once they entered, they let Grace in. "Hi everyone, look who I brought today." As Shirley spoke, the ssmates chatting turned their gaze toward Grace. Someone recognized her first. "Grace, it''s been a long time." "Grace, what have you been busy withtely? You don''t update us much." "Yeah, we should get together more often when we can." Grace didn''t respond. She smiled and said, "Hello, everyone. It''s been a while." Chapter 325 Fighting Back Chapter 325 Fighting Back Most of the people who usually hung out with Shirley were as influential as her. They looked down on people like Grace, who had a low status but had still insisted on fitting into their circle in school. So, as the conversation continued, they became more and more impolite. "Grace, where have you been working recently? How much do you earn in a month?" "Are you married? Do you have a boyfriend?" "Do you need help getting introduced to someone?" Grace remained silent. At this point, Shirley deliberately interrupted them. "What kind of questions are you asking? Grace isn''t like us. Every one of us herees from a wealthy background. "We don''t have to work and can easily take over the family business. Grace might even be doing odd jobs right now! Don''t make fun of her. We''re all very different." Laughter erupted from the crowd, but Grace looked down, unaffected by their words. However, one female ssmate noticed that Grace''s clothes seemed to be limited-edition Chanel. It was quite expensive and not avable for public sale. But how could someone like Grace afford it? So, almost instinctively, she blurted out, "Grace, where did you buy this fake Chanel? It looks good." With that, everyone turned their attention toward Grace. For the first time, they realized she was wearing high-quality clothing. But no one in the room believed Grace could afford such expensive clothing. "Grace, this must be expensive!" "The quality of imitation goods is getting better now." "Could it be a copy found on an off-brand online marketce?" Grace didn''t say anything but smiled faintly. From the moment she had entered, she had felt their disdainful looks, as if she were a clown. "Well, you can search for it online and see if you can find the same model," Grace retorted coldly. No one had expected such a drastic change in Grace''s attitude. After all, she had always ignored them in the past. Shirley put on an innocent look. "Grace, what do you mean by that? We''re just joking. It wasn''t ill- intended at all." The others chimed in, "Exactly, why are you so pissed off? Can''t you take a joke?" "Shirley, let''s not bother with her." "She''s just a country bumpkin who doesn''t understand fashion, unlike Shirley, who I heard will represent Wonderful Electronics at tomorrow''s business summit." "People attending the summit are business elites from various fields. Shirley, you''re so amazing." Grace raised an eyebrow, looked at Shirley, and said, "I never thought the standards for the business summit were so low these days." The others burst intoughter instantly. "Grace, do you even know what the business summit is? How dare you mock Shirley? You would never even be qualified to join. Don''t make fun of Shirley." Grace looked at the person who had spoken and seemed to recall something. "You''re ir Terrel. Your family is involved in real economy trade, right? Now, with the impact of e- commerce, many of your stores have closed." ir''s face turned pale in an instant. She hadn''t expected Grace to be so informed about her family''s situation. "Stop spewing nonsense. Although we''ve closed many stores, we''ve transitioned to live streaming now. Many streamers are selling our products."Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 326 Some Wealthy Mans Mistress Chapter 326 Some Wealthy Man''s Mistress Grace merely nodded and continued, "One of the top streamers is Calista, right? I heard she got caught for tax evasion and was fined several million dors! "She''s merely a streamer, yet shemitted such fraud. This must have something to do with her investors. This matter has caused quite a stir. I''m sure everyone has heard about it." ir began to feel anxious. That incident had significantly impacted her family, and thepany had almost gone bankrupt because of it. But how did Grace know about all this? Grace ignored him and looked at Nora, one of Shirley''sckeys. "Your family is in the aquaculture business. It must have suffered considerable losses due to the typhoon. I heard you even borrowed money from loan sharks. Have you cleared the debt?" Nora''s expression instantly fell. Grace then turned her attention to Kimberly. "I heard your family was affected by the recessionst year and still hasn''t recovered. You owe the bank a lot of money. Is that true?" Kimberly was stunned and stuttered, "How ... how did you know?" Grace shrugged casually. "That''s not important. What matters is how disgusting your behavior in the name of power is. It''s nauseating." With that, Grace looked at Shirley. "Wonderful Electronics has been doing well these days, but Crug Electronics has been getting stronger over the past two years. "Carelessness might just destroy your beautiful empire. So seize the opportunity at this business summit. Otherwise, you might lose out." Shirley''s face turned pale with anger, but she couldn''t refute Grace because she was telling the truth. Grace was overjoyed to see them in such a pathetic state. She had achieved her goal, and there was no need to stay any longer. She stood up to leave. "I''ll take my leave now. Goodbye." After saying that, Grace left the private room, leaving the group behind in shock. Someone couldn''t help but wonder, "Who is Grace? How does she know so much inside news about our businesses?" "Could she be some hidden big shot? We were just insulting her!" "That''s impossible! Back in school, she looked so poor. Could she have be wealthy now?" Shirley was at a loss for words as she listened to the discussions. She kept her frustration to herself, took her phone out, and made a call. "Find out about someone for me, Grace Lewis." ¡­ Outside the private room, Grace chuckled and shook her head. As she left the restaurant, she saw Caleb''s shy sports car parked at the entrance. "Caleb, why are you here?" Caleb said, "I was worried about you, so I came to check. They didn''t bully you, did they?" "You underestimate me." N?velDrama.Org owns this. Caleb noted down the names of those people. "Don''t worry, I''ll find a chance to teach them a lesson later." Grace quickly stopped him. "Let''s go. You promised to take me for something delicious. I''m starving." Caleb reached out and ruffled her hair. "You little glutton, some things never change." Grace got into Caleb''s car, unaware that Nora, who had followed them out, had seen everything. This solidified their spections. "Shirley, guess what I just saw! Grace got into a sports car! It''s very likely that she must be seeing that man! "I never thought that after all these years, she would be someone''s mistress. She''s so shameless!" Chapter 327 Shes Also a Lewis Chapter 327 She''s Also a Lewis Everyone gasped in shock and started to judge Grace. Some evenmented harshly. "She''s not worthy of being our ssmate at all." "I''ll teach her a lesson the next time we meet." "We must work together to deal with that mistress." ¡­ Early the next day, Shirley received a call from the investigator. "Ms. Lowe, we haven''t found anything about that Grace you asked us to investigate." Shirley cursed in displeasure. "Useless! Frenda is so small, and you can''t even find information on one person. What do I need you for?" The investigator cautiously said, "Could it be that someone has hidden any information about her identity, and that''s why we can''t find any traces?" Shirley frowned. She refused to believe Grace was capable of such a thing. "Now you''re trying to shift me because of your ipetency. I won''t work with you again in the future!" After speaking, she hung up the phone. At this moment, her father, Kolby Lowe, walked over with a loving look. "Shirley, why are you upset so early in the morning?" Shirley pursed her lips and said, "Nothing, Dad. Today is the business summit. We should take advantage of this opportunity to secure more orders." Kolby was pleased and said, "Shirley, I''m relieved you think so. Do well at the summit. Also, I heard that members of the Lewis family will also attend this summit this year." At the mention of the Lewis family, a glint shed in Shirley''s eyes. N?velDrama.Org owns this. "Will Aaron be there too?" Kolby patted her head. "Do you only have eyes for Aaron?" Shirley blushed. Everyone in Frenda knew Aaron Lewis. He was a legend in the business industry. Moreover, with the support of the Lewis family, he was one of the richest men in the world. Many people wanted to date him and marry into a wealthy family. And Shirley was no exception. "Dad, if we can establish a rtionship with the Lewis family, nopany will look down on us in the future. We won''t have to beg for orders. People will naturallye to us." Kolby smiled. It would be perfect if Shirley could win over Aaron. He added, "It would be great if you could marry Aaron. But I heard that the daughter of the Lewis family recently returned to Frenda. They dote on this daughter a lot. If you want to get Aaron, you might want to start with her." Upon hearing this, Shirley couldn''t help but feel a bit uneasy. The daughter of the Lewis family? Why had she just thought of Grace? Her surname was also Lewis. But the next moment, Shirley shook her head again. How could Grace be the daughter of the Lewis family? She looked poor and shabby. She wasn''t even worthy to carry the shoes for the daughter of the Lewis family. "Dad, do you have a photo of Ms. Lewis?" Kolby shook his head. "The Lewis family is very private about her. There is almost no public information about her. But she will attend the business summit with Aaron today. Pay attention to the woman with Aaron and get close to her." "Okay, Dad, I understand. Don''t worry, I will make friends with Ms. Lewis! I will try my best to win over them," Shirley said confidently. After researching, Shirley arranged for the driver to pick her up. ¡­ Meanwhile, Aaron had arranged for a renowned stylist to visit Lewis Manor early in the morning. This was Grace''s first time representing the Lewis family at such an important business summit. So, of course, they attached great importance to it. There were hundreds of evening gowns for Grace to pick from. Chapter 328 Attending the Business Summit Chapter 328 Attending the Business Summit "Gracie, how about this dress?" Caleb picked up a rtively conservative dress and showed it to Grace. Victor, on the other hand, unwilling to be outdone, chose a more stunning dress. "Gracie, I think this oneplements your elegance." "Victor, that dress is too shy." Victor retorted, "You chose something too dull." Neither of them would yield, so they finally let Grace decide. "Gracie, what do you think?" Grace looked at the two dresses and said, "You both have great taste! Both dresses are nice. However, I think it''s better to be low-key today." After saying that, Grace casually took a light purple designer dress. Caleb and Victor looked at each other, and Caleb said, "It''s a draw! Victor, this round doesn''t count." Grace couldn''t help but chuckle as she watched the twopete. She walked up to them and linked arms with both of them. "Victor, Caleb, thank you both." "Silly girl, what''s there to thank us for? You will always be our little princess." Victor spoke indulgently, then patted her shoulder. "Go and change. Aaron is still waiting." Grace nodded and took the dress to the dressing room. When she descended the spiral staircase in her light purple dress, no one could tear their eyes away from her. "Gracie, you look amazing today," Caleb couldn''t help but praise. Victor added, "This dress is simple but elegant. It''s like it''s tailor-made for you. Every detail was handled superbly." Grace felt a bit embarrassed by thepliments from her two brothers. "Did you both have too much honey today?" Grace asked as she walked over to Aaron. "Aaron, let''s go." Aaron was very satisfied with her attire. He nodded, and the two of them left together. The limited-edition Rolls-Royce Phantom was already waiting at the entrance. After Aaron and Grace got into the car, the driver began the journey. ¡­ Grace immediately spotted Timothy at the entrance of the venue. She was quite surprised. Aaron exined to her, "Timothy has taken over Donegan Enterprises. They are one of the creative teams for today''s business summit." Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. "I see. I''ll go over and say hi." Aaron nodded. He had no ns of stopping her. In his view, Timothy was also a good choice. "See you inside." Grace got out of the car and walked toward Timothy. Timothy quickly noticed her, and his eyes lit up as he hurried toward her. "Mdy, you''re back in Frenda?" Grace congratted him with a smile, "Congrattions! I heard you took over Donegan Enterprises." Timothy smiled. "Thank you!" Their friendly exchange made the people around them gossip. Although only a few recognized Grace, Timothy was well-known in the business world. Their intimate interaction led most to specte about Grace''s identity. "Do you need me to apany you inside?" Timothy asked softly. Grace didn''t want to disturb him since he seemed to be busy with something. "It''s fine. I''ll go in by myself. You go ahead and take care of your business." Timothy nodded. "I''ll see youter." Chapter 329 Insulting Her Chapter 329 Insulting Her Shirley had arrived at the venue early. After making a round, she found a ce to catch her breath. Unexpectedly, her gaze fell upon Grace at the entrance. She was utterly taken aback. "Why is Grace here?" Shirley eximed, and herckeys beside her followed her gaze. They were also surprised. But they remembered seeing Grace getting into a sports car yesterday. Nora sarcastically remarked, "Is she here to freeload on food and drinks?" Shirley frowned, feeling that Grace''s presence here was an insult to her. "They really ept just anyone here," she snorted in dissatisfaction. Seeing her discontentment, Kimberly suggested, "Shirley, should I go teach her a lesson and put her in her ce?" Shirley didn''t speak, but her silence meant she approved. Seeing this, Nora and Kimberly walked toward Grace. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. "Isn''t this a familiar face? Howe you''re here too? Do you have an invitation, or did you sneak in to freeload?" Nora mocked. Grace raised an eyebrow slightly. Turning around, she saw the two arrogantckeys looking at her disdainfully while Shirley watched with a mocking smile in the distance. Grace replied calmly, "I don''t think you''re qualified to be here." A simple sentence was enough to make them drop their smiles. They had tagged along with Shirley, but how had Grace known that? Immediately, Nora retorted sharply, "What nonsense are you talking about?" Grace smiled. "I could say the same to you. Stop spewing your nonsense here." Nora''s face fell. She hadn''t expected Grace to be so sharp-tongued. "Grace, you know clearly whether I''m spewing nonsense. Being a mistress isn''t something glorious. Do you want me to expose all your ugly deeds in front of everyone?" Kimberly didn''t speak loudly, but it was enough to attract the attention of others. She thought she had hit a nerve and smiled triumphantly at Shirley. Then, she continued, "In this day and age, people can do anything for money. Being a mistress isn''t shameful. After all, you''re also trying to make a living using your¡ª" Before she could finish her sentence, a loud p rang through the air. Kimberly covered her face in surprise. She turned around and yelled at Grace, "How dare you hit me? Who do you think you are? Even my parents wouldn''t hit me. How dare you?" As she roared, she charged at Grace. Grace''s face darkened. She stepped aside and kicked Kimberly''s shin. Kimberly was unable to dodge and fell heavily to the ground. This scene drew the attention of many, and a crowd gathered around them. Kimberly was wearing a light-colored dress. The fall caused her dress to slip, prompting her to cover her chest frantically. "Don''t ¡­ don''t look at me!" Grace looked down at her, her eyes devoid of emotion. "Watch your mouth. I''ll make you pay the next time you spew nonsense again." Then, she turned and walked away. Unexpectedly, after she had only taken a few steps, she was stopped by Shirley. "Apologize," Shirley ordered her coldly. Chapter 330 Making Her Apologize Chapter 330 Making Her Apologize Shirley yed the righteous role before everyone. Grace didn''t have time to deal with her. She said in irritation, "Step aside." Shirley had never expected Grace to be so bold. She smiled mockingly and said, "Grace, you should take responsibility for your wrongdoings. "You''re at fault for hitting someone for no reason. If you don''t apologize now, I''ll ask the organizers to kick you out." Shirley''s words gained some favor, especially among the onlookers, who mostly chose to stand on her side. "This isn''t a ce for throwing tantrums. She hit someone out of nowhere! That''s so arrogant!" "She should apologize. Don''t make this situation more embarrassing than it already is." "That''s right, Ms. Lowe is giving you a way out. Don''t be disrespectful." Grace remained silent. Shirley felt satisfied as she listened to the crowd and looked at Grace scornfully. "How about it? Apologize!" Grace was also annoyed. She calmly replied, "I would never apologize. She should take ountability for her words." Kimberly sneered when she heard this, but she acted pitifully and said, "Forget it, Shirley. I don''t think she meant it." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. Anyone who was unaware of the situation would think she had been badly bullied. Seeing this, Shirley was even less inclined to let Grace off the hook. "I''ll give you one more chance. Apologize, or I''ll have someone throw you out immediately." Grace snorted coldly, "Go ahead and try." Shirley didn''t expect Grace to be so stubborn. Nevertheless, having said what she said, Shirley immediately took out her phone and made a call. "Security, someone''s causing trouble here. Pleasee and handle it." After hanging up, Shirley looked at Grace arrogantly. "Grace, you brought this on yourself." People around her recognized Grace and knew about her connection with Timothy. Some stepped forward to persuade Shirley, saying, "Ms. Lowe, forgive and forget. Let this go." But Shirley was unmoved. "Let it go? How can I let it go? She hit someone for no reason, and I''m just supposed to let it slide?" Seeing that Shirley wouldn''t listen, the person gave up, realizing that those present were either wealthy or influential, and he couldn''t easily offend any of them. Grace, seeing this, calmly took out her phone. "I didn''t hit her unprovoked! I have all the evidence right here." The surrounding people became intrigued. "Wow, this is so crazy. She actually recorded it!" "Quick, y it for everyone to hear." "We''ll know who is at fault after listening to the recording." Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Kimberly was bbergasted to hear about the recording, and her expression fell. She tried to grab Grace''s phone, but she quickly dodged it. Then, her voice came through the phone, and her words were clearly audible. Everyone listened. Their perception of Kimberly changedpletely. "Damn. She used her of being a mistress in broad daylight. If it had been me, I would have pped her too." "She spoke so brazenly. She deserved to get hit." "How did someone like her get in here?" "I don''t think she''s on the guest list." The public''s opinion shifted instantly, and Shirley''s expression turned dark. She hadn''t expected Grace to record everything. Chapter 331 The Tables Turn Chapter 331 The Tables Turn "Don''t listen to her nonsense. It''s all fake." Kimberly hurriedly defended herself. At this moment, Timothy rushed over. He walked straight up to Grace with a concerned expression. "Are you okay, Mdy?" Grace shrugged, unperturbed. "I''m fine." However, Timothy had heard the recording and immediately said, "Ms. Lewis is a VIP I invited. Do you think you can casually nder her?" Everyone fell silent at Timothy''s words, and the crowd dispersed awkwardly. Shirley was dumbfounded. She was confused to see Timothy being so attentive and protective of Grace. She blinked and quickly approached with a smile. "Mr. Donegan, I''m Shirley from Wonderful Electronics. It''s a pleasure to meet you." Shirley tried to tter him and make a good impression, but Timothy ignored herpletely. Instead, he turned to Kimberly beside her. "Did you just nder Grace?" Kimberly was bewildered, not having fully grasped the situation yet. Timothy immediately ordered the security, "Throw her out." The security personnel promptly approached, wasting no time in escorting Kimberly out. After handling that, Timothy led Grace into the venue, leaving Shirley bewildered. However, she was now even more curious about Grace''s identity. As soon as Grace entered the venue, she attracted many people''s attention. Those around her took the initiative to greet her, and Grace responded politely. Shirley felt even more conflicted after witnessing this scene. At this moment, Aaron entered. Shirley''s gaze was instantly drawn to him. She quickly checked her clothes and makeup and approached Aaron. "Mr. Lewis, I''m Shirley Lowe from Wonderful Electronics. I didn''t expect to meet you here today. It''s truly an honor." Saying this, Shirley extended her hand to Aaron. Aaron maintained a straight face, faced with her broad smile. With her hand suspended in mid-air, Shirley felt a bit embarrassed. She continued, "Mr. Lewis, did you not bring apanion today? How about I apany you around?" Upon hearing this, Aaron directly refused and answered coldly, "No need, Ms. Lowe." His gaze shifted to Grace, not far away. "Excuse me." With that, he walked toward Grace. Everyone was smart enough to know that, given Aaron''s status among the few elite business figures, anyone around him must be someone special. "Mr. Lewis, who is this?" Someone couldn''t help but ask out of curiosity. Shirley followed along, and at this moment, her eyes were already filled with jealousy. She had never expected Aaron to be so close to Grace. What exactly was the nature of their rtionship? N?velDrama.Org owns this. The answer seemed obvious. However, Shirley gripped her ss tightly, refusing to believe it. As everyone continued to specte, Aaron introduced her dly. "This is the princess of the Lewis family, Grace. She''s the apple of our eyes." With his words, the crowd erupted into an uproar. No one expected that Grace was the rumored heiress of the Lewis family. Shirley''s legs went weak. She had offended Grace, the heiress of the Lewis family. "Ms. Lewis, I''ve heard about your business talent. You''re not inferior to your brothers. Under your management, Amirate Corporation has been thriving. Now, I finally get to see the face behind the sess." Chapter 332 What Do You Want Chapter 332 What Do You Want "Ms. Lewis, I work in foreign trading, and I hope to have the opportunity to work with you in the future." "Ourpany mainly operates in logistics. We hope you can provide us with more guidance in the future." Facing the crowd''s admiration, Grace smiled and nodded politely, maintaining a confident attitude and gaining a lot of positive impressions. Many businesses even volunteered to coborate with Grace. Seizing this opportunity, Grace secured several significant deals for the Amirate Corporation. Shirley watched as this unfolded. Her world had copsed the moment Aaron had publicly revealed Grace''s identity. She was utterly dumbfounded. She recalled how they had often looked down on Grace and insulted her during their school days. Now, she regretted it deeply. N?velDrama.Org owns this. She had ruined such a valuable opportunity. "Shirley, why are you standing here? Didn''t I ask you to build a good rtionship with Ms. Lewis and work for more orders? What are you doing?" Kolby pulled Shirley aside and scolded her in a low voice. Shirley hadn''t snapped out of it yet. At this moment, her fingers had already dug deeply into her flesh, but she seemed oblivious to the pain. She lowered her eyes. At this moment, she dared not tell her father that she had offended Grace. Instead, she put on a cheerful act. "Got it, Dad. I''ll work hard for it." After saying that, Shirley walked toward Grace. She took a deep breath, silently telling herself to humble herself. So, when she approached Grace, she was wearing a big smile. "Grace, I offer you a toast. To our reunion as ssmates!" Shirley took the initiative to show goodwill and handed a winess to Grace. Grace looked at her and ignored the ss she offered, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere. Shirley cleared her throat, concealing her embarrassment. "You don''t drink, right? Then, I''ll finish it for you!" With that, Shirley drained the contents of the ss in one go. Grace just looked at her indifferently. "A reunion as ssmates? Is there a need for such formality?" Shirley knew what Grace meant and quickly apologized. "Grace, I was wrong before. I apologize. I''m sorry." But Grace didn''t care. "We wouldn''t need thew if apologies worked," she retorted. Shirley frowned slightly. She hadn''t expected that even when she had put herself down, Grace still wouldn''t budge. She was starting to feel annoyed. "Grace, I''ve already apologized. You don''t have to take this so far, do you?" It was hard enough for her to humble herself before Grace, but Grace showed no mercy, making her extremely frustrated. Grace heard her and chuckled. "Shirley, are you trying to be funny? If I''m not mistaken, thatckey acted out just now at your instigation, right?" Shirley''s face turned pale. Grace continued, "And what about the past? It might take a while to go through each incident with you." "Grace, I was ignorant before. I''m sorry I offended you. Please forgive me." Graceughed again, but it wasn''t sincere. "Shirley, I''m not a saint. I won''t let this matter go just because you offer me an apology after all the hurt you did to me." "So what do you want?" Chapter 333 Hit Them Where It Hurts Chapter 333 Hit Them Where It Hurts Grace stared intently at her, and Shirley shrank back guiltily. Hit them where it hurts. Grace knew what Shirley cared the most about. Therefore, she spoke lightly, "It''s time to revolutionize Wonderful Electronics. I think you should sit out the business summit this time around." When she heard this, Shirley immediately became anxious. "No¡ª" The words slipped out of her. Wonderful Electronics was the family''s only hope. If they backed out of the business summit, it would be a huge blow to thepany. "Grace, I can promise you anything except this." Grace said expressionlessly, "If you back out of your own ord, there will still be a chance for redemption. If you refuse and are then forced to back outter, Wonderful Electronics may not escape unscathed." Shirley''s knees buckled. A sense of horror swept over her. She had never imagined that Grace could be so cunning. At this moment, she deeply regretted what she had done, but she still gave it a shot. "Grace, Wonderful Electronics is the only hope for our family. Don''t destroy it. "I''ll apologize to you." No matter what Shirley said, Grace acted as if she hadn''t heard it. She did not give an inch, and she walked away from Shirley. In one moment, Shirley felt as if all the strength had been drained from her. She slumped to the ground, and there was a sudden gust of wind. The back of her shirt was drenched, and it felt cold in the breeze. Grace was ruthless! "Ms. Lewis really has a charmed life. She was born into a good family, and her capabilities are outstanding." "She''s only taken over Amirate Corporation for less than half a year, but the profits are already 10% higher than they were previously." "It is a multinational corporation. You can imagine how much 10% of its sales would be." "I really envy Ms. Lewis for having such a good head for business." Upon hearing people around her praising Grace, Shirley felt extremely ufortable. She looked at Grace, who was the center of attention, and she felt an indescribable jealousy. She huffed coldly and interrupted rudely, "She did it with the resources that she got from her family''s connections! She doesn''t have any real skills. She''s probably just a pretty face." "Ms. Lowe, we''re just speaking the truth. What''s your problem?" "I think you''re just jealous of Ms. Lewis. She''s not only pretty but also extremely capable." "You and Ms. Lewis looked pretty close to each other just now. I didn''t think that you would stab her in the back like this. You shouldn''t act this way." As Shirley was mocked, rage began bubbling up inside her. "What on earth are you talking about? Even if you''re kissing her ass, you have some principles." In her eyes, these people were just trying to get into Grace''s good books. "Grace and I are schoolmates. I know her abilities well, and if you don''t believe me, I''ll prove it to you in a moment." When they heard what she said, they looked curious. "Ms. Lowe, do you have inside information?" Shirley looked as if what she had said was obvious and huffed coldly, "Grace was a blockhead when we were studying. She didn''t just have bad grades, she also didn''t fit in." At Shirley''s words, the people exchanged nces of disbelief. "You don''t believe me, do you?" Shirley gritted her teeth. "In just a moment, I''ll show you what a real blockhead is." Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. She was filled with anger and had nowhere to vent it. Right now, she wanted Grace to feel the same humiliation she was experiencing. Chapter 334 Invited on Stage Chapter 334 Invited on Stage She straightened up and walked toward backstage. A momentter, the opening ceremony of the business summit began, and the emcee stood onstage, speaking enthusiastically. He made the atmosphere of the business summit reach a crescendo of excitement very quickly. "I believe that everyone here is the elite in the business world. As usual, we will randomly select one person toe onstage and share about their management experience." Just as the emcee finished speaking, Shirley came out from backstage and stared sinisterly in Grace''s direction. She had already begun to form a n in her heart. Immediately, she walked over to the group of wealthydies from before, and there was a look of triumph on her face. "Just watch! There''ll be a good show soon." The wealthydies had no idea what Shirley had up her sleeve, so they advised her, "Ms. Lowe, don''t shoot yourself in the foot." Shirley jutted her chin out defiantly and didn''t answer them. In her heart, she fervently hoped that Grace would utterly humiliate herself. However, the emcee onstage suddenly looked at Grace in the crowd. "Today we have an exceptional person among us, who is the president of Amirate Corporation, Ms. Lewis! Let us invite Ms. Lewis up onstage to share her experience with us." Grace was startled at suddenly being called. Aaron hadn''t told her about this process before they had gotten there. Why was she suddenly being called onstage to share about her experiences? Aaron was standing nearby, and his gaze darkened as he asked his assistant, who was behind him, "What''s going on?" The assistant was equally confused. "I''m not sure, Mr. Lewis. I''ll go find out right now." Aaron looked at Grace, who seemed calm and had a slight smile on her face. "There''s no need¡ª" As Aaron spoke, the emcee continued talking. "Let us wee Ms. Lewis with a round of apuse!" The emcee had just finished when there was a roar of apuse from the crowd, and everyone turned their eyes on Grace. Grace maintained a calm expression throughout. Her gaze swept around the crowd before finally falling on Shirley. She could feel the challenge in Shirley''s gaze. They locked eyes and stood still for a few seconds. The wealthydies were standing beside Shirley and felt strangely nervous for her. "Ms. Lowe, aren''t you being a little too obvious about your animosity? Aren''t you afraid that the Lewis family will get revenge on youter?" A wealthydy whispered to her. At that moment, Shirley felt no fear. She said impassively, "Even if they want to get revenge, it will be after Grace humiliates herself. In other words, if I''m going down, then at least Grace will go down with me, right?" The wealthydies shook their heads. "Good luck, Ms. Lowe." Shirley didn''t answer, as she stared intensely at Grace instead. The tension was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. However, Grace merely smiled and walked to the stage under everyone''s gaze. As she did so, the room quieted down immediately. Everyone was focused on Grace. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Grace took the microphone and said slowly, "Hello everyone, my name is Grace." She gave a simple self-introduction without any borate embellishments, which gave her a calm and self-assured air. The moment Grace opened her mouth, she won the favor of most of the people there. "To tell you the truth, I''m just a beginner in the area of management, and there aren''t many things I can share from my experience." Chapter 335 Brilliant Chapter 335 Brilliant Then, Grace began speaking about her management experience. She was humorous and witty, and she was neither too arrogant nor overly humble. She was perfectly tactful in her speech. Her simple, ten-minute exnation had everyone engrossed. When she finished, there was a moment of silence before the crowd erupted into thunderous apuse. "Ms. Lewis is truly a genius in business!" "She is logical and adaptable. No wonder she''s been so sessful with managing Amirate." "Ms. Lewis is really a role model for us all! Although she''s young, she has a very unique perspective on business." "If there''s a chance to work with Ms. Lewis, it would be my honor!" Shirley was shocked by the praise that was erupting around her. She had wanted to catch Grace unawares, but she had never imagined that it would make Grace gain even more attention instead. How could this be? "Wait a minute." Shirley spoke up and stopped Grace, who was about to leave the stage. At this point, she threw caution to the wind and said, "Ms. Lewis, I have a few questions that I would like you to answer." Grace sensed her hostility but stood there calmly. She said smoothly, "Go ahead and ask any questions that you may have." While Shirley had been growing up, she had learned a lot from listening and watching and had a good head for business. Her family had raised her to take over the family business. Shirley believed that her abilities were on par with Grace''s. Besides, she wanted to embarrass Grace here by choosing a few difficult questions. She asked, "Ms. Lewis, we are currently going through an economic downturn. Not only has the stock market crashed, but even the money market funds have taken a heavy blow. "In this kind of environment, how can we avoid the crash of funds that will result in a capital chain rupture?" At her words, many people began whispering quietly. After all, this was a question about the challenge that mostpanies were currently facing. If Grace didn''t answer well, she would lose the favor of the crowd. N?velDrama.Org owns this. Therefore, after Shirley finished asking her question, she looked provocatively at Grace and waited for her answer. Grace took the microphone, and her voice resounded through the crowd, sounding rxed and bright. "Currently, we all need financial leverage to some extent to use as a tool in the current environment ¡­" Grace used five minutes to exin the method and strategies of using financial leverage, drawing waves of praise from the crowd. Their eyes were filled with admiration for Grace. Shirley didn''t want to give up and continued asking several difficult questions, all of which Grace managed to cleverly answer. After a round of questions and answers, Grace received high praise and acknowledgement from several of the business elite. When she left the stage, many of them went up to her to speak to her. At this moment, Grace was the center of attention. "This ¡­ this is impossible!" Shirley was enraged. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that Grace would have such exceptional skills! She had even openly provoked Grace. Now Shirley felt like a clown. "Ms. Lowe, we''re actually pretty thankful to you." One of the wealthydies said as she smiled, "If you hadn''t done this today, we wouldn''t have known how talented Ms. Lewis is! "I''ve got to go and speak to my husband and get him to find a chance to work with Ms. Lewis. I''m sure it will be a win-win situation." Chapter 336 An Embarrassment Chapter 336 An Embarrassment When Shirley heard what the wealthydy said, she dug her nails into her palm hard, but she felt no pain. All of a sudden, Kolby appeared out of nowhere and walked directly toward Shirley. Then, there was a resounding p, and Shirley held her cheek in disbelief. She spoke aggrievedly, "Dad, why did you hit me?" Kolby was furious. Aaron had already sent someone to warn him earlier, all because Shirley had intentionally made things difficult for Grace. "Shirley, I guess you think you can call the shots now. What did I warn you about before you came here? Why did you provoke Ms. Lewis?" Shirley clutched her face. She couldn''t believe that her father, who had always spoiled her, had hit her in public because of Grace. She lowered her eyes and said nothing, but in her heart, she med all of this on Grace. Kolby red at her angrily and continued saying, "If you offend Ms. Lewis, then Wonderful Electronics is doomed. Do you know what you''ve done?" Shirley bit her lip and said nothing. Seeing that she was unrepentant, Kolby said, "Stop being an embarrassment here and get yourself home."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Shirley looked up, her eyes misting over. "Dad¡ª" "Don''t talk to me! You''re not going to get a single penny until Wonderful Electronics is out of danger." Shirley wilted at once, but Kolby had no time for her. He looked around, searching for Grace. He wanted to apologize to Grace. Grace was currently surrounded by people, and there was no space around her at all. When she finished dealing with all the businesspeople, she finally had time to catch her breath. She sat on the couch and exhaled deeply. However, a pair of eyes in the crowd kept following her. Grace raised her eyebrows. She had felt that intense stare on her and looked up, her gaze sweeping around her. The pair of eyes had disappeared. Grace frowned, wondering if she had imagined it. When she looked away, a figure walked out from behind a pir. His eyes were fixed on Grace, and they were filled with turbulent emotion. "Mdy, you were so cool just now!" Timothy had suddenlye toward her and sat down beside her. His eyes were full of admiration and worship. Grace said jokingly, "Mr. Donegan, you''re doing pretty well for yourself after taking over Donegan Enterprises." Timothy said, "I still prefer working at Amirate. At least I could see you every day." Grace said nothing. Timothy immediately continued, "The moment I got back, my old man wouldn''t stop badgering me about settling my marriage to you. "Mdy, you''re single now. Would you consider this chance to fulfill our families'' wishes? Let''s settle this marriage." Timothy looked at her, full of anticipation, but Graceughed awkwardly. "Mr. Donegan, I''m afraid that you will regret it when you meet someone that you love in the future." Timothy was serious. "Mdy, you are the person that I have feelings for. I don''t want anyone else in this world but you." Grace shook her head lightly. She didn''t think that what Timothy felt for her was love. "Mr. Donegan, let''s make a bet." Timothy was excited. "What are we betting on? If you lose, will you marry me?" "Is that all you''re interested in?" Chapter 337 Finding the Secret Attic Chapter 337 Finding the Secret Attic Timothy nodded vigorously. "Naturally! Apart from this, nothing is important." "But I think that you''re going to meet the woman of your dreams very soon." Timothy was shocked at her words. "Mdy, you must be joking." Grace raised her eyebrows. "You don''t believe me?" "It''s not that I don''t believe you. It''s just that, apart from you, it will be very difficult to find anyone in this world that will make my heart skip a beat." Timothy mumbled this to himself and then sighed. "But mdy, your happiness is more important than mine." That was why he had left Amirate without turning back. It was all so that she could be happy. His own happiness was no longer that important. "I''ve organized a get-together tonight. Do you want toe along?" Grace had wanted to refuse, but Timothy was looking pitifully at her. "Mdy, please grace us with your presence! If you don''t, my old man will never let me hear the end of it." Grace burst intoughter. Even the bold Timothy had someone who scared him. She was surprised, so she agreed. "Okay." Timothy was delighted. "Alright then, I''ll see you tonight." ¡­ That night, Grace changed into a simple outfit and went out. The get-together that Timothy had organized was at a high-end bar. When Grace arrived, Timothy was already waiting at the door. When he saw her, he hurriedly waved at her. "Over here, mdy!" Grace entered the bar with Timothy. When they got to their private room, there were many men and women there, all of whom had grown up with Timothy and were good friends of his. They were all full of enthusiasm when they saw Grace. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. "Ms. Lewis, what would you like to y? Cards? Bridge? Dice?" Grace wasn''t picky. "I''m fine with anything." So a few of them began ying cards together. Grace rarely yed cards, but she had a fairly good hand and was able to double her chips in just one round. Grace felt a little ill at ease, so she made an excuse about needing to go to the restroom and asked Timothy to y on her behalf. When she left the private room, she walked along the corridor and up to the roof to get a breath of fresh air. However, she had only just gotten to the roof when she heard a scream. "Aargh¡ªdon''t hit me!" "Please, I was wrong¡ª" "Don''t hit me¡ª" Even though the screams were mixed with the sound of the music, Grace could still hear them clearly. She walked in the direction that the sound wasing from. Then, a male voice rang out. "Who told you to escape? you escaped ¡­" Heshed the woman with a whip again and again. Before long, the woman''s flesh was torn apart. Outside the door, Grace stopped. She could see what was happening through a crack in the door. There were seven or eight women with their hands and feet tied together, and their eyes were full of terror. There wasn''t an inch of whole skin anywhere on the woman who had been screaming. "I''m telling you, now that you''re in my hands, you either earn money obediently or die! If there''s anyone else who''s thinking of escaping, then this is what will happen to you!" By the time the man finished speaking, the other women were terrified. They trembled, and none of them dared to speak. Then, the man turned and walked toward the door. When Grace saw this, she turned without thinking and bumped into the doorframe. The man immediately became alert. "Who is it? Who''s outside?" Grace was about to run, but before she had even taken two steps, several burly men appeared behind her out of nowhere and blocked her path. Chapter 338 Obscure Business Chapter 338 Obscure Business The man in the room walked out too, and his eyes lit up when he saw Grace. "Wow, where did this exquisite specimene from?" Someone among them recognized Grace and knew that she hade in with Timothy. He spoke to the man in a low voice. "Darien, this is a guest of Mr. Donegan." When Darien Perez heard that she was with Timothy, his expression darkened. He walked toward Grace. "What did you see just now? What did you hear?" Grace stared at him without any fear in her eyes. "You''re operating a legitimate business, but I never thought that such obscure business would be going on too. All those women inside were kidnapped and brought here by you, weren''t they?" Darienughed. His eyes were cruel and ruthless. "It looks like you don''t want to leave today ¡­ but perhaps that''s for the best. A gorgeous woman like you is rare stock." As he spoke, he waved his hand, indicating for his subordinates toe forward. Graceughed coldly. "You''ll have to see if you''ll be able to catch me." She had just finished speaking when a few burly men surged forward. Grace''s gaze darkened. Swiftly and urately, she kicked their calves. Without any dy, she struck them until her opponents retreated several steps. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Darien immediately became excited. "Looks like she''s here to wreck the ce!" When he finished speaking, he came up personally to try and catch Grace. His movements were extremely ruthless, and in just two moves, he had put Grace at a disadvantage. But Grace had spotted his weakness, and while he wasn''t paying attention, she turned and kicked his crotch. It only took a second. Darien clutched his crotch, and his face flushed bright red. "Catch her! Quick ¡­ catch her!" Seeing more and more people arrive, Grace knew that it would be difficult for her to deal with them all. Without hesitating, she ran toward the exit the moment she found a gap. But she had just reached the exit when she found that the door had already been locked. "Run! Go ahead and run!" Darienughed coldly. He was in no rush to catch Grace. They crowded around her. But Grace had already pressed the emergency button on her watch while they weren''t paying attention. "Trafficking women and children is against thew. Do you want to be caught and put in jail?" Grace''s voice was icy, but the moment she spoke, everyone reacted as if they had just heard a joke. "In Frenda, there''s now that can catch us! You''re just a dumb bitch. How dare you threaten us here?" "Tie her up and put her in with those women. Tomorrow, we''ll travel by water and get them all out." "Yes, Darien." A few burly men went up to Grace. This time, Grace didn''t resist. She had already decided that she wouldn''t just get out. She would also save the women inside. Hence, she let them tie her up with rope. Then, she was tossed inside the room. When the women inside saw Grace, they didn''t react much, but Grace began looking around the room. The path she had taken to this ce was from the corridor up to the roof, and it was well hidden and difficult to find. There was probably very good soundproofing, too. Otherwise, it was impossible that people outside hadn''t been able to hear anything. "What country are you from? Why are you here?" When Grace spoke, two of the women began crying immediately. Grace hurriedlyforted them. "Don''t worry, I''ll get you out." But they didn''t believe Grace at all. After all, she was now locked in here, just like them. "There''s no use¡ªno use at all. It''s impossible to escape!" Chapter 339 Do You Want to Die Chapter 339 Do You Want to Die "What should we do? We''ll be sent away tomorrow morning. I might never see my family again." "I don''t want to die! Someone, please, save us!" There was silence for a while before the sound of someone sobbing came. When Grace heard it, her gaze darkened and her heart wrenched. She had never imagined that there would still be such shady things happening in today''s civilized society. Her gaze followed the sounds of the sobs. But the next moment, she locked eyes with a pair of extremely calm eyes. It made a stark contrast with the mournful atmosphere. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. The girl looked as if she were only 17 or 18 years old, but she had the calmness and intelligence of an adult. Her face was cold and expressionless, but her eyes were fixed on Grace, as if she wanted to see right through her. Neither of them spoke. They remained like that for half an hour. Then, the girl spoke, and there was a note of uncertainty in her tone. "Can you really get us out of here?" Grace said firmly, "Trust me. I will." Her words gave the girl hope, like salvation. But then the girl saw that she was tied up, and the light of hope was extinguished again. Grace lowered her eyes and looked at the ropes tying her, and her mouth curled in disdain. Those men''s method of tying people up was just not up to mark. Then, she took action, and in one smooth movement, she had untied her ropes. Her actions were smooth and quick without any hesitation, and everyone was shocked. "You ¡­ you untied them!" "You''re amazing." Grace hurriedly motioned to everyone to keep quiet. "Don''t talk!" Everyone understood at once, and hope appeared in their eyes. Even the woman who had been crying wiped the tears off her cheeks. Grace said nothing, but quickly went up to untie them one by one. In just a short time, everyone was free. The young girl, who had been calm before, looked at Grace with a note of worship in her eyes. "My name is Noelle. When I get out, I''ll be sure to find a way to thank you." Grace smiled and didn''t think much of what Noelle had said. She reached out and ruffled her hair. "Don''t worry, Noelle. We''ll definitely be able to get out." Noelle nodded vigorously. Grace called everyone into a huddle and told them her n in a low voice. At that moment, she looked like a leader, and nobody there doubted her. They followed her words obediently. In just a moment, there was a cry for help from the attic. "Someone, pleasee! There''s someone dying here!" "Please send someone toe and save us!" Everyone shouted together, and after a while, it attracted those men toe. They opened the door and scolded the women. "Do you all want to die? If you keep screaming like that, we''ll send you all to hell." "She''s about to die ¡­ save her ¡­" one of the women said. The men saw that someone had fainted on the floor and hurriedly went up to check on her. But in the next second, Grace hit the back of one man''s head hard from behind with a stick. The man fell to the ground at once. "Hurry, run!" When the women saw this, they had no time to think of anything else. All of them rushed for the door as if they had gone mad. But they hadn''t gone far before they were surrounded by a group of ck-d bodyguards. "How dare you escape? Don''t any of you want to live? Do you want to taste the strength of our whip?" Chapter 340 A Rose With Thorns Chapter 340 A Rose With Thorns At these words, the women shuddered. They had obviously all tasted the strength of the whip before. Then, Darien, who was in the lead, walked out. He looked at Grace without any trace of warmth in his eyes. "I didn''t think that you would be so skilled. You escaped in about ten minutes." Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Grace looked coldly at him, and her voice was frosty when she spoke. "Let us go, or I''ll destroy this ce." Darien reacted as if he had heard a funny joke and walked over to Grace, pping his hands. He had to admit that Grace had striking features, and even in this environment, she looked exotically beautiful! A gorgeous specimen like her would fetch a good price if she got on the market. But although she was beautiful, she was a rose with thorns. "Let you go? In your dreams!" Then, he waved a hand, and a few bodyguards came forward. But just at this moment, a subordinate rushed over. "Darien, bad news! Our bar has been surrounded." Darien''s expression became furious. "What is going on?" "It''s the Lewis family! The richest family has sent their people!" Darien grabbed his cor. "The Lewis family? We don''t have any interaction with them. Why would theye to our territory?" "I don''t know, Darien! The Lewis family is not to be trifled with, and the people they''ve brought are all professionally trained." Darien snorted coldly. "Damn it! We and the Lewis family have always gone our separate ways. Now they''re interfering in our affairs. There must be a reason." When he finished speaking, Darien looked coldly around at everyone. Finally, his gaze stopped on Grace, and he looked her up and down, thinking. "Is it you?" Grace crossed her arms and spoke without fear, "Don''t worry. It''s not just people from the Lewis family outside. The Frenda police are here too." "Trafficking women and children is a severe crime. Now there''s ample evidence, so you can all spend the rest of your lives in jail!" When the women behind her heard Grace say that, each of them looked delighted. "The police are here! We can go out." Darien was furious. He clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, "You want to send me to jail? We''ll see if you can!" Then, he walked over to Grace. "There has never been a woman who could escape from me. Do you think that a few policemen can save you? Don''t kid yourself." He instructed his subordinates, "Transfer them out immediately." "Darien, it''s toote. The people of the Lewis family have already barged in, and they said ¡­ They said that we''ve taken their family''s heiress and that they want us to let her go immediately." "Darien, forget it. If we offend the Lewis family, we''ll never be able to continue working in Frenda! I wonder who was dumb enough to catch the heiress of the Lewis family." Darien paced back and forth. "The heiress of the Lewis family? Who the hell is the heiress of the Lewis family? Look and tell me if there''s anyone here who looks like the heiress of the Lewis family." He turned to the group of women. "Who is the heiress of the Lewis family? Raise your hand, and I''ll let you go now." Everyone exchanged nces, but no one said anything. However, Grace said, "Everyone must be let out." At her words, everyone turned to look at Grace, and Darien immediately caught on. He hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly, "Ms. Lewis, it''s my fault for not recognizing you. I''m sorry for the offense." Chapter 341 Saving the Abducted Women Chapter 341 Saving the Abducted Women However, Grace said, "Darien, let them go." Darien nodded. "Naturally. After you, Ms. Lewis." Grace was angry, and her tone became icier. "Don''t you understand what I''m saying?" Darien''s expression immediately became more serious. "Ms. Lewis, it''s my fault for opposing you, but I spent a lot of money to buy these people. Think about what a loss it would be!" Grace didn''t give him a chance at all. "Loss? It looks like you won''t give up until the very end." Darien had no way to deal with Grace, but he was extremely reluctant to give up on the other women. "Ms. Lewis, we and the Lewis family have always refrained from meddling with each other. It seems inappropriate for you to do this. "As an apology, I will let you choose one of them and take her away. That should show my sincerity." There was no way Grace would ept his offer. "I told you to let all of them go. This is thest chance." Darien wanted to speak further, but another subordinate rushed up. "Darien, forget it! The Lewis family is serious about this, and there are a lot of special forces policemen outside. If we don''t go now, we''ll be put in prison." Upon hearing this, Darien could no longer sit still. He now had nothing to negotiate with Grace. "Ms. Lewis, I''ll let them go on your behalf. But we will settle this score sooner orter." After he tossed these words at her, Darien arranged for a few people to watch over the women and then left in a hurry with a few subordinates. Aaron and Luke got there very quickly, and they found Grace after searching through every room. "Gracie, are you okay?" Aaron''s voice was filled with worry and anxiety, but Grace said, "Aaron, their boss has left." Aaron tried tofort her. "Don''t worry, my people have gone after him." "Aaron, people like him will mess up the system in society. They will take advantage of it. We don''t know how many women and children have already fallen into their hands. We can''t just let this go." The police came over to ask about the situation, and Grace cooperated with them. She went to the police station to make a statement. The women who had been abducted also began contacting their families with the help of the police. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Just as Grace left the police station, Noelle came running over to her. The police officer exined, "Ms. Lewis, Ms. Jackson tly refused to contact her family and was determined to wait for you." Grace thanked the police officer and looked at Noelle. "Noelle, you''re safe now. You can go home. Why don''t you want to go back?" Noelle pressed her lips together and took Grace''s arm. She said, "Grace, can I go with you?" Grace was startled. She didn''t understand why Noelle didn''t want to go home, even though she was safe. "I ran away from home ¡­" Noelle''s voice became smaller and smaller. Graceforted her. "Noelle, although I don''t know why you ran away from home, it''s a very dangerous thing to do." Noelle''s lips were pressed in a thin line, and she remained silent. Timothy, who had heard the news and rushed over at once, arrived at the police station just then. He had thought that Grace had just left the private room to get some fresh air. He had never imagined that something so big would happen. Now even the bar had been closed down. He had then rushed over to the police station and found Grace. "Mdy, are you okay? How are you?" "I''m fine. Don''t worry. Don''t I look fine?" Chapter 342 Daughter of Elysium Banks Chairman Chapter 342 Daughter of Elysium Bank''s Chairman Seeing that Grace was fine, Timothy was finally no longer on tenterhooks. Just as he rxed, he noticed the girl standing next to Grace. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Curious, he asked, "Who are you?" Noelle stared at him sharply, not answering his question. Only then did Timothy carefully examine her. He found that she was really delicate. He reached out and touched her head, saying, "It''s okay. You''ll be reunited with your family soon." Unexpectedly, Noelle dodged his touch. "Don''t touch me!" Timothy hadn''t expected this young girl to be so guarded. "Girl, aren''t you underage?" This remark angered Noelle. "Who''s underage? I''m already 19 years old!" 19 years old? Timothy didn''t believe it. Noelle looked like she hadn''t fully grown, but he didn''t argue with her. He just advised, "Don''t run out alone in the future. The outside world is very dangerous. Today, you were lucky that you met mdy. "You know, those human traffickers can do anything. They might take you and cut out your kidneys." Noelle''s expression was tense, as if she were holding back. Timothy also noticed something was wrong with her. "What''s wrong with you? Why do you look so pale?" As soon as he said that, Noelle cked out and fainted. Luckily, Timothy quickly caught her. "Hey, wake up. Are you okay?" He shouted Noelle''s name loudly but received no response. Helpless, he quickly took her to the hospital. After an examination, it was revealed that Noelle''s body was covered in wounds from whipping, especially on her back. The wounds were mixed with blood and had already stuck to her clothes. Yet Noelle hadn''t uttered a word of pain throughout the ordeal. After learning all this, Timothy''s deep hatred for those people increased tenfold. "How can those bastards do this to such a young girl? Are they even humans?" Grace hadn''t expected things to turn out like this. Her tone was filled with resentment as she said, "Human traffickers can do anything. It''s not excessive to execute people like them. "Traffickers themselves deserve to be tortured." Grace was indignant. Suddenly, she thought about Darien, who had escaped. She had to ensure he ended up behind bars at all costs. Meanwhile, a line of Bentley cars entered slowly and parked in front of the hospital. The leading car door opened, and a man in a butler uniform jogged to the middle car, opening the door. "Mr. Jackson, Ms. Noelle is in this hospital." Anthony Jackson''s sharp face revealed no extra emotions. He just nodded and got out of the car. With long strides, he walked toward the hospital as two rows of bodyguards followed closely behind him. When the hospital director led Anthony to the door of the ward, Grace and Timothy exchanged a nce. The moment Grace saw the bodyguards behind Anthony, she guessed that his identity wasn''t simple. Unexpectedly, Anthony spoke first. "You must be Ms. Lewis, right?" Grace''s eyes shed with surprise. "May I ask who you are?" Anthony gestured, and the butler behind him took out a business card and handed it to Grace. "Ms. Lewis, I''m Anthony Jackson." When Grace heard his name, her heart skipped a beat. ncing at the details on the card, she was dumbfounded. Chapter 343 A Favor Chapter 343 A Favor "Are you Mr. Anthony Jackson, the chairman of Elysium Bank?" Anthony smiled. "Indeed." Standing nearby, Timothy seemed to have realized something. "Mr. Jackson, are you and Noelle ... rtives?" Anthony replied, "I''m Noelle''s father." Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. This revtion left Grace stunned. She hadn''t expected Noelle to be the daughter of Elysium Bank''s chairman. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jackson." Grace greeted him confidently and elegantly. Anthony couldn''t help but appreciate her. "There''s no need for formalities, Ms. Lewis." Grace continued, "Mr. Jackson, Noelle has external injuries with some infections. After receiving medical treatment, she''s no longer in danger, but she hasn''t woken up yet." Anthony nodded slightly. "I already knew about Noelle''s condition beforeing. Thank you for saving her, Ms. Lewis." "There''s no need to be so polite, Mr. Jackson. It was just a small effort. Now that you''re here, Noelle is in your hands. We''ll take our leave." "Wait a moment." Anthony signaled to his butler, who handed a nk check to Grace. "Ms. Lewis, this is a token of appreciation from Mr. Jackson. Please ept it." Without hesitation, Grace refused. "No, Mr. Jackson. I don''t need this. Please take it back." Seeing this, Anthony realized that he had been too abrupt. How could the daughter of the Lewis family want for such a small thing? "Apologies, Ms. Lewis. It''s a habit." "No problem." Anthony signaled for his butler to take the check back. "Since you don''t need the check, consider this a favor I owe you. If you ever need assistance in the future, feel free to ask." A favor from Elysium Bank''s chairman was more valuable than a nk check, especially for a businessperson. With the bank''s support, many things would be much more convenient in the future. "If needed, I won''t hesitate to ask," Grace replied confidently, and her straightforwardness pleased Anthony. It had been a long time since he had encountered a young person with such a character. "Well, Mr. Jackson, we''ll take our leave now." Anthony instructed his butler, "Escort Ms. Lewis downstairs." "Understood. Ms. Lewis, this way," the butler said. After leaving the hospital, Timothy drove Grace back home. At this moment, Lewis Manor was brightly lit. Harold sat on the couch on the first floor. His expression didn''t look great. Despite Aaron''s repeated exnations that Grace was fine, Harold''s brows remained slightly furrowed. "Call and ask why Grace hasn''t returned yet." As soon as he spoke, the sound of a car outside reached their ears. "Mr. Lewis Senior, Ms. Grace is back." At once, Harold stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. When he looked outside, he saw that Timothy had personally escorted Grace back. A sense of relief appeared on his face. There had been ns for a marriage alliance between their two families, but Grace had been determined to marry Benjamin back then. Now, with Grace divorced and no grudges between the Lewises and the Donegans, if these two young people got together, it would be a joyous event. "It seems she hase to her senses." As Grace reached the entrance, a housekeeper informed her, "Ms. Grace, Mr. Lewis Senior is back and waiting for you in the living room." Grace took off her coat and handed it to the housekeeper. "Thank you." Chapter 344 A Miracle Chapter 344 A Miracle Grace couldn''t wait and ran toward Harold. "Grandpa, I''m back." Harold looked at Grace, who was holding his arm, and said with a hint of displeasure, "It was so dangerous tonight, and you went to join in the fun? "Do you know that those human traffickers are after money and don''t care about their lives? What if something had happened to you?" Grace quickly reassured Harold. "Grandpa, I''m fine. I''m sorry for making you worry." Harold snorted. "There will be no next time. I''ll strengthen your security details in the future. We can''t afford such idents again." Grace nodded repeatedly. "I got it, Grandpa." As they spoke, Harold looked at Aaron, who wasn''t far away. "Tell me. What happened to those human traffickers?" Aaron replied, "The police caught a few aplices, but the mastermind, Darien Perez, escaped. There''s no news for now." Harold was furious. "How can they be so careless? They let the mastermind escape just like that. After inflicting such a big blow on them this time, it''s hard to guarantee that they won''t retaliate." He stopped there, not intending to continue. He and Aaron exchanged a nce in understanding. Aaron immediately said, "Don''t worry, Grandpa. Our underground intelligence organization is also tracking him. Once we discover his whereabouts, we''ll immediately capture him and hand him over to the police." Harold''s expression improved upon hearing this. He patted Grace''s hand. "Gracie, be careful during this time. Don''t give anyone a chance to hurt you." Grace nodded. "I know, Grandpa." Harold then changed the topic and asked, "Was it that young man from the Donegan family who brought you back just now?" Grace reacted quickly. With just one sentence, she already guessed what he was going to say next. She quickly preempted. "Grandpa, Timothy and I are just friends. Friends." Harold obviously didn''t believe it. Speaking from experience, he knew that there was no pure friendship between a man and a woman. However, he didn''t expose her, as matters of the heart couldn''t be forced, and interference from a third party wouldn''t be wee. "Fine, you handle your own affairs." Grace looked like she was receptive to learning. "I will, Grandpa. Don''t worry about me. It''s getting late. Let me help you upstairs to rest." Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. "You''re always so thoughtful. It would be great if you could stay by my side all the time." Grace yfully smiled. "Grandpa, rest assured. Once I fulfill my one-year promise, I''ll return to Frenda and be with you every day." "Then you must keep your word." "Don''t worry, Grandpa. When have I ever reneged on my promises?" Watching the harmonious scene between the grandfather and granddaughter, Aaron smiled. At that moment, a notification alert sounded on his phone. He took the phone, nced at the screen, and then turned to the housekeeper. "I have something to attend to. You don''t need to leave the lights on for me tonight." "Yes, Mr. Aaron." Upstairs, Grace had just walked Harold back to his bedroom when they heard the sound of a car engine outside. Harold snorted unhappily. "This brat, Aaron, is so busy with his love life now and doesn''t stay home. He hides everything. Why can''t he bring my granddaughter-inw back for me to see?" Grace seemed to have stumbled upon some big news. "Grandpa, what did you say? Is Aaron in love? When did this happen? Is this a miracle?" Chapter 345 An Invitation From the Jackson Family Chapter 345 An Invitation From the Jackson Family "This miracle must bear fruit. If I can hold my great-grandchild soon, I''ll have no regrets in life." Grace was amused. "Grandpa, does that mean I''ll be out of favor in the future?" "No matter what, you''re the only apple in our eyes. No one can rece you." Grace leaned on Harold''s arm and said adorably, "I knew you were the best to me, Grandpa." ¡­ The next morning, Grace held the usual meeting for Amirate online and didn''t finish work until close to noon. She stretchedzily and came out of the study. Coincidentally, she ran into Aaron, who wasing home. He was still wearing the same clothes from the night before, and there were some wrinkles on his suit jacket. As Grace recalled what Harold saidst night, her curiosity instantly reignited. "Aaron, where did you gost night?" Aaron was stunned for a moment. Yet heposed himself quickly and turned the tables naturally. "Why? Did you just get up?" "No." Grace quickly denied it. "I just finished a meeting. Where did you¡ª" She hadn''t finished her sentence when Aaron cut her off. "Funny coincidence. I also have a meeting at thepanyter." After saying that, he walked into the bedroom and shut the door, leaving Grace outside. Grace blinked, thinking to herself, "Aaron has changed!" He had never been like this before. Love really had the power to change a person. Grace shook her head slightly. As she went downstairs, the housekeeper, Marien, handed her a golden invitation card. "Ms. Lewis, this was delivered this morning." When Grace saw the word "Jackson" written on the cover, she already knew what it was. As expected, the invitation was for a family banquet at Jackson Residence three dayster. Raising an eyebrow, Grace closed the invitation and put it away. Since she was going as a guest, it was necessary to prepare some gifts. "Marien, call the driver. I need to go out for a while." "Yes, Ms. Lewis." Grace went upstairs to change clothes. Holding her bag, she coincidentally ran into Aaron, who was about to go out. Aaron spoke first. "Are you going out?" Grace nodded. "I''m going to the mall to buy some things." Hearing this, Aaron opened his wallet, took out a ck card, and handed it to her. "Pick whatever you like. Use my card." "Aaron, don''t forget. I have a ck card, too. Save this for my future sister-inw." Aaron didn''t deny it and just reminded her. "Be safe when you''re out." "I got it, Aaron." Aaron put his card back and left first. ¡­ As soon as Grace arrived at the mall, its manager came out to greet her. He said respectfully, "Ms. Lewis, except for the first floor, all other floors have been cleared. Feel free to choose whatever you like." Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Grace nodded slightly and took the elevator upstairs. The manager continued to introduce the ce. "On your left is the handbag and the clothing section, and on your right is the shoe section. The third floor is the jewelry section ¡­" Grace walked around and finally went to the jewelry store to choose some essories. Meanwhile, Shirley and her friends were shopping in the lobby on the first floor. They had all been ssmates with Grace, and they already knew her true identity. They couldn''t help but sigh. "I never expected that Grace was actually the Lewis family''s heiress. I used to mock her and call her a country bumpkin." "Stop talking, okay? I used to say she was uncultured and hadn''t seen the world. Thinking about it now, I regret it so much." Chapter 346 Jealous of Grace Chapter 346 Jealous of Grace "She hid it so well! She never showed a hint of the truth in front of us. If I had known she was the Lewis family''s heiress, I wouldn''t have dared to say anything bad about her." "We even treated her as a mistress. How could the Lewis family''s heiress be someone''s mistress? It''s such a joke." "That''s the Lewis family. If they stomp their feet, the whole of Frenda will tremble. We''re just too different." Shirley felt a mix of emotions as she listened to her friends. Her father had cut off all of her credit cards because she had offended Grace and the Lewis family. Now, it was difficult for her to get even a few hundred dors. "Enough. Stop talking about her," she said angrily. Several ssmates looked at each other and fell silent. "Shirley, shall we go take a look at the limited edition bag you told me about?" "Yeah, Shirley, I heard Chanel has a new perfume. I really want it." Shirley couldn''t say she had no money, so she could only force herself to say, "Let''s go take a look, then." Unexpectedly, when they reached the elevator, they were stopped. "Sorry, the mall is cleared today, and the second floor is temporarily not essible." Hearing that, the group instantly became displeased. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "Why was it cleared all of a sudden?'' "Yeah, we came all the way here to shop." On the contrary, Shirley sighed in relief. She tried tofort everyone. "It''s okay. Since we can''t shop, I''ll treat you all to afternoon tea." They reluctantly agreed. "Okay. Let''s go to the nearby caf¨¦. I heard they have new tea vors, and they''re supposed to be quite good." As they came to an agreement, they were about to leave. At this moment, Grace was taking the elevator down. ir, who was at the side, recognized her immediately. "Look, isn''t that Grace?" Everyone''s attention was instantly drawn to her. They saw Grace descending the elevator and saw that the mall''s manager was serving her very attentively. "No wonder they cleared the area. It turns out Grace is shopping here." "I''m so jealous. None of us have received such treatment, right?" They quickly abandoned Shirley and rushed toward Grace, smiling and saying, "Grace, what a coincidence to meet you here." "Are you shopping too? It''s really fate." "Grace, we were wrong before. We shouldn''t have targeted you. We hope you don''t mind. We''re ssmates, after all. We hope you''ll be able to help us out in the future." Shirley clenched her teeth and balled her hands into fists as she watched this scene unfold. Her eyes were filled with resentment for these opportunistic people. This bunch of opportunists! Grace stopped walking and looked at the hypocritical side of her so-called ssmates. Indeed, in the face of money and power, everyone could put on a smiling face. She was already used to it and said in a calm tone, "You guys enjoy your shopping. I''ll leave first." The people waved goodbye to her with smiles. When she had disappeared from their sight, they still felt reluctant. "The Lewis family''s heiress, indeed. She''s so forgiving." "Right! We treated her so badly before, and she didn''t hold it against us. Suddenly, I feel like I was too much in the past." Listening to their words, Shirley couldn''t take it anymore. "Since Grace is so good, why don''t you follow her from now on?" Chapter 347 Mysterious Man Chapter 347 Mysterious Man "Even if you tter her, she might not want you." After saying this, Shirley walked away angrily, leaving behind a group of people exchanging nces awkwardly. ir wanted to catch up with her. "Shirley, wait for me." However, the next second, she was held back by one of the others. "Why chase after her? Do you still think she''s still the same Lowe family''s heiress?" ir was puzzled. "What do you mean by that?" "Don''t you know she offended Grace? The Lewis family has already released news that they will acquire Lowe Enterprise within a week." "Lowe Enterprise is in danger now, and I heard that they have cut off all of Shirley''s financial sources. From now on, it''s better for us to have less contact with her." At their words, ir decided not to chase after Shirley. After thinking for a moment, she said, "If only we hadn''t offended Grace. If we could form a connection with the Lewis family, sess would be just around the corner." "Oh, do you think only you regret it? Who among us here didn''t think the same way?" ¡­ Shirley didn''t know what her former sidekicks were thinking. However, when she reached the parking lot, she realized that she had been left alone. None of those people hade after her. Shirley stomped her foot in frustration, but she couldn''t do anything about it. She looked at Grace, who was not far away in the parking lot. At this moment, Grace was talking on the phone next to her Rolls-Royce Phantom. Seeing that, the jealousy in Shirley''s heart surged. "Grace, all of this is thanks to you. I won''t let you off the hook." When Shirley got in the car, she stepped on the gas sharply and drove straight toward Grace. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. "Be careful!" A hurried male voice sounded, and Grace''s phone fell with a tter. Immediately after, she was forcefully pushed away. In the blink of an eye, she fell into a warm pair of arms. The tip of her nose was instantly filled with a faint sandalwood scent. Grace looked up, but the other person wore a mask. Except for a pair of eyes, she couldn''t see anything else. "Who are you?" Grace had just spoken when a sound of impact followed. The car had crashed directly into a nearby pir. Due to inertia, Shirley''s body rushed forward suddenly. When she came back to her senses, she looked in the rearview mirror and saw Grace behind the car, unharmed. She angrily pounded the steering wheel but was afraid of being recognized by Grace. So she turned the steering wheel sharply to the left and left in a hurry. Grace didn''t pay attention to the fleeing Shirley and looked at the man beside her. "Thank you for earlier." The man didn''t say anything. Then, he turned around and was about to leave. "What''s your name?" Grace thought the man was strange, so she spoke to his back, but he didn''t say anything and quickly walked away. Grace looked at his back and felt a bit familiar. Yet the faint scent of sandalwood on him made her feel unfamiliar. The bodyguards hurried over. "Ms. Lewis, are you okay?" Grace nodded. "I''m fine." However, the red car had obviously intended to hit her. Grace lowered her eyes. "Check the surveince in the parking lot, and make sure to find the person who was driving that car just now." "Yes, Ms. Lewis." Only then did Grace pick up her phone from the ground. The screen was obviously cracked and unusable. Grace got in the car, recalling the scene just now. If that man hadn''t appeared, she might have been hit by the car. Who was that man? Why did he appear in the nick of time and coincidentally save her? The car slowly left the underground parking lot. In just a few minutes, the driver stopped the car by the side of the road. Chapter 348 Youre Not Worthy Chapter 348 You''re Not Worthy The red sedan had already been brought under control by the bodyguards. As the car window was wound down, a bodyguard stepped forward and reported, "Ms. Lewis, we''ve intercepted the person. How would you like to handle it?" Grace opened the door and got out of the car. At first nce, she saw Shirley in the driver''s seat, trembling with fear. Seeing Grace, Shirley lowered her eyes guiltily. "Gr-Grace." Grace snorted and approached without hesitation. A crisp sound echoed as she pped Shirley. "Is this all you''re capable of, Shirley?" Shirley''s face had turned to the side thanks to the p, but she didn''t dare to retaliate. She had impulsively wanted to run Grace over, but she had never expected the Lewis family''s bodyguards to be so formidable. She had only driven less than two miles before she had been intercepted. "Grace, I only regret not killing you just now." Grace sneered. "Do you think you''re worthy of doing that? Shirley, this is attempted murder. Based on this alone, I must make sure you rot in jail." She paused and continued, "Within three days, I want Lowe Enterprise to go bankrupt. Within five days, I want to acquire thepany." Having said that, she turned around. At once, Shirley pleaded, "Grace, I''m responsible for my actions. Please don''t target Lowe Enterprise." But no matter how she begged, Grace ignored her. Grace got into her car and left without looking back. Soon, Lowe Enterprise encountered defeat. First, there were quality issues with their electronics, leading to arge number of consumer returns. Then, the stock plummeted, and the bank''s funding chain broke. In just three days, Wonderful Electronics dered bankruptcy. In Lewis Manor, Grace sat on the swing in the garden, flipping through a book. She was bathed in sunlight, making for a beautiful scene. Luke came over to report the news. "Ms. Lewis, Wonderful Electronics has already undergone bankruptcy liquidation." Calmly, Grace nodded. "Is the acquisition n ready?" "Yes." "Then initiate the acquisition process. Amirate happens tock an electronicspany. It''s an opportunity to expand our market." "Yes, Ms. Lewis." After Luke left, Grace closed the book in her hand. The Jacksons'' banquet was tonight, and it was time for her to get ready to go out. She handed the book to Marien, saying, "Marien, put this back in the study for me." "Sure, Ms. Lewis." ¡­ At 7:00 pm, Jackson Residence was brilliantly lit. As Grace''s car entered the entrance, Noelle ran toward her from a distance. She was smiling, and her eyes lit up as soon as she saw Grace. "Grace! You''re here." Grace got out of the car and handed the gift to her. "Noelle, I hope you get well soon." Noelle joyfully epted it. "Thank you, Grace. Let''s go inside." With that, Noelle naturally hooked her arm with Grace''s. The two looked like an intimate pair of sisters. At that moment, Timothy''s voice unexpectedly sounded from behind. "Mdy!" Hearing this, Noelle frowned slightly, displeased. "Why are you here?" Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Timothy waved the invitation in his hand. "Mr. Jackson invited me." Noelle snorted. "Rude." Yet Timothy didn''t back down. "Underage girl." Noelle blushed with anger. With her hands on her hips, she huffed. "I''ve told you so many times. I''m 19 years old. I''m already an adult." Chapter 349 Playful Foes Chapter 349 yful Foes After looking Noelle up and down, Timothy teased, "Really? You don''t look like it at all." Noelle stomped her foot in anger, but he seemed indifferent and even stuck his tongue out at her. Thispletely irritated Noelle. "You old man in your 30s!" Timothy objected, "Who''s in their 30s? Correct yourself." Noelle, who had just scored a point, stuck her tongue out at him and then pulled Grace inside. Annoyed, Timothy hurriedly followed. "Girl, open your eyes and take a good look. How do I look like I''m in my 30s?" The two continued to argue, refusing to give in to each other. Watching these two bickering, Grace couldn''t help but find them amusing. Somehow, they seemed cute together. Just as she was lost in thought, Hestia''s voice suddenly rang out. "Gracie!" This time, Grace was surprised. "Aunt Hestia, you''re here too?" Anthony, who appeared with her, quickly exined, "Hestia and I have been good friends for years." Hestia continued, "That''s right. Anthony said it''s all thanks to you that Noelle was able to return safely. If it hadn''t been for you, she might have caused even bigger trouble." "Yeah. My daughter is so stubborn, but I can see she trusts you. I hope you''ll help me look after her in the future." "I will, Mr. Jackson." After exchanging pleasantries, Hestia pulled Grace aside and asked in a low voice, "Gracie, how have you been with Xandertely? Why didn''t I see you bothing together?" Awkwardly, Grace exined, "I came back to Frenda in a hurry, so I didn''t get a chance to inform him." Hestia was getting a bit anxious. These two young people had been together for so long, but there seemed to be no sparks flying between them. Although she already considered Grace her daughter-inw, it required mutual feelings. What if this excellent daughter-inw was snatched away? No, she had to do something about it. Hestia changed the subject hastily and said, "Gracie, I need to trouble you with something." "What is it, Aunt Hestia?" Hestia quickly exined, "Well, your Uncle Raymond and I are considering a trip overseas. But Xander''s birthday ising up. "We really don''t have time to celebrate with him. Can you do me a favor and celebrate his birthday with him?" "Xander''s birthday?" Grace calcted the dates and realized Hestia was right. She remembered Xander''s birthday was on June 18th, and today was June 15th. "Is it okay, Gracie?" Hestia looked at Grace expectantly. Thetter thought about her ns before nodding. "Okay, Aunt Hestia." Hearing that, Hestia was very relieved. She had decided that she would step up her efforts to bring the two together on Xander''s birthday. Who knew? It might just work out. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. At this thought, she smiled brightly. Meanwhile, Grace was pondering what gift would be suitable for Xander''s birthday. After the banquet, Grace returned from home and wasted no time. She had the housekeepers pack her things, and she took a private ne back to Pamore that night. She bombarded the WhatsApp group with her friends with several messages at 2:00 am. Gracie : "Girls, do you have any rmendations for a good birthday gift?" Chapter 350 A Special Gift Chapter 350 A Special Gift Gracie: "Maybe something special and unexpected." Gracie: "Preferably a unique gift. Any rmendations?" After sending a series of messages, Grace didn''t receive any replies. She checked the time and saw it was already 2:00 am. Then, she promptly went offline. ¡­ Early the next morning, she finally received a response. Zoey: "Who is it that needs our Ms. Lewis to ask for suggestions?" Zoey: "Let me guess. It''s not that Hawkins guy, is it?" Lydia, who usually didn''t reply, quickly sent a shocked emoji and asked, "Gracie, have you reconciled with him?" Emily: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! The Hawkins guy''s birthday isn''t this month. It must be the Fulton guy." Lydia: "Wow, has there been a new development?" Seeing the lively chat, Grace quickly interrupted them. "Girls,e up with some good ideas, please." Emily quickly replied, "Actually, no matter what you give, Xander will like it. But I think if you can make the gift yourself, it will be more meaningful." Zoey also agreed. "I think that''s a good idea. But Gracie, what do you n to make? A birthday cake?" Grace blinked, thinking, "Make a birthday cake? That''s not a bad idea." Having made up her mind, Grace quickly ordered a bunch of ingredients online. In less than half an hour, the kitchen was filled with all the ingredients. Holding her phone, she searched for tutorials online and then followed the instructions step by step. After a day of practice, Grace finally seeded in making a cake the next day. As she looked at the delicate and delicious cake in front of her, she breathed a sigh of relief. "It''s finally done." She packed it in a box ording to the tutorial and got into her car. Mondays at Futurelink were particrly busy. When Grace arrived, the receptionist recognized her at a nce and greeted her, "Good morning, Ms. Lewis." Grace smiled and entered the VIP elevator, going straight to the top floor. She sensed something amiss as she got out of the elevator. The usually busy secretary''s office was now empty. A hint of suspicion shed in her eyes. She walked to the president''s office and knocked on the door, but she received no response. So she pushed the door open. "Xander?" Grace looked around and didn''t see Xander. She ced the cake she had brought on the desk. Only then did she notice that the door to a smallpartment next to the office was slightly ajar. Curious, she walked over. The next second, what came into view was a pair of fair and tender thighs that obviously didn''t belong to Xander. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Grace felt her heart pounding but still pushed the door open. She immediately saw Linda lying disheveled on the bed in the lounge. Upon seeing Grace, Linda quickly sat up and straightened her clothes. "M-Ms. Lewis, why are you here?" Grace stared at her in surprise and asked, "What are you doing here?" Linda bit her lower lip, silent. Grace''s eyes turned colder. Finally, under Grace''s gaze, Linda stammered, "Ms. Lewis, are you looking for Mr. Fulton? H-He isn''t here. He went for a meeting." Chapter 351 Clearing up the Facts Chapter 351 Clearing up the Facts Grace''s face was devoid of any expression, but there was a hint of anger in her eyes. Without hesitation, she turned around and walked away. As Linda watched her retreating figure, she smiled smugly. She dressed leisurely and left the president''s office. At this moment, the receptionist approached with a smile. "Ms. Snow, are you satisfied with my performance today?" Linda raised an eyebrow and generously praised, "The information was urate, and the effect was good. Keep up the good work." "Thank you, Ms. Snow." Linda didn''t hesitate to return to her office and take out a set of high-end cosmetics to give to the receptionist. "Here." Instantly, the receptionist''s eyes lit up, but she politely declined. "Ms. Snow, I can''t ept this." "It''s okay. It''s just a small gift. If you don''t take it, it means you look down on me." "No, no." The receptionist excitedly epted the gift and even shared thetest information with Linda. "Rest assured, Ms. Snow. I watched Ms. Lewis leave. She should have already left thepany by now." Linda was very satisfied. She knew why Grace''s first marriage had ended. In her eyes, the things Grace could never ept were infidelity and betrayal. This morning''s scene would be hard for any woman to forget. At this thought, Linda smiled somewhat sinisterly. Looking at her, the receptionist couldn''t help but shiver. She said, "Ms. Snow, if there''s nothing else, I''ll leave now." Linda nodded but didn''t forget to warn her. "About today''s events¡ª" "Don''t worry. I''m tight-lipped. I won''t reveal anything to anyone." Satisfied, Linda let her go. ¡­ Grace waspletely unaware of Linda''s scheme. Aftering out of the Futurelink building, she didn''t actually leave. She pursed her lips, contemting something. Sure, the scene just now had indeed had some impact on her. But on second thought, Linda had been alone in the bedroom. Grace decided to get things clear. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. She didn''t want to leave in confusion. So she took out her phone and called Xander. At the high-level meeting at Futurelink, Xander sat at the head of the table, presiding over the meeting. Suddenly, his phone rang, interrupting the proceedings. The executives looked at each other, but no one dared to speak. Xander nced at the screen. Almost without hesitation, he made a gesture to stop the meeting. Then, he answered the call. "Gracie?" The familiar voice came through the phone. Grace bit her lip, realizing btedly that even if there was something between Linda and Xander, what right did she have to question him? Frowning, Xander looked at the screen showing the ongoing call. "Gracie, what happened?" His tone was extremely gentle. The executives in the room looked at each other in shock. Was this the same serious Mr. Fulton they knew? Without hesitation, Xander stood up and walked out of the conference room,pletely unaware that chaos had erupted inside. Most were guessing who Gracie was. "Where are you now? I''lle to you." Xander spoke while heading toward the elevator. Grace looked at the Futurelink building in front of her, especially the prominent letters spelling "Futurelink". She pressed her lips together and finally spoke. "I''m at the entrance of yourpany." "Okay, stay where you are. I''lle to you." Chapter 352 Why Was There a Woman in Your Bed Chapter 352 Why Was There a Woman in Your Bed Grace made a soft sound of acknowledgment, feeling an inexplicable sense of peace at that moment. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. In just two minutes, she saw Xander striding toward her. By the time he reached her, she could clearly see a thinyer of sweat on his forehead. "Xander, did I disturb you?" When Xander felt the distance she put between them, he took her hand and walked toward the company. "Gracie, when did you be so polite with me? You cane find me at any time. It''s never a disturbance." Grace smiled. She could feel the warmth in his palm, and at this moment, that warmth was genuine. The two of them walked through the lobby on the first floor, garnering various curious gazes. Grace felt the scrutiny but was surprisingly unembarrassed. Instead, she felt inexplicably reassured. Inside the elevator, Grace exined, "Aunt Hestia told me it''s your birthday today, so I came¡ª" Xander turned to her. "Why didn''t you tell me in advance?" Tell him in advance? So she wouldn''t see the scene in the office? Grace''s emotions instantly plummeted. Xander clearly sensed her change in mood, so he asked, "What''s wrong?" Grace shook her head. "Nothing." She turned her face away but couldn''t help asking, "Xander, what''s your rtionship with your former secretary?" "Former secretary?" Xander frowned. "You mean Ms. Snow?" Grace nodded. Seriously, Xander replied, "I''m her boss, and she''s my employee." Grace acknowledged it with an "oh", but her expression clearly said she didn''t believe it. Xander became more curious. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?" As the elevator doors slowly opened, Grace looked at the busy scene in the office. Without a word, she walked out first. Puzzled, Xander quickly followed. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fulton." Under everyone''s watchful eyes, the two entered the president''s office one after the other, and Xander closed the door. "Gracie, what''s wrong?" As soon as he spoke, his gaze fell on the cake on the desk. He remembered Grace''s words in the elevator, and a hint of joy appeared in his eyes. He couldn''t help walking toward the desk. However, Grace stopped him. "Wait." She stood in front of him, looking a bit sulky as she pouted, which made her incredibly adorable. Smiling, Xander stared at her. "Gracie, did you bring the cake?" Grace neither confirmed nor denied it. But Xander guessed the answer from her face. Suddenly, he thought of something and asked, "Did youe up earlier?" Grace snorted. "Yes. I came up earlier and saw something I shouldn''t have seen." Catching the key point in her words, Xander narrowed his eyes. He approached, and the distance between them was only four inches. They could clearly feel each other''s presence. "So, what did you see?" "I ¡­" Grace stuttered for a long time without saying anything. Finally, she pointed to a small lounge nearby and said, "Why was there a woman in your bed?" A woman? "You saw a woman in my bed?" Grace looked stubborn, but Xander immediately understood. "Was that person Linda?" Chapter 353 Teaching Linda a Lesson Chapter 353 Teaching Linda a Lesson Grace didn''t give Xander a direct answer, but it was already written all over her face. Without hesitation, Xander stepped forward and pressed the inte. "Have Ms. Snow from the sales departmente to my office." "Yes, Mr. Fulton." "Also, get a few security guards over here." "Yes, Mr. Fulton." Grace sat on the couch without saying a word. In just five minutes, Linda hurriedly arrived and pushed open the door. "Mr. Fulton, did you ask for me?" As her words fell, she noticed Grace sitting on the couch. She was momentarily distracted, but quicklyposed herself. However, this subtle change didn''t escape Xander''s notice. Hestia had mentioned before that Linda, despite her innocent appearance, wasn''t as pure as she seemed. That was why she had been forcibly transferred from the president''s office to the sales department as a manager. Xander had initially thought his mother might be biased against Linda, but now it seemed there was some truth to it. "Ms. Snow, I need an exnation from you." Innocently, Linda said, "Mr. Fulton, I don''t understand what you mean." Xander''s eyes darkened. Those familiar with him knew that this was a dangerous sign. Linda had been working with him for so long, so how could she not understand? Yet at this moment, she pretended to be calm, showing no emotions on her face. Those who didn''t know her might have actually believed in her innocence. "Ms. Snow, go to the HR department to handle your resignation. Leave with thepensation amount ording to thew." Linda panicked. "Why, Mr. Fulton? I don''t understand." Xander didn''t give her a chance to exin. Instead, he directly asked her to leave. "Mr. Fulton, did this woman say something to you? Do you really believe her?" Linda pointed at Grace and shouted. At this moment, Grace felt relieved. There was absolutely nothing between Linda and Xander. She had misunderstood him. Xander stared coldly at Linda. His tonecked any warmth as he said, "Ms. Snow, mind your attitude and choice of words. Futurelink doesn''t need people who don''t follow the rules." His cold and heartless words made Linda''s tears instantly fall. She hadn''t expected things to change so quickly, catching herpletely off guard. At this moment, the security guard knocked on the door and entered. "Mr. Fulton." Xander pointed to the lounge. "Take everything inside out and throw it away." Shocked, Linda looked at Xander, who showed no mercy. At this moment, she felt the utmost embarrassment. She lowered her eyes and knew she had lost completely. In fact, Xander had never given her any chance, so what was there to talk about winning or losing? N?velDrama.Org owns this. For many years, he had remained alone, all for the one person he yearned for. Regardless of how many people had appeared around him, he had rejected thempletely, giving them no hope whatsoever. Linda turned around and walked out quickly. She resigned that day itself and disappeared from Futurelinkpletely. After the security guards emptied the lounge, Grace''s expression improved significantly. Xander walked over to her and bent down slightly. "Gracie, did you prepare this cake for me?" Chapter 354 Happy Birthday Chapter 354 Happy Birthday Grace lifted her gaze and met Xander''s eyes. As their eyes locked, she could see her reflection clearly. "Happy birthday, Xander." Xander smiled affectionately and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Thank you." Grace quickly got up and walked to the desk. Clearing away the previous gloom, she lifted the birthday cake as though she were presenting a treasure to Xander. "I made this cake, Xander. Make sure to finish it." Smiling, Xander looked at her and replied, "Okay." Grace opened the cake and put some candles on it. After she lit them with a lighter, she sang softly, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you ¡­ "Xander, make a wish." Xander stared at her face and then slowly closed his eyes. He sped his hands together and made a wish. When he opened his eyes, she was standing in front of him. In sync, the two of them blew out the candles. Grace handed the knife to Xander. "Here, Xander. The first cut must be made by the birthday boy." In the past, Xander had had many friends and family celebrate his birthday, but Grace had never been there. But this birthday was simple yet unusually warm. What was most important was that she was by his side. "Alright, let''s cut the cake." This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. After they finished the cake, Xander''s private phone rang. "My dear son, happy birthday!" Hestia''s voice came through the phone, and her joy was evident. "Thank you, Mom." Hestia smiled. "This year, you have Gracie apanying you, so your dad and I won''te to join in the fun. "I''ve booked a restaurant for you two tonight. I''ll send you the location. Remember to take Gracie with you." After speaking, she didn''t give Xander a chance to talk and hung up the phone right away. Soon after, she sent the location to Xander. Xander shook his head helplessly and invited Grace. "My mom has booked a restaurant. Let''s have dinner together tonight." "Okay." ¡­ Hestia had booked a famous couple''s restaurant in Pamore. Theyout was atmospheric, and the scene was very tastefully arranged, making it popr among young people. When Grace and Xander entered, the good-looking couple was particrly eye-catching, attracting the attention of many. They chose a seat by the window and sat down. Just then, a familiar car parked in the parking lot. Benjamin stopped the car and looked at the couple''s restaurant in front of him, frowning. His phone rang in his pocket. "Benjamin, have you arrived at the restaurant?" Susan''s voice came through the phone. Benjamin asked, "I''m here. Where are you?" On the other end of the phone, Susan hurriedly said, "Benjamin, go into the restaurant and to table 26. I''ve arranged a blind date for you. The other party is the daughter of a businessman and matches our family. Don''t let me down¡ª" Benjamin immediately hung up the phone before Susan had even finished speaking. A faint hint of anger appeared on his face. As he started the car to leave, his gaze inadvertently caught a familiar figure. Since thest time they had met, he and Grace hadn''t seen each other. It had been half a month, and she had be even more stunning. He couldn''t take his eyes off her. At this moment, his silent heart began to beat rapidly. Chapter 355 She Did Love You Chapter 355 She Did Love You Benjamin sat in the car, staring at Grace through the car window, not daring to approach. After some time, Grace and Xander finished their dinner happily. Then, they paid the bill and left. Benjamin witnessed their whole interaction. Even when they had disappeared from his sight, he still hadn''te back to his senses. Just then, his phone rang again. On the other end, Susan sounded somewhat angry. "Benjamin, where are you? Ms. Carter waited for you for so long and didn''t see you. Do you know¡ª" Benjamin hung up on her again and turned his phone off before throwing it out of the window. He then immediately started the car and drove away. ¡­ In a private club, Frederick was enjoying himself. But the next moment, the door of the private room was suddenly pushed open. "Who the hell doesn''t know¡ª" Before he could finish his sentence, he met Benjamin''s eyes. He quickly swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and asked, "Bro, what brought you to me today?" Benjamin hadn''t been to the club for a long time. He had seemed like apletely different person since his divorce from Grace. Without a word, Benjamin sat on the couch, poured a ss of wine, and drank it in one gulp. Sensing his low mood, Frederick immediately asked others in the private room to leave. When everyone was gone, he jokingly said, "Bro, let me guess, is this dejected look of yours rted to your ex-wife again?" Benjamin coldly replied, "Is it that obvious?" Frederick shook his head helplessly. "I think you''re infatuated. But she seems determined not to get back with you. Can you stop torturing yourself like this?" Frederick''s words made Benjamin recall the scene he had witnessed outside the restaurant. He had clearly seen how Grace had looked at Xander. It was so familiar yet so unfamiliar. "Do you think there''s still a chance between her and me?" Frederick bluntly said, "No." After saying that, he realized that it might hurt Benjamin. So he changed his tone. "But it doesn''t mean there''s no possibility." This remark sparked a glimmer of hope in Benjamin''s eyes. "Really? Tell me more." Frederick coughed lightly. He had just casually mentioned it, but Benjamin had taken it seriously. Still, as a good buddy, he hoped Benjamin could find happiness. "Have you forgotten how Grace approached you and wanted to marry you back then?" Back then? Benjamin certainly hadn''t forgotten, but he had always believed that Grace had had ulterior motives for getting close to him. Throughout those three years of marriage, he had kept his distance from her, ignored her, neglected her, and never even touched her. "Bro, just a kind reminder. I think Grace did love you. It''s just that you couldn''t see it clearly. That''s why you pushed her away." Uncertain, Benjamin asked, "Are you serious?" Frederick nodded. "Of course. Why would a woman marry you for no reason? If not for love, then for what?" This statement left Benjamin bewildered. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Grace loved him? It was a possibility that he had never considered before. "Women aren''t like men. They''re emotional creatures. Besides love, there''s nothing else that can hold a woman. So you still have a chance." Chapter 356 Relieved Chapter 356 Relieved Benjamin smiled, seemingly knowing what to do. "Thanks, bro." With that, Benjamin stood up and left, leaving Frederick puzzled. ¡­ Early the next morning, Grace arrived at the office. It was the semi-annual board meeting. All of Amirate''s directors and top executives had already gathered in the top-floor conference room. As soon as she entered the office, Luke handed Grace a document, saying, "Ms. Lewis, this is the financial statement for the past six months and the financial ounting for the same period. "In the first half of the year, ourpany has umted profits that have already surpassedst year''s total profit by 10%," Luke said with obvious excitement. They had not only achievedst year''s annual performance but also exceeded it by 10%. This would be a significant aplishment for any leader, but Grace had achieved it in just half a year. "Ms. Lewis, if we present this data to the old folks on the board, they will surely admire and respect you. Your bet with Director Walker is as good as won." Grace listened to Luke''s words without showing any extra emotion on her face. She took the document and looked through it. The calcted profit included the Dunhill project and the profits from several unfinished projects. "If we exclude the Dunhill project, how much profit do we have left?" Luke hurriedly replied, "Ms. Lewis, if we exclude that, we''re still 30% short ofst year''s performance." Grace nodded. "Got it. Let''s go to the meeting." In the conference room, Samuel sat in the second-inmand seat. Before entering the conference room, he had already seen the financial statements for the first half of the year. Grace indeed had strategies, and thepany''s performance was thriving. However, it still fell far short of their bet. "Director Walker, I think the oue of your bet with Ms. Lewis seems clear." "Ms. Lewis is still too young. Although she has excellent management skills, the profit is still not up to the standard." "In the first half of the year, Ms. Lewis relied on the Dunhill project to achieve such high profits. The second half of the year is usually more challenging, and there''s no project as good as the Dunhill one. I''m afraid she''ll lose this time." Hearing that, Samuel felt smug, but he politely replied, "What are you talking about? Ms. Lewis was so confident when she made the bet with me. I''m just going along with it. "Now she''s doing her best to improve thepany''s performance, so it''s too early for us to say anything." N?velDrama.Org owns this. "Haha, you''re really modest, Director Walker. We should learn from you." "Amirate indeed needs a central figure like Director Walker." "When you be the head of thepany in the future, don''t forget us old folks." Samuel chuckled. "Rest assured. As long as everyone works diligently for thepany, no one will be mistreated." Grace, who had just reached the door, overheard theirments. Luke was about to push the door and say something, but Grace stopped him. "Ms. Lewis, these people are simply despicable." Yet Grace just smiled. "We can''t control their mouths. Let them say whatever they want. Our goal is to make them realize that Amirate belongs to the Lewis family, not the Walkers." Chapter 375 Challenges in the Meeting Chapter 375 Challenges in the Meeting The conference room door opened, and Grace walked in. As soon as she appeared, the room fell silent. All eyes focused on her until she took her seat at the head of the table. Beside her, Samuel said with a smile, "Ms. Lewis, you''ve worked hard during this period." Grace looked at him and smiled in return. "You''re too kind, Director Walker. It''s all for the sake of the company." Samuel chuckled awkwardly. "Since you''re here, let''s start our meeting." At his words, everyone nodded, as though Samuel were in charge. Though Grace noticed it, her expression didn''t give away anything. After a pause, she continued, "In the first half of the year, thepany undertook many projects, all of which achieved good results. Now, let each project manager provide a summary¡ª" Before she could finish speaking, a director interrupted. "Ms. Lewis, since today is the semi-annual board meeting, I believe everyone has already seen the financial statements for the first half of the year. Why don''t we discuss thepany''s performance first?" Another director in the second row chimed in. "Ms. Lewis, we''ve seen the reports. You worked hard in the first half of the year. Our sess at Amirate is undoubtedly due to your wise leadership." Grace crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Since everyone is so interested in thepany''s performance, let''s talk about it first." "Of course, we should discuss performance. After all, you and Director Walker made a bet. Ms. Lewis, do you remember what you said before?" These people clearly wanted to see Grace embarrassed. The conference room instantly became lively, with most of them anticipating a good show. It was especially so for Samuel. The satisfaction on his face couldn''t be concealed. He stood up. "Ms. Lewis is a woman of her words. Why the rush, everyone? It''s not time yet, is it?" Suddenly,ughter erupted in the room, seemingly convinced that Grace was destined to lose in this bet with Samuel. "Ms. Lewis, what do you think?" Grace smiled faintly, but the smile wasn''t sincere. She calmly said, "Director Walker is right. It isn''t time yet. Why the rush, everyone?" As she said that, she looked at Samuel. "Our agreed deadline is one year. Only half a year has passed. Or is it that you can''t wait to take over as Amirate''s president, Director Walker?" Samuel quickly denied it and acted as though he had nothing to do with this situation. "Ms. Lewis, you misunderstood me. They are just joking around. Don''t take offense." Luke snorted and angrily retorted, "Director Walker, your ambitions are very evident." Yet Samuel remainedposed and smiled. "What are you talking about, Mr. Ziegler? It''s just a bet between Ms. Lewis and me. Everyone here was a witness. "Since it''s a bet, there will naturally be winners and losers. Regardless of the oue, one must be willing to ept it. What do you all think?" The majority of the directors in the room echoed in agreement. Luke, however, wasn''t about to let them off. "So, Director Walker, did Ms. Lewis lose? Why are all of you celebrating here?" His words were forceful, resonating in the vast conference room. Everyone looked at each other in silence, not daring to speak.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Chapter 358 Please Be Patient Chapter 358 Please Be Patient Seeing that Luke''s words had served their purpose, Grace timely stopped him. She spoke calmly. "There''s still half a year to go. Please be patient. When the timees, everything will be clear. We''ll know who''s the winner by then." Samuel nodded cooperatively. "Ms. Lewis is right. It isn''t time yet. Everything is still uncertain. Let''s look forward to the good news Ms. Lewis will bring us." Though the other directors weren''t optimistic about Grace, they echoed Samuel''s words. "We''ll look forward to your good news, Ms. Lewis." "We hope you won''t disappoint us." "But if you do lose the bet, you should be willing to ept it and step down sooner." Grace scanned the room. She knew that the current board was corrupted, and most of them listened to Samuel. It was clear that Samuel was their central figure. To rectify the situation with the board of directors, she needed to start by dealing with Samuel. Once the meeting was over, a group of people approached Samuel as soon as Grace had left the conference room. "Director Walker, Ms. Lewis is so confident. Are we going to lose?" "Yeah, Director Walker. All of us are under you now. If you really withdraw from the board, life will be difficult for us in the future." "Regardless, you can''t let that girl embarrass you." Everyone expressed their concerns. Since Grace had joined Amirate, they had chosen to stand with Samuel without hesitation, primarily because Grace was young andcked managerial experience. Now, after half a year, Grace''s performance was evident, and there was even a certain chance of winning. If she won, where would those who had supported Samuel stand? "Director Walker, you should think of a way. Worst case scenario, use some special means. When we kick the Lewis family out of the board, Amirate will be entirely yours¡ª" Samuel gestured for them to stop talking. He had a determined look. "Don''t worry, Grace won''t win. I''ll make sure she loses thoroughly." Hearing this, the group felt relieved. "With your assurance, I feel more at ease. We''ll look forward to the show, then." "The Lewis family must not have anticipated that Amirate would end up ruined in Grace''s hands." "She''s a true youngdy who doesn''t understand the ways of the world. We''re just teaching her a lesson." Everyone chuckled, then dispersed from the conference room. ¡­ "Ms. Lewis, I don''t know what those old guys said in the conference room. They stayed inside for quite some time before leaving." Luke opened the office door, looking furious. In contrast to him, Grace seemed much calmer. She replied nonchntly, "It doesn''t matter. Did you record the names?" Luke handed over his notebook. "All recorded. Not a single one was missed." Grace nced at the list, already memorizing it. These people were the ones who usually got along well with Samuel. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "Okay, I got it." Luke closed the notebook and couldn''t help but ask, "Ms. Lewis, what''s your n now? Are you going to deal with those directors one by one?" Grace shook her head. "Ignore them for now. Let''s focus on our work and let our performance speak for itself." Chapter 359 New Project Chapter 359 New Project After Grace finished speaking, she gestured to Luke. "Bring all the documents for the new projects we''re considering." Seeing Grace soposed, Luke also calmed down. "Yes, Ms. Lewis. I''ll get them right away." In a short while, he returned with a stack of files. He flipped through the most recent projects worth considering and handed them to Grace. "Ms. Lewis, these projects are all promising. Take a look." "Put them there." Grace casually took a file and carefully examined it. Soon, she pointed to one of the projects in it. "This acquisition case seems to have room for negotiation." Luke had also noticed that project. "Ms. Lewis, the feedback from the evaluation team for this project isn''t bad. But all their factories are on an ind. If we decide to work with them, we may need to visit the ind for inspection." Grace thought for a moment and asked, "Where''s the ind?" "It''s in Azure Bay, about 186 miles along the west coast of the city. If we want to inspect them, we''ll need to take a boat. It''ll take about two or three days round trip." "Ask the project team to prepare. We''ll conduct an on-site inspection on the ind." "Yes, Ms. Lewis." ¡­ At the same time, a group of people gathered at the entrance of Amirate Corporation, attracting the attention of many passersby. "Max, should we go in?" "Of course, why else would we be here?" As Max looked at the imposing building, a touch of envy appeared in his heart. "If we could have a building like this, it would be glorious." "Yeah, Max. Why not discuss with Ms. Lewis and get us an office in there?" Max dunked his subordinate''s head without hesitation. "What nonsense are you talking about? Is that something we can think about?" The subordinate rubbed his head, looking aggrieved. "I was just joking." As he finished speaking, one of his subordinates rushed out of Amirate. "Max, the receptionist said to meet Ms. Lewis, you need to make an appointment." Upon hearing this, Max couldn''t help but swear, "Idiot! That''s our boss. Why do we need an appointment to see her?" "They said Ms. Lewis is very busy." Max patted his subordinate''s head. "You useless thing, did you tell the receptionist my name?" "I did, but the receptionist said that no matter who it is, an appointment is required." Max was helpless, scratching his head. "What do we do?" "Why not call Ms. Lewis?" "If I had her number, would I need you to tell me that? All of you always show off but can''t even find a phone number." "Max, we found Ms. Lewis'' number." Saying this, the subordinate handed Max a piece of paper with a string of phone numbers written on it. Max quickly took out his phone and called Grace. About ten minutester, Luke came down and led them into the elevator to the top floor. "Max, bigpanies are really different. It''s so grand!" N?velDrama.Org owns this. "Of course, this is Ms. Lewis''pany. Her family is the richest in the world. They could literally crush someone just by stacking their cash." As they chatted, they reached Grace''s office. "Go on in. Ms. Lewis is waiting for you inside." Max grinned and pushed the door open. "Ms. Lewis!" Chapter 360 Somethings Wrong With the Island Chapter 360 Something''s Wrong With the Ind The group greeted Grace loudly, startling her. Puzzled, she looked at them. "Max, what''s going on?" Max patted his stomach,fortably sitting on the couch. "Ms. Lewis, we came over to see you." Hearing his answer, Grace felt speechless. She spoke straightforwardly. "You won''te without a reason. Spit it. What''s the matter?" Max quickly moved closer to Grace, looking very eager to please her. "You''re indeed smart, Ms. Lewis." He continued, "Well, I''ve been studying chess recently and figured out some new tricks. I just wanted to find an opportunity to y a round with you." Grace raised an eyebrow and asked, "Youre here just for this?" Max nodded repeatedly. Since losing to Gracest time, he had epted defeat, but his desire to win against her had intensified. So he had been practicing at home during this time, and now he had found a chance toe and go against Grace. "Ms. Lewis, can you give me a chance?" Max looked at her pleadingly, showing no signs of a gangster boss. His eyes were filled with an obsession for chess. However, Grace rejected him. "I can''t do that this time. I have a project to inspect on an ind. After the inspection, I''ll y a game with you." Max suddenly wilted, letting out a dispirited sigh. Noticing his disappointment, Grace added, "The ind is called Azure Bay. The whole trip will be over in two or three days. It''s not long. You can take this opportunity to hone your skills." Max was out of breath with anger. "Ms. Lewis, I sense deep malice from you." Grace smiled, encouraging him. "I hope to see your improvement next time." Max was at a loss for words. After that, Grace returned to her work. Seeing Grace so busy, Max didn''t want to disturb her further. After bidding her farewell, he left with his men. After they left, Max btedly realized something. "Wait, where did Ms. Lewis say she''s going? Azure Bay?" "Hey, Max, isn''t that the ind we sold to that foreigner a few days ago? Why is Ms. Lewis going there?" Max squinted suspiciously, his eyebrows furrowed. "She said she''s going to inspect a project, so she''s probably working with the foreigner." They didn''t think too much about it. "That''s possible. After all, Ms. Lewis does business on such a large scale. She could be dealing with anyone." Max quickly interrupted their conversation. "Alright, let''s not interfere with Ms. Lewis'' affairs. Let''s go back. I''ll practice a bit more, so that when she returns, we can have a good game of chess." ¡­ In the evening, Max sat around the chessboard, ying with his chess friends. The two sides were evenly matched, and the game was very intense. At this moment, a subordinate rushed in. "Max, there''s a situation." Max looked displeased, waving his hand. "Get out. Talk after I finish the game." "But¡ª" The subordinate wanted to say more, but Max shot him a look. Startled, the subordinate quickly swallowed his words. Max finished the game an hourter. Since he had delivered a checkmate, he was in a good mood. "Bro, you''re good." "Max, your chess skills have improved." Max was very proud. "Thanks to the excellent teaching of my boss. I learned these moves from her."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Chapter 361 They Came for You Chapter 361 They Came for You The moment the other party heard it, he became interested. "Max, since when do you have a boss?" Max gave a mysterious smile. "It''s a secret." Beside him, his anxious subordinate quickly interrupted them, saying, "Max, Ms. Lewis might be in trouble." Max''s expression instantly changed when he heard that. "What did you say? What happened to her?" "Our men just checked Azure Bay and found that the ind has blocked all external signals. And the buyer of Azure Bay Ind is a human trafficker." "What?" Max stood up abruptly. "Quick, bring me my phone." After saying that, he took his phone and called Grace. ¡­ Meanwhile, Grace had just finished her work and was on her way out of thepany. As she exited the elevator, she saw a figure dashing through the parking lot. She immediately became alert. She took a couple of steps forward. The next second, she saw a familiar Rolls-Royce Phantom with hazard lights shing. Then, Xander opened the car door and got out. "Gracie." Grace breathed a sigh of relief and waved to Xander. "Why did youe over?" Xander walked up to her. Seeing her looking tired, he took her hand. Just then, her phone rang. "Xander, let me take this call." Xander couldn''t hear what was said on the other end, but Grace''s eyes gradually darkened. After she hung up the phone, Xander sensed that something was off with her mood and asked, "What''s wrong? Did something happen?" Grace pretended to be casual. "It''s nothing. Don''t worry." Yet Xander looked serious. "Gracie, if there''s something wrong, you can tell me. There''s no need to hide anything between us." Grace raised her eyes and met his serious gaze. She pressed her lips together before saying, "Let''s talk in the car." Xander held her hand, and the two got into the car. In the car, Grace exined everything that had happened in Frenda. After listening, Xander fell into deep thought. "It seems they came for you." Grace smiled, but her eyes were cold. "This Darien has done countless outrageous things. He escapedst time, but this time, I have to send him to hell." Xander tightened his grip on her hand. "Gracie, let me handle this." Grace was about to refuse, but she changed her mind. Smiling, she said, "Xander, how about we beat them at their own game?" "Are you nning to go to the ind?" A glint of determination shed in Grace''s eyes. She had already outlined a n in her mind. She then spoke slowly. "We can''t ovee danger without taking risks." Xander didn''t stop her. He would support her unconditionally in whatever she wanted to do. He just needed to ensure her safety at all costs. ¡­ The next day, Grace canceled all her work and didn''t take any of her employees with her to inspect the ind, except Luke. "Ms. Lewis, is it just the two of us?" Grace hummed in acknowledgement. "The two of us are enough." N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Although Luke was suspicious, he didn''t think much of it. "Everything has been arranged. The representative of thepany will meet us at the ind''s pier." "Got it." The driver took them to the pier, and Luke went to the ticket counter. Soon, he returned with their tickets in hand. Chapter 362 The Day You Die Chapter 362 The Day You Die Luke raised his wrist and checked the time. "Ms. Lewis, the ship is leaving in 15 minutes, but there are only three tickets left. The security guards might have to take the next ship." "How long until the next ship?" "An hour." Grace took the tickets from Luke''s hand. "It''s okay. We can go ahead. It''s just an inspection. There shouldn''t be any problems." "But Mr. Aaron said that the bodyguards have to follow you wherever you go." Luke was worried, especially since they were going to an ind. What if something happened to Grace? While Luke was hesitating, Xander walked toward Grace from not far away. Grace quickly waved at him. "Xander, over here." Seeing Xander, Luke was surprised but also impressed. It seemed that Xander and Grace had a really great rtionship. Luke''s lingering worry vanished upon noticing Xander. With Xander around, Grace should be safe. After that, the three of them boarded the ship. Grace rarely took boats, so she felt somewhat ufortable. Fortunately, the journey was short. After a little over an hour, they arrived at Azure Bay Ind. Strangely, there were many passengers on the ship, but only the three of them got off. The three of them walked along the gangway until they reached its end, and only then did they step onto the ind. "Strange. Why is there no signal on my phone?" Luke waved his phone, realizing there was no signal at all. Grace and Xander exchanged a nce. Thetter gave her a reassuring look, and the two of them stepped onto the ind. The representatives from the otherpany were already waiting, holding a sign at the pier. "Ms. Lewis, over here." Luke quickly approached the representatives, exchanging greetings and handing over business cards. "We''re from Amirate Corporation. We''re here to inspect your factory." The representatives nced at Luke, then looked at Grace, who wasn''t far away. Confirming everything, the two representatives exchanged nces and put on a big smile. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "Wee, wee. Our boss has been waiting for you. Follow me." Luke felt something was off, but he couldn''t pinpoint what it was. "Ms. Lewis, should we go?" Instead of replying, Grace looked at the two men. At first nce, they seemed vaguely familiar to her. Upon closer reflection, she realized they were Darien''sckeys from the bar that day. She sneered mockingly. "Where''s Darien Perez?" The two men hadn''t expected Grace to guess their identities so quickly. They were stunned, and their faces instantly changed. "Ms. Lewis, how dare youe to our territory and call Darien by his full name? Do you know that today is the day you die?" As soon as these words were spoken, Luke realized something was wrong. "Ms. Lewis, are they the human traffickers?" Then, he took his phone out to make a call, only to notice there was still no signal here. "What should we do? Ms. Lewis, there are only three of us. If they capture us, we''ll be finished." The other party heard this and burst intoughter. "As I said, today is the day you meet your end." Suddenly, a group of people appeared from nowhere and surrounded them. Luke wanted to resist, but Grace pulled his arm. Luke didn''t understand until Grace gave him a reassuring look. "There''s no need for this nonsense. Take me to see Darien." "Impressive, Ms. Lewis. You''re quite bold. Come with us." As the man spoke, a few people walked over to Grace, intending to tie her up. However, before they could touch Grace, Xander narrowed his eyes and sprung into action. His movements were swift, fierce, and urate. Theckeys didn''t even see how he made his move. They fell to the ground heavily, groaning in pain. Chapter 363 Labyrinth Formation Chapter 363 Labyrinth Formation Grace smirked, looking down at the groaning people on the ground. Her tone was devoid of any warmth as she said, "I can walk on my own. I don''t need your help." The group of people was dumbfounded. Darien had instructed them to tie Grace up. But after what had just happened, how could they find the courage to act against her? Having witnessed Xander''s capabilities, they exchanged nces before mbering to their feet. They had no choice but to give up. "Ms. Lewis, please follow us." Their tone no longer carried the arrogance from before. With that said, they took the lead and guided Grace forward. Suddenly, arge hand extended toward her, and Grace felt warmth spread to her palm. She turned her head to look at Xander. At this moment, her heart was unexpectedly calm. Xander held her hand, and the two walked side by side. The weather on the small ind was gloomy. Dark clouds covered the sunlight, giving off a sense of oppression. They walked a distance on the small ind. Grace noticed that they seemed to be taking a detour. Throughout the way, Xander observed carefully and realized something. He whispered, "They''ve set up a formation. It''s abyrinth formation." Grace was surprised. There were still people who knew about thebyrinth formation in this day and age? "This formation isn''t difficult, but for those who don''t know about it, they could be trapped for two or three days without finding a way out." Grace''s eyes darkened. She hadn''t expected Darien to be knowledgeable about this. It seemed that he was more formidable than she had imagined. "Hurry up. Stop dawdling," the leader of theckeys said angrily. Grace and Xander exchanged a nce and followed closely. They bypassed the formation. Finally, they arrived in front of a run-down house. The leader touched a mechanism on the doorpost, and an iron gate slowly lifted, revealing a narrow and dim passage. "Stay close. Don''t fall behind." The group followed inside. Lights were on, and they walked more than 100 feet. Then, they heard a familiar voice. "Ms. Lewis, we meet again." Grace looked toward the source of the voice. An unfamiliar face came into view. It was more mboyant than Darien''s, as far as she could remember, and had more delicate features. The man was sitting high on a majestic chair, staring at her with an evil grin. The disdain in his eyes was undisguised. However, judging by the voice, Grace had already deduced that this unfamiliar face belonged to Darien. No wonder her family hadn''t been able to trace him. He had changed his face and identity. "I didn''t expect you to change your face. It seems you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve, Darien. I''ve truly learned something today." Darien touched his face, not wanting to exin anything. He just said, "I hope you''ve been well, Ms. Lewis." Grace raised an eyebrow. She replied calmly, "You''ve gone through so much trouble to bring me here. I''m sure it''s not for a nostalgic reunion." Darien stood up and walked down the steps gracefully and slowly. If someone didn''t know the situation, they might have thought that he was just a charming young man. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. He didn''t speak until he reached Grace. His voice carried a hint of mockery. "Ms. Lewis, I came to Pamore all the way for you. Aren''t you moved?" Grace lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes bravely. Chapter 364 Arrogant Piece of Trash Chapter 364 Arrogant Piece of Trash "Darien, you better turn yourself in. Confess about your crimes, and let those women and children you kidnapped go home. Otherwise, dying a thousand times wouldn''t be enough to repent your sins." Hearing that, Darien burst intoughter. "Turn myself in? Ms. Lewis, that''s the funniest joke I''ve heard in my life." As soon as he said that, his expression changed. The next moment, he reached out and grabbed Grace''s chin. "Your family has pushed me to a dead end, making it impossible for me to stay in Frenda. They almost took my life. Since you''ve cut off my path, then let''s all die¡ª" Before he could finish, Xander reached out and forcefully hit Darien''s arm. A tingling sensation spread, and Darien felt immense pain. He suddenly lost the strength in his hand. He clenched his fist, but the numbness in his hand showed no sign of subsiding. He looked up and stared coldly at Xander. "What did you do?" Xander''s eyes darkened, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Nothing much. I just hit your tendon. Don''t worry. There won''t be any serious harm. Just numbness for a few minutes." Darien''s face turned dark at his words, clearly angry. Xander had only struck him once, and he hadn''t even applied much force, yet it had caused Darien so much pain. "Who are you?" Darien asked, gritting his teeth. He scanned his memories for information about Xander, but he found nothing. Xander stared at Darien coldly. He only said, "You don''t deserve to know." Darien was furious. A wave of anger surged through him. "You arrogant piece of trash! Believe it or not, I''ll skin both of you alive today." His eyes had an eerie, chilly look as he delivered the terrifying threat. "Midorien needs some fresh organs right now. Why not use both of you to fill the quota? Maybe I can get a good price for you." Grace''s expression changed immediately. "It seems that you not only engage in human trafficking but also¡ª" Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. She clenched her fists, thinking about the innocent lives that had died at his hands. She said hatefully, "Darien, what you''re doing is cruel. You don''t even deserve to be called human." Darienughed arrogantly, and hisughter echoed through the entire room. "Ms. Lewis, it seems you don''t understand the harsh realities of the world. It''s okay. I''ve prepared many good things for you. Let''s try them one by one." As he spoke, a group of people brought in a pile of tools for torture andid them in front of Grace. Darien picked up a dagger and yed with it in his palm. Then, he turned to Grace. "What do you think will happen if I use this dagger to cut your face?" As he spoke, he assessed Grace. He pretended to look regretful as he said, "This delicate face will be a hideous monster." Grace clenched her fists. Just as she was about to retort, Xander quickly grabbed her hand, helping her control her emotions. Meanwhile, Darien continued his monologue, unaware of their subtle movements. He took out a pair of pliers. "This is a good tool. It can pull out each of your teeth one by one." Grace gritted her teeth. "I dare you!" Darien nonchntly asked, "Why not give it a try?" Chapter 365 The Outcome Is Uncertain Chapter 365 The Oue Is Uncertain Darien smiled and put down the pliers in his hand. Then, he picked up a small, sharp knife. "Do you know what this is for?" Grace looked at the small knife and guessed roughly what it was for. Yet Darien gave the answer without waiting. "This is for cleaning your intestines." "Ugh¡ª" Grace couldn''t hold back, and her stomach churned. Seeing this, Darienughed even more wildly. "Ms. Lewis, this is just an appetizer. You can''t handle it already? N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "Today is the day of your death. When you reach hell, don''t me me, okay?" As he spoke, he made a gesture, signaling his men to take action. Just then, Xander stood in front of Grace. He moved his arm, and his eyes were dark and menacing as he looked at the group of people. He was bing increasingly angry and looked as if he wanted to devour these people alive. Just a nce made the men shiver. All of them stood still, afraid to approach. "You bunch of garbage! What are you standing there for? Get on with it!" Darien shouted. This group of men were those who followed orders. Although they were scared, they moved forward with determination. The next second, Xander took a step forward and kicked a man''s chest. The man immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. This was Darien''s first time to see someone with such strength. Just one kick had caused such a serious injury to his man. "Who are you?" "You don''t need to know." At this moment, Grace finally stepped forward. Her tone was icy as she said, "Darien, did you really think that we woulde alone?" Upon hearing this, Darienughed. He pretended to be rxed. "I forgot that you have quite a few bodyguards. "I heard that they have received formal training and are all strong and tough. But unfortunately, they probably won''t make it today." Darienughed triumphantly and continued, "So, Ms. Lewis, rest assured. No one wille to save you, including this man next to you. He can''t save you either." "Oh, really? Shall we make a bet? Let''s bet on your life. How about that?" At once, Darien became interested. "Bet my life? This is quite interesting. But Ms. Lewis, don''t forget whose territory you''re in now." Grace replied meaningfully, "You''re right, but have you ever thought about whose territory this really is?" As soon as she finished speaking, all the lights in the room went out, causing chaos. Before anyone could react, screams echoed in the air. By now, Xander was already standing in front of Darien. He held the sharp knife and held it to Darien''s neck. "So? Do you still want your life?" Darien was finally scared. His voice trembled as he spoke. "Yes, yes, yes." "Stop it! All of you!" As he shouted, the scene fell silent. In this quiet space, no one spoke. Only shallow breaths could be heard. Then, the lights in the room came back on. Everyone was stunned by the scene before them. Xander had one hand gripping Darien''s head, and the other hand held a knife near his throat. Meanwhile, Grace stood on the side, holding a small dagger against Darien''s abdomen. "You said this knife was for cleaning my intestines. Why don''t you try it first to see if it''s sharp?" Chapter 366 Holding Darien Hostage Chapter 366 Holding Darien Hostage Grace''s voice was devoid of warmth, making Darien involuntarily shiver. "M-Ms. Lewis, let''s talk things out. It''s a bit inappropriate to resort to using knives." However, Grace showed no mercy. She cut through his clothes with the small knife and held it against his bare skin. "Talk about what? Those people who were treated like this by you before, did they have room for negotiation?" "Release Darien, and we can spare your life," someone shouted at Grace. But she sneered and said to Darien, "Tell them to step back, or my hand might slip." Knowing that Grace wasn''t joking, Darien sternly said to his men, "What are you still standing there for? All of you, step back!" The group of men looked at each other. Though they were unwilling, they dared not act recklessly. In the end, they could only step back. Grace was now very close to Darien, close enough to see the pores on his skin. She squinted her eyes, suddenly understanding something. "Thest time we met, you used a disguise. This is your true face. Am I right?" Darien had never expected Grace to figure it out and expose him. He took a deep breath and said, "So what if I did? Ms. Lewis, even if you catch me today or kill me, do you think it will be the end of it? "You''re thinking too simplistically. Those of us in this line of work make a living on the edge. There areyers ofplexity behind this industry. "Don''t me me for not reminding you. Don''t mess with people you shouldn''t mess with. When the timees ¡­" Darien stopped speaking at this point. He didn''t continue, but his words were a threat to Grace, both implicitly and explicitly. Grace understood that very well. But someone had to do this. Even if she couldn''tpletely cut off their operations, she had to do her best to prevent them from harming more people. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "Ms. Lewis, what''s the use if you catch me in Pamore? Can Pamore''sws control me? In the end, I''ll still be extradited back to Frenda. Can you guarantee that I won''t escape during that time?" Grace sneered. "Rest assured. Even if you return to Frenda, you won''t escape legal sanctions. I won''t give you any chance to do that." Darien shrugged, looking indifferent about how Grace would handle him. Just then, footsteps came from outside. One of Darien''s men rushed in to report, but upon seeing the scene, he was dumbfounded. "D-Darien?" Darien asked, "What''s going on?" The man quickly reported, "Many nes have arrived outside, and Frenda''s police are here. The entire ind is surrounded." At his words, Grace looked at Xander. It turned out he had contacted the police in Frenda. "Let''s go. There''s no need for us to linger here," Grace said. Darien didn''t dare to resist. Grace withdrew her hand, allowing Xander to lead him out. Many police officers from Frenda had arrived on the small ind. They had managed to gain control over everyone on the ind. Finally, Darien was directly arrested and put in handcuffs. Before leaving, he turned back to look at Grace and said cryptically, "Ms. Lewis, our game isn''t over yet." Grace frowned slightly, but Darien just smiled. "We''ll meet again one day." Suddenly, Grace had a bad feeling. Chapter 367 The Wheels of Justice Chapter 367 The Wheels of Justice As expected, the next moment, an explosion sounded not far away. Xander instinctively protected Grace, and both of them fell to the ground. "Watch the suspect. Don''t let him escape." Immediately, several police officers guarded Darien. When Darien saw this, he smiled sinisterly and skillfully unlocked the handcuffs in his hands. As more explosions sounded, he disappeared in front of everyone''s eyes. The explosions continued one after another, but they were always at a certain distance. When the explosions finally ceased, thick smoke filled the air. Grace suddenly realized what had happened. "Where''s Darien? Where did he go?" People then noticed that Darien, who had just been handcuffed, had disappeared right under their noses. "Oh no, he escaped!" At this moment, Xander took out a walkie-talkie and said coldly, "Block all exits and make sure to catch him." Yes, Mr. Xander." Xander reassured Grace. "Don''t worry. All exits here have already been blocked. Besides the police, many of my family''s men are also here." But Grace was still on tenterhooks. "Darien is so cunning. He managed to escape right under our noses." "Don''t worry. The wheels of justice grind slowly but surely. He won''t get far." Soon, news came in. "Mr. Xander, we caught him. Just as you predicted, he jumped into the sea and was intercepted by our pre-arranged search team." N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Upon hearing this, Grace finally breathed a sigh of relief. Still, she said angrily, "This Darien is indeed cunning. But no matter how cunning he is, he can''t escape death. He''s just jumped out of the frying pan into the fire." Grace and Xander rushed to the shore. At this moment, Darien, soaked all over, was being held by two police officers. Seeing Grace, Darien lost the confidence he had just shown. He muttered, "This time, I surrender." "You''re not surrendering. You should pay the price for your actions." Darienughed. Looking up at Grace, he said, "Ms. Lewis, although your family is prestigious, you shouldn''t make enemies everywhere. Be careful. One day, you might fail and be a public enemy. I look forward to that day." Grace''s face turned grim and unpleasant. "But it''s a pity. You won''t live to see that day." Undaunted, Darien said, "People like us who are ready to die anytime have nothing to fear." "Cut the nonsense and behave yourself," the officer guarding him warned sternly. Then, he looked at Grace with great respect. "Ms. Lewis, thank you for your cooperation. Thanks to you, we were able to crack this major human trafficking case. As for the suspect, we''ll take him back to Frenda for the trial." Grace nodded. "Thank you." Darien was escorted onto the ne, with police officers guarding him throughout. After the police force gradually left the small ind by ne, only Grace and Xander were left. Watching the direction the ne disappeared, Grace pressed her lips together, lost in thought. Xanderforted her. "Don''t worry, he''ll definitely face legal sanctions." Grace hummed and nodded. She wouldn''t feel sad for people like Darien, whomitted countless crimes, even if he died. "It''s all thanks to you this time, Xander." Otherwise, if she had been working alone, she wouldn''t have been able to deal with Darien so quickly. Chapter 368 I Was Waiting for You Chapter 368 I Was Waiting for You Xander stared at Grace, smiling faintly. "Alright, it''s over now. Let''s go back." ¡­ When they got back to Pamore, Grace received a call from Aaron. N?velDrama.Org owns this. "Gracie, you''ve grown bold. You actually went to meet someone as wicked as Darien Perez alone. Do you know how dangerous that was?" "Oh, Aaron, I''m fine, aren''t I? Besides, with Xander by my side, what''s there to worry about? Now that Darien has been caught, you can rest assured." Aaron was already aware of the situation. However, he felt that Grace seemed to need him less and less. Such a big thing had happened, and she hadn''t even informed him beforehand. He felt somewhat upset. "No next time, Gracie." Grace reassured him repeatedly. "I know, Aaron." After a few more words, Aaron finally hung up the phone. Harold stood beside him, looking concerned. "How is Gracie? Is she okay?" Aaron put his phone away and replied, "Don''t worry, Grandpa. She has that Fulton kid by her side. She won''t stir up any major trouble." At the mention of Xander, a hint of joy appeared on Harold''s face. "Gracie''s taste has improved a lot since thest time. It''s just a pity for the Donegans. The alliance between our two families seems to be falling apart." His words carried a sense of loss. After all, they had had a strong friendship with the Donegan family over the years. If the two families could have formed an alliance, it would have been the icing on the cake. However, important matters like marriage shouldn''t be forced. "Grandpa, we have to trust Gracie''s judgment. She won''t let us down this time." "Aaron, don''t just talk about your sister. You''re not young anymore. When are you going to bring your girlfriend home for me to see?" When it came to himself, Aaron became evasive. "I still have some work to deal with at the office. I''ll leave first." He quickly left without waiting for Harold''s reply. Harold sighed helplessly as he watched Aaron disappear. "Why does he act like a stubborn teenager when ites to rtionships? Forget it. I should let the young people do what they want." ¡­ Several more days passed, and Grace remained busy. During this period, she took on several new projects and handled them herself. So her schedule was packed. That day, Grace had a business meeting with clients, and they had dinner at a restaurant in the business district. She had spent a long time negotiating this coboration and doing thorough research in the preliminary stages. However, the other party had been evasive, always dragging things out. Before they entered the private room, Luke couldn''t help but mutter, "Ms. Lewis, we''ve shown so much sincerity, but they still refuse to budge. "It''s obvious they don''t want to work with us. Why do we keep dealing with them?" Grace restrained her expression. "Regardless, let''s meet their boss today. If they don''t show interest, we''ll give up." After speaking, she took a deep breath and put on a smile. Only after that did she push the door open and walk in. "Sorry for beingte." As soon as Grace entered, she expressed her apologies. However, the next moment, she froze in ce. The person sitting inside was none other than Benjamin. "Mr. Hawkins, what a coincidence! You''re here too?" Sheposed her emotions so quickly that it didn''t give other people a chance to notice her momentary awkwardness. Benjamin''s eyes were fixed on her. It had been some time since he had seen her. She seemed to have lost weight, causing her features to be more distinct. "It''s not a coincidence. I was waiting for you." Chapter 369 No Free Lunch Chapter 369 No Free Lunch "Ms. Lewis, how about we¡ª" Luke hesitated to speak, obviously not wanting Grace to have too much contact with Benjamin. But Grace knew that what had to happen couldn''t be avoided. She walked into the room calmly, disying elegance in every gesture. "So, you''re the behind-the-scenes boss of this project. It''s quite unexpected." Smiling, Benjamin casually said, "At first, Hawkins Group wasn''t involved in this field. But now we want to work with you, so we''re trying." Grace smiled and asked, "So you mean Hawkins Group wants to work with Amirate?" After a nod, Benjamin took a folder from Larry. "Yes. We just need to discuss the details." Grace raised an eyebrow, but her tone remained calm. "Oh, do you have any doubts, Mr. Hawkins?" "There''s one thing. I find the profit distribution ratio a bit unreasonable." As soon as he said that, Luke instinctively pushed his sses up his nose. He didn''t feel like Benjamin had any intention of coborating at all. "Mr. Hawkins, Hawkins Group is just a neer to this project. Our cooperation should follow the normal profit distribution ratio. Or do you have no intention of working with us at all?" Luke spoke without reservation, his words sharp and intimidating. However, Benjamin looked at Grace. "Your assistant is right. ording to this profit calction, Hawkins Group has already taken a big advantage. "So, I think a 50-50 split is unreasonable. How about we change it to a 70-30 split? Amirate gets 70%, and Hawkins Group gets 30%." Luke looked incredibly surprised. Was Benjamin here to negotiate a deal? Wasn''t he basically giving money to Amirate? This 20% increase meant several hundred million dors. "Ms. Lewis, what do you think?" Grace didn''t understand Benjamin''s intentions. "Mr. Hawkins, are you doing business or charity?" Benjamin calmly replied, "I just want you to make a little more money to shut up those people on your board. That''s all." Silently, Grace clenched her hands. How did Benjamin know so much about Amirate''s internal affairs? She rejected him right away. "There''s no need, Mr. Hawkins." "This is business. I shouldn''t ept your generosity for no reason. If you''re not sincere in this coboration, there''s no need to continue our discussion." Having said that, she stood up to leave. Meanwhile, Benjamin remained seated, still calm. He slowly said, "I''ve heard about your gamble with the board. If you lose the bet, you have to leave Amirate andpletely lose control of it. Grace turned around, looking at him. "That''s not something you should be concerned about." Benjamin lifted his gaze, meeting her eyes. "If we include the profits from this project, it can at least increase your performance by 5%. Grace, I just want to help you." Grace smiled faintly. "Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. But there''s no free lunch in this world. Let''s drop this coboration." This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. With that, she walked out of the private room without looking back. Benjamin was somewhat annoyed and angry at her rejection. He was also furious that she had clearly defined the boundaries between them. Without hesitation, he followed her out. Chapter 370 Meeting Susan Chapter 370 Meeting Susan "Grace, wait." Grace stopped in her tracks, clearly impatient. "Mr. Hawkins, is there something else?" "Grace, I¡ª" Before he could finish, a familiar voice interrupted. "Benjamin, what are you doing here?" Susan''s face lit up with joy. But the next moment, her expression changed when she noticed Grace beside him. "You''re still with this woman? You''re really trying to infuriate me." Benjamin looked displeased. "Mom, this is my business. Please don''t get involved." Then, he took Grace''s arm. "Let''s go." However, Grace instinctively pulled her arm back. "Mr. Hawkins, please have some respect." She looked at Susan. Sounding polite yet distant, she said, "Rest assured, Madam Hawkins. There''s nothing between Mr. Hawkins and I." Susan couldn''t stand Grace''s proud attitude. Although she regretted not treating Grace better and seizing the opportunity to connect with the Lewis family, she could only go along with her mistakes. After all, it was toote to rectify them. Fortunately, Benjamin was outstanding. There were plenty of women pursuing him. Grace was of no interest to her at all. With this in mind, Susan quickly pushed the woman who was dining with her in front of Benjamin. "Ben, this is Jessica Landon, whom I had mentioned to you before. Shees from a prestigious family, and she''s a renowned designer. She''s a perfect match for you." As Susan spoke, she subconsciously lifted her chin proudly. It was almost as if she wanted to tell Grace that any woman Benjamin chose would be a hundred times better than her. Afraid that Grace might misunderstand, Benjamin quickly interrupted, "Mom, what nonsense are you talking about?" Grace, however, remainedposed and showed no sign of displeasure. She turned to leave. Unexpectedly, Jessica, who had been silent until now, stopped her. "Ms. Lewis, I''ve long heard of your great reputation. Now that I''ve seen you in person, it''s indeed well-deserved." As Jessica said that, she approached Grace with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Lewis. I''m Jessica Landon. I''ve heard so much about you." Noticing Grace''sck of response, she continued, "I heard you graduated from Coronia University School of Design. It''s such a coincidence. We attended the same school." This remark piqued Grace''s interest. She halted and finally shifted her gaze to Jessica. Jessica looked dignified and elegant, seemingly wless. She had a hint of friendliness in her smile. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Landon," Grace responded. Jessica quickly took out her business card and handed it over. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "I was a student in the ss of 2018. May I ask which ss you belong to?" Grace took the card and saw that the name "Jessica Landon" was written in bold, gold letters. She replied, "Oh, you''re my senior. I''m from the ss of 2019." Jessica smiled. "What a small world!" Susan, who had been silent the entire time, was dumbfounded. She pulled Jessica over and asked disdainfully, "Jessica, do you know her?" Jessica exined, "No, she''s my junior. We went to the same university." Susan snorted contemptuously. "She managed to go to such a good university? Her family probably paid or used connections to get her in." Chapter 371 A Master of Acting Chapter 371 A Master of Acting "Mom, what nonsense are you saying?" Benjamin quickly stopped Susan. He had never imagined that she harbored such malice toward Grace. He had been truly oblivious. However, Grace was unfazed. "Mr. Hawkins, I''ll take my leave." Benjamin wanted to catch up with her, but Susan held him back. "Benjamin, I can''t breathe. My chest feels tight." "Madam Hawkins, are you okay?" Jessica was concerned. Seeing this, Benjamin hurriedly turned to her, looking worried. "Mom, are you okay?" The next moment, Susan grabbed his arm. "Benjamin, listen to me. Don''t get involved with Grace anymore. Look at Jessica. She''s such a good girl. You two look like a match made in heaven." Benjamin frowned as he realized something. Smiling coldly, he pushed Susan away. Then he said indifferently, "Mom, your acting skills are truly top-notch. I really couldn''t see through it before." "How can you say that, Benjamin? Benjamin¡ª" No matter how much Susan called out to him, Benjamin ignored her and chased after Grace. However, he was a step toote. By the time he got out of the restaurant, Grace''s car was already far away. ¡­ Inside the car, Grace yed with the business card in her hand. Her gaze was fixed on the name "Jessica Landon". For some reason, even though Jessica had seemed friendly and kind, Grace sensed that something was off. She took her phone out and made a call. Soon, Zoey''s voice came through. "What''s up? Did you miss me?" Grace smiled. "Are you busy?" Zoeyined, "Busy as a bee. What''s up? Do you need me for something?" Grace didn''t beat around the bush. "I want to ask you about someone." "Who''s so important that you''re personally inquiring about them?" "Have you heard of Jessica Landon? She''s a designer, quite famous internationally." "Wait, what did you say? Jessica Landon? The name sounds familiar. I think I''ve heard it somewhere, but I can''t recall. Hold on a moment." After that, there was a rustling sound on the other end of the line. After a couple of minutes, Zoey''s voice came through again. "I knew this name sounded familiar. It''s her! Do you know the internationally renowned fashion designer, Jion?" Grace raised an eyebrow. "You mean she''s Jion?" "Bingo! Jion is Jessic''s alias!" Then, Zoey enthusiastically began to introduce Jessica. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "She''s very famous internationally. Just like you, she studied fashion design and has won many awards, including the Vogue Design Award that you won in your third year. She''s also a graduate of Coronia University." Grace nodded. "She''s my senior." "That''s right. Jion is very influential in the design industry. She has millions of followers on Instagram. Teenagers, especially students, love her designs." After a series of exnations, Zoey finally asked, "By the way, how do you know her?" Chapter 372 Exposed for Plagiarism Chapter 372 Exposed for giarism Grace smiled as she exined, "You might not believe it, but she was having lunch with Susan today. They seemed quite close." "No way! Your ex-mother-inw? Does she want Benjamin to marry Jessica?" Smiling, Grace raised an eyebrow and didn''t continue the topic. "Thanks, babe. I''ll treat you to dinner another day." "Sure thing. I''ll get back to work." N?velDrama.Org owns this. After ending the call, Grace put Jessica''s business card away. Although she and Jessica had little interaction, she had a faint premonition that they would meet again. And her premonition was correct. Just a few dayster, she received a call from Emily. "Babe, we''ve got a problem." "What''s wrong? Don''t be anxious. Take your time to exin." "Quickly check your phone. Someone has used several ssic dresses from our boutique of giarism. The topic is currently the top trending topic." Grace thought it was absurd. She went on Twitter and clicked on the trending list. As expected, the name of her boutique was disyed at the top, and the word "giarism" stood out. Since the boutique''s business had always been good and it had a broad target audience, it had many loyal customers and fans. As a result, after being reported, the topic gained significant attention. "Oh my God! That ssic dress is my favorite in their store. I never thought it was a copy." "It''s not just one dress. It''s multiple dresses copied, all from the same designer. Doesn''t the designer feel ashamed?" "How can the designer feel ashamed? If she had any shame, she wouldn''t have done such a thing." "Originality is God. giarists should be nailed to the pir of shame. This store should close down as soon as possible." As Grace read the overwhelming criticism online, her heart sank. But this wasn''t the end. "Grace, someone is causing trouble at the store, shouting for us to close down and get out of the mall." Grace quickly said, "Don''t worry. Close the store for now. I''ll handle this matter." After hanging up, Grace stood up to leave. Luke hurriedly asked, "Ms. Lewis, what happened? Where are you going?" Grace didn''t have time to exin. She just said, "Cancel all my appointments for today." Then, she left thepany. She went straight to the mall. As expected, the storefront was already crowded with people. Some even held red spray paint and wrote "shameful giarists" on the closed door. Even though the mall security tried to drive them away, they didn''t disperse. At the same time, Xander also rushed over. Seeing Grace outside the crowd, he pulled her over worriedly. "Gracie, are you okay?" Exhausted, Grace lifted her eyes and looked at Xander. Finally, her eyes became focused. "Xander, I didn''t giarize." Though it was only one sentence, Xander felt his heart ache at her words. He embraced her. "I know. I believe you. But this matter isn''t that simple. We have to handle it carefully." His words gave Grace the strength she needed to pull herself together. "We must investigate the truth of this matter and not endure such injustice." She quickly called Emily and left the mall with Xander. ¡­ Later, Emily rushed to the top-floor office at Futurelink. She handed over the information she had found to Grace. Chapter 373 We Meet Again Chapter 373 We Meet Again "Gracie, take a look. This is the user''s Twitter ount." Grace took Emily''s phone and saw the contents on Twitter. The user had used their real identity and reported the boutique for giarism. He had presented the original design drafts andpared them with the clothing designs. Multiple ssic designs were used of being copied, and all the usations pointed to Grace as the giarist. Grace scrolled across the screen, looking at the so-called original design drafts in disbelief. She had personally designed all the ssic dresses in the boutique. There was no possibility of giarism. Two of the dresses had even been part of her final year design projects at university. "This is impossible. Utterly impossible." Confused, Grace set the phone aside. At this moment, Xander also handed her the information his subordinates had found. "We found it. You''re used of giarizing Jion. She''s very popr and holds significant influence in the international designmunity. Just now, she reposted this usation post on her Instagram, expressing her intention to defend her rights." "Jion?" Grace couldn''t help but chuckle. "Jessica? She actually said I copied her work? Is she out of her mind?" Xander handed her the iPad. Jessica''s social media homepage was open on it, and the first post at the top was about the giarism incident. "Gracie, don''t worry. There''s definitely something fishy about this. My man said that someone paid to boost this topic on the trending list and even threatened to keep it at the top for three days. "I''ve temporarily pushed it down, but we must find out the truth of the matter. Otherwise ¡­" Xander didn''t finish his sentence, but Grace understood. For a designer, giarism was undoubtedly a major taboo. If she couldn''t prove her innocence, the boutique would have to close down. More importantly, her reputation would bepletely ruined. "We must investigate this thoroughly." Xander pointed out something crucial. "Since your designs are original, how can someone falsely use you? The key point should be on her." N?velDrama.Org owns this. Grace and Xander exchanged a nce, thinking about the same thing. "It seems we need to meet Jessica." Grace remembered the business card Jessica had given herst time. At once, she dialed the number on it. "Ms. Landon, it''s Grace. Let''s meet if you have the time." On the other end of the line, Jessica wasn''t surprised at all. She said, "I''ve been waiting for your call. Let''s meet at room 2202, Longacre Building." After hanging up the phone, Grace looked serious. Her intuition had indeed been correct. Jessica held some hostility toward her. However, there had been no interactions between them before. It seemed that she could only get the answers from Jessica. "Xander, I need to go to Longacre Building." Xander nodded. "I''ll go with you." Emily also quickly spoke up. "I''lle too." So the three of them left together. ¡­ Longacre Building was located in the most bustling area of downtown. After Xander parked the car, the three of them walked into the building. They entered the elevator and went all the way to the 22nd floor. Even from a distance, Grace could already see a figure. Soon, Jessica''s voice sounded. "Ms. Lewis, we meet again." Chapter 374 A Billion Dollars in Compensation Chapter 374 A Billion Dors in Compensation As Jessica finished speaking, she turned around slowly. She was still smiling, highlighting her gentleness and friendliness. However, this time, Grace wasn''t deceived by her appearance. She got straight to the point. "Ms. Landon, don''t you think you owe me an exnation?" Upon hearing this, Jessica burst intoughter. She spread her hands and said, "Exnation? What exnation? Aren''t you here to discuss the compensation with me? "You copied so much of my work. You should have made quite a bit of money over the years. I heard your boutique business is doing well, sopensating a bit of money shouldn''t be a problem, right? "Or do you not want topensate me? Do you want to go through legal procedures? I''m happy to do that." Grace stared coldly at Jessica, not understanding where she got her confidence. She said word by word, "I didn''t giarize." A simple sentence expressed her attitude and stance. Jessica smiled. "Who would believe that? The facts are right there. Why are you still denying, Ms. Lewis?" Grace calmly said, "You and I both know the truth. I''m just curious. Where did you get the drafts?" Jessica took a deep breath. "Ms. Lewis, your giarism is a fact. Why bother exining so much? As for the drafts, I drew them myself, of course. Also, I drew them many years before you." "That''s impossible." Grace pressed her lips together, trying hard to stay calm. Jessica said straightforwardly, "It seems you''re still not going to admit it. That''s okay. I can provide evidence for you to see." Saying that, she called over someone who brought a stack of design drafts. The clothing designs on them were astonishingly simr to Grace''s designs. However, the signing date on the design drafts was seven years ago, and the paper of the drafts did appear genuinely aged. "See that, Ms. Lewis?" Grace''s eyes were filled with astonishment and disbelief. She stood there, stunned. How could this be possible? Jessica continued, "I won''t say much else. Let''s talk aboutpensation, and perhaps there''s still room for negotiation. "If you don''t want to discusspensation, that''s fine too. But you should be prepared to face a joint boycott from the designmunity." Grace snorted. "Is that so? You can twist the truth. Are you so confident that I won''t find evidence?" Unyielding, Jessica met her gaze. "Do you think anyone would believe you? With my current reputation across the globe, defeating you is like crushing an ant. What do you have topete with me?" Grace wanted to say something, but Xander stopped her. He had an expressionless face as he said icily, "Speak up. What do you want? Or should I say, how much do you want?" Jessica looked at Xander. He exuded a strong presence and looked like an elite. Seeing him made her eyes light up. Gradually, her interest was piqued. However, the current situation didn''t allow her to have other thoughts. N?velDrama.Org owns this. "A billion dors. I want one billion dors. I don''t think this should be a big problem for you, Ms. Lewis. As long as you bring one billion dors in cash to me, I can consider not pursuing this matter any further." Chapter 375 Our Game Has Just Begun Chapter 375 Our Game Has Just Begun A billion dors? That was quite a bold demand. "Who do you think you are, asking for one billion dors? Have some shame," Emily retorted bluntly. Regardless of anything else, she firmly believed in Grace. Grace would never giarize someone else''s work. "The facts will reveal who the real giarist is. Even if you''re internationally famous, you can''t twist the truth. Aren''t you afraid that your so-called fans will see your true colors?" Jessica remained unperturbed, lightly smiling while choosing to ignore Emily''s words. She crossed her arms and walked closer to Grace. When she was just half a step away, she stopped. Lifting her gaze, she looked at Grace. "I won''t beat around the bush. The choice is in your hands, Ms. Lewis. It depends on what you decide, whether it''s paying money to settle the matter or letting everyone perish together. What do you say?" Grace silently clenched her hands. She could tell that Jessica seemed to harbor deep hostility toward her. Yet she couldn''t understand where this animosity came from. She was well aware that, before this incident, they hadn''t had any interaction whatsoever. "Ms. Landon, this is the first time I''ve seen someone as shameless as you." Jessica didn''t care. "Compared to what you''ve done in the past, what I''m doing now is nothing, right?" What she had done in the past? Jessica''s words carried a hidden meaning. Grace''s eyes shed with suspicion, and her spection deepened. Then, Jessica raised three fingers. "Three days. I''m giving you three days to get the money. If you can''te up with the money in three days, I will make sure your reputation is ruined." Silence filled the air as her words fell. It was uncertain how much time had passed. Finally, Xander broke the silence. "Fine, we agree. But the amount is huge, and we need to coordinate with major banks. Therefore, seven days." As soon as he said that, Jessica smiled, seemingly satisfied with the result. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Grace. "Ms. Lewis, does he represent you?" Grace raised her eyes and met Xander''s gaze. After a moment of eye contact, she steadied her emotions. "Yes, seven days." Jessica agreed quite readily. "Seven days it is. I''ll be waiting for your good news." After saying that, Jessica turned and left. It wasn''t until she was far away from everyone''s sight that her facade disappeared. "Jess, are we just taking the money and leaving like this?" Jessica''s face darkened, looking quite unpleasant. Her voice was extremely cold as she said, "Take the money and leave? How is that possible?" "Then why did you demand a billion dors in cash? You know, a billion dors is just a drop in the bucket for the Lewis family. This isn''t even a scratch for Grace." Jessica snorted. "The issue between me and her isn''t something money can solve. What I want is her life!" A chill filled the air, capable of making one shiver in fright. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "Did you handle what I told you to? Don''t leave any evidence for them to catch onto." "Don''t worry, there won''t be any problems." Jessica''s face remained cold. She raised her chin, thinking, "Grace, oh Grace, our game has just begun." ¡­ After Jessica left, Emily was the first to react anxiously. "Grace, why did you agree with her? She''s the one who giarized. Now, not only has she ruined our reputation, but she''s also shamelessly extorting so much money from us. It''s tant ckmail!" Chapter 376 Strange Hostility Chapter 376 Strange Hostility Grace remained silent, as if contemting something. Finally, she looked at Xander, boldly guessing his thoughts. "Xander, let me guess. There''s more to your suggestion of seven days, right?" Xander crossed his arms in front of him, projecting an air as if he could handle anything. Yet when he spoke, there was a hint of affection in his tone. "I can''t hide anything from you." Grace suddenly understood. The two exchanged a knowing smile. On the side, Emily was puzzled. "Grace, what kind of secret code are you two using?" "Don''t worry, Emily. In this world, no one can do anything without leaving a trace." "So?" "The truth wille out eventually. Those designs reported by Jessica are my work from my university days. The drafts of the designs are still at the school. So now, what we need is time." They needed time to gather the necessary evidence. Emily finally understood their n. "So, you n to go back to school?" Grace nodded. "It''s time to go back and take a look. Maybe I can find something. Xander¡ª" Before Grace could continue, Xander guessed what she wanted. "I''ll go with you." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Grace was moved. "Thank you." ¡­ That afternoon, she canceled all her work at Amirate and departed for Coronia with Xander. On the private ne, she felt somewhat exhausted and leaned back to rest on the seat. Soon, her breathing became steady. Xander stared at her profile affectionately. At this moment, everything was so peaceful. He gently covered her with a nket. Just then, a phone vibrated on the table. Although the ne was still en route, the phone could still receive calls through the satellite signals. Xander stood up and went to the other side, tapping on therge screen. Immediately, a handsome face appeared on the screen. With an enthusiastic smile, Xander''s friend, Callum Stevens, said, "Xander! I can finally see your face¡ª" Callum rattled on, but Xander bluntly interrupted. "Get to the point." Those simple words made Callum, who had just had a mischievous expression, immediately turn serious. "I''ve found the information you asked me to check about Jessica." "Did you find anything?" Callum shook his head and shrugged. "Nothing special. She has a clean background, and her family rtionships are simple. I couldn''t find anything from her social connections, either." Clean background? Xander tapped his finger on the table lightly. Seeing this, Callum couldn''t help but feel a chill down his spine. Whenever Xander made this move, he sensed something wasn''t right. Although Callum didn''t know why Xander had asked him to investigate Jessica, he could clearly feel Xander''s dissatisfaction with his work. "Xander, Jessica has been an excellent student from childhood to adulthood. Outstanding in every subject, almost like the legendary ''kid next door''. "Other than a car ident five years ago, in which her parents died and she became an orphan, there''s hardly anything else." Xander caught the key point. "She had been in a car ident?" Callum nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I checked the information from back then. Her family''s car lost control on the highway and collided with arge truck. "Jessica''s parents died on the spot, but she miraculously survived." Chapter 377 Mrs. Fulton Chapter 377 Mrs. Fulton "Email all the information rted to the ident to me." "Okay." A minuteter, Callum sent all the information to Xander. Xander opened his email inbox and quickly browsed through the details. "What is that, Xander?" Grace had already woken up. Xander continued to examine the information. Without hiding anything, he said, "I did a background check on Jessica. There''s nothing unusual, except for a car ident five years ago. Her parents died, but she survived." Grace frowned, inevitably connecting it to Jessica''s animosity toward her. "Do you suspect that the ident is rted to me?" Xander handed her the phone. After she finished reading, she shook her head. "I didn''t know Jessica before this, and I''ve never met her parents." So why did Jessica harbor such strong resentment for her? It was as if there was some deep- seated grudge between them. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "Don''t overthink it. Rx. Leave it to me." Xander patted her shoulder reassuringly. Grace nodded, but her mind was filled with doubts. She felt like there was more to the situation than met the eye. Seeing her serious expression, Xander smoothly changed the topic. "We''ll be in Coronia in an hour." Grace took a deep breath and hummed in acknowledgement. This unfamiliar yet familiar city was a ce she hadn''t visited since graduating from university. Grace couldn''t help but think of Benjamin. They had first met at Coronia University. ¡­ An hourter, the nended at a private airstrip. Callum had been waiting for them. When he saw Xander, he rushed over to him, attempting a bear hug. "Xander! I finally got to see you." Xander dodged him, the disdain evident on his face. However, Callum persisted and attempted another hug. The next moment, he noticed Grace standing next to Xander. He blinked and froze, all his movementsing to a halt. His gossipy nature instantly surged within him. There was actually a woman next to Xander! This was truly unprecedented. "Xander, tell me I''m not seeing things!" Seeing Callum''s exaggerated reaction, Xander couldn''t help but facepalm. Then, he introduced Grace and Callum. "Gracie, this is Callum. I call him Cal." Smiling, Grace waved at Callum, "Nice to meet you, Callum. I''m Grace." Grace? She was Grace? In Callum and Xander''s circle, the name "Grace" wasn''t unfamiliar. Though they had never seen her in person, they knew she was the one Xander had been yearning for all these years. So Callum''s excitement bubbled over. Unable to contain his emotions, he blurted out, "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Fulton." These two simple words made the air stand still. Grace felt a bit awkward. Before her brain could catch up, her cheeks turned red. She instinctively tried to exin, "I-I''m not¡ª" Callum, however, thought Grace was just being shy and quickly added, "There''s no need to be formal, Mrs. Fulton. We''re all family here. Just call me Cal from now on." Grace stammered for a while. Xander pulled her closer to him, saying to Callum, "You scared her. Just call her Grace." He was being so manly. Callum couldn''t help but think that Xander was so hot right now! Chapter 378 Is This Your Husband Chapter 378 Is This Your Husband "Is the car ready?" Callum hurried forward, grinning. "It''s ready, Xander. The driver will take you to Coronia University." Xander turned to Grace. "Shall we go now?" Grace nodded and walked beside Xander. As the two of them walked together, Callum quickly kept up with them, chattering and acting as a guide along the way. ¡­ On the way, Grace looked out of the window at the gradually familiar scenery. She found herself lost in thought, as if transported back to the days of her university life. That had been a youthful and beautiful time. It wasn''t until the car slowly entered the university campus that she snapped back to reality. Raising her eyes, she saw tall, straight, ne trees standing before her. Under the glow of sunlight, they look beautiful. The driver parked the car in the parking lot. Callum was the first to speak. "We''re here." Xander and Grace got out of the car, with Callum wisely choosing not to be a third wheel. Waving to them, he said, "Xander, Grace, you guys go ahead. I''ll wait here. If you need anything, just give me a call." After a nod, Xander took the initiative to hold Grace''s hand. The two walked side by side along the path. As they stepped on the familiar bluestone blocks, Grace couldn''t help but say, "Time really flies. It''s been almost four years since I graduated." In three of those four years, she had lived for Benjamin. She had been trapped in that miserable marriage, persisting in a rtionship she shouldn''t have held onto. "Yeah. Time really flies." Xander stared at her, seemingly reminiscing about something. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "In my memory, you''re still that little girl with braids who wailed. Now, you''ve be an independent CEO." "What? When did I wail?" Grace defended herself. In her memory, she had been adorable and gentle. Smiling, Xander looked at her with affection. "You were a little crybaby." "No way! I never was." Grace denied. Although her childhood memories weren''t so clear, she firmly denied crying a lot as a child. After all, that would ruin her current image. The two chatted and chuckled as they walked, creating a harmonious scene. "The dorm is there. The cafeteria is on the right. Oh, right, the gym is on the other side. The archive room we want to visit is at the very end." Grace was incessantly introducing her alma mater,pletely unaware that, not far away, a scrutinizing gaze was fixed on her. Eventually, as if to confirm something, the woman walked directly toward Grace and Xander. "Grace, is that really you?" Grace turned around and saw her former professor, Kelly Birch, looking at her with a smile. Surprised, she hurriedly approached and hugged her. "Professor Kelly, it''s been so long." "I thought I was seeing things, but it really is you. After these years, you''ve matured and be even more beautiful. I heard you got married. Is this your husband?" Kelly looked at Xander with appreciation. "You two look like a perfect match." Grace wanted to exin, but Xander extended his hand, greeting Kelly. "Nice to meet you, Professor Kelly. I''m Xander Fulton. Just call me Xander." Chapter 379 You Have Excellent Taste Chapter 379 You Have Excellent Taste The man before her, whether in looks, demeanor, or manners, was outstanding in every way. Kelly couldn''t help but exim, "Grace, you have excellent taste. It seems your married life is going very well." "Professor Kelly, actually¡ª" "We came here to look for some of Grace''s design work from her time here. We assume the school has records, right?" Xander interrupted Grace and directly stated their purpose. Upon hearing this, Kelly quickly responded, "Every student''s design work from their school days is stored electronically. You can find them in the archive room. I can take you there to look." "Thank you so much, Professor Kelly," Xander said politely. Suddenly, Kelly looked at Grace with regret. "Grace was my best student and one of the most talented students I''ve encountered in all these years. "I rmended her for a direct pass to continue her graduate studies. It''s a pity that she missed that opportunity to marry you." Kelly sighed. Then, she looked at Grace and smiled. "But seeing how sweet you two are after so many years of marriage, I think life has countless possibilities. It doesn''t have to follow a routine. Choosing the life you want is also a good option." Hearing that, Grace lowered her eyes. Back then, she had believed that too. She had thought that choosing the life she wanted and the person she thought was right for her was the right path. Unfortunately, she had been blind when she had made those choices.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "We''re here. This is the archive room." Grace retracted her gaze, looking ahead at the archive room. Kelly quickly said, "Luckily, I have the key, so I can open the door for you." As she said that, she took a key from her bag and opened the door. "Come on. Go in and take a look." The three of them walked into the archive room. It was quite spacious, with many bookshelves and cabs on disy. Kelly pointed to apartment at the back. "Those are the archives from the School of Design. You can take a look, but paper archives are generally only kept for three years. I''m not sure whether they''re still here." Grace and Xander started searching. One of them started from the top, while the other started from the end of the alphabetical order. Before long, the two finished going through the existing archive information but found no records rted to Grace. "If it isn''t here, you can look for the electronic files." Kelly took Grace to theputer in the archive room. Unexpectedly, the twoputers in the archive room went ck as soon as they were turned on. "What? Did theseputers crash?" Kelly tried several times, but theputers showed no response. "Wait a moment. I''ll call the maintenance staff." She took out her phone to make a call. At that moment, Xander approached, his eyes focused on the screen. He tapped his fingers on the keyboard, and in no time, theputer started working again. "Xander, you''re really amazing," Kelly marveled. Xander exined, "Theseputers were infected by malware, but it''s resolved now." "I see." They opened the desktop, logged into the school''s management system, and directly searched for Grace''s name. In the next second, all the information about Grace appeared on the screen. "I found it, Xander." Grace scrolled through the information, finding everything about her, including the photos from her early days in college. Chapter 380 This Isnt My Design Chapter 380 This Isn''t My Design "The photo turned out well," Xander said, looking at theputer screen tenderly. Grace said reminiscently, "I remember taking this photo on my first day at school. I had casually tied my hair into a bun and taken the picture." As Grace spoke, she scrolled down, and memories of her student days began to emerge, including clear records of each semester''s final designs and grades. Continuing down to her collection of design works, Grace opened the page. However, she froze in ce, and her smile gradually disappeared. Xander noticed her unease and followed her gaze to theputer screen, where several clothing designs were disyed. "What''s wrong? Is there a problem?" Grace turned to him and eximed incredulously, "No! This isn''t my design! How did it end up in my files?" Even Kelly directed her attention to Grace when she noticed themotion. She quickly tried to exin, "The school records student information urately. The likelihood of an error is very low. Are you sure you''re not mistaken?" Grace shook her head. She was confident that she was right. "No, Professor Kelly." She pointed at the screen. "I never signed my name on my college designs. Look at these two pieces. They both have my name signed at the bottom." Xander stared at the screen, confirming Grace''s observation. Indeed, her name was written on them. He exchanged a nce with Grace, trusting her not to make such a mistake. But now, designs that didn''t belong to her werebeled with her name. Grace continued clicking on the mouse, going through all the recorded designs. With each one, she took a step back, her face full of disbelief. "How is this possible? My graduation designs are missing, and these aren''t mine." She believed there must be a system error causing this confusion. N?velDrama.Org owns this. Kelly looked surprised, too. She opened the archive of design works. Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Her initial suspicion turned to anger. "Your work isn''t so substandard!" Kelly muttered. She paused, pointing at one design. "The lines in this design arepletely wrong. If I had been grading it, it wouldn''t have even passed. There''s no way you could produce something like this." Kelly knew Grace''s abilities better than anyone. The student she took so much pride in would never create designs that showed such ack of skill. Grace looked at her former mentor and said sincerely, "Professor Kelly, thank you for believing me. These designs aren''t mine." Kelly reassured her, "Don''t worry. I''ll talk to the person in charge of the records and find out what''s happened." With that, she took her phone out and left the room to make a call. Xander''s gaze darkened. It was clear that someone had tampered with things. "Don''t worry. Everything will be fine," Grace reassured herself, taking a deep breath. After a while, she suddenly recalled something and typed "Jessica Landon" in the search bar. Chapter 381 Its True Chapter 381 It''s True The next second, information about Jessica appeared on theputer screen. The first thing Grace saw was Jessica''s youthful photo from when she had enrolled. There were some differencespared to the present. She had matured a bit, and her features were more defined. The enrollment information showed that Jessica was a year older than her. "So it''s true," Grace murmured. Xander also leaned in, staring at the screen intently, but Grace didn''t stop scrolling. She scrolled to the end and opened the drafts from Jessica''s student days. Her eyes widened in astonishment. "How ... how is this possible?" The first image was of the gship design of the boutique, although it looked less aesthetic. The design looked more like a modification and processing of this one. It was as if this was the original design! "This can''t be!" Grace''s tone was firm. "There must be something wrong here." Notpletely convinced, she clicked the mouse again, finding several more designs in the same style below. The design skills were rtively mature, indicating the designer''s skills. "Did you draw these design drafts?" Grace shook her head. "My initial draft wasn''t like this, and I didn''t draw these. But it''s strange that the drawings in Jessica''s files are simr to mine. What''s going on?" As she spoke, her eyes filled with confusion. At that moment, Kelly returned and noticed that Grace looked uneasy. Her gaze fell on the screen. "Jessica? Grace, do you know her?" Grace narrowed her eyes and pulled her over. "Professor, do you know her?" Kelly nodded and answered, "Yes, she''s a year ahead of you, but she wasn''t my student. Professor William Johnson was her advisor. What''s going on? Is there a problem?" Grace pointed to the designs on the screen. Her voice trembling, she asked, "Professor, did she draw these?" Kelly looked puzzled but exined, "If it''s in her file, it should be hers. I''m not very familiar with her design style, though. You can ask Professor William if you want to know more about her." Kelly also found it strange. However, the archive management personnel just informed her that personal file information had been recorded urately with a low probability of errors. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. But now, even she couldn''t exin why Grace''s file contained designs that weren''t hers. "Is Professor William still here?" Kelly pondered for a moment and said, "He should be around." "Could you please take us to see him?" Kelly didn''t refuse and answered, "Sure, follow me." Grace took a deep breath, nodded, and closed the window on theputer. As she left, Xander turned back to nce at the glowing screen, his eyes darkening. "Gracie, go ahead. I''ll join you in a bit." Grace was immersed in her thoughts and didn''t think much about it. She followed Kelly out the door. "Professor William is about to retire. His passion for design isn''t as strong as his dedication to experiments. He isn''t teaching now and spends his days in theb researching peculiar stuff." Along the way, Kelly told Grace about William in detail, including his daily habits and personality traits. Chapter 382 Doubting Everything Chapter 382 Doubting Everything They reached theboratory''s entrance, and Kelly pointed to a door on the far right on the second floor. "He should be there. Let''s go!" Grace followed closely. The door to theboratory on the second floor was slightly ajar. Kelly knocked on the door and asked, "Professor William, are you in?" There was no response. Kelly pushed the door open, and the two walked along the corridor until they reached the end. Grace saw a man with slightly white hair, wearing a white coat, conducting experiments in the laboratory. He held a pipette, dripping liquid into a ss bottle, creating a dazzling light inside the bottle. William stopped and recorded the data with a smile. Afterpleting his experiments, he took off his safety goggles and walked out of theboratory. "William! You''re messing around again." William, however, was thrilled. "There''s a breakthrough. I can finally continue writing the new research paper." He looked at Grace and asked, "Who is this?" Grace took the initiative to step forward and said, "Hello, Professor William. I''m Grace, a former student of the School of Design." William nodded slightly, as if recalling something. He asked, "Which ss of the School of Design?" "ss of 2019." William immediately came to a realization. "I have a deep impression of both the 2018 and 2019 sses, especially Jion, who graduated a year ahead of you. She has be a famous designer internationally." Grace hadn''t expected William to bring up Jessica, but it made her bolder. "Professor William, can I ask you about Jessica?" Taking off his gloves, William looked at her suspiciously. He took a sip of water before slowly saying, "That girl! She came from a difficult background. She was in a car ident, and both her parents passed away. "She also dropped out of school. After a long period of treatment, she recovered and achieved what she has today. I''m pleased with her sess." N?velDrama.Org content. "Are you saying she never graduated in the first ce?" "That''s right. However, her achievements are remarkable. In her sophomore year, she won the gold medal at Belron Design Awards organized by our school." Grace was stunned at this revtion. "Are you talking about Belron Design Awards, the one held during my freshman year, apetition among three schools? Jion won the gold medal?" William nodded. "Yes! Shortly after thatpetition, she had a car ident and dropped out." Grace muttered, "That''s not right! Professor William ..." She continued, "I won the gold medal that year! My family still has the trophy and certificate from thatpetition!" Upon hearing this, William looked confused and furrowed his brow. He adjusted his sses and became serious. "Youngdy, are you sure you''re not mistaken?" Grace found it absurd. How could she possibly be mistaken about something like this? "Professor William, please think again. Was Jion the gold medalist from that year?" William was somewhat angered, thinking that Grace was doubting him. His face darkened, and he snapped, "There were videos and photos of thatpetition then. If you don''t believe it, I can show them to you." Chapter 383 You Cant Hide The Truth Chapter 383 You Can''t Hide The Truth As he spoke, William took his phone and logged onto his online storage system. He quickly swiped across the screen, finally stopping at the time point of the year 2019. Then, he handed the phone to Grace. "I was a judge for thispetition. The entirepetition was recorded with videos and photos. Take a look at the video of the awards session. Didn''t shee first?" Grace took the phone and opened the video, but found no trace of herself. Jessica, however, stood on the highest podium, and William personally presented her with the trophy. Grace''s mind was filled with confusion. This was absurd. How could this be? In disbelief, she reopened a picture of the list of contestants, only to find that her name wasn''t on it. Yet she distinctly rememberedpeting in three rounds, defeating six opponents, advancing to the finals, and ultimately winning the championship. "Professor Kelly, this can''t be real ..." Grace looked at Kelly with hope, hoping thetter could speak up for her and prove that those things had indeed happened. But with such conclusive evidence, Kelly pursed her lips. "Grace, could you be mistaken? Perhaps you didn''t participate in that year?" Grace shook her head slightly. "No, I''m not wrong," Grace said confidently. How could she forget? It was the first time she had won a major design award in her life. She couldn''t be mistaken. William and Kelly exchanged nces, both showing concern. Kelly hurriedly approached Grace, took her arm, andforted her. "Grace, is something wrong at home?" Grace remained silent. William continued, "Jion was one of the most exceptional students I''ve encountered over the years. If it hadn''t been for that ident, she could have achieved more." His words carried a deep sense of regret. Grace became even more perplexed. Now, she couldn''t find any support, and instead, she felt like a shameful giarizer. Just then, her phone rang in her pocket. Grace came back to her senses and took her phone out. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the caller ID. She answered the call. "I heard you returned to Coronia University. Is it true?" Jessica sneered on the phone. Grace snorted and asked, "You''re behind this, right?" Jessica''sughter echoed on the phone, and Grace silently clenched her fist. "I think you must have gotten your facts checked by now and learned about what happened. It seems to further prove the fact that you giarized my work. "I''m asking for just one billion dors. It''s not much for you¡ªjust a drop in the bucket. I don''tck money. I just want to humiliate you. "Think carefully. Problems that can be solved with money aren''t problems. There''s no need to be stubborn." Grace remained silent, and her face turned pale. She had to admit that Jessica was very scheming. She almost doubted herself. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. If it hadn''t been for this phone call, Grace might have been deceived by the lies Jessica had woven. "You can''t hide the truth! Do you think your n is that wless?" Chapter 384 My Idol, PhantomX Chapter 384 My Idol, PhantomX Jessicaughed. "Grace, you really overestimate yourself." With that, she hung up. Grace tightened her grip as she listened to the dial tone, and her eyes gradually darkened. After a pause, she made another call. "Victor, are you busy?" Victor thought he had misheard and took another look at the number. He teased Grace, "Gracie, you finally decided to call me! This is rare." Grace puffed her cheeks and retorted, "Not at all, Victor!" Victor interjected, "Alright, what''s up?" Grace smirked and answered, "It''s a small matter. I was wondering if you could help with something." "Let me hear it." "Can you ess Coronia University''s archive system?" As she spoke, violent coughing erupted on the other end of the phone. After a moment, Victor asked in astonishment, "Gracie, you''re not asking me to hack the system, are you?" "Well, I want to know if someone has ever tampered with it." Grace suspected that Jessica had manipted the records and wanted confirmation from Victor. "Let me put it this way. The academic records website is a national system managed by security personnel. Regr hackers can''t get in, and even if they do, it''s challenging to get out unscathed. Even I can''t guarantee cybersecurity won''t detect me." Grace frowned, realizing that even Victor couldn''t help. "However, there is one person who can." Victor''s voice sounded in her ear. Grace''s eyes lit up. "Who? Tell me quickly." Victor continued, his tone full of admiration, "That would be my idol, PhantomX. His skills are extraordinary, unmatched by anyone. "He consistently ranks first on the hacker leaderboard. He deserves his title as the reigning legend!" With a sigh, Victor added, "If I could have a match with PhantomX in this lifetime, I would die with no regret." "Victor, please contact him for me. I''m willing to pay any amount." Victor sighed dejectedly. "It''s not about the money! He probably doesn''tck money either." Grace was speechless. "It''s just a pity! He''s been on hiatus for some time. Finding him is like finding a needle in a haystack." Grace felt hopeless now. "So there''s no way?" Victor was perplexed. It was rare to find Grace so disheartened. He asked, "Gracie, why do you want to hack into the archive system?" Grace bit her lip and exined the situation. "Victor, if I can''t find evidence now, I¡ª" Before she could finish, Victor roared in anger, "This is outrageous. Do they take the Lewis family for nothing? How dare she mess with us like this? "Gracie, don''t worry. Leave this to me. I''ll investigate and get to the bottom of it!" N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "No, Victor, you¡ª" Grace wanted to say more, but Victor didn''t give her a chance. Despite the risk of being detected by cybersecurity, he was determined to hack into Coronia University''s archive system. "Give me half an hour. Wait for the good news," Victor dered with confidence. With that, the call was disconnected. Chapter 385 Different Styles Chapter 385 Different Styles Grace raised her eyebrows and muttered, "He''s too efficient!" However, the siblings were unaware that someone was already a step ahead of Victor. In the archive room, the sound of someone tapping away on the keyboard could be heard, and a series of numbers and characters appeared on the nkputer screen. Xander''s fingers quickly danced across the keyboard, and in just two minutes, he had essed the academic information system. He also took the time to fix a few bugs in the system. After five minutes, he smiled and exited the academic information system after transferring all the information he had found to his phone. After clearing all traces, Xander finally left the archive room. ... At this moment, Grace was holding William''s phone, watching thepetition video again. After talking with Jessica, she became certain the video had been edited. But she didn''t say it out loud in front of William. Instead, she asked, "Professor William, can you send me a copy of this video?" William didn''t think much of it. "Just save a backup on the drive." Grace thanked William and saved the video to her phone. At that moment, Xander approached them. "Xander! Can you check this video for any editing traces?" Without saying much, Xander took the phone from Grace''s hand and handed it back to William without another word. "Gracie, I need to talk to you." "What?" Xander didn''t exin, but he reached out and pulled Grace along. "Come with me." Grace was puzzled but followed suit. As the two left theboratory, Callum walked up to them. He handed a stack of documents to Xander, eagerly seeking thetter''s approval. "Xander, these are the materials you sent me just now. I''ve printed them all out. I''m quite efficient, aren''t I?" Xander nodded lightly, took the documents, and handed them to Grace. "Take a look." Grace looked at him suspiciously, took the documents, and saw two photos on the top. One was a youthful photo of Jessica, and the other seemed to be a recent one. Grace didn''t understand, but she didn''t question it either. She continued to flip through the file and came across a design. She still looked puzzled after going through the designs. "What is this?" "Look at the other drawing. What differences do you see between the two?" Grace quickly looked at the next drawing. It was one of the designs she had seen in Jessica''s file. This was Jessica''s design! "Is there a problem with the two drawings?" Gracepared them repeatedly. The design styles werepletely different. Each stroke and pattern were vastly contrasted. "Do you see anything?" Grace decisively said, "These two designs weren''t made by the same person! The styles are completely different, and an artist usually can''t change their style so drastically." "I just checked Jessica''s information and essed the internal file system. I found some issues." N?velDrama.Org owns this. "You mean someone hacked into the system and tampered with the information?" Xander nodded and answered, "Exactly!" Grace said indignantly, "I was right! The files have been tampered with! It seems Jessica was well- prepared. No wonder she was so arrogant!" Chapter 386 Shes an Imposter Chapter 386 She''s an Imposter Grace was surprised that Xander was so skilled inputer software. Even Victor, who was a top- notch hacker, had said that hacking into this system was tricky. How had Xander managed to get in so quickly? He had even managed to obtain information! "Xander, how did you do it?" Callum coughed lightly on the side. He wanted to help Xander exin but feared that saying too much would expose Xander''s secret identity. He had to control himself. Xander cleared his throat and didn''t answer her question. "I''ve checked your information file, and the altered information has been restored." Grace felt relieved. With this, all of Jessica''s ns had fallen apart. "But ..." Xander paused and continued, "I didn''t find the original design that was giarized in your file." Grace felt like she had been struck by lightning. Her expression stiffened, and she asked, "How is that possible?" Xander looked grave as he exined, "There''s only one possibility. That original design was never recorded in your file, so there''s no information about it." So, everything she had done had been in vain. There was no evidence to prove her innocence. Jessica had taken advantage of this loophole to act so audaciously. Grace fell deep in thought. Her grip on the paper tightened, and her attention returned to the two design photos. Confused, she asked, "Xander, what''s up with these two photos?" Xander was pleased that Grace had finally grasped the point. This was the significant discovery he had made after hacking into the system. "The first drawing is Jessica''s design from five years ago. It had been deleted, but I recovered it. The other one is the current design in her file." N?velDrama.Org owns this. After Xander said this, Grace quickly processed the information in her mind. She looked at Xander and said, "The styles of these two designs arepletely different. They''re not from the same person at all." Xander smiled and nodded lightly. The two of them came to the same realization. Then, Xander slowly said, "Look at those two photos again. Although they look simr on the surface, there are differences. After all, even if someone has stic surgery, there''s one thing that can''t be changed." Grace carefullypared the photos and found the critical point. "Their eyes!" The person in the first photo had kind and clear eyes, while the one in the second photo looked exceptionally sharp. Grace had a bold thought. But Xander voiced her theory first. "Is there a possibility that the person we''re facing now isn''t the real Jessica?" Upon hearing it, though, Grace was even more shocked. "You mean she''s not Jessica? Then who is she?" Xander smiled and muttered, "I also want to know who she is." Callum was silent the whole time. At this point, he chimed in, "Xander, I discovered that Jessica''s house is around here. How about we go and check it?" Xander looked at Grace for her opinion. "Should we go take a look?" Grace looked up and exchanged a nce with Xander. Some mysteries had to be unraveled. Who was this imposter, and what bad blood did she have with her? Grace replied, "Alright." Chapter 387 Lying About Being Friends Chapter 387 Lying About Being Friends It took about two hours by car to reach Jessica''s house from Coronia University. The road was bumpy along the way. During the journey, Callum briefed them on Jessica''s background. In short, she was the only child from a wealthy family. This became evident when they saw therge vi when they got to the Landon family''s house. The vi had an antique design, with arge garden in front featuring meticulously cared-for flowers and nts. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "This is the ce," Callum said, stepping out of the car first. "Let''s go look," Xander said, reassuringly gripping Grace''s hand. Grace nodded and followed him out of the car. Standing outside the vi, they started to examine it closely. Callum was the first to speak. "Theoretically, the Landon family hasn''t lived here for a long time, but the vi is so well-kempt. It doesn''t look abandoned." After saying this, he stepped forward and rang the doorbell. Soon, a woman in her 50s or 60s emerged from the house and slowly approached the door, asking, "Who are you looking for?" Grace stepped forward with a smile. "Hello, is this Landon Residence?" The woman sized up Grace suspiciously and asked, "And you are?" Before Grace could respond, Xander said, "We''re Ms. Jessica''s friends. She asked us toe get something for her." Grace turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and Xander gave her a reassuring nce. The woman still seemed suspicious of them. "You''re Ms. Jessica''s friends?" "Yes." After a moment of hesitation, she was about to say something when Callum took out his phone and handed it to her. "Look, this message is from her. She asked us to help her take a design she drew." The woman''s face brightened when she saw Callum showing her a message between him and Jessica. She opened the door and said joyfully, "Miss hasn''t been home for a long time. I didn''t expect that her friends woulde for a visit. Pleasee in." Grace raised her eyebrows and looked at Callum curiously. He seemed to understand her confusion and gave her a knowing smile. Without further exnation, the three of them entered the house. "I''m the Landon family''s housekeeper. I''ve been here for many years. I was nning to resign after Mr. and Mrs. Landon passed away. But Ms. Jessica took pity on me, seeing that I had nowhere to go as an old woman. She invited me to stay and help look after the house." As the housekeeper spoke, she led them into the living room. "Please sit. I''ll go make some tea for you." Then, the housekeeper turned and went to the kitchen. Grace took advantage of the moment and asked Callum, "What was that about the message just now?" Callum smiled mysteriously, nced at Xander, and exined, "It was Photoshop. There''s no need to worry." "Is that possible?" Grace couldn''t help but wonder if convincing someone using a Photoshopped image was that easy. That was quite an advanced skill! Callum continued, "Grace, don''t forget the purpose of our visit. We have to find out what''s going on." As he finished speaking, the housekeeper came out with tea. Grace quickly stood up to help her. "Let me do it." "It''s okay. I''ve been doing this for many years. Let me handle it," the housekeeper insisted, cing the tea on the coffee table in front of them. Chapter 388 Finding Out the Truth Chapter 388 Finding Out the Truth Grace, however, caught on to the housekeeper''s words and casually asked, "You''ve been working for the Landon family for many years, haven''t you? That also makes you a long-time member of the household." The housekeeper nodded. "I''ve been with the Landon family since Ms. Jessica was very young. It''s been almost 20 years." Grace and Xander exchanged nces. She continued, "So you must have watched Jessica grow up!" The housekeeper smiled and nodded as if reminiscing about the past. "Ms. Jessica had always been obedient and attentive when she was young. She always listened to Mr. and Mrs. Landon. "She has also excelled in her studies since she was little. She was their pride and joy. Ms. Jessica would be happiest if they were still here, but ..." At this point, the housekeeper couldn''t help but sigh. "Mr. and Mrs. Landon unfortunately passed away. They lost their lives in a car ident five years ago. N?velDrama.Org content. "As for Ms. Jessica, although she survived that ident, she spent nearly two years in the hospital. Since then, she hasn''t been able to ovee her grief, and her entire personality has changed." "You''re saying that Jessica spent two years in the hospital after the car ident? And you''ve been taking care of her all this time?" The housekeeper nodded reluctantly. "The ident had a significant impact on her. There was no other choice." She paused, hesitant to speak further. Then, she changed the subject. "Did Ms. Jessica ask you to fetch a drawing for her?" Grace nodded. "Yes. We would appreciate it if you could help us retrieve one." The housekeeper nodded. "Of course, it''s just that she has many design drawings, and I''m not sure which one you''re looking for. Let me go and get them for you." Grace quickly stood up and offered, "I''ll help you!" However, as she took a few steps, the housekeeper stopped her, saying, "It''s fine. Ms. Jessica gave me strict orders that no one should enter her studio without her. Let''s not break her rules. I''ll go and get them for you." Grace paused, and she smiled. "Thank you then!" The three of them sat in the living room and waited. Soon, the housekeeper came out carrying a stack of design drawings. "These are all her design drawings. She''s highly skilled in design, and Mr. Landon used to say she would be an outstanding fashion designer. "She''s talented and hasn''t let Mr. and Mrs. Landon down all these years. Here, see if you can find the designs you''re looking for. If it''s not here, I can try to take another look." "Thank you very much!" Grace ced the stack of design drawings on the table and examined them individually. She had to admit that Jessica was indeed quite talented, on par with the best in the world. As Grace flipped through the drawings, she noticed that most of them were dated from five years ago, and the style of the designs was noticeably more subtle. They seemed to align with the same style as the original, unaltered design in the file! In an instant, Grace came to a realization. The car ident five years ago was the key. She narrowed her eyes and asked, "Are these all drawings that Jessica made before? Do you have any more recent design drawings?" Chapter 389 The Cause of the Accident Chapter 389 The Cause of the ident The housekeeper exined, "Ever since Ms. Jessica''s ident, she''s avoided this ce to repress the painful memories. So these are all her previous works. Did you not find the drawing she mentioned?" "That''s not it," Grace muttered. Then, she took out her phone and said, "I''m not sure which one it is. I''ll take a picture and ask her." The housekeeper didn''t doubt her and replied, "Sure, go ahead. While you''re at it, ask Ms. Jessica if she will return anytime soon. That would be best." The housekeeper sounded like she was looking forward to it. Grace looked up at her. She couldn''t help but think that she, too, had grown up without her parents. Fortunately, she had always had Marien around to care for her and had lived afortable life. "You''ve watched Jessica grow up, so you must be close to her, right?" The housekeeper replied, "I''m just a housekeeper." She made her identity and position clear with a simple statement. Grace didn''t press on further but quickly took pictures of the drawings with her phone. "Even though we''re Jessica''s friends, we don''t know much about her. Since her birthday ising up, we wondered what kind of birthday gift she would like. You should know her well. Can you give us any ideas?" The housekeeper lit up at the mention of Jessica''s preferences, and she began to loosen up. "Ms. Jessica had always been kind. She''s always been adored by everyone. Mr. and Mrs. Landon also doted on her. "She liked to draw since she was young, and Mrs. Landon thought she was gifted in art. So she sent her to art sses when she was five years old." The housekeeper spoke incessantly, sharing many details, including some about their daily lives. It was evident that she cared for Jessica a lot. Toward the end, the housekeeper sighed. "It would be great if her parents were still here. She would surely be the happiest person in the world." The conversation turned somber at this point. Grace pursed her lips and continued, "Would you mind telling us about the ident that happened five years ago? What do you know about it?" N?velDrama.Org content. The housekeeper shook her head and said, "The police investigated that matter long ago. It was an ident. There''s nothing more to it. We can''t inquire about these things. "Oh, did you find the drawing Ms. Jessica was looking for?" Grace snapped back to attention and pulled out two drawings from the stack. "These two. We''ve found them." The housekeeper finally rxed and smiled. "Great! Ms. Jessica must be relieved. I''ll put away the rest of the drawings!" "Thank you very much." As they left Landon Residence, Grace looked somewhat gloomy. She tightly clutched the design drawings in her hand, not saying a word. "At least this trip has let us know that Jessica''s changes began five years ago. So everything stems from that ident," Xander said. Callum quickly presented his phone as if he were offering something valuable. "Xander, I found information about the ident at that time. I also happen to know the police officer who handled the case. Why don''t we go find him right now?" Callum was a man of action, and his phone rang as soon as he finished speaking. He waved his phone at Xander and Grace. "I have to take this." Chapter 390 Investigating the Truth Chapter 390 Investigating the Truth "Callum, there''s been progress in the case you asked to investigate." Callum''s lips curled into a devilish smile. "Did you find the police officer who handled the case?" "Yes, I found him. He''s at the police station. Do you want toe over?" Callum nced at Grace and Xander and agreed without hesitation, "Alright, we''ll be right there." After ending the call, Callum said to them, "Either way, going there will clear everything up!" Upon hearing this, Grace felt an unexpected unease in her heart. It was very sudden, and it made her jittery all over. The feeling persisted until their car stopped at the police station, and she gradually calmed down. Xander sensed her anxiousness and whispered, "It''s okay. No matter the oue, we''ll face it together." Grace said softly, "Thank you, Xander." Callum watched them in the front seat and couldn''t help but chuckle. He had never seen Xander so gentle. It seemed Grace had quite an effect on him! "Xander, do you think this might be another mystery?" Grace had lost her confidence. Xander tried to reassure her. "It''s unlikely. The truth is often closer than it seems, and what we see now might be an illusion." Just then, the doors of the police station swung open. The chief of police, Timothy Hopkins, hurried over upon seeing Callum. He greeted him with the utmost respect. "Mr. Stevens, what brings you here?" Callum was the son of a well-known political figure in the area. Even the mayor would pay respect to him and be afraid of offending him. Callum politely greeted Timothy, then introduced Xander and Grace. "Xander, Grace, this is Chief Hopkins." Timothy was a smart man. He could tell that Callum seemed to admire Xander, indicating thetter wasn''t someone to be trifled with. Timothy''s attitude became even more respectful. "So you''re friends with Mr. Stevens! I''m honored to meet you. How should I address you?" "The name is Xander Fulton." Timothy''s eyes shed with curiosity when he heard that name. He had rarely heard that name in Coronia. However, if Callum held Xander in such high regard, he must have had a prominent background. "Mr. Fulton, pleasee inside. Just tell me what you need." Callum didn''t beat around the bush and asked, "We''re here to investigate a car ident. I believe you''re aware of it. How about taking us to see the case file?" This put Timothy in a difficult position. Ordinary people didn''t have the authority to ess case files. Even police personnel needed to go through a process and get approval from higher-ups. "Mr. Stevens, I''m afraid you won''t be able to view the case file. However, the police officer who had handled the case is waiting for you. Would you like to talk to him?" Callum raised an eyebrow and said intimidatingly, "What do you mean, Chief Hopkins?" Timothy exined, "Without instructions from higher-ups, it''s impossible to ess the case file. Unless ..." Timothy paused, and Callum immediately caught on. N?velDrama.Org content. "You mean we need to go through the proper procedures?" He nodded. "Please understand, Mr. Stevens, we can''t ignore the rules." Callum grew impatient, but it was rtively easy for him to handle such procedures. Unfortunately, he had recently offended his father and was now giving him the cold shoulder. If he didn''t give in to his father now, it would make things hard for Xander and Grace. Yet he couldn''t help but feel frustrated at the thought of giving in. Chapter 391 Skin Grafting Surgery Chapter 391 Skin Grafting Surgery "Chief Hopkins, you know who I am. Can''t you make an exception?" Timothy looked troubled, his brows furrowing as he muttered, "Mr. Stevens, this isn''t appropriate." Callum hadn''t expected Timothy to be so stubborn. He was about to say something when Xander stopped him. Xander remained unbothered, and he spoke calmly. He carried himself like a true leader. "Let''s meet the police officer handling the case first." Callum''s irritation instantly diminished. "Alright." The contrast in his behavior before and after was so stark that Timothy, who was standing nearby, was left dumbfounded. He was more curious about Xander''s identity now. Hence, his attitude toward Xander improved. "Mr. Fulton, this way, please." They entered the police station. When they walked into the office, a uniformed officer was already waiting. "Mr. Fulton, Mr. Stevens, this is Officer James Anderson," Timothy introduced. "Officer Anderson, this is Mr. Stevens. You can discuss the details of the case with him." James saluted formally. Timothy found an excuse to leave as they sat down, giving them space. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Once Timothy had left, James said, "The chief mentioned you want to know about a car ident that happened five years ago?" "Officer Anderson, this case is very important to us. Please share everything you know." James smiled and exined, "This case caused quite a stir then, so I remember it well. Before you arrived, I had reviewed the case file again. "It was a major traffic ident. Two cars collided, and the fuel tanks exploded, causing a fire. Three people died at the scene, and two were seriously injured. "The severity of this ident wasn''t due to the collision itself but to the fire it caused. Both survivors suffered severe injuries. "Ms. Jessica Landon was one of them. She had varying degrees of burns on her face and back." Grace was puzzled upon hearing this. She hadn''t noticed any scars on Jessica''s body during her two encounters with her, at least not on her face. Jessica didn''t look like a burn victim. Grace''s suspicions grew deeper. "Is it possible that a burn victim looks no different to the naked eye after recovery?" James understood what she was implying and said, "You must be referring to Ms. Jessica. I met her a while ago, and it seems that her skin grafting surgery was very sessful." "Skin grafting surgery?" "Yes, burn victims often suffer deep emotional trauma. To mend this, they usually choose cosmetic reconstruction or skin grafting surgery to restore their appearance." So Jessica had undergone stic surgery. But even if someone had stic surgery to change their appearance, certain things would remain the same, like a person''s habits, mannerisms, or work style. Maybe Xander''s assumption wasn''t wrong, and the person they''re dealing with wasn''t the real Jessica. So where was the real Jessica? "There were two survivors in the ident, one being Ms. Jessica, the heiress of Landon Group, the person you specifically came to inquire about today." Chapter 392 The DNA Test Chapter 392 The DNA Test Grace looked up at James. "You said there were two survivors. Was there another survivor besides Jessica?" James nodded. "Yes. He was a young man in his 20s from Pamore." "Pamore?" Grace''s heart skipped a beat, feeling somehow connected to the matter. "Can you tell me the name of that survivor?" James smiled and declined Grace''s request. "Sorry, I can''t tell you that." This response left Grace somewhat disappointed. The other survivor was a man. Even if he was from Pamore, he didn''t seem to have much to do with Jessica. Just then, Xander realized something and asked, "You said there were three fatalities at the scene. Besides Jessica''s parents, can you share information about the other deceased?" James didn''t attempt to hide this information. "The third victim was also from Pamore, a young woman, probably the young man''s girlfriend. She suffered severe burns, especially to her face. Two-thirds of it burned. "After her death, the young man was deeply grieved. He even gave up treatment, but the doctors saved him in time." A bold idea formed in Grace''s mind. A car ident, burns, and a young woman. Could this all be just a coincidence? Grace and Xander exchanged nces, clearly sharing the same thought. The fog had cleared, and the truth was slowly emerging. "Do you have specific information about the deceased girl?" Grace suddenly asked. James replied, "She was a foreigner, so we don''t have details about her. You might have to check with the embassy. But since it''s been so many years, they might not have any information." A hint of disappointment shed in Grace''s eyes. "Mr. Fulton, do you have any more questions?" Xander walked up to Grace, his eyes fixed on her. "Don''t lose hope. We''re beginning to uncover more information." Grace looked up at him. Her eyes grew more determined. "Xander, I think we should look into that girl''s background or contact her family. We might discover something." She had a bold assumption. But it was iplete, and she dared not voice it. She hoped to find evidence to support her theory. "Officer Anderson, how can you be sure the survivor is Jessica Landon?" Grace suddenly asked. James was puzzled, finding the question odd. A person''s identity couldn''t be faked. "Ms. Lewis, no one would be mistaken about their identity. Besides, we did DNA testing on the deceased, which matchedpletely." If that were the case, none of it would make sense. Xander politely extended his hand and said, "Thank you, Officer Anderson. We''ve learned what we needed." James nodded slightly and shook his hand. "In that case, I''ll be going." N?velDrama.Org owns this. "Callum, see Officer Anderson out." Callum hurriedly gestured for James to follow him. "Officer, this way, please!" After Callum and James left, Grace returned to her senses and said, "Xander, could there be something wrong here?" "Gracie, what do you think?" Grace pursed her lips tightly. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "I initially suspected that the real Jessica had died, and the current Jessica might be the other girl from the ident. "They might have swapped identities. But James just said that they had done DNA testing on the deceased." Which confirmed that the person who survived was indeed Jessica. But then, what about those design sketches? Chapter 393 Who Was He Chapter 393 Who Was He Grace left the police station dejectedly. Xander followed closely beside her and offered her a bottle of water. "Drink some water. Let''s get some rest." Grace shook her head slightly. "Xander, I need some time alone." She walked alone along the path while Xander stood still, his gaze fixed on her retreating figure. Callum returned and asked, "Why aren''t you following her? What if something happens to her here?" "Give her some space. We''ll just follow behind." After saying this, Xander started walking, following Grace from a distance. Callum shrugged helplessly. He shook his head and followed Xander''s pace. "Xander, it''s been so many years. Haven''t you made any progress?" Callum looked at Grace and continued, "You shouldn''t hesitate! If you dy, she might run off with someone else again¡ª" Before he could finish, Xander shot him a look. Callum shut his mouthpliantly and pondered momentarily before saying, "I''m just reminding you. You don''t have to keep some things to yourself. You should tell her." He thought that Grace might have feelings for Xander. It seemed that they were deliberately avoiding their feelings. They needed to confront their feelings head-on. "So many years have passed. A little longer won''t matter." Xander''s gaze softened as he watched Grace and spoke affectionately. "Nothing matters as long as it''s her in the end." N?velDrama.Org owns this. Callum shook his head helplessly. Xander was only gentle and considerate when it came to Grace. After all, only those in love knew what it truly felt like. "Did you bring theptop?" Callum responded, "It''s in the car." "Get it for me." Callum waved his hand, and the driver drove the car over to them. The two got in. "Keep an eye on her for me." Callum nodded understandingly. "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure she''s safe." Xander hummed in acknowledgment, then picked up theptop. His fingers rapidly typed away on the keyboard. ¡­ Grace walked alone on the road. The leaves of the maple trees by the roadside had turned yellow, scattering in the wind. Autumn had arrived. Pedestrians hurried by on the road. Grace moved through the crowd, lost in thought. Suddenly, a figure rushed toward her. Grace slipped, lost her bnce, and fell. Just then, someone sprang from behind and grabbed her arm. The next second, she was spun around and fell into the arms of a stranger. Their eyes met, and she felt mesmerized. The man wore a mask and hat, revealing only his deep eyes. He stared at her and said in an alluring voice, "Stop investigating and go home." Grace was puzzled. Her face was filled with confusion. Before she could react, the man let go of her and walked away quickly. Grace hurriedly followed and yelled, "Who are you? What do you mean by that?" But the man moved very fast and lost Grace at a traffic light. When Grace looked around, the man had disappeared without a trace. Chapter 394 Presented on a Silver Platter Chapter 394 Presented on a Silver tter Grace was utterly confused. Who was he? Why did he feel so familiar, especially with that faint scent of sandalwood on him? It seemed like she had smelled it somewhere before. And what had he meant by that? Had Jessica sent him? But Grace didn''t feel like he seemed to have any ill intentions. She looked around. Her mind was clouded with even more questions. "Grace, what''s wrong?" Callum hurried over, panting slightly. He had been startled when Grace had suddenly run into the crowd, so he had quickly gotten out of the car and followed her. Grace grabbed his arm and asked, "Did you see that man?" Callum was confused. "What man? Did someone mess with you? Tell me, I''ll sort it out." He got ready to take action. But Grace shook her head. "No. It was just a strange man. He looked ..." Grace thought for a while but couldn''t urately describe the man''s appearance. Callum looked around and didn''t notice anyone suspicious, so he thought Grace might have been mistaken. "Are you tired? Do you want to rest in the car?" Grace pursed her lips, still looking rather tense. Finally, she nodded. She took a few steps and then suddenly thought of something. That scent was simr to that of the man who had saved her in the basement parking lot in Frenda. His build and the unique scent all matched. It must be him! Grace was certain, but who was he exactly? And why had he said those words to her? "Gracie, I''ve found some information." Xander''s words interrupted Grace''s thoughts. She looked up, asking, "What?" Xander handed her theptop. "Here, take a look." On the screen were several photos, and Grace''s eyes lit up. "I''ve investigated Jessica, and I couldn''t find any information about her stic surgery in any of the hospitals in Coronia. That means she must have gotten rid of those traces beforehand." "But I found a history of articles on Coronia University''s public ount that include your design." A relieved smile appeared on Grace''s face. She pointed to the design in the photo. "This is the design I was used of giarizing. This is the original draft of that design!" Xander nodded and said, "I''m still not sure why your design wasn''t recorded in the archives, but they must not have thought that the school''s public ount would have a record of your design." "Xander, I can prove my innocence now." Grace took out her phone and snapped a photo. "I''ll send this photo to Zoey once I return home and have her arrange for it to be on the front page for a week." She was overjoyed. It felt like she had finally broken through the darkness and seen daylight. With this evidence, she could refute the allegations that her boutique had giarized someone else''s design. Jessica would no longer be able to extort a billion dors from her. Then, her purpose for this trip would be aplished. Grace thought it felt surreal. She hade to Coronia overwhelmed with doubts and had experienced several twists and turns. And now she had found a breakthrough so easily. It seemed a little too easy. She felt suspicious. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "Xander, is this the truth?" Chapter 395 Smoke and Mirrors Chapter 395 Smoke and Mirrors Xander remained silent. He merely smiled, but the subtle movement of his hand on the side betrayed his emotions. He gazed at theptop screen before him, and his eyes gradually darkened. He wasn''t the one who had found these images. Someone had intentionally sent them to him. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Unfortunately, their skills were on par with his, and he couldn''t find any traces of who sent it. Despite tracing the IP address, he had only managed to find a virtual IP. Xander suddenly said, "Gracie, let''s go home." The fact that someone had provided him with evidence so quickly meant they wanted him and Grace to leave Coronia as soon as possible. It seemed there were many secrets to this matter. Grace shared the same sense of curiosity. They had searched extensively and found no results, and now these files had suddenly dropped into theirps. "Xander, I can''t help but find this a bit strange," Grace said. Xander smiled, thinking that she was as sharp as ever. The two exchanged a meaningful look, and Grace finally said, "Alright, let''s go back then." Callum had arranged for a private jet to take them back that evening. However, Xander changed his mind at thest minute. "Just book two regr flight tickets for us." Callum was puzzled. "Xander, the private jet is more convenient and safer for your return. There''s no need to go to the airport." Xander insisted, "Do as I say and book the next avable flight." Callum didn''t understand but followed Xander''s instructions and booked two ne tickets. However, Grace and Xander had no intention of leaving. "Xander, Grace, what''s the deal? What are you up to?" Callum couldn''t help but ask. Xander didn''t answer, but Grace chimed in, "Have you ever read ''The Art of War''?" Callum looked puzzled. "What does that have to do with anything?" Grace shook her head and sighed. "You should read it when you''re free. It might give you some insight." Callum was even more baffled. "Xander, what does that mean?" Xander smiled indulgently and looked at Grace. "Gracie, it''s gettingte. We should go back and rest." "Alright, let''s head back." With that, they waved goodbye to Callum, leaving him frustrated. He ordered impatiently, "Someone, get here!" His men hurried over. "Mr. Stevens, what can we do for you?" "What''s ''The Art of War''? Find me a copy right away. I refuse to believe I won''t understand it." One of the subordinates looked bewildered. "Ms. Stevens, we don''t have that book here." "What? We don''t?" "Yes, Mr. Stevens. How about I order it online for you? But if it has to go through customs, it will take at least ten days or two weeks." Callum was furious and kicked his subordinate in frustration. "Useless! You can''t even get me a book. What good are you?" Grace and Xander heard Callum''s exasperated yelling from a distance and couldn''t help but chuckle. Grace turned her head and looked at Xander. "What do you think? What kind of secret is that person hiding? Why are they going to such an extent to stop us from finding the truth?" Chapter 396 Who Are You Chapter 396 Who Are You Xander smiled gently and tightened his grip on Grace''s hand. "I''m curious about that, too. However, a fox will eventually reveal its tail." ¡­ N?velDrama.Org owns this. Meanwhile, Jessica lounged by the beach, enjoying the sun in Pamore. She held a ss of wine between her fingers with contentment. "Mr. Hawkins, why the stern face? How about sitting down and having a drink with me?" Benjamin looked down at her, and although she looked unfamiliar, she oddly gave him a sense of familiarity. "Name your price," Benjamin said, his tone devoid of warmth. Jessica smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You''re straightforward, Mr. Hawkins. However, I''m curious. Why are you here to see me today? What reasons do you have? I recall you and Grace divorced long ago." Benjamin had no intention of wasting another breath on Jessica. His purpose for meeting her was simply to persuade her to retract her usations against Grace. "This is between me and her. It''s none of your business." Benjamin took out a nk check and handed it to Jessica. "Write any amount you want." Jessica smiled. She didn''t take the check. Instead, she looked at him in the eye. "Mr. Hawkins, are you this generous with all your women? Is it worth it for you to spend so much on an ex-wife? You can take the check back. I''m not interested in money." Benjamin snorted, "You don''t want money? Yet, you demand one billion dors from her. It seems you don''t dislike money¡ªyou just don''t want my money." Jessica got up and strode toward Benjamin. His scent engulfed her. He was Benjamin, alright. Despite all these years, his charm remained undiminished. No wonder so many women fell for him one after another. "Mr. Hawkins, it''s distasteful to talk about money. How about we talk about something else?" Benjamin withdrew the check hesitantly. Then, he spat, "What do you want to talk about?" Jessica approached him and stopped within a foot of him. She tilted her head back and smiled. "I''m still quite interested in you." She moved closer to kiss his cheek, but Benjamin forcefully pushed her away. His face darkened. "Ms. Landon, please control yourself." Jessicaughed. "Who are you saving yourself for? Grace? You haven''t forgotten, have you? You once made a promise to someone, but you broke it." Benjamin''s eyes were clouded with confusion. He didn''t understand what she meant. But Jessica didn''t exin. "No one can interfere in the matters between Grace and me, including you. This time, I''ll make Grace pay the price!" Her words were determined, and her eyes were filled with intense hatred. Benjamin couldn''t help but feel confused for a moment. It was as if this woman before him was acting like someone in his memory. "Who are you?" Jessica regained herposure. She smiled and replied, "What do you think, Mr. Hawkins?" Chapter 397 A Change in Attitude Chapter 397 A Change in Attitude Benjamin shook his head. He felt like he was going crazy. Then, he said, "Ms. Landon, I don''t care what your motives or ns are. I only have one request. Do not harm Grace." Jessica burst into a fit of maniacalughter, sending chills down his back. "It''s toote. Unless ¡­ " Jessica''s gaze was fixed on Benjamin. Her following words shocked him to the core. "Unless you marry me! Then, I might consider showing some mercy to Grace. Otherwise, I won''t let her off easily." Benjamin sneered, "You think you can threaten me?" His calm eyes shed with fury, and he waved at Larry. Larry stepped forward and handed something to Jessica. "Ms. Landon, I intended to resolve this peacefully with you, but it seems I was wrong to think that would be possible. Seeing that you''re so confident, you must not have expected me to obtain these documents." Jessica was puzzled. She didn''t understand what Benjamin was implying. She snatched the documents from Larry''s hand, and her face fell dramatically after seeing the content. She panicked instantly. "Benjamin, how did you get these?" Benjamin cut straight to the chase and said, "I''ve seen enough of the pot calling the kettle ck. This evidence is enough to prove you ndered Grace and ruin your reputation in the fashion industry for many years. "If I were you, I would choose to settle this quietly. Otherwise, I''ll hand this evidence over to the media." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Benjamin''s words were dripping with intimidation, and Jessica couldn''t help but feel a chill down her spine. His methods remained as ruthless as ever. However, she smiled. She ignored Benjamin''s threat and tucked her hair behind her ears, remaining calm andposed. "Mr. Hawkins, I would like to discuss something with you privately." But Benjamin wasn''t interested. "You can save whatever you want to say for the police." Jessica shook her head and continued, "Mr. Hawkins, rest assured. I will admit defeat if you insist on using this evidence against me after hearing what I have to say." With that, Jessica stepped forward and whispered something in Benjamin''s ear. In an instant, Benjamin''s face turned pale. Frozen in ce, he looked at Jessica with a strange look. Jessica was very satisfied with his response, and she smiled smugly. "Mr. Hawkins, you can go back. Leave these documents to me." With that, Jessica took the documents from Larry''s hand. Larry wanted to say something, but Benjamin interjected, "Give her everything!" This change in his attitude left Larry puzzled and dumbfounded. "Mr. Hawkins, what about Ms. Lewis?" Benjamin clenched his teeth and repeated, "Give her the evidence." Even though he didn''t understand Benjamin''s intentions, Larry had no choice. He reached into his pocket, took out a USB drive, and handed it to Jessica along with all the documents. Jessica smiled with satisfaction. "Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. You can go now. I won''t see you off." Benjamin looked at her with a mix of emotions. He said nothing else and turned to leave. Larry hurriedly followed him. Chapter 398 A Heavy Blow Chapter 398 A Heavy Blow "Mr. Hawkins, what''s going on? Didn''t you say you wanted to help Ms. Lewis? Why are we leaving?" Larry bombarded Benjamin with a series of questions, but Benjamin remained silent. "Mr. Hawkins, what''s going on?" Larry pressed on. Benjamin said nothing and replied, "Let''s go back, Larry." Larry pursed his lips. He had no choice but toply. Earlier, Benjamin had been determined to seek justice for Grace, but now he seemed like he had been dealt a heavy blow. This piqued Larry''s curiosity even more. Just then, Benjamin suddenly asked, "Has Grace returned?" Larry quickly replied, "Ms. Lewis is still in Coronia. She hasn''t returned." Benjamin fell into deep thought. "Arrange a ne to Coronia." Despite his confusion over Benjamin''s sudden decision, Larry followed his instructions. "Yes, Mr. Hawkins." ¡­ For two days, Grace and Xander had no new leads. It seemed the person behind this had noticed something and hid better, leaving no traces behind. This made Grace very suspicious. It was as if the person had inside information and knew she and Xander hadn''t returned to Pamore. At that moment, Callum obtained some new knowledge. "Xander, I found the hospital where Jessica had her stic surgery." Grace''s eyes lit up at his words. "Where is it?" Callum handed the medical records he had found to Xander and Grace. "Jessica is quite cunning. She didn''t use her name for the surgeries, which is why we couldn''t find any crucial information before. "ording to the investigation, she had over 20 surgeries in total! Four skin graft surgeries and various facial reconstruction procedures of varying degrees." Xander nodded and handed the medical records to Grace. "Gracie, take a look. Do you notice anything unusual?" Grace looked through the medical records, and when she saw the name on the page, she furrowed her brow. The name on the medical records was "Anna". She couldn''t help but ask, "Did Jessica use the name ''Anna''?" N?velDrama.Org owns this. Callum was uncertain about this. "Maybe. ording to these medical records, she consistently used the name Anna. Also, we found before-and-afterparison pictures from her stic surgery in the medical records ..." Callum trailed off and added, "I have to say, her burn injuries had been quite severe! Almost half of her face had been destroyed. "It''s truly remarkable to see how well she recovered. It''s surprising to see how advanced stic surgery has be." By the time he finished speaking, Grace had already turned to the page with the photos, and what she saw was a half-burned face due to a massive fire. As Callum had mentioned, Jessica''s burn injuries had been very severe. Almost half of her face had scars from the fire. Her features were hardly recognizable. Even her arms hadn''t been spared and were covered in scars. "I can only imagine the hardships she must have gone through to recover so well." Neither skin graft nor stic surgery could have been an easy process. "But I''m quite curious. Can one look the way they used to without leaving any scars?" Chapter 399 Different Blood Types Chapter 399 Different Blood Types Xander and Callum exchanged nces. "Even with the best stic surgery, it''s impossible to fully restore someone''s appearance after burn wounds. There will be some scarring." Grace was well aware of this fact as well. She lowered her gaze and pointed to the medical records. "There''s an issue here as well." Curious, Callum asked, "What''s the issue?" Grace smiled faintly and answered, "The blood type is different. I''ve seen Jessica''s medical examination report from when she enrolled in school, and it stated that her blood type is B. But if you look at this medical record, it says that it''s O." Callum hadn''t noticed this detail. "Could it be that the hospital made a mistake?" N?velDrama.Org owns this. Grace shook her head. "Even if it were a mistake, it couldn''t be a coincidence." She felt even more doubtful. "Xander, I still have my suspicions. Is the person going against us even the real Jessica?" The different styles in design had already indicated a problem. Now that they had discovered those two people had different blood types, Grace was even sure these were two different people. Where did the real Jessica go? Who was this woman now? "I think we should look into the Jessica from five years ago. See if she had any close friends or rtives who might know more about her," Grace suddenly suggested. She suspected the car ident five years ago might have been the turning point when the real and fake Jessica switched ces. Moreover, someone was trying to prevent them from finding the truth. Could that person be Jessica''s aplice? What were their motives? Xander agreed, "Callum, go ahead and check." Callum answered, "Alright, I''ll get on it." Then, he left to make arrangements. After Callum left, Grace fell deep into thought. She was beginning to feel lost in this deeply woven trick. Seeing this, Xander walked over to her. "Gracie, have something to eat." Grace shook her head. "I don''t have any appetite." Xander reached out and held her hand without protest. "Don''t overthink it. I''m here." Grace looked up, meeting his gaze. At that moment, her heart eased a little bit. She smiled and nodded. "I know, Xander." Just then, her phone rang, startling her. It wasn''t just anyone calling; it was Benjamin. "Mr. Hawkins, is there something you need?" Benjamin had justnded in Coronia and couldn''t wait to call Grace. "Grace, are you okay?" Grace was puzzled. Since when did Benjamin care about her? "Mr. Hawkins, I think your concern might be misced. I''m doing fine." Benjamin looked at the gloomy weather and said, "I''m in Coronia." It was a simple statement, but it made Grace''s heart skip a beat. She clenched her hand tightly, and memories of the past began to resurface. How could she have forgotten? This city carried her first memory of Benjamin. Those memories shed through her head. "Grace, I want to see you," Benjamin said. However, Grace responded nonchntly, "I''m sorry, Mr. Hawkins. I don''t have the time." She was about to hang up, but Benjamin stopped her. "Are you investigating Jessica?" It was more of a statement than a question. That meant he was already aware of the situation. Grace didn''t beat around the bush. "Mr. Hawkins, as always, you''re quite up to date. But this has nothing to do with you." But Benjamin insisted, "I came here because of this, Grace. Can we meet and discuss this?" Chapter 400 Stop Investigating Chapter 400 Stop Investigating Grace wanted to refuse. But Benjamin''s words were too tempting. He must have found out something for him toe here out of the blue. Grace didn''t give him an immediate answer. Instead, she looked at Xander. After some thought, she said, "I''ll send you my location." "Okay." After ending the call, Grace wanted to exin, but Xander had already read her mind. "Gracie, do what you think is right." Grace was surprised for a moment and then nodded gently. ¡­ N?velDrama.Org owns this. In just an hour, Benjamin arrived. When he saw Grace, his eyes lit up with surprise. Larry, who had followed him, was the first to greet her, "Ms. Lewis!" "Larry, it''s been a while." Grace''s tone remained the same, which surprised Larry. Even though her position was higher than his now, she didn''t treat him any differently. That warmed Larry''s heart. Grace politely offered, "Mr. Hawkins, please have a seat." She felt the distance between them had grown. Benjamin furrowed his brows in displeasure. However, Grace got straight to the point and asked, "Mr. Hawkins, you came all this way, so I assume it''s not just for a friendly chat. Why don''t you state your purpose?" Benjamin smirked. He hesitated before asking, "Grace, what have you found about Jessica in your investigation?" Grace looked away and didn''t answer him immediately. Benjamin continued, "Grace, please stop investigating, alright?" It was the first time Benjamin had spoken to her in this manner. His tone was softer instead of his usual authoritative one. Grace was bewildered. "Do you even know what you''re saying?" "I know you''re innocent and couldn''t have copied her design. But, Grace, continuing this investigation won''t benefit you. It''s better to stop now. I can find a way to help prove your innocence." Grace chuckled, but it wasn''t a genuine smile. Instead, it held a hint of sarcasm. "Mr. Hawkins, is this the purpose of your visit today?" "No, I just¡ª" Grace interrupted him, saying, "When did you be so close to Jessica? Close enough toe to mediate on her behalf?" In truth, Grace was surprised. It seemed like Benjamin and Jessica had some secrets between them, or perhaps Benjamin knew the truth. Grace voiced her inner doubts. "Benjamin, what do you know?" Benjamin waved his hand, dismissing Larry, who took the hint and left them alone. "Grace, some things can''t be exined in a few words, but I hope you can trust me and stop the investigation." Grace smirked and looked at him coldly. She sat there silently, as if she were lost in some memory. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Benjamin, do you know why I had been so persistent about you all those years?" Benjamin''s eyes brightened with anticipation at her words. He seemed eager to know her answer. Grace lowered her gaze and said self-deprecatingly, "It''s ironic when you think about it. After going in circles, I''ve ended up in this city again. But you''re no longer the same guy as the one in my memories." Benjamin didn''t respond. He clenched his hands on both sides silently. After a pause, he smiled and asked, "What was I like?" Chapter 401 Nothing Between Us Chapter 401 Nothing Between Us Benjamin clearly felt the atmosphere change when he asked that question. Grace''s thoughts drifted far away, and she returned to her senses after some time. "It''s been too long. I don''t remember." A hint of disappointment shed in Benjamin''s eyes. "Do you not remember, or are you choosing not to?" Grace smirked and looked at him. "Mr. Hawkins, can you tell me the truth? What''s your rtionship with Jessica?" "Would you believe me if I said it''s nothing?" Benjamin asked self-mockingly. He had never humbled himself to this point. "Grace, if you insist on continuing the investigation, you must be prepared. I''m warning you. I don''t want you to get hurt." "Benjamin, you sound ridiculous. You''re acting irrationally under the guise of protecting me? Or do you think your actions are truly for my benefit?" "It''s not¡ª" Benjamin started, but there was nothing more he could say. He couldn''t find an excuse. He begged earnestly, "Grace, just listen to me just this once, okay?" Just as Grace was about to speak, Xander spoke up from behind. "Gracie," Xander called out and walked to her side. Callum followed closely. He greeted Benjamin with a smile, "Aren''t you Mr. Hawkins from Hawkins Group? I''ve heard so much about you!" Benjamin looked at Callum and smirked. "Mr. Stevens, it''s been a long time." Callum had long known about what had happened between Grace and Benjamin, and because of that, he didn''t have a good impression of Benjamin. However, he had to admit that Benjamin was a powerful man. He was a legendary figure that wasn''t to be underestimated. "Mr. Hawkins, it''s nice to meet you. I wonder what you''re discussing with Grace?" Callum asked. "Grace, are you dating him?" Benjamin asked coldly. The atmosphere around them suddenly became tense. "Benjamin, this is personal and has nothing to do with you. If you have nothing else to say, please leave." Grace ordered him to leave immediately. Seeing this, Callum quickly added, "Mr. Hawkins, you should leave the past behind. People need to move forward in life." The implication behind his words was clear. Benjamin and Grace''s rtionship was in the past, while Grace and Xander were a perfect match. "Grace, is this what you think as well?" Grace didn''t answer Benjamin''s question, but her attitude made everything clear. Seeing this, Xander took Grace''s hand and said, "Gracie, there''s been a new development here. We need to go." Grace''s interest was piqued. "What is it?" Xander turned to Benjamin and said, "Mr. Hawkins, we have other matters to attend to. We''ll take our leave for now."N?velDrama.Org content. Chapter 402 Breakthrough Chapter 402 Breakthrough Xander left with Grace without waiting for Benjamin to answer. All of a sudden, Benjamin was the only person left in the enormous lobby. He was like a lone boat bobbing on the vast ocean, and he still couldn''t find the right direction. After some time, Larry walked over to him. "Are you alright, Mr. Hawkins?" Benjamin''s eyes focused again, and he slowly opened his mouth. "Larry, tell me. What was I like before?" Larry pressed his lips together. "Mr. Hawkins, are you thinking about Ms. Lewis?" He had been Benjamin''s secretary for many years, and he had personally seen how Grace and Benjamin had interacted over the past three years. Although he hadn''t known who Grace was at the beginning, from their daily lives, he could see that Benjamin treated Grace differently from others. It just seemed that Benjamin had never realized it himself. "Mr. Hawkins, you have always treated Ms. Lewis differently. However, even now, you still don''t understand why you treat her differently." Larry''s words made Benjamin think deeply once more. Larry sighed. It was always easier for others to see things clearly! ¡­ Grace left with Xander. The moment they got in the car, Grace couldn''t wait to ask, "Cal, what have you found out?" Callum gave Xander the floor. "Don''t worry, Grace. I''ve sent all the information to Xander. It will be better if he tells you." Perplexed, Grace looked at Xander. "Xander? What''s this about?" Xander exined slowly, "You asked Cal to investigate Jessica''s friends and family, and he found a very important person." "Who is it?" Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Xander handed her a document. "This is Jessica''s best friend, Adeline Wentworth. They grew up together and are as close as sisters." Grace flipped through the document, and a picture of a young woman caught her eye. "It''s just strange that they stopped contacting each other after that car ident five years ago. But the most important thing is that she''s a single mother. She''s currently operating a bookstore on the street in front of Coronia University." Grace nodded in understanding. "Let''s go and meet her." After all, she wanted to know what kind of person Jessica had been in the past. Why had Adeline suddenly broken off contact with Jessica? The two of them had been such good friends. There must be a special reason for suddenly breaking off all contact. The car then took off in the direction of Coronia University. Callum was a very responsible driver, and he drove the car steadily until they stopped at the entrance to the bookstore. He said, "This is it, Grace." Grace and Xander exchanged nces before getting out of the car together. Grace walked in through the front door. The bookstore was quaint, and the decor was vintage. The moment they entered, they saw rows of bookcases. Beside them was a bar that had a variety of drinks on offer. "Hello, what would you like to order?" The owner looked up. Grace looked up and immediately recognized the woman in front of her as the one in the photo. She was Jessica''s good friend, Adeline. Seeing that Grace was an unfamiliar face, Adeline began giving a short introduction. "We have a wide range of books avable in our store. If you can''t find the book that you want, tell me the title, and I''ll help you check on theputer." Chapter 403 Best Friend Chapter 403 Best Friend Grace inclined her head slightly and walked over. "Excuse me, you''re Adeline Wentworth, right?" Adeline was rather surprised. She immediately looked guarded as she looked at Grace, then at Xander beside her. Finally, she asked, "Do you know me?" "Ms. Wentworth, we''ve only heard Jessica mention you. We were just passing by and came to see you." Upon the mention of Jessica''s name, Adeline was slightly startled. A sh of uneasiness crossed her features, and then she asked uncertainly, "Jessica? You know Jessica?" Grace assented. Adelineughed, and her tone became unfriendly. "Are you joking? I grew up with Jessica, and in all those years, I''ve never heard her mention you. "Tell me who you really are! Were you sent here by that asshole, Enzo Burke, to persuade me? I''m telling you, I gave birth to my son, and he has no rtion to that asshole, Enzo! "If you think you can take my child from me, then you''re dreaming! And you''re posing as Jessica''s friends on top of that! How could you say such a clumsy lie with a straight face? Get lost!" When she finished speaking, Adeline immediately turned around and picked up a broom. She looked like she was ready to chase them out. Grace was bbergasted and hurriedly exined, "Ms. Wentworth, you''ve misunderstood us. We don''t know the Enzo that you''re talking about at all¡ª" Adeline didn''t believe them. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "Stop lying to me! Go and tell Enzo that if he wants my son, he''ll have to go through the necessary legal proceedings. If he wants to go to court, I''m game any time!" Grace waspletely confused. What on earth was all this about? Xander was one step ahead, and he stood in front of Grace, blocking the broom that Adeline was wielding. "Ms. Wentworth, listen to me! You really have misunderstood us. We came here to talk about Ms. Jessica. As for the child custody battle between you and Mr. Burke, I believe I can help you." As soon as he said this, Adeline stopped what she was doing. She looked uncertainly at Xander. "You ¡­ you can help me?" Xander said, "I can contact the bestwyer in child custody battles to help you win this case." Upon hearing this, a light appeared in Adeline''s eyes. "Are you telling the truth?" Xander assented. "But first, you''ve got to put the broom down." When Adeline heard that, she quickly put the broom away. "I''m very sorry for any offense made just now." Xander exhaled and looked at Grace, who was beside him. Grace understood his intentions and said, "Ms. Wentworth, we can help you fight your court case, but there are some things that we need your help with." Adeline considered it seriously for a while before she said, "Come on in. Let''s talk." She turned and walked into an inner room. Grace and Xander exchanged nces before following her. Adeline poured out some tea for them and got straight to the point. "What do you want to know?" Grace didn''t beat around the bush either. She asked, "Ms. Wentworth, weren''t you and Jessica best friends? We want to know why you both suddenly stopped contacting each other." When she said this, Adeline stiffened visibly. She looked at Grace, a trace of doubt shing through her eyes. She never mentioned her personal matters to outsiders, but the fact that Grace knew about all of this put her on her guard. Chapter 404 Rejection Chapter 404 Rejection Adeline seemed to lose focus momentarily. Then, she said, "Why do you want to know about this? Isn''t it normal for friends to lose contact?" "But you grew up together, and you must have a deeper rtionship than most people. Something in particr must have happened to make you suddenly break off contact with each other, right?" Adeline smiled slightly. "You''re overthinking this. It wasn''t anything in particr. It was just that our paths in life diverged. "She''s now an internationally renowned designer who''s in high demand. I''m just a single mother who was cheated on by a scumbag. I''m just scraping by with this bookstore. "The two of us live in twopletely different worlds. There''s no need to bring up the past, is there?" "Is that true?" "Why should I lie to you?" Adeline looked perfectly calm. She asked instead, "Why did youe to me? What''s your purpose? I doubt it''s that simple, is it?" Grace voiced out her doubts. "Ms. Wentworth, I won''t hide things from you. I suspect that the Jessica we''re seeing now isn''t the real Jessica. Someone else has reced her." Adeline looked startled. It took her several seconds to pull herself together. In disbelief, she said, "You must be joking! A person getting reced by another person? That only happens in the movies. How could it happen in real life? Stop joking around with me." Grace stated the evidence for her theory. "It does sound ridiculous, but no matter how much a person changes, their blood type won''t change. Their design style wouldn''t change either." "What are you trying to say?" Adeline sounded harried. She didn''t seem to believe what Grace was saying. However, Grace said, "Five years ago, Jessica was in a car ident that totally ruined her face. Due to this incident, her personality changedpletely, and she broke off contact with you. Don''t you think that it''s strange?" Adeline looked away and said, half to herself, "What''s strange about that? She was in a car ident, and she went through a traumatizing experience. It''s normal to change a little. There''s no need to specte too much about it." "Really? Then let''s make a bet." Adeline looked at Grace in confusion. "A bet? What kind of bet? What''s there to bet on?" "Ms. Wentworth, why don''t you call Jessica right now and ask her about a secret that only the two of you know? See if she can answer you and prove whether or not she''s the real Jessica." Adeline refused at once when she heard this. "Ridiculous! What''s there to say about things in the past? What you''re saying ispletely preposterous, and no matter what you say, I won''t believe it! If there isn''t anything else, I would like you to leave!" N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Adeline obviously didn''t want to be involved in this any further. Beside them, Xander suddenly spoke up. "Ms. Wentworth, you can prove the truth of what we say with just one phone call. Why don''t you just try it?" Adeline said, "There isn''t any point in trying! I don''t contact her much anymore, and it would be too much of a disturbance if I were to call her out of the blue like this. "I don''t care why you came to see me. In any case, I can''t help you, so don''te looking for me again. Thank you for being willing to provide awyer to help me with thewsuit. I don''t have anything to say about the rest." Chapter 405 Autistic Chapter 405 Autistic Grace frowned slightly. Were they just going to give up? She wouldn''t ept that! N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. At that moment, a tiny figure caught Grace''s attention. Not far from them, a little boy squatted in a corner, holding a Rubik''s cube in his hands. He was ying with it intently, and his fingers were a blur as he moved the squares on the cube. In less than half a minute, he had solved it. Grace rose and walked over to the little boy. "Ms. Wentworth, is this your son?" Adeline thought that Grace was nning something and hurried over to stop her. "What are you doing? Don''t touch my son! I''ll fight to the death with anyone who touches my son!" Grace was frightened by her ferocity. She hurriedly exined, "You misunderstood me. I just noticed that he''s very good at solving the Rubik''s cube. Most children of his age aren''t that mentally developed, and he looks like he''s very good at it. "The fact that he''s able to solve a Rubik''s cube in less than a minute shows that he must have very high intelligence." Upon hearing these words, Adeline appeared happy for the first time in a long time. She grabbed Grace''s arm in slight disbelief. "Is that true?" Grace couldn''t understand why she was reacting so strongly. However, she said truthfully, "Yes! Most three-year-old children have difficulty ying with a Rubik''s cube, especially a 12x12 one. But he does it very well, which shows that he must have talent." Adeline''s eyes reddened at once. "They all say that my son''s an idiot who has autism. You''re the first person to say that he''s smart." Grace was surprised. Then, understanding dawned on her, and she asked, "Did you say that he''s autistic?" Adeline nodded. "The doctor said that he was born with it and has a very withdrawn personality. He''s now three years old, but he can''t evenmunicate simply." Adeline could go on forever when it came to her son. Finally, she sighed. "No matter what, I have to do my best to help Reggie." Grace looked at the little boy. She walked over, picked up a toy, and then arranged it into a symbol. Then she asked, "You''re Reggie, aren''t you?" Reggie stopped what he was doing and looked at her with a pair of clear, bright eyes. However, he didn''t say anything. Grace said, "Reggie, you must be a smart boy! Can you tell me how to move two of the sticks without changing the shape of this symbol?" Reggie seemed to be thinking about what she had said. He turned to look at the symbol on the floor. Without thinking too much, he reached out and moved two sticks. As expected, the symbol on the ground didn''t change at all. Adeline, who was watching, was speechless with shock. "How ¡­ how could this be? Reggie, do you understand what we''re saying?" Adeline embraced him at once, tears streaming down her cheeks. Everyone said that children were a mother''s Achilles heel, and this was definitely true. Grace confirmed her own guesses through Reggie''s reaction. "I don''t think there''s anything wrong with Reggie''s intelligence. Quite the contrary, he''s even smarter than most children. "If we give him a bit more time, he''ll definitely be able tomunicate well with people." When Grace finished speaking, Reggie smiled slightly. He reached out and held Grace''s hand, his eyes sparkling. Chapter 406 The Truth Chapter 406 The Truth Adeline was shocked when she saw this. Was this really her son, Reggie? Was this the Reggie who didn''t want to interact with other people and who was always lost in his own world? Adeline couldn''t believe this! Then, she looked at Grace gratefully. Grace held Reggie''s hand. "Good boy, Reggie! You''re the best!" Reggie nodded obediently. Adeline was extremely emotional. Reggie had never interacted with a stranger like this in his entire life, but Grace had managed to do it. This made her feel extremely grateful to Grace. "Thank you! Thank you!" Grace shook her head slightly. "You''re wee. There''s nothing wrong with Reggie, so let''s not treat him as a problematic child." Adeline nodded vigorously. "I know. I know about it all ¡­" Even though Xander and Grace hadn''t managed to find out about Jessica from Adeline, they still felt that it had been worth the trip. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "Ms. Wentworth, if there isn''t anything else, we''ll take our leave. Thank you for your time today." Grace and Xander turned to leave when they had finished speaking. The two of them had just reached the entrance of the bookstore when Adeline rushed up to them. "Wait!" Grace stopped. Adeline ran in front of her and said, "You''re right, the current Jessica is a fake!" When she said this, Grace''s heart skipped a beat. Although she had guessed that this was a possibility, she still wanted to know the entire truth of the matter. Adeline looked around and said in a small voice, "Come with me. I''ll take you somewhere." Grace looked at Xander in surprise, then nodded at Adeline, who turned and shut the bookstore''s front door. She told the staff to look after Reggie and then went out with Grace and Xander. ¡­ On the way there, Grace couldn''t help asking, "Ms. Wentworth, where are you taking us?" Adeline just said, "You''ll know in a moment." Grace''s curiosity grew even stronger, and she began to feel a little excited. The car drove steadily on, and they finally reached the city''s outskirts as per the location that Adeline had given them. When the car stopped, Grace saw several huge letters some distance away, and a bold theory began to form in her mind. "Ms. Wentworth, is this a cemetery?" Grace asked uncertainly. But this time, Adeline didn''t try to hide anything. She murmured in assent, "The answer you want is here." Then, she got out of the car first. Grace and Xander followed closely, and the three of them climbed down some stairs. They kept going until they reached a point halfway down the hill, where Adeline stopped. She didn''t say anything but continued walking straight along the path that ran beside the right side of the cemetery. After about ten paces, she stopped in front of a tombstone. "What ¡­ what''s going on?" Adeline didn''t answer Grace but reached out to clean off the dust on the tombstone instead. When she had finished cleaning, she said slowly, "You''re right. The current Jessica isn''t the real Jessica. My friend died five years ago in that car ident." Her words shocked Grace. Although Grace had thought of many possibilities, she had never thought that the real Jessica had already died. Then, who was the current Jessica? Grace had clearly felt that there seemed to be a huge feud between the current Jessica and her, judging by thetter''s animosity toward her. Grace looked up and asked, "Then, do you know who the current "Jessica" is?" Chapter 407 Death Certificate Chapter 407 Death Certificate Adeline was startled, but she shook her head. She looked at the photograph on the tombstone. "I don''t know." Grace was obviously disappointed by her answer. Adeline continued, "But I can prove that she''s fake." Grace''s eyes lit up with hope. Adeline didn''t try to hide anything. She squatted down and slowly moved the right brick in front of the tombstone. A small gap appeared, and then she pulled out a stack of documents from inside. "These are the documents rted to the car ident and Jessica''s death certificate. And ¡­ the design drafts that Jessica once treasured the most." Grace and Xander exchanged looks, then reached out to take them. Grace took a deep breath before opening them. "Jessica was burned very badly in the ident, and her parents'' deaths were a huge blow to her. At some point, she lost the courage to continue living." "Even though the doctors tried their best to save her, she didn''t make it." There was silence. Grace looked at the hospital documents and death certificate in her hand, feeling conflicted. "Then ¡­ when did the current Jessica rece her?" Grace asked doubtfully. More theories about who the current Jessica really was began popping up in her mind. Adeline pulled out her phone and tapped on the screen quickly. Then, she handed it to Grace. "This is the video of the first time the fake Jessica appeared in the public eye. You can see from the date that it was five years ago." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Five years ago? Grace was even more surprised. She couldn''t remember much about the people and events of five years ago. At that time, she had been studying at Coronia University. How could she have offended Jessica back then? Beside them, Xander suddenly said, "They had already nned it all out five years ago. It looks like they really put in painstaking effort to pull this off." Grace didn''t understand. "Xander, what could this person want?" "Gracie, someone who spent that much time plotting such aplex n must not have done it on a whim. Think about it. Have you ever offended anyone? Or does the Lewis family have any competitors?" A realization dawned on Grace just then. As a prominent family in Frenda and one of the richest families on the globe, they controlled the world''s economic flow. They were bound to have many opponents in the business world. But if the people behind this had really spent five years nning this, they must be really cunning! "I''ll talk to Aaron about this and get him to investigate it more. Now we''ve found at least two pieces of evidence at Coronia University. "The first can prove that you didn''t giarize! The boutique''s reputation can be restored, and secondly, we now know that the current Jessica is a fake! "As for her true identity, why don''t we start with her and get her to expose herself?" There was silence. After listening to Xander''s analysis, Grace had a clear idea of the path she needed to take. "You''re right. We can start with Jessica and investigate who she really is." Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang in her pocket. She looked at the number and smiled coldly. "Speak of the devil." Xander held her hand tightly. "Pick up. Let''s see what she has to say." Grace agreed and answered the call. Then, Jessica''s voice traveled through the phone. Chapter 408 Provocation Chapter 408 Provocation "Grace, it''s getting closer to the time we agreed on. Have you prepared a billion dors?" Grace huffed coldly. With a hint of nonchnce in her tone, she asked, "Why are you so worried, Ms. Landon? It''s just one billion dors." Jessica startedughing on the other end of the phone. "It seems that the Lewis family''s heiress isn''t like ordinary people. But I still have to remind you that if the money doesn''t arrive when time is up, you shouldn''t me me for not showing any mercy." Grace raised her wrist to look at her watch. "There are still 15 hours left until the promised time. Don''t be anxious, Ms. Landon. What has toe wille." "Then, I''ll just wait for good news from you." She hung up, leaving only the sound of the dial tone. Grace gripped the phone in her hand tightly. "Xander, let''s go back to Pamore." She would y this game with that impostor. "Ms. Lewis, I''ve told you everything I know. If there isn''t anything else, I''ll take my leave." Adeline bid them goodbye. Upon seeing this, Xander also said, "Don''t worry, Ms. Wentworth. We will definitely help you as promised." As he spoke, Xander pulled out a business card with Callum''s number on it. "When the timees, call him. He''ll help you solve all your problems." Adeline took it and thanked him profusely. "Thank you ¡­ Thank you!" After watching Adeline leave, Grace and Xander also got in a car and left the ce. However, after Grace and Xander had left, Adeline suddenly came out from behind a corner. Beside her stood a man wearing a mask. He handed her a check. "This money is your payment for today. It should be enough for you to live a carefree life for the rest of your life." Adeline looked down. She said nothing and didn''t take it. The man seemed impatient. "Take the money, and take your child away from here. Remember, nevere back." Adeline pressed her lips together tightly and took it. "Okay. I''ll go far away, and I won''te back." The man seemed to be very satisfied with her answer. He looked up in the direction that Grace and Xander had left, then turned and walked away. ¡­ At the private helipad, the helicopter''s propellers had already started spinning. Callum looked longingly at Xander and said pitifully, "Xander, Grace, if you just leave like this, I''m going to miss you. I don''t even know when I can see you again." Xander was exasperated. "Cal, remember to take care of the things we told you about. As for meeting ¡­" Xander looked at Grace, and his tone became lighthearted. "You''re wee to visit us in Pamore at any time. "But you''re not getting any younger. It''s time for you to find a partner. The next time we meet, you shouldn''t be alone anymore." Callum froze where he stood. This world was too unkind to single people! "Xander, I can''t believe that you''re actually pushing me to find a partner! What a blow! How could you?" N?velDrama.Org content. Grace could barely suppress herughter as she quicklyforted him. "Don''t worry. Those who are single will find their happiness too. Perhaps it will just fall out of the sky." However, Callum pulled Grace over to him. "Grace, the next time I''m in Pamore, remember to introduce yourdy friends to me." Grace was at a loss for words. Smirking, Callum didn''t give her a chance to refuse. "It''s settled then, Grace." Chapter 409 A Tough Battle Chapter 409 A Tough Battle As Callum finished talking, he waved at them. Grace spread her hands in resignation. "Xander, is he interested in my friends?" Xander raised his eyebrows. "Think carefully about it. Who would it be?" Grace shook her head slightly. "I can''t guess. But matters of the heart are like that. It all depends on the person involved. Let him go ahead, then." Xander smiled fondly. "Alright, let''s go." The private ne took off from Coronia and flew 30 thousand miles in the sky. Finally, it stopped at the private helipad in Pamore. Time had passed quickly, and it was alreadyte at night. Emily and Zoey had been waiting for a long time. When they saw Grace, Emily immediately lunged at her. She pulled her into an embrace. "Gracie, you''re finally back!" Grace patted her shoulder. "Alright, alright. Aren''t I back now? Plus, I gained a lot from this trip." Emily let her go and hurriedly asked, "Have you found the original design drafts?" Grace murmured in assent and quickly pulled out a stack of documents. She handed it over to Zoey, who was nearby. "Zoey, it''s up to you from now on!" Zoey raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled mischievously. "This is nothing! Just let me know when you want this breaking news to trend." "I''m meeting Jessica at 10:00 am. So let''s make it 10:30 am then." Zoey gave her a thumbs-up. "Leave it to me. I won''t disappoint you." Grace and Xander exchanged nces, and both of them knew at once. Tomorrow would be a tough battle. ¡­ The next day, Jessica had arranged to meet them at the Pamore Pentagon. Grace and Xander arrived punctually at 10:00 am on the dot. "Where''s Ms. Landon?" When the bodyguard heard Grace''s question, he nodded slightly but said nothing. Then, he pushed open the door and gestured for them to enter. Grace and Xander walked in. An extravagantly styled office appeared in front of them. The decor was extremely eye-catching. Jessica slowly turned around in her chair and looked up at the two of them. She smiled in satisfaction. "It looks like you''re pretty punctual." As she spoke, she strode toward Grace, looking thetter up and down. However, she didn''t see what she was looking for. "Ms. Lewis, did youe empty-handed? Where''s the money I asked for? Why didn''t you bring it?" Grace smiled slightly, as calm as always. N?velDrama.Org content. She looked up, meeting Jessica''s gaze head-on. "Don''t be in such a rush, Ms. Landon. It''s just a billion dors. You''ll get it eventually." Jessica grinned triumphantly. "Are you nning to give it to me in cash, Ms. Lewis? One billion dors in cash would make a pretty big pile." "You seem to care a lot about this money, Ms. Landon. But that can''t be. You don''t look like youck money." Jessica huffed coldly. "Let''s skip the niceties and get straight to the point. Take out the money, and then we can talk." "Don''t be in such a rush, Ms. Landon. Before that, I have something that I want you to see." Jessica looked doubtfully at Grace, and for some reason, her heart skipped a beat. A sense of uneasiness rose up in her, and she looked guardedly at Grace. "What do you want to show me?" Grace slowly took out a sketchbook from her pocket. "It isn''t anything much. Just a sketchbook." Jessica looked at the sketchbook, but she didn''t seem to recognize it at all. She asked perplexedly, "What is this?" Chapter 410 Unbelievable Chapter 410 Unbelievable Graceughed. "What? You don''t even recognize your own sketchbook, Ms. Landon?" Disbelief shed in Jessica''s eyes. "This ¡­ this is my sketchbook?" Grace nodded and said matter-of-factly, "Yes! I made a trip to our alma mater, Coronia University, and I found this sketchbook. What do you think? Are you interested in seeing your previous work?" "You went to Coronia University?" Grace hummed in assent. "Yes, I did. I went to find evidence that could prove my innocence, but I unexpectedly found something even more interesting." Jessica looked perplexedly at her. "What did you find?" Grace waved the sketchbook in her hand with an indifferent expression. "It''s all in here. Do you want to have a look?" Jessica inhaled deeply, unsure of what tricks Grace had up her sleeve. However, she didn''t reveal anything in her expression. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Then, Jessica reached out and snatched the sketchbook from Grace''s hand. She flipped it open. She went through the design drafts for clothes, one after the other, and she couldn''t deny that the actual Jessica had been very talented in design. Every stroke of the pen showed her skill, and every design draft was signed with the name "Jessica Landon". Jessica knew very well that she hadn''t drawn these design drafts. However, she closed the sketchbook without hesitating. "You''ve gone to a lot of trouble, Grace, and you even found the design drafts I drew in college. But what does that show? Your giarism has be a fact. What do you think you can prove by getting these?" Grace nodded slowly. "It''s interesting that you would say that. However, Ms. Landon, I''m quite curious about how one person can have twopletely different design styles. Can you exin that to me?" When she said this, Jessica clutched the sketchbook in her hand tightly and pretended not to understand. "I don''t know what you''re talking about." Grace had guessed that she would say that. "Really? It looks like you haven''t looked closely at your design drafts from five years ago, although I have to say that you''re pretty good at imitating the real Jessica." She continued, "After stic surgery, even your face looks pretty much the same as the actual Jessica. But you forgot that it''s impossible for someone''s design style to undergo a big change. "And no matter how much you change, your blood type wouldn''t change either. Perhaps you''ve forgotten the information that you filled in your student file when you got into college." Jessica had never imagined that Grace would find out about this. There was a sh of panic in her eyes. Grace had no intention of letting her go, and her voice drifted over lightly. "Apart from this, there''s also ¡­" Grace grabbed her arm and forcefully pulled up her sleeve, revealing her pale skin. Sheughed coldly. "The real Jessica was burned in the car ident five years ago, and she was scarred all over her body. However, there are no scars on your body at all." Jessica pulled her arm back instinctively, but Grace was so strong that she couldn''t break free. "I don''t know what you''re talking about." Grace said firmly, "You don''t understand? Then, let me spell it out for you. You aren''t Jessica at all! The real Jessica died in the car ident five years ago, and you''re just an impostor!" Chapter 411 Flawless Acting Chapter 411 wless Acting When Jessica heard this, she couldn''t helpughing out loud. Herughter was shrill and jarring to the ears. It made everyone who heard it frown. She only stopped after a long time and then pulled herself free of Grace''s grip. She said coldly, "What kind of nonsense is that? If I''m not Jessica, then who am I?" "That''s what I want to know too." Grace looked grim as she stared at Jessica, trying to get something out of her. However, Jessica onlyughed. "Is this the evidence you found, Grace? As far as I can see, this doesn''t prove anything. "Can this prove your innocence? I don''t think so! The fact is that you giarized me, and I advise you not to keep badgering me or making up ridiculous excuses like this." Grace raised her eyebrows. "So you won''t admit it?" Jessica looked righteous. "What do I have to admit? Do I need to prove my own identity? You don''t see any burn scars on my body because I had a skin grafting operation, which covered the scars very well. "As for the blood type that you mentioned, maybe it was recorded incorrectly when I registered for college. The most ridiculous thing you''ve said is that my design style has changed. That''s the biggest joke I''ve heard! "Everyone has a different understanding of design at different stages in life, and that''s normal. My style was immature back then, and now I''ve matured. That isn''t strange, is it?" There was silence. Jessica had refuted every one of Grace''s ims and didn''t look guilty at all. Grace couldn''t help but admire how quickly she had reacted and how calm she was. Grace couldn''t help apuding her. The sound of pping rang out, and Jessica looked confused. "What are you pping for?" Grace answered calmly, "Ms. Landon, your acting is wless. It''s a pity you aren''t an actress. If you decide to get into acting, I believe that you can get an Oscar!" "I could say the same about you, Grace! We''re both the same." Grace shook her head slightly and sighed. "It''s just ¡­ What a pity! No matter how silver-tongued you are, you can''t change the facts. Although you tly deny that you''re posing as the real Jessica, the truth can''t be hidden." As she spoke, Grace pulled out the death certificate that she had gotten from Adeline. "This is enough to prove that the real Jessica has already passed away. Wouldn''t you say so?" When Jessica saw it, her expression changedpletely, and she blurted out without thinking, "How did you get that?" She moved forward as if to snatch it from Grace. Grace dodged and managed to avoid her. "Don''t be in such a rush. This is just a copy. If you want it, I don''t mind giving you one." Jessica clenched her fists and banged them hard on the table. Then, she beganughing loudly. "Grace, it seems that you weren''t sincere abouting here to settle things. You went and dug out so many things, which clearly shows that you don''t want to discuss this properly. "Since that''s the case, don''t me me for not ying nice. If I can''t get the one billion dors ¡­ I. Will. Ruin. You." As Jessica spoke, she pulled out her phone and made a call. "Do it!" Faced with Jessica''s actions, Grace remained calm. She pulled out the chair in front of her and sat down impassively. Xander brought a teapot over to pour her a cup of tea. Grace took a sip and savored its taste. "Ms. Landon, this is pretty good tea."N?velDrama.Org content. Chapter 412 Guessing Her Identity Chapter 412 Guessing Her Identity Jessicaughed arrogantly. She didn''t know if Grace didn''t understand how serious things were or if she just didn''t care at all. Her voice was dripping with scorn as she said, "Grace, oh Grace. How could you be in the mood to drink tea at this point? Within half an hour, your reputation will be ruined. I''ll see if you can stillugh then." Grace just answered carelessly, "Really? Let''s wait and see." She had just finished speaking when she saw that the long hand on her watch was pointing to 10:30 am. Her lips curled. "The show has begun." Jessica didn''t understand what she meant, but two minutester, her phone rang. "Bad news, Ms. Landon. Something''s happened." The voice on the other end of the phone said something, and Jessica''s expression changed completely. "That''s impossible ¡­ It''spletely impossible." Jessica hung up at once and pointed at Grace. "It''s you! You''re the one who did all this! You bitch, how could you be so venomous?" Grace said slowly, "That''s a bit too much, Ms. Landon. I''m just giving you a taste of your own medicine, wouldn''t you say?" Jessica''s knees buckled, and she stumbled. Luckily, the bodyguard behind her caught her before she fell. "Jessica, you plotted to frame me for giarism, and now the evidence has been revealed to the public. It''s clear who actually giarized. The renowned designer, Jion, is just a giarist!" Jessica''s fists clenched, and she looked up in disbelief. "How did you find this evidence?" She had been sure that that person had destroyed everything for her and that the files had been cleaned thoroughly. She had even destroyed the evidence in Benjamin''s hands. How had Grace still managed to get evidence against her? "Ms. Landon, it isn''t important how I got the evidence. The important thing is¡ªwho are you?" Grace asked sternly. When Jessica heard that, she beganughing maniacally. Even though Grace had investigated so much, all she could prove was that Jessica was an impostor. As for her real identity, Grace hadn''t managed to find out. This gave Jessica a glimmer of hope. "Don''t be in such a rush, Grace! You''ll know eventually." Jessica said meaningfully, "I''ve lost today''s battle, and I didn''t get a billion dors! But I will make you pay for humiliating me over that billion dors." Grace''s eyes darkened. She had clearly gotten the main point. "A billion dors? Why are you so obsessed with the one billion dors, Ms. Landon? Why isn''t it a bigger amount?" Jessicaughed and said meaningfully, "That''s something I should ask you, isn''t it?" "Grace, this is just the beginning. The game should be yed slowly for it to be interesting, don''t you think?" When she finished, Jessica pped her hands and turned to look at Grace coldly. "Grace, today you destroyed the career I built wholeheartedly, and you''ve made it impossible for me to stay in the design industry. One day, I will destroy everything you have and ruin your name completely too." Jessica enunciated each word through gritted teeth. When she had finished speaking, she turned and left with her bodyguard. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Grace watched her go, and she suddenly seemed to think of something. It seemed as if a light had suddenly dawned on her. "Xander, I think I''ve guessed who she is." Chapter 413 It Cant Be Yvonne Chapter 413 It Can''t Be Yvonne The two of them exchanged nces and said simultaneously, "The Quine family?" "The Quine family!" There was a sh of surprise in Grace''s eyes. "Xander, it looks like we had the same thought." "Just now, the fake Jessica kept going on about a billion dors, and it''s not the first time she''s emphasized this amount. Only the Quine family have had a conflict with us over a billion dors. There''s no one else." In a deep, low voice, Xander analyzed the situation. The past incident between Grace and Richard over thetter''s billion-dor finger ring had spread like wildfire through the upper ss society. As a result, the Quine family''s reputation had suffered a great blow. After that there had been the issue with Yvonne. Now, the Quines, who had once been one of the leading families in Pamore, werepletely bankrupt! This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. This series of events were all connected to Grace in some way. Therefore, the Quine family was most likely behind the giarism issue. "Plus, I''ve already contacted Aaron, and he hasn''t managed to find out anything about any of the Lewis family''s opponents meddling in this incident. "So we can surmise that the fake Jessica must have some connection with the Quine family." Xander had guessed the same thing as Grace. "We can at least confirm one thing. She''s not Yvonne." After all, this fake Jessica had taken over Jessica''s identity five years ago. "Does Yvonne have a sister?" Grace''s question got right to the heart of the matter. If this fake Jessica was connected to the Quine family and was so hostile toward her, then she must be one of the Quines! It seemed that Yvonne wasn''t the Quine family''s only heiress. "I''ll get someone to investigate right now. We''ll look into all the women from the Quine family in the past three generations who are around 25 years old this year." But Grace said, "Xander, if she''s one of the Quines, then there''s no need to investigate anything. I think there''s someone who will definitely know who she is." Xander''s lips curled into a smile. "Richard?" Grace was amused, and there was a trace of mirth in her eyes. "Xander, can you read my mind? I can''t hide anything from you." Xander looked at her fondly and said, "I''ll get someone to look into Richard right now." Grace murmured in agreement and nodded. His subordinates were very efficient, and within an hour they had found out about Richard''s recent situation. Xander handed Grace the information. "Since the Quine family went bankrupt, Richard has been working at a car wash to make ends meet." Grace raised her eyebrows, and she looked at the figure in the photograph, who seemed to have aged considerably. She was surprised. "The ultimate viin has been reduced to this?" "Even so, he deserved what he got." Xander was neverpassionate toward the weak. In any case, Richard was in this situation today because of his own doing. "Let''s go and meet him." The two of them exchanged nces, and Grace told the driver to get the car ready. The luxurious Rolls-Royce Phantom stopped at the entrance to the car wash, and the window rolled down to reveal Xander''s perfectly chiseled side profile. "Gracie, this is it." Grace looked up, and she immediately spotted Richard, who was in his uniform and was hard at work. At that moment, he was washing the hood of the car in front of him with practiced movements. It was a stark contrast to how arrogant he had been a few months ago. "This ¡­ is Richard?" Her voice carried a note of disbelief. "Let''s go and have a look. Perhaps we can find out something from him." With that, she opened the door and got out of the car, heading straight for the hunched figure. Chapter 414 The Quines Bloodline Chapter 414 The Quines'' Bloodline Richard''s skin was loose, and his hair had turned white. He seemed to have aged several years since Grace hadst seen him. He was so focused on his work that he didn''t notice Grace behind him. It was only when Grace stood in front of him that he said courteously, "Do you need your car washed, miss?" Upon not getting an answer, Richard looked up. When he saw who was in front of him, his kind expression immediately changed. He looked furious. "It''s you!" The bucket in his hand fell to the ground, sending water sshing out onto the floor. Gace smiled, but it didn''t reach her eyes. "Mr. Quine Senior, it''s been a while." Richard clenched his teeth furiously at the sight of Grace. He red at Grace and said very unpleasantly, "What are you doing here?" "Mr. Quine Senior, shall we talk for a while?" Richard huffed coldly and said nastily, "I don''t have anything to say to you. If you''re here to ridicule me, then look at me all you want. Just don''t interrupt my work." He was no longer the arrogant person he had once been. It was as if the past few months had softened his rough edges. But Grace knew that it was all superficial. She could clearly feel the defiance in Richard''s eyes. He didn''t look like he had epted his current situation at all. "Mr. Quine Senior, it won''t take long. If you don''t want to, then I can speak to your boss." When Richard heard that, he said bitterly, "What do you want, Grace? It''s your fault that I''m reduced to this. Aren''t you satisfied? Will you only be happy when you''vepletely gotten rid of me? "Tell me, where did you send Yvonne? She''s the only one on this earth who can carry on the Quine family''s bloodline. You''re trying to erase my family''s bloodline!" Silence ensued for a while. Grace frowned slightly. "Is Yvonne your only granddaughter?" Richard pummeled his chest with his fist but didn''t answer Grace. It was as if he were lost in some kind of great pain. He opened his mouth and grunted, but he couldn''t say anything coherently. Within half a minute, his entire face was flushed bright red. Grace realized that something was wrong and hurriedly asked, "What''s the matter?" Richard was struggling to say something, but in the next second, he suddenly fell forward. Luckily, Xander caught him. "Gracie, we have to take him to the hospital. Quick!" Grace was shocked by the sudden turn of events. By the time she came to her senses, Richard''s ruddy face had turned pale. Grace realized how serious it was and hurriedly called the bodyguard behind her. They took Richard to the nearest hospital as quickly as they could. ¡­ In the hospital corridor, Grace and Xander leaned against the wall. Neither of them said anything as they looked at the lit operating theater sign. Grace''s brow remained furrowed deeply as she became lost in her thoughts. After a long time, she finally said uneasily, "Xander, what on earth is going on? Richard, he ¡­ he''ll be okay, right?" Xanderforted her. "He''ll be fine. Don''t overthink things." Grace felt that it was all too strange. She had just gone to ask Richard about the fake Jessica, and he had immediately be unwell. this was too much of a coincidence "Xander? Do you think that what we suspected is correct? But then why did Richard say that Yvonne was the only remaining bloodline of the Quine family?"This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 415 I Hope You Stop Here Chapter 415 I Hope You Stop Here Grace couldn''t understand this at all. But she didn''t have time to think more about it as a calm figure walked toward her down the corridor. Benjamin looked at Grace, who was standing next to Xander. His gaze darkened, and he clenched his fists. Beside him, Larry felt the murderous air Benjamin was exuding. He coughed lightly and said, "Ms. Lewis!" Grace raised her eyebrows and turned in surprise. Then, she saw that Benjamin was standing some distance away behind her. She didn''t know how long he had been there. His eyes were focused on the operating theater''s doors, which were tightly shut. "Grace, aren''t you satisfied with how much the Quine family has fallen?" Benjamin''s tone was extremely unpleasant. He faced Grace, looking as if he was about to defend the Quine family. Grace''s eyes narrowed. "Mr. Hawkins, are you here to defend the Quine family?" "No!" Benjamin blurted out as he looked at Grace. "I just hope that you''ll stop here." Grace''s lips curled scornfully. "I thought it was strange when you stopped me from investigating Jessica at Coronia University. Now you''ve appeared here again. Does this mean that you''ve always known who the fake Jessica is?" Benjamin didn''t shrink from the question. He answered directly, "Yes." He added, "But Grace, I still want to ask you to trust me just this once. Stop your investigation. It won''t do you any good to keep looking into it. No matter who this Jessica is, I won''t let her hurt you." This was his promise to her. But Grace found his promiseughable. "Benjamin, don''t you think that what you''re saying is a joke?" Benjamin turned sideways and looked away from her. Then, he said slowly, "Grace, I once promised someone that I would take care of the Quine family. I''ve already broken that promise. So, no matter what you''re going to do next, I hope that you won''t hurt Richard." "Mr. Hawkins!" Larry called out to him quickly, trying to interrupt him. He knew that Benjamin cared a lot about Grace, but saying this would only hurt her and push her further away. "Mr. Hawkins, I''m afraid using the word "hurt" would be inappropriate." Xander shielded Grace in his embrace and rebuked Benjamin harshly. "We have never wanted to do anything to Mr. Quine Senior. Today''s incident was a total ident." "However ¡­" Xander paused, but he sounded confident. "Mr. Hawkins, your fear of us investigating further just makes you look guilty. Do you have some unspeakable secret that has something to do with the fake Jessica?" Xander enunciated each word clearly. Benjamin huffed coldly, and he looked angry. "Don''t make wild guesses."This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Xander''s lip curled as he looked up and locked eyes with Benjamin. The two men were equally strong, and neither of them backed down as they stood there. At that moment, the operating theater''s doors opened, and a doctor rushed out, looking harried. He asked loudly, "Which of you is a family member of the patient?" Benjamin reacted first and ignored Xander. He strode forward. "I''m his family. How is the patient right now?" Chapter 416 The Quine Heiress Chapter 416 The Quine Heiress "It''s not looking good for the patient. He has problems with his heart, and we need to urgently do a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure on his heart. If you''re his family, then please sign the consent form as soon as possible." As he spoke, the doctor handed the surgery consent form to Benjamin. After a moment''s hesitation, Benjamin picked up a pen and signed his own name. "No matter what, please try your best to save him." "Don''t worry, we''ll do our best." Then, there was silence in the corridor once more. When the doctor had returned to the operating theater, Benjamin instructed, "Larry, contact the best heart specialist in the world and get them here immediately." "Yes, Mr. Hawkins." This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Larry went off to the side at once to make calls. Then, Benjamin looked at Grace. Hemanded her to leave at once. "Grace, there''s nothing else to do here. You should leave." Grace didn''t say anything, but truth be told, she was worried for Richard. She hadn''t expected things to get to this point. At that moment, Xander''s phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out and picked up the call. "Mr. Fulton, we''ve found out ¡­" Xander''s eyes darkened. "Speak!" The other person on the phone said something, and Xander''s eyes darkened imperceptibly. "Alright." Then, he hung up. Grace sensed that something was wrong and asked in a low voice, "What is it, Xander?" Xander smiled slightly. "It''s just as we guessed. The fake Jessica is inextricably connected to the Quine family." At these words, Grace''s heart skipped a beat. "She''s one of the Quines?" "The eldest heiress of the Quine family died in a car ident five years ago. Coincidentally, the location of the car ident is in Coronia." When Benjamin heard that, he asked roughly, "Can a dead persone to life again?" Grace frowned when she heard him. "The dead cannote to life again. The only possibility is that this person didn''t die at all. Mr. Hawkins, the fake Jessica is the original Quine heiress, Danielle! Am I right?" Benjaminughed coldly, but he didn''t deny it any further. Grace felt as if she finally understood everything. No wonder the fake Jessica had been so hostile to her from the moment they had met! It would also exin everything that Jessica had done. She was out to get revenge on Grace. "But I''m curious, Mr. Hawkins. Why are you helping her hide it?" Xander asked Benjamin directly. Benjamin stood with one hand in his pocket, his tone disdainful. "Is she Danielle just because you say she is? You should know that the real Daniellie died five years ago. How are you going to prove her identity?" However, Xander had already thought of this. He smiled slightly. "Wait and see, Mr. Hawkins." Benjamin saw that Xander looked extremely confident, as if everything was unfolding the way he had nned. For the first time ever, he looked at Xander properly. This man was even stronger than he had imagined, and it felt like he had finally met his match. ¡­ At the same time, Jessica''s design studio was already packed with reporters. As soon as all the evidence had been exposed online, Jessica had be the object of everyone''s anger. She was also being boycotted by the design industry. Chapter 417 No Way Back Chapter 417 No Way Back In the office, the assistant reported carefully, "Jion, several of our partners have terminated their contracts with us. They''ve forcefully sued us to getpensation for breach of contract. "The suppliers who have already paid are applying to return the products. The store can''t hold anymore, and the clothing factories have stopped production. "This incident is seriously affecting us. Doing PR for the news online isn''t working. No one cares about the price we''re offering." There was silence. When Jessica heard the updates, she was enraged. She angrily swung a hand across everything on the table, sending documents flying to the ground. "Damn it! Get lost, all of you!" Even though the assistant was frightened by Jessica''s outburst, he continued speaking patiently. "Jion, if this goes on, our studio will be forced to close down sooner orter¡ª" Jessica roared, "Then, let''s close down! You all are just useless trash, and it''s not worth keeping you anyway! What are you here for if you can''t even take care of a little thing like this? "Are you just getting paid for nothing? Do you think this ce is a charity? What are you waiting for? Find a solution and make this issue die down! Otherwise, get lost! "Trash, you''re all just a bunch of trash!" Jessica yelled angrily, venting her emotions. But unexpectedly, the assistant lost his patience as well. He yelled that he was quitting and flung the documents he was holding at Jessica. "I''m sick of being treated like shit! Whoever wants this job can have it. I''m done! Do you really think that being the boss makes you special?" He was furious. "What right do you have to say that I''m trash? Have you seen yourself? I''m human too. I''m not here for you to order around ording to your whims!" Having said his piece, he turned around and stormed out. Several other staff members also put down their work and decided to leave. Jessica was seething at their behavior. "Get lost! All of you, get out of my sight! Do you think that the earth will stop spinning without you?" The office emptied gradually as Jessica continued yelling. Soon, there were only a few people left. Jessica beganughing as she slumped in her chair. This was all because of that bitch, Grace. At that thought, resentment filled Jessica''s eyes. She looked like she was ready to destroy the world. "Grace, I won''t let you get away with it!" Just then, Jessica''s personal phone rang. Not many people knew her personal phone number, so anyone who had it must be someone close to her. Whatever the person on the other end said made Jessica''s expression to change drastically. "What did you say? How did this happen? Which hospital is it? I''ll be over right away." Then, she frantically got up and left. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. But the second she reached the lobby downstairs, she was blocked by a swarm of reporters. "Jion, do you have an exnation about the giarism incident?" "Jion, you once advertised yourself as an original designer. You even said that originality will never be defeated and that giarists should be condemned in the hall of shame. How are you going to face the fans who once supported you?" "Jion, how could you do that to them?" Jessica was shocked by their onught, and she retreated backward. "Security! Security!" But no matter how much she shouted and yelled, none of the security guards in the vicinity came forward. Jessica was forced into a corner with countless cameras pointed at her face. Chapter 418 Will She Come Chapter 418 Will She Come Someone even started a live stream on their phone, and the number of viewers began increasing rapidly. There were almost one million people watching. "Jion, can you answer our questions?" "You were the one who giarized Ms. Lewis'' designs from the very beginning, but you falsely used her of giarism and reported her. Where did you get the confidence to do that? Did you really think that the truth would nevere to light? Or were you just betting on getting lucky?" "Jion, what do you n to do next? Will you apologize to the fans who once supported you?" Jessica covered her ears, not wanting to hear any of the reporters'' questions. She kept shaking her head as she muttered, "I didn''t giarize. I''ve been framed. This is all nder! All of you, get away from me! Get away!" But the reporters gave her no chance at all and kept their microphones and cameras in her face. She had no room to breathe. "Jion, please answer our questions." Jessica''s mind went nk. She felt as if she were hearing things. Her brain was bing overstimted, and she felt as if it were about to explode. She screamed at the top of her lungs. Then, she held her head in her hands, crying out in pain. "Get lost. Everybody, get lost!" She stretched out her hands and waved them around wildly, trying to chase off the reporters, but they remained unfazed. Jessica had never been treated this way before, and she felt waves of shock enveloping her. It made her instinctively want to destroy the entire world. N?velDrama.Org content. "Grace, I''m not going to let you get away with this," Jessica said to the cameras through gritted teeth, and in the next second, her vision went ck and she fainted. Emily was watching the live broadcast, and when she saw this, she felt immensely satisfied. "That Jessica is finally reaping what she sowed. This is karma." Beside her, Zoey huffed coldly. "She''s the kind of person who has no sense of shame at all. She''s in this situation because of her own doing." "Luckily, the boutique''s name has finally been cleared, and our clients are returning slowly. We''ve already gotten quite a few custom orders." Emily looked delighted. "The storm has finally passed." But the moment she finished speaking, Zoey handed her the iPad in her hands. "Don''t be too relieved. Jessica isn''t as easy to deal with as we thought." Emily looked at the content on the iPad in surprise. Then, she cried out, "What the hell? She only pretended to faint? This woman is unbelievably sneaky!" The iPad showed the reporters scattering after Jessica fainted. No one went up to check on her. However, after a while, when everyone had left, Jessica got up by herself and slipped away quickly. "Where did she go? We can''t just let her go!" Emily sounded frantic, but Zoey just gave her a reassuring look. "Don''t worry, I''ve arranged for someone to follow her around. They won''t stop until they''ve exposed all her dark ways to the public." Then, Zoey shared the newest developments with Grace. "Gracie, are you satisfied with the results?" Grace looked at the video that Zoey had sent. In it, Jessica looked extremely disheveled, which was a sharp contrast to her usual morous self. It looked like Jessica had really been forced into a corner. Then, Grace looked up at the clock on the hospital wall. She asked, "Xander, do you think she''ll come?" Chapter 419 True Colors Chapter 419 True Colors It was hard to answer Grace''s question because Jessica had disappeared. Half an hourter, Zoey sent her a message. "Gracie, Jessica''s disappeared." N?velDrama.Org content. Grace was startled. "What did you say?" Zoey exined, "The person I hired to follow her said that she got out of a car right at the hospital''s entrance. But then she was immediately whisked away in a ck car." Grace clenched her fist when she heard that. "She was taken away?" "It looks like the other party is professionally trained. Their movements were practiced, and by the time my guy realized what was happening, Jessica had already disappeared." "Okay." Grace hung up, her eyes darkening. She looked toward the tightly closed door of the operating theater, where Richard was still undergoing surgery. Jessica had already shown up at the hospital, which showed that she and the Quines didn''t have an ordinary rtionship. But then who had taken her away? ¡­ That night, the hospital was quiet, and there was no one in the corridor. The only sound was the beeping of machinesing faintly from the hospital room. At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared from the emergency stairs. She was covered from head to toe and wore a mask. The only thing that could be seen were her eyes. Then, she pushed the door open and walked into the VIP hospital room. Jessica trod lightly, afraid that she would disturb the person on the hospital bed. She finally reached the bed and saw Richard, who was barely hanging on. At once, her eyes reddened. "Grandfather, I''m back¡ª" Jessica took Richard''s hand, her eyes tender. The man who had always doted on her had been reduced to this. "Grandfather, don''t worry. I''ll reinstate the Quine family and make us return to the peak of our glory. I''ll save the career that you spent your entire life building. "I''ll make everyone who hurt you and our family pay. Grandfather, wait for me and recover quickly. I won''t make you wait too long." Jessica finished speaking and stood up, wiping away her tears. She was about to leave, but suddenly, the lights in the room turned on. Jessica was shocked. "Who is it?" Then, Jessica saw Benjamin, who was standing in the doorway. He leaned against the door frame, looking at Jessica meaningfully. His eyes were as deep as a bottomlesske. "Why are you still here?" Jessica asked in an annoyed voice. She acted like she hadn''t just been caught in the act. Benjamin''s lips curled up slightly as he walked toward her. "Mr. Quine Senior is still pretty healthy. He managed to survive a coronary artery bypass graft surgery that took over ten hours, and he''s now out of danger. If he focuses on recovery, he''ll be out of the hospital soon." "It seems that I should thank you properly." There was a note of contempt in Jessica''s voice. "It''s just a pity that I don''t feel any gratitude toward you at all, Benjamin." Benjamin''s mouth twitched. "You disappeared for five years, and you already have apletely new life. Why did you want toe back?" Jessica huffed coldly, her fists clenching. "What do you think? Benjamin, you''re a huge part of the reason that my family has been reduced to this! "You once promised me that you would take care of Yvonne, but where is she now? Where did you let that bitch Grace take her?" Jessica asked sharply. She hadn''t nned toe back to Pamore. She had wanted to continue living with Jessica''s identity andpletely leave her past behind. Chapter 420 Declare War Chapter 420 Dere War If the Quine family hadn''t gone bankrupt and Yvonne hadn''t suddenly disappeared, Jessica wouldn''t havee back. And Danielle would still have been dead in everyone''s memory. "Danielle, I''m sorry about Yvonne." Benjamin didn''t exin much. A simple apology conveyed everything. "Ha, it''s quite rare to hear an apology from the mighty Mr. Hawkins. But I don''t need your apology. I just need your help to revive my family. "Let''s join forces against Grace. I want to crush her and destroy herpletely. I want her to experience what losing everything feels like," Danielle said with determination. Benjamin''s eyes sank, and he directly rejected her. "While I''m around, don''t even think about touching Grace." That sentence was enough to express his stance. Danielle was surprised. Benjamin, who was known for his ruthless methods and was unbeatable in the business world, actually had a weakness. "Benjamin, you only have one choice. Either help me, or Grace and I will die together. I don''t care either way. My life is worthless, but Grace is different. She''s the daughter of the Lewis family. I guess you wouldn''t want her to die at such a young age, right?" Sure enough, when Benjamin heard that, his face changed drastically. He reached out and grabbed Danielle''s arm, reprimanding her coldly, "Danielle, don''t be reckless." Danielle was very satisfied with his reaction. The bigger his reaction, the more it showed how much he cared about Grace. She smiled. "Don''t worry, Benjamin. I''ll spare Grace''s life for now. But I''ll destroy everything she has and give her a taste of what falling from grace feels like." After saying that, Danielle broke free from Benjamin''s grasp and left. As Benjamin watched her disappearing figure, his eyes gradually darkened, and he fiercely punched the wall. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. ¡­ The next morning, Grace was awakened by the sound of her phone ringing. In a daze, she answered the phone. "Hello?" "Gracie, check your phone quickly. Jessica is holding a press conference." That was enough to wake Grace up. She immediately turned over and sat up. "What press conference?" Zoey quickly said, "Jessica announced her withdrawal from the design industry, and she has established a newpany to enter the real estate market." Grace scrolled on the screen and opened the trending list. The hashtag #JionAnnouncesWithdrawalFromDesign topped the list. Grace tapped into the topic, and the first post was Jessica''s press conference. As expected, during the conference, Jessica didn''t mention any online scandals, nor did she exin anything. She simply announced her withdrawal from the design industry and the establishment of a new company, Landon Realty, officially marking her entry into the real estate business. "Landon Realty?" "The Quine family used to be in the real estate industry and was once the leading force in the entire Pamore real estate industry. Now, Jessica has also joined this industry. What does this mean?" At least it indicated that Jessica had close ties with the Quine family. Her actions suggested that she was nning aeback for Quine Group. Smiling, Grace said, "It seems she''s dering war against me." "War? Gracie, what are you going to do next?" Chapter 421 A Villains Success Chapter 421 A Viin''s Sess "I''ll just roll with the punches." Grace had already formed a n in her mind. Whatever it was that Jessica intended to do, she would handle it with caution. At 9:00 am, Grace walked into Amirate Corporation in her high heels. She looked exceptionally capable in her professional attire. As soon as she showed up, Luke, who had been waiting for her, quickly approached her. "Ms. Lewis, you''re back." Grace nodded slightly and then entered the elevator. Luke followed closely, reporting Grace''s schedule for the day. "At 10:00 am, you have a video conference. At 11:00 am, you have a meeting with Mr. Barnes from Barnes Group in the conference room on the 22nd floor." As the elevator slowly ascended, it finally stopped at the top floor. Grace listened to Luke''s updates and gave a light acknowledgment. "Okay." Then, she walked out of the elevator. Unexpectedly, Samuel approached her with a smile. "Ms. Lewis, it''s been a long time! You finally came to thepany. I was worried that something had happened to your family. I haven''t seen you for a whole week." Grace stopped in her tracks. She slowly replied, "I appreciate your concern, Director Walker. I was just dealing with some personal matters." Samuel nodded understandingly and asked, "Have you resolved your personal matters? Do you need my help? Don''t hesitate to ask if you need anything." He yed the role of a concerned elder perfectly, pretending as if he cared about Grace. "Oh, Ms. Lewis, I''m not sure if Mr. Zier has already told you this. There was a little problem with the Dunhill project a few days ago." With a look of regret, Samuel said, "I heard that one of the mines copsed. Although there were no casualties, the losses were not small, especially in terms of thepany''s profits. It''s expected to take a big hit." Grace''s expression darkened upon hearing this. She looked at Luke. "Luke, is that true?" The situation wasplicated. Since Samuel was there, Luke didn''t exin much. He only said, "Ms. Lewis, I''ll report the details to youter." However, Samuel smiled and said, "Mr. Zier has been busy these past few days. I guess he forgot to report to you. But it''s not toote to report to you now. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "But Ms. Lewis, It''s been half a year since our bet, and there has been no progress or improvement in the second half of the year''s performance. And now there''s a problem with the Dunhill project. Don''t you think this is quite difficult?" Samuel''s words carried a hint of smugness, as if he was looking forward to a good show. "Ms. Lewis, you''re still too young. Youck experience. In the business world, many things aren''t as simple as you think. "I don''t think we should make things too ugly with our bet. Why not step down early, go home, and be a good little heiress? There''s no need to expose yourself in the ruthless business world where people eat each other up." Grace listened calmly and responded, "Director Walker, there''s still time. Why are you so anxious?" Samuel smiled awkwardly and exined, "Don''t get me wrong, Ms. Lewis. I''m not anxious. I''m just being considerate. "In the end, you''re still too young. If you really lose, you''ll be embarrassed. So let''s not make it too ugly between us. What do you say?" Chapter 422 He Lost Chapter 422 He Lost Grace smiled, seemingly agreeing as she nodded. "You''re right, Director Walker. We shouldn''t make things too ugly between us." However, the next moment, she opened her bag and took out a USB drive. "Considering the overall situation, there are some things that I haven''t revealed, but I think I should inform you in advance. What do you think?" Samuel didn''t understand the meaning behind Grace''s words, but his gaze focused on the USB drive in Grace''s hand. "What are you trying to say, Ms. Lewis?" Grace smiled slightly and handed the USB drive to him. Leaning closer, she whispered, "Director Walker, although you and your wife are seniors in the company, you still have to abide by thepany''s rules. I think you''re aware of what your wife has been doing in the finance department all these years." Her words made Samuel''s face change instantly. "What are you trying to say?" "Everything I want to say is on this USB drive. If you''re interested, you can look at it at home." Hearing that, Samuel subconsciously tightened his grip on the USB drive. He nervously asked, "What''s on this USB drive?" Grace appeared rxed, and the smile on her lips became more apparent. She had received this information from Aaron some time ago. He had said that it mighte in handy when needed. And now was the perfect time. "Director Walker, there are no secrets in this world. I''ve been turning a blind eye to some things for the sake of thepany. But with the information I currently have, it''s enough to make your wife spend several years in prison." Samuel''s imposing manner crumbled in an instant. He had never expected that this young and inexperienced girl would be so ruthless. He couldn''t believe that Grace had actually found out about his wife and gathered so much evidence. "Where did you get this?" Samuel forced himself to remain calm, staring at Grace as if he were trying to see through her. Grace knew the importance of hitting the right spot. She raised an eyebrow and calmly replied, "Don''t worry about where I got this, Director Walker. Just know that your wife must resign from Amirate today. Otherwise, I''ll have to hand this evidence over to the police." "You¡ª" Samuel gritted his teeth, feeling resentful, but reluctantly closed his eyes. "Ms. Lewis, rest assured. I know what to do." "That''s good." After a pause, Grace said again, "Also, let me remind you. I''ve always been willing topete openly and fairly. I''m willing to go along with our bet. But if there are any underhanded tactics, even if you win, it won''t be honorable." With that said, Grace turned and walked away, leaving a disgruntled Samuel standing in ce. He tightened his grip on the USB drive, feeling as if his inner thoughts had beenid bare. Grace had openly asserted her dominance over him today. This was the first time Samuel had lost to Grace. How could he ept this defeat? ¡­ On the other hand, Grace pushed the door to her office open, with Luke following closely behind her. There was a hint of joy in his tone as Luke said, "Ms. Lewis, that was quite satisfying just now. You didn''t see Director Walker''s expression. It was super ugly." This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. However, Grace had mixed feelings. She asked, "Now, can you exin what happened with the copse of the mine in Dunhill?" Chapter 423 Wheres Yvonne Chapter 423 Where''s Yvonne At the mention of this, Luke''s expression turned serious. "Ms. Lewis, the copse of the Dunhill mine is suspicious. There were no casualties at the scene, but it has had a certain impact on our project progress." "Have you found out if it''s an ident or intentional?" Luke raised his eyes, his mouth pursed into a straight line. "Based on the traces at the scene, it doesn''t seem like an ident." Grace''s eyes darkened slightly at this revtion, and she couldn''t help but snort. "It seems someone couldn''t sit still." A meaningful look shed across her face. "Is this rted to them?" Luke only said, "The investigation into this matter is ongoing. Once we get results, I''ll report to you immediately." Grace waved her hand, signaling for Luke to leave her office. She raised her eyes and looked out of the floor-to-ceiling window. As she overlooked the city, she got lost in thought. Just then, a pleasant ringtone brought her back to the present. "Grace, shall we meet?" Jessica''s voice came from the other end of the phone. Grace''s eyes darkened, and she responded, "What do you want to discuss with me, Ms. Landon?" "You''ll find out when you meet me in person. Or are you afraid toe?" Grace''s expression turned cold. "Ms. Landon, goading won''t work on me."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Jessica chuckled, and herughter came through the phone. "Do we need to y these guessing games between us? If you don''te, you''ll regret it." After saying that, Jessica hung up the phone. The dial tone echoed in Grace''s ears. Shortly after, Jessica sent her a location. It was a caf¨¦ opposite Amirate Corporation. ¡­ Half an hourter, Grace went to the caf¨¦, where Jessica had arranged for them to meet. Inside, Jessica had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Grace, Jessica stood up and politely said, "You finally came, Ms. Lewis." Grace smiled without warmth. "Ms. Landon¡ªno, I think I should use a different title." Jessica just smiled without denying it. After going around in circles, it was time to be honest. "Grace, let''s speak frankly. I think you''ve guessed my identity. So there''s no need for me to hide. "That''s right. I''m Yvonne''s elder sister and the missing eldest daughter of the Quine family, Danielle Quine." This answer didn''t surprise Grace. "So, Ms. Quine, why did you want to meet me today?" "I won''t beat around the bush. I want to know where Yvonne is now. Where did your family take her?" Grace''s expression turned stern. "Ms. Quine, you might be looking for the wrong person. I don''t know where Yvonne is." Danielle clearly didn''t believe her. She clenched the spoon in her hand. "It''s impossible. You hate Yvonne to the bone. How could you let her go so easily? "Grace, as long as you spare Yvonne, I''ll go easy on you. But if you persist, I''ll make you pay a painful price." Watching Danielle''s resentful appearance, Grace remainedposed. Despite Danielle''s threats, Grace only said indifferently, "What you want to do has nothing to do with me. "Just a gentle reminder, Ms. Quine, Yvonne is currently facing awsuit. Even if she returns to Pamore, she can only spend the rest of her life in prison." Danielle''s hands clenched silently. "Do you think I''ll believe you?" Chapter 424 It Has Nothing to Do With Her Chapter 424 It Has Nothing to Do With Her "It''s your choice whether to believe me or not." "Hah, Grace, you''re quite arrogant. Aren''t you afraid I''ll ruin everything you have?" Grace smiled, but her eyes were icy. "That depends on whether you''re capable enough." Danielle had a determined expression. "Since you''ve put it that way, starting today, you should be careful. "Landon Group won''t let go of any of Amirate''s projects. I''ll make sure you fall from grace." Unyielding, Grace raised her eyes, meeting Danielle''s head on. "Ms. Quine, are you dering war on me?" Danielle shrugged, seemingly nonchnt. "So what if I am? By the way, let me remind you¡ªI won''t just snatch your business. I might even snatch your man too. "Do you know why Benjamin used to take special care of Yvonne and even divorced you for her?" Feeling smug, Danielle tilted her chin. "That''s because I asked him to take care of my family. He even went against you for the sake of my family. Grace, you loved Benjamin so much. It must be painful for you." Grace''s expression remained indifferent. The years she had spent with Benjamin had indeed been a dark and difficult time for her. But now, Danielle''s words didn''t stir any emotions in Grace. It was as if she was talking about something entirely unrted to Grace. Grace chuckled. Initially, she found had Danielle''s challenge somewhat interesting. At least it had ignited her fighting spirit. But now ¡­ "If you like Benjamin so much, you can have him." "What did you say?" Danielle was dumbfounded when she noticed that Grace''s eyes showed no signs of caring about Benjamin. In fact, she was a far cry from someone deeply in love. "Didn''t you hear me? Do I need to repeat myself?" "Hah, Grace, you were once so determined to marry Benjamin. Can you truly let go so easily?" Grace smiled. She had indeed let go. Since the moment she had faced death in the ne crash and witnessed Benjamin''s infidelity, she hadpletely given up. Forced love was no love at all. And perhaps she had found someone else important in her life. "Ms. Quine, people need to look forward. I don''t need to exin to you about the rest." After saying that, Grace stood up. However, Danielle stopped her. "Grace, what if Benjamin hears these words from you? How do you think he would feel?" Grace answered, looking ahead. "That''s his business, not mine." This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. With that said, she walked away without turning back. As soon as she left, Danielle lifted her head and looked at the nearby corner. "Come out." Benjamin walked out gloomily. Meanwhile, Danielle was waiting to enjoy a good show. "Benjamin, you saw it too. Grace is heartless, and she has no feelings for you at all. Why waste your energy on her?" Benjamin didn''t answer her questions. Instead, he said, "Just stop it, Danielle." Danielle grinned. "Do you think that''s possible? Grace has ruined my family. Do you think I''ll let her off so easily?" "The Quine family''s issues have nothing to do with her. If it hadn''t been for Yvonne''s actions, the Quine family wouldn''t be in this situation." Danielle shook her head. "Benjamin, you''ve changed. Even now, you''re still defending Grace." Chapter 425 Under His Protection Chapter 425 Under His Protection Benjaminposed his expression but remained silent. Danielle continued with a cold sneer, "But as a woman, I can clearly tell that Grace has no feelings for you, Benjamin. You should give up." Her words seemed to provoke Benjamin. He snapped, "Enough, Danielle." "Why? Are you unwilling to ept it?" Benjamin''s lips twitched slightly. "Those whomit sins will perish. If you want to start over, I can give you the greatest support. Consider it Alexander''spensation for you." "Don''t mention him!" Danielle yelled. Her emotions became extremely unstable. "Benjamin, don''t mention him in front of me." Holding her head, she was in a state of losing control. As she turned around, she looked coldly at Benjamin, almost raging. "Benjamin, if you''re willing to help me, invest 500 million dors in Landon Group. Otherwise, I''ll take Grace with me in death." When it came to money, Benjamin didn''t hesitate for a moment. He took out his checkbook from his pocket and signed his name on one of them. He then handed it to Danielle. "This is thest time. And remember, don''t touch Grace." After saying that, he stuffed the check into her hand and walked away. Danielle stood there, watching Benjamin''s departing figure with intense hatred. Instinctively, she tightened her grip, turning the once-pristine check into a wrinkled mess. ¡­ After Grace left the caf¨¦, she found herself without a destination for the first time. For a moment, she felt a bit weary, like a tired bird in need of a ce to rest. In the next second, a figure appeared, and her eyes focused instantly. She thought she might be seeing things, so she rubbed her eyes, only to find Xander standing in front of her. Smiling, Xander looked at her, his eyes filled with deep affection. "Gracie, what are you doing?" This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Grace chuckled and exined, "Xander, why are you here? I thought I must be seeing things." Xander reached out and took her hand. "I heard from Luke that you left the office in a hurry. I was worried if something had happened to you, so I came to check on you." Grace smiled, and the warmth transmitted through their joined hands warmed her heart. In this moment, it felt like her wandering heart had found a ce to rest. "Xander, don''t worry. I''m fine. In fact, I''m a little relieved right now." "Relieved? About what?" Xander curiously asked. Grace just smiled and didn''t answer, but she subconsciously tightened her grip on his hand. She felt relieved that, in this moment, she seemed to have truly understood her heart. She had completely let go of the man who had once upied all of her mind. "By the way, Xander, Jessica has alreadye clean with me. She''s the Quines'' eldest daughter, Danielle Quine. Starting today, it''ll be a tough battle between her and me." A glint shed in Xander''s eyes. Those familiar with him knew that it was a dangerous signal in response to an enemy. "What''s your n?" Grace took a deep breath. There was a confident glimmer in her eyes. "We''ll meet on the battlefield. May the best one win." "Go ahead. I''m here for you," Xander said. He knew her well and trusted her. She would be able to pull it off. But even if she failed, he would be there to protect her. Chapter 426 Not Your Place Chapter 426 Not Your ce "There''s a business reception tonight. It''s time for Amirate to explore some new projects. Would you like to go and take a look?" Grace''s eyes lit up, and she readily agreed. "Sure, I''ve been worrying about the performance for the second half of the year. I haven''t figured out anything yet, but maybe I can develop some new projects through this opportunity." ¡­ At 7:00 pm, Santio Grand Hotel, which was located in Pamore''s most luxurious spot, was now brightly lit. There was a constant stream of people entering the hotel. Most of those attending this business reception were from some of Pamore''s top-notch enterprises. In other words, if one could get an invitation to this reception, they must already have considerable wealth. Naturally, Hawkins Group was invited as well. After helping Benjamin get ready in his suit and tie, Larry respectfully said, "Mr. Hawkins, Futurelink is one of the organizers of tonight''s business reception. Ms. Lewis is likely to attend." Benjamin''s movements noticeably stiffened, and he looked at himself in the mirror. After checking that everything was in order, he casually spoke. "Have the driver bring the car. We''ll be leaving." Larry''s eyes showed a hint of surprise. Benjamin had been unexpectedly calm, even after hearing that Grace would be there. Although Larry was puzzled, he didn''t show it on his face. He replied respectfully, "Yes, sir." When Benjamin came out of the room, he saw Susan, who was dressed up, walking toward him. His expression darkened. "Mom, where are you going?" Susan showed a big smile. "Ms. Landon invited me to attend a banquet. I thought it would be good to go out and socialize and make more friends." "Ms. Landon? Which Ms. Landon?" Susan looked surprised. "Benjamin, what''s wrong with you? Ms. Landon is thedy I wanted to introduce to you before. She''s an internationally renowned designer." Upon hearing this, Benjamin immediately understood what was going on. A sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Mom, have you not been onlely? Or haven''t you read the news? This so-called internationally renowned designer is nothing but a giarist." N?velDrama.Org content. With these words, Susan''s smiling face copsed. "What are you talking about?" Benjamin didn''t exin much and just reminded her. "Mom, if you have nothing to do, go out shopping or something. As for that, Ms. Landon, it''s better to have less contact with her." Susan was utterly bewildered by the news and chased after him. "Benjamin, what do you mean by that?" "I mean exactly what I said. If you don''t believe me, take your phone out and check for yourself." As Benjamin finished speaking, he bumped into Jessica, who was waiting nearby. Jessica had deliberately dressed up today. She looked elegant and gentle, with a smile that seemed to elicit sympathy. When she saw Benjamin, she acted as if she hadn''t heard what he had said at all. She took the initiative to greet him, saying, "Mr. Hawkins, are you going out?" Benjamin snorted coldly and didn''t expose Jessica''s identity in front of Susan. For Susan, Jessica''s true identity was a time bomb. His eyes turned ice-cold, and he spoke in an unfriendly tone. "Ms. Landon, it''s not your ce to be here." His words acted like a threat. However, Jessica seemed to be oblivious to it. She confidently stepped forward and hooked an arm around Susan''s, giving her a big smile. "What are you talking about, Mr. Hawkins? Madam Hawkins and I get along very well. We''ve had dinner together several times before. Since you''re so busy and Ms. Celia isn''t around, I just wanted to apany Madam Hawkins." Chapter 427 Attending the Reception Chapter 427 Attending the Reception At the mention of Celia, Benjamin''s eyes darkened, and his face became quite grim. Susan snorted and also began toin to Benjamin. "Benjamin, you sent Cece abroad, and she has already suffered so much. When are you going to bring her back? Do you really want me to never meet my daughter again?" Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Benjamin turned around. His tone was calm as he replied, "Mom, if you want to stay with Celia, I can arrange that for you anytime." At those words, Susan immediately shut up. Astana, where Cece was, was poor and deste, with a very bad living environment. Susan wasn''t young anymore. If she were sent to such a ce, she might notst a few days before her life was put in danger. "Benjamin, I didn''t mean that. I just miss Cece ¡­ Forget it. She made mistakes. It''s okay if you want to punish her a bit. Luckily, I have Jessica with me now." "In that case, Ms. Landon, please take care of her." Looking obedient, Jessica said, "Mr. Hawkins, rest assured. I''ll take good care of Madam Hawkins." Only then did Benjamin stride away, heading out. "Larry, let''s go to Santio Grand Hotel." "Yes, Mr. Hawkins." Once he left, Susan asked, "Ms. Landon, where are you taking me today?" With a mysterious look, Jessica replied, "You''ll find out once we get there." ¡­ Half an hourter, Jessica appeared at the entrance of Santio Grand Hotel with Susan. Once they got out of the car, Susan looked at some familiar faces around her, most of whom were wealthydies from the upper ss. They had used to socialize with Susan quite often. However, because of Celia''s incident, Susan had lost her ce in upper-ss society. They had rarely interacted since. Now that she had suddenly shown up here, Susan felt a bit awkward. She was even afraid of being recognized. She quickly pulled Jessica over and whispered, "Jessica, why did you bring me here?" Jessica patted her hand and exined with a smile, "I heard that most of the people attending tonight''s banquet are influential people in Pamore. "You can take this opportunity to make friends with some wealthydies. It might help Mr. Hawkins'' business." Jessica was smart with her choice of words. It instantly boosted Susan''s confidence. Susan was the matriarch of the Hawkins family, one of the most distinguished families in Pamore. Although she had been embarrassed before due to Celia''s actions, that was all in the past. How many people would still remember? "But we don''t have an invitation. Will they let us in?" "Madam Hawkins, your identity speaks for itself. No one will stop you." Jessica''s words made Susan very pleased, and she couldn''t help but raise her chin. "Well, since we''re here, let''s go in and take a look." Jessica hummed in acknowledgement. But as soon as Susan turned around, the smile on Jessica''s face disappeared instantly. She was well aware that, since the fall of the Quine family, the once-friendly aristocratic families had all distanced themselves. Moreover, her identity as Danielle must not be made public. Now, she was just the founder of a new business,cking a foundation and connections in Pamore. To rise again, having money alone wouldn''t be enough. Apart from Susan, there was no one else she could leverage towork. Just as Jessica said, Susan entered the banquet hall smoothly. Upon seeing her, many wealthydies approached her to engage in conversation since the Hawkins family was still a powerful name. Chapter 428 Utterly Embarrassed Chapter 428 Utterly Embarrassed "Madam Hawkins, it''s been a long time. You seem to be getting younger and younger." "What have you been busy withtely? Don''t you have time to y cards with us?" "We should get together when we have the chance." Listening to the crowd''s "expressions of concern", Susan couldn''t help but feel extremely satisfied. It was as if she had regained the feeling of being the center of attention as she had before. A sense of pride quickly welled up in her heart. Jessica, who was by her side, naturally attracted everyone''s attention. "Madam Hawkins, this is ¡­" Hearing that, Jessica took the initiative to be friendly. "Hi, everyone. I''m Jessica Landon." Upon hearing that, the crowd couldn''t help but size Jessica up. Yet she waspletely unfamiliar to them. So they concluded that she wasn''t the daughter of any of the prestigious families. Hence, they didn''t pay much attention to Jessica. Their attitudes toward her instantly cooled, and they showed no intention of interacting with her. N?velDrama.Org content. Seeing this, Susan pulled Jessica over and introduced her to everyone. "Jessica is an internationally renowned fashion designer. She''s very famous. "If any of you need help designing dresses, you can totally find her. She can offer you significant discounts." Several wealthydies nodded after hearing Susan''s words. Yet they still didn''t take Jessica seriously. Instead, one of them, Ariana Gillespie, unexpectedly said, "When Mrs. Hawkins mentioned designer just now, I felt like I had some impression of you." Hearing this, Jessica smiled broadly. It seemed that her years of effort hadn''t been in vain. Someone was recognizing her designs. But the next moment, Ariana said, "I felt you looked somewhat familiar just now, but I couldn''t recall for a moment. "Now that you say you''re a designer, I suddenly remembered. You''re Jion, right? The giarist designer who caused a sensation online a few days ago. I heard you''re a habitual giarist, copying a lot of other people''s works. Aren''t you just a robber?" Jessica''s face turned pale instantly, and she was stunned. She clearly felt the various disdainful gazes from those around her. She bit her lip tightly and hurriedly exined, "No, it''s¡ª" However, several wealthydies turned away, walking off without wanting to listen to her exnation. They just wanted to distance themselves from her. Susan was dumbfounded as well. She asked hurriedly, "Jessica, what''s going on?" She wasn''t a fool. As the words left her mouth, she couldn''t help but think of Benjamin''s words before leaving. "Did you really giarize other people''s work?" Although it was a question, her tone was certain because Benjamin would never lie to her. Moreover, those wealthydies just now wouldn''t speak nonsense. Jessica quickly grabbed Susan and said, "Madam Hawkins, it''s not like that. I was framed. It''s all because of Grace, that bitch." As expected, at the mention of Grace, Susan''s eyes changed instantly. She knew how much she had suffered because of Grace. Out of curiosity, she asked, "Grace? What does this have to do with Grace?" Jessica knew about the grievances between Susan and Grace, as well as Susan''s deep disdain for Grace. She knew precisely where to strike. With just a few sentences, she ignited Susan''s resentment toward Grace once again. "Madam Hawkins, you may not know, but all of this is a scheme Grace set up to frame me for giarism. She''s not a good person. She set up such a trap to ruin my reputation out of jealousy." Chapter 429 United Against a Common Enemy Chapter 429 United Against a Common Enemy Jessica borated on her situation, adding exaggerations to her story. Almost every word that came out of her mouth was aimed at defending herself. As Susan listened, her face contorted with anger. "That Grace is really not a good person. She''s so malicious. She treated Cece and me that way before." Jessica lowered her gaze, feigning sadness as she sighed. "Sadly, I''m insignificant, and she''s the Lewis family''s daughter. I can''t do anything to her. I can only endure." Susan knew that feeling all too well. In the past, she had also suffered at the hands of Grace. Even now, there was no news from Celia in Astana. They were separated by a great distance. Patting Jessica''s hand, Susan pretended to console her. "You''re not at fault, my dear. It''s just that Grace is too cunning. "Don''t worry. The mills of justice grind slowly but surely. We just need to wait and see how miserable her end will be." Jessica nodded, humming in agreement. She then linked arms with Susan, appearing quite affectionate. In outsiders'' eyes, they might have been mistaken for a close mother-daughter duo. Just then, there was amotion at the entrance. The crowd fell silent instantly. "Look who''s here." All eyes gathered at the entrance, where Grace, wearing an orange evening gown, walked arm in arm with Xander. This stunning pair naturally drew admiration. Some attendees recognized them and couldn''t help but marvel. "Ms. Lewis is truly stunning, and her temperament is exceptional." "Right. Women find value in living for themselves. I can''t imagine her life when she married into the Hawkins family. Now that she''s divorced, she''s be even more attractive." "Not only that, I heard that since Ms. Lewis took over Amirate, thepany''s performance has been thriving. On the contrary, the Hawkins family has been suffering lossestely." "We should establish a good rtionship with Ms. Lewis. Ourpany might have to rely on her in the future." "Of course, of course." Noticing Grace was the center of attention, Susan and Jessica had different thoughts in their minds. Jessica''s eyes red with jealousy, and her gaze toward Grace turned increasingly sharp. She couldn''t ept it. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Why was it that Grace couldmand respect and adoration from everyone, while Jessica became the target of ridicule in high society? Jessica was determined to turn the tables, to trample Grace under her feet, and to make her experience the feeling of being mocked by this crowd. "Madam Hawkins, did you see that? She''s enjoying quite the limelight now," Jessica said jealously. Susan also snorted. "Limelight? One day, she''ll fall hard. Let''s just watch. We''ve got plenty of time ahead of us." Little did they know that a wealthydy nearby overheard their conversation. She burst intoughter and said, "Mrs. Hawkins, are you jealous seeing your former daughter-inw thriving?" Susan felt she had been busted, and her face turned red instantly. She retorted, "Jealous? I''m just speaking the truth." The wealthydy''s smile widened. Since her family business was doing better than the Hawkins family''s, she naturally didn''t regard Susan highly. Chapter 430 Sarcastic Remarks Chapter 430 Sarcastic Remarks The wealthydy sarcastically remarked, "Mrs. Hawkins, I don''t think you''re jealous. You''re regretful ¡ªextremely regretful. "After all, you were blind and turned down the opportunity to have the world''s richest family''s daughter as your daughter-inw. Now you''ve found a¡ª" She scrutinized Jessica, not bothering to hide her disdain as she said, "You found a person who can''t be brought to the table. It''s truly indescribable." Susan became anxious. "What nonsense are you talking about? Who did you say is blind? Exin yourself." Smiling, the wealthydy shook her head and didn''t bother engaging in further discussion with Susan. Instead, she walked toward Grace. Left alone, Susan stomped her foot in frustration. "Ms. Lewis." The wealthydy greeted Grace with a demeanor that was in stark contrast to how she had spoken to Susan. Grace smiled. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wright." Evelyn Dixon, who was known as Mrs. Wright, didn''t expect Grace to know her. She felt greatly satisfied. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "Ms. Lewis, not only is your business doing well, but you''re also getting more beautiful. It seems like joy puts heart into a man." Evelyn''s gaze naturally lingered on Grace and Xander. Grace admitted it openly. "Thanks for your kind words. Indeed, everything is developing in the right direction." Evelyn nodded with a smile. "That''s great. However, Ms. Lewis, I must remind you. Your former mother-inw is no pushover. Be careful. She might set traps for you." Pointing toward Susan, who wasn''t standing far away, Evelyn shook her head. "She''s jealous of you." Grace''s expression didn''t show much change when she heard that. She seamlessly changed the topic. "Mrs. Wright, your dress today is beautiful. Is it a recent custom order?" At the mention of her dress, Evelyn instinctively puffed up her chest and tucked the loose strands of hair near her ears. "This couture dress is from a well-known foreign brand. I had it shipped by air this afternoon. How is it? Not bad, right?" Grace praised, "With your good looks, any outfit would appear elegant. By the way, Mrs. Wright, I happen to be in the design field. "I have a boutique in Pamore. Feel free to visit when you have time. I''ll offer you a 20% discount." Upon hearing this, Evelyn was so happy that her face lit up. "I know about your boutique. Even with money, one might not get what they want. I heard that for couture dresses like these, you have to wait for months. It would be nice if you could personally design something for me." Grace didn''t refuse. Instead, she readily agreed, "Sure, whenever you have the time,e to the store, and we can take measurements." "Sure, sure." Evelyn couldn''t contain her excitement. "Let''s schedule a time for our next meeting." Since Evelyn was engulfed in joy, her words became more amiable. "Ms. Lewis, you''re beautiful inside and out. I''ll thank you in advance. "The Hawkins family reallycks insight. That''s why they can''t appreciate your worth. Thankfully, everything is falling into the best arrangement now. I wish you and Mr. Fulton a happy marriage soon." After Evelyn left, Xander hugged Grace''s waist and whispered, "Gracie, I really like the phrase ''a happy marriage''." His warm breath brushed against her ear, making her ears turnpletely red. Her heart rate quickened, and her cheeks burned. She stammered, "Xander, I-I ..." Chapter 431 Are You Serious Chapter 431 Are You Serious Xander leaned in and pecked her lips, silencing all the words Grace was about to say. At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and Grace stared wide-eyed at him. She forgot to react. Xander chuckled affectionately and embraced her tighter. "Gracie, I hope we can have a happy marriage soon." Dumbfounded, Grace looked at him nkly. It took her several seconds to react. Then, she responded with a shy and soft hum. Her consent brought a gleam of joy to Xander''s eyes. "Gracie, are you serious?" Grace smiled and looked him in the eyes. As Xander looked into her eyes, which were reflecting his figure, he smiled brightly. He had been waiting for this day for too long. The crowd around them also had their eyes fixed on them, and Grace''s cheeks turned even redder. "Xander, there are people around." Only then did Xander release her. Grace quickly turned her face away and took a deep breath. She could feel the disoriented beats of her heart. This feeling was both familiar and unfamiliar, leaving her somewhat at a loss. "Gracie, Mr. Thorne from Byte Technologies is here today." With a single sentence, Xander sessfully shifted Grace''s attention. Matthew Thorne from Byte Technologies was one of their targets for the day. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Byte Technologies was currently the leading force in the short video industry. Short videos were thriving in the country, with a promising future. Amirate intended to venture into this area. Grace quickly asked, "Where is he?" "Let''s go. I''ll take you over." With that, Xander gestured, and Grace smiled, linking her arm with his. The two walked toward the other side of the venue. "Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis." When Xander and Grace appeared, Matthew was the first to greet them. As rising stars in the business world in recent years, they were well-known figures. Xander nodded slightly. "Mr. Thorne, it''s an honor to meet you." Matthew quickly extended his hand. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Fulton." He then introduced the man beside him. "Wayne, this is Mr. Fulton, and this is Ms. Lewis." Although it was Grace''s first time meeting Wayne Foster, she felt that his face seemed oddly familiar. Grace asked, "This is ¡­" Matthew quickly introduced, "Ms. Lewis, this is ourpany''s ace streamer, Wayne Foster." After his introduction, Grace btedly realized that Wayne was the hotshot from Byte Technologies, the one who had recently gained immense poprity. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Foster." Wayne was humble and extended his hand toward Grace. "Ms. Lewis, nice to meet you." Matthew added, "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fulton, Wayne is just a neer. Please watch him grow." "Mr. Thorne, why are you being modest? Amirate has the intention of entering the short video industry. If there''s a chance, we hope to work with you." Wayne''s interest was piqued by those words. "Really? Are you interested in the short video industry, Ms. Lewis?" Grace nodded slightly. "I have this idea, but it''s still just an idea. There''s nothing specific yet." Matthew responded eagerly, "Ms. Lewis, I think the short video industry has great potential. If you''re interested, I can give you a detailed analysis." Grace smiled and agreed. "Sure, let''s find some time to talk about it." Chapter 432 Discovered a Secret Chapter 432 Discovered a Secret Grace smiled and agreed. "Sure, let''s find some time to talk about it." However, Matthew seemed a bit impatient. Working with Futurelink and Amirate¡ªtwo of Pamore''s toppanies¡ªwas something he had always dreamed of. Additionally, although Byte Technologies showed some promise, it still faced cash flow issues. With the strong backing of Futurelink and Amirate, the future of Byte Technologies would undoubtedly be bright. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fulton, since we''ve met today, why not find a ce to discuss our coboration?" Grace and Xander exchanged a nce, both expressing their agreement. Matthew quickly ordered, "Wayne, go to the nearby hotel and book a business suite. We''ll talk over there." Wayne promptly agreed. "Yes, Mr. Thorne." "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fulton, see you thereter." With a farewell, Matthew walked away with a cheerful smile. However, Grace couldn''t help but feel curious. "Xander, why does it seem like Mr. Thorne is being overly enthusiastic?" Xander answered her inquiry, "Byte Technologies is still a newpany in its early stages. Mr. Thorne is here today to seek investments." In just a few words, Grace understood the situation. "So it seems that we all have thoughts of coborating." "That''s one way to put it. But Gracie, are you really nning to enter the short video industry?" Grace raised her eyebrows, a glint of light shing in her eyes. "This industry has good prospects. Trying it out won''t hurt." As she spoke, Xander''s phone rang in his pocket. He took out his phone and nced at it. Instantly, his eyes darkened, and he declined the call. "Gracie, I need to go out for a moment. Wait for me here, and don''t wander around. I''ll be back soon." Grace obediently agreed. "Okay, you go ahead." After Xander left, she looked around. Finally, she fixed her gaze and headed toward the nearby resting area. Unbeknownst to her, Susan and Jessica had been keeping an eye on her from not far away. Both had the same goal¡ªto teach Grace a lesson. Seeing her alone, they naturally had no intention of letting her off and approached her without hesitation. Grace had just sat down on the couch and had a few bites of snacks when Susan and Jessica sat on the couch behind her. The light on their side was dim, so Grace didn''t notice them. Susan and Jessica exchanged a nce and were about to take action when a figure walked over. "Ms. Lewis." Wayne was respectful. "I looked for you everywhere. It turns out you''re here." As he spoke, Jessica quickly held back Susan, and the two sat back in their seats. However, Jessica couldn''t help but scrutinize Wayne. At a nce, she recognized him as the popr streamer who was currently in the limelight. She wondered about the rtionship between Wayne and Grace. Just then, Jessica saw Wayne hand a room key in his hand to Grace. "Ms. Lewis, this is the hotel room key card. Here." N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Grace nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you." "You''re wee. I''ll go ahead first, Ms. Lewis. See you at the hotelter." "Okay." After Wayne left, Jessica looked at him as if she had discovered a secret, while Susan was shell- shocked. Chapter 433 Catch Them in the Act Chapter 433 Catch Them in the Act The two of them silently moved away from the couch. Jessica quickly pulled Susan into a corner. "This woman is really shameless. She actually booked a hotel room with a streamer in broad daylight." Susan scornfully added, "She was always fickle. I just don''t get why Benjamin is still obsessed with her. This time, I must make him see her true colors." As she said that, she was ready to call Benjamin. Yet Jessica stopped her. "We cannot rush this, Madam Hawkins. Let''s n carefully." However, Susan couldn''t contain her frustration. "She''s so disgusting. I can''t stand it for a moment. I must make Benjamin see what kind of person she really is." The more she talked about it, the more agitated she became. Seeing Susan like this, Jessica snatched her phone away. "Madam Hawkins, don''t be hasty. We don''t have evidence now. "Even if we bring Benjamin here, what can we do? Grace is cunning. She might just deny everything, and we''d be powerless." Upon hearing Jessica''s words, Susan finally calmed down. "Then, what do you suggest?" Smirking, Jessica replied, "Let''s wait until we have solid evidence, and then expose her." Susan found this idea reasonable. "Catch them in the act. Right, right." "What''s wrong with Grace? Of all things, she had to do this. Madam Hawkins, do you know who gave her the room key card just now?"N?velDrama.Org content. Curious, Susan asked, "Who was it?" "A popr streamer with a massive fanbase. If we make this public, Grace might be torn apart by his female fans. "Fanatical female fans have no bottom line. Now that Grace has no connection with the Hawkins family, even if her reputation is tarnished, it won''t affect the Hawkins family." Susan found Jessica''s words reasonable. But after losing so many times in Grace''s hands, she wanted to be more vignt this time. "It might not be suitable for us to handle this matter ourselves. Why not find someone to do it?" "Madam Hawkins, do you have a suitable candidate?" With a mysterious smile, Susan took out her phone and made a call. After a while, she returned after making the call. "Rest assured. Everything has been arranged. Grace won''t be able to escape this time." Jessica''s smile grew even bigger. "Madam Hawkins, you really have the means. You''ll surely be able to control Grace." Susan enjoyed the ttery, feeling quite pleased. "Jessica, didn''t youe to this reception today to secure that piece ofnd from the government for real estate development? I have some connections on that side. I''ll take care of this matter for you." "Really? Madam Hawkins, thank you so much. You can rest assured. Once we secure that piece of land, I''ll express my gratitude to you." Jessica took a deep breath. That piece ofnd was part of the city''s new urban development n. If she could acquire it, the rise of Landon Group is just a matter of time. She would never lose to Grace. On the other side, Grace had eaten a box of snacks to fill her stomach, but Xander hadn''t yet returned. She checked the time and noticed that half an hour had passed. She stood up and, holding her bag, walked out. As soon as she left the hall, she spotted Xander not far away, talking on the phone. She didn''t know what was said on the other end, but Xander was frowning, and his expression was ugly. Chapter 434 Emerging Industry Chapter 434 Emerging Industry When Xander saw Grace, who wasn''t far away, he immediately spoke into the phone. "Let''s talk about this when I get back. Let''s leave it at that first." He then hung up the phone. Xander walked toward Grace. "Gracie, where are you going?" Grace took a few steps forward and waved the room key card at him. "Mr. Thorne has already arranged everything. Are you done here? Let''s go there now." "Okay." As soon as Xander finished speaking, he gave a wary look behind Grace. There was nothing. It was completely empty. His eyes darkened. "Gracie, you go ahead. Wait for me at the elevator." Grace was curious. "What''s wrong? Xander?" "It''s nothing. You go ahead." Xander gave her a reassuring look. Grace followed his gaze. "Xander, what are you looking at?" Instead of replying, he just walked over. After looking around, he didn''t find anything. Xander said, "Nothing. Maybe I saw it wrong." N?velDrama.Org content. Grace had her doubts. but she didn''t think too much about it. The two of them walked toward the hotel on the opposite side. After they had gone far enough, a man holding a camera on the other side breathed a sigh of relief. ¡­ Wayne had been waiting at the hotel entrance ording to Matthew''s instructions. Although he was now a popr streamer, he was just an employee. He followed the boss'' orders in everything. Seeing Grace and Xander, Wayne hurriedly approached. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fulton, you''re here. Mr. Thorne has already gone upstairs." "Then, let''s go up too." Wayne gestured for them to walk ahead and took the initiative to press the elevator for them. Even after they entered the elevator, they were unaware that this scene had been captured. ¡­ In the hotel suite, Matthew arranged for his secretary to bring over some documents. "Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis, these are some highlights of our short video projects at Byte Technologies. Please take a look." The secretary handed the documents to both of them. Grace opened it and started reading it seriously. Although she didn''t know much about the short video industry, the enthusiasm of people around her indicated a promising trend for the future. Wayne took the initiative to introduce it to Grace. "Ms. Lewis, you can also register a Byte ount and share your daily life. I have an ount, but I''ve never posted anything." "The most basic thing in making short videos is to maintain regr updates. Only then will the system help you push traffic. "When more people stay on your profile for longer durations, the system will consistently drive traffic to you based on algorithms. This results in an increasing number of viewers encountering your videos." "I see." "When your fan base reaches a certain level, you can start setting up a shop and live streaming to sell products." At the mention of live streaming to sell products, Matthew turned confident. "Ms. Lewis, don''t underestimate selling products in a live stream. Just during the recent ck Friday sales, Wayne''s live stream generated a turnover of 200 million dors after just one session." A small live stream had a turnover of 200 million dorS? This data was quite astonishing. "Of course, only top streamers can achieve that. For regr streamers, achieving tens or hundreds of thousands of dors in turnover in one session is quite easy." Grace was still a little surprised. Achieving a turnover of tens or hundreds of thousands in traditional businesses might take several months. But it had been made possible with just a few hours of live streaming. Chapter 435 Rough Outline Chapter 435 Rough Outline By the time their conversation with Matthew ended, two hours had passed. As they left the hotel, Matthew still seemed a bit reluctant. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fulton, if you have the intention of working with Byte, I''ll always wee your participation." "Alright, Mr. Thorne. Let''s end it here for today." "Sure, Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis. Bye." After Matthew left, Grace turned to Xander with a look that seemed to hold many words. But even before she spoke, Xander had already guessed and asked softly, "Thinking about entering the media industry?" Smiling, Grace nodded. "Although it''s an emerging industry, the prospects are promising. Amirate can give it a try. We can establish an artist department, explore potential streamers, recruit a team for operations, and create an ount ¡­" Grace went on enthusiastically. In her mind, a rough outline was already taking shape. Toward the end, Grace couldn''t help but ask, "Xander, what do you think of my idea?" "It''s basically formed and can be implemented." Grace cheered in satisfaction. "Then, let''s announce it at the executive meeting next Monday. As long as half of thepany''s top management agrees, we''ll start right away." She seemed to have found a new direction. When she returned home, she worked continuously for several days beforepleting a feasibility n for thepany''s future development. ¡­ Soon, it was Monday. Despite having worked tirelessly for days, Grace arrived at Amirate Corporation at 9:00 am with the energy of someone who had just had a boost of adrenaline. "Ms. Lewis, the directors have all arrived. They''re waiting for you to lead the meeting," Luke followed closely, reporting in a low voice. Grace hummed. "I''ll be right there." N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Today''s conference room was particrly lively. Thepany''s top executives seemed to have heard of something and arrived on time at the conference room. Even Samuel, who rarely attended executive meetings, came. It was evident that everyone attached great importance to this meeting. "It''s almost 9:00 am. Why hasn''t Ms. Lewis arrived yet?" "Yeah, even when Mr. Lewis was here, he didn''t make us sit here waiting like this." "Can someone go and see when Ms. Lewis ising?" In the conference room, there were murmurs of impatience. Just then, the door to the conference room opened. Luke gestured, and Grace walked in with a smile. Instantly, the vast conference room fell silent. After Grace walked to the head of the table, she spoke politely and courteously. "I apologize for keeping you all waiting." The top executives'' anger subsided, and no one dared to say anything. Grace scanned the room and finally took her seat. Just then, Luke distributed the printed documents. "Everyone, the documents you have in your hands are the feasibility n for Amirate''s new project in the second half of the year. "Today''s meeting is also the first meeting regarding this new project. Feel free to raise any questions for discussion, and we will then proceed to a vote." With that, everyone began to open the files in their hands. As they read the document, a look of surprise appeared on their faces, one by one. They quickly pulled each other aside for hushed discussions. "Ms. Lewis, what is this? Is Amirate nning to enter the short video industry?" someone asked. Chapter 436 Suddenly Chapter 436 Suddenly Grace nodded, exining, "With the vigorous development of current online technology, short videos have be a hot project. "Although Amirate hasn''t been involved in this area before, this is a great opportunity. This is a chance for Amirate''s transformation¡ª" Before Grace could finish speaking, Samuel directly mmed the document he held onto the table. "I disagree, Ms. Lewis." As these words were said, everyone looked at each other, speechless. Grace asked, "Do you have any questions, Director Walker?" Disdainfully, Samuel smirked. "Amirate has always focused on high-end technology industries, like nanorobots, medical devices, and mining. "This is our expertise, and we achieved a good result. But now you want us to venture into a new industry. Let me ask you, Ms. Lewis. How confident are you?" With Samuel''s words, others echoed, "Exactly. Ms. Lewis, hastily entering a new field is indeed a challenge for us. In case it fails, Amirate''s reputation will suffer." "Ms. Lewis, I think you should think twice about this. Don''t act so recklessly." "The future of the media industry doesn''t look promising to me. In my opinion, the real estate industry is quite good. Housing prices have always been high. If we invest in real estate, it might be a better choice." "I heard that the government has nned a new urban area. If we could secure a piece ofnd to build a condo, it would definitely be better than entering the media industry." There were opinions everywhere. Samuel seemed to be enjoying the show, crossing his legs in azy and casual posture. Finally, he added a word of advice. "Ms. Lewis, I think everyone''s suggestions are good. You should reconsider. "We''re not familiar with the media industry, so let''s not venture into it. Why not listen to Director Tucker and invest in a piece ofnd to build a condo? It might be more profitable." Everyone was waiting to see the show, thinking that Grace might back down. However, even after listening to everyone''s words, Grace wasn''t greatly affected. She remained calm. She looked up, earnestly addressing everyone, "Since most of you agree with investing in real estate, may I ask, are urban houses now for living or for flipping?" Grace''s words hit the key point. The government was evidently tightening its control over the real estate industry. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Everyone knew about this, but some still stubbornly believed in the good prospects of the real estate industry, likely due to a sense of optimism. "Ms. Lewis, houses are indeed for living, but the real estate industry won''t copse. After all, it''s still a profitable business." "Looking at the long term, houses are still a reliable investment." "Ms. Lewis, we can do some safe projects. There''s no need to venture into an emerging industry." "We have no foundation at all. We''ll need to startpletely from scratch. The risk is too high." Seeing everyone speak with conviction, Samuel couldn''t help but smirk. He wanted to see how Grace would convince these directors. Suddenly, Grace smiled and asked, "Who said we needed to start from scratch?" This statement left everyone momentarily stunned. The next second, the door of the conference room was pushed open. Chapter 437 Reassurance Chapter 437 Reassurance Dressed in a striking suit, Caleb appeared with his agent. This caused everyone in the room to gasp. "Why is he here?" "The third son of the Lewis family is active in the entertainment industry, with a lot of fans. Even a casual Twitter post can get millions of retweets. This shows his immense poprity andrge fan base. But why is he here today?" Caleb''s presence disrupted the atmosphere in the conference room. Everyone''s eyes were filled with surprise, and they looked at Samuel with questioning expressions. What was going on? Meanwhile, Samuel''s expression changed instantly, bing particrly ugly. He hadn''t expected that Grace would pull such a move. Caleb walked in confidently, heading toward Grace. The two exchanged smiles, and Caleb''s eyes lit up with endless affection. "Caleb." Caleb raised an eyebrow and hummed. Then, he stopped beside Grace and turned to face everyone. He greeted them in a rxed tone. "Hello, everyone." One of the executives couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Caleb, you''ve always been active in the entertainment industry and never participated in Amirate''s affairs. Why are you here today?" Caleb nodded. "That''s a good question. I heard that Amirate is establishing a talent department starting today, and I happen to be the first artist signed by Amirate." As soon as he said this, the conference room exploded. After all, Caleb was an international superstar, excelling in both singing and acting. Also, he had an immense fan base and high poprity. If he joined Amirate''s talent department, the newly established department would instantlye to life and thrive. "Mr. Caleb, are you serious?" Caleb shrugged. "Of course. My management contract was in my own hands before this. Signing with Amirate is a significant decision for me. However, the premise is that Amirate has to have a department for me to join." Everyone suddenly understood. Caleb hadn''te to join Amirate''s new department. He had solelye to support Grace''s venture into the media and short video industry. With Caleb''s massive poprity, Grace would have substantial support for her media venture. Mization would be a breeze. Instantly, the atmosphere in the conference room changedpletely. "I think Ms. Lewis'' proposal is good. It''s the era of media now. All the young people are watching short videos and following trends." "If we enter the short video industry now, we will not only be keeping up with the times but also trying a new emerging industry. Why not?" "A new industry is also a new hope. We can''t always look at new things from old perspectives. People should look forward." "I agree with Ms. Lewis'' suggestion. We can try this new project. It might be a new opportunity." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "I trust Ms. Lewis'' judgment. After all, she has never let us down. Now, with Mr. Caleb joining us, our new department will surely shine." As Samuel listened to everyone''s words, his face turned red from anger. Yet he still didn''t say anything. He had never expected Grace to bring Caleb on as the frontman. Caleb''s appearance had surprised everyone but also firmly reassured them. Chapter 438 Changed Sides Chapter 438 Changed Sides With that, most of the people in the conference room suddenly changed sides. "Director Walker, what do you think?" Grace threw the question to Samuel. Samuel smiled awkwardly, his lips twitching. "Since everyone agrees with you, Ms. Lewis, it seems that this project is good. I have no objection." Grace raised her eyebrows, seeming quite satisfied with the result. So she said, "Since that''s the case, let''s vote by raising hands." People exchanged nces and then raised their hands one after another. Even Caleb couldn''t help but make a joke. "I remember I have shares in Amirate. I can also participate in the vote as a small shareholder." With that, Caleb raised his hand. The number of votes far exceeded expectations. Grace happily said, "With more than half of the votes in favor, this project is considered approved. Amirate''s talent department will be officially established today." Apuse echoed in the conference room. After the meeting, when everyone left the conference room, Caleb looked at Grace yfully. He asked in a teasing tone, "Gracie, how was my performance?" Grace couldn''t help but praise him. "It was excellent. You silenced those old fogeys. If it hadn''t been for you, this project wouldn''t have been approved so smoothly today." "So, am I like a hero?" Smiling, Grace linked his arm with hers. "Of course. But Caleb, are you really nning to sign your management contract with Amirate?" Caleb tapped her head yfully. "Do I look like I''m joking?" Grace quickly rubbed her head, looking a bit aggrieved. "Caleb, it hurts. But it''s a happy kind of pain." "You silly girl. Remember to treat me well in the future. After all, I''m currently the only pir at Amirate." Grace nodded repeatedly. "Don''t worry, Caleb. You''re our head artist. All resources will be for you. In other words, the wholepany will only dote on you." Caleb chuckled affectionately, feigning reluctance. "Well, since I''m so loved, I guess I''ll give it a try." "Thank you, Caleb." "Silly, what''s there to thank for? Being needed by you gives me a little sense of achievement." For Caleb, it was his job, and if he could help Grace in the process, it was definitely a good thing. The two of them werepletely unaware that, on the other side, Jessica and Susan had already obtained the photos. "Are all the photos taken here?" Jessica flipped through them one by one, frowning. "These photos are clear, but they''re not very useful." Especially not with Xander in the picture. His presence clearly indicated that Grace and Wayne hadn''t been alone in the hotel room at the time. It was very likely that things weren''t as they had thought. Susan hurriedly asked, "What should we do? Was it a waste of effort?" As soon as she finished speaking, Jessica found a well-shot photo of Grace and Wayne together. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. At first nce, it gave off a somewhat ambiguous vibe. "How could it be a waste of effort, Madam Hawkins?" Chapter 439 Strange Situation Chapter 439 Strange Situation Jessica waved the photo in her hand. "Just this photo is enough for Grace to be unable to exin herself." Susan looked at the photo with satisfaction. "Since that''s the case, let Grace go to hell. I want to see how she''s torn apart by those brainless fans." "Don''t worry, I''ll contact the media right away. Tonight, this picture will be spread all over the inte!" Susan snorted coldly, "That would be best." Sure enough, a set of photos had quietly spread on the inte that afternoon. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. As soon as the photos were released, it caused an uproar online. "Streamer''s Late Night Rendevous With Rich Heiress." This striking headline immediately dominated the online trending lists and sparked a huge wave of public opinion. "My god, is this for real? Wayne is actually dating Grace Lewis from the Lewis family?" "What''s this? Ms. Lewis is interested in a streamer?" "Wayne is so lucky. Ms. Lewis'' family is worth billions. He''s won the lottery!" "What? My husband is dating Ms. Lewis?" "They''re both single. They have the freedom to date." "Ah what should I do? I might be unhappy if it were someone else, but since it''s Ms. Lewis ¡­ She''s such a formidable rival. I can only wish them well." "Me too! I''m happy for them!" "I agree!" "I give them my blessing!" Zoey was speechless. As a publicist, Zoey was among the first to see this news. At first, she thought she had been mistaken. She had even hurriedly rubbed her eyes and refreshed the page. But when she confirmed that the woman in the photo was Grace, she was immediately rmed. So she quickly called Grace. "Gracie, what''s with the photo on the inte?" Grace was confused and asked, "What photo?" Zoey didn''t exin much. She just said, "You better go online and see for yourself. Someone secretly took photos of you and the streamer, Wayne, meeting privately. It''s already on the inte." Grace was filled with surprise. When had she had a private meeting with Wayne? What was this all about? Grace quickly logged onto Twitter. Sure enough, hers and Wayne''s names were at the top of the trending list. Grace clicked on the topic. It was the photo of her going to the hotel with Xander that night, but it didn''t include Xander. It only showed her and Wayne. Moreover, the photographer had picked the angles cleverly. To those who didn''t know better, the photo seemed to suggest something between her and Wayne. "Did you see the photo? What''s all this about?" Zoey''s concerned voice came through the phone. Grace sighed helplessly, exining, "It''s all a misunderstanding! I wasn''t meeting Wayne alone. Xander, as well as Mr. Thorne from Byte Technologies, were there too. We were discussing a coboration." Zoey understood and sighed. "Got it. You must have been framed. The way they did it was too sloppy. But thements fromizens are quite unexpected." Grace scrolled through thements from theizens and was also bbergasted. A popr streamer like Wayne must have many fangirls. But they didn''t attack Grace. Instead, they unanimously gave her and Wayne their blessings. "I don''t know what''s going on either," Grace said helplessly. Chapter 440 Couldnt Care Less About the Hype Chapter 440 Couldn''t Care Less About the Hype "With the way things are going now, doesn''t it indirectly confirm my rtionship with Wayne?" Grace said, just as her phone dinged. After reading the text message, her eyes darkened. Zoey replied, "If you don''t deny it, the public will probably take it as confirmation of your rtionship with Wayne. But this might not be a bad thing. "Aren''t you trying to get into content creation and creating an ount? Given the heat from this incident, you could use it to attract traffic¡ª" Before Zoey could finish, Grace immediately rejected the idea, "No." Grace''s eyes were fixed on the new text message from Wayne, which was simr to what Zoey had suggested. Wayne was also a content creator. He understood the need to use traffic from the incident. The scandal involving him and Grace had gained unprecedented attention. Although they hadn''t interacted much, leveraging this hype for publicity didn''t seem like a bad idea to him. Thus, Wayne also intended to neither confirm nor deny the news. But Grace was straightforward. "Zoey, help me control the public opinion. In ten minutes, I''ll release a statement." Upon hearing this, Zoey couldn''t help but tease, "Gracie, are you doing this because you''re worried Xander might get the wrong idea?" Grace hummed in agreement, confirming it. Zoey eximed in surprise, "Gracie, you''re so cool! You''re wasting such a great opportunity to avoid a misunderstanding with Xander." After all, people online nowadays went to great lengths for attention, using any means necessary. There was nothing they wouldn''t do. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. But Grace disdained such tactics. She refused to resort to hype to gain attention and poprity! "Gracie, I would do the same if I were you. There''s no need to let baseless rumors affect your rtionship." Zoey joked. She clicked around while trying to calm Grace down. "Don''t worry, I''ll find out who uploaded the pictures. It shouldn''t be hard to have them delete the post." But before Zoey could finish, she sensed something was amiss. "Gracie, these photos might not have been leaked by ident. It might have been a deliberate move by someone." Zoey noticed the photos were all posted by marketing ounts, using tactics and tricks typical of these news ounts. As a publicist herself, Zoey was all too familiar with these tricks. "I think we should investigate who is behind this." ¡­ Jessica and Susan had initially thought that uploading the photos would lead to Grace being attacked by brainless fans. So they were utterly shocked to see the tide turn. 80% of thements online were rooting for the couple. Jessica looked at thements, infuriated. She mmed her phone and roared, "What''s going on? Are these people blind? We can''t just let Grace off the hook! "Theseizens must be wrong. Maybe they are paid bots by Grace. Does she think she can control public opinion with some money? In her dreams!" Seeing this, Susan asked, "What should we do now? The situation has turned outpletely different to what we expected. It''s backfiring on us. Moreover, if Benjamin finds out about this ..." Susan couldn''t help but shiver, feeling a growing sense of dread. Chapter 441 The Tables Turned Chapter 441 The Tables Turned Jessica stepped forward and gently took Susan''s arm to soothe her. "Don''t worry. Only you and I know about this. Benjamin will never find out as long as I don''t say anything." Susan, however, was panicking. She knew about Benjamin''s concern for Grace, and he had warned her not to provoke Grace several times. But this time, she had crossed the line. "Jessica, you must help me keep this a secret!" Jessica smiled and nodded. "Don''t worry, Madam Hawkins. The payment for the photographer was done from my ount. Even if Benjamin investigates this, he can only trace it back to me and won''t suspect you." Hearing this, Susan breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest. "Good. That''s good." "But ¡­" Jessica hesitated, then continued, "You promised to help me with the property deed for thendst time." "That''s a small matter, Jessica. Since I''ve promised you, I will make it happen. Don''t worry." Jessica smiled broadly. She linked arms with Susan and said, "Thank you, Madam Hawkins!" Susan took a deep breath. As long as Jessica didn''t tell Benjamin that she had been involved in hiring someone to secretly take photos of Grace, helping her secure a piece ofnd was just a trivial matter. ¡­ Grace published a statement under her name, clearing up the rumors between her and Wayne. She also obtained surveince footage from the hotel, which showed four people entering and exiting the hotel room. The public then realized that it was all just a misunderstanding. "Boo, what a pity. I thought there was a new couple to ship, but it turns out it was just a misunderstanding. They were just there for work." "My Wayne is so handsome. He will surely find a queen destined for him." "To be honest, Ms. Lewis and Wayne are quite a match. It''s just a pity they''re not a couple in real life. Maybe they should consider it and just make it happen!" "What are you talking about? In terms of background and heritage, Wayne is way behind Ms. Lewis! I think the man next to Ms. Lewis seems to be a better match for her!" "I noticed, too. The man next to Ms. Lewis is so handsome! He looks like a handsome celebrity, and it seems he''s in the same social circle as Ms. Lewis." "Don''t say that. He''s really quite handsome. Do you think he could be Ms. Lewis''s real boyfriend? After all, they do seem quite close." "I want the truth!" N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Theizens'' enthusiasm was higher than ever, and the topic gradually shifted, focusing on Grace and Xander! Even Zoey was puzzled. "The tables had turned! Gracie, you and your Xander do look like a couple. Just a blurry picture has madeizens ship you." Grace briefly skimmed through the onlinements, but she didn''t pay much attention to them. "It doesn''t matter. Let them be. I don''t care, as long as they don''t focus on me and Wayne." "My god, you favor Xander so much!" Zoey eximed, genuinely happy for Grace. At least now, she hadpletely emerged from the shadows of her past. Letting go of the past meant living a brand new life. Chapter 442 Out of Reach Chapter 442 Out of Reach "I looked into it, and it turns out that someone paid to stir up the rumors about you and Wayne." "Do you know who it is?" "Not yet, but sooner orter, I''ll find out who dared to do something so despicable." Zoey spoke with conviction, then added in a yful tone, "But speaking of which, theizens are quite sharp-eyed. At least they didn''t go off track and focused on the main things. "By the way, Gracie, how about inviting Xander for a get-together tonight?" Grace thought the suggestion was good. "Sure! I''ll send him a message." Grace opened her chat with Xander. They hadn''t spoken sincest night, and Grace''s eyes flickered with worry. During this time, she and Xander had been chatting regrly, and they had hardly stopped. The longest gap between their messages before had just been a few hours. But today was strange. It had been a whole night, and Xander hadn''t replied to her message. Grace''s fingers rapidly tapped on the screen as she sent Xander a message. She waited. One minute, five minutes, ten minutes, then half an hour had passed by. But she still hadn''t received a reply from Xander. "Zoey, is it normal when someone who replies in seconds suddenly doesn''t reply?" Zoey was puzzled and nced at Grace''s phone screen. She couldn''t help but tease, "Really? Xander hasn''t replied to your message yet?" Grace nodded, feeling something was off, and a sense of unease grew in her heart. "It''s okay; I''ll give him a call." After saying that, Grace dialed Xander''s number. However, she was met with the operator''s voice on the other end. "I''m sorry, the number you have dialed is not avable." "Not avable?" Zoey saw Grace''s reaction and quickly reassured her, "Don''t worry, maybe he has something to deal with. Don''t overthink it." Grace hummed softly and thought what Zoey had said was somewhat reasonable. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. "Then, I''ll try calling himter tonight." Zoey sighed helplessly. "You''re different when you''re in love. Don''t worry! Xander won''t run away. As long as he sees your message, he''ll definitely reply." "Let''s hope so." Grace sounded disappointed, so Zoey suggested, "Since Xander can''t make it tonight, how about inviting Emily? The three of us can still have a good time." Grace agreed, "Okay." ¡­ That night, the three of them gathered together. However, Grace seemed visibly distracted. Her notifications had been quiet since the afternoon. She had yet to receive any messages. Grace decided to leave the room. She turned to Zoey and Emily and said, "You guys go ahead and have fun. I have something to do." Zoey and Emily exchanged nces. They were about to say something, but Grace had already left the private room. Grace drove straight to Futurelink Corporation. However, the office had already closed for the day. Grace found a security guard and asked, "Excuse me, has Mr. Fulton been to the office today?" The security guard looked Grace up and down and didn''t immediately respond. It wasn''t unusual for women toe to thepany and ask about Xander. There had been eight or nine of them today, maybe six or seven at the very least. He had long since gotten used to this. Chapter 443 A Coincidence Chapter 443 A Coincidence The security guard politely replied, "I''m unaware of Mr. Fulton''s private matters. But youngdy, let me remind you that Mr. Fulton isn''t someone you should be trifled with. You''d better not have any ideas about him." Grace was speechless. She was about to say something when she suddenly heard a car horn behind her. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Grace turned around and saw Benjamin''s car parked by the roadside. Benjamin opened the car door and got out, walking straight toward her. "Grace, why are you here sote?" "Shouldn''t I be asking you the question?" Grace replied. Benjamin had happened to be passing by when he saw her, so he had turned around. He looked up and saw the sign on the building, which read "Futurelink Corporation". The words seemed particrly irritating at this moment. "Are you here for Xander?" Benjamin asked. His eyes were filled with jealousy as he tried to read her expression. But Grace simply replied nonchntly, "Mr. Hawkins, this is my business, and it has nothing to do with you." With a single sentence, she made it clear that they should keep their distance. Benjamin, however, wasn''t going to give up. "It''ste, and it''s not safe for you to be alone. Let me drop you back." Grace instinctively refused and waved the car keys in her hand. "No need, Mr. Hawkins. I drove here myself." After saying that, Grace turned and walked toward her car, but Benjamin caught up with her quickly. "Grace, do you hate me that much?" Grace smiled casually and replied, "Mr. Hawkins, you''re overthinking it. I just don''t want to trouble you." With that, Grace left, leaving him behind. Benjamin stood there, dumbfounded, and watched as she drove away. Some time passed, and Benjamin''s phone rang. He answered the call. It was unclear what was said on the other end, but his expression became stormy, and he looked particrly displeased. "I understand. Leave this matter to me." After hanging up, Benjamin turned and got into his car. He finished the 20-minute drive in just eight minutes and parked the car in the yard of Hawkins Manor. As he got out of the car, a housekeeper hurriedly greeted him, "Mr. Hawkins, you''re back." Benjamin''s face was dark, and he coldly uttered, "Where''s my mother? Where is she?" His presence intimidated the housekeeper, and she stammered, "Madam is upstairs." Benjamin walked past her with a grim expression and headed inside. Upstairs, Susan heard the sound of a car outside and knew that Benjamin had returned. She walked out of her room with a smile. As she reached the top of the stairs, she ran into Benjamin. "Benjamin, you''re back. Have you eaten? I''ll reheat the food¡ª" Before she could finish her sentence, Benjamin had already walked right up to her. His tone was devoid of warmth as he said, "Save it." Susan suddenly felt that Benjamin''s mood was off, and it made her feel uneasy. "If you don''t need it, then forget it. You''ve had a long day. Get some rest. I''ll go back to my room." After saying that, Susan turned to leave. But she had only taken a few steps when Benjamin stopped her. "Wait!" Susan trembled, and a shiver ran down her spine. She stammered, "D-Do you have anything else to say?" Chapter 444 I Am Your Mother Chapter 444 I Am Your Mother With a stern expression, Benjamin asked coldly, "Mom, don''t you have anything you want to exin to me?" Susan stumbled and almost fell, but she managed to hold onto the railing beside her. "I-I don''t understand what you''re talking about," Susan replied. Benjamin approached her, backing her into a corner. "Mom, do you not realize what you''ve done?" "You know?" Susan was shaking, and she slowly closed her eyes, ovee with fear. "I-I didn''t mean to. I was just upset with that woman, Grace, for being such a show-off. I wanted to teach her a lesson." Hearing that, Benjamin immediately grabbed her arm. "What did you say? What did you do to Grace?" Susan was taken aback. "Isn''t this what you were talking about?" Benjamin snorted coldly and let go of her arm. "It seems you''ve been keeping a lot from me." "No. Benjamin, listen to me. It''s not what you think, I¡ª" "That''s enough!" Benjamin interrupted her. "Mom, I''ve given you many chances and told you not to provoke Grace." Susan was scared and hastily grabbed Benjamin''s arm. "I made a mistake! Give me another chance. I won''t do it again." Benjamin reached out and slowly pried her hands off him. He said icily, "From today on, I will be cutting off all your bank cards. You won''t receive a single cent more than your living expenses." "No! What will I do if you cut me off?" Susan had a habit of spending extravagantly. She wasn''t prepared for the sudden suspension of all her cards. She wouldn''t be able to live! "You are my son. You can''t treat me like this! Grace is just an outsider, and I''m your closest family." Susan clung to Benjamin as if she were holding onto a lifeline, but before she could finish her sentence, an elderly voice spoke up. "No mother should behave like you!" Elizabeth had appeared behind them at some point. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. "Grandma!" Benjamin''s expression softened considerably. He had always had great respect for Elizabeth. Elizabeth nodded and walked over, reprimanding Susan sternly, "Susan, you''re so foolish!" "Mom, please help me! I beg you! Help me talk to Benjamin." Elizabeth sighed. "Grace has been with our family for three years, and we''ve all seen her love for Benjamin. Tell me, which daughter-inw canpare to her? "But you''ve been making things difficult for her at every turn, causing trouble for her along with Celia." "Mom, I used to think she wasn''t worthy of our family or Benjamin, so I wanted to drive her away¡ª" "And now?" Susan lowered her head in shame. Now that Grace''s identity had been revealed, Susan knew that she was the best choice for Benjamin''s wife. But she couldn''t swallow her pride, so she had been trying to teach Grace a lesson all this time. "Mom, she''s already divorced Benjamin." "You sure are audacious to say that. If you had been a little nicer to her back then, their marriage wouldn''t have ended in divorce." Chapter 445 Youre Not Sorry Chapter 445 You''re Not Sorry Susan was left speechless after being reprimanded. "Now you show no signs of remorse. In fact, you''re making things worse. You''re ruining all hope of them being together," Elizabeth said helplessly. She then looked at Benjamin. "Benjamin, do what you need. I''ll support you. Your mother is at fault. But she''s still your mother, no matter what. You have to show her some respect." Elizabeth let out a heavy sigh. "Grandma ..." Elizabeth waved her hand and didn''t say anything more. She turned and walked away, trembling slightly. "Benjamin, I know it''s my fault. I realize it now." Benjamin stared at Susan coldly, not saying a word. After a pause, he asked, "The piece ofnd for Jessica, did you acquire it under the Hawkins family''s name?" Susan hesitated and slowly came to a realization. "Did youe back today to talk about this?" Benjamin ignored her question and asked, "Do you know who Jessica is?" Susan was puzzled, her eyes filled with confusion. Benjamin leaned in and whispered something. It made Susan''s face turn pale. She slumped to the ground in shock. Benjamin didn''t hesitate for a moment when he saw this. He turned and left, leaving Susan sitting alone in shock. Susan''s eyes were filled with disbelief. Suddenly, the spacious vi echoed with Susan''s screams. She seemed to be in a daze, muttering incessantly, "It''s impossible! This can''t be true ..." Just then, a housekeeper approached her and said, "Madam, Mr. Hawkins said to pack your things. He''s taking you to Astana to find Ms. Hawkins." N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Upon hearing this, Susan stepped back and protested, "No, I don''t want to go to Astana! I don''t want to go to that cursed ce! Don''t make me go!" Downstairs, Benjamin listened to Susan''s screams, but his heart remained firm. He stood in the yard, looking very deste. After some time, he took out his phone and called Larry. "Help me with something." "Mr. Hawkins, what can I do for you?" "Check the bank ount for the transaction details between Jessica and Susan." Larry was surprised and blurted out, "Mr. Hawkins, are you asking me to check Madam Hawkins'' ounts?" Benjamin hummed softly and continued, "Once you have the information, send it directly to my email." After giving the instructions, Benjamin ended the call. He turned back and looked at the familiar yet strange house before ultimately leaving. ¡­ Early the next morning, Benjamin got in the car. He hadn''t slept all night, and his eyes showed signs of fatigue. The spacious car was filled with the thick smell of smoke, and cigarette butts were scattered on the floor. Just then, someone appeared in his line of sight. Benjamin squinted his eyes, stubbing out the cigarette in his hand and tossing it out the window. He opened the car door and got out. Jessica was quite surprised. But then her eyes lit up when she saw Benjamin. "Benjamin, why are you here?" Benjamin leaned against the car, his gaze fixed on her. After a moment, he asked instead, "Where are you going?" Jessica smiled knowingly. "Landon Group has managed to buy a piece ofnd. I''m going to sign the contract today. Why? When did you start caring about what I''m doing?" Chapter 446 Were Even Chapter 446 We''re Even Benjamin slightly nodded and simply said, "Danielle, the real estate industry isn''t doing well at the moment. There will soon be major reforms from above. Your hasty investment might very well trap your funds." Upon hearing this, Jessica''s smile grew even wider. But she said maliciously, "Benjamin, aren''t you just saying this because you''re afraid I''ll go against Grace? Are you worried that if I build Landon Group up, I''ll confront Grace head-on?" Benjamin shook his head, his tone cold and disdainful as he said, "You''re not worthy to be her opponent." Jessica''s face turned cold. Before she could speak, Benjamin took out the evidence he had already prepared. "At least she wouldn''t stoop to such lowly tactics like you." With that, he pushed the documents at her, hitting Jessica painfully. "You leaked those photos online, right? And you hired the inte trolls. Did I get that right?" Jessica hadn''t expected Benjamin to trace it back to her so quickly, but she wasn''t panicked. She was certain that he wouldn''t dare to do anything to her. "Benjamin, you came to my doorstep early in the morning just to tell me this? Yes, I did all that, but Mrs. Hawkins was involved. Is the great Mr. Hawkins going against his own family for a woman?" Benjamin''s eyes darkened gradually. He remained silent and cold. Jessica said without beating around the bush, "I knew you wouldn''t do anything to me. If that''s the case, then don''t waste my time. Government officials are waiting for me to sign a contract." As Jessica spoke, she turned to leave. Benjamin''s expression was unreadable, and no one could guess what he was thinking. Even Jessica couldn''t deduce his thoughts from his expression. "Benjamin, what do you really want to do?" Benjamin''s lips curled into a mischievous smile as he slowly said, "My mother might have the power to help you get thatnd, but I can just as easily ruin this deal. Don''t you think so?" Jessica looked panicked. "Benjamin, we''ve known each other for so many years. Must you do this?" Benjamin scoffed softly and shook his head with regret. "Danielle, I came here today to give a kind reminder. But it seems you''re not willing to listen. So I don''t need to say more. From now on, the Hawkins family owes the Quine family nothing. We are completely even." This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "Benjamin!" As Benjamin turned to leave, "That''s all I have to say, Ms. Quine. Consider this carefully." Jessica watched as he left and stomped her foot in anger, refusing to believe Benjamin''s warning. She thought that he was just trying to stop her business for Grace''s sake. She greeted her teeth and cursed, "Benjamin, just you wait. I will definitely crush Grace under my feet!" ¡­ Grace, who had woken up early in the morning, sneezed several times in a row. Rubbing her nose and feeling her forehead, she said, "I don''t have a fever. Is this a cold?" Marien asked with concern, "Ms. Lewis, are you alright?" Grace shook her head. "I''m fine, probably just not used to the seasonal change." "Then, I''ll make you some ginger tea." After Marien left, Grace took out her phone. There were still no messages. She looked at it with disappointment in her eyes. Chapter 447 She Doesnt Know Him Well Enough Chapter 447 She Doesn''t Know Him Well Enough Grace stared nkly at her phone, lost in thought. "Ms. Lewis, here is your ginger tea. Please drink it while it''s hot." Marien''s voice broke Grace''s train of thought. Grace quicklyposed herself and said, "Just leave it, thanks." "Okay." As Marien was about to leave, Grace stopped her. "Marien, do you think if someone is suddenly out of reach, it could mean something has happened?" Marien was experienced in her ways. Seeing Grace''s furrowed brows, she instantly understood. "Ms. Grace, you''re not talking about Mr. Fulton, are you?" Grace blushed at having her thoughts read. "Marien, you ..." Marien exined with a smile, "You''ve been mentioning Mr. Fulton for the past few days. It''s hard for an olddy like me to ignore it." Grace''s face turned even redder. "Marien, what are you saying?" Marien reassured her, "Don''t worry, Ms. Grace. If Mr. Fulton hasn''t been in touch for a while, it might be because he''s tied up with something. I believe he will contact you as soon as he''s free." "Will he?" Grace''s tone carried a hint of uncertainty. She hadn''t realized the depth of her concern for Xander. "He will, Ms. Grace. Don''t overthink it. The driver will be here to take you to the office soon." Grace hummed in response, feeling slightly relieved. "I understand, Marien. Thank you!" Marien left the room with a smile. Grace got out of bed and opened her contact list on her phone. Looking through it, she couldn''t find anyone who might have information on Xander. She fell into deep thought, wondering if she knew too little about Xander. ¡­ For the rest of the morning, Grace was somewhat distracted. Luke repeated himself again, asking, "Ms. Lewis, what do you think about this project? How should we respond?" Grace snapped back to reality. "What did you say?" Luke adjusted his sses sheepishly and handed her the document. "Ms. Lewis, you seem a bit off today." Grace flipped through the document, masking her emotions. "Off? No." Luke could see right through her and asked, "Is something bothering you?" "No, nothing! Don''t overthink it. Just continue with this project," Grace said, signing her name on the document. Luke hummed in acknowledgement, "Understood, Ms. Lewis." After Luke left, Grace stood up and gazed out the window, taking a deep breath. Just then, the office door opened again. "Luke, is there something else?" Caleb raised an eyebrow and replied, "It''s not Luke, it''s me." Grace turned around, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Caleb. "Caleb! What brings you here?" Acting very mysterious, he answered, "I''ve brought you a surprise today." Grace was curious and asked, "What is it?" Caleb pped his hands and ordered, "Come in!" Grace looked toward the door. A young woman walked in and greeted Grace. "Hello, I''m Ka Green." N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Grace looked at Caleb in surprise. "Caleb, what''s this about?" Caleb casually exined, "Now that Amirate Corporation has established a talent department, we naturally need fresh people. "Ka is my junior. She recently starred in a popr web series, and her contract with her previous agency just ended." Chapter 448 Smiling Broadly Chapter 448 Smiling Broadly At this point, Grace instantly came to a realization. "Caleb, are you suggesting we bring Ka into Amirate Corporation?" This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Caleb hummed in agreement. "That''s exactly what I''m thinking." Grace nodded but didn''t say anything else. It was widely known that actresses like Ka, who have already debuted and gained some poprity, were challenging to recruit for apany. After all, an actress only started to make money once they gained poprity and heat. But now Ka was voluntarily willing to join Amirate Corporation. "Ms. Lewis, do you not wee me?" Ka asked in a joking tone. "Of course not. How could that be? It''s an honor to have you join ourpany, Ms. Green." "I look forward to working with you!" Ka looked up at Caleb beside her. The affection in her eyes was something any woman could recognize. Grace immediately understood. It was clear that Ka hadn''t made this decision for work. Her true intentions were something else. Just as Grace was about to say something, her phone rang, diverting her attention. She took out her phone, and a hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes upon seeing the phone number shing on the screen. After a few seconds, Grace answered the call. "Gracie, are you at the office?" Lydia asked on the phone. Grace was surprised. "Lydia, what''s up?" Grace couldn''t help but look up at Caleb and Ka as she spoke. "I heard you''ve set up a talent department. You probably have several celebrities now that need sponsors, right?" Grace teased, "I didn''t expect you to be so well-informed about ourpany''s recent affairs, despite your usual low profile." "It just so happens that VERE is looking to sponsor this year, and I learned about this from Zoey. It''s hard to exin over the phone. How about we talk in person?" Grace said, "Sure! I''m at the office. I''ll send Luke down to pick you up." "There''s no need. I can find my way. I''ll just park in the garage ande up." After hanging up, Grace couldn''t help but look at Caleb and say, "Lydia will be here in a bit." Caleb was unfazed. He casually said, "You guys talk. I''ll take Kay around to get familiar with the surroundings." Kay? Grace smiled broadly, but she was cursing on the inside. When had they be so close? "Then, I''ll be leaving with Caleb. I''ll talk to you next time." Grace smiled formally and said, "Okay, you go ahead!" Ka politely smiled and was about to leave when Grace suddenly stopped Caleb. "Caleb, wait a moment. I have something to tell you." Without overthinking, Caleb softly said to Ka, "Wait for me outside." Ka nodded andplied. "Alright!" After Ka left, Grace quickly grabbed Caleb''s arm and asked somewhat angrily, "Caleb, what''s your rtionship with this Ka? What''s going on?" Caleb waved his hands in confusion. "Didn''t I just tell you? She''s my junior. She''s been having issues with her previouspany and barely got to leave them. I thought this was an opportunity, so I introduced her to you as a favor." "That''s it?" Grace clearly didn''t believe him. She thought about the way Ka looked at him. It was so tender and sweet. Chapter 449 I Dont Have a Crush Chapter 449 I Don''t Have a Crush "Gracie, what exactly are you trying to say?" Grace didn''t beat around the bush and asked, "Caleb, you don''t have other ideas about her, do you?" Caleb finally caught on to what Grace was implying. He smiled and replied, "When did you start inquiring about my personal life?" Seeing Caleb dodge her question, Grace couldn''t help but be anxious. "You don''t have a crush on her, do you?" Caleb flicked her forehead with his finger and scolded, "What are you thinking? Kay is just my junior, nothing more than that." Grace winced in pain, covering her forehead, and muttered, "Kay! You address her so intimately. Who knows if you''re telling the truth?" Caleb said in exasperation, "Gracie, what can I say to make you believe?" "I do believe you. However, others might not think the same." After all, the way Ka looked at Caleb tantly revealed their rtionship wasn''t so innocent. "Caleb ... I ..." "Stop, Gracie! What are you trying to say?" Grace''s eyes wandered as she pondered for a while, finally asking the question she had pondered for some time, "Is there someone you like?" The atmosphere fell silent, and a hint of difort shed across Caleb''s face, but he masked his fleeting emotions well. "No." His response was simple, without any hesitation. Grace sighed silently for Lydia. For so many years, she had watched Lydia have feelings for him. But Caleb was clueless. "Gracie, if there''s nothing else, I''ll go get to work." Grace hummed in response. "Go ahead!" As Caleb was just leaving the office, he bumped into Lydia. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he stopped, staring at Lydia. Lydia greeted him first. "You''re here too?" "Looking for Gracie?" Lydia nodded. Her grip on the strap of her bag tightened. Without saying much, she said, "I''m going in." Lydia stepped forward, brushing past Caleb. At that moment, Ka, who was returning from the restroom, hurried to Caleb''s side and took his arm. "Caleb, why don''t you show me around?" Lydia stopped in her tracks when she heard them, but she didn''t turn around. Instead, she knocked on the door of Grace''s office. "Come in!" After getting Grace''s response, Lydia pushed the door open and entered. Only after the office door closed did Caleb turn back, looking at the firmly shut door silently. Ka was extremely curious and asked, "Caleb, what are you looking at?" Caleb instinctively withdrew his hand and said, "You should call me Mr. Lewis when we''re in the company." Ka looked surprised and awkwardly withdrew her hand, looking upset. "Did I do something wrong?" Caleb returned to his senses, looking at her with a trace of scrutiny in his eyes. "No. It''s just that we should be mindful of our behavior in the office." Ka nodded, smiling brightly. "Okay." This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Caleb added, "I have something to attend to in a bit, so I can''t apany you. I''ll have my assistant show you aroundter." Chapter 450 Love Works in Mysterious Ways Chapter 450 Love Works in Mysterious Ways Ka wasn''t at all upset. Instead, she said graciously, "No problem. You go ahead with your work. I can go around on my own." Seeing Ka''s demeanor, Caleb felt somewhat guilty. "I''ll send my assistant over. You can tell him if you need anything." "Okay." After Caleb left, the smile on Ka''s face slowly faded. She turned her head, looking at the office''s closed door with an eerie glint in her eyes. ... Inside the office, Grace quickly greeted Lydia upon seeing her. "Why did you suddenlye over?" Lydia smiled and put down her bag. "I just happened to be passing by." Lydia lowered her gaze, casually asking, "Caleb is here too?" "Oh, he came to support my newly established talent department, and he signed his contract with Amirate Corporation." Lydia was surprised. "He signed with thepany?" "Yes, he''s ourpany''s top celebrity now." Knowing Lydia''s feelings for Caleb, Grace added, "If VERE Jewelry sponsors ourpany, only Caleb would really benefit from it at the moment." Lydia murmured something, and the conversation ended there. Grace stepped forward and took her hand. "Lydia, you could tell him how you feel." Lydia''s eyes dimmed upon hearing that. Then, she sneered and said, "No, some feelings shouldn''t be made known. It''s better this way. At least we can still be friends." "But if you never say it, he''ll never know." "Not knowing might be a good thing." Lydia looked up, meeting Grace''s eyes. "Actually, I heard everything you said just now from outside the door." N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. "Don''t believe what he says. It''s not necessarily the truth." Based on her understanding of Caleb, Grace couldn''t believe he had no feelings for Lydia after all these years. "Let it be. You can''t force love. It works in mysterious ways," Lydia sighed helplessly. Seeing this, Grace couldn''t help but feel a bit worried. Yet she also didn''t want Caleb to miss out on a woman like Lydia. So she casually asked, "Do you think so?" Lydia nodded. Grace changed the topic. "That''s good. Caleb came here with his junior." Lydia curiously asked, "Junior?" "Yes, Caleb said she had just finished her contract with her previous agency, so he introduced her to us. Speaking of which, he seems to be looking out for her." Lydia put on a straight face. "Oh, is that so?" But as she spoke, her thoughts drifted elsewhere. Seeing this, Grace understood what was going on. Women had tiny hearts, only big enough to hold the person they loved. Judging by Lydia''s reaction, it was easy to see that she cared for Caleb. This might be a good opportunity to bring them together. "So is VERE Jewelry nning to sponsor ourpany?" Lydia snapped back to reality and said, "Of course! We should help our own!" Chapter 451 Childhood Friends Chapter 451 Childhood Friends "Alright, since that''s settled, I''ll have someone draft a contract. If there are no issues, we can sign it." Lydia agreed and said, "Okay. VERE is about tounch a new series, and all the jewelry from this series will be exclusively sponsored for the celebrities of Amirate Corporation." Grace thought momentarily and said, "Give the sponsorship to Caleb and Ka. After all, they are the only two celebrities under ourpany with some poprity at the moment." Lydia looked away and hummed in agreement. "Alright. The jewelry for any event in this quarter will be handled by us." "I''ll have their managers discuss it with you directly." "Okay." After finalizing their discussion, Grace personally escorted Lydia downstairs. Just as they reached the lobby, they bumped into Ka. Ka''s gaze fell on Lydia, and she promptly greeted Grace, "Hello, Ms. Lewis!" Seeing this, Grace introduced them. "Ka, this is Ms. York from VERE Jewelry, your uing jewelry sponsor." Ka hadn''t expected Lydia to be the owner of VERE, and surprise shed in her eyes. After all, VERE was a well-known jewelry brand, both domestically and internationally. Known for its original designs and fashion-forward pieces, it was a favorite among young people. Suddenly, Ka''s previous disregard disappeared, and she actively greeted Lydia. "Ms. York! I''m Ka Green, a celebrity under Amirate Corporation. I look forward to your support in the future." Lydia nodded, her politeness tinged with indifference. She didn''t engage in further conversation with Ka but turned to Grace instead. "Gracie, I''ll head back now. I''ll have my staffe over for the follow-up work." "Okay." After watching Lydia leave, Ka couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Ms. Lewis, you seem to be very close with Ms. York." Grace casually mentioned, "We''re childhood friends. Of course, we''re close." Ka was taken aback. She hadn''t expected Lydia to be friends with Grace. No wonder Caleb''s attitude toward Lydia was different. It was because of Grace. In that case, Ka had been overthinking. "It''s indeed fortunate to have such a close friend," Ka remarked. Grace hummed in response. Just then, her phone rang, and she quickly pulled out her phone. Her eyes lit up, and she answered without hesitation. "Xander?" Ka noticed a sudden change in Grace''s demeanor. The person calling must be important for the phone call to affect Grace''s emotions. Ka secretly sized up Grace. Xander stood outside the Amirate Corporation building, his gaze fixed in Grace''s direction. "Xander, why aren''t you speaking?" Grace sounded anxious when she didn''t receive an answer. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Xander smiled, and he spoke in a deep voice. "Turn around and look." Grace turned and immediately spotted Xander not too far away. Without any hesitation, she ran toward him. Chapter 452 How Did You Get Hurt Chapter 452 How Did You Get Hurt Grace stood before him, sizing him up from head to toe. She couldn''t help but feel upset when she saw him standing there, unharmed. She pursed her lips and asked, "Where have you been these past few days? I couldn''t contact you at all and thought that you¡ª" N?velDrama.Org content. Before she could finish, Xander reached out and pulled her into his embrace. Grace immediately felt much calmer as she settled into his familiar embrace. She quietly leaned against him, forcing back the words she had been about to say. Xander whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear as he gently said, "Sorry for making you worry, Gracie." There had been some urgent issues at Fulton Group''s headquarters. He had been dealing with them in Frenda, and he couldn''t contact her. He had rushed back as soon as he had seen her missed calls and messages. After his flight had landed, he hade straight to Amirate Corporation, just so he could see her sooner. Grace pouted, obviously unhappy. "Why couldn''t I get through to your phone, and why didn''t you reply to my messages? Do you know¡ª" "Mmhm, I know. It won''t happen again." Grace looked up at him, examining him carefully. The visible fatigue on his face made her feel concerned. "Xander, did youe here straight after getting off the ne?" Xander hummed in affirmation. "I was worried that you would be concerned, but even more so that you would be angry, so I came personally to apologize." "So you haven''t had a chance to rest properly?" Xander wrapped his arms around her waist and said, "Seeing you is all I need." "Let go of me. I''m at work." Grace quickly pushed him away. When she touched his shoulder, he winced in pain and furrowed his brows. Grace noticed something was off and asked, "Are you hurt?" Her tone was full of concern for him, and she moved to check his shoulder, but Xander grabbed her hand and insisted, "Don''t worry, I''m fine." But Grace didn''t believe him. She hadn''t been rough with him just now, but it had been enough to make him frown. That meant that his injury must be quite severe. "Let me see it!" Grace reached out her hand and grazed his shoulder when she saw the edge of a bandage exposed. She became even more certain that he was hurt. "What happened? How did you get hurt? Is it serious?" Xander felt touched to see the concern on her face. He reassured her, "It''s nothing. It''s just a minor injury. It will heal soon." Although he said so, Grace was evidently still very concerned. "No, you came even though you''re injured. You have to go home and rest!" Xander couldn''t refuse her, so he agreed. "Alright, I understand." Grace still wasn''t convinced. She insisted, "I''ll take you back." Xander''s eyes lit up with amusement, and he said, "Okay." Grace personally drove him back to the vi. As soon as they entered, Grace couldn''t wait to check his wound. "Let me see your shoulder. How did you get injured?" In the living room, Grace took off Xander''s coat, lifted his shirt, and immediately took a look at the wound. The wound was well bandaged, but the bandage was faintly stained with blood. Xander quicklyforted her. "It''s a small injury. It''s not a big deal. It will heal in a while." Grace pouted, clearly upset. "Xander, why didn''t you tell me when you got injured? Also, I just realized something after you went missing¡ªI couldn''t find a single person who could contact you. Next time, can you please not make me worry like this?" Chapter 453 Someone Special Chapter 453 Someone Special As soon as she finished speaking, Xander pulled her into his embrace, whispering in her ear, "Okay." Their bodies pressed close together, and Grace could distinctly feel the thudding of her heart against her chest. She struggled to escape from his embrace. "Where''s the first aid kit? I''ll tend to your wounds." "There''s no need for that. The doctor has already taken care of it." "It''s okay. It seems like your wound has reopened," Grace said, then turned around and began looking for the first aid kit. Watching her bustle around, Xander smiled and stood up, walking toward another cab. "The first aid kit is here." Slightly embarrassed, Grace hurriedly took the kit from him. "Sit down. I''ll change your dressing." Xander obediently did as told. His eyes were fixed on her as they sat on the couch. Grace opened the first aid kit, took out the tools, and carefully tended to his wound. Her actions were gentle, each one done with the utmost care until she removed the original bandage and finally saw the extent of his injury. It looked like it had been caused by a sharp de. Grace''s brows furrowed. She sensed that the injury was unusual, and the thought nagged her. "Xander, how exactly did you get hurt?" Xander didn''t want to worry her and simply said, "It was a minor ident. Nothing serious." Seeing that he was reluctant to say more, she didn''t press further. "Be more careful in the future. Don''t get yourself hurt again." As she spoke, she took a cotton swab and put on some ointment, carefully treating his wound. After the wound was bandaged, Grace finally breathed a sigh of relief. Upon closer inspection, she realized that, due to her nervousness, her forehead was already covered in fine sweat. "This wound needs to be dressed regrly so it can heal faster." "Okay, I understand." After packing the first aid kit away, Xander took the opportunity to make a phone call. "Come to my ce in five minutes." Grace was curious and asked, "Xander, who are you calling?" Xander ended the call and replied, "You''ll know soon." Grace was somewhat curious. Not long after, the doorbell rang, and she got up. "I''ll open the door." She hadn''t walked far when Xander suddenly tugged on her arm. "It''s okay. He''lle in by himself." Grace looked puzzled, and then the door opened. Heavy footsteps approached them, and Grace could see someone. It was a stranger she had never met before. He wore a grave expression, and his face was hard to read. Upon seeing Grace, the man respectfully greeted her, "Ms. Lewis." Grace was puzzled and asked, "Do you know me?" Xander then spoke, "Gracie, he''s my personal assistant, Peter Miller." "Your personal assistant?" "If you can''t reach me in the future, you can directly contact him." When he heard that, Peter took out a business card from his pocket and handed it over. "This is my number, Ms. Lewis." N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Grace took it, still somewhat confused. "Xander, what is this?" "Gracie, this way, you''ll always be able to find me." Understanding dawned on Grace, and her heart filled with warmth. She had just mentioned it casually, but he had taken it to heart and quickly decided to provide her with a sense of security. Smiling, she replied, "Okay, I understand." Chapter 454 His Private World Chapter 454 His Private World Xander then said to Peter, "There''s no need to hide my schedule from her. Whatever she asks, just tell her the truth." Shock shed through Peter''s eyes when he heard Xander''s instructions. Xander had many connections and rivals from his years in the business industry. For safety reasons, his itinerary had always been kept confidential. Peter had worked for Xander for many years, always in the shadows. He had never appeared in public. But today, Xander had revealed his existence to this woman without any reservations. Evidently, Xander trusted Gracepletely. "Understood, Mr. Fulton," Peter responded, never doubting Xander''s decision. If Xander trusted Grace, he would trust herpletely as well. "Alright, you can go now." "Yes, Mr. Fulton." Once Peter left, Xander took Grace''s hand. "Gracie, I have some special matters to deal with for a while." Grace had already sensed something was amiss but didn''t ask further. She just nodded, looking up at him. "I understand. Just one thing¡ªdon''t get hurt again." "Okay." Xander gazed deeply at her. Grace''s shadow reflected in his eyes, and the air suddenly became somewhat ambiguous. Grace instinctively stepped back, ready to flee. "I should go back now." Unexpectedly, he caught her arm and said, "It''s toote now. It''s not safe." "Huh?" Grace came to a realization, and her cheeks instantly flushed red. "No, that might not be a good idea." Xander smiled indulgently, but he didn''t intend to cross the boundaries between them. He could feel that Grace was quietly epting him. He wasn''t in a rush. "You can take the master bedroom. I''ll sleep in the guest room. Just for one night. Otherwise, my mom will get mad if I allow you to go home at this hour." Since he had used Hestia as an excuse, Grace had no choice but to agree. "Okay then. I''ll go to bed now. Good night!" Grace turned and ran upstairs as if she were being chased. She rushed into the master bedroom, closed the door, and finally took a deep breath. Then, she stretched out her hand to rub her cheeks, feeling annoyed. She scolded herself for running. Once her emotions settled, Grace began to examine the bedroom in front of her carefully. This was her first time in Xander''s bedroom. A nce around the room revealed a decor that was grand and mature, exuding a calmness very much like Xander himself. "Gosh, Xander collects so many figurines!" Grace eximed in surprise, looking at the cab in front of her. It had neatly arranged rows of various superhero figurines, all limited editions. "When did he start liking these things?" Grace couldn''t help but wonder. She remembered being crazy about superheroes when she was in school and even collected some. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Those figurines should still be in Lewis Manor, but it had been a long time since she had taken a look at them. Grace shook her head slightly, sighing, "Time passes by so fast." She turned to leave, but something caught her eye, and she stood there, transfixed. Chapter 455 Spend More Time With Her Chapter 455 Spend More Time With Her "What are you looking at?" Xander''s sudden voice interrupted Grace''s thoughts, but her gaze remained fixed on an ornament ced not too far away. She pointed to the ornament and asked, "Xander, why do you also have one of these ceramic rocking horses?" Xander followed her gaze and smiled. "Oh, do you have one too?" Grace nodded and said, "Yours is exactly like mine, but unfortunately, mine broke a long time ago." She looked away. Her tone was tinged with sadness. There was a flicker in Xander''s eyes, but he concealed it well. "It seems like a pity." He handed her a set of brand-new pajamas and a towel. "You should rest early." Grace epted them and said, "I know. You should rest early too. Good night!" Xander didn''t linger any longer and left the bedroom. Grace couldn''t help but smile as she looked at the pajamas and towel in her hands. ¡­ Meanwhile, Benjamin returned to Hawkins Manor after a business gatheringte at night, reeking of alcohol. He sat in the backseat of the car. As the driver parked the car in the garage, he softly reminded Benjamin, "Mr. Hawkins, we''re home." Benjamin groggily opened his eyes and nced at the familiar building outside the window. He stretched out his hand to loosen his tie and opened the car door. "Okay, you can go back." With that, he got out of the car. Therge courtyard was quiet. Looking up at the vi in front of him, Benjamin''s vision blurred slightly. In just half a year, the vast vi had be exceptionally deste. Since the divorce, Grace had never set foot in here again. He had also driven Celia and Susan away. Now, only he and Elizabeth were left in therge house. Walking toward the entrance, Patty came out to greet him, saying, "Mr. Hawkins, you''re back." Patty took his coat and hung it at the entrance. "Mrs. Hawkins Senior was talking about you. She was hoping you woulde back early to have dinner with her." Benjamin paused in his steps and asked, "Has grandma gone to bed?" "She has already retired for the night." Patty hesitated to speak, prompting Benjamin to ask, "Is there something else?" Seeing this, Patty continued, "Sir, I must tell you something. Recently, Mrs. Hawkins Senior has been in a bad mood, and her health has worsened. "But since you are busy with work, she didn''t want to disturb you and forbade us from telling you. Please spend more time with her when you have the time." Patty''s words weighed heavily on Benjamin. "I understand. I''ll go and see her." He ascended the spiral staircase to the upper floor. As he reached the bedroom at the end, he hesitated for a moment before quietly pushing the door open. In the bedroom, Elizabeth was sleeping restlessly, asionally coughing. Benjamin hurried over to adjust her nket. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. "Benjamin, you''re back!" Suddenly, Elizabeth spoke, making Benjamin freeze on the spot. Then, the bedroom light turned on, and Elizabeth slowly sat up. "Grandma, I''m sorry for waking you." Elizabeth shook her head slightly. "It''s okay. I''ve been sleeping lightly these days. Did you go out again today? You''re always busy with work. You must take good care of yourself." Chapter 456 Knowing Her Well Chapter 456 Knowing Her Well "I understand, grandma, don''t worry." Elizabeth sighed. "Now only you and I are left in this house. How can I not worry about you?" This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Then, she asked, "By the way, how is Grace doing?" At the mention of Grace, Benjamin simply said, "Grandma, don''t worry. She''s doing well." Hearing this, Elizabeth nodded understandably. "Yes, Grace is a good girl. It''s just a pity you two weren''t destined for each other. If only ... well, let bygones be bygones. It''ste. You should rest early too." "Yes, Grandma, you should go back to sleep." After leaving Elizabeth''s room, Benjamin went straight back to his bedroom. Over the past three years, he had rarely been at home, with Grace taking care of everything. Now, after their divorce, he had beening home more frequently. But sometimes he found himself missing the times when Grace still lived there. Benjamin pushed the door open and found no signs of Grace. Any traces of her had been gradually erased over time. He stood before the window and looked out at the night view. He couldn''t help but take out a pack of cigarettes, light one, and ce it between his lips. The smoke swirled around him, adding a touch of mncholy. Unbeknownst to him, Elizabeth hade to the doorway with a housekeeper supporting her. Just as the housekeeper was about to speak, Elizabeth stopped him. She looked at Benjamin by the window, sighing helplessly. Then, she quietly whispered to the housekeeper, "Let''s go. Help me back to my room." "Yes, ma''am." Elizabeth sensed the changes in Benjamin and decided something. "Get me my phone. I''ll call Grace tomorrow morning." "Yes, ma''am." ¡­ The next day, Grace woke up in Xander''s room, feeling a bit blurry. She checked her phone and saw that it was almost 8:00 am. "Wow, I slept so well!" she eximed and quickly got out of bed. Suddenly, her gaze fell on the neatly folded clothes at the side. They had clearly been prepared for her. Grace took the clothes to the dressing room to change. The style of the clothes perfectly matched her taste, and even the size was just right. She couldn''t help but think that it seemed too perfect. After getting dressed, she went downstairs. Xander called out to her from the dining room, "Up already? Come have breakfast." She followed the sound and walked a few steps before she bumped into Xander. He looked at her with a smile and extended his hand to hold hers. "Come, have breakfast." He led Grace to the dining room, where a spread of breakfast wasid out, including her favorite cinnamon rolls. "Did you make all of these?" Grace asked in surprise. Xander smiled slightly, pulling out a chair for her. "Try it." Curious, Grace took a bite of the cinnamon roll, finding that it tasted as good as the ones in the bakery. "Xander, this is delicious." Xander handed her a ss of milk. "You can have more if you like it. I''ll take you to the officeter." Chapter 457 Its Time to Start Dating Chapter 457 It''s Time to Start Dating Grace''s heart felt whole as she held the warm milk and looked at Xander. "Xander, I didn''t expect you to be so talented. When did you start learning to cook?" She was surprised that, despite knowing him for so many years, she was unaware of the hidden skills he possessed. Xander replied calmly, "I learned it long ago. It just happened toe in handy today." The most important thing was that she had finally gotten the chance to taste his cooking. Xander looked down with a smile. "If you like it, I can cook for you more often." Grace agreed without hesitation, "Yes, please! That would be wonderful." ¡­ After breakfast, Xander dropped Grace off at Amirate Corporation. After getting out of the car, she waved to Xander and watched him leave before entering the office. To her surprise, as soon as she entered, Caleb caught her. "Gracie!" Caleb approached her quickly, his eyes scanning her, making Grace feel puzzled. She asked, "What are you looking for?" "Be honest. Why didn''t youe homest night?" Grace blushed, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "What are you talking about?" But Caleb wasn''t nning to let her off the hook. He looked as if he knew everything. "The guy who just dropped you off¡ªit was that Fulton boy, wasn''t it? Tell me, what''s going on between you two?" "Uh, you must have been mistaken. There''s nothing going on. I''m runningte. I need to go," she said quickly, trying to escape. Calebughed and shook his head, sighing. "Ah, they grow up so fast!" "Caleb!" Grace''s cheeks flushed. Caleb smiled knowingly and said, "Okay, I won''t tease you. He seems reliable, but I still need to evaluate him if he wants to be my brother-inw." He wouldn''t marry off his sister that easily! Besides, there were Aaron and Victor as well They wouldn''t go easy on any suitor, either. Caleb raised an eyebrow, already thinking of testing Xander. Unexpectedly, Grace suddenly said, "Caleb, don''t just worry about me. You should also focus on your own love life. After all, it''s hard toe across good women now. Don''t miss your chance at a good match." Caleb came back to his senses. "Gracie, what do you mean?" Grace yfully blinked and patted his shoulder. "Are you that oblivious to your rtionships? Haven''t you noticed any suitable women?" Caleb was speechless. "Seriously! You''re not getting any younger. It''s time to start dating. When will you find a sister-inw for me?" After saying that, Grace waved at him and left him standing there in confusion. "How did we end up talking about me when we were talking about her?" But he thought that the idea of dating sounded appealing. Someone shed through Caleb''s mind, and he quickly shook his head. "Damn, why did I instinctively think of her? No, no, no! This isn''t right!" he muttered to himself before hurriedly following after Grace. ¡­ N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Grace was in a good mood. As soon as she reached her office, her phone rang. She answered the call in surprise when she saw who it was. "Grandma, what a surprise!" Chapter 458 Her Only Comfort Chapter 458 Her Only Comfort "Gracie, you must have been busy with work recently," Elizabeth said. Grace smiled softly and said, "It''s alright. Thepany is on the right track now." "Good. That''s good," Elizabeth said. But her words were followed by a few coughs, which made Grace frown slightly. "Grandma, are you feeling unwell?" "It''s nothing, just the usual." Grace couldn''t help but worry. During her three years with the Hawkins family, Elizabeth had always been kind to her and a source offort for her. "Have you seen a doctor?" "Yes, I have. Don''t worry about me. I called because I haven''t seen you for a while and wanted to talk to you." "It''s okay. I''lle to see you after work." This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Elizabeth was delighted by that. "Really? That would be wonderful! The house has been quite emptytely. If you coulde to see me, nothing could make me happier." "Grandma, don''t say that. You''ve always been like family to me." Hearing this, Elizabeth''s eyes welled up with tears. "You''re always so thoughtful, Grace! Okay, I won''t keep you from your work. I''ll see you tonight." After hanging up, Grace ced her phone aside. Just then, there was a knock on her door, and Luke walked into the office. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Thorne from Byte Technologies is here." Grace nodded and said, "Okay, take him to the meeting room. I''ll be right there." "Alright." Grace grabbed the documents and left her office. ¡­ The meeting with Matthew went smoothly, and bothpanies reached an agreement. They signed a partnership contract that afternoon. Matthew looked at the contract with a smile. He shook Grace''s hand and said, "Ms. Lewis, it''s a pleasure to cooperate with you." "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Thorne. I hope to learn more from you in the future." "Ms. Lewis, you''re too modest. With your capabilities and reputation in the business industry, it''s not about teaching but rather about mutual respect and learning." "Mr. Thorne, you''re the experienced one here. It''s only right to learn from you," Grace said humbly, earning praise for her respectful demeanor. "Mr. Thorne, this way, please!" "Ms. Lewis, after you!" Everyone exited the meeting room, with Grace and Matthew conversing amicably. It was a harmonious sight. Samuel watched everything with a deep frown. His assistant couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Walker, Ms. Lewis'' cooperation with Byte Technologies seems to have gone quite smoothly. I heard that they''ve already signed the contract." Samuel scoffed coldly. "Hmph, she''s still too young and rash. What can she really achieve?" His eyes were filled with disdain. "Young people need to ovee hurdles to grow. If Ms. Lewis wants to y, then let''s y along with her." "Mr. Walker, what''s our next move?" Samuel looked away and said, "She thinks she can take advantage of the inte, but she''s overlooking how thework economy can''tpare with the real economy. This time, not even God can save her." Samuel''s eyes narrowed as he thought of something and asked, "Did you find out who ended up buying the Eastwood property?" Chapter 459 Mutual Interest Chapter 459 Mutual Interest The assistant quickly handed over the information to Samuel. "I found it, Mr. Walker. The Eastwood property was bought by the newly established Landon Group." "Huh? They are a newpany and had such audacity to snap up such an important piece of land?" Samuel was surprised and asked, "Did you find out anything else?" "Mr. Walker, Landon Group isn''t as simple as it seems. It appears that thispany has connections with the former Quine Group and Hawkins family." "The Hawkins family? Benjamin Hawkins?" "Exactly!" "It seems I was right. Even Benjamin thinks thisnd is valuable. Grace really is blind for not taking on this project." "Indeed, Mr. Walker! Ms. Lewis seems to have missed the mark this time. Although Landon Group has acquired thend, it''s too much for them to handle alone." Samuelughed and said, "This is the perfect opportunity. Contact the owner of Landon Group and arrange a meeting." "Mr. Walker, there''s no time to waste. I''ve already contacted Ms. Landon from Landon Group. They''re also interested in working with us." Samuel patted his assistant''s shoulder and praised him, "That''s great! I''m more at ease with you handling matters now." The assistant smiled maliciously and said, "It''s because you''ve taught me well! I''ve learned and grown a lot from following you." "Alright! I won''t let your efforts go to waste. Help me arrange the meeting time and ce with Ms. Landon. I want to have a good talk with her." N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. "Right away, Mr. Walker." The assistant quickly arranged the meeting. ¡­ Later, Samuel instructed his driver to go to the agreed-upon caf¨¦. Jessica was already there. She had already ordered a coffee and was waiting. She was looking forward to this meeting since it was with one of Amirate Corporation''s executives. She had already looked into Samuel. She was aware of the fact that he had a significant position in Amirate Corporation and also of his conflict with Grace. As the saying goes, the enemy of one''s enemy was one''s friend. So she thought of it as an excellent way to deal with Grace. Jessica smiled, feeling a glimmer of victory. Soon, Samuel arrived. "So, you''re Ms. Landon from Landon Group?" Jessica looked up, slowly putting down her cup of coffee. Then, she stood up and extended her hand to Samuel. "Mr. Walker, I''ve heard a lot about you." The two shared a knowing smile. "Please, have a seat." "Ms. Landon, you''re so young and yet so bold. Securing the Eastwoodnd proves your formidable strength." "Mr. Walker tters me. You''re a leader in the industry and a pioneer. I have much to learn from you." Samuel raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "Let''s skip the pleasantries. How about we talk about thend in Eastwood?" Jessica knew Samuel''s intentions, but she held her cards close and feigned ignorance. "Oh? You''re interested in thatnd too?" Samuel had been in the industry for years. He was a cunning old fox and knew Jessica was ying coy. That made him less anxious. Chapter 460 Dealing With the Devil Chapter 460 Dealing With the Devil "Waiter, I''ll get ck coffee for me, no sugar," Samuel ordered. Soon, the coffee was brought to him. He took a leisurely sip. "Your choice of coffee shop ismendable, Ms. Landon. The coffee has a rich vor and tastes great." Smiling, Jessica replied, "Then I must invite you for coffee more often in the future." "That sounds like a good idea." The two went back and forth, neither willing to concede. Jessica had initially thought Samuel would be easy to manipte, but she was somewhat surprised by his resilience. However, she wasn''t easily fooled either. As they finished their coffee, Jessica stood up and suggested, "Mr. Walker, it seems we have nothing left to discuss. Shall we call it a day?" Samuel smiled and slowly put down his coffee cup. "Ms. Landon, let''s not be hasty. Don''t you agree?" "Oh? Do you have any advice?" Samuel said calmly, "Since we''re discussing a partnership, mutual trust is the first step. From your behavior just now, it seems you don''t trust me much." Seeing Samuel''s direct approach, Jessica decided not to beat around the bush either. The two shared amon goal, so there was no need for pretense. She sat back down and admitted, "You''ve caught me, Mr. Walker." "It''s okay. It takes time to discuss a partnership." Jessica decided to get to the point. "You''re a wise man, so I''ll be straightforward." "Please, go ahead." "Landon Group has indeed acquired the Eastwoodnd and ns to develop real estate there. As we both know, the prospects of the real estate industry are clear. "Thisnd''s location is prime, and investing in it would surely be profitable. However, Landon Group''s current funds are limited. How much would you be willing to invest in it?" Samuel remained silent, but he smiled with satisfaction. "Ms. Landon, you''re very frank. In that case, I''ll be direct too. I will personally invest ten million dors for theter stages of construction and development." N?velDrama.Org content. However, Jessica shook her head slightly at the mention of the numbers. "Mr. Walker, for such arge project, ten million dors might not be enough." "Not enough? What do you suggest then?" Jessica held up five fingers before him and said, "At least 50 million dors. I''ve already invested 50 million dors in it. "If you can also invest the same amount, we can split the profits equally between us. How does that sound?" Getting 50 million dors was a challenge for Samuel. Despite being a director at Amirate Corporation with some stock, he didn''t have much liquid capital. Truth be told, even getting the ten million dors he had mentioned was a stretch. So 50 million dors was quite difficult for him. "What are you waiting for, Mr. Walker?" Samuel looked at her with determination. "Alright, 50 million dors it is! But I want to invest using my personal funds." Jessica understood. "That was my intention too." "Then, here''s to a sessful partnership!" Joy flickered in Jessica''s eyes. She hadn''t expected Samuel to agree so readily. "Alright, it''s settled then. I look forward to our partnership." "It''s a pleasure to work with you." Chapter 461 Bet on It Chapter 461 Bet on It Only after Jessica had left did Samuel wave at the assistant standing not far away. "Anything you need me to help with, Director Walker?" Samuel asked, "How much in current assets do I have?" "At the moment, you have about a hundred million dors in current assets. That, together with your real estate assets and your stocks in Amirate Corporation, are worth about 50 million dors." Samuel considered it seriously. Should he ce a bet on this game of chess? If he were to do it, he would have to bet everything he owned on it. If he did not, he would miss out on such a good opportunity, and he didn''t want that. "Do you think the real estate market will continue to perform as well as it is now?" The assistant said without hesitation, "Why would you need to worry about the future of the real estate market, Director Walker? Real estate has always been and will always be a profit-earning business that will never incur losses." Samuel nodded in agreement. Speaking from years of experience in business, the prospects of the real estate market were indeed looking good. If he were to invest in it, he would surely earn profits. He wanted toe on top as the victor this time, too. Why should he be confined to Amirate Corporation and his feud with Grace? He could jump out of it and make a ce for himself out there, and this project was a great springboard. "Take out a mortgage on all the real estate assets under my name." "Director Walker, isn''t ¡­ this decision a bit too impulsive?" Samuel waved, stopping the assistant from saying more. "Just do as I say." "Yes, Director Walker." "Also ¡­ my stocks in Amirate mustn''t be sold, or I''ll have nowhere to fall back to," Samuel murmured as if he were deep in thought. After a while, he continued, "Go take a look at the ck market and see if any low-profile private loans are avable. We can borrow some money for now and pay the loans back after we receive the profits from the project. It should be fine." "Borrowing from private lendingpanies in the ck markets will be risky, Director Walker. We should be more careful." "No need for that. The liquidity of this project is very high, and I believe that we''ll receive our funds within a short time. It should be fine." "But ¡­" All forms of investment came with a risk! The assistant didn''t say that out loud. Seeing how insistent Samuel was, he could only swallow his words back. "Got it, Director Walker. I''ll do as you say." ¡­ When Grace was done with her work for the day, it was finally time for her to get off work. She stretched once and looked at the time before closing herptop. She happened to bump into Luke before she left. "Where are you going, Ms. Lewis?" N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Oh, I''m going to the store." Luke looked curious. "You can just tell me what you want to buy at the store, Ms. Lewis, and I''ll buy it for you." "It''s fine. I can shop by myself." Before Luke could say anything, Grace had already walked far away. Grace headed to a shopping mall nearby and picked out some expensive ingredients as well as some gifts. Her purchases ended up filling the trunk of her car. After loading up her car, she drove toward Hawkins Manor. ¡­ After lunch that day, Elizabeth had ordered her housekeepers to clean the house thoroughly. She had also had the kitchen staff prepare Grace''s favorite dishes. When the time came, she stood in front of the manor, waiting expectantly. About half an hourter, Grace''s car drove in from the road. Elizabeth''s eyes lit up with joy as she quickly went forward. "Quick, Grace is here!" "Careful, Mrs. Hawkins Senior!" Elizabeth disregarded her housekeepers'' reminders as she jogged toward the yard. Grace was just about to get out of the car after parking it when a familiar car drove in slowly, causing her smile to disappear. Chapter 462 Grandmas Gift Chapter 462 Grandma''s Gift "Grace, you''re here!" Grace looked at Elizabeth, who was standing outside with an excited look on her face, and chose to ignore the familiar silhouette behind her. She opened the door and got out with a smile. "Grandma!" Elizabeth was overjoyed. She went forward and gripped Grace''s arm. "You''re finally here after so long!" She pulled Gracie into the house as they chatted,pletely ignoring Benjamin, who had just parked his car in front of the house. Benjamin had seen the other car parked in the yard from afar. He thought that he had gotten it wrong at first, until Grace got out of the car and Elizabeth came forward to wee her. A small smile appeared on his face. As Benjamin got out of the car, a housekeeper came over. "Mr. Hawkins, you''re back." Benjamin replied affirmatively. He had the housekeeper carry the things he had bought into the house before walking in the door. In the living room, Elizabeth asked Grace questions in concern. The two women seemed to be chatting happily. Benjamin stood at the door and listened to theughtering from the living room, and the smile on his face bloomed wider. The housekeeper beside him couldn''t help but think that it had been a long time since they had seen such a big smile on Benjamin''s face. Perhaps Benjamin had noticed the housekeeper''s surprise, because he coughed lightly to conceal his emotions. He returned to his perpetual state of sternness before walking toward the living room. "Grandma!" Hearing Benjamin''s voice, Elizabeth turned back out of instinct. Her face sank instantly after seeing Benjamin''s face. She said exasperatedly, "You nevere back home, but you just had toe back on the day I invited a guest over." Benjamin didn''t exin anything. He merely said, "I didn''t have much work to be done at the office today, so I came back to visit you." N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Elizabeth had no time to bother with him. She pulled Grace upstairs, saying, "Let''s go, Gracie. I''ve prepared a gift for you. Let''s go upstairs to look at it." With that, she pulled Grace upstairs. Benjamin was left alone there, looking resigned. He seemed to be in a good mood despite that, though. Instead of just standing there, he turned to head to the kitchen. Elizabeth led Grace to her bedroom mysteriously, muttering, "Don''t be mad, Grace. I didn''t know Benjamin woulde back today. I rarely see him normally, but he just had to show up today." "It''s okay, Grandma. You don''t have to be hung up on it." Grace was thoroughly over Benjamin at this point and didn''t mind meeting him. "I''m here to spend time with you, Grandma. Everything else is unimportant." Elizabeth saw from Grace''s eyes that she meant what she said. "Benjamin didn''t have the good fortune to be with you. He didn''t cherish the bond he had with you. You''re a good kid, and you''ll surely find happiness someday." Tears welled up in Grace''s eyes. She reached out to embrace Elizabeth. "Thank you, Grandma." Elizabeth patted her back, her palms warm. "Good girl. No matter what happens, I''ll be happy as long as you''re happy. What was between you and Benjamin is already water under the bridge. "That fact that you still care about me and visit me from time to time alone already makes me happy." "Don''t say that, Grandma! You''ll always be my grandma in my heart." Chapter 463 Somewhat Excessive Chapter 463 Somewhat Excessive Elizabeth nodded happily. She pulled Grace down to sit on the couch. "Wait here for me. I''m going to grab something." Grace was confused. "What is it? I can get it for you." "It''s fine. I can do it myself." Elizabeth entered a small side room by her bedroom and came out holding a velvet box. "I have nothing much to give you, Gracie, but here is some jewelry from when I married my husband." Elizabeth opened the velvet box to reveal a diamond ne. She motioned for Grace to bend down and put the ne on for her. "This is my gift for you." "Grandma, this is too valuable." Grace refused to take it. Yet Elizabeth insisted on sping the ne around Grace''s neck. "Don''t think of it as something valuable. This is a token of my affection for you. No matter what, you''ll always be like a granddaughter to me. It doesn''t matter that we aren''t rted by blood." "Grandma!" "It looks good on you!" Elizabeth smiled. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. "I don''t know which lucky man will get to marry you. Nevertheless, I know for sure he has a keen eye and good fortune." Grace felt somewhat guilty. "Grandma, I ¡­" Elizabeth reassured her, "Silly girl. You can do anything, as long as you''re happy." Grace sounded like she was about to cry. "I understand, Grandma." The two women chatted for a while in Elizabeth''s bedroom. Later, Grace had dinner with Elizabeth as well. Benjamin sat with them all the while, a smile on his face as he watched them chat happily. It seemed like he had be somewhat invisible in the room. When Elizabeth was about to turn in for the day, Grace got ready to leave. However, as she made her way to the yard, she saw Benjamin, who had been waiting for her for a long time. Grace stopped in her tracks. Before she could say anything, Benjamin said, "I haven''t seen my grandma so happy in a long time, so I wanted to thank you." Grace said candidly, "You don''t need to thank me. I''m just here to spend time with her." Benjamin exined, "She''s been feeling unwell recently, but I''ve been busy at the office¡ª" "I know that you''re a busy man, Mr. Hawkins, but your grandma is already getting old. You should spend time with her more often." Benjamin replied in affirmation. "I know." This was the first time things were so peaceful between them since their divorce. Benjamin couldn''t help but feel somewhat wistful. Perhaps things had been like this before, but he could no longer remember it. "If you don''t need me for anything, I''ll take my leave now." Benjamin came back to his senses. He had wanted to say something, but all he managed to say in the end was, "Drive safe." Grace nodded, got in her car, and drove away without hesitation. Only after Grace had driven away did Benjamin remember something. He quickly got in his car and followed after her. Chapter 464 Shoo Him Out Chapter 464 Shoo Him Out Benjamin tailed Grace''s car, keeping a distance between them all the while, until he saw Grace drive safely into Lewis Manor. Only then did he park his car by the curb. From a distance, he could see someone waiting for Grace in the manor. He couldn''t see the person''s face clearly, but he was sure that it was a man. Was Grace in a new rtionship now? Were they living together? Was the man Xander Fulton? Benjamin''s heart felt empty, as if something had been taken from him. Even his vision started to blur. He gripped the steering wheel tightly. He didn''t understand why he had followed Grace here, and he found it difficult to ept what he was currently witnessing. In the manor, Caleb nced at the car parked not far away before asking Grace teasingly, "Grace, why didn''t you invite that Fulton guy in for a visit?" N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Grace walked forward and grabbed his arm. "Since when did you be such a gossip, Caleb?" Caleb was just curious. "Did you guys have a fight?" "No!" "Why were you guys driving your own cars and not talking to each other, then?" Grace wanted tough. "Have you seen clearly who that is?" Caleb was even more curious now. "What, that''s not Xander? Who is he, then? You aren''t dating someone else already, are you? "I can tell you now that Xander''s the only brother-inw I''ll approve of. If anyone else wants to be a member of our family, I''ll shoo them out with a broom!" Grace held in herughter. "Oh, really? The guy out there right now is Benjamin." "What?" Caleb was surprised. "I''ll go grab a broom now! He has some nerve to show up here in our manor when he''s not wee here! "I''ve wanted to deal with him for a long time now, but I''ve never gotten the chance before today. I''m going to teach him a mean lesson!" Caleb was serious. He called a housekeeper to bring a broom over, looking like he was about to get into a fight. Grace stopped him quickly, asking, "What are you doing, Caleb?" "I''m going to shoo him out!" Caleb huffed and dashed out of the house, all fired up, only to discover that the car that had been parked there had disappeared. Caleb was baffled. "He already left?" Grace caught up with him. She sighed. "Caleb, whatever''s between him and I isn''t what you''re imagining." "Tell me honestly. Is he harassing you again? If he dares do that to you again, I''ll break his legs!" Grace chuckled and pulled on Caleb''s arm. "Okay, okay! I''ve already let go of what''s in the past. "Great! Let me warn you, you mustn''t let Xander down, or else you''ll experience the consequences." Grace was dumbfounded. She had no idea why Caleb was so protective of Xander. "Why are you so strongly on his side? Are you keeping anything from me?" Caleb looked at her and poked her forehead. "I''ll let you figure it out yourself slowly. You''ll be fine as long as you don''t lose your rationality this time." Grace was totally confused. Caleb didn''t want to say more, though. He turned to enter the house. Grace chased after him. "What do you mean, Caleb? Can you make it clearer?" However, Caleb remained quiet despite Grace''s many questions, so she could only give up. ¡­ The next day, Grace headed to Amirate Corporation. As soon as she got there, Luke entered her office. He had a serious expression on his face. "Ms. Lewis, Director Walker has been up to something else recently." Grace''s expression turned grim as Luke continued, "He seems to be quite short on money. He''s been borrowing hefty loans from the ck market." "He''s short of money?" Grace was surprised. "What''s he taking out all these loans for?" Chapter 465 Somethings Wrong With the Jewelry Chapter 465 Something''s Wrong With the Jewelry "His objective is unclear as of now. Not only did he take out loans from the ck market, but he also mortgaged his real estate assets at the bank." "It seems like he''s gunning for something big." "Ms. Lewis, is it possible that his actions are targeted at us?" "Pay close attention to everything he does for now and report to me if anything happens." "Yes, Ms. Lewis." Luke had just taken two steps toward the door before Grace called after him, "By the way, is there anything on Caleb''s schedule today?" "Byte Technologies is hosting arge-scale outdoor event today in Times Mall at South Road. All the artists in ourpany will be attending it." "Oh," Grace said. So that was why she hadn''t seen Caleb since the morning. "Got it. You can leave." "Sure, Ms. Lewis." After Luke left, Grace continued with her work. A whileter, her personal phone rang. "Grace, do you know where the event Caleb will go to is held?" Lydia sounded anxious on the other end of the phone. Grace was surprised. "Why? What''s wrong?" Lydia quickly said, "Our assistant made a mistake while being swamped with work and picked out the wrong jewelry for the event. The items that were taken to the venue are new, and the designs haven''t been publicized yet. "We signed a contract pertaining to these new designs, and they shouldn''t be shown in public before the first day of their sale. "What makes this worse is that I can''t reach the assistant because her phone is switched off. Caleb''s manager isn''t answering our calls either." That was why she called Grace out of desperation. Grace quickly reassured Lydia, saying, "Don''t worry. Caleb and the other artists are in Times Mall at South Road. You should be able to catch them if you head over there now. I''ll try to contact them too." "Okay, I''ll head over there now." After the call ended, Grace called Caleb''s personal phone. However, no one picked up, even though Grace had called several times. Grace was surprised. Caleb had his personal phone with him at all times. Even when he was attending an event, his phone would be with his manager, so he rarely missed calls. What on Earth was happening today? ¡­ At the same time, in a private dressing room backstage, Caleb had already gotten ready and was about to head to the waiting area. His manager inspected him up and down before saying, "Where''s your ne, Caleb?" Caleb touched his neck instinctively. Nothing was there. He asked, "Has the organizer not sent over the jewelry yet?" N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. His manager patted his forehead. "I''m so forgetful. I''ll contact them now. Wait for me here." Caleb gave an affirmative reply and sat down again as his manager left to make a call. At this moment, the loud noise of objects tumbling down came from next door, shocking Caleb. He got up and went outside. He had just taken two steps when he heard Ka''s loud voice. "The people on your side are so ipetent! There''s nothing wrong with the jewelry, so why can''t I wear them now?" "It''s my fault, Ms. Green. I gave you the wrong items. These haven''t been sold to the public yet, so they cannot be exhibited. Please remove the ne you''re wearing. The one I have now is what you''re supposed to wear." Ka eyed the ne the assistant was holding. Both the design and the diamond on it fell short compared to the jewelry on her neck. "Are you trying to make a fool of me?" Ka snatched up the ne the assistant was holding and tossed it onto the floor. "Do you think trash like this can measure up to me?" Chapter 466 Its Just 30 Million Dollars Chapter 466 It''s Just 30 Million Dors "Don''t do it, Ms. Green." The assistant tried to talk Ka out of it. But Ka ignored her and threw the ne on the floor. "I don''t ever want to see items like this ever again." Everyone in the room looked at each other in bewilderment. They were all at a loss for words. The assistant quickly crouched down and picked up the ne. With her head bowed, she said respectfully, "Ms. Green, if you don''t like this ne, I''ll request a new one from thepany. But you can''t wear the one you''re wearing now in public." Ka''s expression darkened. With a scowl on her face, she crossed her arms and said haughtily, "What if I insist on wearing it?" The assistant pursed her lips and said weakly, "I''m afraid you can''t do that, Ms. Green." "You dare defy me? Do you know what happens to people who do that?" With her head held high, Ka said in a cold and condescending tone, "Talk back to me again, and I''ll have you fired from your position." As soon as she said that, a woman''s voice rang out. "Oh? I''d like to see who''s bold enough to try that!" Lydia walked through the crowd toward them. Tears welled up in the assistant''s eyes when she saw Lydia. She called out with a sob, "Ms. York!" Lydia patted her on the back tofort her. Then, she turned toward Ka. "It''s our fault we brought the wrong piece, Ms. Green. But there''s no need to make a mountain out of a molehill." Ka snorted irritably. She didn''t think Lydia was worthy of her attention. Initially, she had thought Lydia would be from a rich family since she had grown up with Grace. Hence, she had gotten someone to look into Lydia''s background. The results werepletely unexpected. Lydia''s true identity was quite jaw-dropping. So Ka retorted rudely, "As you said, it''s your people who brought the wrong piece. They should make amends for their mistakes, shouldn''t they?" Lydia replied calmly, "Even if that''s the case, you have no right to order my employees around." Ka''s face flushed in anger. "I was just disciplining her." "Ms. Green, I think you should know your ce. You have no right to be bossing people around here. We are sponsoring this event, and we have the right to pick who we want to sponsor. "Your behavior is not on par with ourpany''s standards. I''ve decided to withdraw the sponsorship we previously offered you. So, Ms. Green, please remove the ne you''re wearing." Ka smiled. "It''s just a lousy ne, and you''re making such a fuss. As if I care!" After she said that, Ka took the ne off without hesitation and threw it at Lydia. "Your jewelry is trash. Just get it away from me."This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The assistant quickly crouched down to pick up the ne, which had fallen to the floor. After examining it, she whispered, "Ms. York, the ne is broken." Lydia nced at it. Her expression fell. "Ms. Green, is this how you handle things?" Ka couldn''t be bothered anymore. "What? Are you going to ask me to pay for it? How much can a lousy ne possibly be? Name your price. I''ll pay up." Lydia sneered. "Pay? I don''t think you can afford it." Ka smiled and said condescendingly, "It might seem expensive to someone like you. After all, your sry must be pitiful. It''s probably just the cost of a meal for me. Name your price." Lydia crossed her arms and said, "Yeah, it isn''t that expensive. It''s just 30 million dors. Which payment method would you be using?" Chapter 467 Bleeding Wound Chapter 467 Bleeding Wound Ka was dumbfounded when she heard that. She stared at Lydia dazedly and said, "What did you say? This ne costs 30 million dors?" Lydia said sternly, "It''s true. This ne is an exclusive, custom-made piece by VERE Jewelry. The diamond was imported from South Lefreqa. There are no other diamonds like it. "This ne was custom-made at the request of the chairman of Pinnacle Group. It was supposed to be his 50th-anniversary gift for his wife. "The price is fair. If you have any questions or are unwilling to pay up, we can always go through the legal procedures." Ka became visibly upset, and her demeanor weakened considerably. She had been working in the entertainment industry for some time. She made a pretty penny, but most of the profits went to thepany. The money she actually got was only a small percentage of the revenues she generated. 30 million dors was nearly her entire worth. But she had already said that she would pay. It would be utterly humiliating if she went back on her word in public. Her mood soured as she looked at Lydia. "It''s just a ne. I''ll pay for it." "Alright." Lydia didn''t beat around the bush. She told her assistant to provide Ka with thepany''s ount information. "Then, would you please transfer the money, Ms. Green?" Ka gritted her teeth but ultimately ordered her assistant to make the transfer. Lydia received notification of the transfer within five minutes. Then, Lydia proceeded to hand over the ne to Ka. "Since you paid up so readily, the ne belongs to you now." Ka was still reeling from the loss she incurred, but she still put up a brave front. "It''s just 30 million dors. It''s really nothing much. On the other hand, it took you many years of hard work to get to where you are today, Ms. York. It must''ve been hard, right?" Everyone else fell silent after she said that. Even Caleb, who had been standing some distance away, started to frown. Ka was in a bad mood because she had just been forced to pay 30 million dors. She needed to vent, so she made Lydia her target. "What are you trying to say?" Lydia asked. Ka smiled and said slowly, "I heard you''re an orphan, Ms. York. You only managed toplete your studies because the Lewis family provided you with financial aid. "Did you even further your studies in jewelry design overseas? Or was that just aplete lie?" Lydia clenched her fists when she heard Ka''s words. Her background had always been something she wanted to hide, even after so many years. It was also the reason why she didn''t dare pursue her own happiness. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. But Ka had revealed her darkest secret to the public. "What''s wrong, Ms. York? Cat got your tongue? Or are you just trying to hide from the truth about your birth and background?" Lydia met Ka''s gaze without a hint of evasion. "What are you trying to say?" Ka didn''t even attempt to mask her malice. She said condescendingly, "It must''ve been hard for a person without any special background like you to get to where you are now. "Especially since you''re a woman, too. Can you say for sure that you didn''t sleep your way to the top?" The crowd inhaled sharply in shock. Everyone suddenly seemed interested in the story. Ka added, "Why don''t you share the secret to your sess with us, Ms. York?" Lydia smiled, but her gaze was icy. "The secret to sess? The secret is that I shouldn''t have put up with your nonsense for so long!" After she said that, she reached out and struck Ka in the face. The p echoed in the room, and a red handprint appeared on Ka''s face. Chapter 468 Framing Lydia Chapter 468 Framing Lydia Ka was stunned. She looked at Lydia in disbelief. "How dare you p me?" The onlookers were shocked, too. It had happened too quickly, and no one had been able to react in time. "Yeah, so what? You''re a little slow, aren''t you?" "You!" Before Ka could say anything else, someone in the crowd shouted, "Mr. Lewis!" Ka''s expression changed when she heard that. She raised her head and saw Caleb a short distance away, leaning on the door frame. He had a calm expression on his face. No one could tell what he was really thinking. Ka felt her heart skip a beat. She asked cautiously, "Hi, Caleb. When ¡­ When did you get here?" Lydia felt a chill go down her spine when she heard someone calling out to "Mr. Lewis". Once Ka addressed Caleb, Lydia immediately understood who the man was. Had he seen everything? He must be furious that she had pped Ka, right? Lydia lowered her head. She didn''t want to embarrass herself in front of him. She walked away without saying another word. Seeing that, Ka strutted over to Caleb. With an aggrieved look, she said, "You saw that, right, Caleb? That woman hit me for no reason!" Tears flowed down her cheeks as she spoke. None of the onlookers dared step up and tell the truth. After all, she was a powerful woman. No one wanted to get on her bad side. Caleb looked at Ka and said emotionlessly, "She hit you?" Ka nodded. "Caleb, that woman''s a lunatic. Her employee brought the wrong ne, and I broke it by mistake. But she forced me to pay 30 million dors for it anyway. I justined a little about it, and she pped me." Ka''s statement removed all the me from herself. She wasn''t sure how long Caleb had been there or how much he had seen. Right now, she couldn''t ruin her image before Caleb, which had taken her many years to build. After all, Caleb was the third son of the Lewis family. His status was extraordinary, and he had an untouchable position in the entertainment industry. A man like him was someone she would want by her side. She was trying so hard to get closer to him so she could be in a rtionship with him someday. Caleb remained expressionless when he heard her. Yet he couldn''t help but feel deeply disappointed. He hadn''t expected her to be such a good actress. "Is that really what happened?" Caleb asked. He wanted to give her a chance to think about it again. But Ka didn''t pick up on that. She said resolutely, "Celeb, I would never lie to you! That woman is mad. She hit me in front of everyone. I''ll get the bestwyers and sue her to herst penny!" Seeing that she was unrepentant, Caleb didn''t say anything more. He turned and left after saying, "Do as you please." Kayle was dumbfounded and frozen in ce. Then, she started to feel uneasy. ¡­ Meanwhile, Lydia exited the backstage area. She went to the lobby and met Grace. Grace noticed her glum expression and asked in concern, "What''s wrong? Did you manage to exchange the ne?" Not wanting Grace to worry, Lydia nodded. She said slowly, "The ne is unusable now. I have to fix this. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be heading back first." Lydia left after she said that. Grace stood in ce, confused. What had happened? After a while, Caleb appeared. He saw Grace and immediately asked, "Did you see Lydia? Where did she go?"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 469 Does Your Hand Hurt Chapter 469 Does Your Hand Hurt Grace felt curious when she saw his anxious expression but didn''t inquire further. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She pointed where Lydia had gone and said, "She just went over there. She couldn''t have gone far." Caleb didn''t wait around. He immediately strode in the direction Lydia had gone. He had barely walked a dozen steps before he noticed the familiar silhouette. Caleb slowlyposed his emotions, but he couldn''t help but pick up his pace. "Lydia!" he called out to her. Lydia froze in her tracks. The next moment, Caleb had already caught up to her. "Why are you in such a rush?" Lydia raised her head to look at him. She was very calm as she said, "Are you here to have me answer for my crimes?" Caleb raised his eyebrow in silence as he eyed her from top to toe. His gaze ultimatelynded on her right hand. Lydia clenched her fists quietly when she felt his gaze. "If you''re here to get even with me, I don''t have anything to say. I did p her. I was also the one who asked her for the 30 million dors. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with my lawyer." Lydia blurted everything out all at once, but Caleb didn''t listen to a word of it. He asked, "Does your hand hurt?" Lydia was stunned. She felt like she was in a daze. She looked at Caleb in disbelief. "What did you say?" Caleb walked closer to her and repeated his question, "You pped her quite hard just now. Does your hand hurt?" Lydia withdrew her hand subconsciously, but Caleb managed to grab her wrist. "What are you doing? Let me go!" "Don''t be like Grace. You don''t have to do everything by yourself!" Lydia was confused. She instinctively withdrew her hand and looked away. "Shouldn''t you be concerned about something else? My hand is fine. There''s nothing wrong with it. "Meanwhile, Ms. Green''s face is probably swollen. Show her some love if you have the time. She''s your junior, after all." Lydia put a lot of emphasis on the word "junior". But Caleb didn''t pick up on the jealousy in her tone. "I''m concerned about you," Caleb blurted out. "I don''t need your concern. Go away, Mr. Lewis. I have business to tend to. I''ll be off." After she said that, Lydia left without hesitation. She walked quickly, like someone was chasing her. Caleb was rooted to his spot, staring after her in a daze. He didn''t know what was going on. ¡­ Later, Caleb went back to the event venue. Grace approached him and asked, "Caleb, the event''s about to start. Why do you look so upset?" Caleb smiled. It was hard to tell if he was trying tofort Grace or perk himself up. "Don''t worry. I''m fine." Just as he said, his manager rushed over. "Mr. Caleb, the event''s about to start. We should go." Caleb looked at Grace and said, "I''ll be going off to work." Grace shrugged and nned to leave after Caleb was gone. Unexpectedly, Ka suddenly came out from backstage while crying. When she noticed Grace, Ka went over to her and grabbed her arm. With an aggrieved expression, she said, "Ms. Lewis, you have to help me." Grace was confused. Sheforted Ka with a calm tone. "What happened? What''s wrong?" Grace noticed Ka''s slightly swollen face as they were talking. She felt her heart skip a beat. When she looked at Ka''s assistant, the assistant fell silent and didn''t utter a single word. Grace had no choice but to keep asking. "Ka, what happened?" Chapter 470 Get Justice for Me Chapter 470 Get Justice for Me Tears began streaming down Ka''s face. She had gentle and feminine features, so her crying face looked very pitiable. "It''s fine. Just tell me what''s troubling you." Graceforted her. Ka started crying even harder. The people around them started to stare at them. Grace instinctively frowned. Ka stopped crying after a long while. Then, she said, "Ms. Lewis, VERE Jewelry terminated their sponsorship contract with me. Also, Ms. York pped me. This mark on my face is her doing." Grace''s expression turned grave when she heard that. She started to think about what Ka said. She had known Lydia for many years. Lydia was someone who tried her best in life and work. She had gotten to where she was by creating countless designs all by herself. Besides, Grace knew how Lydia treated other people. She would never be the instigator of an incident. Of that, Grace was very sure. So she asked calmly, "It''s okay. Tell me slowly. What happened?" Ka heard that and thought Grace believed what she had said. Hence, she proceeded to tell Grace an exaggerated version of what had happened. Naturally, everything she said was in her favor. She even omitted some facts. Grace thought her story waspletely ridiculous. So she pointed out the facy mercilessly. "You said Ms. York of VERE Jewelry canceled your sponsorship?" Ka didn''t pick up on Grace''s skeptical tone. She nodded and said, "She has it out for me. That''s why she''s doing this. Her employee brought me the wrong ne, but she demanded I pay for it. "She took 30 million dors from me like it was nothing. It was my life savings. Ms. Lewis, you have to get justice for me." Grace sneered. Ka''s words made no sense at all. Then, what was the truth? She must be hiding something! "Since you''ve suffered such injustice,. I''ll see to it that you get treated fairly." Ka was delighted to hear that. She had thought that Grace and Lydia were close, but it seemed like they weren''t as close as they appeared to be. "Thank you, Ms. Lewis. Please help me get the 30 million dors back. Thanks." Grace waved her hand and cut Ka off. "Since I want to help you get justice, I need to get to the bottom of this. I can''t just take your word for it." Ka''s face paled when she heard that. "What do you mean by that, Ms. Lewis?" "You said the conflict happened in the backstage lounge, right? Longacre Building has surveince cameras in all of its lounges. Why don''t we check the surveince footage?" Ka staggered and almost fell over. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "There are surveince cameras?" The guilt in her tone was unmistakable. Grace replied, "Yes, in every lounge. Didn''t you know that, Ms. Green?" Ka was dumbfounded. She had thought nothing could prove her wrong. She hadn''t expected there to be surveince cameras. She quickly said, "There''s no need for that. Ms. Lewis. I don''t think we should let this matter escte further. After all, ourpany wants sponsorships from VERE Jewelry in the future, too. "We shouldn''t break things off with them because of a minor incident. It''s not worth it. My personal interests are nothingpared to thepany''s." Chapter 471 Contract Termination Chapter 471 Contract Termination Grace smirked. "You must be very well off if 30 million dors can be considered minor to you." Ka felt a chill go down her spine. "Ms. Lewis, I¡ª" Grace ignored her. She looked like she was adamant about making things right. "Say no more! You''re one of my artists. It''s only natural that I defend you. Let''s see the surveince footage. If it''s really Ms. York who''s in the wrong, I''ll definitely get justice for you." "Ms. Lewis, this¡ª" Grace had already seen through Ka''s lies, so her tone grew harsh. "What? Are you feeling guilty?" "No, I''m not." "Since you''re not guilty, let''s go to the control room. We''ll let the facts do the talking." Seeing how persistent Grace was, Ka knew she didn''t have a good reason to stop her. So she started panicking. What was she to do now? "Let''s go." Grace urged. Ka took a deep breath. She had no choice but to follow Grace to the control room. Coincidentally, Caleb was also in the control room when the two of them walked in. "Caleb, didn''t the event begin? Why aren''t you there?" Caleb didn''t reply. He turned to look at Ka. Ka evaded his gaze. Yet when she saw him, she felt like she had found a lifeline. She quickly rushed toward him and grabbed his arm. "Caleb, I''m so d you''re here. You were there, too. Please tell Ms. Lewis what happened." Caleb withdrew his hand expressionlessly. Ka''s expression froze. She whispered, "Caleb, what''s wrong?" Grace nced at the monitors and guessed what was wrong. She crossed her arms and looked at Ka. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "What do you have to say for yourself, Ms. Green?" Ka shook her head. "Caleb, it''s not like that. L-Let me exin¡ª" Caleb didn''t even spare her another look. He looked at Grace and said, "I''ve already seen the surveince footage. Lydia handled the incident without any issues." As he said that, he locked eyes with Grace. They were thinking the same thing. "I know what we should do. Caleb, you should go to the event. Don''t let the organizers wait for too long. Leave the rest to me." Caleb nodded. Then, he turned and left. "Caleb ¡­ Caleb, don''t go ¡­" No matter how many times Ka called out to him, Caleb didn''t bother paying any attention to her. He left without looking back. Right after Caleb disappeared at the end of the corridor, Ka finally realized that he had cut all ties with her. So she dropped all her pretenses. "Grace Lewis!" She called Grace by her name. "Since it''se to this, just terminate my contract. I am no longer interested in yourpany''s newly established talent department. You can''t even provide me with sufficient resources. "I only joined Amirate Corporation because of Caleb. Now, it doesn''t seem like a ce where I should stay. So the best resolution is to terminate my contract." Grace looked at Ka with a wry expression. She couldn''t help but think that Ka was such a masterful actress. Just a moment ago, she had been pretending to be aggrieved and bullied, but she had turned into a domineering woman in the blink of an eye. It seemed like Lydia''s p waspletely justified. "I seem to recall that we signed a five-year contract. Do you want to vite your contract right after signing? Are you ready to pay the penalty?" Chapter 472 A Hefty Penalty Chapter 472 A Hefty Penalty "Penalty?" Ka murmured. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She said uncertainly, "What penalty? Was there such a use in our contract?" Grace was a little bewildered. "Ms. Green, did you sign the contract without reading it?" Ka''s heart skipped a bit. That was exactly what she had done. She had been so fixated on getting Caleb''s attention when she had signed the contract that she hadn''t paid attention to the details. She had barely even looked at the contract before she had signed her initials on it. Ka was panicking as she silently grasped the hem of her shirt. She had already used most of her money to pay for the ne. She didn''t have any more money to pay for the penalty. But given the situation she was in, what else could she do? "How much is the penalty?" Ka asked with a frown. Her heart was about to jump out of her chest. Grace shrugged and told her the truth. "If you want to end the contract now, the terms dictate that you need to pay a penalty of 50 million dors for breach of contract. "As for how much you need to pay ¡­ it depends entirely on what I feel like asking for." Ka''s knees gave way. She had only one thought in her mind. Her life was over! "Ms. Lewis, please, I beg of you. Go easy on me," Ka begged. Even though she was the one who had brought up the termination of her contract, she was talking as if Grace was trying to make things difficult for her. "Ms. Green, weren''t you the one who wanted to terminate the contract? Amirate Corporation respects its employees'' freedom of choice. "If you decide not to go through with the termination, that''s fine, too. But thepany will have new considerations for your future development." Ka nodded frantically. She said, "I won''t terminate the contract anymore. It was my fault, Ms. Lewis. Please. I don''t want to terminate the contract anymore." Grace crossed her arms, and her eyes were emotionless. She said slowly, "Okay, that''s fine. But we won''t be providing you with any resources from now on." Ka was dumbfounded when she heard that. "What? You can''t do that!" Ka had some recognition in the industry at the moment. If she could get resources, she would definitely be able to establish a foothold in the industry. "Please don''t do that to me, Ms. Lewis. I beg of you. Anything but that. I''ll be good. I won''t cause any more trouble for thepany. I beg of you to please give me a chance. Don''t ice me out." If thepany didn''t give her any resources, she would lose all chance for exposure. She wouldn''t be able to appear in front of the public. Then, she would eventually be forgotten. Ka''s face paled. She was well aware that if she wasn''t given any resources, she would lose all her job opportunities. That would mean she wouldn''t have an ie. Without an ie, she wouldn''t be able to afford the penalty for breach of contract. She could only wait until the contract''s period ended. But it would be five whole years. Five years was a very long time for an actress. Even if she made aeback after five years, no one would even remember her. Tears started to fall freely down her face. Ka started crying profusely. Grace waspletely unfazed. "Ms. Green, you''re an adult. You have to take responsibility for your actions. This is the price you have to pay for your actions." With that said, Grace turned and left. Ka didn''t want to give up when she saw Grace leave. She went after Grace and stood in her way. "Ms. Lewis, please give me a chance. I''m Caleb''s junior, after all. I promise I will do my best to make profits for thepany. I''ll do all the work I''m assigned withoutints. Just please don''t put me on ice." Chapter 473 I Quit Chapter 473 I Quit Ka was truly frightened. There wasn''t a way out for her. "Are you sure?" Grace asked. Ka''s face lit up when she saw that Grace had relented. She quickly replied, "I''m sure! I''ll do anything as long as you give me another chance." Grace gave it some thought. "Are you sure you won''t regret it?" "Yes, I''m sure." "Let me think about it." Ka felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. "Thank you, Ms. Lewis. Thank you!" Ka slumped to the floor after Grace left. Her back was already covered in sweat. She smacked herself on the head remorsefully. Why had she signed with Amirate Corporation back then? Luckily, she still had a chance. As long as Grace didn''t stop giving her resources, she would try her best to make enough money to terminate the contract and get out of there. Ka figured she would settle the score with Grace after she got out of her contract. The future Ka had envisioned was nice, but Grace had already anticipated that. The following day, Ka was assigned her new job. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She blew up as soon as she saw what it was. "What? You''re making me the receptionist?" Luke ced the receptionist''s uniform before her and said, "It''s Ms. Lewis'' order." "I''m a celebrity. I can generate a lot of profit for thepany. What is the meaning of this? Who would even want a job like this? I''m not doing it. I''ll talk to Ms. Lewis about this." Luke said politely, "Ms. Lewis has a busy schedule. She might not have the time to talk with you, Ms. Green. "Besides, the pay for a receptionist is six thousand per month. It may not be as high as that of a celebrity''s, but you''ll be able to pay for basic living expenses just fine. " "Six thousand for basic living expenses? Are you joking, Mr. Ziegler? I made several million dors a month at my previouspany. Six thousand isn''t even enough for lunch." Luke replied with a stiff smile, "If this position doesn''t suit you, I''ll have to move you to another post. For example, we have a vacancy in the cleaning department. But that position''s pay is even lower than six thousand dors. Are you sure you want that?" Ka was on the verge of losing her mind. "Tell Grace to get over here. I want to talk to her personally. She''s basically trying to kill me. Does she just want to humiliate me? I''m not going to subject myself to this. "I''ll scrape together every penny I have to repay the 50-million-dor penalty. But I''ll never be a receptionist or a cleaner. Dream on!" Ka''s voice was very loud. Many of the people in the office started to look at them and whisper under their breaths. Ka''s fury grew when she felt their eyes on her. "What are you looking at? Go away! I quit! I quit!" Coincidentally, Grace happened to be passing by at that moment. The crowd dispersed when they saw her. Ka spotted her, too. She called out to Grace, "Ms. Lewis, I don''t want to be a receptionist. I don''t want to be cleaner, either." Grace ignored her and walked into the elevator. Luke adjusted his sses and said, "Ms. Green, just do your job. Maybe Ms. Lewis will let you back into the talent department someday. "But if you insist on making a scene and causing trouble for Ms. Lewis, you might really just be cut off." Chapter 474 Step Down Chapter 474 Step Down After he said that, Luke turned around and left. Ka stood frozen in ce, her face ashen with shock. ¡­ In the office on the top floor, Grace had just sat down when Luke entered. She didn''t even look up as she continued to work on the documents before her. Luke saw that and walked up to her. He reported what had happened politely. "Ms. Lewis, the job is done." Grace flicked her wrist and signed her name on the final page of the document. "Then, that will be all for now. We''ll have to watch and see what she''ll do." "Understood, Ms. Lewis. One more thing ¡­" Luke said hesitantly. Grace stopped what she was doing and looked up. "What is it?" Instead of answering her question, Luke asked, "Did you watch the news today, Ms. Lewis? The news about the groundbreaking ceremony for the plot ofnd Landon Group acquired from the government?" Grace raised her eyebrow. Jessica sure moved fast. She had acquired that plot ofnd on the south side of the city in two weeks. And they were already starting to develop it? At that very moment, Pamore News Channel was broadcasting that piece of news. Jessica was featured on television as the project''s contractor. She had a bright smile on her face as she took part in the groundbreaking ceremony. The local government held the project in high regard. A representative had evene in person to attend the ceremony. It was grand and lively. Landon Group was just an up-andingpany, but it had be the center of attention because of this project. Amirate Corporation''s board of directors sighed in frustration when they saw the news. "We told Ms. Lewis topete for this project long ago, but she didn''t listen. She had to go and invest in some emerging industry!" "And where did that get us? We can only stand by and watch as other people reap the profits. We don''t even get anything to show for it." "We knew it all along. Real estate is an industry with a bright future. The government cares about it. It''s basically a guaranteed profit. But we missed it." "If we had gone for that project, Landon Group would never have gotten it. Ourpany is way more capable than Landon Group." "It''s a pity that Ms. Lewis didn''t pick up on it." Samuel was pleased to see everyoneining. He had had the foresight to work with Jessica to secure the project. He was curious to see how Grace would turn the tables after missing out on such a promising project. "Director Walker, we really should have taken your advice. We shouldn''t have allowed a woman to lead thepany. Look where it got us? It''s such a pity." "That''s right, Director Walker. Why don''t we join forces and remove Grace Lewis from her position? We''ll appoint you as the president. That way, there might still be hope for thepany." "I have no objections. But ¡­ this might be too hasty. After all, Grace is a member of the Lewis family." As soon as the Lewis family was mentioned, no one else spoke up. They all cast their gaze at Samuel. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "What''s your take on this, Director Walker?" Samuel smiled and signaled for them to calm down. "Calm down, everyone. Did you forget the bet I made with Ms. Lewis? There isn''t much time left. Ourpany isn''t even close to the target performance yet." "That''s true! Director Walker, you are so ingenious foring up with such a n. When the time comes, we''ll have her step down. Even the Lewis family wouldn''t be able to help her then." Chapter 475 Missing Out Chapter 475 Missing Out "It''s still such a pity we missed out on such a promising project. I should have invested in it privately. It would have turned a nice profit," one of the directors said with a sigh. Samuel smiled. He felt even better about himself now. Fortunately, he had the foresight to do exactly that. The project''s development had already begun. Housing units would be up for sale next month. He would get his capital back very soon. "Look who''s here," someone called out. Everyone turned and looked to the right. "If it isn''t Ms. Lewis. Let''s go have a chat with her," one of the directors suggested. Everyone else agreed. All of them followed his lead. "Ms. Lewis!" Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Grace instinctively stopped in her tracks when she heard someone calling out to her. She turned around and saw the directors walking toward her. "How may I be of assistance?" Director Tucker, who was leading the group, snorted and said, "Have you seen the newstely, Ms. Lewis? I think you already know the project on the south side of the city has begun development, right?" Grace''s expression fell. She understood why these men were talking to her. "You''re so concerned about this project, Director Tucker. It''s a pity that ourpany didn''t take part in it." Tucker''s temper red up when she said that. He said angrily, "Ourpany didn''t take part in it because you were so vehemently against it. That''s why we missed out on it. "Ms. Lewis, is this an indication of your inability to lead as the president of thispany?" "That''s true, Ms. Lewis. If we had taken part in this project, we would be doing as well as Landon Group." "Look at the emerging industry you talked about. There aren''t any signs of improvement at all. Caleb''s the only noteworthy artist we have in the talent department." "We''ve already told you that ourpany isn''t adept at entering new industries. We should have stuck to entering the real estate industry. We would have made a profit long ago." The group of men kept talking, one after the other. Their tones were very harsh. Samuel''s eyes glowed in delight when he heard them. "Alright, everyone, stop picking on Ms. Lewis. Everyone makes mistakes. We''re all only human." Everyone quietened down when Samuel spoke up. He smiled as he walked through the crowd to Grace. "We still need to show Ms. Lewis some respect. It''s okay, Ms. Lewis, you still have ¡­" Samuel raised four of his fingers and wagged them before Grace''s face. "You have four more months! You should try harder. Don''t make a fool out of yourself." Grace remained emotionless. She waspletely unaffected by their words. Before she could speak, a man spoke up from a short distance away. "Gentlemen, I have a question for you all that I''m wondering if I should ask." Xander showed up out of nowhere. But his appearance made Grace feel at ease, and her anxiety faded away. "Are you ¡­ Mr. Fulton from Futurelink Corporation?" "Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Fulton." "What question do you have, Mr. Fulton? We''ll do our best to answer it."'' "That''s right, Mr. Fulton. Ask away. We''re all ears." Xander elegantly walked toward Grace. He faced the group of men with a spirited gaze. Chapter 476 Failure Is Not an Option Chapter 476 Failure Is Not an Option Under the crowd''s expectant gaze, Xander asked, "I''m pretty curious. You are all directors of Amirate Corporation, right?" "Naturally." Xander added, "Your annual dividends are tied to thepany''s revenue, right? Why are you all making things difficult for Ms. Lewis?" The directors started to feel a little awkward after Xander said that. "Why would you say that, Mr. Fulton?" one of the directors asked. "Ms. Lewis is doing her best for Amirate Corporation, but none of you see it. Instead, you show disdain and make things difficult for her. It''s like you''re not even loyal to your ownpany." The directors'' expression changed as soon as Xander said that. Tucker''s face flushed as he said, "Mr. Fulton, what do you mean by that? We''re all devoted to Amirate Corporation! "If Ms. Lewis had listened to us and invested in that plot ofnd in the city''s southern area, it would have brought great profit to thepany. "The project''s revenue would also far exceed expectations. I dare say this project would have brought us profits and prestige." Xander shook his head and said, "That''s impossible!" The directors almost stomped their feet in anger. "Do you even know what you''re talking about, Mr. Fulton?" Xander smiled calmly. "Of course. It''s just that this project might not be as good as you think it is. If you don''t believe me, you''ll see how wrong you are in a month." Xander didn''t say anything else. He took Grace''s hand and squeezed her palm lightly in support. "Let''s go, Gracie." Grace nodded and allowed Xander to lead her away. They left the office side by side as the directors watched on. The directors started toin after the two of them left. They surrounded Samuel and began to pepper him with questions. "Director Walker, what did he mean by that?" N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "What does he mean we''ll find out in a month? Is there something wrong with this project?" "Xander is the CEO of Futurelink Corporation. He might not have been in Pamore for much time, but he is still backed by Fulton Group in Frenda. Is it possible that he knows some inside information?" "Director Walker, I think something fishy is going on. There''s probably something wrong with this project." Samuel was furious when he heard that. "Nonsense! Does Xander Fulton think he''s a big shot? Why should we trust his word? You all saw the news just now. "Did you not see how Landon Group is rising to prominence because of this project? Don''t listen to his lies. I don''t believe that there is anything wrong with the project. Samuel''s expression was serious as he continued, "If this project fails or if anything bad happens to it, I''ll change my name! Only short-sighted fools would run their mouths and make wild spections." Seeing that, the others exchanged nces, but no one dared to speak up. It wasn''t clear if his words were meant for the directors or himself. Either way, Samuel had already put his life savings into the project. He even borrowed a hefty sum from the ck market. Failure was not an option for him. ¡­ Meanwhile, Grace was still in a bad mood after she left the office with Xander. She looked outside the window as she sat in the front passenger seat. She seemed to be deep in thought. As they drove away, Grace started to feel frustrated for no reason. She sighed in resignation. Chapter 477 Dinner Chapter 477 Dinner "Xander, do you think things would be better if I had chosen to invest in that plot ofnd?" Xander looked straight at the front and asked, "Why? Are you starting to doubt yourself?" "Yeah. I just feel like what they said made sense. If¡ª" "Gracie, believe in yourself. The project isn''t as simple as it seems." Grace''s eyes lit up when she thought about what Xander had said to the directors. She leaned toward Xander and looked at him hopefully. "Do you have some sort of insider information?" Xander smiled and turned to look at her. He could see his own reflection in her eyes. "I don''t have insider information, just my intuition. Don''t you think this project is moving too fast? It''s like someone is speeding it forward. "A regr construction project would need some time to get approved. Why did this one get approved so quickly?" N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Grace gave it some thought and asked, "You do have a point. What could be wrong with this project?" She fell deep in thought. Xander shook his head in resignation when he saw that. He tried to divert her attention. "Alright, stop thinking about it. We''ll know the answer in time." Grace nodded and said, "That''s true. But where are we going?" Xander gave her a mysterious smile. "You''ll know when we get there." After he said that, he stepped on the gas. The car went on the highway and headed toward Xander''s vi. Grace only came back to her senses after the car stopped in his garage. "Xander, why did you bring me to your ce?" Xander said, "For dinner." Grace was confused. Xander walked up to her, took her hand, and led her indoors. The housekeepers were very polite when they saw Grace. "Wee home, Mr. Xander and Ms. Lewis." "Is everything ready, Brenda?" Xander asked. The housekeeper, Brenda, replied with a smile, "Don''t worry, Mr. Xander, everything''s ready. I''ve left them in the kitchen." "Alright, thanks for your hard work, Brenda. That should be all for today. You may go home." Brenda''s gaze shifted between Xander and Grace with a knowing smile. "Alright, Mr. Xander. I''ll be off." She took off her apron after she said that and left without hesitation. Grace was surprised and cast an inquisitive look at Xander. He smiled and led her to the living room. "Watch something on the TV for a while or eat some snacks. I''ll go prepare dinner." "But¡ª" Before Grace could say anything else, Xander picked up the remote and turned the TV on. "I''ll let you know when dinner''s ready." With that said, Xander picked up an apron and went to the kitchen. He looked like he was very used to doing that. Grace stretched her neck and looked toward the kitchen with curiosity. After a while, she could hear him chopping something and the sounds of pots and pans being used. She felt moved by this simple gesture. A faint smile appeared on her face. It was a very simple yet heartwarming moment. Chapter 478 A Good Cook Chapter 478 A Good Cook Xander was a good cook. He prepared a scrumptious spread in an hour. "Crab imperial, grilled scallops, m chowder, barbequed ribs, sd, fish soup ¡­" Grace named the dishes one by one. "You''re so awesome, Xander! These are all my favorites." Xander had a bright smile on his face as he looked at her tenderly. Then, he walked up to her and took her hand. "Go wash your hands first." Grace moved quickly. She dashed to the bathroom to wash her hands. Then, she went to the kitchen to retrieve some cutlery to set on the table. Xander pulled a chair out for her. They sat facing each other. "Try it out and let me know how it tastes." Grace tasted every one of the dishes slowly and praised Xander. "It''s too delicious, Xander." He put more food on her te and said, "Don''t hold back, then." Grace quickly stopped him. "No, I need to take a picture of this fancy spread first." She went to the living room to get her phone and then took several pictures of the food from different angles. "I''m learning to record the happy moments in life," Grace muttered as she opened Byte Technologies'' app. "Last week, Mr. Thorne said I could share pictures about my daily life on this app. I''ll post a picture with a caption." Xander also took his phone out. "What''s your username? I''ll follow you." "Just search for my phone number." Xander nodded as he typed her phone number in the search bar. He quickly found her ount and followed it. Grace wrote up the caption and picked out some music and photos. Then, she hit the upload button. "Alright, I''m done. Let''s eat." Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. After posting on the app, she set her phone aside and started to focus on eating. She had a lot of fun during the meal. It had been so long since she had a homey feeling like this. Grace was away from home most of the time and rarely went home to spend time with her family. She often ate by herself, and the food was very simple. "Xander, it would be great if I could eat the food you cook more often." "Sure. You''re always wee to visit." "Thanks, Xander. You''re so nice." "Let''s focus on eating. Have some more food." ¡­ After dinner, Grace had her eyes on Xander''s wine collection. He had all sorts of bottles on the shelves. "Xander, what kind of alcohol are these?" Xander had just finished cleaning up in the kitchen. He looked toward where she was pointing and said, "That''s wine from the vineyard from before. It''s pretty good. Give it a try if you want to." Grace took a bottle down out of curiosity. "This bottle looks so pretty. It must taste really good." She opened the bottle with a bottle opener and took a sip. It was sour and sweet. "That''s not bad." Xander took out two wine sses when he saw that she liked the wine. "The weather''s pretty good today. Why don''t we go to the roof and rx?" "Sure!" Xander''s home had a rooftop terrace, so they went to the rooftop together. Xander would sometimes spend his free time sitting there. There was even a rocking chair there. As soon as she got to the terrace, Grace was captivated by the scenery. "This is so beautiful, Xander. But, for some reason, I feel like it''s very familiar." Chapter 479 D茅jè„¿ Vu Chapter 479 D¨¦j¨¤ Vu Grace had a strong feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. She frowned, but she couldn''t seem to remember where she had seen this view before. Xander smiled silently when he heard her. He had bought this vi three years ago. He had gotten it after learning that Grace was getting married to Benjamin and going to live in Pamore. The renovation alone had taken two years. Then, it had been vacant for a long time. Xander had only started living here after he had moved hispany''s main businesses to Pamore and founded Futurelink Corporation. "Maybe vis just have simr designs," Xander said vaguely. Grace nodded and stopped thinking too much about it. "That''s probably it." They sat down. Then, Xander handed her a ss with some grape wine in it. "Give it a taste." Grace took a sip and looked into the distance. "The sky is pretty tonight. I can actually see the moon and stars. It feels like it''s been a long time since I gazed at the sky." She couldn''t help but feel slightly emotional. "I remember back when we were in school, you, Victor, Caleb, and I wouldy on the field and look at the stars. It''s been so many years, but somehow it feels like it happenedst night." Xander followed her gaze and looked at the sky. As if thinking of something, he said, "It''s been more than ten years, right?" Grace nodded. Then, she said, "It''s been 14 years. I was in my junior year back then, while the three of you were in your senior year." Grace added, "Also, I remember that a lot of the girls in your ss liked you. They would give you love letters and presents, but you never seemed interested. You threw away the love letters without even reading them." This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Xander nodded and exined, "I didn''t like them anyway. So why would I ept their love letters? It was better to have them give up sooner." Grace''s smile grew wider. "Xander, you''re too direct. But we were all young and still so na?ve back then. We knew nothing about love." She finished the wine in her ss in one go and savored the aftertaste. There was a lingering aroma and sweetness in her mouth. "Give me another bottle, Xander." "Don''t drink too much. The wine has a strong aftereffect." Grace didn''t really care. "It''s fine. It''s just wine. I don''t think it matters if I drink too much." But she had underestimated the effect of the wine. It had a sweet and refreshing aftertaste, but the aftereffects were strong too. After going through two bottles, Grace started to go dizzy. "Xander, why do I see two of you?" Grace stood up and shook her head. She was swaying a little. Xander quickly went up to her and held her steady. "Be careful. I''ll help you to your room." Grace grabbed his hand and held it tightly. "I don''t want that. I want more drinks." "You''re drunk." "No, I''m not." "Be good and don''t make a fuss." Xanderforted Grace softly. It was like his voice was magical. Grace quietened down immediately and stared at him. "Alright, let''s rest downstairs." This time, Grace didn''t refuse. She went with him obediently. Inside the room, Xander sat by the bed and looked at Grace, who was fast asleep. He reached out to tuck her in. Grace''s sleep was restless. She muttered something unintelligible. Then, she turned over and wrapped herself up in the nket the next second. Xander stared at her as he started to relive his memories. Chapter 480 Youth Chapter 480 Youth "Wake up, Gracie. It''s your first day of school. Don''t bete." Outside the bedroom, Victor had his bag in one hand and was knocking on the door with his other hand. Grace was still drowsy. Even though she had woken up, she was stillzing in bed. She pulled her nket over her head. Then, she replied dazedly, "I got it, Victor." Victor looked at his watch and talked to the housekeepers for a bit. Then, he rushed to school. Grace finally got out of bed after the housekeepers had urged her several times. As expected, she waste to school on the first day. "Grace Lewis, right? You''rete on the first day of school. As a punishment, you have to sweep all the stairs." Grace took the broom and started to clean the stairs reluctantly. When she was about halfway done, Victor suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He was holding on to the railing above her. With a gloating expression, he said in a very annoying tone, "I told you to wake up so many times, but you didn''t listen. And now you''re facing the consequences." Grace pursed her lips and swung the broom at his legs. She ignored his words and said, "Move away. I''m sweeping the stairs." Victorughed out loud and poked fun at her. "Gracie, do your best. The teacher wille and checkter." Grace snorted and grabbed his arm. "Go away." "Remember, you''re the one who asked me to go. I actually wanted to help you sweep the stairs." Grace crossed her arms and said, "There''s no need. Just go away. I don''t want to see your face." As soon as she said that, someone came out from behind Victor. Xander walked up to Victor and patted him on the shoulder. "Let''s help her out. She won''t be able to finish sweeping the stairs by herself." Grace was moved when she heard that. She stuck her tongue out at Victor and said, "Look, Xander is so good to me. You always bully me, Victor." Victor looked at her in disbelief. "Who bullied you? I asked Xander toe. You''re so ungrateful!" Grace didn''t believe him at all. She turned to Xander and said, "Thanks, Xander." Xander took the broom from her expressionlessly. "Let''s get to it. The faster we finish, the faster we can get back to ss." "Okay." Grace picked up the pace, but she was still much slower than Xander. "Slow down, Xander. Wait for me." Xander stopped what he was doing and said, "You can go back to ss. We''ll handle the rest." Victor protested, "But¡ª" Before he could say anything else, Xander red at him. Victor was left with no choice when he saw that Xander was on Grace''s side. "Alright. Gracie, go back to ss now." Grace wanted to say something else, but Victor didn''t give her the chance to do so. He pushed her back toward her ss. After Grace was gone, Victor wanted to say something to Xander but noticed the stairs were almost completely clean. Victor said, "Xander, you shouldn''t take her side all the time. She was born with a silver spoon and has never had a hard day in her life. She''s supposed to improve herself at school." "Girls shouldn''t have to go through any hardships. We''re boys. We should help her." Victor was rendered speechless. He waspletely dazed.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 481 Life Savior Chapter 481 Life Savior "It''s not that. We''re already nearing exams, so we need to use all the time we have to study!" Xander didn''t even blink at that. "I can afford to lose a couple of minutes." As he spoke, he nced at their surroundings. Seeming satisfied, he said, "It''s pretty clean now. Let''s head back." Victor was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, Grace seemed to have learned her lesson after beingte to school the first time. She never turned upte afterward. In fact, she woke up half an hour before Victor every morning in the spirit of studying diligently. That day, Grace was dropped off at the school entrance in the morning by her driver. The moment she left the car, she saw her ssmate, Magnus Titan. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Magnus was a ssic straight-A student. He was enthusiastic about his studies and eager to discuss academic issues with people like Grace. That''s why Magnus immediately went over to her. "Did you finish the questions the math teacher gave us at the end of ss yesterday, Grace? Can I check my answers with you?" "Did the teacher give us homework for that?" "Yeah, the ones on page 98. Wait, did you finish them?" Those words struck Grace like a bell. She had already forgotten about this. "O-Of course I did." "Good. The teacher will want to check our books during sster." Grace suddenly felt dejected. Their math teacher was stricter than most and was the kind to give a good scolding in front of the entire ss. Everyone in ss feared incurring that wrath upon themselves. Given her good grades, Grace had never experienced this. If the teacher found out she had missed her homework, her reputation would be ruined. How could she possibly show her face in ss from then on? "Um ¡­ I actually have some things I need to get done. Why don''t you go to ss first?" Grace suggested. She panicked after seeing Magnus off. Grace scanned the area before finding a quiet little alleyway in the corner. She then ran over and started finishing her math homework from the day before. But all of the questions were on the tougher side. It made Grace anxious and unsure of how exactly to start answering. "What are you doing, Gracie?" Xander asked. He brought his bicycle to a stop upon seeing Grace crouched in the corner. When he saw her hunched over her homework, he asked, "Did you forget to do your homework?" Grace was about to cry. The second she saw Xander, she felt like she had met her savior. "This question is too difficult, Xander. I don''t know how to solve it!" Xander parked his bicycle and went to take Grace''s homework from her. He only needed to go through the question once before he figured out how to answer it. "Give me the pen." Grace obediently handed it to him. Xander then scrawled out the answers without another word. It took him less than five minutes to finish. Grace gasped in surprise upon seeing thepleted answers. Xander had even gone and mimicked her handwriting. "You''re amazing, Xander!" Xander''s eyebrow lifted slightly. "Alright. Now go to ss." Grace heaved a sigh of relief and packed everything back in her bag. "You''re my life savior, Xander. I''ll treat you to ice cream after ss. Wait for me outside the school entranceter!" Then, she waved goodbye to Xander before running off. A faint smile rose on Xander''s lips as he watched her leave. Chapter 482 Sisters Before Misters Chapter 482 Sisters Before Misters Grace was a girl of her word. Students in her grade finished sses before Xander''s grade did. She went out to the school entrance to wait for him the instant the bell rang. Grace soon saw Victor, Caleb, and Xander cycling out. Victor waved hello to Grace first. "You''re finally sensible enough to wait for your brothers before going home." Caleb said, "But the three of us have agreed to y games at the inte cafe before going back. Why don''t you have the driver take you home first?" Grace''s gazended on Xander, who stood behind them. "Who said I was waiting for you guys? Let''s go, Xander!" Victor and Caleb shared a look of disbelief. "Wait. You were waiting for Xander, Gracie?" Grace hummed in assent. "I need to properly thank Xander for helping me out this morning. You two can leave first if there''s nothing else." Victor turned to Xander and said warningly, "You promised to hang out with us at the inte cafe, Xander." "Yeah. We haven''t finished our game yet!" Caleb added. The brothers prioritized gaming above all else, so they naturally felt that Xander should feel the same. Victor instantly refused Grace on behalf of Xander. "Xander won''t be able to go with you today, Grace. Why don''t you guys set another date?" "It''s alright, Gracie. Let''s go," Xander said, much to Victor and Caleb''s shock. "What about our game, man?" Xander replied seriously, "We''re already 15 years old. It''s best to rein in the gaming and start preparing for exams." Victor shared a look with Caleb. Who was the one who had suggested they go y games in the first ce? What was with the sudden change? Grace was overjoyed. "You''re the best, Xander! Let''s go, then. I''ll buy you ice cream." Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. As Caleb watched Grace and Xander leave, he said, "Don''t you feel like Xander''s ce in Grace''s heart has gotten more importantpared to the both of us, Victor?" Victor narrowed his eyes and spat out, "Xander and his hoes before bros attitude!" "What do you mean ''hoes''?" Caleb didn''t understand. Grace was the only woman in their family and was naturally doted on by everyone. What did it have to do with hoes? "It should be sisters before misters, Victor!" Victor gazed at his brother like he was looking at a fool. "It looks like only you and Gracie are blind to Xander''s intentions. Forget it. Let''s go home." Caleb was confused. "What are you talking about, Victor? What intentions? Tell me!" He ran after his brother, pressing the topic on and on. But Victor never answered, leaving Caleb with all sorts of thoughts and questions. ¡­ Meanwhile, Grace had taken Xander to a H?agen-Dazs ice cream shop. "You can order whatever you want, Xander. It''s my treat," Grace said courteously. Xander scanned the avable options. Before he could answer, Grace started giving suggestions. "This shop has the best ice cream out of all of them, Xander. It''s creamy and melts in your mouth. This is the only ce I''ve had ice cream that I haven''t grown tired of," Grace said. "Then, I''ll give it a try." Chapter 483 H?agen-Dazs Chapter 483 H?agen-Dazs Grace nodded repeatedly and called the waiter so she could order two ice cream sets. "Xander, try this! It''s strawberry-vored, and this is vani. This one''s chocte ¡­" Xander held a spoon and took a bite as Grace watched him in anticipation. "How is it? Does it taste good?" Xander assented. "It''s not bad." Grace was delighted. "I knew you would like it." Xander took another spoonful and ate it. "The vor is very good. No wonder you like it so much." "Right? Not only does their ice cream taste good, they also have great advertising slogans." As she spoke, Grace found one of the ice cream boxes. There were a series of advertising slogans printed on it. "Among cars, it''s the Rolls Royce, but ice cream has H?agen-Dazs. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. "Oh, and this one: ''every moment with you is a moment with love. I''ll care for you attentively at the most unexpected moments''. "If you love her, buy her H?agen-Dazs." Xander was silent for a moment. Grace counted all the ice cream boxes in the set. There was a different slogan printed on each box. "Look, it''s actually pretty innovative," she said earnestly. She didn''t realize that a box of vani ice cream had caught Xander''s attention. On the box was the slogan, "If you love her, buy her H?agen-Dazs." ¡­ That night, when Xander got home, he came with a delivery staff member from the electronic appliances store. He instructed the man, "Carry this fridge up to the second-floor bedroom." Hestia heard the noise and came out from the kitchen. When she saw the newly bought fridge, she couldn''t help but ask, "What did you buy this fridge for, Xander?" "Oh, it''s to store stuff." Hestia was even more curious. "Don''t we have a fridge at home? What''s this one for?" Xander pointed to the boxes of ice cream that the store had sent over and said, "There, it''s for storing ice cream." Hestia was even more surprised. In fact, she had a look of disbelief on her face. "Son, I thought you didn''t like desserts. Why did you buy so much ice cream today?" There were so manyrge boxes. How long would it take to eat them all? Xander''s expression didn''t change. "I tried it today, and it tastes pretty good. Do you want to try it, Mom?" "No, I don''t eat this stuff." Although Hestia refused, she still couldn''t stop Xander from giving her a box. After Hestia had a bite, she looked delighted. "This ice cream is pretty good. Give me another box." When Xander heard that, he hid all the ice cream as if it were a treasure. "Mom, if you want to eat it, then tell Dad to buy it for you." Hestiained, "It''s just a box of ice cream!" Xander put all the ice cream in the fridge. His eyes radiated joy as he looked at the fully-stocked fridge. ¡­ On the weekend, Xander invited the two Lewis brothers to his house to y games. Caleb beganining the moment he entered, saying, "Xander, we just have so much homework this week. I feel like I don''t even have time to y games anymore." Xander hadn''t noticed what Caleb was saying. He craned his neck and looked behind them, but there was no sign of the person he was anticipating. Victor followed his gaze and teased, "Xander, what are you looking at?" Xander looked away and said expressionlessly, "Why didn''t Graciee over with you today?" Victor smiled knowingly and raised his eyebrows. "Are you saying that you won''t wee us if Gracie doesn''te?" Chapter 484 Mathematical Olympiad Class Chapter 484 Mathematical Olympiad ss Xander looked up and met Victor''s eyes without trying to hide anything. "Didn''t she say that she was going toe over with the two of you?" Victor exined, "Her grades have dropped recently, so Grandpa arranged some tuition sses for her. That''s why she can''te at the moment." "Oh, what kind of sses?" "Mathematical olympiad sses." Xander remained silent. ¡­ The next day, Grace arrived at her mathematical olympiad ss disinterestedly. "This is so hard. Can I just note?" She had just finished speaking when she looked up to see Xander sitting in her seat. Grace rubbed her eyes and went up to him in disbelief. She asked, "Xander, what are you doing here?" Xander didn''t even look up as he said, "I heard that you can get extra credit if you do the mathematical olympiad, so Mom signed up for me." Grace was amused at his plight. "I thought I was the only one who was suffering, but I didn''t expect Aunt Hestia to do the same to you!" "Yep, we''re in the same boat." "It''s just that this math olympiad thing is really hard!" Grace wanted to cry. When could she stop learning this? Xander smiled in resignation, took her textbook, and flipped it open. "I don''t have any problems with the questions at your level. Shall I teach you?" "I just looked at the question you were doing. You''re already going about this the wrong way. You see, from the question here, you can tell that ¡­" Grace had only half-understood it before, but after listening to Xander''s exnation, she finally got it. "Xander, I understood it at once when you exined. Why can''t I understand anything when the teacher is speaking? "I think you exin it so much better than the teacher! Can you teach me the questions I can''t do in the future?" Grace looked hopefully at him, like an adorable little kitten. "Okay." That simple word delighted Grace, and she suddenly felt that she didn''t hate the mathematical olympiad so much after all. In fact, she now had a shred of interest in it. Xander went for mathematical olympiad sses with Grace for about half a semester, and at the end of the semester, when they joined apetition, Grace won the gold award for her year. The moment when she held the trophy in her hands felt surreal to Grace. "Xander, this is all thanks to you! I love you so much. You can''t imagine what Grandpa''s expression will be like when he finds out that I got the gold award ¡­" Xander could see Grace opening and shutting her mouth as she chattered, but all he could hear was that one sentence. Even if she hadn''t said it consciously, it still made his heart flutter. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, it was already the second half of her first year in junior high. One day after gym ss, Grace kept feeling a pain in her lower abdomen. At first, she didn''t think much of it. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Then, the pain worsened, and her entire face gradually became deathly pale. She had no strength at all, and her ssmates finally noticed that there was something wrong with her. "Grace, are you okay?" "Grace, what''s wrong?" "Grace?" "Hurry, take her to the school infirmary!" Xander had just gotten out of ss when a girl suddenly rushed over and grabbed his arm. "You''re Grace''s older brother, right? Something has happened to her. You''ve got to go there quickly ¡­" Xander''s heart leaped out of his chest. He didn''t even ask what had happened before saying, "Where is she?" "The school infirmary." When Xander heard this, he began running wildly toward the school infirmary. "Gracie? What''s wrong? Are you okay?" Chapter 485 Great to Have Xander Chapter 485 Great to Have Xander Grace had just woken up, and when she saw Xander, she burst into tears. "Xander! Am I about to die?" Xander hurriedly went up to her and put his arm around her shoulders. Heforted her, saying, "That''s ridiculous. Why would you die?" "But I bled so much ¡­ it''s all over my pants and the bedsheets ¡­" When Xander heard this, it was as if he had been shocked with electricity. He was stunned, and suddenly the tips of his ears reddened. In a small voice, he asked, "What did you say?" Grace started crying even more loudly. "Xander, what should I do? I don''t want to die ¡­" Xander put his hand over her mouth. "You won''t die, silly. Listen to me and wait for me here." Grace immediately stopped crying and looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "Xander, where are you going?" Xander didn''t exin anything. He just said, "Just be a good girl and wait for me here." Grace was confused, and right at this moment, the school doctor arrived btedly. "I heard that you fainted. What happened?" "Doctor, am I about to die?" "What did you say? What''s going on?" Grace told her everything from beginning to end. After asking about the details, the doctor sighed in relief and beganforting her. "It''s okay. This is a normal biological experience for girls of a certain age. It means that from now on, you''re all grown up ¡­" When she heard what the doctor said, Grace finally realized what had happened, and she immediately began feeling embarrassed. Right at that moment, Xander returned. He was sweating. He handed the bag over to her as he panted. "Hurry and get changed in the restroom." Grace was so embarrassed that the tips of her ears were burning. She wished she could disappear into a hole in the ground. "You ¡­ where did you go to buy it?" "Don''t ask so many questions. Just hurry up and go get changed." Her cheeks still burning, Grace went to the restroom. She squirmed as she came out after changing. In contrast to her difort, Xander behaved as he always did. He handed her some hot chocte and said, "Drink this. You''ll feel better. It''ll ease the pain." Grace was silent. "Xander, how do you know so much about this?" Xander didn''t exin. Instead, he just reminded her, "Remember to rest more and drink more hot chocte. Don''t do any strenuous exercise either." Even though Xander had said so many things, Grace wasn''t annoyed at all. In fact, she felt warm and fuzzy inside. "Xander, it''s so good to have you!" Right at this moment, Victor and Caleb rushed in. They hade over right after hearing that Grace had fainted. "Gracie, what happened to you? Why did you faint all of a sudden?" "What happened? Hurry up and tell me! Do you feel unwell?" "Didn''t our family doctor just give you a checkup? What''s the problem?" N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Grace remained silent. When she saw how anxious the two of them were, she felt a little embarrassed. She didn''t know how to exin why she had fainted, and she mumbled incoherently. "I ¡­ I ¡­" When Xander saw this, he took the initiative and stopped Victor and Caleb. "It''s okay. Gracie is fine. Don''t worry." Victor didn''t believe him. "Why would she faint if everything was fine? I''ll call our family doctor right now and get him toe over straightaway so he can give you a full body check-up." Chapter 486 Special Period Chapter 486 Special Period Victor was about to call the family doctor, but Xander hurriedly took his phone and exined shortly. "Every girl has that special period that they''ll experience. Let''s not ask too much." This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Victor blinked. They had learned thoroughly about the bodies of males and females in biology ss.Only then did he btedly realize what Xander meant by "special period". He breathed out deeply. "You almost scared me to death. I thought something had happened! You make sure to take care of your body more in the future, okay? Don''t keep making us worry!" Caleb cleared his throat to dispel the awkwardness. "As long as Gracie is okay, everything''s fine!" "But ¡­" Caleb looked meaningfully at her and said, "Gracie, you still aren''t fit enough. You need to train more." "I know." Caleb remembered something else and said, "I don''t know who gave you the courage to sign up for the 800-meter race on sports day. You usually don''t even exercise! You won''t end up not even being able to run the whole thing, will you?" Grace felt deeply offended by his words. "Caleb, what do you mean by that? Who said that I won''t be able to run the whole 800-meter course? Not only can I finish the course, I''ll even win a prize to show you!" "Really? I don''t believe you. Gracie, if you can run the entire course, I''ll buy all your snacks for the rest of the semester." Grace''s desire to win red up at once. "You said it, Caleb. Don''t regret it." "Of course I won''t regret it. But ¡­" Caleb''s tone changed. "If you don''t run the full course, you have to buy me a whole gaming set. I want the top specs." Grace clenched her fist tightly. "Fine, it''s a deal!" When Victor saw this, he quickly tugged on Caleb''s arm and said in a low voice, "That''s enough with you! Grace has never liked exercising, and she''s joining sports day just to participate." Naturally, Caleb knew this too. "Victor, I''m doing this so she can be more fit and train more when she has time. Don''t worry, I won''t go overboard." "Alright. Remember what you said!" Caleb turned and said to Grace, "Don''t worry, Victor. Even if Gracie loses, that game set doesn''t cost much. Just one month of Gracie''s pocket money at most." Grace stamped her foot in anger, gritting her teeth. "I won''t lose!" "Fine, we''ll see." Since she had made a bet with Caleb, the moment her period was over, Grace arranged for a personal trainer to help her train. But there was only a week left until sports day, so they were rather pressed for time. However, the short training still raised Grace''s fitness considerably. ¡­ During sports day, Victor, Caleb, and Xander all sat in the stands. Victor couldn''t help saying, "Not bad, man! I''ve never seen Gracie put in so much effort to exercise in my life. "But the results won''t be obvious with only a few short days of training. If Gracie loses, don''t give her too much of a hard time." "Don''t worry! When the timees, I''ll pick a cheaper game set. I canpromise." "You said it yourself." Caleb didn''t answer. At that moment, Xander got up and left. Victor couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Where are you going, Xander?" Xander didn''t look back as he said, "There''s something I need to do." Chapter 487 Running 800 Meters With Her Chapter 487 Running 800 Meters With Her Soon after that, the race began. The 800-meter race was a long-distance running event, and Grace stayed in the top three the moment the gun was fired. When they reached the second round, her strength began faltering, and her speed gradually slowed. At that moment, Xander suddenly popped up from nowhere and began running with her outside the track. "Gracie, adjust your breathing and maintain your rhythm. Inhale with every three steps and exhale with three steps ¡­" His words echoed in Grace''s ears, and she began to instinctively adjust her movements and rhythm. She began to speed up slowly. In the final sprint, Grace crossed the finish line in third ce. "Yay! I can''t ¡­ I''m too tired." She panted. "Let me rest for a while." "I want to lie down." As she spoke, Grace''s legs buckled, and she was about to copse on the track. But in the next second, Xander grabbed her arm. "You just finished running, and you can''t sit down straight away. I''ll help you walk slowly. Sit down and rest when you''ve adjusted." "No, I''m too tired." "It''ll be fine. Let''s walk slower." Xander held her arm and walked slowly, adjusting his own breathing as well. At that moment, Victor and Caleb ran over and asked in concern, "Gracie, are you okay?" When Grace saw Caleb, her energy was restored. "Caleb, I''m in third ce! Don''t forget our bet." Caleb smiled knowingly and answered her readily, "Not bad! Not only did you finish running, you even won a prize! Fine, I''ll take care of all the snacks you buy this year." "Deal! I also want to eat lots and lots of delicious food!" Grace was delighted. "No problem." Grace turned to look at Xander. "Xander, what do you want to eat? You don''t have to be polite with Caleb. If you hadn''t run thest round with me, I definitely wouldn''t have been able tost until the end." N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Are you okay now?" Xander asked in concern. "Yes, I''m fine!" she said. "That''s good, then." ¡­ Later, Xander, Caleb, and Victor passed their exams sessfully and started high school. Grace also went into her second year of junior high, but physics became the bane of her life. She could not muster up any interest in it at all. "Victor, physics is so hard." She pulled a face. "I really don''t want to study this. Can''t we just not study physics?" Grace whined. Victorforted her. "It''s okay. You just have to choose the arts stream in high school. Then, you won''t have to study physics anymore." Grace''s eyes lit up. "Great! Then, I''ll take the arts option and never touch physics again." Yet her spirits immediately dropped again. "But there are still two more years before high school! What am I going to do for the next two years?" Victor shrugged, indicating that he had no solution for this. Then, he looked away and saw Xander coming toward them. "Why don''t you ask Xander? He''s pretty good at physics. Maybe he can help you." Grace looked up at Xander and said pitifully, "Xander, save me!" Xander was confused and asked, "What?" Victor hurriedly cut in to exin, "Gracie hates physics. You''re good at physics, so why don''t you give her some tips so that she can get through the next two years? Then, she just has to choose the arts stream when she gets to high school." Grace sighed deeply again. "Why does a subject like physics exist?" Xander was speechless. Chapter 488 Physics Lab Chapter 488 Physics Lab It was the weekend. Xander rode his bike to Lewis Manor. When he saw Harold, he greeted him politely. "Mr. Lewis Senior!" N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Harold looked delighted to see Xander. "Xander, have youe to see Caleb and Victor? The two of them aren''t home today. They left early this morning." "It''s okay, Mr. Lewis Senior. I''m not here to see them! I''m here for Gracie." Harold smiled knowingly. "I see! Then, I''ll get the housekeeper to call her downstairs." He called the housekeeper and said, "Go and tell Gracie that Xander is here. Tell her to hurry up ande downstairs." "It''s okay, Mr. Lewis Senior. I''ll wait for her here." Xander had just finished speaking when he heard the thumping of footsteps on the stairs. Soon, Grace ran into the living room. "Xander, you''re here!" Xander murmured in assent and looked at Harold. "We''ll get going now, Mr. Lewis Senior." Harold nodded. "Okay, off you go!" The moment they went out, Grace was filled with questions. "Xander, where are you taking me? Why are you being so mysterious?" But Xander kept his lips sealed. "I''m not going to tell you yet. You''ll know in a moment when we get there." Grace murmured in assent. "Okay." Xander got on his bicycle and extended a sincere invitation. "Get on!" Grace didn''t hesitate and sat on the back of the bicycle. When he saw that she was seated, Xander stepped on the pedals and slowly rode off. ¡­ When they reached their destination, Grace was confused. "What is this ce, Xander?" Xander grabbed her arm. "Come on, let''s go in and see!" The two of them entered, and they saw that the room was filled with all sorts of equipment used in physics experiments. Some of the equipment looked very strange, and it caught Grace''s interest immediately. "Xander, what is this?" "That''s a concave-convex lens." "It looks so strange! What about this, then?" "That''s a resistance box, and beside it are an ohmmeter and an ammeter." Grace was awed into silence. After entering the physicsb, she was filled with curiosity about everything. Xander patiently answered all her questions until the two of them walked to the other side of theb. Only then did he stop and look at her. "Do you want to try doing a physics experiment?" Grace asked in hesitation, "Me?" "Yep. Do you want to try?" Grace was reluctant to do it. "No, I don''t know how to do it." "It''s okay. Try it. You''ll definitely be able to do it." Under Xander''s patient encouragement, Grace finally agreed. Xander guided her through an experiment with a pinhole camera, step by step. When the experiment had ended, Grace looked at her experiment results in awe. She couldn''t help crying out, "It''s upside down and flipped from left to right! What is going on?" Xander patiently exined, "A pinhole camera is based on the principle of light being in a constant medium, and when it''s not affected by gravity, it will transmit in a straight line. This is the rectilinear propagation of light ¡­" After listening to Xander''s exnation, Grace thought that it was quite interesting. "Xander, let''s do some other experiments." Xander saw that her interest had been piqued, and without a moment''s hesitation, he went through all the physics experiments for the school year with her. The two of them stayed in theb from morning to night, until Xander finally lifted his wrist to look at the time. "It''s gettingte, Gracie. We should go back." Grace was reluctant to leave. "No, this experiment isn''t done yet. Let''s wait for the result before leaving." Chapter 489 Doing What You Like Chapter 489 Doing What You Like Grace was stubborn once she set her mind to something, and once her interest in physics experiments had been piqued, she became proactive in all the physics lessons. She maintained very good results in physics all the way until she graduated from junior high. As it was a prestigious private school, they had a wide range of subjects avable. Not only were there sses on culture, but they even offered vocational sses. Therefore, after she started high school, Grace began taking advanced sses in her chosen vocation. She started studying business management sses in her freshman year. Teenagers were said to always have a rebellious phase, but Grace rebelledter than her peers. "Grandpa, I don''t want to study business management. I won''t be interested inpany affairs in the future, either. "Please don''t make me study it! We already have Aaron!" Grace looked pleadingly at Harold. Harold usually doted on her and spoiled her, but he stood firm on this matter. "No." "But why, Grandpa?" "Study properly during your business management sses, and ask Aaron if there''s anything you don''t understand." "No, Grandpa! I''m really not interested." "Then tell me, what are you interested in?" Grace had nothing to say to that. She couldn''t find anything to say to refute Harold, but she still felt it in her heart. "Anyway, I just don''t like business management. When I find what I like, I will definitely do what I''m interested in." Harold relented a little when she said this. "Alright. Then, before you find your interest, go and take those EMBA sses." Grace pursed her lips. Although she was very reluctant, she still did as Harold requested and began business management sses. ¡­ Later that year, Victor and Caleb became seniors. Due to the family''s arrangements, they didn''t take the SATs. Instead, they were set to go straight to college after graduating. Therefore, while everyone else was busy preparing for the SATs, the two of them were still gaming at home. One day, Grace suddenly came looking for them. "Victor, Caleb, what if I study design and be a fashion designer in the future?" The two of them froze and looked at her in confusion. "What did you say? You want to study design?" Grace hurriedly pulled out her iPad and showed it to her brothers. "Look, these are the clothes that were revealed during this year''s Mallon Fashion Week. The designs are innovative, bold, and very unique. "Plus, this designer is really amazing. Her designs have already appeared at Mallon Fashion Week for several years in a row. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "The people in the industry all call her the queen of design, so you can imagine how respected she is in this field. "If my designs can also appear in Mallon Fashion Week one day, that would be awesome!" Victor hurriedly cut her off. "Gracie, this isn''t something to joke about. Have you asked Grandpa''s opinion? "I mean, studying design isn''t as simple as you think it is. You need a strong foundation in art for that, and if you start studying design now, you''ll be behind everyone else. "The gap between you and these professionals isn''t small, either. Gracie, this isn''t a simple thing! If you really want to study it, you must ask Grandpa and Aaron and listen to their opinions." Chapter 490 Not Interested in the Company Chapter 490 Not Interested in the Company Gracepletely ignored Victor''s and Caleb''s worries. She stood firm in her stance. "No. Since I''ve decided to study it, I will definitely work hard. I won''t let you down." "This isn''t about letting us down! In the future, Amirate Corporation will definitely be handed to you, but if you go and study design, what''s going to happen to the family business?" Grace didn''t agree. "Victor, we still have Aaron, don''t we? As long as Aaron is around, our family will always have someone to continue its legacy. "Besides, I really don''t have any interest in thepany. Why don''t you two consider it?" Victor and Caleb shook their heads simultaneously. "No, I''m not interested in thepany." Caleb continued, "I''m not interested either. My interest is in music. I think that if I be a singer in the future and enter the entertainment industry, it''ll be pretty good." Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Grace was speechless. "There! People have to do the things that they like!" Victor and Caleb had nothing to say to that. After all, how could they force Grace to do something that they weren''t willing to do? "I''ll just pretend that I don''t know about this." "I don''t know about this either. Gracie, you''ve always had your own opinions. This is all up to you." Grace was very satisfied with her brothers'' answers. "Alright. Then, let''s not tell Grandpa and Aaron for now." Victor and Caleb both remained silent. They just exchanged nces silently, then took a deep breath. Although they didn''t tell the family, they still couldn''t helpining to their friend. "Xander, we have no idea what''s gotten into Gracie. She''s suddenly determined to study fashion design. She even signed up for art sses to "practice the basics"." When Xander heard this, he raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Is she serious?" Victor patted his shoulder and nodded heavily. "That girl is amazingly stubborn. When she sets her mind to something, she won''t stop until the end. "Now her interest is at its highest point. She''s more interested than she was when you took her to do physics experiments." Xander murmured, "That''s good. There''s nothing wrong with doing what you like." "No, Xander! She''s taking these sses secretly and hasn''t told the rest of the family yet!" "Then, what does your family think?" "What else can they think? Grandpa has always thought of Gracie as his second heir, and he expects Gracie to help Aaron manage thepany in the future!" "But you guys can do it too, right?" When the two brothers heard Xander, they shook their heads simultaneously. "No, we have no interest at all." Victor was clearly only interested in his coding and didn''t care about anything else. As for Caleb, although his surname was Lewis, he knew that he didn''t share the Lewises'' blood. Ultimately, he was just an outsider, and everything that the Lewis family had given him was just generosity on their part. How could he ask for more? When Xander heard this, he just said, "If that''s the case, then don''t do to others what you don''t want others to do to you!" The two brothers were speechless for a moment. Victor clicked his tongue and said, "Xander, are we friends or not? You''re being too biased!" Caleb hadn''t realized anything. "What do you mean, Victor?" Victor shrugged, indicating that it was something that he couldn''t say outright. Then, he teased, "Caleb, you''re about toe of age. You should start learning more about this stuff and learn more from Xander. Otherwise, if you can''t find a wife in the future, you''ll have to die alone." Chapter 491 Stay True to What You Love Chapter 491 Stay True to What You Love "What are you talking about? What does this have to do with me finding a wife in the future? Victor, speak clearly!" Caleb said. "Bro, you''ve got to find out on your own!" "No, you''ve got to exin this to me today." Xander ignored Victor''s teasing and went to the art room by himself. He stood outside the window and spotted Grace. She was inside, practicing still-life art. She held the pencil in her hand as she drew out the lines with each stroke of her pencil. Her movements weren''t practiced, but she was very focused. Xander had never seen her like this before. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. He stood there quietly, watching her in silence. Grace remained sitting there even after the end of the art ss,pleting the art assignment that she hadn''t been able to finish in ss. After a long time, Grace finally stopped what she was doing. She raised her sore arm, and a sh of joy appeared on her face. "Phew, I''ve finally finished drawing it." She had just finished when Xander pushed the door open and entered. "Are you done?" Grace turned. At some point, she had gotten paint on her face, but she waspletely unaware of it. When she saw Xander, she looked delighted. "Xander, what are you doing here?" Xander walked toward her, a smile in his eyes. Atst, he said, "Gracie, do you want to look in the mirror and see what''s be of your face?" "Huh? What?" Grace hurriedly got up and approached the mirror to take a look. "Oh my, when did I get this on me? Xander, wait here for me. I''ll go wash it off in the restroom." With that said, Grace slipped off in the direction of the restroom. When she came out, Xander handed her a handkerchief. "Wipe your hands." "Thank you!" Grace took it and dried her hands. Then, she asked, "Xander, didn''t you have ss today? How did you have time toe and see me?" "Nothing much. I just came over to see you. I heard Victor and Caleb say that you n to study fashion design." Without trying to hide anything, Grace nodded in assent. "I think studying design is pretty good. In the future, I can open a boutique, start my own brand, sell the clothes I design, and I can even join Fashion Week with my own designs ¡­" As Grace spoke, her eyes shone as brightly as the stars. It seemed as if there was a light shining directly on her. "I even thought of settling down in the city where I''ll work. I can have a big house with a huge pond in the backyard where I can raise fish." She continued, "It''ll be best if I can have a big garden and grow flowers and nts that I like. And it would be great if there was a swing that I could sit on to read books and newspapers and watch dramas on sunny afternoons, in early spring, in the heat of summer, in the depths of autumn, in winter ¡­ "I can be with the person I love for all four seasons of the year and all three meals of the day." She looked dreamy as she pictured her future. Xander listened to her dreams of the future as he stood beside her. She spoke lightly, but he kept every single word that she said in his heart. He looked at her, and his eyes were full of tenderness. He couldn''t help asking, "Is this what you want?" Grace looked back and assented vigorously. "Yes! It sounds pretty simple, but there''s still a long way to go to make it a reality." "No. It wille true," Xander said softly. Chapter 492 Shocking News Chapter 492 Shocking News Xander wasn''t sure if he was saying it for Grace to hear or for himself. But he was sure that he would help her achieve whatever she wanted. "You think so? Let''s hope what you said wille true." "It''ste. Let''s go to the cafeteria together for dinner." "Okay, I want meatballs, grilled pork, mushroom soup ..." ¡­ That night, Grace returned home. As she was about to go upstairs, she heard a loud noiseing from the study. Her steps halted. Out of curiosity, she cautiously approached the study and gently pushed the door open, peering through the crack. She saw Harold sitting in a chair, looking utterly dejected. The butler tried to console him. "Mr. Lewis Senior, you need to take care of your body." Harold covered his face, sobbing quietly. The butler sighed. "Mr. Aaron is still young and has a strong body. He''ll get through this for sure." Harold sighed. "Among all my grandchildren, he has been the smartest and most sensible since he was a child. As the eldest grandson, he''s the hope of our family. "I''ve been grooming him to be my sessor. Who would have thought that he would fall ill at such a young age?" "Mr. Lewis Senior, God will bless him. He''ll be fine. We''re already searching for a suitable heart throughout the globe. Once we find a match, Mr. Aaron can undergo surgery soon. The chances of recovery are high." Upon hearing this, Grace felt something inside her shatter. She instinctively pushed the door open and asked in disbelief, "Grandpa, what are you talking about? What happened to Aaron?" Harold was caught off guard by Grace''s sudden appearance, but he tried to contain his emotions. He asked, "Gracie, why are you back?" Grace looked at Harold in disbelief. She parted her lips and asked, "Grandpa, tell me the truth. What happened to Aaron? "And ¡­ what did you say about finding a heart? What match? Is Aaron sick? Why didn''t anyone tell me?" Harold remained silent. Meanwhile, the old butler sighed. "Grandpa, do you still want to keep it from me?" Harold looked out the window and only spoke after a while. "Gracie, Aaron discovered a problem with his health a year ago. It has worsened recently. He has heart failure and needs immediate surgery." These words hit Grace like a thunderbolt, and her eyes filled with disbelief. "H-How is this possible?" "Ms. Grace, only Mr. Lewis Senior and you know about this. Your other two brothers are still unaware. Mr. Lewis Senior originally nned to tell you all after Aaron''s surgery, once he had fully recovered." "Where''s Aaron now?" "At the hospital." ¡­ Grace went to the hospital and saw Aaron lying in the hospital bed. At this moment, she had mixed emotions. She btedly understood why Harold had insisted on her taking over thepany. Because now she was Harold''s only hope. Through the ss window, Grace murmured, "Aaron, you must get better soon." She sped her hands together silently, making a decision in her heart. ¡­ This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "Gracie, have you thought this through?" Chapter 493 Graduation Gift Chapter 493 Graduation Gift Xander was subtly surprised. On the other hand, Grace remained calm and raised her eyes, looking into the distance. "Yes, I''ve thought it through." "This is something you truly love to do. Are you giving up just like this?" "Xander, I''m not giving up. I''m just adjusting its priority in my life. Besides, I''ve already thought about it. "After I start university, I can major in business administration and also take elective courses in fashion design." "Alright, as long as it''s your choice, I''ll support you." Grace turned to him and said, "Xander, you''re really great." "Have you decided which university to go to?" "For my degree, probably Frenda. If I have the chance to pursue a master''s, then I''d like to go to Coronia. I heard that Coronia University''s design program is excellent. I would love to see it." "I hope you achieve your dreams soon." ¡­ Aaron''s condition was critical, but fortunately, the Lewis family had a widework. They quickly found a suitable heart for him. He sessfully underwent surgery as nned and followed up with rehabilitation treatment. After a few years of recovery, Aaron''s health finally improved. On the day of Grace''s graduation ceremony for her bachelor''s, Aaron personally handed her an eptance letter from Coronia University. "Gracie, I know that you haven''t given up on your dreams in these past few years. Now that I''m back, you can pursue what you''ve always wanted to do." Grace looked at the eptance letter, her eyes welling up with excitement. She hugged Aaron tightly, saying, "Thank you, Aaron." At this moment, Victor, Caleb, and Xander approached them. During the few years that had passed, Caleb had signed with a talent agency and sessfully debuted. Meanwhile, Victor, with his exceptional hacking skills, had joined the National Cybersecurity Department. As for Xander, he had taken over Fulton Group, bing the person-in-charge. "Gracie, happy graduation!" Victor was the first to speak, handing her a gift box. "This is your graduation gift. Open it and see if you like it." Curious, Grace took the box. "Victor, what is this?" "You''ll know when you open it." Curiously, Grace opened the box to find a Porsche car key inside. "So? Do you like this gift?" Grace looked at the key, and her face darkened instantly. "Victor, are you doing this on purpose? You know I haven''t passed my driving test. Why are you giving me a car?" Victor cleared his throat, trying to cover his embarrassment. He then said, "It''s okay, Gracie. Practice hard, and you can pass your driving test soon." Grace didn''t know what to say. Caleb couldn''t help but chuckle. "Aaron and Victor both prepared gifts. Of course I can''t be left out." With that, he handed her a set of keys. "This is an apartment opposite Coronia University. I''ve already bought it for you, and all the furniture is ready. It''s just waiting for you to move in." Grace joyfully epted it. "Thank you, Caleb. You''re the best!" As soon as she said this, Victor became displeased. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. "Gracie, how can you say that? My car costs over 400 thousand dors. It''s twice as expensive as the small apartment Caleb got you. If you want to talk about who treats you better, it''s definitely me, right?" "Victor, your giftsck thoughtfulness. Mine is the most thoughtful." Chapter 494 Heart of the Ocean Chapter 494 Heart of the Ocean Grace sighed helplessly as she watched Victor and Caleb bickering endlessly. She put her arms around both of them. "Okay, Victor, Caleb, I know you both are the best. In my heart, you''re all my most important family." "That''s about right." "Oh, right, Xander, what about your gift?" Victor threw the question to Xander. Even Grace''s eyes held a hint of expectation as she looked at him. "Xander, did you prepare a gift for me too? What is it?" "Let me tell you, Gracie, Xander has put in a lot of effort into preparing your graduation gift. He started preparing it half a year ago," Victor hurriedly added. On the side, Caleb immediately caught on. After so many years of being together, he was no longer the na?ve youth he had once been. He had long caught Xander''s feelings for Grace. "Um, Gracie, I suddenly remembered that there are some things I need to deal with. You guys chat. We''ll leave first." "Yeah, you chat. We''ll leave first." Saying that, Victor and Caleb dragged Aaron away, leaving Grace and Xander alone. Grace found it odd. "What''s going on with Victor and Caleb today?" "Don''t mind them." As Xander spoke, he reached into his pocket. After a moment of hesitation, he pulled out a small velvet box. "Gracie, happy graduation." Grace was pleasantly surprised. "Xander, you really got me a gift! I''m so happy." As she said that, she took the box and opened it. Inside the boxy a blue gemstone ne, dazzling and exquisite. At a nce, it captivated the eyes. "Wow, Xander! This ne is so beautiful!" Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Xander smiled faintly and asked, "Do you like it?" "I love it." "This ne is called Heart of the Ocean. I bought it at an auction as your graduation gift. I hope everything goes smoothly for you." "Thank you, Xander." "Do you want me to help you put it on?" "Sure." Xander took the ne and carefully ced it around her neck. "It looks great." "Gracie, actually, there''s something I want to tell you." Grace looked up curiously, staring at him. "What is it, Xander?" Looking into her eyes, which reflected his figure clearly, Xander still couldn''t say the words that he had kept in his heart for many years. In the end, he just said, "Gracie, study well at Coronia. Graduate as soon as possible and achieve your dreams." Grace smiled brightly. "Got it." ¡­ Three monthster, Grace boarded a ne to Coronia. Meanwhile, Xander sessfully secured Fulton Group''s first billion-dor project, elevating thepany to a new level. When they met again, it was already the end of that year. Xander went to Eligo for business and made a detour to Coronia University. The cab took him to the campus gate. Xander got out of the car and looked at the beautiful university campus. His restless heart seemed to have finally found a ce to settle. He gathered the courage to call Grace. In a teasing tone, he asked, "Gracie, guess where I am?" Hearing Xander''s familiar voice, Grace almost cried. Her voice choked as she said, "Xander ..." Chapter 495 The One Who Stood Up Chapter 495 The One Who Stood Up Her tone instantly made Xander anxious. He was filled with worry. "Gracie, what''s wrong? What happened?" As he spoke, he walked briskly toward the campus gate, abandoning his luggage on the way. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. He rushed into campus but couldn''t know where to go. Only then did he calm down and ask, "Gracie, tell me, where are you?" "I''m in the dorm." "Okay, wait for me there. I''ll be right there." Grace was puzzled. "What do you mean, Xander?" Xander quickened his pace, but his mood was no longer as jubnt as when he had first arrived. There was only one thought in his mind¡ªGrace was upset. "Come down. I''m downstairs at your dorm." In disbelief, Grace lifted the nket and ran to the window. She pulled the curtains back, letting the sunlight stream into her room after ages. It seemed particrly dazzling at this moment. These days, she had beennguishing in the dorm, so she looked lifeless. She nced casually at the flower bed below, and there she saw that familiar figure waving at her. Grace was overjoyed. "Xander, why did youe? Wait for me. I''lle down now." She grabbed a coat, put on slippers, and happily descended the stairs. She rushed into his arms, feeling the long-lost warmth of being with a loved one. Her tone was full of joy. "Xander, why did you suddenlye here? You didn''t even give me a heads-up." Xander didn''t answer her, but his gaze stayed on her face, carefully examining her. They hadn''t seen each other for a while. She had obviously lost some weight and seemed a bit listless. Even her eyescked the usual brilliance. Not only that, her eyes were slightly red-rimmed, as if she had cried not long ago. Xander embraced her and softly asked, "Why did you cry? What happened?" With that question, a sense of grievance surged in Grace''s heart. She thought of the days when she had been waiting alone at the agreed-upon ce. Yet the person she had made the appointment with had never appeared again. She couldn''t help pouting. "Xander, I was stood up by someone." "What?" Grace lowered her eyes. Although it might be a bit embarrassing to talk about this, in her eyes, Xander had always been like his big brother. So she had no reservations and straightforwardly told him about her story with another man. As she vividly narrated her story with that man, her words carried a deep emotional connection to him. Hearing that, Xander felt jealous and had a mix ofplex emotions. He had never thought that someone would suddenly show up andpletely upy her attention, bing the one she constantly thought about. At this moment, he was like a bystander and could no longer participate in her life. At the end, Grace couldn''t help but ask, "Xander, analyze it for me from a man''s perspective. Why did he stand me up even though he had set the time and ce himself?" Xander parted his lips several times, wanting to say something. But he couldn''t find the words. "Something must havee up, don''t you think?" "I don''t think so. Even if something came up, he should have informed me afterward. But it''s as if he disappeared. I haven''t seen him since. "More importantly, I don''t even know his name, so I don''t know where to find him." Chapter 496 Hidden in Memories Chapter 496 Hidden in Memories As he listened to Grace''s rambling, Xander couldn''t hold back any longer. He grabbed her hand tightly. Surprised by his sudden move, Grace hurriedly asked, "What''s wrong, Xander?" Xander stared at her face, struggling internally. In the end, he just said, "Maybe he was dyed by something." This thought coincided with Grace''s, and she instantly felt delighted. "You think so too, right? I knew it. He must not have intentionally stood me up. But where did he go? I think he''lle to find me and exin after he finishes his business." Xander hummed in agreement and turned his head to look into the distance. He didn''t want to reveal his emotions in front of her. He then casually said, "Gracie, I finally made the trip here, and all you talk about is another man. It''s not very weing, is it?" Only then did Grace realize that. She naturally hooked an arm around his. "I''m sorry, Xander. I didn''t expect you toe here. I''m really happy. "There are many delicious foods and fun ces near our campus. You can stay here for a few more days. I''ll take you to eat, explore, and have fun." When Xander saw her regain her usual vitality, he couldn''t help but smile. As her scent filled his nose, his wandering heart finally found a sense of belonging. ¡­ On thest day of the year, he apanied her to celebrate the new year. In the following days, during Grace''s master''s degree period, he went back and forth between Frenda and Coronia. He took more than 100 flights. Although those days were hard, Xander felt that his life finally had a direction. Moreover, the person Grace had been constantly thinking about had never appeared again, making him feel fortunate and see a glimmer of hope. Time flew by, and soon it was Grace''s graduation. Xander, who had waited for so many years, finally got to see this day. "Xander, remember, don''t be nervouster. Just be yourself." Victor helped him adjust his bow tie, constantly cheering him on. Caleb, on the side, couldn''t help but tease, "Yeah, don''t be nervous. I guarantee that when Gracie arrives, she''ll be moved to tears. She''ll definitely agree to your confession." As Xander''s good friends, they had long been the most direct witnesses to this rtionship. And Xander was the best brother-inw in their eyes. "From now on, you are a member of our family. But let me tell you, if you dare to bully Gracie in the future, her three brothers won''t let you off." This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Xander looked at Victor and Caleb and promised, "Don''t worry. I won''t let her suffer. I''ll love her, respect her, and cherish her. Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I''ll make sure to protect her." Caleb couldn''t help but shudder. "Okay, stop being cheesy in front of us. Save these words for Gracie to hear. "Grandpa and the others are about toe. We need to hurry with the on-site arrangement." Victor urged, reminding him, "Gracie''s ne is at 4:00 pm. If you want to pick her up, you need to get ready to leave." "Go now. Leave it to us here," Caleb also urged. Xander nodded. "Okay, I''ll go pick her up first. See you tonight." "Go, go." Chapter 497 Memories of the Past Chapter 497 Memories of the Past Xander got into the car, started the engine, and eagerly drove toward the airport. But this time, Grace stood him up. ¡­ As Xander snapped back to reality, he looked at Grace, who was already fast asleep, and silently celebrated. Fortunately, after all the twists and turns, she had returned to his side. Leaning down, he pecked her forehead. "Goodnight, Gracie." He stood up and left the bedroom. As the door closed, Grace slowly opened her eyes. Her forehead still carried the warmth of his kiss. Grace gazed at the ceiling, her thoughts a jumbled mess. She gradually recalled memories that had been long forgotten, and scenes from the past became clear in her mind. ¡­ The next day, warm sunlight poured in through the window, illuminating the room. Yet Grace was still in dreand. She had tossed and turned all night yesterday and had only fallen asleep at dawn. A soft knock came from the door. "Gracie, are you up?" Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Still half asleep, Grace heard Xander''s voice. She jolted up abruptly and opened her eyes wide. Surveying her surroundings, she btedly realized where she was. "Oh ... Um, Xander, I''m up." As Grace spoke, she quickly got out of bed to freshen up. But when she finished, she faced a dilemma. There were no spare clothes for her to change into here. Grace pped her forehead in frustration, regretting the spontaneous decision to stay here after having a few drinksst night. What was she going to do now? While she pondered, Xander''s voice came from outside the door. "I had my assistant bring over two sets of fresh clothes. They''re outside the door. Take them yourself. I''ll be downstairs." At once, Grace felt a sense of relief. She quickly replied, "Okay." In her mind, she marveled, "Xander, you''re so considerate." She walked to the door and quietly opened it. Several bags from high-end brands were ced at the doorway. Grace took them into the room and discovered that all the clothes were her size. Without thinking too much, she chose an outfit she liked and changed into it. By the time she went downstairs, Xander had already prepared breakfast. At the sight of her, a touch of amazement flickered in his eyes. "That outfit suits you well. It looks good on you." For some reason, Grace felt a bit awkward today. She responded hesitantly, "Oh ¡­ Really? You have good taste." Xander neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply asked, "Will you be very busy today?" Grace replied, "It should be fine. We missed out on the Eastwood project, and the directors have been moodytely. As you saw yesterday, they''re probably criticizing me behind my back. "The coboration with Byte is still in the early stages. We need to keep pushing it forward." Xander brought the breakfast tray over and ced it in front of her. "The issues with the Eastwood project will surface soon. When that happens, the directors will surely thank you for not getting involved in that mess." Grace halted in her tracks. Feeling curious, she looked up into his eyes. "Xander, it seems like you know some inside stories." Xander smiled faintly, reaching out to pat her forehead. "Just trust me." This phrase sounded strangely familiar. It was as if he had said the same thing to her many years ago. But the Grace of the past had never truly recognized the feelings between them. She had even once believed that it was merely the affection between an older brother and a younger sister. Untilst night, when the deep emotions in Xander''s eyes and his kiss seemed to have awakened her in an instant. It had made memories of the past resurface. It had reminded her of the words he had said to her on the day she had boarded the ne back to Frenda afterpleting her master''s degree in Coronia. Chapter 498 How Did This Go Viral Chapter 498 How Did This Go Viral "Gracie, when you return to Frenda, there''s something important I want to tell you." Grace halted her movements, and her heart quickened its pace. She raised her gaze, staring at Xander nkly. After summoning some courage, she asked the question that had been on her mind. "Xander, is there something you''ve wanted to tell me but haven''t had the chance to?" Xander was confused. Time seemed to freeze as their eyes met at this moment. Grace felt her heart pounding, as if it were about to burst out of her chest. Xander moved his lips, about to say something, when, unexpectedly, a ringtone interrupted him. Grace snapped back to reality, quickly averting her gaze. She looked at the blinking screen of her phone and said in a fluster, "Uh ... I-I need to take this call." She stood up, holding her phone, and briskly left the dining room. Once at the corner, she leaned against the wall and vigorously patted her chest. "Grace, oh Grace, why are you so nervous?" Annoyed with herself, she hit her head a couple of times and stomped her foot in frustration. When her phone rang again, she finally answered the call. "Gracie, why did it take you so long to answer the phone?" Lydia''s voice came through the phone. Grace cleared her throat, masking her emotions, and asked, "Why? Is something wrong?" "Wait, Gracie, you sound so calm. Are you still unaware of what happened?" Grace was puzzled. "What?" "Go on the Byte app and see for yourself. You''re trending!" Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Surprised, Grace asked, "What did you say? I''m trending?" On the other end of the phone, Lydia nced at the top trending spot and confidently said, "Yep." "How did this happen?" As Grace spoke, she opened her Byte ount. Despite having only a few followersst night, she had suddenly surpassed several hundred thousand followers today. Grace was dumbfounded. Last night, she had posted a video of her meal with Xander, and it had unexpectedly gained tens of thousands of likes. Not only that, after circting overnight, Grace''s short video fromst night had silently climbed to the top of the trending list. The video''s poprity continued to soar. Also, with more and more people watching, it gradually created a positive cycle of sustained traffic on the short video tform. "What? How did this go viral?" Grace asked. "Look at your location." Lydia pointed it out. Only then did Grace realize that when she posted the video, she unintentionally added the location of this ce. But what was so special about this location? "What''s wrong with this location?" On the other end of the phone, Lydia''s faintughter could be heard. "This location represents many things. Just read the topments from theizens, and you''ll understand." Perplexed, Grace opened thements section of the video. The topment read, "Woo, Ms. Lewis is enjoyingmoners'' pleasures." "I thought the world''s richest people were always high and mighty. I didn''t expect her to be so down- to-earth. The food looks delicious. Did you make it yourself, Ms. Lewis?" "Shouldn''t your focus be on the location? It''s Summitview Manor! It''s in a luxury residential area that even the rich can''t easily buy." "Ms. Lewis is so much different from us." Just then, Lydia said, "Gracie, your heiress persona is quite a sess!" Chapter 499 Hiding a Man Chapter 499 Hiding a Man Lydia couldn''t help but tease, "I''m just curious. When did you buy a house there? And when did you start cooking? It looks so delicious. "Come on, spill the beans. Do you have any secrets you''re keeping from us?" Grace blushed at those words, and her words became somewhat incoherent. "What secret? I just ... I just shared bits of my life. I didn''t expect it to attract so much attention." Lydia clearly didn''t believe her and said doubtfully, "Really? Gracie, are you hiding a man in Summitview Manor?" That was such a ridiculous statement. "Absolutely not!" Grace blurted out. She looked up at Xander in the dining room, and her heart started pounding again. She quickly held a hand up to her chest, as if to hide her inner turmoil. Then, she said, "I have something else to do. Let''s talkter." With that, Grace hung up the phone. But at this moment, she lost the courage to return to the dining room. Leaning against the corner, she cradled her phone and stomped her foot in regret. Why did she ask that question earlier? What if things weren''t what she had assumed? It would be too awkward, wouldn''t it? "Gracie." Xander appeared in front of her without her noticing, and his voice startled her. "Yes? What''s wrong?" Raising his eyebrow, he said, "Hurry up and have breakfast. You''re going to bete for work." Seeing him behaving as usual, Grace breathed a sigh of relief. The tension that had been building up was eased at once. "Okay." Though her tone was calm, a hint of disappointment welled up inside her. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡­ At the office, Grace was visibly absent-minded. Luke called her several times before she snapped back to reality and asked, "What''s wrong?" Luke''s eyes shed with doubt, but he remembered his role and didn''t inquire further. He said professionally, "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Barnes has scheduled a meeting with you. It''s time to leave." Only then did Gracee to her senses. She grabbed the coat from her office chair. "Okay, let''s go now." Luke followed her closely and left thepany. Once they reached the entrance of Barnes Group, they ran into Jessica. As the saying went, enemies did indeed cross paths often. During this period, Jessica had been in the limelight. Along with Landon Realty, she had gained a foothold in Pamore. Leading the way at the front of the crowd, Jessica appeared to be engaged in a lively conversation, looking like the epitome of a career woman. Upon seeing Grace, she couldn''t help but stop in her tracks. When their eyes met, the air crackled with tension. Jessica smiled. She turned around and walked toward Grace. "It''s been so long, Ms. Lewis. But why bring just an assistant with you? Isn''t that a bit tacky?" Her words were full of sarcasm, and she was acting high and mighty. Grace raised her eyebrows nonchntly and retorted sharply, "That''s not quite right, Ms. Landon. Our approaches to doing things just differ." Jessica didn''t care. "Now that Landon Group has risen, Grace, I''ve proven with my strength that I''m not inferior to you. In fact, I''ve surpassed you. What do you have topete with me?" Grace smiled calmly. "You indeed have your strengths, but here''s a piece of advice. Being too high- profile may not be a good thing. After all, the higher you climb, the harder the fall." Chapter 500 Distinct Treatment Chapter 500 Distinct Treatment "I know that many people want to see me make a fool of myself. But the reason I reached where I am today isn''t solely due to this pretty face of mine." Jessica raised her gaze slightly, speaking with a hint of arrogance. "Without some real ability, I won''t be able to establish myself in this circle. Besides, even if I fall, don''t I have to climb to a high ce first? "Instead of being concerned about me, why not focus on yourself, Ms. Lewis? I heard you made a bet with your board of directors." Grace raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "You''re indeed well-informed, Ms. Landon. That''s true." Jessica nodded and became even more triumphant. "I initially thought it was just a rumor, but it turns out it''s true. I heard the deadline for the bet is approaching, and you don''t seem to have much chance of winning. "Will the daughter of the world''s richest family end up being kicked out of her ownpany?" Jessica covered her mouth and chuckled. "That would be quite embarrassing." With these words, the people around her joined in,ughing. Most of them were looking forward to the spectacle. However, Grace remained unaffected by her words. She was calm as usual. "I don''t need you to worry about me, Ms. Landon." Jessica nodded knowingly. "True. It has nothing to do with me. Still, I wish you good luck. If you''re truly kicked out of the board, it would be really embarrassing." Grace''s eyes darkened. At the same time, a determination grew within her not to let such a petty person witness her humiliation. "Ms. Landon, Mr. Barnes ising over," Jessica''s assistant whispered. Jessica quickly shifted her gaze and asked, "Where is he?" She hade here today after hearing about the nanorobots project that Grace and Albert were coborating on. The word on the street was that the project was in its final stages. A fruitful oue was expected soon. If she could intervene and sabotage this coboration, it would ensure Grace''s loss in the bet with Samuel. That would be a simple win for Jessica. Seeing Grace get kicked out by the Amirate board of directors would be the thing Jessica looked forward to the most right now. "He''s over there." Upon hearing this, Jessica hurriedly walked toward Albert. Her attitude was very courteous. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Barnes. I''m Jessica Landon from Landon Group." Jessica extended her hand, expecting a handshake from Albert. However, Albert paid her no attention and walked past her toward Grace. Left behind, Jessica stood frozen in ce. "Ms. Lewis, it''s rare for you toe in person. Sorry to keep you waiting," Albert said with a hint of a smile, his tone warm. Grace understood that Albert was showing her extra respect to make a point to Jessica. So she decided to go along with it. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "It''s okay, Mr. Barnes. We just arrived." Seeing this, Jessica felt a bit annoyed. She awkwardly retracted her extended hand and quickly put on a smile. "Mr. Barnes, Landon Group is also very interested in nanorobots. I wonder if there''s a chance for us to work together." Albert ignored herpletely, giving Grace the floor. "Ms. Lewis, let''s not stand outside. Shall we go in?" Chapter 501 The One Who Made the Soup Chapter 501 The One Who Made the Soup Albert made a weing gesture in a very polite manner. Grace nodded slightly and walked in. The difference in treatment was worlds apart! Jessica wasn''t able to stomach getting the cold shoulder. She hurried forward and stopped Albert in his tracks. "Mr. Barnes, Landon Group is sincere about this opportunity. If we can establish a coboration with yourpany, we can give you 50% of the profits. I hope you''ll give us a chance." 50% of profits? That was no small sum! Albert was a businessman, so Jessica didn''t believe he would give up such a huge chunk of profits. Albert''s lip curved into a smile, but it didn''t reach his eyes. He paused to scrutinize Jessica seriously. He said, "Do you think Ick money?" When Jessica heard that, she had a bad feeling. She immediately exined, "Mr. Barnes, please don''t get the wrong idea. I''m just expressing how genuine I am about working together. I didn''t mean anything else by it." Albert snorted coldly. "Working together? I''m sorry. Barnes Group may not be a major financial magnate, but we are still very well-reputed in Pamore. "We have standards when ites to choosing our coboration partners. I''m afraid Landon Group is not being considered. Please head back, Ms. Landon." Jessica was dumbfounded. She had never thought that Albert would reject her so directly without sparing her feelings. This made her extremely upset, and her initial humiliation turned into fury. "Mr. Barnes, are you sure you want to pass up on Landon Group? You do know that the Landon Group is the only designatedpany working with the government¡ª" Albert merely chuckled lightly. "So what? If I don''t see your value, then that''s final. Someone, show her to the door!" Without any consideration for Jessica''s feelings, Albert turned around and left. As Jessica watched him leave, she stomped her foot in anger. At that moment, a security guard walked over. "Miss, Mr. Barnes has requested that you leave at once. Don''t make things difficult for us." Jessica bit her lip harshly. With a cold snort, she turned around and left. On the other hand, as soon as Albert stepped into the conference room, Grace couldn''t help but tease him. "Mr. Barnes, are you sure you won''t regret rejecting a thrivingpany for Amirate Corporation?" "Ms. Lewis, it''s not like you just met me. We''ve worked together for so long. Have you ever seen me desperate before?" Grace smiled knowingly. "I certainly haven''t. You''ve always had a unique vision. It shows in the way you choose your partners." N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Albert burst outughing. "Ms. Lewis, are you praising me or yourself?" Grace arched her brow. "Did I? I guess there''s a double meaning!" she quipped back. "I just saw your ount on Byte. It''s great, but I just find it hard to believe that a rich heiress like you would know how to make soup from scratch. That''s something hard toe by." Grace felt embarrassed. The inte was so convenient these days, and with it, news tended to spread quickly. It had just been half a day. Did everyone know about it now? "You tter me, Mr. Barnes, but I just wanted to share a little tidbit of my life. Besides, I don''t have the cooking chops to cook up such a scrumptious feast." When Grace said this, the image of Xander busying himself in the kitchen appeared in her mind. Without her realizing it, her lips curved into a faint smile. She looked just like a lovesick girl. Having been in the industry for so long, Albert had keen eyes and noticed that. He then said, "It seems like someone else made the soup, Ms. Lewis. I wonder which man is lucky enough to get your attention." Chapter 502 Kidnapped Chapter 502 Kidnapped "You''re teasing me, Mr. Barnes. Let''s get back to business." Albert nodded, and both of them dove into the topic. ¡­ Meanwhile, because of the ne incident with Ka, Lydia was busy drafting some new designs. After pulling an all-nighter, she finally came up with a design that she was satisfied with. She looked out the window and stretched. Just as she was about to go to her bedroom to get some rest, the doorbell rang. She found it strange. People rarely showed up on her doorstep. Who could be there so early in the morning? As she walked out of the study, she called out, "Who is it?" There was no answer. She opened the doorbell camera, but she didn''t see anyone standing at the door. Just as she turned around to leave, someone rang the doorbell again. This time, a man''s voice sounded out of the blue. "We''re here to check the water meter. Please open the door." Lydia didn''t think too much of it and opened the door. However, in the next second, a few buff men barged in, giving her a fright. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. "Who are you? What are you doing?" A manpared her face to a photo he had. "Are you Lydia York?" he asked. Lydia turned to flee, but the man saw right through her. He moved quickly and stopped her. "Trying to get away? You''re in my hands now. Where do you think you can go?" "What are you doing? Don''te near me! Get lost! Don''t touch me!" Despite Lydia''s struggles, the men grabbed her and held a cloth over her mouth. A momentter, she lost consciousness. ¡­ "Mr. Barnes, we''ll be leaving theunch of our new products this season to Barnes Group. "When the timees, the threepanies will attend theunch together. I''m looking forward to achieving a new record high in sales this season." "Don''t worry, Ms. Lewis! You can rest assured and leave this in our hands." As soon as Albert finished speaking, Grace''s phone rang out of the blue. "Sorry, Mr. Barnes. Let me take this call." She got up and walked over to the window. "What''s the matter, Emily?" "Gracie, something happened to Lydia." "What? Tell me everything." "She might have been kidnapped." "Kidnapped?" Grace''s voice was filled with anxiety. "What happened?" "I just received a strange text. It says that if I want Lydia back alive, I have to prepare 50 million dors in cash and deliver it to the garage behind Ocean Park. Otherwise, they''ll kill her." "Have you tried to get in touch with Lydia?" "I have, but I couldn''t contact her. At first, I thought it was a prank, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn''t get in touch with her. Her phone is off. "Besides, Lydia doesn''t have many rtives in Pamore. The only people who can contact her are you and I. Gracie, what should we do about this?" "Don''t panic. The perpetrators are clearly after the money. Since they haven''t gotten the money yet, Lydia should be safe," Grace said,forting Emily. Her mind raced as she tried toe up with a n. "Leave the money issue to me. I''ll call the bank right away. Wait for my call." With that, she turned around to leave. Albert noticed how worried Grace looked. He asked with concern, "Ms. Lewis, did something happen?" Chapter 503 Ransom of 50 Million Dollars Chapter 503 Ransom of 50 Million Dors Grace said apologetically, "Sorry, Mr. Barnes. Something urgent came up, and I need to handle it. Let''s stop the discussion here today. We''ll keep in touch in case something crops up." With that, she left in a hurry while talking on the phone. Albert stared at her retreating figure in doubt. He ran after her and said, "Ms. Lewis, you seem really worried right now. Did something happen? You can tell me. I might even be able to help you." "Thanks for your kindness, Mr. Barnes. I don''t need any help right now." The elevator doors opened, and Grace rushed in. Then, she gave the bank a call. 50 million dors was doable for her, but it might be difficult to get it in cash. Thanks to Grace''s special status, the bank readily agreed. However, they needed an hour to prepare the cash. ¡­ At the same time, Caleb also received a text. He was in the middle of a shoot for a magazine cover. As soon as he finished reading the text, he stopped the shoot. He dialed Lydia''s number, but the call wouldn''t connect. When his manager saw him in this state, he quickly asked, "Caleb, what''s the matter? Did something happen?" Caleb grabbed his jacket. He didn''t even have time to change out of the clothes he was wearing for the photoshoot. All he said was, "There''s something I need to take care of." Then, he left the set in a hurry. ¡­ On the other hand, Grace was anxiously waiting for the bank to deliver the cash. However, Xander found her first. Grace asked in surprise, "Xander, what are you doing here?" "Something must have happened for you to request such a huge sum of money. I had to ask Mr. Ziegler to find out what happened. Were you able to find out who the kidnappers are?" Grace shook her head. "I don''t know! Lydia leads a very normal life. She wouldn''t make enemies so easily." "Then, who are the perpetrators? Why would they suddenly kidnap her?" Grace frowned. "I don''t know yet. But no matter what, we have to rescue Lydia first." "Okay. When we get the cash, I''ll go alone. You shouldn''t go." "No. Lydia has been my best friend for years. Moreover, she''s practically family to me now. I have to see her safe and sound with my own eyes." Xander grabbed her hand. He said in a sincere tone, "Listen to me. Just stay home and wait for my call. I''ll make sure shees back safely." "But¡ª" Grace wanted to argue, but Xander interrupted her. "Listen to me." This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Gracie, the kidnappers are calling." Emily ran over and handed the phone to Grace. At the side, Xander also took out his own phone. "Try to keep the call going for as long as you can. I''ll trace their location." Grace understood. She answered the phone with a "Hello?" "Is the money ready?" A man''s voice sounded over the phone. Grace looked up at Xander. Thetter''s fingers were already flying over the screen of his phone. She could see a string of numbers shing on the screen. "How can I be sure that she''s with you? You need to let me hear her voice first," Grace said. The kidnapper didn''t beat around the bush. He grabbed Lydia by the hair and shoved the phone in her face. "Speak," he said coldly. Lydia turned her face away and refused to say a word. The man pped her harshly across the face. "Bitch, I asked you to speak." Grace''s heart twinged. "Lydia, is that you? Are you okay?" she said anxiously. Hearing Grace''s voice, Lydia''s eyes instantly reddened. Still, she bit her lip harshly and didn''t make a sound. The man struck her again. "I said speak!" As he spoke, he prepared to hit her one more time, but Grace stopped him. "Stop, don''t touch her! I''ll give you as much money you want!" Chapter 504 Moment of Danger Chapter 504 Moment of Danger Grace was already certain that it was Lydia on the other end. She knew her friend well. In such circumstances, Lydia would absolutely refuse to bring her any trouble. Hence, she hadn''t said a word. "If you want money, I can give you any amount you want, so long as you don''t hurt her. But if anything happens to her, don''t even think about getting a single penny." This seemed to persuade the man. He put his hand down and stood up to look down at Lydia. He snorted coldly. "Alright, then deliver the money to the time and ce we previously agreed on. If you''rete, I won''t spare her." "Okay." Grace met Xander''s eyes. Thetter gave her the thumbs-up sign, and Grace nodded in return. She continued, "Lydia, I know you''re there. Don''t be afraid. We''ll rescue you very soon. Trust me!" When Lydia heard this, she couldn''t hold back her emotions anymore. Tears poured down her face. "Gracie, I-I''m so sorry for dragging you into this." "Don''t be silly. What''s there to be sorry for? I just want you to be safe and sound. Wait for me." Then, she said to the kidnapper, "We''ll send the money in a while, but we will exchange the cash for the hostage." "Heh, you still want to negotiate? No way! Once we get the money, we''ll naturally release the hostage. But ¡­ if you get any bright ideas or choose to call the police, I''ll send her to hell myself. "We live life on the edge. Us hardened men aren''t afraid of you rich people. You''d better not get up to any funny business." With that, he hung up the phone. Grace asked anxiously, "Xander, how did it go?" "I''ve locked in on his location. He''s about 500 yards away from the drop-off point." "Can you find out who he is?" Xander passed his phone to her. There was an unfamiliar man''s face on the screen. "I tracked down his location and found his identity. Have you seen this person before?" N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Grace shook her head. "I don''t know him." "Hmm, he seems to be well-known around these parts. He''s not going to be simple to deal with." "How did Lydia cross them?" "I don''t know yet. Nheless, these people are capable of anything. We have to rush over now. The earlier we get there, the sooner we guarantee Lydia''s safety." "Alright. I''ll go with you," Grace insisted. "Unless I see Lydia standing in front of me, I can''t feel at ease." Xander couldn''t convince her otherwise, so he agreed. "No matter what, you have to stay by my side. You can''t let yourself get in harm''s way." Grace nodded. "I know, Xander." "Good. Let''s go." ¡­ Meanwhile, after the kidnapper ended the call, eight muscr men locked Lydia in a small hut. One of theckeys gave the leader, Troy Barker, a cigarette. "Troy, will they really give us the money?" Troy snorted coldly. He said in a confident tone, "Don''t worry! For Amirate Corporation, 50 million dors is simply small change. The Lewis family can cough it up." "But ¡­ this woman doesn''t have much rtion to the Lewis family. Why would they be willing to pay up for her?" "Heh, this woman has a strong rtionship with the heiress of the Lewis family. "If it hadn''t been for this woman, why would the Lewis family''s heiress have done that to my niece? She made my niece go from being a huge celebrity to a receptionist!" Chapter 505 Depraved Chapter 505 Depraved "She should''ve asked what Kay''s uncle did for a living before she did what she did!" Troy''s eyes shed with hatred. He had two reasons for kidnapping Lydia. Firstly, it was for money. Secondly, he wanted to teach Lydia a lesson and give her a taste of what it felt like to get trampled on. "Not to mention, she was the one who extorted 30 million dors from Kay first. All I asked for was 50 million dors. It''s not that much." Troy smirked, looking like a thug. "This woman is quite the looker. Maybe we could have a good timeter." A few of them understood what he meant, but they didn''t dare act rashly. "Troy, we''ll let you have first dibs on such a fine specimen. The rest of us will just bask in your good fortune." Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "Sure! You''re all so loyal. Once we get the money, each of you will get five million dors to splurge," Troy said in agreement. "Thanks, Troy!" "Troy, you''re the best!" "Are the cars ready?" "Rest assured, Troy. We''ll escape in different directions. They won''t be able to pursue us. Even if they call the police, it''ll be futile. Our cars have fake license tes, so the police won''t be able to track us down." "Okay. Once we get the money, run. Don''t linger for a single second." "Yes. As for the woman ¡­" Troy got up and tugged on his shirt''s cor. "Before a man touches a woman, he craves her. Once he touches her, he gets addicted. Let me have a taste of her first." When Lydia heard their filthy words, a wave of nausea hit her. She couldn''t help but gag. She knew that if she just sat here and waited for her fate, there was no telling what would happen to her. She had to think of a way to save herself! Lydia wriggled her arms. Fortunately, those men weren''t too wary of her, so they hadn''t tied her up too tightly. She continued to struggle against her restraints, but in the next second, the door opened. Troy approached her with a sleazy face. He stared at her like a wolf staring at its prey. Lydia''s heart stopped. Her voice went up a pitch when she screamed, "What are you doing? Don''te here!" Lydia scurried backward, trying to get further away from Troy. Troy grinned wickedly as his hands began to wander. As he undid his pants, he walked toward her. "Don''t worry, missy! If you serve me well, I''ll go easy on you. Otherwise, don''t me me if I''m not gentle with you." "D-Don''te close!" Lydia shook her head frantically. Her heart fell to her stomach. "If you touch me, I''ll kill myself. Don''t even dream of getting a single cent," Lydia said ruthlessly. She was ready to do anything. Yet Troy didn''t care. He yanked her arm andughed. "What, are you threatening me? As if that will work! I''m telling you, you should consider yourself lucky that I want you. Don''t take it for granted." As soon as he finished speaking, he pressed down against her body. Lydia struggled beneath him. However, there was an innate disparity in strength between men and women. No matter how much she grappled, she couldn''t free herself. "Let go of me! Let go!" Lydia screamed in despair, staring at the ceiling. Tears streamed from the corner of her eyes. Finally, she gave up fighting and slowly closed her eyes. Troy grinned in delight. He tore her blouse open, exposing her skin to the air. It only excited him even more. Chapter 506 He Came Too Soon Chapter 506 He Came Too Soon Just then, Troy''s phone rang in his pocket, catching him off guard. Feeling annoyed, he didn''t bother with the call. "Fuck!" he shouted, tossing the phone aside. But the phone didn''t stop ringing, making him extremely annoyed. He grumbled out loud. He then stood up reluctantly and picked up the phone, leaving Lydia aside. He answered the call after looking at the number. "Who''s this?" On the other end of the call, Caleb was anxious and infuriated. After his call was answered, he said in a cold voice, "The money is ready. I''ve sent it to the location you requested. Where is she?" Troy looked at the time andined, "So fast?" Caleb lost his patience. The veins on his forehead bulged. He said sternly, "Stop your nonsense. Where is she?" Troy nced at Lydia on the ground and said coldly, "Why such a hurry? I''ll let her go when I get the money." Caleb paced back and forth on the spot. He looked around, but there was nothing there. He gritted his teeth and said, "You''d better keep your word. Release her once you get the money. Otherwise, I''ll make sure you regret it." Troy walked out and called two of his men, "The goods are here. Go and take a look." "Yes, Troy." "I''m sending my men over to take a look at them. Wait until they''re done." After saying that, Troy hung up the phone. He turned around and looked at Lydia, feeling unfulfilled. He felt aroused, and the sight of her just teased him. But he had no way to satisfy his desire. "Damn! He was quick!" Lydiaid on the ground quietly. She shut her eyes. Her spirit was crushed. There was no reaction from her. The sense of humiliation surged within her heart, as if she had fallen into an abyss. It was Caleb''s voice! She knew it. He wasing for her. She couldn''t figure out why he hade, but thest thing she wanted was for him to see her in such a miserable state. Troy contemted for a while and decided it was a waste to let Lydia off without humiliating her. His eyes darkened. He then slowly approached Lydia again. "Bitch, don''t even think about escaping from me." However, Lydia suddenly opened her eyes. She mustered all her strength to get up from the ground and mmed her head toward Troy. "Go fuck yourself!" Lydia roared angrily, her voice echoing throughout the room. It happened so fast that Troy wasn''t able to react at all. He took several steps back after he was hit by Lydia. Lydia started to see red. She didn''t stop. Instead, she became more violent, as if she wanted to take Troy down badly. Troy came to his senses. He grabbed the stick on the side and swung it toward Lydia. "Lydia!" A sense of unease crept into Caleb''s heart, and he subconsciously ran toward the other side. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Lydia managed to dodge Troy''s attack. She staggered and quickly held on to the wall for support. Troy was starting to feel irritated. "A bitch never learns!" With a cold expression, Troy walked closer to Lydia. Lydia kept retreating. She grabbed a stick and held it tightly to her chest. "Don''te near me!" "It''s time for you to learn your lesson today. I might spare you if you cooperate. Or else, you''ll suffer the consequences." With that being said, Troy tightened his grip. He aimed his stick at Lydia and struck at her. Chapter 507 She Took the Blow for Him Chapter 507 She Took the Blow for Him Lydia froze, unable to react. She helplessly watched as the stick came toward her. Just as it was about to hit her, a figure came out of nowhere and kicked Troy. The impact was so strong that Troy stumbled and fell to the ground. "Caleb ¡­" Lydia stared nkly at Caleb. Her eyes were full of disbelief. Caleb quickly walked up to her, took her hand, and asked, "Are you okay?" Lydia shook her head slowly. Seeing that Lydia wasn''t hurt, Caleb heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank God you''re fine!" With his back turned, Caleb didn''t notice that Troy had silently stood up from the ground. He picked up the stick and swung it hard toward Caleb. "Watch out!" Lydia pushed Caleb away and took the blow for him. Arge thud rang through the room. The stick had struck Lydia right on the head. Her vision immediately went dark, and she copsed. "Lydia!" Caleb shouted. He quickly stepped forward to catch her. He got so angry that he kicked Troy fiercely, throwing him aside without any sign of mercy. Caleb didn''t go easy on him. He kicked Troy repeatedly, using up all his strength on almost every kick. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Troy couldn''t take it anymore, so he cried out for help. But Caleb seemed not to hear his pleas and continued to teach him a lesson. It wasn''t until Troy wasn''t able to hold on anymore and fell to the ground that Caleb stopped kicking him. "Lydia, are you okay?" Caleb was extremely worried about her. Suddenly, he felt a warm sensation on his palm. Only then did he realize that Lydia had a wound on the back of her head and that blood was gushing out of it. Lydia felt so dizzy that she started seeing stars. She was in a daze, and everything seemed to double in her eyes. With no strength left in her, she let go of her hand and fell into darkness. "Troy!" Several of Troy''s men rushed over after hearing themotion and saw him on the ground. "You''ll pay for hurting Troy!" Caleb''s eyes turned red. He kept calling out Lydia''s name, but she showed no response at all. Caleb panicked. He had never been this afraid before. "Get lost!" he roared at the group of men. Several of them exchanged nces. They didn''t take Caleb seriously. They thought that taking Caleb down would be a piece of cake, simply because he was alone. He was no match for them. The group of men quickly cornered him and started to attack him. Caleb clenched his fists and struck at the group at the speed of lightning. All his punches were clean and urate, and he knocked most of them to the ground in just a few moves. Not long after, a series of cries were heard across the room. Without hesitating, Caleb quickly moved to carry Lydia out. He ran toward the door. This time, no one dared to stop him. Grace and the rest hurried over. When they got out of the car, they saw Calebing out with Lydia in his arms. "Caleb!" Grace''s voice filled Caleb with hope, and his eyes brightened slightly. "Gracie, save her. Quick!" "Let''s take her to the hospital." Grace apanied Caleb to send Lydia to the hospital, while Xander stayed and took care of the rest. He had brought a group of men with him and immediately arrested Troy and the others. Chapter 508 Caring for Each Other Chapter 508 Caring for Each Other Meanwhile, over at the hospital, Lydia had already woken up. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. She had taken a strong blow to the head, resulting in a moderate concussion. Her wounds had been treated and stitched up. Grace pushed the door open and entered the ward. She asked with concern, "Lydia, how are you feeling? Are you okay?" Lydia pursed her lips. She apologized, "Gracie, I''m sorry for causing trouble for you." Grace had always disliked how formal Lydia was and the distance she created between them. She walked up and took Lydia''s hand. "Can you stop being so formal with me?" Lydia''s expression changed. She lowered her eyes slightly. She knew Grace had always treated her sincerely, like they were sisters. She felt the same way, but her background and upbringing had always been her weak points. The difference between her and Grace was substantial. "Gracie, how is he?" The "he" Lydia had mentioned naturally referred to Caleb. For so many years, there was no one else she had cared about so deeply, apart from Caleb. Grace quickly exined, "Don''t worry. Caleb''s totally fine. But if you''re worried about him, why don''t you let him in? Do you know that he''s really worried about you?" Lydia tightened her grip on the nket. She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head gently. "I''m fine. He can go now." Seeing how insistent Lydia was, Grace had no choice but to agree. "Alright, I''lle backter to take care of you. Rest well for now. As for the kidnappers, they''ve been caught. Leave the rest to me." "Okay. Have you found the mastermind?" Grace nodded in response. Sheforted Lydia, saying, "You don''t need to worry about this now. Your health matters the most at this moment." "Alright." Lydia''s tone changed slightly. She held Grace''s hand tightly, and the two exchanged a smile. "Thank you, Gracie." "Alright, stop being so formal with me." After exchanging a few pleasantries, Grace left the ward. As soon as she closed the door, Caleb rushed up and grabbed her arm. "Gracie, how is she? Can I go in?" Grace turned to look at Lydia on the bed, then nced at Caleb. She pondered for a moment. Seeing her silent, Caleb became even more anxious. "Is she okay? It''s all my fault. I didn''t notice the man behind me. The stick was meant to hit me, not her. It''s all because she stepped in and took the blow for me." Listening to Caleb me himself, Grace suddenly realized something. She tugged Caleb toward the other side of the corridor. "Caleb,e with me." Caleb was puzzled. "Gracie, what are you doing? Why can''t we talk here?" "You''ll find outter." Grace led Caleb all the way to the end of the corridor before stopping. She looked at him seriously and asked, "Caleb, tell me the truth. Do you have any feelings for Lydia?" Caleb was confused. He asked, "What do you mean by that?" Grace sighed helplessly. Caleb was clueless when it came to rtionships. She helped him, asking, "Don''t you care a lot about Lydia?" Caleb nodded. "Why do you care so much about her?" Chapter 509 A Realization Chapter 509 A Realization Caleb replied earnestly, "Gracie, she''s a woman. She showed tremendous courage by shielding me in a dangerous situation. Is there a problem with me caring about her?" "No! Haven''t you realized why she saved you?" This question left Caleb confused. Grace sighed softly and changed her tone. "Then, why did you go there today?" Caleb quickly responded, "I received a text message saying she was in danger, so I prepared the ransom ording to the message and went to rescue her." "What were your feelings at that time?" "Feelings? Gracie, given the urgent situation, how was I supposed to feel anything other than anxious?" Upon hearing his own words, Caleb slowly realized that, apart from being anxious, his mind had been full of worry for Lydia. He had been worried that something would happen to her. He had been desperate to know whether she was safe and sound. He had panicked the moment he had received the kidnappers'' message. It was a feeling he had never experienced before. "Caleb, after being with Lydia for so long, didn''t you notice any difference in her feelings toward you?" Caleb fell silent. His mind was flooded with memories of Lydia. Although some of the shbacks were from a long time ago, they were unexpectedly vivid in his mind at this moment. "Caleb, aren''t you aware that Lydia likes you?" Grace''s question came like a bolt from the blue. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Caleb froze. The news was so shocking that it took him a long time to react. "What did you say? Lydia ¡­ likes me?" With that being said, Caleb felt his heart racing rapidly, and a genuine joy and excitement surged through him. Noticing his reaction, Grace sighed helplessly. She wanted an answer for Lydia. If Caleb had feelings for Lydia, Grace would definitely make an effort to bring these two lovers together! But if Caleb wasn''t interested in Lydia, Grace would help her forget about him and then scout a better candidate for her. "Caleb, answer me properly. Do you like Lydia?" Caleb gulped. He opened his mouth, but he couldn''t bring himself to utter aplete sentence for a long time. Grace let out a deep sigh. As she was about to say something, Caleb interrupted her. "Thank you, Gracie!" "Huh?" Grace looked at him in surprise, but Caleb just smiled. He patted her on the shoulder and said, "Xander''s been waiting for you outside for a long time. You go ahead. I''ll take care of things here." "It''s not ¡­" Grace wanted to speak further, but Caleb gave her a knowing look. She raised her eyebrows and swallowed her words. From his expression, it seemed like he had a realization. It also seemed like Caleb wasn''t completely indifferent to Lydia. Did this imply that they might be on the brink of starting a romantic rtionship? Lost in her thoughts, Grace let out a bright smile. "Alright, Caleb. I''ll leave Lydia to you." With that, Grace waved to him, turned, and left. Xander couldn''t help but ask as he saw her. "What''s making you so happy?" Grace smirked and said, "Xander, I might have a sister-inw soon!" Sister-inw? Xander smiled knowingly. "You mean Lydia?" Grace nodded fervently. "Of course! She has liked Caleb for so many years, and finally, there''s a ray of hope there." Grace was being optimistic about Caleb and Lydia''s rtionship, but Xander rained on her parade. "Things might not go as smoothly as you think." Chapter 510 A Moment of Truth Chapter 510 A Moment of Truth "What?" Xander turned and looked at Grace. With a serious expression, he analyzed the situation for her. "Do you know why Lydia never told Caleb how she feels, even though she''s liked him for so many years?" Stumped and surprised, Grace shook her head. She had always wondered about it. As far as she knew, Lydia was someone with clear goals and direction. Once Lydia set her mind on something, she would go all out to achieve it. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. She had pursued jewelry design earnestly because she had liked it so much and had eventually be a renowned jewelry designer. She had even founded her own brand. Lydia was undoubtedly outstanding and strong-willed. Once her mind was fixed on a goal, she persisted until she got to the very end of it. Her feelings for Caleb were no exception. She had persisted for many years without wavering. However, Grace found it difficult to understand the matters of the heart unless they concerned her. "Then, what could be the reason? Xander, do you know?" Xander took her hand and walked out together. He slowly exined, "Everyone who knows Lydia would consider her independent, capable, and talented. "But in reality, Lydia is sensitive and thoughtful. She might not be as strong and confident as we perceive her to be." Grace realized that she had failed to understand Lydia''s thoughts. She felt as if she had failed as a friend. "How did you figure it out? Lydia has never mentioned this to us." Sensing her disappointment, Xander didn''t pursue further andforted her, "Let them handle their rtionship on their own. Besides, we have more important things to do." The two of them exchanged a nce. Grace understood what he meant, and her expression turned stern. "It''s time to confront that scumbag." ¡­ Xander drove toward the outskirts with Grace. Eventually, they arrived at an abandoned warehouse owned by Futurelink Corporation. The warehouse was tucked away in an extremely secluded location. There were rarely any people around, so it was exceptionally quiet. Only faint footsteps could be heard. It wasn''t until the car stopped at the entrance that a burly bodyguard in a ck suit came out and stood on guard. Upon seeing the two, the bodyguard greeted them politely, "Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis." Xander walked slowly toward the building, exuding a sense of hostility. Upon entering, he asked, "Where is he?" "Mr. Fulton, he''s inside." Xander and Grace walked in together. After walking several dozen steps, they heard Troy''s furious voice. "You bastards, let me go, or I swear I''ll st this damn ce when I get out. "I''ve been around the streets, and everyone in Pamore knows me. You''ve messed with the wrong guy this time. I''ll make sure you pay it tenfold when I''m out. "Can''t you hear me? Let me go now!" Regardless of Troy''s shouts and cries, no one paid him any attention. Even as he strained his voice, it was all in vain. Xander turned to Grace and said, "I''ve investigated what happened. Troy kidnapped Lydia and demanded 50 million dors because of the jewelry incident." "Jewelry?" "The ne Lydia had designed had been broken by an artist under yourpany, so she had to pay 30 million dors aspensation." Chapter 511 Do You Know Max Chapter 511 Do You Know Max Grace fell into thought. She finally understood the whole matter. Lydia had actually let Ka off lightly by asking her to pay 30 million dors. Grace hadn''t expected this incident to cause more problems. "Troy is Ka''s uncle. ording to what he said, he took action to help Ka fight against injustice." This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace snorted coldly. "Does this have anything to do with Ka?" Xander didn''t say anything. Instead, he handed his phone to her. She clicked on it and saw a video. In the video, Ka was crying. She exined tearfully, "Ms. Lewis, this matter has nothing to do with me! I didn''t know about it at all. "I justined to my uncle a little. I didn''t expect him to do that. You must believe me! I would never dare tell him to do that!" She couldn''t listen anymore and turned the phone off. "She''s so good at shifting the responsibility to Troy." Even if Ka hadn''t instigated this matter, it still had something to do with her! "It would be better if this matter had nothing to do with her. Or she''ll be jailed for instructing others to kidnap Lydia." Grace''s expression darkened. She looked at Xander. "Let''s go in. I want to know what he has to say." After she finished speaking, she took the lead and walked over. Troy was excited when he heard someoneing. "You''re here to let me go, right? It''s illegal to lock me up! I can sue you! As long as you let me go, I can forget about it as if nothing had happened." Grace smiled sarcastically and walked closer to him. "As if nothing has happened? It would be too easy for you." Her voice was as cold as snow, and he couldn''t help but shudder. "Who are you? What do you want to do?" She walked up to him and looked at him gloomily. "Do you recognize me?" After he saw her face clearly, his tense nerves instantly rxed. Then, he smiled contemptuously. He clearly wasn''t taking her seriously. "Ms. Lewis? Did the Lewis family cover the crime in Pamore? How dare you lock me up? Aren''t you afraid of the policeing to arrest you? "Even if the police can''t catch you, I know a big shot in the underworld. Have you heard of Max Stiller? He is ruthless and is famous in the underworld! If you hurt me, he''ll avenge me!" Max Stiller? She raised her eyebrows. "Do you know Max?" Troy mistakenly assumed Grace was scared when she heard Max''s name and looked triumphant. He was good friends with Max. "Max and I have a life-long friendship. We''re better than real brothers. If something happens to me, you''ll face the consequences! "You have always been a businesswoman. You''d better not mess with the underworld. If you offend the wrong people, you won''t be able to survive in Pamore!" There was a hint of threat in his words. In his view, Grace was just an ordinary, wealthydy. Apart from having some money, she didn''t have any abilities. Chapter 512 Grace Lewis Is My Boss Chapter 512 Grace Lewis Is My Boss Seeing that Grace wasn''t saying anything, Troy thought Max''s name had frightened her. So he added, "Are you scared? Then, let me go! If Maxes, he won''t let you off the hook!" "Let you go? Stop daydreaming! I''ll only send you to prison." He smiled. "You won''t seed. Max knows people in the police too." "Really? I''d like to see if he''ll save you." As Grace said that, she took out her phone and called Max. Troy thought she was just acting. How could she have anything to do with Max? Unexpectedly, Max''s voice came from the phone. "Ms. Lewis, it''s so rare that you take the initiative to call me." Grace got straight to the point. "I have something to ask you." "Go ahead!" "Do you know Troy Barker?" Max fell into thought and soon recalled something. "I know him. He''s one of my subordinates." Grace looked at Troy. For some reason, her sharp gaze made him shudder subconsciously. He asked uncertainly, "Y-You know Max?" Despite having asked that, he still thought it was impossible. Max was well-known in the underworld, but Grace was only a wealthydy. How could she have anything to do with the notorious Max? Maybe she was just trying to scare him! "Stop acting! How can you have a connection to Max?" Without hesitation, Grace threw the phone at him. Before Troy could say anything, Max''s furious voice boomed, "Troy! What the hell did you do?" His momentum weakened. "Max?" Troy quickly picked up the phone and answered the call. After listening to Max, he couldn''t help but tremble. He responded repeatedly, "Yes, Max! Yes, I''m a fool! I''m a bastard! I deserve to die!" As he spoke, he pped himself hard. Max said harshly, "Ms. Lewis is my boss! It''s okay if you offend me, but you messed with her. It''ll be difficult to handle this matter. Everything depends on her mood. "No matter how she deals with you, you must cooperate obediently and not have any objections. Otherwise ..." Max didn''t finish his sentence, but Troy already understood what he meant. He was used to seeing Max''s harshness. He also knew the consequences if he didn''t obey Max. So he answered, "Yes, Max, I got it!" By the time Troy ended the call, his back was already covered in sweat. When he looked at Grace again, his attitude had changed. His initial disdain had now morphed into fear. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. He had never expected that Max would treat Grace as his boss. He had been so dumb to provoke her! The next second, he kneeled on the ground. "Ms. Lewis, I was blind! You can deal with me any way you want! It''s also fine to send me to prison!" Chapter 513 Tit for Tat Chapter 513 Tit for Tat Grace smiled sarcastically and took the phone back from Troy. "Stop daydreaming. It''s too easy for you to go to prison." Troy trembled in fear. "Ms. Lewis, what do you want?" "You like kidnapping so much. Why not just stay here for some time? It''s so remote. No one will find you." Troy had observed the surroundings when he had gotten there. He could be sure that no one would come there. His eyes widened. "Ms. Lewis, please forgive us! If you leave us here, we''ll die!" This ce was so remote that they could die from starvation! "You finally know fear? Weren''t you brave when you kidnapped Lydia?" She looked at Xander. "Xander, what do you think?" He smiled dotingly. "Your idea is good." She giggled. "Tie them tightly to the pole." Her men did as she ordered. "What happens next depends on your fate. I heard that a person canst up to seven days without eating or drinking. You can test it for me." After she said that, her smile slowly faded as the men watched on fearfully. "You ..." "Xander, let''s go." He nodded and left the warehouse with her. He reached out to protect her head when she got into the car. Then, the car drove off. Troy''s and his subordinates'' wailings sounded throughout the remote warehouse. "Is anyone there? Help!" ... In the car, Grace wiped her fingers with a wet tissue. "Xander, thank you for your help. If it hadn''t been for you, I wouldn''t have been able to find those people so quickly." He reached out to tidy her hair. "You don''t have to thank me. Don''t treat me as an outsider." "But I have to thank you. After all, this is my friend''s matter. You were kind enough to be willing to help. I can''t be selfish and ept your help without being grateful." She was being thoughtful, but her words made Xander frown slightly. "Your business is also mine. Don''t thank me again in the future. I don''t like it." She smiled and nodded. Soon, she thought of something again. But seeing his cold expression, she swallowed her words back. "What do you want to say?" he asked. "It''s nothing. I suddenly forgot what I wanted to say." He stroked her head helplessly. "Silly girl." ¡­ Lydia stayed in the hospital for a few days and returned home after the doctor confirmed that she was fine. Grace wanted to pick Lydia up from the hospital. But she was too busy with work and couldn''t make time. She went to the flower shop to buy a bouquet. They were so beautiful that she couldn''t help but take a photo and send it to Xander. She messaged him, "Does it look good?" He replied instantly, "Not as good-looking as you." She smiled. Then, a thought suddenly popped into her mind. Why did she want to show him everything she saw? Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Before she could react, the door had opened. Caleb''s handsome face came into her sight. "Gracie?" "Caleb?" She was momentarily stunned. When she recovered, she patted his shoulder. "You''re acting so fast. Now you''vee straight to Lydia''s house!" Caleb quickly covered her mouth. "Be careful what you say! We haven''t gotten that far yet!" Grace felt surprised and nodded, indicating that she wouldn''t talk nonsense. He finally let go of her. "Go in and stay with her. I have to go out of town for a shoot tomorrow. I''ll leave now." He seemed to be in a bad state. She wanted to ask him about it, but he had already put on his mask and walked away. Chapter 514 No Confession Chapter 514 No Confession Lydia''s house had been cleaned. It was no longer messy, and the broken things scattered on the floor had been cleared up. "Gracie, I didn''t expect you toe here." Lydia came out of the kitchen with gauze on her head. "We''re friends. Of course I had toe and see you." Grace put a stack of photos on the table and put the flowers in a vase. "Caleb must have told you everything, right? I''ve already dealt with the kidnappers. "As for Ka, I''ve issued an order to ban her from the industry. She won''t live well for the rest of her life." The photos were of Troy and his subordinates. They looked like they were dying. Lydia smiled gratefully. "Yes, Caleb told me. Thank you for your help with everything these past few days." Grace clicked her tongue. She didn''t like that Lydia treated her like an outsider. "I want to ask you something." Grace moved closer to Lydia. "How are you and Caleb doing?" Lydia blushed. "What do you mean?" "Don''t be so shy. He has been busy taking care of you. You two are already together, right?" Lydia looked confused. "What are you talking about?" She was surprised. "It didn''t happen? No way! That day in the hospital, he was so happy when he found out that you liked him. He looked happier than he would have if he had won the grand prize!" Lydia was stunned. "Does he already know that I like him?" After hearing that, Grace knew it was over. Caleb probably hadn''t told Lydia about his feelings yet. "Did Caleb not confess to you?" Lydia shook her head. "He was kind to me and took care of everything, but he didn''t tell me anything." Grace became anxious. It was over. Xander''s words hade true. "Sorry, I couldn''t hold it back that day. I didn''t want to see you suffering like this." "I don''t me you. Maybe he doesn''t like me. I''m used to it. I can''t force him to fancy me." "Don''t be sad. Maybe Caleb has some concerns." In her heart, Grace scolded Caleb a thousand times over. She couldn''t think of any concerns he had. The joy on his face that day had been his real reaction! When Grace left Lydia''s ce, her phone rang. It was Xander. "Xander ..." Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Her voice was so frustrated that he couldn''t help but ask, "Weren''t you going to see Lydia? What happened?" "Why can''t people who like each other be together?" Baffled, Grace sat in the car and poked at the leather seats. She listened to Xander''s silence for a moment. Then, he answered, "Maybe there is something unspeakable or an insurmountable gap between them." "Can love ovee all difficulties?" He said confidently, "Of course. If they can''t, there must be one party who doesn''t love the partner enough. If they love each other, they can ovee all difficulties." His words were like a shot in the arm, making her feel better. "By the way, why did you call me?" "I have some news for you." "Go ahead!" "I heard that your people are looking into the money Director Walker borrowed. I have thetest update on it." She smiled helplessly. "Nothing escapes your notice. Tell me then." "Director Walker was very secretive, but I still found something. His goal was thend in Eastwood!" Grace immediately understood what was going on. "Does he still want to invest in real estate? He''s crazy! But wasn''t thatnd signed by Landon Group? How could Director Walker ..." Chapter 515 Unless We Share Life and Death Chapter 515 Unless We Share Life and Death Xander was silent for a few seconds. "Are you free now? Come to Summitview Manor." Since this issue concerned Samuel, Grace naturally didn''t dare to neglect it. So she agreed and went to Summitview Manor. She had gradually be familiar with the way there. To her surprise, Xander was waiting by the gate before she even drove up to the manor''s entrance. He stood under the gentle glow of the streetmp, dressed in a white shirt and ck pants. "Xander, why did youe out? I could have found my own way in." He smiled. "It''s dark out, so I felt uneasy. I''ll only be at ease if Ie to get you myself." He was so considerate that it warmed her heart. In the living room, he handed Grace several documents. "This is a copy of the contract signed between Landon Group and the government. The funds mentioned here are far greater than the cash flow Landon Group can produce." She looked through it and asked, "Do you think something is amiss here?" "Yes. I asked someone to check the source of the funds in Jessica''s ount. Director Walker gave her the money." "So they''re working together!" Grace sneered and shook her head. "They''re so obsessed with real estate. Weren''t they afraid of losing money when they invested so much in it?" He smiled. "The new area in Eastwood has been the highlight of Pamore in thest few years. The aim was to attract more talent to live in the city and elerate urban development. "Jessica and Director Walker dared to invest so much money because they''ve recognized this." "But ..." This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She couldn''t exin why, but she had always thought that it would be difficult to make a big profit from this. "Xander, we''re all businesspeople. You should know that urban development in the past few years has been approaching saturation. Real estate crashes aren''t umon." He nodded in agreement. "When a gambler puts all his wealth on the line, there is no turning back." "What do you mean? Do you have other information?" He smiled lightly and calmly. "An insider told me that the person in charge of the Eastwoodnd is a real gambler." Her eyes lit up. "When a gambler meets a gambler, things won''t end well for either of them!" "That''s right. Let''s just wait and see." After listening to Xander, Grace felt relieved. She went closer to him, hugged his arm, and said coquettishly, "Xander, your source of information is faster than mine. Are there any contacts you can share with me?" Seeing the cunning look in Grace''s eyes, Xander tapped her forehead. "You always want to poach my people." "I''m just curious!" "Not everyone can know my information channels. Unless ..." She listened carefully. "Unless what?" "Unless that person shares life and death with me." He yed with her long ck hair and looked at her. She felt like his words had struck her heart. His eyes were full of aggression and possessiveness. Xander''s ambition got to her, making her body weak. "Life and death?" He stared at her and nodded. She couldn''t help but clench her fingers. She said softly, "I do." Upon hearing that, he frowned slightly, as if he hadn''t expected this answer. He hesitated and looked away, feeling flustered. "It''s gettingte. I''ll ask the driver to drop you home." Grace subconsciously reached out to him, but he had already stood up and left. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, undid a button on his cor, and took a deep breath. Chapter 516 Dont Come Back Empty-Handed Chapter 516 Don''t Come Back Empty-Handed Grace watched Xander''s retreating back. She couldn''t understand what he was thinking. Her thoughts were jumbled up, and she felt a trace of anger surging through her. She stood up and left. Xander remained standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows. His expression was somber as he watched Grace drive away through the trees. He could feel her disappointment across the distance. Some timeter, Peter walked into the room. He said respectfully, "I heard what happened earlier. Why did you shy away from Ms. Grace? Back then, didn''t you¡ª" "It isn''t time yet," Xander said as he stuffed both hands into his pockets. He looked lonely. "Let''s just wait for a bit more." Peter asked, "Are you worried about what happened in Mardovia? Actually, if you let Mr. Fulton Senior know, he''ll surely be able to settle it." Xander replied, "No way! You can''t tell my parents about anything." Peter replied, "Okay." ¡­ Grace''s mood had been at an all-time low since she had gotten back from the Summitview Manor. It had even affected her behavior at work. Each subordinate who went to report to her left her office trembling like a leaf from fear. "We''ve prepared a proposal for the new project that was confirmed during thest meeting, Ms. Lewis," said Ashley Burke, the head of the talent department. Beforeing to Amirate Corporation, Ashley had been manager to top stars in the entertainment industry. Grace had put a lot of effort into recruiting her to join Amirate. Grace read through the proposal. Even though the confirmed list of streamers weren''t famous inte celebrities, they were all bloggers with great potential. The streamers had beauty and food channels, and there were also some who focused on high-end luxury goods. They were all currently trending on all tforms. Ashley said, "With the traffic we''re getting thanks to Caleb, we have gained all of their trust. I promised them that the first batch of streamers who sign contracts with us will receive certain resource advantages." Grace nodded and replied, "Of course. Livemerce is an emerging industry, after all. There are many rules that haven''t been detailed yet. "It''s crucial to maintain good quality control during the early stages. We have to remember that quality will determine the retention of the audience." "Got it." Ashley nodded in agreement. Then, she asked, "You''re not looking too good, Ms. Lewis. Are you sick?" Grace didn''t think it would be this obvious. She touched her face and asked, "Is it that easy to tell?" Ashley replied, "Yes." Grace responded, "Perhaps I didn''t rest enough. It''s fine. You can leave now." After Ashley left, Samuel passed by right before the door to Grace''s office closed. He snorted and asked, "Is the cooperation with Byte Technologies not going well? You''re looking unwell." Grace lifted her gaze in annoyance. She replied, "Sorry to make you worry, Director Walker, but I''m indeed not looking as radiant as you are. Did something good happen to you?" The development of the Eastwood property was in full swing, so of course Samuel was in a good mood. He leaned against the door and replied, "Just some advice from an old hand¡ªit''s not a good idea to take risks. "With the way you''re investing so much money, it''s not worth it if youe back empty-handed. It''s not toote for you to switch to real estate now." Grace was tempted to throw the file in her hands at him. In fact, she would have done it if it hadn''t been for her self-restraint. She replied emotionlessly, "We can talk about this if I screw up. I''lle begging after you then, Director Walker." Samuelughed and walked away happily. Strangely enough, Grace recovered from her low mood after being provoked by him. She was determined to make the cooperation with Byte Technologies work. She would show him the results! With that thought in mind, she immediately called Matthew and invited him for dinner. She wanted to discuss the contract for their subsequent cooperation that has been agreed upon. Amirate Corporation was leading the business world in Pamore, and since Matthew had a good impression of Grace, he had naturally respected her and epted her invitation easily. They decided to meet at the rooftop garden in the city center.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 517 An Inevitable Clash Between Rivals Chapter 517 An Inevitable sh Between Rivals It was hard to fit into Matthew''s schedule. By agreeing to meet Grace, Matthew had shown respect to her. As such, Grace paid more attention to their appointment. She dressed up appropriately and went for dinner with Luke. She didn''t expect to see an uninvited guest as soon as she walked into the restaurant. It was Jessica! She was also dressed up and had an assistant by her side. Both of them were in the middle of a conversation. "Do you think Mr. Reed from Futurelink Corporation will show up, Ms. Landon? It''s hard to fit their schedules." It was a crucial moment for Jessica''s business expansion. Since Benjamin was unwilling to help her out, she could only seek support elsewhere. Futurelink Corporation was her best choice. Unfortunately, Xander was obviously on Grace''s side. But Jessica was lucky to have made a new connection while dealing with Eastwood''s new property a while back. Jessica had seen Grace as well. She rolled her eyes disdainfully and replied, "Don''t worry, Mr. Reed has promised me. We should just wait." Grace tore her gaze away from Jessica and greeted Matthew with a smile. "I''m d to have another opportunity to speak with you again, Mr. Thorne." Matthew was dressed in his everyday attire and looked friendly. He had even brought a few other people with him this time. Matthew said, "Ourpanies have just signed a partnership. Seeing as you''re eager to move on to the next step, I can see your sincerity. So how could I miss this appointment?" Grace was embarrassed as she replied, "Indeed, Amirate Corporation would never miss out on any win-win cooperation." Matthew nodded in response and introduced the people with him to her. They were all shareholders of Byte Technologies. Grace humbly shook hands with every one of them. She then led them into a private room. She slowed down before entering the room and whispered to Luke, "Go look into what Jessica is doing here today." Luke responded and didn''t enter the private room. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The private room was located in the best spot of the restaurant. Half of Pamore''s view could be seen from there. Matthew sat at the head of the table with Grace by his side. She had good manners and spoke confidently about the project. The shareholders were singing praises for her after a few rounds of drinks. From this appointment, Grace understood even more of Byte Technologies'' operating model and how to maximize the mutual benefits of the twopanies'' coboration. The ck Friday sale was approaching soon, so Grace decided to use that period to their advantage. They took a short break, during which time Matthew went to the washroom. Luke came in from the outside and whispered, "Jessica was here today for an appointment with Mr. Noah Reed, one of the board members of Futurelink Corporation." Grace frowned when she heard Luke mention Futurelink. She immediately thought of Xander. She asked, "Do you know the details of their discussion?" Luke replied, "I couldn''t find out about that. But Mr. Reed is the one leading the smart home industry." Grace understood a great deal of it now. Before she could speak, Matthew''s voice suddenly sounded from the entrance. "Look who I just met, Ms. Lewis." Grace lifted her head in surprise. She saw Xander dressed casually as he stood under the warm light. He was looking at her gently. "Xander ¡­" "So that''s how Ms. Lewis addresses Mr. Fulton in private," Matthew joked. "I knew something was going on between you two!" "No ¡­" Only then did Grace realize that she had been inappropriate and replied, "Why are you here, Mr. Fulton?" Xander kept his eyes on her as he replied, "Something came up. I was here to meet a friend." Oh. So he could still meet up with his friends, as if nothing had happened. Grace stared at the ss of red wine in front of her and remained quiet. It seemed that Matthew might have had too much to drink. He looked between Grace and Xander and said, "I''ve watched Ms. Lewis'' viral video on the Byte app. "You seemed to have good culinary skills. The location was Summitview Manor. I recalled that you''re also staying there, right, Mr. Fulton?" "Ms. Lewis doesn''t live there." Chapter 518 Here for Her Chapter 518 Here for Her His one sentence carried a heavy meaning. Before they could even react, they saw Xander walk up and gently take the wine ss from Grace, just as she was about to drink. Xander said, "It''s harmful to drink too much. Surely Mr. Thorne isn''t someone who''s unreasonable?" Matthew dared not speak further, even if he was drunk. He immediately nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, Ms. Lewis should drink less." Xander said, "Follow me once you''re done. I have something to say." Even though they were with other people, Xander''s attitude toward Grace was obviously more than that of just normal friends. Grace wanted to ignore him, but she replied with a reddened face, "Alright." Xander was satisfied with her answer and instead finished her ss of wine. He said, "I apologize for my abrupt interruption. I still have some matters to attend to, so I''ll take my leave now." Naturally, no one dared to stop him. As soon as he left, the private room became lively once again. "I never knew Ms. Lewis had such a rtionship with Mr. Fulton from Futurelink Corporation." "Will we be hearing good news soon?" "Do invite us for your wedding!"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. What were they talking about now? Grace smiled helplessly and replied, "Our families have been friends for a long time. He''s just like an older brother to me." Her exnation fell on deaf ears as they wiggled their eyebrows suggestively before teasing her further. The dinner finally ended after they confirmed their partnership. Since Xander had shown up, Grace had been slightly distracted. As for Matthew, he needed help to walk out by the time they left. He said, "I''ve never boasted much in my entire life, Ms. Lewis. I''ll make what I saide true! Trust me. I won''t make you lose if you cooperate with Byte!" Grace felt warmth in her heart. She told his assistant, "Send Mr. Thorne back safely." She stood by the entrance of the restaurant as she instructed Luke, "Go and carry out the ns we decided on during dinner earlier." Luke agreed to it. To Grace''s dismay, Jessica walked out radiantly as soon as Luke had left. Much to her surprise, Noah Reed was next to Jessica. He was extremely drunk. Jessica said, "There''s trash in front of you, Mr. Reed. Be careful not to stumble on it." She was referring to Grace! Frustrated, Grace wanted to facepalm. She didn''t bother arguing with Jessica. She had wanted to wait for Xander, but her mood was greatly affected after meeting Jessica. So she walked toward her car and opened the door to leave. A handnded on Grace''s wrist, and a voice fell on her ears. "Gracie." Grace turned back to find Xander. Surprisingly, she couldn''t smell any alcohol on him. Xander asked, "You couldn''t even wait for a while?" "My time is precious. I can''t always wait for you," Grace replied softly. Xander pushed her to get onto the car and took her keys away. He said, "I''ll be your driver as an apology." Jessica had been looking at Grace from the corner of her eyes. She gritted her teeth when she saw the intimacy between Grace and Xander. She thought, "You better pray that you''ll always have such a good life, Grace!" Xander drove fast but steadily. His driving skills were evident as he drove with a hand on the steering wheel. Grace couldn''t help but nce at him. She asked, "Where''s your friend?" Xander kept his eyes on the road as he replied, "I receivedst-minute news that Jessica contacted Mr. Reed. I came here to warn him." So that was what happened! Grace asked, "What does she want?" Xander replied, "Mr. Reed has been dealing with smart homes for a long time. Of course Jessica wants him to work with her on the Eastwood property." Grace asked, "So what did you tell him?" Xander eyed her and responded, "Try taking a guess." Grace looked out the window and replied annoyedly, "You''re so unpredictable and have so many secrets, Mr. Fulton. How would I be able to guess it?" Xander smiled in a pampered way and said, "Are you still mad? Aren''t I here to apologize now, Ms. Lewis?" Grace replied, "It''s not like you came here for that purpose." Xander said, "I did." Grace was surprised and said, "What?" Xander answered, "I could just have made a call to warn him. I wouldn''t havee if I hadn''t known that you were here." Chapter 519 It Will Never Change Chapter 519 It Will Never Change Xander nced at her after he finished speaking. What he meant was evident enough. Grace tightened her grip on the seatbelt as she calmly asked, "What did you want to tell me? Was it something that could be done with just a call?" Xander replied, "You only had Luke with you. I was worried that you might have been forced to drink." Grace asked, "You were the one who introduced Mr. Thorne to me. Don''t you know the kind of person he is?" Xander answered, "He''s a gentleman. He wouldn''t make it hard for you." Grace continued, "Then you still¡ª" "I wanted to see you." Xander tilted his head and looked at her as he made it clear. "Would you be able to ept this answer?" Grace was stunned. She was clearly surprised. She replied, "We just met yesterday." "Meeting once isn''t enough for some people." Xander nced over at the rearview mirror and drove out of the city center. He then slowed the car down and stopped by the roadside. Grace asked, "Why did you stop the car?" "There was an ident somewhere further down when I came over earlier. They haven''t cleared up the road yet, so I figured we could just wait here." Xander opened the glovepartment. There was only a pack of cigarettes inside. Grace held his hand to stop him and said, "This is a mild one. You won''t be used to it." "I''ll just try it." Xander took out a cigarette and held it in his mouth. He said, "Light it up, Gracie." His gaze was clear and piercing under the dim lights. Grace''s heart skipped a beat. She took out a lighter and lit it up. The me illuminated both their faces. Xander asked, "You didn''t know how to smoke in Coronia. When did you learn it?" Grace replied, "Nobody was looking after me in Pamore. I just learned to smoke on my own." Grace lit his cigarette and tossed the lighter away. She recalled how she had once been troubled by some people back when she had been married to Benjamin. But none of the Hawkinses had cared about her, not even Benjamin. Needless to say, she couldn''t help but feel frustrated. That was how she had learned to smoke. Xander took a long drag from the cigarette. It was just as Grace had said. It was too mild for him. He rolled down half of the window and said, "You did it willingly." "Yeah, I did it willingly. Even you''re ming me now, Xander." Grace was somewhat upset. Xander''s gaze seemed to burn through her as he asked, "Have you ever thought what things might have been like if you had nevere to Pamore back then?" Grace replied, "There''s no ''if''. Even though the ending wasn''t the best, at least I was happy back then. I don''t regret it." "You don''t regret it, even though the Hawkins family and Benjamin looked down on you for three years?" Grace was panicking deep down and begged, "Can you stop talking about it?" Xander continued, "Are you regretting it, or do you still have feelings for Benjamin?" Xander was pressing on. Perhaps the smoke was too strong, but Grace felt her eyes water. "Are you having fun rubbing salt in my wounds, Xander?" "I''m not. It''s just that ¡­" Xander paused for a bit before replying, "I regret it now." Grace looked up in shock and asked, "What?" Xander said, "I regret not stopping you from leaving Coronia back then." Both of them watched each other in silence. Some timeter, Xander coughed and put the cigarette out. He said, "But look at you now, Gracie. Aren''t you doing good anyway? It''s still not toote now." Grace didn''t say anything. She couldn''t figure Xander out. "You''ll get better, and I''ll always stay by your side. That will never change." Xander restarted the car and said, "Don''t worry, I''m good at driving." Grace wasn''t an idiot. She figured out why he hade over and said nothing more. Her mood had also improved. Xander drove her car into the garage. Before leaving, he said, "You shouldn''t smoke so much." This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace replied, "Okay. You can just drive my car back. It''s toote now." "Alright." Their rtionship was different now that they could share their private possessions. Chapter 520 You Cant Be Afraid to Gamble Chapter 520 You Can''t Be Afraid to Gamble That night, Grace recounted what had happened to her friends in their group chat. "Both Aunt Hestia and Uncle Raymond are pretty healthy. So logically speaking, Xander shouldn''t have any health problems." Shey on her huge bed, feeling very troubled. Zoey was the first to reply. "This is hrious! Why would you think that there''s something wrong with his health?" Emily sent a message. "Are you crazy? Any man in the world could have health problems, but not Xander." Grace asked, "How do you know?" Emily answered, "It''s obvious! If I''m lying to you, then call me Benjamin''s son." Grace couldn''t help bursting intoughter. Then, Lydia said, "But now that you mention it, have you really gotten over Benjamin?" Grace paused in the middle of typing. She thought for a moment, then told them her honest opinion. "I find him disgusting." Although many people may not mean it when they said they no longer had feelings for someone, using words like "disgusting" usually indicated that they werepletely over it. The others changed the subject and chatted for a while, and then Grace suddenly thought of something. Amirate Corporation wanted a piece of the pie from the ck Friday sale. Hence, they would need some big brand names to support them, so she asked for her friends'' help. Her friends were ready to help, and Emily sent a voice message. "Babe, you''ll need some clients with big buying power for these brands." Grace sighed resignedly. "Of course, our main target is the low-end market. We''ll leave the luxury goods to the end, and we won''t disgrace you." Lydia said, "I give you my full support. Contact me whenever you need me." Zoey said, "I can stir up public interest for you. After all, Amirate reaching out to themoners would be news that the world would like to see." Graceughed. "Who would say no to money?" Grace took action quickly, and the next day she began to take over quality control. She monitored every live broadcast channel in real-time. The news of Amirate establishing a multi-channelwork organization spread quickly with the help of Zoey, and several new inte celebrities joined their ranks. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace''s aplishments were a testament to her ability, and everyone was eager to rely on strong support like Amirate. As a result, many high-end brands were also willing to work with them. "Grace!" Grace had just entered the Byte Technologies building when she heard a familiar voice. She was surprised to see that it was Benjamin. Grace stood still. "What is it, Mr. Hawkins?" Larry stood beside Benjamin. They were obviously here to discuss business. Benjamin approached her and said in a low voice, "Livemerce is a new field, and there have already been several red gs. Are you sure you want to get mixed up in this?" Grace immediately looked displeased. "I should check my horoscope before I go out." "What?" "I mean to say that I''m really unlucky. I met you the moment I came out, Mr. Hawkins." Benjamin''s expression darkened at once, but he continued patiently, "Grace, the business world is like a battlefield. "Don''t forget that your bet with Director Walker hasn''t ended yet. If you maintain your coboration with Albert, then you still have a thread of hope. I don''t want to see you lose everything." He had good intentions, but it only sounded sarcastic to Grace. "Wouldn''t you be pleased if I did lose?" "Grace!" Benjamin couldn''t help moving forward. Luke stopped him. "Ms. Lewis has urgent matters to attend to, Mr. Hawkins. I''m afraid that she''ll be unable to continue this conversation." Grace wasn''t in a hurry to leave. She looked at Benjamin and said, "I''ve been in the business world for so many years. If I were afraid of losing, then I wouldn''t have made the bet. "I was your secretary for so long. Haven''t you learned that about me yet?" She sounded extremely sarcastic. Benjamin narrowed his eyes. "Who taught you all of this? Xander?" Chapter 521 Foreign Markets Chapter 521 Foreign Markets Grace''s smile dropped. "Let''s go, Luke." Benjamin stood where he was and watched Grace''s slender figure disappear gradually. Larry couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Hawkins, Ms. Lewis isn''t wrong. Byte Technologies is worth a gamble." Benjamin was annoyed as he stared at the logo of Byte Technologies in the building. "I know it''s worth it, but it''s still a gamble. If Grace loses, she will ¡­" In the end, he was just worried. Larry pursed his lips and stopped himself from saying what he really thought. Even if it didn''t work out, there were so many people backing Grace up that it wouldn''t matter. "The meeting is about to start." Benjamin walked forward. "What has Jessica been doingtely?" "She''s focusingpletely on her work. She even made an appointment with Noah Reed from Futurelink, and she hasn''t let her guard down with Albert either. "It looks like she''s determined to battle it out with Ms. Lewis." Benjamin huffed coldly. He seemed to think of something and asked, "What about Xander?" "He''s been going in and out of Pamore a lot recently. His destination is always overseas. Perhaps something has happened internally in Futurelink." "Keep a close eye on them. Report to me once if something happens." ¡­ Meanwhile, Grace was in Matthew''s office. When Matthew had finished listening to Grace, he almost choked on his tea. "Foreign markets?" "Yes, there''s still two months until the ck Friday sale. Allmerce tforms are gearing up to compete, but only Byte Technologies has managed to open up in foreign markets. "That''s why I think we should grab this opportunity to expand the livemerce industry." Grace spoke calmly, but it was clear that she had considered it thoroughly. The culture of the ck Friday sale had already be ingrained in the country over several years, and the resources were pretty much exhausted. Grace had no confidence in reaching her goal if she could only rely on Byte Technologies. Matthew hadn''t felt such a rush of adrenaline in a long time, but right now he felt warm from head to toe. His interest was piqued. "It''s too rushed. We won''t make it if we only have two months." Grace could see that he felt that it was a pity. "In these two months, Amirate will fully cooperate with Byte Technologies. We can help with whatever you need." Matthew considered it for a moment. "Although we have already sessfully entered foreign markets, their governments are very resistant toward external apps like ours. Livemerce is easy to talk about but hard to do." Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Naturally, Grace already knew this. She reached out a hand, and Luke handed her a document. "This is the proposal I madest night. If you don''t mind, you can have a look, Mr. Thorne." Matthew flipped through it quickly and pped his thigh in delight as he began gushing praise about it. "Ms. Lewis, I was right about you! You have a bright future ahead of you!" Grace smiled lightly. "If you face any problems, you can look for Amirate." "What are the conditions?" Matthew asked directly. "Are we going to be so direct?" "Of course. Businesspeople focus on profits, and we don''t put much emphasis on rtionships. You put so much effort into this, Ms. Lewis, and I don''t believe that you did it for charity." Grace admitted it at once. "That''s right. I would like to sign a contract with you, Mr. Thorne. If everything goes well, Amirate''smission must increase to 5%, with an addition of 3% in dividends." This was already a daring request. Matthew shook his head. "Are you that confident?" "No, but I''m a gambler. I like the feeling of gambling." Grace smiled. "Of course, if it doesn''t work out, then I won''t pursue the loss of profit. I''ll think of it as paying my dues." Matthew leaned back and scrutinized Grace from his chair. "Commission of 3%, dividends of 1%." Grace raised her eyebrows and answered quickly before he could change his mind. "Deal!" Matthew''s mouth twitched as he realized that he had fallen into her trap. Heughed in exasperation. "You were waiting for me. Even Mr. Fulton may not be able to pull one over on you!" Grace was all smiles. "You tter me, Mr. Thorne." Chapter 522 Leave the Country Chapter 522 Leave the Country Once they left the office, Luke was full of excitement. "Ms. Lewis, how did you know that Mr. Thorne would agree? You raised the stakes on purpose." Grace felt like she was walking on clouds, and she was very confident. "Because the foreign market is a sore point for Byte Technologies, and he desperately needs someone''s help. That''s why I was sure he would agree. "It will already be a huge profit to get even a small piece of Byte Technologies." "Ms. Lewis, are you that confident in them?" Grace inclined her head. "Yes, I am." Although it was exciting to discuss theories and knowledge, putting it into action was a hassle. Grace called Xander at once, but he didn''t pick up. She suddenly remembered that Xander had told her to contact Peter if she was unable to reach him. Grace hurriedly found Peter''s business card in her bag and called the number on it. It was a Frendish phone number. "Ms. Lewis." Peter answered the call very quickly. "Mr. Miller, where''s Xander? I can''t reach him." "Mr. Fulton is ¡­ probably sleeping right now. When he wakes up, I will remind him to call you back." "Sleeping in the daytime?" "He was upte socializingst night." Grace only half-believed him. Xander wasn''t the type of person toze around in bed. "Then, please tell him to call me back as soon as he wakes up." Peter assented and hung up. Byte Technologies'' biggest problem at the moment was that they didn''t have the endorsement of the relevant overseas department, and currently Xander was unreachable. Grace mulled over it and finally called Aaron. It was nighttime in Frenda, and Aaron was surprised to get a call from her sote. "Gracie, what''s up?" Grace was a little embarrassed as she exined things briefly. Aaron was silent for a moment. "Your idea is good, but it''s not as if Byte Technologies has only been rejected by the foreign countries for a couple of days. It will be very difficult to get the government''s support." "I know it''s difficult, which is why I called you, Aaron. Can we persuade them using the influence of Amirate''s headquarters in Frenda?" Grace said pleadingly. "We can, but to show our sincerity, you may have toe personally." "There''s no problem with that." "I''ll arrange it for you." "Thank you, Aaron! You''re the best!" Grace could only be so openly reliant in front of her family. She hung up and slid back happily in her chair. Suddenly, someone stopped her. "What are you so happy about?" Grace turned back in surprise. It was Caleb! "Caleb? Did you finish shooting?" Caleb took off his sunsses and tapped her forehead. "Of course. I''m the famous one-cut king who never needs a redo. I finished shooting very quickly!" He was such a show-off. Grace got up and hugged his arm. "How long will you be in Pamore?" "I can stay for a few days. What is it? I heard you on the phone just now. Are you nning to go abroad?" "Yep, for work." Grace''s eyes blinked. "But there are so many things I haven''t finished here. I may need your help, Caleb." "Say the word. I''ll do everything I can to help." "Amirate and VERE Jewelry are coborating for the ck Friday sale. We haven''t worked out the details of the contract ¡­" This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace dragged it out on purpose, sounding ambiguous. Caleb put his sunsses on again. "Gracie, you''ve tricked me again!" "You said you would help me with whatever you could!" Caleb had put his foot in his mouth. He breathed out deeply. In any case, he wasn''t against the idea. "Alright, fine. I''ll go and discuss it with Lydia." "Thank you, Caleb!" Grace put the document in his hand. "Don''t forget to say something nice when you meet Lydia!" Caleb couldn''t help tapping on her head with the document. "It looks like you''re still not busy enough. All you know to do is gossip!" "You won''t let me ship my favorite couple?" Chapter 523 A Sudden Occurrence Chapter 523 A Sudden urrence Grace''s flight was the next day. Luke and a few staff members from Byte Technologies were also going to Frenda with her. Grace still hadn''t received a call from Xander by the time the ne took off. One of the staff members from Byte Technologies was very observant and noticed this. She asked, "Are you waiting for someone, Ms. Lewis?" Grace looked lost as she turned. "Is it very obvious?" "Young women have all their feelings written on their faces." This was a huge taboo in the business world. Grace wasn''t sure why Xander was affecting her emotions more and more. She tried her best to calm down. "I''m just worried about a friend. It''s not important." The woman smiled and didn''t push the subject. When the nended in Frenda, Aaron''s assistant came to pick them up. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Lewis is very busy with work, but he has specially reserved ten minutes toe and see you. He''s currently in the VIP lounge." Luke arranged for the Byte Technologies staff and Grace to go with the assistant and meet Aaron. In the lounge, Aaron sat straight as he flipped through a document in his hand. He looked rather unapproachable. "Aaron!" Grace hurried over and jumped into his arms. "I''ve missed you!" Aaron''s cold expression finally cracked as he gave Grace a small smile. He patted her on the head. "You''re already a general manager in Pamore. Why are you still so clumsy?" Graceughed happily. "No matter who we are outside, I''ll always be your little sister." Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Aaron smiled even more widely and handed Grace a business card embossed in gold. "Erix Schultz is the Prime Minister of Frenda. He will have a short, half-hour break tonight after he ends his meeting. You must manage to persuade him within that time." Grace held it tightly. "What''s the address?" "One of my subordinates will take you there." "Thank you, Aaron." They hadn''t met each other for a long time, and Aaron felt that Grace had be much more calm and rational. It pleased and reassured him. "Don''t work too hard. Remember to go and visit Grandpa when you have time. He misses you so much." "Of course!" In order to persuade Eric, Grace and the staff prepared very thoroughly. Byte Technologies had had the idea long ago, so all the material was already prepared. That night, Grace took two of the staff members with her when they set off. She received Xander''s call on the way there. He sounded very hoarse, as if he had just woken up. "Gracie, were you looking for me?" Grace let out a sigh of relief when she heard his voice. "Xander, you slept for a very long time." Xander epted the usation in her voice. "I drank too much. Peter told me that you''re in Frenda." "Yep. I''m here to discuss Byte Technologies'' foreign market project.¡° "Where are you?" "On my way to negotiate things with Mr. Schultz." Xander was silent for a moment. "Eric and I have known each other for a long time. I''ll give him a call." "No." Grace stopped him. "Xander, I know you have a lot of connections. But if I have to rely on you for everything, then I can''t be confident about maintaining my position at Amirate." Xander understood. "Let me know when you''re done." "Okay." While they were talking, the car reached the venue where Eric was having his meeting. Grace nced at the time. He woulde out in five minutes'' time. "Ms. Lewis, we tried to make an appointment with Mr. Schultz at least ten times, but he never agreed. Will we seed this time?" Grace believed in Aaron''s influence. "Don''t worry." At that moment, there was amotion in the vast conference room. Several people ran out, looking frantic as they shouted, "Help! Help!" Several doctors rushed in at once and came out carrying a stretcher. A middle-aged man was lying on the stretcher. He had a bushy beard, and there was blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He looked like he was on the verge of death. "It''s Mr. Schultz!" Grace immediately gasped. "What has happened?" Before they could react, the people in the conference room rushed out, and they were soon lost in the crowd. "Ms. Lewis, something''s happened to Mr. Schultz. What should we do?" Chapter 524 Donating Blood Chapter 524 Donating Blood It was too sudden. Grace''s mind went nk, and she leaned against the wall for support, forcing herself to calm down. "Never mind what the reason is. Let''s go to the hospital right now!" She ran out and immediately drove off after the ambnce. She didn''t see a pair of old eyes behind her, watching her rush off. "The patient had a sudden heart attack and doesn''t have enough blood. We need a blood transfusion, and we need an Rh-negative blood type!" The moment she entered the hospital, Grace saw a nurse shouting through a megaphone. Grace rushed over. "Which patient?" The nurse pointed. "That one! The one who was just sent in!" It was Eric! Grace clenched her fist. She couldn''t believe what a coincidence it was because she was Rh- negative. "Me, I''m Rh-negative! I''ll donate blood!" Luke stopped her at once. "No, Ms. Lewis! Nothing is more important than your health." Grace swatted him aside. "This is a matter of life and death! Saving him is the first priority." "But¡ª" "It''s just a few tubes of blood. I won''t die!" Grace grabbed the nurse''s hand. "Take me there." The nurse immediately took Grace to get her blood drawn. She thought that Grace was very passionate. Grace was weak, and after drawing a few tubes of blood, she was already very pale. Even the staff members from Byte Technologies felt sorry for her. "Ms. Lewis, you didn''t have to do this." Grace pressed down on the bandage on her arm as she sat in the corridor. After a long time, Eric''s operation was finally over. The doctor took off his mask and told the family, "He''s safe." The family was relieved, and Grace exhaled a sigh of relief as well. Eric was wheeled out of the operation theater and into a hospital room. His family crowded in, but no one noticed Grace behind them. No one asked about her either. Luke was agitated and strode up to them, but Grace stopped him. "What are you doing?" "They¡ª" "If you say anything, people will just think that we helped them with a motive. It''ll make us seem calcting." "Then, should I say nothing? Ms. Lewis, your blood is very precious." Grace was silent for a moment. "No matter what, we saved someone. It''s worth it." "Is it really worth it?" A deep, mature voice rang out. Grace looked over in surprise and saw Raymond. His coat was draped over his arm, and he stood in the crowd. Who knew how long he had been standing there? N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. "Uncle Raymond?" Raymond sat down beside her. "Silly girl. It''s just a job. Do you really need to put your life on the line like this?" "Uncle Raymond ¡­" Grace was a little embarrassed. "How did you know that I was here?" "I was at Eric''s meeting today too." Raymond was one of the directors on Fulton Group''s board, so it made sense that he would attend a meeting at this level. "What a coincidence! But you mustn''t tell Aaron what happened to me today, Uncle Raymond." "If you''re afraid of being scolded, why did you do it? You really do have a mind of your own." Raymond was only everpliant in front of Hestia. In front of outsiders, he always had the authority of an elder, and Grace didn''t dare to meet his eyes. "These people ¡­" Raymond''s gaze swept over the others. "Staff members from Byte Technologies in Pamore," Grace replied quickly. "I understand." Raymond put his coat on the chair. "Wait here." Then, he entered Eric''s hospital room. The moment he left, the rest of them began gossiping at once. "He looks like he''s just as powerful as Mr. Schultz! I wonder what his background is." Luke said in a small voice, "Fulton Group." Everyone''s eyes widened in shock. Grace had connections like this? No wonder she had the guts to promise Matthew this would work! Chapter 525 Grab the Chance Chapter 525 Grab the Chance Within ten minutes, one of the family members came out of the hospital room. "Pleasee in, Ms. Lewis." Grace didn''t forget to take the documents with her. Eric was already awake. Hey on the hospital bed, looking at everyone through half-closed eyes. Raymond gestured toward him. "Gracie, say hello." Grace bowed. "Hello, Mr. Schultz. My name is Grace. Grace Lewis." "I know you. I was nning to meet you after the meeting ended." "That''s not important. The most important thing is that you''re safe and healthy." "Not important?" "In terms of my job, the safety of the leader of Frenda''s citizens is the most important." Eric''s stern face broke into a smile as he looked at Raymond. "Ray, your goddaughter speaks very well." Raymond was very proud. "As she should." "I always repay my debts. You saved me. Tell me what you want." He was very direct. Grace gripped the corner of her documents tightly. "Will you give me whatever I want?" "You don''t hide anything, do you?" "To be honest, I did save you out of my own interest as well," Grace said lightly. "In my country, we say that a debt has to be repaid many times over. If I don''t ask for anything, it would make you uneasy, wouldn''t it?" Eric waited for her next sentence. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "So I''m just going toe out with it, and we can both move on." Grace looked at him. If a favor could be solved with a transaction, things would be easier. Eric nodded. "What do you want?" Grace handed him the documents. "These are the documents regarding Byte Technologies'' e- commerce business overseas." Eric looked up at once, but he didn''t take the documents. "Byte Technologies'' ambition remains alive! I can''t give you what you want, Grace." This was a negotiation between countries. She was dreaming if she thought she could change it on her own! Grace''s heart thumped madly. Sess would depend on the next few minutes. "I know that Byte Technologies'' biggest problem is that it threatens the information security of the public overseas, right? What if I had a way to solve this problem?" "What solution do you have?" "If I can solve it, will you agree to consider?" Eric stared intently at her and remained silent. Then, he said, "I''ll give you a chance because you saved my life. I won''t make things difficult for you." Raymond coughed at this time. "Gracie, you don''t look well. You should go home and rest." "I can give you this chance. Give me the solution within three days," Eric finally conceded. Grace looked delighted. "I''ll be sure to satisfy you." When she left the hospital, everyone looked at her in anticipation. "How did it go, Ms. Lewis?" Grace looked mysterious and said slowly, "I got it." "Wow, you''re amazing, Ms. Lewis!" "You made Ericpromise!" In the chaos, Grace looked at Raymond. "Thank you, Uncle Raymond. Mr. Schultz might not have agreed if you hadn''t helped move things along." "You were the one with a sharp tongue. Howe we never realized how good you were at business?" Grace scratched her head in embarrassment. "Since you''re back in Frenda,e back with me. Let''s go and see your Aunt Hestia." Grace said quietly, "Aunt Hestia''s forgiven you?" Raymond clicked his tongue at once. "Now even you are making fun of me!" Graceughed. It was a good idea. She would go and visit Hestia now, and she could go and see Harold tomorrow. On the way, she called Victor. Instead of answering the call, he sent her a text. "Grace, I''m very busy. Send me a text." He was putting on airs. Grace was annoyed and typed out a quick message. "Byte Technologies wants to enter the Frendish market, and they need to provide proof of information security. Help me out, Victor." Victor sent over a voice message at once. "Gracie, I should''ve known that you wouldn''t have good news for me!" Chapter 526 Guilt Chapter 526 Guilt "How is this not good news? Byte Technologies is Amirate''s partner for this project, and Amirate belongs to the Lewis family. "If you help me, you''re helping the entire family. Don''t you think of yourself as part of the Lewis family?" Victor didn''t reply to her voice message for a long time. Raymond was all smiles. "I can imagine the expression on Victor''s face right now." Grace giggled. When she looked at Raymond from this angle in the car, Grace realized that the authority Xander exuded was very simr to that of his father. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Uncle Raymond, hasn''t Fulton Group already been handed over to Xander? Why did you need to come personally?" "Why? Shouldn''t you know better than me?" He was poking fun at Grace, and she felt rather embarrassed. Xander had been focusingpletely on Futurelink Corporation, and as a result, he didn''t have as much energy to manage Fulton Group. She couldn''t help defending Xander. "Xander started managing Fulton Group when he was 18 years old because of you. He''s been doing it all this time, so he deserves a rest." Raymond burst intoughter and sighed. "I did give him a hard time for several years. I do feel sorry for him." Grace''s heart skipped a beat. "Xander is very capable." "His mother and I have never made him want for anything, but we owe him a lot emotionally. He''s very reticent and almost never expresses his true emotions. Sometimes, I can''t tell what he really thinks." When Raymond said this, he seemed troubled. "He stopped telling us what was on his mind when he was 18 years old. In the business world, he''s ruthless and decisive, and anyone who sees him addresses him as Mr. Fulton out of respect. "In the end, all he hears are these terms of authority. No one ever calls him Xander now, except those who are close to him." Grace was engrossed in his words. She could imagine how difficult it had been for Xander all these years. "Gracie, I should have done better for him," Raymond said suddenly, and he looked as if he had aged ten years. Grace didn''t ask why he was sorry. She respected his privacy. When they reached the Fulton residence, Hestia was delighted to see Grace. "Gracie! You remembered to visit me!" Grace dove into her embrace. "How could I forget you, Aunt Hestia? I''ve missed you so much!" Hestia''s face was filled with joy, but her expression changedpletely when she saw Raymond behind Grace. "Get out." "Hestia¡ª" "Get out! Are you deaf?" "Aunt Hestia¡ª" "Don''t bother yourself about this, Gracie." Hestia was determined, and she pulled Grace into the house. She shut the door firmly, leaving Raymond outside. Thetter smiled bitterly. "Uncle Raymond helped me today, Aunt Hestia. This doesn''t seem nice." Hestia was extremely determined and showed no mercy. "You''re his goddaughter! He''s supposed to help you!" Grace was about to say something else, but she felt that something didn''t seem right with Hestia today. She looked closely and saw that there were tears in the corner of Hestia''s eyes. "Aunt Hestia ¡­ Have you been crying? Who hurt you?" Hestia wiped her eyes. "You''re mistaken." Grace was anxious. "Tell me the truth. What happened?" Hestia took a deep breath. "Nothing happened. I''m just old and emotional. Thinking about the past got my mood down for a bit." Grace was doubtful. "Really?" "Really. You must be tired. Go take a hot shower and sleep with me tonight!" Grace didn''t press on and left to take a shower. She had juste out of the bathroom when she received Victor''s reply. "You little brat. Let Byte Technologies know that I''ll be there tomorrow." Graceughed and replied to him. Once she was done with that, she walked out of the room, wrapped in a towel. "Aunt Hestia¡ª" Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. Chapter 527 Rascal Chapter 527 Rascal "Xander, you ¡­" Hestia''s voice trailed off downstairs. She had seen Grace, too. Grace stood where she was, staring at the man on the stairs in surprise. "Xander? When did you get here?" Xander looked exhausted, but it didn''t seem like he had just arrived in Frenda. He looked a little resigned and smiled as he leaned against the banisters. "Gracie, it looks like we really are fated for each other. What a surprise to see you here, of all ces." "Don''t talk nonsense." Grace was annoyed as she walked closer. "Were you already in Frenda when I called Peter?" Xander didn''t deny it. "I had some business to take care of." "Where''s my car?" "Parked at my house." "You didn''t even drive it back for me before you went abroad." Xander stared at her exposed skin, his gaze intense. "I wanted to make an excuse for us to meet again." Grace jumped, and her neck turned red at once. It felt ufortably warm. Hestia tactfully retreated without speaking when she saw what was happening. "How''s your injury?" Grace asked in a small voice. "Pretty much entirely recovered." "Then why do you still look so unwell?" Xander suddenly reached out and pulled on the edge of her towel. Grace stiffened. "Xander ¡­" When he spoke, he was just inches away from her. "It''s loose. I''m tightening it for you." Grace felt like she was being tempted by the top male model in the industry. She felt her heartbeat quickening, and she didn''t move a muscle. "I-Is it done?" Xander had stopped what he was doing. Water was dripping off the ends of her hair and falling on the back of his hand. It seemed hotter thanva. "Gracie ¡­" His voice was extremely hoarse. Grace was already trembling slightly. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He said quietly, "Go and get changed. You''re really pushing my boundaries right now." Grace couldn''t resist it any longer. She turned, closed the door, and panted heavily as she leaned against the wall. Whose boundaries were being pushed? She had almost lost control. When Grace had recovered, she put on an ordinary pair of pajamas. Xander was no longer standing on the stairs. The maid said, "Mr. Xander and Madam Fulton are discussing business in the study." Grace took the pumpkin soup from the maid''s hands. "I''ll send it over." The study door was ajar. Grace freed a hand and was about to push it open when she heard them talking. Hestia had never been so angry. "That rascal has made so much trouble over the past few years, and now he''s trying to lord it over you? Wait and see what I''ll do to him!" Xander sounded restrained. "That''s enough, Mom." Hestia''s voice trembled. "Does it hurt?" "It''s almost fully healed. It doesn''t hurt." "Xander, you''re the eldest son. In the future, the entire Fulton Group will be handed to you. You must hold the authority in your hand with an iron grip, do you understand?" Xander was silent for a moment. "Mom, I don''t think that my ambition lies here." "You''ve already endured it for so many years. It''s not like we need that bit of power. But you have to fight for it, if only to win this battle, do you understand?" "I understand." Xander sighed. "Did she hit you today?" "She didn''t manage to hit me. With skill like that, she can''t even hope to touch me." Hestia was annoyed. "I was just d that I managed to get rid of her before Grace got back. If Grace saw her, it would have looked terrible." Grace''s hands trembled, and the tray she was holding shook. From the study, a gaze swept over to her. "You should go and rest," Xander told his mother. Hestia got up and went out. Grace dodged and hid in a corner. She only entered the study with the tray once Hestia was gone. "Xander." Xander sat in the shadows and gestured for her toe closer. "How much did you hear?" Chapter 528 The Second Son Chapter 528 The Second Son As an outsider, Grace didn''t want to ask too much about the affairs of the Fulton family, but now there was no turning back. "I heard everything after ''rascal''." Xander burst intoughter. "You''re very honest." Grace put the soup down. "Xander, have some supper." "Did you make this?" "The maid did." She really was very honest. Xander ate two spoonfuls, but he didn''t have much of an appetite. He set it aside. "What do you want to ask?" Grace stood behind him and began massaging his shoulders. "Aunt Hestia and Uncle Raymond raised us. Apart from the Lewis family, I always thought they only had you. Then, why do they call you the ''eldest son''?" She was exerting just the right amount of pressure, and Xander closed his eyes. "Do you remember why my father and mother got divorced?" "Aunt Hestia and Uncle Raymond have always liked bickering. At the time, they said it was just out of impulse." "At their level, it''s not easy to get divorced. If it hadn''t been something to do with principles, then they wouldn''t have stayed divorced for so many years." Grace understood at once. He was right. The two of them hadn''t remarried, even after so many years. "Uncle Raymond had ¡­" "He said someone took advantage of him while he was drunk and that there were no feelings involved. Grace took a deep breath. "Does Aunt Hestia believe him?" "What do you think?" With Hestia''s temper, she definitely wouldn''t believe him. "My father''s other son is only two years younger than I am, but he''s ruthless and has no morals. In the past two years, he''s slowly started taking over authority at Fulton Group." No wonder he had dared toe and provoke Hestia. No wonder Hestia was so furious. No wonder Raymond had said that he was sorry for Xander. Grace squatted down and looked up at him. "Was your injury also ¡­" Her eyes were bright, full of innocence and tenderness. Xander couldn''t help reaching out and cupping her face in his hand. "I didn''t want to tell you before because I didn''t want you to worry. Now that you''ve stumbled on it, I won''t hide anything." "You should have told me long ago instead of trying to endure it alone." Grace was angry. "Aunt Hestia is like a mother to me, and you''re like a brother. I won''t let them get away with hurting you!" Xanderughed. "You don''t need to do anything. I''ll take care of it." "Xander." Grace took his hand. "Did you have a really hard time over these years?" "There have been hard times." It had been the hardest for him in the years that Grace was in Pamore. "I''m sorry that I couldn''t share the burden with you." "Theseplicated matters shouldn''t involve you." Xander''s palm was warm, and it left faint marks on Grace''s soft cheek. There was tender affection in his eyes. He murmured, "What a lovely woman." "What?" Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. "I thought of a song." "A lovely woman who makes me blush, a lovely woman whose gentleness makes my heart ache." ¡­ By the time they left the study, Hestia had already gone to bed. She was probably worn out from the day. When Grace woke up the next day, the maid told her, "Mr. Xander left you a note." His handwriting was a powerful scrawl. "I''ve gone out for work. I''lle back and have lunch with you." Grace smiled. Was he reporting to her? "Gracie, what did Xander write to you that made you so happy?" Hestia couldn''t help teasing her as she came down the stairs. Grace gripped the note tightly, smiling as she shook her head. "Nothing!" She looked outside the vi and realized that Raymond''s car was still parked outside. Hestia saw it too, but she pretended that she hadn''t and instructed the maids to serve breakfast. Grace pursed her lips. This time, she didn''t have to make some excuse about it raining outside to gloss things over. "I heard Xander say that you came back for the Byte Technologies project. It''s almost ck Friday. Do you need support from ME Group?" ME was the top makeup brand globally. "Aunt Hestia, would you be willing to endorse me?" "Who else would I endorse?" Chapter 529 Family Chapter 529 Family Hestia was quite indignant, insisting that was the way it should be. "Pick a few of ME''s signature items, and I''ll have someone draft a contract for you to sign this afternoon." Grace was pleasantly surprised. "Amirate''s media is still not stable, I''m afraid¡ª" "That''s precisely why I want to give you a hand." Hestia looked at her with admiration and said, "I trust you. Go ahead and do it. I won''t work with other tforms for the ck Friday sale. You have my full support, so be confident." This was for the best. It gave Amirate Corporation another card to y. Grace was very touched. "Thank you, Aunt Hestia!" Hestia looked very young for her age. Even though she was 50 years old, she looked like she was in her 30s. Only the fine lines at the corners of her eyes showed the traces of time. Grace looked at her, wanting to say more. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "What''s wrong?" Grace actually wanted to ask about more¡ªabout that woman outside, for one. But Hestia hadn''t revealed anything over the years, so she probably didn''t want others to know. Hence, Grace didn''t ask anything. Sometimes, giving support in silence was better. "Aunt Hestia, you are like my mother. I won''t let you down." Hestia chuckled, stroking Grace''s head. "Silly child." ¡­ It wasn''t until that afternoon that Grace received an Information System Security Certificate through fax from Victor. "Gracie, I''ve helped you so much. How do you n to thank me?" "I''ll take you out to dinner when I get back." Grace looked at the certificate, feeling delighted. She felt she was on cloud nine. "Just dinner? That''s not enough. I won''t help you next time." "What else do you want? Do you want me to fall on my knees and thank you?" "No! If Grandpa and Aaron find out, they''ll tear me apart." Victor didn''t want to get into trouble. But Grace had other worries. "Victor, is this enough to make Mr. Schultz relent?" Victor became serious. "Look at the regtions at the bottom. That''s something only the Department of Homnd Security has. He should be happy to have it stamped on this paper." "Really? But if it had been that simple, Byte wouldn''t have been negotiating for so long." Victorughed over the phone. "Byte wasn''t sessful because they couldn''t get the certificate, but you were able to solve the issue. Do you know why?" "Why?" "Because of the wise and mighty me. You should be d." Grace was speechless. He was so shameless that Grace couldn''t help but curse him inwardly. "Anyway, you go ahead with confidence. You''ve got me backing you up." Grace smiled and replied affirmatively before ending the call. She turned around, intending to go back inside, but unexpectedly tripped on the steps and stumbled. "Ah!" As she was about to fall, arge hand steadied her waist firmly. Xander panted nervously. "Are you a kid? How can you be so careless?" Grace was surprised to see him. "Xander! When did you get back?" Xander steadied her and answered, "Not long ago. Got any good news?" Grace nodded excitedly, holding up the paper in her hand. "I''ve got the confidence to negotiate with Mr. Schultz now!" Xander was also happy for her. He raised his hand to move the strand of hair sticking to her lips. "The vicious Ms. Lewis is like a child at home." Grace''s face turned red with embarrassment. "Xander, don''t tease me! I think of you like family!" Xander hummed with a smile. Even though she was standing on the step above, she still only reached up to his shoulder. "Is everything okay?" Chapter 530 Jake Fulton Chapter 530 Jake Fulton At the mention of this, there was a vicious glint in Xander''s eyes. It was fleeting yet intense. "Hmm, you don''t need to worry about it." Grace caught it and raised her hand to straighten his cor. "Xander, you''ve always been gentle. Your hands shouldn''t be tainted with blood. I can help you when necessary. I''m not afraid of anything." Grace''s eyes were more determined than ever. She looked almost as intimidating as Xander. Over the years, she had been through a lot. She was no longer the na?ve young girl she once was. She knew that in this circle, there was never such a thing as peace. Xander caught her hand and said, "Through thick and thin?" "Yes, I remember." She also knew why he had said that at the time. The vicious look in his eyes faded. He held her hand and caressed it in his palm. "No, Gracie, you don''t have to stoop so low for me." ¡­ A few hours earlier, at Fulton Group. Xander had taken over thepany at the age of 18. He was well-known as an authoritarian in the workce. He had returned from overseas without notifying anyone and made a surprise visit to the headquarters. Everyone was panicking, barely holding onto their documents as they trembled. "Mr. Fulton." Xander wore a white shirt and ck pants. He looked cold and showed no emotion as he entered the elevator. Behind him, his secretary at thepany''s headquarters, Hazel Yale, appeared. "Jake secured the city''s subway project, and with two years of achievementsbined, the board is beginning to trust him more." Xander stared at the numbers on the elevator and asked, "Where is he?" "He''s ¡­" The elevator reached the top floor and opened. The secretariat staff saw him and immediately moved to make a call. Hazel stepped forward to stop them. "Do you know who this is?" No one dared move. Xander pushed the door to the executive office open and stood at the entrance. The atmosphere in the room was very ambiguous. A handsome but cunning man sat in the main seat. A half-undressed woman was sitting on hisp, hugging him in fright at the moment. "Jake!" Jake''s smile froze on his face. He patted the woman''s back. "It''s my brother. What are you afraid of?" Xander stepped forward, found a remote on the messy desk, and pressed it. The blinds opened and sunlight poured in. "You''re having fun, Jake. Bringing women into my office." Jake''s smile faded, and he urged, "Can''t you see my brother isn''t happy? Get off now." The woman ran out, clutching her clothes. "Hazel, handle it." Xander didn''t even nce her way. Hazel understood. She grabbed the woman''s slender wrist, stopping her. Jake didn''t look at her either. He just stared at Xander and yelled, "Stop! You dare toy a hand on my woman? You really don''t take me seriously." "Jake, this woman has corrupted your mind and the reputation of Fulton Group. I''ll clear it up for you." "Do you even know what reputation Fulton Group holds?" Jake chuckled, unable to hold back a laugh. The mole at the corner of his eye lifted as heughed, making him look more sinister. Xander wasn''t angered by hisughter. Instead, he walked to the window, blocking most of the sunlight. "I don''t understand as much as you. But I know one thing. If I had wanted to understand any part of this, you wouldn''t even be standing here." Jake stiffened. "Xander, it''s too early to say that." "Hazel." Xander spoke again. Hazel led the woman out of the office, and thetter''s pleas for help echoed through the entire floor. "Let me go, Ms. Yale! I don''t want to die!" "Save me, Jake Fulton!" Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Xander scoffed at the title. "Does she know your real surname is Ss?" Chapter 531 Changing Into a Storage Room Chapter 531 Changing Into a Storage Room His real name was Jake Ss. Jake''s face turned dark, and he yelled, "Xander!" "Your mother has wild ambitions, provoking us right to our home, but does the Fulton family ept you?" Xander stepped closer to Jake. He was slightly taller, so he towered over him. "Changing your own surname is just deceiving yourself and others. Just like your methods, it isn''t worthy of any attention." Jake clenched his fists. "So what if you''re the eldest son of the Fulton family? You need to see the bigger picture and consider the overall situation. "But I don''t have to. I might not be as presentable, but I''m more aggressive and confident than you! You''re always so proud, but you''ve forgotten that between the tortoise and the hare, the hare lost." Xander smirked mockingly. "You''re overthinking this. I won''t be the rabbit." With that, he turned and walked out. "If you''re interested in ying with women, you might as well go home and see if your mother is still alive." "Xander!" Xander walked out without looking back, leaving onestmand. "Destroy this office and turn it into a storage room." ¡­ "Xander?" Grace saw him lost in thought and called his name to snap him out of the trance. "What time is the negotiation with Eric?" Xander changed the subject. "7:00 pm tonight." "I have time. I''ll go with you." "Really?" Having someone with her always made her feel a bit more at ease. "I''m not lying." ¡­ At 7:00 pm, the location for the negotiation was changed to a conference room. Eric had recovered a lot. Sitting at the long table beside him were government officials from Frenda. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. As an executive of Fulton Group, Xander had the right to attend the meeting as a representative. Grace exchanged nces with Xander, sitting in the corner, who nodded at her encouragingly. "Our side has fully considered the concerns of your people and understands them, but we want to rify some misconceptions." As Grace spoke, she pulled out various documents and the certificate Victor had given her. For the past few years, they had been waiting for this proof, but they couldn''t rashly agree. After negotiations with several parties, the meetingsted two hours. Grace and the staff members from Byte Technologies were sweating bullets. This was the closest they hade to sess, but one wrong step and everything would be lost. There were a few times when Grace was almost unable to answer the questions posed by the other side, but she found her confidence when she looked at Xander sitting there, his gaze firm and gentle. "I need to reiterate once more that this Information System Security Certificate was issued by the Department of Homnd Security. If you still have doubts, you are wee to check it for yourselves." "Who was the one that programmed this?" Grace smiled proudly and answered, "AK." Everyone was silent. AK''s reputation was well-known, even in Frenda. These certificates were indeed enough to make them consider Byte Technologies. "Wait a moment, Ms. Lewis. We need to have a meeting." Grace nodded. As she waited, she took a deep breath and squatted down against the wall. Xander handed her an opened bottle of water. "You''ve worked hard." "Did I do okay just now?" Xander touched her head. "You did very well. There''s no need to be anxious." Grace couldn''t even drink the water. "I''m very nervous." "Think of something happy?" "Like what?" Xander thought for a moment, "Do you remember in middle school that year, you treated me to ice cream, H?agen-Dazs?" Grace thought for a moment, then remembered. "Yeah." "After that, I specifically bought a fridge just for H?agen-Dazs." Grace was extremely surprised. "Why?" Chapter 532 Nothing to Do With Money Chapter 532 Nothing to Do With Money "Because you treated me to it." "Xander, that''s just silly!" She thought of that scene and couldn''t help butugh. Seeing her smile, Xander asked, "Still nervous?" Grace shook her head. "Not anymore." But as sheughed, she suddenly felt something was off. Why had Xander done that back then? Just as she was about to ask, she caught his serious look, and she suddenly realized something. Her smile ceased, and a blush crept onto her face. Great, now she was even more nervous. "What ... what time is it now?" "10:00 pm. I''ve asked the maids to prepare ate-night snack for you when you get back." The conference room door opened, and Eric and the others filed out. Grace had been crouching for too long, and her legs were numb. So Xander helped her stand. "Congrattions, Ms. Lewis. Byte Technologies'' emerce entry into the international market has been approved." Everyone was stunned and found it hard to believe. "It has been approved?" Grace whispered. "Yes. I believe it''s good news for you." The crowd snapped back to reality, bursting into cheers and tears of joy. The first thing Grace did was grip Xander''s hand tightly. "Xander, it''s approved. It''s approved!" "I told you, you could do it." This was big news. It was a historic step. Grace''s excitement built up until she couldn''t help but hug Xander tightly. "This is so great. So great!" Xander paused, and then hisrge hand gently rested on her slender waist as if holding something precious. As the meeting ended, Byte Technologies'' staff members hurried to report to their superior and left first. Eric pulled Grace aside and said, "Ms. Lewis, before today, I was wondering whether to go easy on you for saving my life, but the information you provided was impressive." "That''s too kind of you to say." "This is a gift my wife insisted I give you as a token of thanks." Grace epted it, finding inside all the things she liked. They must have specifically inquired about her preferences. "Thank you, Mr. Schultz." "I didn''t expect you to know Xander." Grace looked at Xander beside her and said, "He''s ... like a brother to me." Xander said, "Uncle Eric, you still love gossip." Eric spoke emotionally, "It''s hard not to when your father and I were old friends." ¡­ Outside, Xander gestured for Grace to get in the car first. Eric looked at him and sighed. "No one but Fulton Group can take on the subway project. It''s not about Jake, but because of thepany''s capability." "I understand." "As far as I know, your father has always favored you. If you hadn''t left for Pamore, Jake wouldn''t have stood a chance. Don''t you want topete?" Xander put his hands in his pockets indifferently. "I won''t let him have it too easy." Eric patted his shoulder and nced at the car before leaving. Grace waited intently for Xander. She felt bored and started doodling on the fogged up windows. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. She drew a heart. Feeling silly afterward, she hastily wiped it away. But the traces on the window were still clear. She and Xander caught each other''s eyes for a moment. She looked away, as if she had been electrocuted, and leaned back in her seat. Eric chuckled. "It looks like your big day ising. Jake won''t stir up any storms." "No, Uncle Eric," Xander disagreed. "I don''t need to get married to deal with him." "Grace is the only daughter of the Lewis family. If you were to marry her¡ª" "This has nothing to do with money." ¡­ Two minutester, Xander got into the car. The cold wind from outside blew into the car. "Were you bored?" "You seem very familiar with Mr. Schultz." "He''s friends with my father." Xander looked up to see the scribbles on the window. Grace instinctively covered it. "I was doodling!" Xander chuckled andmented sincerely, "It''s nice." Grace wished she wasn''t always blushing around him! Chapter 533 Love Is Enough Chapter 533 Love Is Enough Matthew called Grace the first thing after he found out about the approval. "Amazing, Ms. Lewis. I never expected you to be sopetent! You actually managed to convince Mr. Schultz." Grace listened to the excitement in Matthew''s voice while eating thete-night snack Hestia had prepared. "Mr. Williams, I''ve finished what you asked. About the agreement we had earlier ¡­" "Don''t worry, I''ll keep my promise." Grace nodded, somewhat relieved. "Although we''ve gotten the approval, I hope yourpany can keep it confidential. It''s not fully implemented yet, and it could be dangerous if someone with bad intentions were to interfere." It was a done deal, but caution was still necessary. "Of course, I''ll instruct everyone to keep it under wraps until the right moment to go public!" Matthew promised. She just stared at the tea in front of her. Xander silently pushed a bowl of soup toward her, gesturing for her to eat. Grace looked up to see Hestia watching them with a wholesome smile. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she took a spoonful of the soup. "Mr. Thorne, can we finish establishing connections with other foreign countries before ck Friday?" "It''s a bit rushed." Matthew thought for a moment and added, "Actually, there''s no need to hurry. As long as this deal seeds, we will reap the long-term benefits." "I understand. But I''m really in a rush right now." Everyone in the industry knew of thepetition between Grace and Samuel. Matthew understood and said, "Ms. Lewis, I''ll do my best to help you." After the call, Xander pushed a small bowl of peeled shrimp toward Grace. "It''s almost the end of the year. Are you worried?" "There''s still a gap from our goal." Grace eximed, "Xander, you peeled so many shrimp! Don''t your hands hurt?" It was hard to peel shrimp. Xander wiped his hands clean with a wet tissue nonchntly. "There''s still time. You don''t need to worry." "I''m asking about your hands!" "They''re fine." After a moment, Xander frowned and asked, "I remember you used to love shrimp. Don''t you love it anymore?" His fingertips were clearly red. Grace felt guilty and said, "I do love them, but you don''t need to do this." "That''s enough, then," Xander said casually. Hestia almostughed out loud, resting her chin on her hand. "Why do I feel like you''re talking about something other than shrimps?" Grace choked, "Aunt Hestia!" Hestia coughed lightly and stopped teasing her. "When are you returning to Pamore?" "Tomorrow, Luke has already booked the tickets." Hestia was startled and looked at Xander, who looked upset. "That''s so soon." Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Grace thought they were leaving together, but it turned out not to be the case. "Xander, do you have other matters to deal with?" "I came back this time prepared to stay longer. Fulton Group has a board meeting at the end of the year, and I need to be there." Grace was startled and came to a realization. But since Hestia was there, she didn''t say more. "Then I''ll stay with you for a few more days," she blurted out. "No need." Hestia was the first to stop her. "Your foundation in Amirate Corporation is still rocky. There''s a lot to keep you busy. Don''t dy because of Xander." Xander also nodded. "You should go back first. I''ll handle things here." Grace felt ufortable. She ate some more snacks, then excused herself to go upstairs to wash up. But in reality, she stood in the corner of the stairs. Hestia''s affectionate facade fell away. She pointed at Xander''s wound. "I want you to return this stab." "Peter found that woman''s residence. He took some people there. She should be lying in the hospital by now." Chapter 534 Hell Always Be Fulton Junior Chapter 534 He''ll Always Be Fulton Junior "What about Jake? What do you n to do about him?" "I''ll take over Fulton Group." Hestia slowly put her hands down. "Don''t let Grace know about this. She shouldn''t get involved in these matters." Xander swallowed hard. After Hestia left, he slowly looked up and met Grace''s eyes. Grace instinctively evaded his gaze. "Xander, have you decided to return to Fulton Group?" she asked softly. Xander tried to keep his smile casual. "Why? Do you think I can''t handle it?" "Of course not! I''m just worried you might be targeted." "I''ve fallen for it once. It won''t happen again!" Xander''s face turned dark and cold, scaring Grace a bit. Grace pursed her lips, then mustered the courage to hook his little finger. "Xander, I visited Fulton Group when I was little, but I''ve forgotten what it''s like now. I want to see it." Xander frowned slightly and asked, "You want to go?" Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Grace nodded and said, "I had Luke reschedule my flight for tomorrow afternoon. Can I visit your office in the morning?" She tugged on his hand almost coquettishly, unlike her usual arrogant self as the CEO, Grace Lewis. Xander suddenly smiled. "Sure." ¡­ Everyone in Fulton Group was on edge because of Xander''s sudden return as thepany''s president. To their surprise, he brought a woman with him early the next morning. People murmured, "Is Hazel being reced?" But Hazel appeared on time, holding some documents. "Mr. Fulton, the board meeting is at 10:00 am. There''s still time to prepare." Her gaze fell on Grace, and she asked, "And this is ¡­" She was a strikingly beautiful youngdy who carried herself with elegance. She didn''tck charm or wisdom. "A friend." Xander paused slightly and said, "Gracie, this is my executive assistant, Hazel Yale." In just a short while, Grace could see Hazel was very ambitious. She wanted more than just being an executive assistant. "Don''t worry about me, Ms. Yale. I''m just here to look around today." "I''ll find someone to apany you." Grace had no objections. She looked around with her hands in her pockets. Fulton Group was now completely digitalized, surrounded by new technology. "Don''t hurry offter. Let''s have lunch together, and I''ll take you to the airport." Grace nodded with a smile. After Xander left with Hazel, a young woman appeared. "Ms. Lewis, I''ll be showing you around." It was indeed like a tour with a guide. Grace observed each level. Her striking presence drew quite a bit of attention. When she reached the top floor, the elevator on the other side opened, and Jake stepped out. His stride was brisk, and he asked, "Has Xander arrived?" "President Fulton is neverte." "Watch your words. With Raymond around, he''ll always be Fulton junior!" The other person cowered and lowered their head. "I misspoke, Mr. Jake." Jake was brooding. Last night, he had returned home to a bloody scene. Only after a call had he learned that his mother had been hospitalized and resuscitated. Her condition had finally stabilized this morning. Xander had returned and disregarded everyone and everything. He was too audacious! "Who is that?" he squinted and asked. He was referring to Grace. She was standing curiously at the door of the now-demolished executive office. She asked the assistant next to her, "Why is this ce ruined?" "Mr. Fulton ordered us to turn it into a storage room." Grace guessed why and couldn''t help butugh. Chapter 535 Posing as an Assistant Chapter 535 Posing as an Assistant "For what?" "Mr. Jake was messing around with an assistant in the office." Aware that Grace was Xander''s friend, the assistant answered her questions truthfully. Upon hearing this, Grace tilted her head slightly. Her smile was bright and piercing. Jake didn''t hear their conversation, but he clenched his fists as he approached them. "What are youughing at?" Grace looked at him with her hands in her pockets. Then, she asked the assistant, "Who is this?" Trembling, the assistant replied, "Mr. Jake." So, this was Jake Fulton. Grace noticed the mole at the corner of his eye, which made him bear some resemnce to Raymond. Jake''s face grew even darker, and he asked, "Which department are you from?" The assistant was about to answer, but Grace stopped her. "So you''re Mr. Jake. My apologies. I''m a new assistant. I just started today." Jake frowned, his gaze falling on the logo on her coat. "Why is an assistant wearing Chanel to work?" He found it suspicious that this woman wasn''t afraid of him at all. Grace pulled her hands out respectfully. "This coat is a fake, just very well-made. Mr. Jake, you wouldn''t prohibit employees from buying high-quality fakes, would you?" Jake''s frown deepened. Trying to be smart, his subordinate said, "Mr. Jake, this must be the new assistant who started yesterday. Didn''t President Fulton¡ª" Jake''s frown rxed a bit, and he ordered, "Come with me!" Grace followed him closely, and the assistant couldn''t stop her in time. Grace quietly signaled a thumbs-up sign to let her know everything was fine. Since the executive office had been turned into a storage room, Jake entered another one, which was half the size of the original. Jake discussed work with his subordinates, sounding like a busy man. Meanwhile, Grace silently took in everything while performing her duties. "Xander is growing weak. I have several major projects. There''s no reason for father not to trust me!" "But Mr. Jake, he is the legitimate son after all." Jake took a deep breath. "Huh? Let''s see how many votes he gets at today''s board meeting." Grace clenched her cup without making a sound. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Suddenly, Jake nced at her and asked, "What''s your name?" Grace looked down and answered, "You can call me Grace." Jake withdrew his scrutinizing gaze, filled with disgust. If it hadn''t been for Xander, his woman wouldn''t have been driven away. "Bring me a cup of coffee in ten minutes." "No problem," Grace said with a mischievous smile. ¡­ The board meeting started on time. It was more spectacr than the one at Amirate Corporation in Pamore. Dozens of personnel sat in rows, with Raymond at the head of the table and Xander and Jake on opposing sides, holding their own. Grace stood outside the ss window holding a cup, ncing inside. She thought if Amirate Corporation''s headquarters held a board meeting, it would look simr to this. Raymond said something, and Jake was the first to raise his hand in opposition. The atmosphere suddenly turned tense. Xander was unfazed. He twirled a pen in his hand, just like when he had been in school, seemingly unconcerned. When Raymond called on Xander to speak, he slowly said something. Whatever he said made Jake''s expression change dramatically, and he stood up, mming the table. At this moment, Grace pushed the door and entered, holding the cup and approaching Jake. "Mr. Jake, your coffee is ready." Jake looked surprised. "Who asked you toe in now?" Raymond was equally surprised. He looked at her but remained silent. "You instructed me earlier to bring you a cup of coffee in ten minutes. It''s been ten minutes," Grace said innocently. Xander, still in his seat, looked unexpectedly delighted. Chapter 536 Favoritism Chapter 536 Favoritism At that moment, Raymond spoke sternly, "Alright, Jake. Sit down." Caught between a rock and a hard ce, Jake red at Grace fiercely before reluctantly sitting down. Grace made a timely exit, and as she closed the door, she heard Raymond say, "Let''s do as Xander suggested. You''ll handle this project. Go and do some field investigation in Linden City first." Jake''s gaze was burning. He was clearly unwilling, but he had no choice but to grab the cup in front of him and take a gulp. Grace left with a satisfied smile and hurried toward the elevator. The assistant from before caught up to her. "Ms. Lewis, you didn''t do anything, did you?" Grace spread her hands and asked, "What could I possibly do? Alright, I''m leaving now. See you next time." Her smile was clearly mischievous. Just as Grace entered the elevator, Jake rushed out of the meeting room in a panic, clutching his stomach and desperately looking for a restroom. He looked utterly disheveled. As the meeting dispersed, Hazel was the first to find the assistant. "What did you do? How did Ms. Lewis be President Fulton''s assistant?" "I-I couldn''t stop her ..." Raymond was thest to leave the conference room. He nced at Jake''s retreating figure and sighed. "That girl is always on your side." Xander followed him, seeming to be in a good mood. "Of course." "I''m on your side too," Raymond said thoughtfully. "If you''re willing to give up FutureLink Corporation, I''ll demote Jake." Xander chuckled lightly. "Favoritism much? I won''t trouble you, Dad. I can handle these things myself." "But you should help me convey a message when you visit Aunt Prisci. Ask her to stop making things hard for my mother." "Visit? What do you mean? What did she do to Hestia?" Xander remained silent and strode past Raymond to leave. Hazel followed and said, "Ms. Lewis is quite bold." Xander didn''t respond. Instead, he took the phone from her to call Grace. She answered quite cheerfully, "Xander!" Xander smiled and asked, "Are you headed to the airport?" "Yes, how did it go with Jake? That guy got what he deserved!" "You spiked his drink?" "It was just axative. It won''t kill him. I just can''t stand seeing that viin triumph." Grace added, "I poured in two packets!" Xander was amused and asked, "You came to Fulton Group with this in mind, didn''t you?" "Of course, he bullied you and Aunt Hestia. I had to retaliate." "Thank you, Gracie. I''m happy." Grace was unable to contain her joy. Sheughed before saying, "Xander, you stay and handle things here. I can manage alone in Pamore." Xander walked toward the window. The weather was nice, and the sky was clear. "Alright, I''ll settle the matters at Fulton Group quickly." When he hung up, Hazel stood behind him and said, "Mr. Jake being sent to Linden City to handle the project seems like a step forward for him, but it''s actually a step back. "President Fulton, if you stay, the board will definitely vote for you." Xander was silent for a moment, tapping his fingers on the railing. "I''ll stay. But not for long." Hazel was startled. ¡­ Jake''s face looked pale as he slumped down on the chair in his office. He felt weak and powerless. A woman who hade for an interview for the assistant position stood beside him, trembling. "Who is that woman exactly?" His assistant was quivering. "She ¡­ she wasn''t here for the assistant interview." "I know that. I''m asking who she is!"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. "I looked into it. It seems like President Fulton was the one who brought her here." The assistant handed over the surveince footage, clearly showing Grace entering Fulton Group with Xander. They were walking side by side, both carrying themselves in an elegant manner. Chapter 537 Take It Easy Chapter 537 Take It Easy In the video, Grace nced at the surveince camera unintentionally. Her natural beauty and distinct presence stood out. Jake pressed pause, and his brow furrowed deeply. "So it was Xander? Don''t let me find this woman!" ¡­ Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, as the ne took off, it traced an arc across the sky. Zoey was on a business trip. She had intentionally booked a flight to meet Grace at the airport after finding out thetter wasing home. "Jeez, you were away for quite a while on this trip. Everyone''s saying it was for Byte Technologies'' project. Is that true?" Zoey teased while opening the car door. Grace settled into the back seat. "It''s true. What else are people saying?" "They''re also saying that since there''s been no news for so long, you''ve probably failed." Zoey was very eager about the gossip. "Is it true?" Grace looked at her and asked, "What do you think?" "Can you stop that and give me a straight answer? This is big news. Whether it''s a sess or a failure, my headline for this month is set." Graceughed and said, "Forget it. I can''t say whether it''s a sess or failure yet, but I promise you, you''ll be the first to know when I can." "Deal." Zoey didn''t press further and invited her to a gathering at a club that evening. Grace didn''t refuse. She needed to unwind after so many exhausting days. ¡­ The club was bustling at night, filled with wealthy young men and women. Grace sat in the VIP area and sipped a few drinks, looking around. "Why isn''t Lydia here? I wanted to ask her about the progress of our coboration." This got Emily excited, and she chimed, "Just a few days ago, Lydia came to the store to pick up some clothes, and I invited her for lunch. "She kept making excuses not to go. I had a hunch something was off, so I followed her out, and guess who I saw?" Everyone listened intently. "Who?" "Caleb! Your second brother!" Emily couldn''t contain her excitement and eximed, "He was sitting in Lydia''s car!" Graceughed, happy that the two of them had finally made some progress. "But that was a few days ago. It has nothing to do with today." "You don''t understand. I checked Caleb''s schedule. He''s got a concert in Linden City these days." Understanding dawned on Grace and Zoey, and they each made a video call to the two. After a long wait, Lydia answered, slightly flustered, "What''s up, Zoey?" "Where are you?" "I told Emily, I''m on a business trip." Caleb also picked up. "Gracie, you finally remembered me, huh? What''s up?" "Where are you?" "Preparing for a concert in Linden City." Grace nodded, and both she and Zoey said the same thing. "Now, walk to the nearest window." Reluctantly, Caleb and Lydia did as they were told. They had deliberately made separate video calls but ended up running into each other again. They fell silent for a moment, but their voices from the video could be heard. They were clearly together! Caleb looked annoyed and asked, "Grace, are you serious?" Grace couldn''t stopughing as she leaned toward Zoey''s phone. "You can hide from others, but us?" Lydia blushed deeply. "I ... it''s not ... oh dear." Caleb ended the call, then snatched Lydia''s phone and said, "She''s shy. Stop teasing her." "You''re so overprotective of her, Caleb. It seems like things are going well." Caleb wished he could reach through the screen and hit her. "Hang up now! We''ll talk when I get back!" Everyone was in high spirits and clinked their sses cheerfully. In a private room on the second floor, a figure watched this scene unfold. Chapter 538 Controlling His Life Chapter 538 Controlling His Life Jessica was wearing heavy makeup today. It made her look very vicious as she smirked. "The coboration between Amirate Corporation and Byte Technologies is set in stone now. We''re approaching the fourth quarter of the year now. Benjamin, will you help me?" Benjamin smoked from across her. His gaze fixed on Grace, never wavering. She seemed very happy today, exuding a rxed air, far from her cautious self when she was around him. "Help you with what?" he asked, disinterested. "I can''t let Grace seed in this coboration," Jessica stated firmly. Benjamin scoffed upon hearing this. "Why, Danielle? What makes you think you can sabotage her deal? I told you, I won''t let you touch her." Jessica raised an eyebrow and mocked, "You''re quite the knight in shining armor. I never noticed that before. "You might like her, but it''s clear she detests you! Since that''s the case, why not join me?" Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Benjamin rubbed his temples and took a big swig of his drink. "If you don''t have anything else to say, I''m leaving!" "Wait," Jessica called out softly but firmly. "I don''t want her dead. I just want her to fail. Is that so hard to do?" She walked up behind Benjamin, her fingers resting on his broad shoulders. "Tell me, what if Grace finds out that the man she fell for at first sight was actually¡ª" "Enough." Benjamin''s fingertips pressed against her red lips. "Are you nning to use this to control me for a lifetime?" Jessica broke into a smile. "It depends on whether you care about her forever. If you do, then that''s my winning card." Disgusted, Benjamin pushed her away. He took a deep breath and said, "Mr. Thorne from Byte Technologies has an illegitimate child." Jessica''s expression turned grave. "Having an illegitimate child isn''t big news nowadays." "The mistress is Willow Hudgens. She''s a big celebrity." Jessica paused. Willow was a famous actress. More importantly, she was married but had a child with Matthew. Jessica fell into thought, thenughed uncontrobly. "Good. Very good." Benjamin grabbed her face and warned her, "You can sabotage the coboration, but I forbid you from touching Grace." "Your brother would be happy to know you care so much for his woman," Jessica retorted. Benjamin let go of her roughly. ¡­ Grace had had too much to drink the day before and had a headache the next day. Sipping on the juice the housekeeper had prepared, Grace checked her schedule on her phone and nced at the trending news. It was mostly about celebrities¡ªnothing interesting¡ªbut the news about "Willow''s child" caught her attention. Grace had seen Willow''s dramas before. She was talented and good-looking. It was a pity that she had married early. The news showed Willow with her young child heading to a mansion, dressed modestly. "So she has a child now ..." Grace muttered, not giving it much thought, and turned off her phone. ¡­ At Amirate Corporation, Ashley handed Grace a list and said, "Ms. Lewis, thebel artists have been decided. They are all here for your review." Grace flipped through a few pages. There were no major issues. She casually asked, "When does Caleb''s concert end?" "The day after tomorrow. He''ll take a break after this concert until ck Friday." Grace nodded. She didn''t have any further questions. "I''m going¡ª" Ashley''s phone vibrated. She nced at it and suddenly gasped in surprise. Chapter 539 Illegitimate Child Chapter 539 Illegitimate Child Grace immediately looked up and asked, "What happened?" Ashley scrolled through her phone and eximed, "It turns out that Willow has an illegitimate child. This is huge news!" Surprised, Grace took out her phone to read the news. Indeed, that morning, the paparazzi had revealed that Willow had a child. By that afternoon, they had released footage of her secretly meeting a man, with the child calling him ''Daddy''! The inte went into a frenzy. "I can read every word, but I don''t understand anything." "She''s married and had a child with another man? That''s crazy!" "I can''t imagine what the husband is feeling." Ashley shook her head, sighing. "I know her agent. Her marriage was already a headache for him, and now he also has to deal with this PR disaster." Grace watched the video, gripping her phone tighter. "Maybe the child''s not hers?" "That''s impossible. Look, the child resembles Willow so much. Gics don''t lie, and the child even called her ''Mom''." Grace had a sinking feeling and immediately pulled her phone out to call Matthew. Even though others might not have been able to identify the man in the video since his face was hidden from view, she was able to recognize Matthew. Matthew didn''t answer the phone. Ashley continued to mutter, "Why would she do this? It''s one thing to marry, but to cheat? Now her career is over." Grace abruptly stood up and headed out of the office. Luke followed behind her. "Ms. Lewis, what''s wrong?" "We''re going to Byte Technologies!" Byte Technologies wasying the groundwork for the international coboration, and with ck Friday approaching, such a scandal would kill any chance of them going public. ¡­ When they arrived at Byte Technologies, everything seemed calm. It seemed thepany wasn''t affected by the scandal yet. Matthew''s assistant respectfully stated, "Ms. Lewis, you don''t have an appointment, and Mr. Thorne isn''t seeing anyone today." Grace felt annoyed. "Does it matter if I have an appointment at this point? Mr. Thorne is really keeping his cool." The assistant was taken aback. She stammered, "You ¡­" "Let me in." Inside Matthew''s office, everything breakable had been smashed to pieces. Matthew sat on the couch, disheveled, surrounded by a few confidants, all too afraid to speak. Grace walked in to see therge TV broadcasting thetest news. Willow''s husband, Theodore Holden, was weeping in front of the media. "I always thought that was my child ¡­" That alone was enough to sway public opinion. Then, Theodore posted on social media, using the father of the illegitimate child, shockingly revealed to be Byte Technologies'' president, Matthew! The news showed his lengthy post, and thements were all filled with abuse and attacks. "Byte Technologies'' official website has been overrun." "Every video on the Byte app is discussing this." "Mr. Thorne, what do we do now?" It was a brutally ironic turn. They used to thrive on traffic, and now they were being consumed by it. Rival tforms that had long harbored resentment against Byte Technologies for their short videos began spreading videos about the Willow scandal. Their target was clear. They were aiming at Matthew and Byte Technologies. Once their reputation was damaged, their rivals could rise among the ranks in the business world. This wasn''t just simple gossip. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Matthew was on the brink of fury, closing his eyes to try and stay calm. "Limit thements across the entire app and bring the public discussion down to the lowest. Contact Willow. I need to see her!" His confidants hurried to carry out his orders. Grace then stepped forward. She picked up the remote to turn off the TV. "Mr. Thorne." Chapter 541 Mrs. Thorne Chapter 541 Mrs. Thorne Grace felt a headacheing on as she realized that if the news continued to spread for a few more days, the situation would be beyond damage control. Luke presented his findings to Grace. "The assistant close to Willow is the most suspicious." This assistant had been with Willow for five years, even before thetter had risen to fame. She was Willow''s most trusted person. Yet she had previously worked at Hawkins Group. Grace clenched the paper in her hand, a coldugh escaping her lips. Luke frowned. "Ms. Lewis?" "I''m fine. I just can''t believe that the man who has stabbed me in the back countless times would choose now to do it again." As she walked out, she bumped into Samuel, who was delighted. "Ms. Lewis, where are you rushing off to so angrily?" Grace red at him and snapped, "You don''t need to worry." "Byte Technologies is in trouble, and you must be overwhelmed. I''ve always said these emerging industries are just bubbles waiting to burst. But you wouldn''t listen." Grace stopped in her tracks and retorted, "Even if it''s a bubble, I''ll bear the consequences." "Can you afford it? Don''t forget our bet. If I win, you have to resign from Amirate Corporation and never show your face here again!" Grace clenched her fist tightly. Never in the past year had she felt such immense pressure. This project with Byte Technologies was her most crucial one yet. "It''s too early to discuss that. Let''s wait and see." Grace left, sharp and determined. Samuel spat after her, loathing her deeply. But his mood improved as he recalled the project in Eastwood. ¡­ Within two days, the news about Willow continued to gain momentum. Matthew''s family background was also swiftly exposed. His wife''s influential family had married her off to him in an arranged marriage, and now their public image was severely tarnished due to their scandal. Everyone was waiting for her response. However, there had been no response for two days. Grace guessed Matthew probably hadn''t managed to appease his wife. "Ms. Lewis, can we handle this? She''s notoriously tough in the circle, and with her husband''s infidelity brought to light, it''s a blow to her dignity." Grace tapped the steering wheel and said, "Luke, you seem experienced in this." Luke looked down and answered, "I''ve dealt with these situations before." "Then, you should also know that for them, it''s all for one and one for all." A woman appeared at the vi''s gate, ready to leave. Grace took the opportunity to step out of her car and approached her. "Are you Mrs. Thorne?" Esme Berkeley was well into her 40s, but she looked like she was only 30 years old and exuded elegance and grace. Esme stopped and looked at Grace. "And you are?" "My name is Grace Lewis. You can call me Grace." Upon hearing this, Esme walked past Grace andmented, "You''re Matthew''s business partner." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Grace followed, "You know me?" "I''ve seen your name on his documents." "Then, you must understand¡ª" "No need to say more. I won''te forward with any statement of solidarity or shared hardship. If he''s capable of keeping a mistress, he should be capable of cleaning up his own mess!" Esme got into the back seat and signaled to the driver to leave. Grace quickly blocked the car door. "Is he the only one at fault for keeping a mistress?" Esme looked up sharply and asked, "What do you mean?" "This isn''t the ce to talk. How about we have a chat over coffee?" ¡­ Ten minutester, the two women sat in the sunlight by the window at a caf¨¦. Esme leaned back in her seat and said, "Speak quickly. My time is limited." Grace didn''t beat around the bush. She took a stack of photos from her bag and ced them on the table. Chapter 542 Get Rid of Her Ambitions Chapter 542 Get Rid of Her Ambitions The photos clearly showed Esme and another younger man in an intimate position, suggesting they had a close rtionship. Esme''s expression turned odd. She asked, "Ms. Lewis, what are you implying?" "The difference between you and Mr. Thorne is that one of you has been exposed, and the other hasn''t." "But I''m not a public figure. It won''t really affect me, even if this is exposed." "Really?" Grace replied with a knowing smile, stirring her coffee. "In this circle, aren''t you afraid of being the subject of gossip among the otherdies, bing a laughing stock over tea and dinner?" Esme tensed up, obviously concerned. Grace had learned about these circles during her time with Benjamin With no jobs or financial worries, these women spent their days having tea and gossiping. Being the center of discussion was a fatal fall from grace. Esme took a deep breath. "Currently, the public is condemning Willow and Matthew. Me speaking up won''t solve anything." "I''m not asking you toe forward." "Then what do you suggest¡ª" "You don''t have children with Mr. Thorne yet, right? Regardless of Willow''s situation, the child is real. Would you be happy if he inherited the vast family wealth?" Grace''s words hit the nail on the head. Esme clenched her fingers tightly and muttered, "Of course not." "So this is an excellent opportunity." Grace sipped her coffee. "My suggestion is that Mr. Thorne cut off all contact with Willow, and you step in to get rid of her ambitions." Esme''s eyes lit up with determination at her words. "Go on." "Now the most heated topic is the child. If you take the child under your wing, you control both parties'' power. "You can maintain the reputation of being wronged yet virtuous. Who would be the biggest winner then?" Esme couldn''t help but smile. "Ms. Lewis, you have a knack for manipting people''s hearts." "I''m ttered. I''m offering you advice, but of course, I have my own motives." "I''ll resolve the public opinion for you." Grace was satisfied with her response. "Once we get past this, I assure you a lifetime of wealth and honor." After sending Esme off, Grace returned to her car. "What''s the progress on Ashley''s side?" "She has connections in the entertainment industry and has found Willow''s current location," Luke answered. "But will Matthew allow Esme to do this?" "For his career, he will." Sometimes, Grace felt tormented. She didn''t want to resort to such measures, but she had to be cunning when at a disadvantage. Everything proceeded secretly, with the public uproar continuing to froth on the surface. Late at night, as Grace scrolled through the trending topics, feeling weary, she messaged Emily to thank her for the photos. The lead on Esme had been a spur-of-the-moment idea. Knowing that wealthydies loved shopping, she had asked Emily to look for any clues, and sure enough, they had found her at a luxury store. Emily responded with an unamused emoji. "If you thank me again, I''lle over to your ce." Grace smiled, but it faded soon. She thought of Xander, wishing he were there. Even if he did nothing, his presence always comforted her. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She contemted calling him but hesitated. Xander probably had his hands full at Fulton Group. It was better not to worry him. Chapter 543 The Most Important Project Chapter 543 The Most Important Project Early in the next morning, Luke reported, "I''ve managed to schedule a meeting with Theodore." "How did you manage that?" "Given Amirate Corporation''s status, meeting the president of a smallpany is quite simple." Grace smiled and asked, "Where will the meeting take ce?" "At the caf¨¦ downstairs at Amirate." ¡­ Meanwhile, Benjamin had just arrived at his office to find Jessica waiting for him. "I knew you''re always punctual." Ignoring her, Benjamin asked, "What is it?" "Given the current trend, Byte Technologies will be finished in a few more days. I''m here to remind you not to think about extending a helping hand to Grace." Jessica smirked with satisfaction. Benjamin looked at her with disdain. There had been no news from Grace''s end recently, which had worried him slightly. "Are you done?" Jessica''s expression darkened. "Larry, see her out." Larry promptly entered and gestured toward the door. "Ms. Landon, this way, please." Jessica cast a deep look at Benjamin. "Benjamin, you gave me this leverage. If you try to help her, don''t me me for telling her who''s behind it all." "Larry," Benjamin said sternly. Without needing Larry to act, Jessica left the office on her own. Benjamin loosened his tie in agitation. Just then, his phone vibrated with an iing call from Grace. He frowned, feeling a mix of excitement and guilt as he answered. "Grace?" "Benjamin, are you free? I need to talk to you." His frown deepened, and he asked, "About what?" "Have you heard about Byte Technologies? I have some questions I''d like to ask you. You know, I''m desperate and have no one else to turn to." Grace sounded reluctant and frustrated, which made Benjamin believe her. "I thought you hated me?" He pursed his lips, overjoyed. "It''s fine if you''re not free." Benjamin quickly said, "I am. Where are we meeting?" Before the meeting, Benjamin pulled out a document from his files. Larry noticed and said, "Mr. Hawkins, this is Hawkins Group''s most important investment project for next quarter. Are you¡ª" Benjamin cut him off coldly. "I don''t need this one." Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. He couldn''t help Grace with the Byte Technologies scandal but was willing to pave another path for her to achieve her targets. He thought of it aspensation and a token of his feelings. ¡­ Apanied by two bodyguards, Grace arrived at the caf¨¦ downstairs at the Amirate Corporation building, which had been cleared out for the meeting. Theodore sat in the most conspicuous spot, engrossed in his phone. Grace approached and asked, "You''re still tweeting?" Startled, he settled back down when he saw her and quickly hid his phone. "Ms. Lewis." Grace nced at him briefly. "I hear you''ve been quite busytely." "It''s an honor to coborate with Amirate Corporation," he said, taking out a contract to begin exining. Grace interrupted, "Not so fast. Before we discuss any coboration, I have a small condition. I wonder if you could agree." "Please, go ahead." "Stop fucking tweeting," Grace said sweetly but firmly. His smile froze. "What do you mean?" "I believe a popr celebrity like Willow married you because she thought you were sincere. But you conspired with her agent to stab her in the back. Is that appropriate?" Hearing this, he looked at Grace with confusion. "You''re not here to discuss our partnership?" "Partner with you and get stabbed in the back? I wouldn''t dare gamble on that." "How dare you y me, Grace?" Theodore stood up angrily to leave. Grace waved a finger, and her bodyguards stepped forward, pinning him back into his seat. They then snatched his phone and handed it to Grace. Chapter 544 Why Did It Have to Be You Chapter 544 Why Did It Have to Be You Grace scrolled through his phone, checking it thoroughly. Theodore struggled violently. "What are you doing? Give it back! This is illegal! I''ll call the police!" Graceughed. "Go ahead. Call them. I''d like to see if the police will arrest you, the one causing trouble, or me first." Some people needed to be dealt with harshly. Grace reviewed his recent tweets, clicking and deleting each one. "How did you know Willow has an illegitimate child?" Theodore was reluctant to speak, but after the bodyguard twisted his arm painfully, he cried out, "Alright! I''ll tell you. "I knew she had a child. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have married me. But I didn''t know who the father was untilter." He admitted that after he had married Willow, their frequent separations due to work had made him lonely. He had ended up having an affair with Willow''s assistant. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Having been with Willow for years, the assistant had known that Matthew was the child''s birth father. Hence, she had hatched a malicious n. Grace listened and scoffed, deleting thest tweet. "You epted the child but exploited him. You''re despicable." Grace continued, "Listen closely¡ªact as if these tweets never happened. I''ll deactivate your Twitter ount, and if you dare to say anything more in the future, don''t me me if I buy out your Theodore struggled again. "You''re so cruel! What right do you have to do this to me? Do you know who''s behind my back?" Grace clicked to deactivate the ount and then looked up. "I know." He was taken aback. Grace looked at the tall figure entering the caf¨¦ and muttered, "Benjamin." The slight smile on Benjamin''s face vanished instantly. It was reced by a dreaded frown as a chill went down his back. Theodore sat still, feeling Grace''s re. Then, he turned around to see Benjamin, who looked like a lifesaver right now. "Mr. Hawkins! Save me! This woman is evil! She set me up!" He rushed toward Benjamin and clung to his legs. Grace also stood up, calmly meeting Benjamin''s gaze. Benjamin clenched the document in his hand. His eyes were fixed on her. "You knew all along." She had called him here on purpose. "You resorted to such dirty tactics. Benjamin, I overestimated you." Grace threw the phone into a coffee cup. Theodore continued to struggle at Benjamin''s feet. "Mr. Hawkins! You know that I wasn''t the mastermind. It was¡ª" "Enough!" Benjamin kicked him away, cutting off his following words. Then, he strode toward Grace and grabbed her wrist. "Listen to me." "The truth is right here. What''s there to exin?" Grace narrowed her eyes and said, "Benjamin, we''ve known each other so long. Our marriage didn''t work out, so being strangers would have sufficed. "But you had to stab me in the back. Do you hate me that much?" "This ..." Benjamin tightened his grip and paused. "Everythinges out at some point. What happened to Matthew is the truth. If it hadn''t been us, someone else would have exposed it." "But why did it have to be you?" Grace retorted, filled with disbelief. She thought he had admitted to it. Benjamin trembled, stung by the disappointment in her eyes. "I''m sorry, I¡ª" "Let go of me." Chapter 545 Admit Defeat Chapter 545 Admit Defeat Benjamin didn''t let go but held on tighter. "You fussing over Theodore is pointless, and so is questioning me. You have more important things to do right now!" Grace was so infuriated that sheughed. She signalled her bodyguards to drag Theodore away. The caf¨¦ regained its quiet atmosphere, leaving just Grace and Benjamin. "So, Mr. Hawkins, enlighten me. What should I be doing?" Benjamin pursed his lips and handed her the document he was holding. "Cut ties with Byte Technologies and choose a new path. You''re three months away from the final quarter of the year. There''s still time to turn back, Grace. I haven''t closed all doors on you." Grace was baffled. She flipped through the document, noticing the words ''new energy''. Losing patience, she closed it abruptly. "So you had this nned all along? You block my path with Byte Technologies and then magnanimously offer me a new one. Is this some child''s game for you, Benjamin? Don''t you find it tiring?" Benjamin''s frown deepened. "You''re a businessperson. You should understand the concept of cutting losses. Isn''t this a perfect solution? Why are you angry with me?" "I should thank you. If it hadn''t been for you, I wouldn''t even need this ''solution''." Knowing he was at fault, Benjamin didn''t argue further. "Grace, exposing Matthew''s affair sooner rather thanter is better. It''s eliminating potential risks. If it hade outter, when you were fullymitted, there would be no turning back. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Survival is the first priority now. Don''t you understand?" "I do," Grace replied quickly. "Then you¡ª" "But what if I say we''re already in the same boat?" Benjamin''s gaze intensified. He locked eyes with her for a moment, seemingly unable to comprehend. Grace rolled up the document, pointing it at him. "You knew how important Byte Technologies was to me, yet you deliberately stabbed me in the back. Benjamin, you truly are heartless." "Grace!" "Mr. Hawkins, the hero-saving-the-damsel act doesn''t work on me." Grace threw the document at him and checked the time. She added, "You might want to go back and see if the situation you so carefully orchestrated has changed." Benjamin wanted to follow her, but his phone rang. He had no choice but to answer it. "What is it?" It was Jessica. She was furious. "Benjamin, did you tell Grace Willow''s whereabouts? You helped her!" Benjamin watched Grace''s figure disappear into the distance and asked, "What do you mean? Speak clearly." "Willow suddenly released a statement saying she''s retiring from the industry, taking all the me upon herself and painting Matthew as the perfect man!" Jessica was nearly hysterical. "I can''t even contact Theodore anymore. What exactly did you do?" Benjamin paused, his gaze falling on the phone that had been submerged in the coffee cup. His thoughts drifted away. Grace had acted far more decisively and quickly than he had anticipated. "Admit defeat, Danielle. You''re no match for her." Benjamin closed his eyes, haunted by Grace''s words. Grace thought he was heartless. She truly detested him now. "You want me to admit defeat?" Jessica asked in disbelief. "That''s impossible." Then, she hung up abruptly. ¡­ Grace returned to her office and downed arge ss of water to calm down. Ashley entered and said, "Ms. Lewis, Mrs. Thorne acted swiftly. Willow has already issued a statement." Chapter 546 Suspicious Chapter 546 Suspicious Grace nced over Willow''s statement, which closely aligned with their n. In it, Willow had taken all the responsibility upon herself and revealed that Matthew had been unaware of the situation. But upon learning the truth, he had fulfilled his paternal duties. To express her regret, she chose to retire indefinitely. Esme had managed to take down Willow in less than two hours. Grace breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, Esme called, "I''ve taken the child." "Congrattions, Mrs. Thorne. You''ve gotten what you wanted." "I''ve done what you asked. With my influence, Willow will never show her face in society again. You can rest easy." Grace smiled, looking out over the cityscape from the floor-to-ceiling windows. "How did you persuade Willow?" Esme sounded almost bored as she exined, "A mother''s greatest weakness is her child. I told her that if Matthew fell from grace, her child would have no future. "Faced with two ends, she naturally knew what to do. Of course, I gave her a sum of money enough for a lifetime, on the condition she never sees the child again." "A win-win situation. Mr. Thorne would be very grateful to you." Grace paused and added, "I trust you will bepassionate and won''t be too harsh on the child." Esme chuckled. "What do you take me for? Ms. Lewis, it might seem like I helped you, but really, you helped me. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask." Grace agreed and hung up. Puzzled, Ashley asked, "Ms. Lewis, why would Mrs. Thorne say that?" "Now that she has the child, she''s got a hold on Matthew for life. No matter how powerful he bes, Esme holds the strings. Doesn''t she owe me some thanks?" Ashley nodded in understanding and answered, "Indeed." ¡­ This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Downstairs, traffic bustled as a Porsche drove away from Amirate Corporation. Grace watched it disappear into the distance, feeling utterly indifferent. She wondered why she had ever been so obsessed with Benjamin, who clearly wasn''t worth it. Now, all she felt was disgust. The scandal with Byte Technologies was quickly resolved, and the public moved on to other news. Everything returned to how it had been before, and Matthew was overjoyed. ¡­ Late that night, Gracey in bed, chatting with Lydia and Emily. Still, something felt off. Benjamin might be cunning, but such lowly tactics weren''t his style. Emily was the first to object to that. "Really? Benjamin and his family are capable of anything." Zoey seemed to agree. "The apple doesn''t fall far from the tree." That was true. Just as Grace was about to say something, Lydia added, "Perhaps." The group went silent for a while before Zoey messaged Grace privately. "Did I say something wrong? I forgot Lydia''s ¡­" Lydia, who had grown up under the Lewis family''s sponsorship due to her poor background, was understandably sensitive. Grace reassured Zoey that it probably wasn''t a big deal. Then, she saw that Lydia had sent a text in the group chat. "There''s always a reason behind his actions. The coboration between Amirate Corporation and Byte Technologies doesn''t hinder Hawkins Group, so why make things hard for you? Don''t you find it suspicious?" That hit the nail on the head. Grace finally understood why she had been feeling so uneasy. She began to type, "Yeah, why would Benjamin do this unless he''s ¡­" Before she could send the message, an iing call from Frenda interrupted her. Joyfully, she answered, "Xander!" Hearing her lively voice, Xander chuckled and asked, "You''re still up?" Chapter 547 Getting Back Before Black Friday Chapter 547 Getting Back Before ck Friday Grace sounded very excited. "I''m not sleepy yet." "Let me guess, you''ve resolved the issue with Byte Technologies and can''t sleep from excitement?" Grace was somewhat surprised. This matter had been resolved before the news reached overseas. "Did Matthew tell you?" Xander didn''t answer. Instead, he said, "I have my ways of finding out. Just tell me if it''s true." "Sort of," Grace admitted while fidgeting with a pillow in her arms. "I didn''t want to tell you to avoid distracting you." "Ah, my Gracie has her ways of solving problems." His voice was maic andced with affection. It made Grace flush. "What about you? Are things going smoothly there?" Smoothly? As Grace asked, Xander sat in his office at Fulton Group, bathed in sunlight, while Hazel brought him coffee and toast. Xander had shaken up Jake''s connections within Fulton Group in just a few days and had almost reshuffled the entirepany. No one dared to underestimate him as the future heir anymore. "All is well." "Don''t overwork yourself. If that Jake troubles you, tell me. I''ll teach him a lesson!" Her fierce yet somehow childlike tone made Xanderugh. "He already despises you for spiking his coffee withxatives. If he sees you again, he might not hold back." "I''m not afraid of him." Her voice streamed through the phone. Hazel paused upon hearing her words. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. From her years of experience, Hazel could tell Grace was a woman of substance. She was smart and courageous, without losing her femininity. Xander indulged her deeply. "I''ll get back before ck Friday." Grace was surprised. "What about Fulton Group?" "There''s time." "Are youing back because of me?" As she asked that, Grace couldn''t help but close her eyes, anxiously waiting for his response. Xander chuckled softly. "What else could it be?" Grace felt her heart skip a beat. After advising her to rest early, he hung up. Hazel couldn''t help but speak up. "With Fulton Group''s matters still pending, rushing back before ck Friday might be a stretch." Xander''s lingering smile faded, and he said, "Ms. Yale, you''re speaking out of turn." Hazel immediately nodded and replied, "I''ll ensure everything goes well." "And Benjamin?" "As you suspected, he wasn''t directly involved. We''re still looking into who the real perpetrator is." When the scandal about Matthew had been exposed, Xander had received news and quickly identified the instigator. However, he had refrained from acting. His abilities were limited since he was overseas. He had trusted that Grace would be able to solve the problem. "Keep an eye on that lead. I''m curious to see what secrets he has." Hazel nodded, then remembered and continued, "Last night, after your father visited your mother, he finally went to the hospital to see Prisci. She admitted everything without making a scene." Xander wasn''t surprised. "Aunt Prisci has been manipting my father with the same tactic for years." Guilt wouldn''t nurture love, but it could soften one''s heart. "Your father is still furious. Jake probably won''t return anytime soon." Xander took a pen from the holder. "It''s only a matter of time. Jake''s still his son. He won''t get rid of him forever." Hazel observed the upright and transparent man before her. He always acted openly and directly, but the thoughts he harbored privately were profoundly intricate and dark. Chapter 548 Eight Thousand Dollars Chapter 548 Eight Thousand Dors In less than half a month, the Byte Technologies scandal had passed, and the coboration with the company''s overseas partners gradually smoothed out. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Grace rxed slightly. Samuel, on the other hand, was furious. He was clearly upset. His subordinates avoided him as much as possible, fearing they might trigger him. Luke chuckled at the mention of this. Grace also found it amusing as she thought about it. "How''s the progress with the Eastwood property?" "No issues reported." Grace remembered Xander''s words and pondered for a moment. After all, it was a government project, so there probably wouldn''t be significant issues. But should she really let Samuel and Jessica profit from it? Grace had never expected to run into Jessica while shopping with Emilyter. She was at a luxury store where many wealthydies were flocking to check out the new arrivals. They even bumped into Esme, who was apanied by a young boy. He greeted Grace by addressing her as "Aunt". "You''re young. It would be more appropriate for him to call you by your name." Grace was embarrassed and said, "It''s okay to call me ''Aunt''. It''s our first meeting, and I didn''t bring a gift. Pick something you like. It''s on me." The boy was clearly nervous. He quickly hid behind Esme, who scolded him. "When someone offers you something, ept it graciously. You''re always so timid. How are you going to carry the Thorne family name?" Themotion startled Emily, who whispered to Grace, "That Mrs. Thorne is quite fierce." Before Grace could reply, a voice chimed in, "Indeed, if Ms. Lewis is offering, just ept it. After all, she''s wealthy, quite the flex." It was Jessica. She casually strolled over with a newly purchased bag in hand. Esme looked surprised and frowned. Facing the attention of everyone present, Grace calmly retorted, "Ms. Landon is correct. Having money in hand is quite nice. Otherwise, you can only buy the cheapest bags when shopping." Her gaze leisurely fell on Jessica''s hand. The bag she held was indeed the cheapest of the season''s new arrivals! Emilyughed timely, adding to the moment. Jessica clenched her teeth and instinctively tried to hide the bag. "Ms. Lewis, you misunderstood. I haven''t paid yet. How would you know I can only afford the cheapest bag?" In reality, she was indeed short on cash, having invested all the money Benjamin had given her into real estate, leaving her tight on funds. But she was too embarrassed to admit it in front of so many people. Grace smiled brightly and said, "I didn''t say it was you. Why did you assume it''s about you?" "You!" Emily was enjoying the scene even more, and Esme couldn''t help but chuckle too. Grace took the boy''s hand, pointed to Jessica''s bag, and said, "Since Ms. Landon admitted it herself, I won''t say more. But remember, if you want to impress a girl in the future, never choose a bag this cheap, or she won''t look your way." The little boy didn''t fully understand what she meant, but he nodded anyway. Jessica was utterly infuriated and eximed, "Grace! I told you, I haven''t bought it!" Grace replied coolly, "Why are you so anxious about this? If you want to buy it, go ahead. Are you waiting for me to pay for you?" Jessica clenched her fists, feeling stuck under everyone''s gaze. She had no choice but to return to the shelf and point to the most expensive bag with gritted teeth. "I''ll take this one too." The clerk was delighted and promptly wrapped it up. "That''ll be eight thousand dors in total. Will you be paying by cash or card?" Eight thousand dors was no small sum for Jessica at the moment. She reluctantly handed over a card from her bag''spartment, wincing inwardly. It was worth three months of living expenses she had gotten from Benjamin. Chapter 549 Shes Barren Chapter 549 She''s Barren Now, because of Grace''s provocation, Jessica had to tighten her belt for the next three months. As Grace watched themotion, she initially enjoyed the scene until she noticed the card Jessica used. Then, her smile faded. Emily noticed the change and asked, "What''s wrong?" "That card. It looks familiar," Grace mused, unable to recall where she had seen it. Emily wanted a closer look, but Jessica had already tucked it away. Jessica approached Grace with a smug look, holding her new bag. "See, I''ve paid for it. Don''t end up buying something cheaper than me, Ms. Lewis. That would be quite embarrassing!" Grace remained unfazed and walked into the store, instructing the clerk to wrap up a handbag she had previously eyed. It was a medium-priced bag she liked for its unique and elegant design. Jessica scoffed. "That¡¯s only two thousand dors. That''s all?" Grace looked puzzled and answered, "I''m here to pick something I like, not topete with you, Ms. Landon. Is there a problem?" Jessica realized she had been outsmarted by Grace again. Pamore''s social circles would surely buzz about this for the next few months. Clutching her shopping bag tightly, Jessica understood why the Quinn family hadn''t been able to beat Grace. This woman was too cunning! She left in a huff. Esme approached Grace and asked, "Is she from the Landon family?" "Yes, Mrs. Thorne, do you know her?" "Not personally, but she looks familiar." Esme had met many people in her four decades in this circle. She found Jessica peculiarly familiar, yet she couldn''t ce her anywhere. "By the way, I had somedies over for tea recently and overheard some news." Esme signaled discreetly. Sensing the cue, Emily took the boy aside. "What news?" "The president of Eastwood Construction has been visiting Meco frequently. He lost a lot of money and is on the brink of bankruptcy." Gossip among women might seem trivial, but it often carried significant and reliable information. Grace understood that Esme probably knew of her rivalry with Samuel and was giving her this information for a reason. That was fast. It turned out that Xander was right. "Does anyone else know?" "I made sure it didn''t leak." "Thank you, Mrs. Thorne. I know what to do." Esme handed her an invitation. "The boy''s birthday is next month. You muste." Grace understood that this was Esme''s way of formally announcing her guardianship of the boy. "I''ll be there." Once in the car, Emily asked in surprise, "Mrs. Thorne is really going to raise her husband''s child with another woman. Isn''t she afraid of his divided loyalties?" "I guess she doesn''t have much choice," Grace spected. "She''s almost 40 years old and childless. Do you think it''s by choice?" Emily came to a realization. "She''s barren." That''s why she had epted Willow''s child. It was a move out of necessity. Emily shivered and said, "Gosh, it''s soplex. Just thinking about it gives me a headache." "Then don''t! I recently found a ce that serves authentic curry. Let''s go!" As their car sped away, they didn''t see Jessica''s car returning. She rushed back into the store. "I want to return this." The staff were taken aback. "Ms. Landon, we don''t ept returns." "I left your store less than ten minutes ago, and I haven''t even opened the bag. Why can''t I return it?" Jessica insisted, "Don''t make me call the consumer rights hotline!" She didn''t want to create a scene, but money was tight for her at the moment.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 550 An Unexpected Visit Chapter 550 An Unexpected Visit It was the end of the month, and the construction of the Eastwood property had begun to slow down. Desperate, Jessica had visited the construction site several times and gradually uncovered some shady dealings. After shopping, she returned home to find a car parked at her doorstep. Pushing the door open, she saw a burly figure inside. "Ryan? What brings you here so suddenly?" Ryan Madden, president of Eastwood Construction, turned around and immediately kneeled before her. "Ms. Landon, please, you must help me!" Jessica''s expression turned sour. ¡­ Five minutester, Jessica swept everything off the table onto the floor in a fit of rage. "This is a government project, and you dared to misuse the funds! Are you out of your mind?" Ryan kneeled with his head lowered and exined, "I never meant to use so much of the money. But then the hole just kept getting bigger, and I couldn''t plug it." Shaking with anger and breaking out in cold sweat, Jessica demanded, "How much is left?" Ryan stammered, "H-Half ¡­ Just under half of the funds." Jessica pulled out her phone. "Damn it! I''m calling the police right now to have you arrested!" "Please, no, Ms. Landon! Even if you get me arrested, you won''t get the money back! Think twice! If the authorities investigate, I would be finished, but you''ll also be held responsible!" Jessica froze, then copsed onto the couch. "The construction can''t continue as nned. We''re doomed." More than half of the funds were gone. She had no way of raising that kind of money again! Ryan pleaded, grasping at her, his eyes filled with greed. "I came to you to tell you I have a way to stop the loss!" "What is it?" Just then, they heard a car pulling over outside. Jessica stood up and peered out the window to see Benjamin''s car. Why was he here now? "Hide in the bathroom!" she instructed Ryan, who hurriedlyplied. Jessica quickly tidied up the mess and heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" she asked in a panic. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "It''s me," Benjamin answered in a hoarse voice. Jessica took a deep breath and regained herposure before opening the door. "Benjamin? What brings you here?" He furrowed his brows the moment he stepped in. "Do you have a guest over?" "No. No one''s here. What makes you think that?" Benjamin''s gaze lingered on the chaotic table as he caught a scent in the air. "There''s a smell of cement." "Your nose is really sharp." Jessica turned to pour a ss of water, trying to change the subject. "Didn''t Grace confront you about Willow? Why do you still have time to see me?" "I didn''t leak that information. She figured it out herself." "So I should be praising her now?" Benjamin fixed his gaze on her. "I just got a tip. The president of Eastwood Construction has made several trips to Meco with a lot of money. Were you aware of this?" At the mention of this, Jessica stiffened, and there was some noise from the bathroom. Benjamin immediately looked toward the bathroom. "Is someone there?" Jessica blocked his path and said, "Maybe a rat knocked something over." His frown deepened. "You haven''t answered my question." "I wasn''t aware. This is my first time hearing about it." "I''ve told you before that real estate is very risky these days. It''s still possible to withdraw your funds in time." Jessica was sweating profusely. "Has the information been confirmed?" "My sources are never wrong." "Really? Then how do you exin Grace outsmarting you and allowing Byte Technologies to clear their name?" Benjamin''s impatience grew, and he interjected, "Danielle, I''m only here to talk about Eastwood." Chapter 551 Muddling Through Chapter 551 Muddling Through "I understand. I''ll think about it when the news is verified." Jessica turned away. However, Benjamin wasn''t in a hurry to leave. He looked toward the restroom again and asked, "Can I use it?" "I''ve already said there are rats in there. You''re not used to such things. It''s better not to use it." "Rats aren''t a problem, Danielle. What matters is removing them in time." Benjamin wanted to help her. He left those words of advice and turned to leave. As he drove away, Jessica breathed a sigh of relief. Cold sweat dripped down her back, making her feel very ufortable. "You cane out." Ryan emerged from the restroom, equally drenched in sweat. He knelt on the ground and begged, "Ms. Landon, you must save me!" Jessica kicked him and shrieked, "Didn''t you hear? Even Benjamin knows about what happened! I wanted to cover for you, but if there''s no money in the ount when the timees, I won''t be able to hide it." Ryan hurriedly said, "It''s possible! I told you I have a way!" Jessica was skeptical and asked, "What?" Ryan swallowed and gestured for Jessica to bend down. He whispered a few words in her ear. After hearing him out, Jessica''s expression changed dramatically. "Are you insane?" "I have no choice. I''ve muddled through situations like this a few times before. Nothing ever went wrong. It''s always been this way in real estate." Jessica remained silent. ¡­ On the first day of the next month, the Thorne family was bustling with activity for the child''s birthday. Luxury cars lined up from the start of the street to the end, all belonging to the wealthy people who hade to attend the birthday celebrations. Everyone knew that Esme''s acknowledgment of Matthew''s son meant that the boy''s future was secure. Hence, no effort was spared in weing and sending off guests. Grace arrived with a generous gift. She was dressed casually, keeping a low profile. Yet it seemed that Esme had a different idea and intended for Grace to be noticeable. "Ms. Lewis,e this way." Grace nodded at Luke, signaling him to mingle with the crowd while she followed Esme away. "For the boy''s eighth birthday, we''ve specially invited a theater troupe to perform at home. A big group has gone there, but I find it boring. I would rather sit, drink tea, and y cards." Grace nced in the direction of the stage and asked, "What''s the boy''s new name?" "Henry." Grace looked up andmented, "You must be very anxious."N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Even though Esme had been willing to take in another woman''s son, he had been given a new name as a reminder of his origins. Since Esme was wary of him, he was likely to spend his life feeling as if he were walking a tightrope. He would need to be extremely cautious. Grace felt a twinge of pity for Henry. Esmeughed it off. She stood by theke, watching the fish in the water. "If this boy proves useful in the future, that would be good. But I''m worried he will turn out to be an ingrate. He must be reminded of his identity at all times." Grace didn''tment on it. "Let''s go inside for tea." As they entered the house, someone watched them from the stage. It was Benjamin sitting in the back. The Thornes had invited the Hawkins family for the birthday party. Benjamin had initially had no intention of attending, but Larry had said that Grace would surely be there. Hence, Benjamin had reconsidered it and decided to go. He watched Grace''s slender figure disappear. Matthew noticed that Benjamin was distracted. Puzzled, he asked, "Mr. Hawkins, what are you looking at?" "I just saw an acquaintance. Is your wife ying cards?" "Yes, that''s her only hobby. It''s something all men understand." Benjamin smiled and said, "Listening to too much of this show feels tiresome. I''m actually feeling a bit eager to join in the game." Matthew didn''t catch on and answered, "You could join them for some fun. But they might get angry if you make them lose money." Chapter 552 Apologizing Chapter 552 Apologizing "I''ll just take a look. I won''t participate." The women yed with high stakes. Grace sat on the right, seemingly focused on the game. But in reality, she wasn''t paying attention at all. Before the round ended, the door opened. Matthew led the way in and asked Esme, "Have you won yet?" Esme scoffed. "You''re asking too soon. The oue isn''t clear yet." Grace froze and stared at Benjamin behind him, whose eyes were also fixed on her. Thedy sitting on the left also noticed him and asked, "Aren''t you Mr. Hawkins? You''re so young and promising, yet you''re willing to watch us women y cards. You must find it amusing." Benjamin undid his coat and ced it aside, standing next to Grace. "I don''t find your game amusing. Clearly, you''re skilled." Thedy was delighted. Anyone would willingly ept praise from an attractive man. Grace pursed her lips and said, "Since Mr. Hawkins is interested in the game, maybe I should give up my seat. I feel a bit¡ª" Before she could finish, Benjamin''s handnded on her shoulder, pressing down. "I''m just watching." Grace red at him fiercely, annoyed by his presence. She didn''t even want to y. He was clearly making things hard for her.N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Esme watched them and tossed out an ace of hearts. "It''s rare to see you around, Mr. Hawkins. You seem quite free today. It''s rather unusual, though. Perhaps you''re interested in one of thedies here. Are you hoping for an introduction?" Grace tensed up, fearing she might draw unwanted attention. Unexpectedly, Benjamin retorted, "Ms. Lewis, you seem very nervous. Mrs. Thorne is asking about me. What are you so afraid of?" Instantly, all eyes at the table turned to her. Grace endured the difort and answered, "I''m just a little cold because I''m sitting near the door." Benjamin casually yed a card from Grace''s hand. "You forgot to make your move." Everyone turned silent. The atmosphere turned ambiguous, and Grace felt ufortable. After Grace had made a name for herself, everyone identified her as the resilient Ms. Lewis of Amirate Corporation rather than Benjamin''s ex-wife. But after Benjamin''s suggestive words and actions, everyone was reminded of their past. Even Esme got involved in stirring the pot. "Mr. Hawkins, who are you to be so concerned for Ms. Lewis?" The crowd egged them on. Grace just wanted to leave, but it was inappropriate to just walk out under everyone''s watchful eyes. Sensing her difort, Benjamin didn''t press further. "Mrs. Thorne, you''re mistaken. If anything, me and Ms. Lewis are just friends." But he didn''t borate further. Esme was about to continue when Grace dropped herst card. "I''ve won. I''m a bit tired. Sorry, I''ll be leaving first." It was somewhat impolite, but at this moment, she didn''t want any more misunderstandings. Grace stood up to leave, and Benjamin nodded apologetically to everyone before grabbing his coat and following her. Once he caught up with Grace outside, he quickly draped his coat around her shoulders. "Wear this if you''re cold." Grace immediately shrugged it off. "I''m not cold. But you''re making me annoyed." Benjamin stood still and said, "I''m sorry for what happenedst time. It won''t happen again." "Did you embarrass me just so you could tell me this?" They stood in a corner in the deserted corridor. The light cast a shadow on them. "I meant what I said." "If you were sincere, you wouldn''t have done that in the first ce." Benjamin was silent for a moment. "I''m being sincere right now. I came here so I could apologize to you." Grace was about to respond when suddenly she noticed a figure darting by. She was about to call out when she heard a ssh. Chapter 553 Cash or Credit Chapter 553 Cash or Credit Both of them turned at the sound, only to see amotion near the stage area as a crowd swarmed forward. Shocked, Grace exchanged a nce with Benjamin before they both rushed toward themotion. "Henry has fallen into the water!" a staff member cried. The card game inside stopped as Matthew and Esme rushed out simultaneously. Benjamin grabbed a staff member. "What happened?" "Just now, Henry was feeding the fish by theke. I turned away for a moment, and he fell in!" Henry was struggling in the water, crying, "Help! Help!" Benjamin narrowed his eyes. Then, he jumped in without hesitation. Grace barely had any time to stop him. He was a swimmer, but theke was deep and dangerous. "Benjamin!" Benjamin struggled toward Henry. He grabbed Henry''s hand and lifted him so his head was above the water. "Don''t be afraid. I''m here." Henry gasped for air. Meanwhile, Matthew was frantic on the shore. "Hurry!" Thankfully, they weren''t far from the shore. Benjamin soon led Henry to safety, and the staff members immediately wrapped him in towels. Matthew embraced Henry and asked, "Are you alright?" Then, he turned to the staff members. "Call the doctor, quick!" Esme was pale. "Thank you, Mr. Hawkins." Benjamin was shirtless, leaving his bulky muscles on disy. He didn''t shiver despite the chilly winter air. He was oozing sex appeal. "Don''t mention it. Check if Henry''s alright." Matthew had already rushed Henry inside, so Esme quickly followed after them. A staff member handed Benjamin a towel. Just then, Grace walked up to him. "You dared to jump into such deep water." Benjamin wiped his hair with the towel and said, "I''m not one to stand by and watch someone die." Grace pursed her lips. Benjamin was indeed one in a million. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have been so smitten with him for years. "Come inside. It''s cold out here." Benjamin nced around and said, "People will be swarming around to thank meter. I''m not comfortable with that. I''d rather leave." This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace understood. "Then, get in the car." Before she could say more, they were in Benjamin''s car. Strangely, the driver wasn''t there. Grace turned the heater on and drove for a while. They passed a men''s clothing store. "What''s your size?" Benjamin looked at her and said, "Don''t you know my size the best?" Grace fell silent. Before she got out of the car, she remarked snarkily, "You''re shameless." Ten minutester, Grace returned with new clothes and tossed them at Benjamin. "That''ll be 500 dors. Would you like to pay me in cash or by credit transfer?" The pair of trousers and a coat were all the right size. Benjamin was surprised. "It fits me. You really do know my size." Grace thought he was out of his mind. She repeated, "Cash or credit?" It wasn''t about the money. She was only being like this because it was Benjamin. Spending even a penny on him felt like a loss. Benjamin took his phone out and said, "You''ve blocked me. I can''t transfer the money to you." Grace almost lost her temper. She unblocked him. After a moment, her phone chimed with a notification for a transfer of one thousand dors. Grace coldly muttered, "I never realized before that you loved charity so much." Benjamin calmly replied, "I never do charity. I do everything for a reason." Grace looked at him and said, "Including saving Henry. You''re looking to gain favor from Matthew." Benjamin didn''t say anything, which meant he agreed. His domineering nature made Grace ufortable. Benjamin changed the subject. "Byte Technologies was unstable, and I thought of handling it for you. That''s why I did it." After all the twists and turns, the conversation had returned to this topic once more. Chapter 554 Do You Know of His Injuries Chapter 554 Do You Know of His Injuries Grace was getting impatient. "Have you ever asked for my opinion, Benjamin? You''re as arrogant as ever, and your so-called good intentions are not needed." Benjamin quickly said, "I admit that I didn''t handle this matter properly, so I''vee to apologize to you. I thought you would understand." So this was why he had attended Henry''s birthday celebration. It was because of her. "I''ve thought it over. There is nothing between us. It''s normal for there to be business interests between businesspeople, and whatever you do is your business. I have no right to criticize you, so there''s no need to apologize." Grace''s words were calm and measured, showing a sense of propriety. Benjamin frowned, feeling his heart sink. "Grace¡ª" "Benjamin, you look down on both Byte Technologies and me. Yet you jumped into theke just to win Matthew''s favor?" Grace found it ironic. Benjamin remained silent, because she was indeed right. "Don''t pretend to be high and mighty next time. It disgusts me," Grace said. She pushed the car door open, ready to get out. Benjamin grabbed her and protested, "What about Xander? Compared to me, he''s even more pretentious." Grace tried to shake him off when he mentioned Xander. "You have no right to bring him up." Benjamin held her tightly and uttered, "He has traveled back and forth abroad multiple times, but not for business. He''s injured every time. Did you know about that? Is he honest with you? Isn''t he pretentious?" He seemed so sure that Grace didn''t know about it. Grace found it absurd. She said, "Even if that''s the case, it''s between him and me. Who are you, and what right do you have to interfere?" Her words hit Benjamin''s heart hard. She was suggesting that she and Xander had a close rtionship. "You''re dating," he stated. Grace wanted to say yes, but in truth, she and Xander hadn''t reached that point. She shook Benjamin''s hand off. "No. That''s none of your business." With that, she got out and closed the door, leaving to find her own car. Benjamin stared at her figure in the rearview mirror. His face was somber. Before long, Larry and the driver returned. Larry said cautiously, "You and Ms. Lewis had another argument." Benjamin closed his eyes. He seemed to be frustrated, so Larry didn''t dare say anything more. ¡­ This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace was furious. It wasn''t Benjamin''s ce to meddle between him and Xander. When she neared her car, Luke was waiting for her. "Ms Lewis." "How is it?" "Henry isn''t in a life-threatening condition. Matthew cares for him a lot, but Mrs. Thorne looked upset." "What happenedter?" "They couldn''t find Benjamin. They were nning to go and thank him." "It seems that Benjamin has garnered a valuable favor," Grace coldly snorted. "I think he may have seen Byte Technologies'' potential and is trying to get a piece of the pie." It was hard to say since Benjamin was hard to read. Grace was utterly frustrated. On her way to Amirate Corporation, she received a call from Xander. "Xander." She sounded upset. Xander''s voice was hoarse. "What''s wrong? Why do you sound so upset?" Grace didn''t want to bring up Benjamin, so she said, "It''s nothing. I just encountered a setback." "Where are you?" Grace nced outside and answered, "Amirate Corporation." They were almost there, so it wasn''t a lie. "Alright," he said in a low voice. "What''s the matter? Can you tell me?" "It''s fine. I can handle it myself." Chapter 555 Sudden Return Chapter 555 Sudden Return Xander hesitated for a moment. He waited for a while but gave up when Grace didn''t change her mind about telling him. "It''s getting cold in Pamore. Wear warmer clothes when you go out," Xander advised. Grace instinctively nced at her outfit for the day. It was indeed a bit thin. She had felt a slight chill when she had been outside with Benjamin earlier. She didn''t take it to heart and said casually, "Xander, you''re abroad, yet you''re still checking the weather forecast for Pamore." "Some people don''t listen, so I naturally have to worry more," Xander replied. Grace smiled and asked, "Are you busy today?" "No." "That''s good." The car had already arrived outside Amirate Corporation. Grace got out of the car. Before she could say another word, she saw Ashley waiting, not far away. "But I''m about to get busy. I''ll call you tonight." Xander didn''t even have time to respond before Grace hung up the phone. Standing beside him, Hazel noticed his expression turn grim. "The meeting has been going on for three hours. Should we dismiss everyone?" Xander put his phone away and said, "Go on. Also, do something for me." ¡­ Back in Pamore, Grace quickly walked up to Ashley. "What''s the matter?" Ashley was holding a document in her hand. Shemented, "Ms. Lewis, you look pale." "It''s nothing. What is it?" Ashley followed her and exined, "Byte Technologies is facing some difficulties in partnering with overseas emercepanies. It''s mainly because the clients there don''t trust us enough. No one wants to take risks, so things have stalled for a while." It was expected that everything would be difficult at the beginning. Grace took a deep breath. "I''ll contact Amirate Corporation''s overseas clients to see if they''re willing to get on board." As she entered the elevator, Samuel walked out. He was smiling radiantly. "Ms. Lewis, did you just get back? You don''t look well. You should take care of yourself." This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Grace gave him a small smile. "I can''t keep up with you. Any good news?" "You don''t need to worry about that. When something is meant to happen, it will happen naturally. You can''t force it, right?" Samuel chuckled and left with his secretary. As Ashley looked at his back, she couldn''t help but mutter, "Bastard." Grace narrowed her eyes. Judging by the information Esme had given her, the development of the real estate property in Eastwood should have stopped by now. So why wasn''t there news about it? Moreover, Samuel seemedpletely unconcerned. Could her information be wrong? Grace didn''t have time to think more about it. She returned to her office to focus on her work. She worked from dusk until dawn since it was daytime overseas because of the time difference. "Ms. Lewis, you should go home and rest. You have to take care of your health," Luke reminded her. Grace was tired, so she left the office without saying much. Xander had borrowed her beloved car and had yet to return it. She couldn''t be bothered to retrieve it, so she let the driver pick her up. As they reached an intersection, the driver slowed down and said, "Ms. Lewis, that seems to be your car." Grace looked up and was surprised to see a bright blue sports car parked ahead, blocking her path. It was a specially customized Maserati, and the license te was unique. It was indeed hers. She was taken aback. She got out of the car and knocked on the Maserati''s window. She had never expected to see Xander there. He looked somewhat tired, but his eyes were still clear and sharp. "The lights in the office have been on all night. You''re indeed busy," hemented as he rolled the window down. Chapter 556 Who Is Better Chapter 556 Who Is Better Grace stepped back in disbelief, covering her mouth. "Xander? When did youe back?" Xander unlocked the car and gestured for her to get in. "I got here at 3:00 am, but I didn''t want to disturb you." Grace nced at the time; it was 8:00 am now. On top of his long flight, he had been waiting here for five hours! She got into the car and tenderly caressed his cheek. "What happened? Why did youe back all of a sudden?" Gazing at her deeply, Xander caught her hand. "I''m here to return the car." Grace hit him yfully. "Don''t lie to me. What really happened?" Xander smiled and answered, "Something urgent came up at Futurelink, so I came back to handle it." Grace was skeptical, but Xander had already started the car. "Going home?" She softly replied affirmatively. The roads were filled with cars since it was peak hour. Xander drove steadily. Half of his face was bathed in sunlight, his expression unreadable. When they reached Grace''s ce, Xander parked the car back in its spot in the parking lot. "It''s returned to its rightful owner." Grace sulked. Just before she entered the house, she stopped and asked seriously, "After you left, I had people keep an eye on Futurelink. "I didn''t hear about any major issues that would require you to return to personally handle them. What''s really going on?" Her eyes were filled with worry. Xander smiled, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You''re quite capable now. You''re even keeping tabs on me." Grace didn''t respond. "How would your people know if there was a real issue?" Xander held her hand, cing it on the fingerprint scanner of the door, which beeped open. "Don''t worry, I can handle it." Grace pulled his hand back and said, "You''re running around so much. I''m worried about your health. You''re not made of steel." Xander''s gaze fell on their intertwined hands, and a smile yed on his lips. Seeing that, Grace''s face flushed. She quickly let go, and the ambiguous atmosphere dissipated. "What do you want for breakfast?" N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "The cook will make it." "I''m asking you." "I want chicken soup. It''s good for the stomach." Grace usually had coffee and bread for breakfast, but considering Xander''s long journey and the fact that he probably hadn''t eaten, she figured it was better to have something filling. Xander nodded, rolled up his sleeves, and headed into the kitchen. Shortly after, the cook came out, flustered. "Ms. Lewis ¡­" Grace responded cheerfully, "It''s okay. You can rest for now. We won''t need you here." Xander''s sudden return had swept away the stress she had been under for many days. She was undoubtedly happy. "Xander, if you get married, you''ll definitely be an extremely attentive husband." She leaned against the door as she peeled an orange. Xander was prepping some chicken. He nced at her upon hearing that and asked, "Why do you say so?" "These days, men who are good at business can''t cook, and men who can cook aren''t good at business. But you''re good at both, so you would definitely be a good husband." She popped a piece of orange in her mouth. It tasted sweet and delicious. Xander looked away and muttered, "What about Benjamin, then?" "Benjamin?" Graceughed. "He never stepped into the kitchen. Pigs will fly on the day he cooks." There was disdain in her voice, but clearly, she knew him well. Xander''s expression darkened as he put the chicken into the pot. "Then, in terms of doing business, between him and me, who''s better?" Grace genuinely thought about it and replied, "To me, it''s definitely you. But HAwkins Group has thrived under Benjamin''s leadership. He does have some skills, but his methods are quite dirty." She seemed to recall something, and her face fell. As her thoughts drifted, she forgot to eat the orange in her hand. Xander washed his hands and turned toward her. "Grace." Grace snapped out of her thoughts. "Huh?" Chapter 557 Almost Kissed Chapter 557 Almost Kissed From this angle, Xander looked somber. His face was dark and clouded, which made Grace feel rmed. She couldn''t help but straighten up and ask, "What''s wrong?" Xander stared at her for a moment, lost in thought, and then rxed. "The kitchen is smoky. You should wait outside." Grace hadn''t expected him to say just that. She felt rather perplexed by his change in mood. "How long are you back for?" "I''m leaving early in the morning." Xander couldn''t leave Fulton Group unmanned. One and a half days was his utmost limit. "So soon?" Grace immediately stepped forward and offered, "Then I won''t go out. I''ll stay and help you with whatever you''re doing." Her clinginess made Xander''s mood lighten up, and he smirked. "How would I dare make you do things by yourself?" "I insist." Grace squeezed into the kitchen, took some cherry tomatoes, and began rinsing them under the faucet. Xander had no choice but to go over and roll up her sleeves for her. "Don''t get your clothes wet." He was proficient with the knife and sliced the chicken up with swift movements. Grace watched him while munching on some cherry tomatoes from the basket in her hand.. Just then, Xander stood up straight to remind her, "If you keep eating, there won''t be any left." Realizing this, Grace saw that there were indeed only a few left in the basket and smiled in embarrassment. "They''re very sweet. Do you want some?" Xander shook his head. Grace had been up all night. The red juice on her lips formed a stark contrast to her pale complexion. Xander''s gaze darkened as he looked at her. Inching closer, Grace insisted, "Try one. They''re really sweet." She held a cherry tomato up to Xander''s mouth. He instinctively dodged, and Grace stumbled and fell into his arms. His masculine scent overwhelmed her. The cherry tomatoes scattered all over the floor. Startled, Grace looked up and met Xander''s dark eyes. Her heart pounded violently. "I ¡­" Xander tightened his hold on her, and his gaze burned into her. "I don''t like tomatoes, but now I want to try one." Grace stiffened. She could hear her heartbeat thudding in her chest. She watched as Xander slowly leaned in. Their faces were mere inches apart, and their lips were almost touching. Just then, a voice suddenly interrupted, "Mr. Fulton¡ª" The voice stopped abruptly. Hazel stood at the door, frozen to the spot. Grace quickly pulled away. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Xander''s expression soured, and he snapped, "How did you get in?" "The door was open so I let myself in. I''m sorry." Hazel quickly looked down. "What is it?" "It''s about Fulton Group." Grace quickly walked out, her face burning. She locked herself in her room and leaned against the door, gasping for breath. Would she and Xander have kissed if Hazel hadn''t shown up? Although they hadn''t confirmed their rtionship, it seemed like they were both drawing closer to each other! Grace''s mind was in turmoil. ¡­ Half an hourter, Xander knocked on the door. "Gracie." Grace had justposed herself, but her heart started racing again when she heard Xander''s voice. She opened the door and peeked out. "Xander." "Come down for breakfast." "What about Hazel?" "She''s outside." Grace felt awkward. "She can eat with us." Xander chuckled softly. He grabbed her wrist, leading her downstairs. "Hazel has been with me for five years. She''s trustworthy. You can consider her one of us. You''ll meet her a lot in the future. There''s no need to be shy." So they had a deep connection. "No wonder I felt like you treated her differently when I first saw her." Chapter 558 Spying on Her Chapter 558 Spying on Her Xander pulled out a chair for Grace. "How is it different?" Steam rose from the chicken soup on the table. Grace held a spoon and thought for a moment before answering, "You trust her a lot, and you guys have very good chemistry." Xander deftly changed the subject with a straight face. "Like you and Luke." "That''s not quite the same. You two are ..." Before Grace could finish, Xander ced some side dishes in her bowl. "Eat up, then go to sleep." "But by the time I wake up, you''ll have to leave." "Are you going to miss me?" He was merely teasing, but Grace''s ears turned red. "I didn''te back just to keep you awake. Be good." Grace, who was used to just bread and coffee for breakfast, suddenly felt a rare sense of satisfaction as she ate the warm soup. The room was warm, and the soup was also hot. So Xander took his jacket off, revealing his strong, muscr arms. He tapped his fingers on the dining table. "I heard that Matthew ended up taking Henry home." Grace was surprised. "How did you know?" "I watch the news." "Well, yes, but it was mainly because Esme epted him." Grace paused, remembering how Henry had fallen into theke. She asked, "Xander, do you think Henry will be able to grow up safely?" Xander looked down, focusing on the sunlight spilling over her arm. "The Thorne family has two sons. The elder is a yboy with countless women and has no children to this day. Matthew hasn''t had any children for years, either. Both generations are on equal footing, so they are a harmonious family. "But now that Matthew''s illegitimate son has suddenly been epted in the family, it affects a wide range of interests. We can''t be sure whether Henry will be safe or not, but he''s definitely going to face hardships." Grace nodded in agreement. She had a feeling that there was more to Henry''s ident than met the eye. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Xander looked at her and asked, "Why are you asking about this?" Grace was taken aback. But she ultimately decided against telling him about the drowning incident since it would inevitably lead to them talking about Benjamin. That would be tooplicated to exin. She shook her head at that thought. "Xander, do you have anything to doter?" "I need to make a trip to the office. I should be back by noon." Grace brightened up and said, "Then, I''ll wait for you." After breakfast, Xander left. Grace was about to go upstairs when she caught something out of the corner of her eye. There was an unfamiliar bag on the couch. She recognized it as the one Hazel had been carrying earlier. As Grace reached for her phone to call Xander, she picked up the bag. The bag wasn''t closed, so its contents spilled out. Photos fluttered to the ground. Grace''s fingers froze above the dial button. She looked at the photos on the floor, her brows furrowing into a deep crease. ¡­ Xander arrived on time at noon. Before Hazel left, she asked one more question. "Do you need someone to arrange your meals for you? You can''t always cook." Xander''s brows furrowed. "You talk too much." Hazel immediately lowered her head. "I rarely apany you back here. I was just concerned about your health. That''s all." Xander didn''t reply. Just then, the housekeeper opened the door and whispered, "Ms. Lewis didn''t sleep." Xander was surprised and looked toward the living room, where Grace was sitting on the couch, lost in thought. He approached her gently. "Why aren''t you sleeping? It seems you''re not tired enough." Grace slowly looked up. Her voice was cold as she asked, "Are you done with your work?" Xander crouched so that he was at eye level with her. "Yes, I''m done. You look pale." "I have something I want to ask you, Xander." Xander''s smile faded. He had a bad feeling about this. "Go ahead." Grace muttered slowly, "Why did you send someone to spy on me?" Chapter 559 A Kiss Chapter 559 A Kiss Grace watched as Xander''s face rapidly darkened. His smile disappeared. "What?" Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. In the next second, Grace threw a stack of photos at Xander, evidently angry. "I hadn''t told you that I had attended Henry''s birthday party, but you have photos of me there. What I ate, what I did, who I was with¡ªyou knew everything, but you never mentioned a word. "Xander, what are you trying to do?" Grace was in utter disbelief and filled with dread. Xander looked down at the photos scattered on the floor, all showing Grace at the birthday party. Most of them showed her and Benjamin. They were taken frompromising and intimate angles. Xander nced at Hazel''s bag and came to a realization. He bent down and picked up the photos one by one. "It wasn''t intentional. I was watching Benjamin, and you just happened to be there. That''s why there are photos of you." Grace couldn''t wrap her head around it. She asked, "Why do you have people watching Benjamin?" "He was behind Byte Technologies'' scandal and made things hard for you. Why wouldn''t I have someone keep an eye on him?" His tone was calm. It was nearly impossible to fault him. "That way, if you hadn''t been able to handle it, I would have had a backup n to help you." Grace stared into his eyes, wanting to believe him. But for some reason, she was filled with doubt. "You could have told me." "Even though you have a grudge against Benjamin, you still helped him buy clothes and cleaned up his mess. If I had told you, would you have been fine with it?" Xander clenched the photos and sat opposite her. His voice wasced with restrained turmoil and unease. "I ¡­" Grace instinctively tried to exin, "I had no choice. He kept pestering me." Xander smiled and said, "It was three years of marriage. Gracie, you say you''ve moved on, but haven''t you ever wavered when you think of the past?" "Of course not!" Xander suddenly moved closer, trapping her in a corner. "What did you like about him?" "I didn''t ¡­" Cornered, Grace tilted her head up to meet his piercing eyes. "I mean, it was once upon a time." Grace remembered how she had fallen for Benjamin at first sight in Coronia. Her expression dimmed for a moment. That moment sparked the rage that had been long hidden in Xander. He lifted Grace''s chin, forcing her to look at him. "I watched him just to see how charming he was and why you had forsaken everything to marry him. Now, seeing what a deceitful and cunning man he is, I''m even more confused as to why I lost to him!" Hisst words made Grace''s eyes widen. "Xander ¡­" The next second, Xander leaned in and forcefully kissed Grace''s flushed lips. He held the back of her head and deepened the kiss. Xander had never lost his temper in front of Grace before, let alone made such a daring move. Grace was frightened, and she subconsciously tried to resist his advances. But he pressed deeper, murmuring against her lips, "Grace ¡­" It was as if years of pent-up emotions were breaking free. Grace melted into his embrace, her resistance fading as she gradually lost strength. Her face turned redder. After what seemed like an eternity, Xander pulled away. His lips were red, and his breath was hot on her neck. "Grace." He no longer called her "Gracie". Chapter 560 I Like You Chapter 560 I Like You Grace finally caught her breath. She ced a hand on her chest and eventually pushed Xander away. "I''m going back to my room. You should leave." As Xander''s arms suddenly became empty, his expression darkened. He instinctively reached out and grabbed her. "I like you." Grace stood still. She had imagined this day and how she would respond with, "I like you too." But now she couldn''t say it. "Why did youe back to Pamore?" She was sharp and got straight to the point. "I was afraid you would rekindle things with Benjamin." "I didn''t¡ª" Xander interrupted her, saying, "I know it''s unlikely, but I''m afraid of the past repeating itself. It was just like this back then. I left for a while, and you went to him." His voice was low. Grace felt her heart ache as well. She pulled her hand away. "You''re not thinking straight right now." She broke free and hurried upstairs. Her footsteps disappeared at the end of the hallway. ¡­ Hazel was waiting outside Grace''s ce. Through the car window, she saw Xandering out. Surprised, she asked, "Ms. Lewis didn''t ask you to stay for dinner?" Xander''s expression was grim as he tossed her bag at her. She caught it. "This ... I left it behind. I''m sorry." Xander stood still and lit a cigarette. "I don''t hit women. Exin yourself." Hazel nearly went weak at the knees as she exined, "I really forgot. It wasn''t on purpose." Xander didn''t say anything in response. He took a deep drag of the cigarette and looked at her through the smoke. "How long have you been working with me?" "Since I graduated. It''s been five years now." "I remember your family wasn''t well off." "Yes. Without your support, I wouldn''t have had the chance to study abroad and join Fulton Group." Xander seemed distracted. "You should be very loyal to me." "Absolutely!" "You left the photos at Grace''s on purpose. What were you trying to tell her?" Sweat beaded on Hazel''s forehead as she lowered her head. "It really wasn''t on purpose. I''m not familiar with Pamore. I was overwhelmed and forgot." Xander stared at her for a few seconds. He didn''t reveal whether he believed her or not. After he finished his cigarette, he said, "There won''t be a next time." "Definitely." Hazel watched Xander''s back as he walked away. Then, she breathed a sigh of relief. They drove back to the manor. Hazel drove nervously, ncing in the rear-view mirror to see Xander massaging his brow. He was clearly in a bad mood. "Mr. Fulton, I''ve always wanted to ask something. What do you like about Ms. Lewis?" This was the second time Hazel had interacted with Grace. She had never heard of Grace before. But as soon as she had seen Grace, she had known that thetter was no ordinary person. "Is it that obvious?" Xander looked at the scenery outside. "You''ve never left everything for a woman. But you cancelled everything at work and came back to Pamore just because you saw her with another man ¡­" Xander closed his eyes, frowning. It had been difficult for him to carve out time toe back to Pamore, but he had only ended up upsetting Grace. He opened his eyes and ordered, "Turn around." ¡­ Grace hadn''t slept all night and had been awake the entire day as well. Her body was utterly exhausted, but her mind and heart were painfully alert. "I''m done. I''m crazier about him than I ever was about Benjamin." Grace copsed on her bed, her mind filled with Xander''s fierce and wild demeanor. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She paused for a moment, wondering if she had been too harsh earlier. Xander had good intentions and had traveled a thousand miles for her. But she ¡­ Chapter 561 Plenty of Fish in the Sea Chapter 561 Plenty of Fish in the Sea Since Lydia had recently returned to Pamore, Grace had invited her out for drinks. However, the former looked rather tired. "You look so pale. What happened?" In the private booth, Grace held a half-empty ss of alcohol. "Sorry, Zoey and Emily are both busy. You''re the only one I could call." She was half-drunk. "Why are you talking like I''m some stranger?" As Lydia spoke, she poured herself a ss and took a sip. "You haven''t answered me. What''s the matter?" Grace''s face was etched with worry. "Xander came back." "Isn''t that a good thing? Aren''t you happy?" "He confessed his feelings to me." That hit Lydia like a bolt of lightning. She choked on her drink and coughed for a long time before she finally recovered. "Confessed? When, where, and what did he say?" She was very excited. Feeling frustrated, Grace massaged her temples and briefly recounted what had happened. She had assumed that Lydia would be outraged. So she was surprised to see thetter smiling mischievously instead. "That''s a creepy smile." Lydia took the ss from her hand. "This is so sweet. I got a sugar rush." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Graceughed in amusement. "You''re crazy." "Think about it¡ªwhy did Xandere back? He couldn''t help it after seeing you with Benjamin. That''s because he cares. He''s jealous! Isn''t that enough to show you that he likes you?" Lydia thought for a bit and asked, "Don''t you like him?" Grace shook her head and said, "It''s not that I don''t like him. It''s just that everything feels too rushed. There are many things I don''t understand properly, and suddenly ..." Especially under those circumstances. "Love is like that. Everything doesn''t always go ording to n. If it did, what kind of love would that be? That would be no different from work." That made some sense. "Who confessed first between you and Caleb?" Lydia suddenly looked up at the ceiling when she heard Grace''s question. "What did you say? It''s too noisy. I couldn''t hear properly." Grace hit her yfully. Lydiaughed, and the two of them continued to banter. Suddenly, a voice called out, "Mdy!" Looking up, they noticed that it was Timothy, whom they hadn''t seen in a long time. He was holding a bottle of alcohol and had clearlye from the private booth next to theirs. Frederick and others were behind him. Grace''s smile faded, and she muttered, "I would have gone to church if I had known that you would be here. Why are you here?" Timothy clicked his tongue, sitting down with a displeased expression. "Mdy, your words are quite harsh. We have a history. You don''t have to be so hostile." Grace leaned on Lydia''s shoulder, utterly bored. "Stop spreading rumors. I''ve never dated you." "I pursued you fervently. How does that not count?" Grace couldn''t be bothered to respond. Frederick patted Timothy and said, "Enough. If your woman finds out, you''ll be in for it." "It was just a joke." Grace caught on and asked, "Who are you talking about?" Frederick gestured wildly, narrating with relish. "They''re having a st. She likes riding horses, so he bought Pamore''s biggest horse farm for her. "When she got into esports, he invested five million dors in her favorite team without even batting an eye." Timothy elbowed him. "You talk too much." Grace chuckled. "The yboy also has his moments of irrationality." Timothy beamed with happiness. "I can''t help it. I''ve fallen for her. Only now have I realized that there are plenty more fish in the sea!" "She muste from a notable background to have you spend so freely. Does Mr. Donegan Senior know?" Grace teased. Frederick was about to speak, but Timothy stopped him. Chapter 562 Do You Want Me to Pester You Chapter 562 Do You Want Me to Pester You "It''s not confirmed yet, so I can''t say." Timothy wanted to keep it a secret. Grace chuckled. The next second, she thought of someone. Could Timothy''s mystery woman be Noelle? After bantering back and forth, it seemed like they had be friends. But Grace had something on her mind. After sitting there for a while, she decided to leave. Timothy quickly stopped her. "The investment bank has been swamped recently, and yet I still find time to drink. Is Amirate Corporation that busy that you can''t even sit for a while?" "I haven''t slept all night. I need to catch up on some sleep." Frederick also chimed in. "You''re the boss at work, so you can sleep whenever you want. Come on, finish your drink before you go." Grace frowned. "Are you trying to get me drunk?" "That''s not what we mean." Timothy pushed her back down, winking suggestively. "We haven''t seen each other in so long. Let''s chat." ¡­ Meanwhile, at the club''s entrance, a ck Porsche pulled up. Two minutester, a Maybach followed. Hazel got out first and opened the door. "Ms. Lewis is inside." Xander nodded and entered, showing his gold card. "What are you guys talking about?" A calm male voice sounded, and everyone looked up to see Benjamin pulling up a chair and sitting down, his expression rxed. Grace was surprised and exchanged a nce with Lydia. Timothy hid nothing and said straightforwardly, "We''ve been waiting for you. The food is cold now." Since he was no longer interested in Grace, he had decided to support his friend and help him get together with her. Hence, he had called Benjamin as soon as he had seen Grace. Benjamin had immediately headed over, but it had taken him half an hour to get there. He replied, "There was some traffic on the way." Grace took a deep breath and stood up with Lydia. "I really need to go. I''m extremely tired." But Timothy and Frederick blocked her path. "Don''t go. We''ve finally met after so long. Let''s chat a bit." After saying this, they pulled Lydia aside. "We''ll go for a walk." Lydia looked back and eximed, "Hey!" With that, only Benjamin and Grace were left in the booth. Benjamin sat at the exit, blocking the way out. He looked at Grace''s worn-out face and said, "I can help you with the overseas emerce clients." Grace frowned and looked down at him. The bright lights illuminated his face, and his determination was clear. "Are you threatening me?" N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "It''s not like that. Consider it aspensation for the scandal about Byte Technologies." Grace got tired of standing and sat down. "I don''t need your help. I can handle it myself. Besides, yourpensationcks sincerity." Instead of getting angry, Benjamin was rather patient. "What do you want? Just name it." "I don''t want anything. I just want to cut ties with you." Grace spoke clearly without beating around the bush. Amidst the bright lights and noise, Benjamin''s face froze for a moment. Then, he asked, "Do you want me to continue bothering you like this?" Grace frowned and answered, "Of course not." "Then, hear me out." She remained seated, partially because she was doubtful about what he had to say and partially because Lydia wasn''t there. "You were at Hawkins Group for years, so you should be familiar with our clients. If you can persuade them to join, it wouldn''t be bad for Amirate Corporation or Byte Technologies. Why refuse?" Benjamin took out an unopened bottle of wine. With a simple tap against the corner of the table, the cap fell to the floor. Grace rubbed her temples and said, "Of course, I know. I just don''t want to owe you any favors." Benjamin paused for a moment. Then, he said, "Matthew came to personally thank me today. He wants to sweep away all our past grudges. "Grace, you should know that in business, there are no eternal enemies. Is it worth it to refuse these benefits for my sake?" "It''s worth it." The one who spoke wasn''t Grace. Chapter 563 She No Longer Cares for You Chapter 563 She No Longer Cares for You Benjamin and Grace looked up. To their surprise, they saw Xander standing there. He wore a ck coat and looked dashing in the bustling atmosphere. Grace instinctively stood up and asked, "Xander, why did youe here?" Xander didn''t answer her. Instead, he spoke to Benjamin. "Mr. Hawkins, you''re in the way." Benjamin''s long legs were stretched out, blocking Xander''s path. He didn''t retract them immediately. His presence was just as imposing as Xander''s. "It''s blocked because this isn''t the way you should be going." The two exceptional men confronted each other, attracting attention from passersby. "Maybe it''s not the path I should take. But the person I want is here, so I have to pass," Xander stated clearly. Benjamin frowned. "How do you know that the person you want also wants you?" At this, Xanderughed and looked toward Grace. "Are you going to stay here or leave with me?" Grace felt a chill run down her spine. She knew Xander rarely came to such ces. He was always upright and self-disciplined, so he never indulged himself in these environments. She took her bag and was about to leave when Benjamin grasped her hand and slowly stood up. "What''s the point of insisting if she doesn''t want to?" Grace stood still. Her feelings were conflicted after the incident with Xander.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Xander''s eyes remained fixed on her. "So you know she isn''t willing and shouldn''t be forced. Then, why did you stage your meeting with her at Matthew''s house? Can''t you see she was uneasy to see you there?" Feeling Benjamin''s grip loosen around her hand, Grace looked up slightly. "Did you tell him?" So Grace and Xander had already reached a point where they shared everything? Grace didn''t answer. She couldn''t say that Xander had found out because he''d had someone keep an eye on Benjamin. That second, Xander took her hand, pulling her to his side, and lifted her chin so she was looking at him. "How much did you drink?" They seemed very intimate. Grace pushed him away and said, "Half a bottle. Lydia is here too." "My ne takes off in three hours. If you want to stay here, I won''t insist." Grace looked up, her eyes overwhelmed with emotions. "What does that have to do with me?" Hearing this, Xander''s lips curved in a tempting smile. "I won''t see you for at least half a month after I leave. Are you really noting with me?" He was really annoying. He knew that she was ready to leave, yet he had deliberately questioned her. Grace red at him and turned to leave first. Both men watched her leave, bewitched by her charm. Seeing her leave, Xander''s smile slowly faded, and he looked at Benjamin and said, "You saw that." Benjamin''s expression was indifferent. "What does that prove?" "It proves that your ex-wife no longer cares for you." Benjamin scoffed. "Since you know that we were married, you should also know that she won''t forget all those years of affection just because you say so!" Xander smirked and leaned against the seat, somewhat absent-minded. "If it hadn''t been for a twist of fate back then, she wouldn''t have be your wife, nor would she have suffered like that. "You couldn''t even protect the woman you love. What right do you have to go after her again?" He spoke in a meaningful tone, which left Benjamin momentarily speechless. "I made that mistake once, and I won''t do it again!" With that, Xander gave Benjamin a disdainful look and left. Chapter 564 Confession Chapter 564 Confession Benjamin''s gaze gradually darkened. He stood in ce for a long time before he finally made a call. "When did Xandere back? Why wasn''t I informed?" ¡­ Outside, the weather was cold. Grace stood at the door, her breath forming a wisp of white mist. Half of her face was buried in her scarf, only revealing a pair of coy eyes, which made her look rather pitiable. Xander walked up to her. "Why aren''t you getting in the car?" Grace replied irritably, "I have a car." Xander looked at her and covered her hand with his own, warming it. "I haven''t slept sincest night. Humor me, won''t you? Don''t be angry." Grace grew even angrier. "Thanks to you, I haven''t slept either!" Xander chuckled. "I''m sorry, it''s all my fault." Hisplexion was already pale. Since he was wearing a ck coat, it made his face look even more ashen¡ªsomewhat sickly even. Grace''s heart softened a bit. "How did you know that I was here?" Xander nced in the direction where Hazel was waiting. "Besides work, your whereabouts are quite routine and easy to track." Grace kicked him. "So you have everything under control, Mr. Fulton? It seems like you''ve been scheming this whole time." Xander hissed as the kicknded on him, instantly worrying Grace. "Did I hurt you? I''m sorry, I ..." Then, she met his knowing gaze. "You still care about me." Grace fell silent and shook his hand off her before pacing forward in frustration. "I can''t be bothered with you!" Laughing lightly, Xander followed her quickly. "Everything I said today is true. Maybe my approach was wrong, but I didn''t lie." N?velDrama.Org (C) content. "Benjamin asked for my forgiveness by using the Hawkins Group''s clients as leverage." Xander frowned. Grace walked backward, looking at him. "What can you offer?" "Were you moved?" "Of course not. But I met Timothy today. He said he''s been pursuing someone he likes. He''s been gifting her horses, investing in industries she likes, and spendingvishly." Toward the end of her sentence, Grace''s voice rose. "Mr. Fulton, you say you like me. Howe you''re here empty-handed?" Xander looked at his own hands. He had indeed brought nothing. He said, "Do you remember your postgraduate studies graduation year?" Grace was startled. That year, she had agreed to return to Frenda after graduation. But unexpectedly, during heryover in Pamore, she had met Benjamin again. That once heart-fluttering moment had convinced her to stay in Pamore and give up everything, sowing the seeds of several years of chaos. How could she forget? "I remember." "On the day you were supposed to return, I specially arranged a proposal at the highest peak in Frenda. I invited your closest family to witness my confession to you. "Besides the limited-edition car model you''d been talking about, I put that manor under your name. But I never saw you at the airport." Grace stopped in her tracks, shocked by the truth she had never known. "At that time ..." At that time, she had met Benjamin at the airport, which was why she had blown Xander off. "It doesn''t matter anymore. I''d liked you, Grace, even before that year." Xander spoke clearly, his expression dark. The pain from waiting and suffering all these years made it hard for him to speak. Grace felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She couldn''t believe what she was hearing. "Then why ..." "I was a step toote. Do you remember? The first thing you told me on the phone was that you had found the person you had fallen in love with at first sight and wanted to stay in Pamore to marry him." Grace stopped in her footsteps. She remembered that she had indeed said that. But she had never realized that Xander had already liked her for a long time. Xander''s smile was bitter, and his eyes were filled with regret and pain. Chapter 565 Loved You for Many Years Chapter 565 Loved You for Many Years Grace lifted her face. Her breath left a mist in the air, partially obscuring her view. After a long time, she asked, "Why didn''t you tell me?" "Back then, you said you wouldn''t marry anyone but him." Grace closed her eyes and came to a realization. "No wonder I never heard from you after that." "The night you got married, I promised my father that I would join Fulton Group and put my focus on work. Within two years, I joined the board of directors, bing one of the nine members." Hazel drove the car, following Grace and Xander from a distance. The headlights illuminated the two and cast a long shadow on the street, resembling the years that had passed. "Work numbed a lot of my pain, but more often than not, I felt regretful. "So much so that when I learned about your divorce, I dropped everything and came to Pamore. I established Futurelink and kept seeing you using that as an excuse. "Whenever I heard that you weren''t doing well with the Hawkins family, it cut me like a knife." Xander''s voice was filled with pain. It broke Grace''s heart. She could hardly imagine how he had spent these years holding onto hopeless expectations. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. She couldn''t help but feel uneasy. "I ¡­ I''m sorry." "You have nothing to apologize for. You were just following your heart." Xander took her hand again and continued, "Even if you choose Benjamin again today, I will respect your decision. If you get hurt, juste to me. I will protect you without a word." Grace shook her head vigorously, tears pooling in her eyes. "No, Xander, not anymore. I won''t choose him again." Xander was surprised and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly. "I won''t let go again, Grace. I love you. I have loved you for many years and will for many more years toe." He had loved her from their first meeting until now and would do so for the rest of his life. Grace couldn''t express her feelings. She thought she had fallen in love too early, never realizing that he had started loving her a long, long time ago. "Xander, I was na?ve before. I didn''t understand many things. I only realized what true affection looks like today. Am I toote?" Xander hummed softly. "No. You''re just in time." Grace cried tears of joy, holding him even tighter. The two embraced, their hearts beating wildly against each other''s chests, warming them up in the cold winter night. Hazel watched this scene through the car. She had followed Xander for five years, but he had never shown such fervent affection for any woman. Now that she had finally seen it, she was stunned. He had waited for so long, and he was now finally with the woman truly meant for him, the one he loved deeply. What a perfect ending. After some time, Hazel got out of the car. "Mr. Fulton, the ne is about to take off." Grace snapped back to reality. She clutched Xander''s coat as she stood there. "You''re leaving so soon." "I promise toe back to you in half a month. I won''t break my word." Grace smiled shyly and straightened his clothes. "Be safe on your journey." Xander squeezed her hand tightly and said, "Wait for me." Watching the Maybach drive away, Grace felt a mix of warmth and reluctance. Lydia came out of the bar and saw her like this. Startled, she asked, "No way. Don''t tell me you and Benjamin are back together." Grace quickly regained herposure. "That''s not possible!" "Then, why do you look so lovesick?" Grace was shocked. "Is it that obvious?" "It''s written all over your face." "I just feel lucky that I didn''t lose the person who loves me." Chapter 566 Benjamins Supplementary Card Chapter 566 Benjamin''s Supplementary Card Back at Grace''s house, Lydia was so excited after listening to what had happened that she couldn''t fall asleep. "Oh my gosh, is this a movie? I can''t believe love like this exists!" Grace smiled without saying a word, her mind filled with thoughts of Xander. Lydia typed rapidly on her phone until Grace stopped her. "What are you doing?" "This is big news. Of course, I have to share it!" She was about to send it to their group chat, but Grace stopped her. "Don''t mention anything yet." "Why?" Lydia couldn''t understand. "Your rtionship is confirmed now. Unless ¡­" "It''s not that." Grace deleted the text Lydia had typed. She was struggling to articte her feelings. "It''s just that our rtionship isn''t stable yet. Let''s wait until it is." Lydia thoughtfully studied Grace''s expression. "Gracie, are you still unsure of him? You know, it''s been years. It''s not like the movies, where it passes in the blink of an eye. "This has finally happened after a long, painful wait. A man like Xander, who could have any woman, decided to wait for you this whole time. That''s hard toe by. Don''t miss out." Perhaps because she had gone through something simr, Lydia empathized with Grace. Grace nodded. "I know. It''s just that I feel everything isn''t as simple as that." Even though everything seemed to be out in the open between her and Xander, she still felt like there was a lot she didn''t know about him. Seeing her like this, Lydia didn''t press further. She decided against sending the message in the group chat. Then, she aimlessly opened her social media and suddenlyughed. "What?" Lydia handed Grace the phone. "Frederick just posted this." It was normal for everyone to follow each other on social media in Pamore, so it wasn''t a surprise that Lydia was following him. Grace nced at the phone. Frederick had posted a photo with the caption, "He didn''t get the girl and ended up paying the bill. I won''t say who''s so unlucky." It was unmistakably Benjamin in the photo. He was paying the bill at the club, looking annoyed and cold as he handed his card to the waiter. Grace instinctively smiled. But suddenly, her gaze fell on something, and her smile froze. "What''s wrong?" Lydia asked. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Grace snatched the phone and zoomed in on the photo, focusing on the card Benjamin was holding. "I''ve seen this card before." "You were together for years. It''s normal that you''ve seen his card." Wealthy men often customized their bank cards, so they were rarely identical. Grace had seen Benjamin''s card before. "No, I didn''t see it in his hands, but ¡­" She had seen Jessica holding it! That day in the luxury store, Jessica had used a card that looked like this. But it wasn''t a primary card. It was a supplementary card. Grace hadn''t been able to recognize it before, but after seeing Benjamin''s card today, she remembered everything. She had thought that the card had looked familiar back then, but she hadn''t thought about this connection. How could it be? How could Jessica have Benjamin''s supplementary card? Grace wasn''t surprised that they knew each other. But were they close to the point where Benjamin had willingly given her his supplementary card? As Grace thought about this, her phone vibrated with a message from Xander. "I''m on the ne now." Grace''s tense expression rxed. "Let me know when you arrive." "Get some rest. Be good." Grace smiled and asked, "When did you start keeping an eye on Benjamin?" After a moment, Xander replied, "The day you said you were going to marry him." Grace was stunned. She hadn''t expected him to have been doing this for so long. She wanted to ask if he had noticed anything suspicious about Benjamin. But on second thought, she realized that it might not be appropriate to keep asking about Benjamin since they had just confirmed their feelings for each other. "You''ve really been through a lot, Xander." On the ne, Hazel nced over at Xander and saw him looking at his phone with a faint smile on his lips. Chapter 567 The Supplementary Card Chapter 567 The Supplementary Card Even thought Grace had had several sleepless nights, she had little time to rest. When she reached Amirate Corporation the next afternoon, Luke had been waiting for her for quite some time. He immediately said, "Ms. Lewis, the issue with Byte Technologies has been resolved." Grace was surprised. "Resolved?" She had contacted Amirate Corporation''s overseas clients, but she hadn''t expected things to be settled so quickly. Luke smiled and said, "They said two groups of influential clients suddenly joined in. I looked into it. One of the groups belongs to Fulton Group, and the other is Hawkins Group''s overseas clients." Grace immediately understood why Luke was smiling. She wasn''t surprised that Xander had helped her, but Benjamin''s willingness to step in despite the circumstances was somewhat unexpected. "That''s enough. With those clients and Amirate''s connections, Byte Technologies can operate overseas." "And the Hawkins Group ..." Grace fell silent for a moment. "He owes me, after all. I deserve it, so there''s no need to say more." Luke took note of her decision. ¡­ Back in her office, Grace was restless for quite some time. She had been thinking about the card Jessica had used. She had a feeling that things weren''t as simple as they seemed. "Have there been any recent activities on Jessica''s side?" Luke thought for a moment. "Landon Realty is focusing all its energy on the Eastwood property. Besides meeting some rted personnel, she''s been socializing and ying cards with some wealthydies." "Has she met Benjamin?" "Not that I know of. At least our informants haven''t reported anything." Grace thought for a second, then took out her phone to text Xander. "Under what circumstances would a man give a supplementary card to a woman?" He replied instantly, "Who''s this about?" "Just asking." "Normally, men might set up joint ounts with their girlfriends during their honeymoon phase. "As for more wealthy men, they might give money or buy bags for their mistresses, but they won''t give them a supplementary card. That represents a high level of intimacy." He was right. They must be close. But on the surface, Benjamin didn''t seem that close to Jessica. Grace thought of Yvonne and asked, "What about in the case ofpensation?" "That''s unlikely. Apart from family, it would only happen with serious rtionships." A rtionship? Grace believed she understood Benjamin well enough. It didn''t seem like he felt that way about Jessica. Were they family, then? She fell into deep thought. Xander, who hadn''t received a reply for a while, texted again. "You should visit the bank when you have time. I''ve asked Hazel to set up one for you." Grace was taken aback. "Set up what?" "A supplementary card." Sheughed at the message and quickly exined, "That''s not what I meant. I don''tck money, nor do I need your supplementary card." "I know, but a supplementary card carries a different meaning, and I want to give you one." Grace couldn''t help but smile wider as warmth spread through her heart. "You''re so thoughtful. Have you given one to someone else before?" Xander replied, "Never. I''ve never loved anyone else." She stared at those words for a long time, her heart fluttering. Just then, a soft cough sounded at the door. Grace instinctively looked up and was startled to see Caleb leaning against the door frame. She had no idea how long he had been there. He had a mischievous look on his face. "Caleb? When did you get here?" "When you started giggling like that." Caleb walked over and jokingly wrapped his arm around her neck in a chokehold. "Come clean. Who are you chatting with that''s making you so happy? Are you in love?" Grace gasped for air. "I ... I was watching a funny video!"N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Chapter 568 Cant Meet the Deadline Chapter 568 Can''t Meet the Deadline Caleb was skeptical. "Really? It''s not with that Fulton kid?" "No!" Grace broke free. She gathered from his tone that Lydia probably hadn''t told him. Caleb scrutinized her for a few seconds before finally letting her go. Then, he reached out to touch her forehead. "You look pale. Did you not sleep well?" Grace didn''t dare mention what she had been talking about with Xander. So she said, "I haven''t even interrogated you about Lydia, yet you''re here questioning me. Isn''t that inappropriate?" At the mention of this, Caleb clicked his tongue. "You already know everything. What''s there to say?" "I don''t know enough details, so of course we need to talk!" Just then, Luke knocked on the door. "Ms. Lewis, we have to inspect the venue for the g at 3:00 pm. It''s almost time." Grace nodded and linked arms with Caleb. "Come with me! We''ll talk on the way." "I didn''t agree to this!" Ignoring Caleb''s protests, Grace pulled him along with her. "It''s the perfect chance to boost the talent department''s confidence. You''re the biggest star!" Incredulous, Caleb said, "Gracie, you really take advantage of everything! You''re even using your own brother like an object!" Despite what he said, he eventually went with Grace. ¡­ The location for the live stream was arge building. Each floor was divided into numerous cubicles, each of which was fully equipped and had a host selling products. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Joseph Dunn, the manager of the operations department at Byte Technologies, apanied Grace on the inspection. "Mr. Thorne specifically instructed us to give preferential treatment to Amirate Corporation''s personnel and provide them with the best resources and traffic." Grace smirked and said, "No matter how good, the streamers still need to work hard to maximize profits. I understand that." Joseph nodded. "You should know that the New Year G endorsement has already been finalized, and it''s Byte Technologies. "We''llunch many activities soon and continuously prate the lower-tier markets. The potential profits are limitless." Grace knew about Byte Technologies'' prospects, but thinking about the benefits involved still made her heart tremble. "The rise of the economy in the era of social media is astonishing." "Ms. Lewis, you yourself are a significant influencer. You should make use of your ount." Grace had only posted one video on her ount, which was a photo of the food Xander had made. It already had millions of likes. She felt a bit embarrassed. "We''ll see." Caleb pointed to therge screen nearby. It disyed numbers representing sales figures, which were rapidly changing. "Will this screen be used during the ck Friday sales as well?" "Of course, the numbers will be even more staggering then." Grace stepped onto the stage. From this height, she could see outside, where some construction was also in progress. "What are they doing over there?" "It''s the construction of the Eastwood property. It''s been going on for a month now." What a coincidence. Grace squinted, watching the workers busily at work, and said, "It''s a government project. There shouldn''t be any issues." Joseph was an experienced businessman. He stood with his hands behind his back and said, "That depends on whether they canplete it on time." Grace caught on quickly. "Do you have any inside information?" He lowered his voice and continued, "I''m not sure how reliable it is. At a dinner some time ago, the president of some constructionpany looked troubled. "He was drinking a lot. When we asked him what was worrying him, he said it was because of the Eastwood project." "Why?" "Ha! He can''t meet the deadline." "What''s the president''sst name?" "Yeager." Grace immediately signaled Luke, who promptly took note of the name. Joseph was still doubtful. "It was just a small conversation. I don''t know the details. Ms. Lewis, don''t take it to heart." Chapter 569 Making Money Off Her Chapter 569 Making Money Off Her The construction site wasn''t far from the venue. Jessica happened to be inspecting the site today. As soon as Grace and Caleb stepped out, she recognized them. Ryan was groveling before her. He carefully observed her expression. "Ms. Landon, what are you looking at?" Jessica''s expression turned dark. "I''m waiting for your head to be put on a silver tter." This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Ryan was shocked and said, "The job is done, and all the men in the crew are my people. There''s absolutely no chance of the news leaking. Ms. Landon, please don''t scare me." Jessica huffed, ring at Ryan. "You dragged me onto this sinking ship, but have you thought about how you''re going to get off?" Ryan was sweating profusely. "Ms. Landon, please be clear with me." "I don''t care how you do it. Just make sure you get the money soon! We can''t mess around with this project." Although Jessica wasn''t very rational, she had this much sense. If things were investigatedter, they could be imprisoned! Ryan trembled and said, "I-I really don''t have any more money. If we don''t do this, we can''t even get a day''s work done!" "You don''t have any money?" Jessica stepped closer to him and said, "Then, go and find some by any means necessary!" "I ..." Jessica looked away. Suddenly, she lifted her chin and pointed at Grace, who wasn''t too far away from them. "See her? She holds absolute power over Amirate Corporation. She''s got money. Think of a way to make some from her." Ryan''s eyes widened as he realized what Jessica meant. "Amirate Corporation is so powerful! I can''t do anything to her!" "You must! You have no choice now. We''re both doomed anyway, so you might as well try your luck with her. There''s still a chance." Jessica had a vicious look on her face. She stared at Grace and Caleb as they got into the car and left the ce. ¡­ Grace didn''t notice Jessica as her car drove past the construction site. The fence was covered with red cloth with the words "Landon Realty". Caleb saw that Grace was lost in thought and asked, "What are you looking at?" "Nothing." Grace looked at Luke, who was driving. "Remember to check on Mr. Yeager." "Do you suspect there''s something fishy with the Eastwood property development?" Grace pondered and answered, "After all, Director Walker is involved in this project. He''s one of our own, so we should look out for him, right?" Luke understood and agreed. Halfway through the drive, as they approached VERE Jewelry''s building, Caleb suddenly asked Luke to stop. "I''m going to have dinner with her, and it''s almost time. You go back on your own." Grace''s eyes widened. She watched Caleb put on his hat and mask and get out of the car. "Really? Forsaking your sister for a woman?" Caleb ruffled her hair and sighed. "Your hair needs washing." Grace kicked him. Caleb ran into the building,ughing. Grace was speechless but also amused. Seeing him happy made her happy too. ¡­ In less than two hours, Luke found information on Mr. Yeager. "His name is Quentin Yeager. He''s the biggest supplier of construction materials in Pamore. He''s been in the business for decades." At that time, Grace was sitting in a teahouse''s private room, cleaning her teacups. "Since he''s been involved in construction for decades, he must have a lot of shady dealings." Luke replied, "There are some rumors. His hands are indeed dirty." "Find a way to invite him here. Tell him I''ll personally make tea for him." Luke hesitated and said, "He knows about the bet between you and Director Walker. He might not come." "He''ll at least have to pretend to be respectful. Just ask him." Chapter 570 Getting Him to Admit It Chapter 570 Getting Him to Admit It Within the time it took to brew a pot of tea, Luke had invited Quentin to the teahouse. Quinn got out of his car and nodded at Luke. "Please ept my apologies. Ms. Lewis invited me so suddenly that I had toe empty-handed." Luke was veryposed and answered, "Ms. Lewis isn''t one to fuss over these things. We''re just d you coulde." Quentin followed Luke into the teahouse, wiping the sweat from his forehead and ncing around nervously. He had been drinking with a client when his assistant informed him that someone important wanted to meet him. He had rushed over without wasting any time. He hadn''t even managed to ask what it was about. "Thank you, Mr. Zier. Does Ms. Lewis want something from me?" Luke led the way and said, "You''ll know when you meet her." Quentin was anxious. Luke opened the door. A pot of tea was simmering on the table, bubbling softly. The steam rising from itplemented the early winter weather outside the window. Grace sat at the table. Her skin was fairer than snow, and she looked calm and peaceful. "Mr. Yeager." She smiled and gestured in front of her. "Please, have a seat." Quentin was captivated by her. This new president of Amirate Corporation was rumored to be courageous and resourceful. He hadn''t expected her to also be exceptionally beautiful. Luke closed the door, shutting out the noise outside. "As far as I know, Amirate Corporation hasn''t been developing anynd recently. Why did you want to see me?" Grace poured him a cup of tea and got straight to the point. "Yes, we don''t n on going into real estate in the near future. "Mr. Yeager, you''re the main distributor of construction materials in Pamore. If Amirate does venture into real estate, we''ll have to rely on you." Quentin fidgeted. Any businessman could tell that these words were just pleasantries. "Mr. Yeager, you seem quite nervous." "No, not at all. It''s a pleasure to help you. Just say the word, and I''ll be at your service." Quentin downed the cup of tea in front of him. Grace leaned back and scrutinized him for a few seconds. "Why does it seem like you look a bit pale, as if you''re guilty?" "Not at all." "A year ago, a building copsed on Old Pamore Street. It was a tourist area and led to dozens of deaths, shocking the public. The higher-ups were furious, and government leaders for the city were stripped of their positions. "The project team and suppliers were thoroughly investigated as well. The investigation was recently concluded. Have you heard the results, Mr. Yeager?" Quentin turned a shade paler with each word Grace spoke. Even though she was beautiful, her words were colder than ice. Quentin forced a smile and said, "Of course, I heard. The project team and materials dealers were punished ording to thew." Grace added, "The two main culprits were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the rest were sentenced to five to ten years in prison." Quentin shuddered. "Since you have worked in this industry for decades, you must understand the gravity of this." "They got what they deserved." Grace slowly lifted her teacup and continued, "I''ve also heard rumors that someone is attempting to reenactst year''s tragedy. I wanted to remind you not to be misled by others and take the wrong path." Quentin clenched his teacup tightly. He had met many people over the years, but no one like Grace. He couldn''t figure out what was going on in her mind at all. "I understand. Thank you, Ms. Lewis." Grace smiled and said no more. ¡­This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Quentin left the teahouse, holding back his frustration. After a long silence, he made a call. "Stop supplying materials to Eastwood Construction." Although he wasn''t sure where Grace had gotten her information, if she knew, it meant that other people knew about it too. This was a ticking bomb, and he couldn''t take the risk. Chapter 571 Fire Chapter 571 Fire Luke stood on the balcony. He watched Quentin drive away before returning to the private room. Inside, Grace was on a call. Her tone was much softerpared to earlier. "Xander, based on what he just said, do you think he''s guilty of something?" Her phone screen showed that the call duration was 30 minutes. Xander chuckled on the other end of the line. "You don''t know if he''s actually done anything." "I don''t, but my bluff worked. It seems I''ve actually hit the nail on the head." "People who haven''t done wrong have a clear conscience. His response clearly indicates there''s something fishy," Xander said. "Keep an eye out for what happens next. If Quentin stops working on the Eastwood property after this, it''s confirmed he is indeed involved in shady business." Grace''s eyes lit up as she smiled. "I was thinking the same thing." If she wasn''t right, she would just think of meeting Quentin as making a new connection. That wasn''t a loss, either. "But if it''s true, why would Jessica do this?" "Maybe it''s rted to the funds." Grace thought for a while and said, "I remember a lot of money was invested in this project. Including Director Walker''s share, it''s about one billion dors. If this is about embezzlement, it''s their own money anyway." "What if it''s not embezzlement but losses?" Xander suggested. "I told you that the project''s contractor has a gambling habit." Grace came to a realization. "Actually, I''ve always been curious. Jessica worked as a designer before this. She lost quite a bit of money. Where did she get the funds for this project?" Grace thought about it and made a bold guess. "Do you think Benjamin gave her money?" Even though she had mentioned Benjamin, Xander''s voice remained calm. "What kind of rtionship would warrant giving someone that much money?" Grace fell silent. Xander had a point. During the silence, Xander heard some noise on her end. "You can make tea?" "Of course. What kind of tea do you like? I''ll brew it for you when you get back." "Anything is fine." Grace couldn''t help but smile tenderly. Seeing this, Luke turned away and opened the window for fresh air. The room was soundproofed. When he opened the window, he immediately heard themotion outside. Luke saw many people rushing out of the teahouse as thick smoke filled the air. Someone shouted, "Fire! Call the fire rescue services! Fire!" Luke quickly turned around and said, "Ms. Lewis, there''s a fire. We need to get out of here now!" Grace''s face turned pale, and she stood up immediately. Xander also heard Luke and urged, "Grace, get out quickly!" "I''ll call you once I''m out." Grace hung up and followed Luke out of the private room. The teahouse was made of wood, and the fire was already raging. Heat and smoke filled the ce. Grace instinctively covered her mouth and nose. Luke was shielding Grace as they moved toward the exit when a burning beam fell upon them. Grace''s eyes widened, and she pushed Luke away. "Ms. Lewis!" Separated by the beam and smoke, they looked at each other. Coughing, Grace shouted, "Get out first! Find someone to save me!" "Ms. Lewis! I can''t leave you!" "Get out!" Grace shouted, stopping him from approaching. After much hesitation, Luke regained his senses. "You must wait for me!" As he left, Grace covered her mouth and nose and retreated to the private room. She thought of jumping out of the window. Just as she turned around, someone seized her arm. Then, she heard the muffled voice of a man. "Come with me!" N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Surprised, Grace turned around to see a dark figure. Chapter 572 Saved Her Life Chapter 572 Saved Her Life The man had a strong grip on her hand, and his nose and mouth were covered with a wet towel. He handed one to Grace as they quickly made their way out. There was another passage inside the teahouse where the mes were less intense, allowing the two to pass through. The fire crackled as it consumed the wood. It was a truly heart-stopping experience. Grace held onto the wet towel on her face, feeling some relief in her lungs. "Boss! What are you doing here?" Other people were also escaping through that passage and were surprised to see the man. The man scolded them in a hoarse voice, "Hurry and leave!" There was the sound of hurried footsteps. Grace hurried down the stairs, keeping an eye on the man''s dark silhouette. He was tall and well- built and seemed to be middle-aged. His voice sounded so familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before. She didn''t have time to think more about it. All she could think about at that moment was finding a way out of there. As she descended thest step on the third floor of the teahouse, Grace felt a tremendous sense of relief. She dropped the wet towel and gasped for air. She figured they were at the back door, which all the staff had used to escape. Everyone was visibly shaken at that moment. "What a pity. It had just been built, and now it''s all gone." Someone elbowed the person who had spoken and gestured toward the man. The person immediately shut up. Grace finally recovered enough to speak. "Thank you for saving me. May I know your name?" The man''s eyes were deep and mysterious. Their corners were upturned, making them quite expressive. He kept the wet towel over his nose and mouth, avoiding Grace''s scrutiny. "No need to thank me. I just happened to see you while I was escaping. I couldn''t stand by and do nothing." His voice was indeed familiar. Grace frowned. "Regardless of whether it was coincidental or intentional, thank you. I just heard them calling you "boss". Are you the owner of this teahouse?" "The manager." He nced at the teahouse and then toward his subordinates. "Why did the ce suddenly catch on fire?" "We don''t know either. The fire started downstairs. It''s probably because it''s winter and dry. A guest might not have watched the stove properly ..." The subordinate fell silent. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. The fire at the teahouse had drawn the attention of many passersby. Grace''s gaze remained fixed on the manager, whose hard work had just been reduced to nothing in an instant. Yet the man had not only remained level-headed, but he was also remarkably calm, showing an exemry mindset. She approached him and said, "Since I was a child, I''ve been taught to repay a favor with kindness. Could you please share your contact information so that I may have a chance to repay you?" The manager continued to avoid her gaze. "As I said, it was nothing. There''s no need for thanks." "I insist." Grace saw that he was about to leave and became a bit anxious. She grabbed his sleeve and pressed him, saying, "I really insist." The manager frowned. Seemingly out of options, he ordered his subordinates, "Give her my address." As the fire truck arrived, he covered his nose and mouth and walked away. One of the other staff members took out a pen and paper and wrote down the manager''s address, saying, "Miss, don''t be mad. He''s always been like this. He had an ident, and his face was disfigured. He''s not intentionally hiding from you." Grace suddenly understood why he had avoided showing his face. Outside, Luke was pacing around anxiously. Seeing Grace safe and sound, his face lit up. "Ms. Lewis, You''re alright! You scared me! I thought ..." Grace held the paper with the address. "Don''t worry." "Good to hear. Mr. Fulton has called several times. Maybe you should ..." At the mention of Xander, Grace snapped back to reality and quickly took her phone out. She had gotten over a dozen missed calls from Xander. He had also sent her messages. "Are you out yet?" "Grace, get out of there and tell me you''re safe." Chapter 573 Determined to Go Back to Headquarters Chapter 573 Determined to Go Back to Headquarters Grace replied, "Don''t worry, everything''s fine." She couldn''t see how tightly Xander was holding onto his phone on the other side. When he saw her message, he finally rxed slightly. Hazel rushed in. "Mr. Fulton, the secretariat office just told me that you want to book a flight ticket to Pamore!" Xander put his phone down and said calmly, "Everything''s fine now. You can cancel it." Hazel was startled, but then she noticed the sheen of sweat on Xander''s forehead. The veins throbbing on his forehead were slowly subsiding. The image of Grace rose up unbidden in her mind, and she nodded silently. Then she said, "Something''s happened to Jake." Xander''s eyes were as sharp as daggers. "What?" "While he was monitoring the work in Linden City, there was an explosion on site at night. He was affected and was sent to the hospital urgently." Xander stood up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. "What was the cause of the explosion?" "The workers hadn''t stored the materials properly, which resulted in the explosion. The explosion was contained, and work progress is unimpeded." Hazel paused. "However, the update from the hospital is that Jake has been severely injured. He may need to be brought back here for treatment." "Is his life in danger?" "Not at the moment." At these words, Xander snorted. "He''s so transparent. He seems determined to return to Fulton Group''s headquarters. "If he wasn''t that ruthless, he wouldn''t have been able to build up his influence here in the two years I was away." Hazel frowned. "I asked around about Mr. Fulton Senior''s movements. It seems that your mother has an exhibition today, so he''s helping out there. I''m not sure whether he knows about this incident yet." "Let''s pay them a visit," Xander said enigmatically. ¡­ Hestia was having an exhibition in the countryside. With its sultry weather and clear sky, Frenda was different from Pamore. Raymond was helping the staff carry the photos around. He wasn''t conscious of his status at all, and no one could have known that he was the chairman of a huge corporation. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Make sure to be careful! Don''t knock into anything! This is Hestia''s favorite photo." Hestia looked elegant as she interacted with the guests who hade to see the exhibition. She ignored Raymond as she focused on exining the concept behind her photography to the guests. Xander watched them for a while before walking over. "Dad." Raymond looked up in surprise, then smiled. "Xander, are you here to see your mother''s exhibition too?" Xander looked at Hazel meaningfully. She said, "Mr. Fulton Senior, we just received the news that Mr. Jake was caught in an explosion while he was in Linden City, and his life is in danger." Raymond''s expression changed at once. He took off his gloves and walked over to them. "Is he undergoing emergency treatment?" "He started receiving treatment at 5:00 am, and it''s already 12:00 pm now. "We haven''t received any news about the hospital requesting Mr. Jake''s family to sign any consent forms in case ofplications, so he should be fine." Hazel stood deferentially behind Xander, but the meaning behind her words was clear. Raymond frowned slightly and looked at Xander. "This is serious. Why didn''t anyone tell me about this?" Xander remained expressionless. "That''s why I personally came to tell you about it." Raymond didn''t say anything. He seemed to be thinking. After all, Xander and Jake were both his sons, whether they were illegitimate or not. Xander sped his hands behind his back and added, "Jake wishes to return to the city to receive treatment." "What''s your opinion?" "Jake ys an important role in Fulton Group. Of course, as the president of thepany, I hope that he can receive the best treatment. However, the project he is in charge of in Linden City hasn''t beenpleted yet. If he makes a rash decision toe back, it may cause spection." Standing in the shade, Raymond looked stern. This attracted Hestia''s attention Hestia''s assistant had sharp eyes. "Isn''t that Mr. Xander? What is he doing here?" Hestia narrowed her eyes and stopped the assistant from going over. "Let them talk." Chapter 574 Go There Personally Chapter 574 Go There Personally "His injuries ¡­" "I have arranged for the best surgeon to go over there to assist and ensure his safety," Xander said smoothly. "If he were to return, the news of an explosion on site would be revealed at once. I''m sure you agree that publicizing this isn''t good for thepany, Dad." Raymond looked his son up and down. "You''ve thought of everything." Xander smiled slightly. "I''m just afraid that Aunt Prisci will worry if she finds out." "If she''s worried, then send her to Linden City to take care of Jake. You can make the arrangements." Xander said, "I will." Hazel could clearly sense the undercurrents of the conversation, and she felt genuinely pleased for Xander. Xander then reported on a few more work matters to Raymond. Before he could leave, Raymond stopped him. "You''ve grown a lot in the two years that you''ve been away from Fulton Group. I think it''s a good thing. Keep it up." Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Xander''s calm facade cracked slightly. "It''s all thanks to your guidance, Dad." ¡­ When they were in the car, Hazel couldn''t resist asking, "Why didn''t you tell Mr. Fulton Senior about your ns to break into the domestic market?" The scenery outside the window flew by as they drove. Xander seemed to be in deep thought as he rubbed his sleeve between his fingers absent-mindedly. "It''s not the right time yet." When they reached Fulton Group, a secretary came up to them as they passed the secretariat office and handed over some materials. "You asked me to investigate the location where Ms. Lewis got caught in the fire. It''s a new teahouse in the center of Pamore. The fire has been extinguished, and there were no victims." Xander took the document and flipped through it. He saw the name of the teahouse and read it out loud, "Blossoms Teahouse". Hazel said, "It''s pretty elegant." ¡­ Meanwhile, in Pamore, Luke had said the same thing. The news had been a hot topic in Pamore. "It''s such a pity. I heard the owner say that it had taken them half a year to build the ce and that he had personally designed the interior. Now it''s all been burned up." Grace thought it was a shame, too. She had chosen to have her discussion with Quentin Yeager at Blossoms Teahouse because of its environment. "Go and prepare a generous gift and send it to this address." Grace was about to give the address to Luke, but she stopped short. "Never mind. Prepare the gift. I''ll deliver it personally." After all, that manager had saved her life. She should at least visit him personally. "Also, don''t tell anyone that I almost got in danger there." Luke assented. Grace asked, "Is Mr. Yeager still supplying materials to Eastwood?" "Yes. I haven''t heard him say anything about stopping the supply." Grace propped her chin up with her pen and fell silent for a moment. It seemed as if Quentin was in the clear. If that was the case, she could put the matter out of her mind and devote her full attention to the uing ck Friday sale event. ¡­ At thest regr meeting for the emerce project, Ashley and the others made their report. "The supply chains from here to the foreign emerce tforms are all ready. ording to your orders, we have canceled pre-orders for all the products that are being sold by Amirate''s partners. We will deliver the goods as soon as the orders are ced." Grace nodded. "How is everything with the personnel reserve?" "We have employed a batch of temporary staff, and we expect that will be sufficient as long as nothing unexpected takes ce." "What about the live broadcast streamers?" "At the moment, we have about 1800 streamers with varying degrees of poprity. Some have already started to conduct warm-up events. "Wayne will begin his live broadcast very soon too. He''s known for his reputation as ''Strict Wayne'', so the results are sure to be good." Grace nodded slowly. The ck Friday sale wasn''t just important for Amirate to get a breakthrough on its performance. It was also an important chance for Byte Technologies to level up. "What about the foreign markets?" "Everything''s ready." Grace smiled. "Good work. When everything is over, I will be sure to be generous with your bonuses." Chapter 575 If He Cant Go Chapter 575 If He Can''t Go Enthusiastic apuse rang out in the conference room. Outside the door, Samuel snorted as he walked away. "She sure thinks she''s smart!" His subordinate followed him. "It won''t be that easy. The emerce industry has already been divided between a few shopping tforms. It won''t be easy for Byte Technologies to take a piece of the pie." Samuel thought so too, but he couldn''t help but feel worried by Grace''s confidence. "What if she seeds?" "Director Walker, at the previous gathering, the chairman of Dealer already said that their tform wouldn''t give Byte Technologies any discounts. "They arepetitors, and consumers aren''t dumb. The winner will be the one who provides the most discounts!" said Samuel''s assistant. He had been working with Samuel for over ten years. The two of them were around the same age, and both of them disliked how young people worked. Samuel felt reassured by his assistant''s words. Just then, he looked up to see Caleb getting out of the elevator. He narrowed his eyes. "That fellow has beening to the office very oftentely." "I heard that he has been quite free recently. Besides, his sister is here, so it''s natural for him to come here." Samuel snorted coldly. "I saw him at the get-together the other day too." "You mean the one that took ce a few days ago?" That night at the restaurant, Caleb had been with a woman. Even from a distance, it was obvious that the two of them had a special rtionship. Samuel had evene across the two of them kissing in the corner when he had gone to the restroom. He blinked. "Will Calebe to the g?" "Of course. He''s one of Amirate''s people now, and it''s Ms. Lewis'' project. He will definitelye. I heard he will be part of the grand finale." "Hmm ¡­ if he can''t attend, then the g''s effect will be greatly weakened, right?" "Do you mean ¡­" Samuel said meaningfully, "Do we still have those photos from that day?" ¡­ Things had been busy as ofte. During thest rehearsal for the ck Friday g, everyone had gathered together for work. The stage was huge, and Caleb was rehearsing there with the band. There was even a ss room at the side where the staff were adjusting the equipment. Wayne would also be having a live broadcast for sales that night. Zoey was personally at the live broadcast venue to supervise the news. "Byte Technologies is getting a lot of hype this year and may even surpass the other two tforms. You''ve got a good eye, Gracie." Graceughed. "No one can monopolize any market for long. It''s such a huge market that there has to be someone to give them some pressure." "I heard that VERE Jewelry and ME Group are both supporting you by giving special discounts. It''s a pity that I can''t help," Emily said regretfully. "They did give some special discounts, but they''re big brands, so it''s limited. Don''t worry, I won''t use your custom-made clothes as free gifts for the grand first day." Grace pushed Emily,ughing. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Emily hugged her arm. "I didn''t mean it that way. I''m just eager to help." Zoey said in a deadpan voice, "I hope so." The three of them burst outughing, but Grace suddenly stopped and gestured to the other two. Lydia was standing in front of the stage, taking photos with her phone. Caleb seemed to feel eyes on him. He looked up and smiled at her. The click of the camera sounded just then. It was a beautiful shot. Caleb looked very handsome with his extravagant stage makeup. Lydia smiled, but in the next second, someone snatched her phone away. "What are you taking photos of?" "Hey! Gracie, give it back!" Grace dodged and teased her, "People really are different when they''re in love. I guess one day apart feels like a hundred years! Is this even worth taking photos of?" Chapter 576 Rich Chapter 576 Rich Lydia blushed hotly and looked around. "Don''t talk nonsense! What if someone with bad intentions heard you?" That was the difficult thing about dating a celebrity. In the past, the leaked photos of Grace and Caleb had also aroused a lot of spection. Eventually, the rumors had finally subsided after everyone found out that the two of them were siblings. In the eyes of the world, Caleb was a top celebrity and couldn''t have any rumored girlfriends. Lydia didn''t like having everyone''s attention on her, nor did she want to affect his career. Hence, she was extra careful. Grace handed Lydia''s phone back to her. "You''re being so obvious about it that people are going to find out sooner orter." Lydia smiled lightly. "It''s fine. I''ll just say that I''m a fan of his." The others made a face and wailed, "That''s so cheesy!" When they finished teasing her, Zoey suddenly said, "You''re one to talk, Grace. You''ve been in a good moodtely, too. You''re always smiling." Grace was startled and almost slipped up. "Have I?" "It''s written all over your face." She tried to avoid the topic. "You''re exaggerating." Lydia tactfully asked Grace toe with her to get the jewelry. While they were walking down the stairs, she asked softly, "Will Xandere back for the g?" "He promised he would." Lydia''s eyes curved as she smiled. "That''s very sweet." Grace took out a cigarette from her bag and lit it. "Thank you for keeping it a secret." Lydia suddenly thought of something. "I heard that Benjamin saved Matthew''s son and that he got permission to sponsor the g in exchange." Nearby, a banner was unfurled. Hawkins Group''s logo was printed on it. Benjamin was very sharp and rarely made the wrong choices when it came to business. Grace looked up and spotted Benjamin standing nearby. There were a few staff members next to him, reporting to him about work. The temperature had dropped, so he had dressed ordingly in a ck coat. He felt eyes on him and turned to look over in Grace''s direction. Her hand holding the cigarette trembled slightly as she met his eyes. It reminded her of all those years ago and the deep impression he had left on her when they had seen each other at the airport. Lydia noticed it and frowned. "Gracie, are you keeping quiet about your rtionship with Xander because of Benjamin?" Grace frowned, finding the question ridiculous. She denied it at once. "Of course not." Lydia didn''t ask more. She went up on stage to give Caleb his jewelry. They kept to themselves, but their loving gazes were obvious. Grace smiled as she watched them. Benjamin continued to look at her from afar for a long time. Grace had be more and more independent and confident after she had left the Hawkins family. At that moment, she was leaning against the stairs, staring vacantly into space as she smoked a cigarette. The sense of assuredness she carried herself with was intoxicating to men. It made Benjamin''s heart flutter. "Mr. Hawkins?" Larry asked tentatively. Benjamin looked away. Grace walked down the stairs and headed outside, stubbing her cigarette out as she went. She hadn''t been truthful when she had answered Lydia. In her heart, she had never forgotten that meeting at the airport. That first look was why she had tolerated all of Benjamin''s antics for so long. Even today, she was still considerate toward him. Luke was waiting at the door. "The gift is in the trunk of the car. It''s been prepared." Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. "Let''s go, then." The owner of Blossoms Teahouse was staying at Premier Manor, which was in a very secretive location. The person who lived there must be very wealthy. Luke said humorously, "No wonder he didn''t even blink when the building burned down the other day." However, the vi was located in a remote location, which suggested that he wasn''t from an extremely powerful family. Luke pressed the doorbell. A housekeeper quickly opened the door, asking, "Who is it?" "Is ¡­" Luke hesitated and looked at Grace. They suddenly realized that they didn''t even know what the man''s name was. Chapter 577 His Name Is Shawn Chapter 577 His Name Is Shawn The housekeeper looked confused as she waited for Luke''s answer. Grace had sharp eyes and caught a man''s figure appear on the balcony upstairs. "Sir, I''m here to see you." The man frowned. It seemed as if he had nned to hide. But since she had discovered him, he was forced to face them. "Let them in, Martha." The vi''s interior had a vintage style, and its garden had many nts and flowers. The man came downstairs. He was about six feet tall and wore a mask and a hat. He looked like a celebrity. Grace gestured for Luke to put the gifts down. "Please ept these gifts. It''s not an extravagant one. It''s just for your health." The man nced at it. Every one of the gifts she had given him cost more than a thousand dors, yet she had said that they weren''t expensive at all. "You shouldn''t have. I don''t need this." Grace felt rather awkward when she saw that the man had no intention of inviting her to sit down. "You saved me, and these gifts are only a simple expression of my gratitude. If you need help in the future, you cane to me at any time. I''m¡ª" She hadn''t finished when the man blurted out, "One of the directors of Amirate. Grace Lewis." Grace''s eyes widened. "You know who I am?" The man looked resigned and gestured for her to sit. "I''m not that much older than you. You can rx." "But I don''t even know your name yet." "My name is Shawn. Shawn Griffin." Grace mulled over the name. "That''s a very nice name, just like the name that you gave your teahouse." He looked at her for a few seconds and thenughed suddenly before instructing Martha to serve tea. "You''re very famous. I often see you on the business and finance news." So that was how he knew her. "You knew who I was, but you didn''t try to get anything from me, even though you helped me. There aren''t many people like you, and I respect you for it," Grace said smoothly. Shawn didn''t reveal anything. "Do you always tter people this much?" Although it was an offensivement, for some reason, Grace wasn''t angry at all. In fact, she felt like there was a natural intimacy between the two of them. "I do this with strangers. If you don''t like it, then I won''t speak that way." The smile in Shawn''s eyes became more pronounced. Grace suddenly thought of something. "Oh right. What did you do with the teahouse?" "I''m rebuilding it." "Rebuilding it? How long is that going to take? If you need any help, you can¡ª" "I can look for you." He finished her sentence. "Ms. Lewis, you''re very enthusiastic." Grace smiled in embarrassment. "I don''t know why, but I feel like we were destined to meet. It seems like we have met somewhere before." When she said this, Shawn''s hand stopped in mid-air, and tea spilled out of the cup he was holding. His gaze was sharp. This startled Grace. She seemed to have seen those eyes somewhere before. However, she didn''t know where. "I ¡­ I have a brother who''s an actor. He usually wears a cap and a mask as well, so I feel very close to you." Shawn gripped his cup tightly. There was an imperceptible sh of disappointment in his eyes. "Your brother''s a star. I can''tpare with him." "It''s just a job. In the end, we''re all just ordinary people." Grace thought of Caleb and said without thinking, "He''s usually very talkative and doesn''t put on airs at all. He''s very easy to get along with, and everyone who meets him likes him." "It''s a pity I haven''t had the chance to meet him." Grace was sharp enough to catch his meaning. "Do you have time on Saturday? Byte Technologies'' ck Friday g is taking ce nearby, and my brother will be there. I can take you to meet him!'' Shawn frowned. He hadn''t expected Grace to take his casualment so seriously, but when he looked into her earnest eyes, he didn''t have the heart to reject her. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. "... I do." Chapter 578 Romance Revealed Chapter 578 Romance Revealed Grace took out a post-it from her bag and wrote down a string of numbers. "This is my number. Call me when you get there, and I''ll arrange for a staff member to bring you in." She stuffed it into Shawn''s hand briskly. He was about to speak when Luke rushed in from outside and whispered a few words in Grace''s ear. Her expression changed at once. "Really?" Luke nodded vigorously. "We have to hurry back to the office." Grace stood up. "I''m sorry, something urgent hase up. I need to leave." "Okay." She and Luke got in the car and sped off. Martha closed the door, came back, and said tentatively, "We rarely have guests here. Thisdy was very energetic." "Don''t tell anyone that she came here." Shawn gripped the post-it tightly in his hand, but he didn''t throw it into the trash can. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. When Grace returned to Amirate Corporation, it was already dark, and the conference room was brightly lit. She pushed the door open and saw the headlines that had been printed out and stuck all over the wall. It was very impactful. "Caleb''s Romance." "Caleb Caught Kissing." "Caleb and an Unknown Woman." There were also photos of Caleb kissing Lydia in a corner of a restaurant. They looked very intimate, and his eyes were full of adoration as he gazed at her. The headline read, "Top Celebrity is Taken!" Thements below expressed utter shock. "That''s Caleb we''re talking about! Bombshells always drop out of nowhere." Caleb had been brought back to Amirate from the rehearsal. He sat there, looking exhausted and resigned. Ashley had confiscated his phone. She pointed at him. "I''m asking you one more time. Is this true?" Any gossip about a celebrity was always a crisis from their manager''s perspective. This was especially the case for a top celebrity like Caleb, who was known internationally. Caleb looked impatient. "Can''t you tell from the photos?" Ashley was red with anger. "Who is that woman? As long as you say that it''s not true, I can manage this with the PR department!" Caleb immediately got upset. "She''s my girlfriend! You don''t need to do anything with PR. I can admit to it!" "You want to admit it? Do you know how many fangirls you have out there?" "Who cares?" "You¡ª" "Okay." Grace finally spoke up. She gestured at Luke. "Take Ms. Burke somewhere to rest while I talk to Caleb." Seeing that Grace had returned, Ashley walked over to her angrily. "Ms. Lewis, this isn''t a small thing. Caleb is still young and has a bright future ahead of him. It''s not worth ruining it over this romance." Grace nodded. "I know. Go and have some rest." The door to the conference room closed as Ashley and Luke left. Grace turned the big lights off, leaving only the wall lights. "What do you think, Caleb?" He was still angry. "Find the reporter who took those pictures, and I''ll tear him limb from limb!" "That''s not what I meant. I''m asking you what you think about Lydia." On the way back, Grace had gotten a call from Lydia, who had been sobbing. "Gracie, I can''t get in touch with Caleb. If you get a chance to see him, please tell him not to be impulsive. It hasn''t been easy for him to get to this point, and he mustn''t ruin all of that because of me." "I became famous when I was 17 years old, and now I''m 27 years old. I''ve been in this industry for ten years, and there have been so many moments when I felt like I was suffocating." Caleb looked at a loss as he leaned on her shoulder. Grace felt truly sorry for her brother. They weren''t rted by blood, but they had had the closest rtionship out of their siblings since they had been children. "I know," she said softly. "Did you know that I''ve liked Lydia for a long time? I''ve liked her since before I became famous." Chapter 579 You Should Have a Happy Ending Chapter 579 You Should Have a Happy Ending Grace was surprised. "I couldn''t tell." Caleb smiled bitterly. "Of course you couldn''t. I wasn''t even sure about what I wanted." He still remembered how things had been when he had lived at Lewis Residence. On the outside, he had always been energetic and optimistic, and everyone liked him. But the truth was that he had always felt like he was walking on eggshells because he was adopted. On one of his birthdays, Harold had given him the exact same present as the previous year. Caleb had suppressed his disappointment and eximed that he really liked it. He had even given Harold a big hug, and everyone had been happy. Lydia had been a guest there too. When the party had ended, she had given her gift to Caleb and said softly, "I know that you didn''t really like that gift. I also know why you didn''t say anything. "Happy birthday. I hope that you will be able to express your emotions honestly in the future." N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Caleb had been stunned. Then he had watched Lydia''s slender, obstinate figure leave. The next day, Harold''s secretary had apologized to him, saying that the gifts had been mixed up because of how busy work had been. Caleb had said that he didn''t mind. "I''ve already received the best gift." It was the gift Lydia had given him. It was a ne that she had made herself, which had a shiny little moon dangling from it. The way she had understood him had also been the best gift. After that, the two of them hadn''t had the chance to meet often, and when they did, it had mostly been because of Grace. When Caleb had risen to fame as a celebrity, he had met all kinds of women. But none of them had made him feel special the way Lydia did. She even appeared in his dreams. But it had been difficult for them to meet, and she had kept avoiding him ¡­ Afterward, he had found out that she liked him, but he had hesitated again because of who he was. He was afraid that he would defile her ¡­ "Gracie, it''s been so many years. I don''t want to lose this chance again." Grace understood how he felt. She nodded and asked earnestly, "Do you know what the consequences of making your rtionship official will be?" "I''ll lose fans, and my business value will decrease. That doesn''t matter. You''ve forgotten that I rely on my skills as an artist and that I don''t care about poprity." Graceughed. "It''s just a pity that I won''t be able to help you maximize your profits." He lowered his eyes. "If it were any other celebrity, from the perspective of their boss, I would force them to deny the rtionship," Grace said seriously. "But you''re my brother. I want you to be happy." Caleb''s eyes filled with tears at this. "You''re just saying that because you want to see me cry." Graceughed and wiped his tears away. "Lydia''s waited for you for so many years. The two of you should have a happy ending. Do you want to give her a surprise?" "What do you mean?" "There are still two days left until the g. You can carefully think about whether you want to go through with this decision. You can also think about how you want to confess to her." Grace smiled slyly. If they were going to publicize it, then they should make a grand show of it! She left the conference room and gave Ashley instructions. "For the next two days, don''t take any calls from the media, and don''t let anyone approach Caleb. However, you can add oil to the fire in terms of the spection." Ashley had calmed down to some extent, but her temper red up again when she heard that. "Why? If we don''t make a statement as soon as possible, they''ll assume that we''re admitting the news is true!" "Then, just leak out some ambiguous statements. In any case, we mustn''t let the interest die down." Ashley couldn''t understand what Grace wanted to do. She looked resigned. "Caleb''s rtionship might trend for a month with no problems." That was true. ¡­ Luke had been waiting for a long time. He handed Grace her phone. "Mr. Fulton called you several times." Grace called back, and Xander picked up at once. "Grace." "Have you found out too? So fast?" Xanderughed. "Caleb is very popr, and all the international mediapanies are fighting to report about it. There''s so many people despairing at the news that it''s difficult not to hear about it." Graceughed too. "Is he okay?" "He''s alright. I''ve hidden him away so that the media can''t find him." Xander was surprised. "You''re against their rtionship?" Grace pretended to sound mysterious. "Hmm ¡­ You''ll find out when you get back! What time is your flight on Saturday?" Chapter 580 Desired Effect Chapter 580 Desired Effect At that moment, Xander was at a social gathering. He had called Grace while he had stepped out for a smoke. He looked intently at the people passing by. Their blurred figures moved swiftly past him like a scene from a movie. "I haven''t booked my ticket yet, but I will definitely be there." Saturdays were work days in Frenda, and there was a project that he needed to attend to personally that day. It was extremely important, and he didn''t know what time it would end. Grace assented lightly. "Do you miss me?" Grace felt shy when she heard his sweet words. "Miss you? It''s only been half a month since we last met. I''m not that eager." "I guess I''m too confident, then." There was a short silence on the phone. Then, Grace said in a small voice, "It''s not that I don''t miss you." Of course, she couldn''t see the huge smile that appeared on Xander''s face. He could already imagine her expression. It must be adorable and mellow. "I''ll bring a gift for you when Ie back." "I get a gift?" "You''ve been so busy for the past couple of months, my dear. You deserve a gift." Grace couldn''t help smiling at the term of endearment. The fondness he showed for her was different from how her family treated her. After all, it was wonderful to be taken care of and protected by a man who wasn''t rted to her at all. Benjamin had never made her feel that way. "People willugh at me if they hear that." Xander heard footsteps behind him and turned. He leaned on one arm against the railing, looking nonchnt. "I''d like to see who would have the nerve tough at you," Hazel mouthed at him through the smoke. "See you on Saturday." Xander hung up. "The chairman of Aether Group is taking the 9:00 pm flight. We still have an hour. If we can''t persuade him to give us the project, it''ll be difficult in the future." Xander said lightly, "Let''s go in." ¡­ For the next two days, apart from Xander''s calls, Grace also received calls from Aaron and the others. They had all heard about Caleb and wanted to know about the developments. "We''ll make an announcement, but not right now." Aaron had always been a serious person and had never meddled in his younger siblings'' affairs. It was unusual that he added his two cents about this incident. "Take Caleb''s opinion into ount, and don''t make things difficult if you shouldn''t." On the other hand, Victor was filled with impish glee. "I can''t believe this kid is in a rtionship! It looks like Lydia from the photos. Poor thing." Graceughed resignedly. "Victor." "I''m just joking. When I''m back, tell him to bring Lydia to see me. He should know the rules." Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. "I will definitely let him know." Apart from them, the public was animatedly discussing it as well. During this time, Caleb remained the top trending topic. People couldn''t find further information, so they began investigating all his previous work and his family background. Ashley was extremely anxious every single day. "Now they''re all guessing whether Caleb will attend the g this Saturday." If he went, he would have to make a statement. If he didn''t, he would be admitting to his rtionship. Grace didn''t think much of it. "Is there a lot of attention on this?" "Of course! People are even cing bets." Ashley spread her hands. "Ms. Lewis, give me some insider information so that I can make a bet too." "I bet he''ll go. Help me ce a bet." Ashley looked shocked. "We''re going to make a statement?" The rumors were attracting too much attention. Even Byte Technologies kept trying to fish for information. They weren''t the only ones. Timothy and the others were also making guesses. "Mdy, is Caleb going to be there or not?" Grace didn''t reply to any of them. Benjamin watched Timothy bustle around impatiently, and he began formting a theory. He rubbed the crystal between his fingers. "This is the effect that Grace wants." Timothy didn''t understand him at first. "What?" Chapter 581 Someone He Cares About Chapter 581 Someone He Cares About "The more mysterious she makes things out to be, the more suspense she leaves the crowd in. Right now, the public has stopped focusing on his rtionship. Instead, they''re now specting on whether or not he''ll appear. Don''t you think that this is very sophisticated marketing?" It finally dawned on Timothy. "Oh my! She knows that with Caleb''s poprity, he will absolutely have to say something to the fans. But if he does, he can''t just casually make a statement. They have to maximize the profits. "Damn. She''s a born businesswoman." Benjamin remained expressionless when he heard this. In truth, he felt conflicted. The skills she had shown had proven that she wouldn''t have been able to reach her full potential at Hawkins Group. Timothy only stayed for a while before he remembered he had to pick his girlfriend up for lunch. Larry entered Benjamin''s office. He lowered his voice and said, "Mr. Hawkins, I have news about the person you told me to investigate." Benjamin looked up at once. "Where is he?" Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. "In Pamore. But we have only found simr characteristics so far. He has a mole on his palm, and the height matches up, but the rest is unclear." "Is it him?" "We''re not sure yet. However, Ms. Quine is trying her best to hide, and he''s not willing to appear either. He may not really havee to Pamore, so don''t get too excited." Benjamin''s fingers gripped the crystal tightly. "He does everything on a whim, and no one can change his mind. "He''s remained hidden all this time, but now that there''s sudden news of him, it means that there''s something he cares about in Pamore." Something or someone. "What?" "Keep looking. When you''re sure, let me know." ¡­ On Saturday, Grace went out early in the morning. While she was in the car, Luke told her about the day''s schedule, which was fully packed from morning to night. It was 2:00 pm in Frenda. Hazel was on her way to the auction meeting while Xander remained at Fulton Group to meet the chairman of Aether Group. "We are honored that you dyed your flight by three hours for us, Mr. Baxter." Xander took out a chessboard. He took the ck pieces. A chill ran down Bobby Baxter''s spine. The young man in front of him was dressed in a white shirt and had a gentle smile. He lookedpletely harmless. However, just an hour ago, Bobby had received news that the authorities had entered Aether Group''s branch office in Frenda. They were going to be audited. Even top corporations feared being audited, not to mention Aether Group, which was just a second- tier corporation. Bobby didn''t even have to think to know who was behind this. After all, he hadn''t given Xander a straightforward answer at the gathering the night before. He had rushed to Fulton Group, where Xander had been waiting for him with a pot of tea. Bobby made a move. "It''s not that I don''t want to answer you, Mr. Fulton. It''s ¡­ your father already told us that Fulton Group doesn''t have ns to expand in the domestic market." Xander held a few chess pieces in his hands and yed with them casually. "You''ve forgotten who''s in charge at Fulton Group now, Mr. Baxter." Everyone knew that Xander had returned to Fulton Group and was ruling it with an iron fist. "I''m the leader of a corporation. Aren''t you giving me too little time to think about what path to take, considering all the things I need to think about?" Bobby gritted his teeth. "Besides, Aether Group''s project in Pamore has been dyed until next year. Why are you in such a rush, Mr. Fulton?" At his words, Xander raised his eyebrows. Bobby couldn''t help but lower his head when faced with Xander''s domineering presence. Xander had only taken over Fulton Group for a few years and had achieved astounding results. Then, for some reason, he had left Fulton Group and established his ownpany in Pamore. Just as everyone in the industry had breathed a sigh of relief, he had suddenly returned. Now that he was back, he was even more ruthless than before. It was unusual for someone to be so bold at that age. Bobby had been in the business world for decades, but even he was afraid of Xander. Chapter 582 150 Million Dollars Chapter 582 150 Million Dors "Mr. Baxter, I believe I''ve shown enough sincerity. Think about who should get Aether Group''s project in Pamore again." As one chess piece fell, the winner was determined. Bobby dropped two white pieces and conceded. "Your chess skills areparable to a national master''s, Mr. Fulton. I admit defeat." "My ne is in three hours. If you make up your mind, we can return to Pamore together." Bobby was surprised for a moment. "You''re also leaving?" Xander didn''t say a word and started packing up the chessboard. Bobby realized he had overstepped and stood up to make a call. Meanwhile, Xander got a message from Grace. "Xander, I''m heading to the venue now. What are you doing?" "Working." "Why isn''t it over yet?" She added an emoticon, hinting at her disappointment. Xander smiled, typing, "Almost done." But before he could send it, he got a call from Hazel. She said, "Aether Group is handing their project to us." Xander gripped his phone, watching Bobby return to his line of sight. With a meaningful look, he said, "Remember Mr. Baxter''s favor to us." "Understood." After ending the call, Bobby nervously sat down. "Did you get the news, Mr. Fulton?" Xander refilled his teacup. "Thanks, Mr. Baxter." "If your father asks, how should I respond?" "Manypanies entered the bidding for the project, and there are many conspiracies. Fulton Group happened to fall into someone else''s trap. What''s so surprising?" Bobby suddenly understood. "So who should take the me?" Xander picked up his cup of tea and sniffed it. "The subway projectst quarter was given to Horizon Enterprise, a newpany. Do you know who''s the boss of thatpany?" "I''m not sure." "It''s Jake." Bobby was shocked. It was widely known that Jake was Raymond Fulton''s second son. Although he didn''t have an official title, he had gradually gained power during Xander''s absence. He was strong and not to be underestimated. "He''s young and ambitious. He''s seen the benefits, so he naturally wants more. In order to drive me away, he deliberately pushed Aether Group''s project onto me. I took a dumb loss and was forced to step down. It''s quite normal." As Bobby listened, a cold sweat appeared on his face again. He had heard that Xander was ruthless, but he hadn''t expected such mastery. Xander would secure his desired project and shift the me to Jake at the same time, killing two birds with one stone. Suddenly, Bobby admired the man in front of him a bit more. "Understood. I''ll arrange it discreetly. Since I helped you today, Aether Group¡ª" "The investigation team will leave soon." Feeling grateful, Bobby left the office. As he walked out, he happened to meet Hazel. "Mr. Fulton, Eternal Love, which you instructed me to bid on, has arrived. Please take a look." She opened the gold-ted box, revealing a ne adorned with sparkling diamonds along its chain. In the middle was a glowing, thumb-sized ruby. Bobby''s steps faltered, and he blurted out, "Eternal Love?" Xander examined the ne. "Do you know about it, Mr. Baxter?" "Of course. This is the ne worn by the Queen of Mardovia in thest century. It was lost during the war and hadn''t been found until now. Where did you find it, Mr. Fulton?" Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Xander remained silent. Hazel answered, "It appearedst month at Kristina''s." "How much was it auctioned for?" Hazel looked surprised by his question. "150 million dors." Bobby took a sharp breath. Yet Xander remained calm, as if he had just bought a pack of cigarettes. Chapter 583 I Dont Need It Anymore Chapter 583 I Don''t Need It Anymore Bobby wiped his sweat. "It seems you have someone you want to impress, Mr. Fulton." At Xander''s age, having a woman and spending money to please her was normal. However, spending 150 million dors on a woman was shocking. Besides having a substantial family background, it indicated that the woman''s status was extraordinary. After all, women were graded in men''s eyes. Xander didn''t respond. "Put it away." Hazel closed the box. Seeing Xander stand up, she helped him put on his coat. "The ne ticket has been booked. We''ll take off in an hour, and we shouldnd in Pamore around 10:00 pm." 10:00 pm ¡­ The g would end by 11:00 pm, which was still manageable. "Let''s go." Bobby followed behind Xander, lost in thought. ¡­ In Pamore, Grace was backstage, and the audience arrived at the venue. She received a message from Xander letting her know that he was boarding the flight. "What makes you so happy, Ms. Lewis?" Matthew asked. Benjamin stood behind him. Grace''s smile instantly disappeared. "It''s nothing, Mr. Thorne." Benjamin stared directly at her. "You look like you''re in high spirits, Ms. Lewis." "Of course, I have to thank you for tripping me up. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be so happy today," Grace said casually, full of irony. As the two confronted each other, Matthew sensed the strange atmosphere. Waving his hand, he said, "Regardless of the past, we''re all friends today. Ms. Lewis, the profits from the overseas and domestic ck Friday sales may reach a new high. You deserve credit." "Your support allowed us to achieve that, Mr. Thorne. We''ve been through thick and thin together, unlike some people who just meddle in between." Grace''s words were sharp. She was referring to Benjamin. Benjamin turned his face in displeasure. Matthew wanted to defuse the tension, but he knew about the strained rtionship between the two. He suddenly didn''t know what to say. "I''ll check the front." Except for the busy backstage staff, only Grace and Benjamin remained. "Do we have to be so hostile, Grace?" "You''re exaggerating it, Mr. Hawkins. I never want to be hostile with you, but I just can''t talk to you calmly." With that, Grace turned to leave. "Even if you''re calm toward Xander, he can''t even make it to such an important day for you. How is he better?" Benjamin still remembered the day at the bar when Xander had taken Grace away with just a few words. Grace found it amusing. "You''re a bit too self-righteous. How do you know that he won''t make it? Come to think of it, I had many important moments before, and I never saw you appear." "I¡ª" Benjamin choked. It was a fact, and he couldn''t argue against it. He clenched his fingers. "At least I''m here today, and I''ll be there in the future." N?velDrama.Org (C) content. "But I don''t need you anymore." Suddenly, her phone rang. She turned around and answered, "Hello?" The other person said something, and Grace suddenly became excited. "Mr. Griffin, you''re here? I''ll have someonee out to get you." After saying that, she ran out of the backstage area. Frowning, Benjamin looked at her. Since Luke and the others were busy, Grace ran to the exit personally. Shawn stood in the staff''s corridor, watching Grace approach with quick steps in her high heels. Upon seeing the red dress and snowy white coat she was wearing, Shawn guessed that she was probably going to go on stageter. Panting, she said, "Sorry for making you wait." Shawn frowned. "Aren''t you cold?" Grace showed her staff pass, and the security guard let her through. "Nope. I have three heating pads." Her expression was mischievous, and Shawn couldn''t help butugh. Chapter 584 Skyscraper of Fortune Chapter 584 Skyscraper of Fortune Grace looked at Shawn. He was wearing a white high-neck sweater, a long coat, a cap, and a mask. The outfit added a touch of gentleness to him. "Mr. Griffin, are you afraid of the cold?" Shawn looked straight ahead. "Very much." Grace nodded in understanding. There was a stretch of road leading to the venue''s entrance. Grace didn''t know what to say. Shawn saw through her and asked, "Do you feel awkward to see me?" "No. I just thought you wouldn''te to such a noisy asion. It''s a bit unexpected." "I used to like lively events." "I couldn''t tell. People who open teahouses usually like quiet, right?" "You drink tea too. Do you like quiet?" Grace buried her face in her scarf and smiled awkwardly. "No, I don''t like quiet. I also like lively events." Shawn smiled beneath the mask. "Do you think I''m old?" "Of course not." Even though she hadn''t seen his face, his eyes were bright, and he seemed energetic. He didn''t seem old at all. "Then, why do you always call me Mr. Griffin?" Grace finally realized what he meant. "I don''t know why, but you give me the feeling that you''re older than me, like my older brother." She felt a bit in awe of him. They had now entered the venue, so she guided Shawn to his seat. "This seat is right in front of the heater. You shouldn''t feel cold tonight." Shawn pressed his lips together. "Thank you." Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. "Don''t mention it." Grace nced around at the chaotic crowd and leaned close to his ear before whispering, "After the g, I''ll take you to meet my second brother." Since she was close, her breath fanned over Shawn''s ear. It was soft and fragrant. He stiffened. He had intended to decline, but looking at Grace, he swallowed. "Then, I''ll wait for you." She was too dazzling. Her thoughtful actions caught Benjamin''s attention. He frowned even more, staring at this scene. "Who is that?" Larry looked for a while. "He''s wearing a hat and a mask. I don''t recognize him. Judging from the figure, he''s probably some celebrity." Given how Caleb had been trending recently, it wasn''t surprising that people from the entertainment industry were attending the g. Benjamin epted this answer with a faint hum and left to attend to other matters. Not long after, the g officially began, and countless cameras pointed at the stage. "Gracie!" Grace stopped and turned around to see Lydia running toward her with a mask on, followed by Zoe and Emily. Lydia pulled Grace aside anxiously. "You haven''t been answering me. How''s Caleb? Will he be here tonight?" Everything had been kept so confidential that even the staff didn''t know. There were spections that Caleb might not show up that night. Grace chuckled, fixing Lydia''s hair for her. "Why are you in such a hurry? Your hair is a mess." Lydia angrily batted Grace''s hand away. "Stop avoiding the topic. Answer me." Grace smiled and didn''t answer. Zoe couldn''t stand it and helplessly said, "Can''t you tell? She''s so calm. She must have a n. Gracie, you know that she''s anxious, and yet you''re still teasing her." Grace pouted and saidfortingly, "You''ll see him tonight, Lydia. Even though no one has exposed your identity, you''re also in the spotlight. Be careful." Emily hugged Lydia''s arm and looked at Grace. "I''ll keep an eye on her for you." Feeling reassured, Grace nodded, leaving to attend to her own affairs. As of now, the screen showed a transaction volume of 100 billion, with livemerce ounting for 64.78%. Grace stood below the stage with tens of thousands of spectators behind her. She looked up at these figures on the big screen. Her heart surged with excitement as she looked at the skyscraper of fortune she had built. Chapter 585 Unmatched Chapter 585 Unmatched The g was broadcast during prime time on TV. Tickets were sold out in half a second. Due to the grand nature of the g, security was tight. Grace was concerned that Xander might have trouble getting in. So she sent him a message. "After getting off the ne, head directly to the staff entrance. I''ve arranged for Luke to wait for you. He''ll assist you." There was no response. Grace calcted the time and realized that Xander must still be on the ne. Entering the backstage area, Grace opened a door with no name on thebel outside it. Caleb, who was now dressed up, sat in front of the mirror. His voice was a bit shaky. "Gracie, I haven''t been this nervous since my debut." Grace smiled, patting his shoulder. "Have you really thought it through? Choosing love over power?" "I''ve never been a person who only cares about interests and not emotions." He sounded confident and bold. Truth be told, all of the Lewises seemed to be like this. Perhaps it was because they had never truly experienced parental love, so they cherished all rtionships. ¡­ Time passed, and one program after another ended. The numbers on the big screen reached astonishing levels. Soon, it was 10:30 pm. ording to the program schedule, Caleb''s performance was about to start. Countless people, both at the venue and behind the TV screen, were anticipating it. Below the stage, Timothy had his arm draped over Benjamin''s shoulder. "There''s still no news. It''s not just a smoke bomb, is it?" Benjamin kept his eyes on the direction of the backstage. "Even if it''s a smoke bomb, we''ve achieved what we wanted, haven''t we?" Unexpectedly, Noelle was also there, holding a glow stick, full of excitement. Timothy immediately agreed, nodding and smiling as he stroked her hair. Not far away, Samuel was also present. He clenched his fist, watching the numbers on the big screen skyrocket. It was an enormous amount, and even multiplying his real estate investment returns by ten wouldn''t be able to match it. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. "How could this happen? How could Byte Technologies reach such heights? Is there a possibility of data maniption?" The secretary by his side dared not breathe heavily. "Given this is such arge event ... it shouldn''t be possible, Director Walker. I never expected Ms. Lewis to make the right gamble." Samuel''s face darkened. At first, he had thought that Grace would surely be ousted from Amirate once the year-end financial report was disclosed. However, at this rate, he might very well suffer aplete defeat. The secretary quickly supported him andforted him, saying, "Don''t worry too much for now. At least, we''ve taken down Caleb. He''s so close to Ms. Lewis. This incident will surely hurt them badly." It took Samuel quite some time to recover. It was only slightly relieving to hear that. "That kid hasn''t made any moves for several days. It seems he''s reluctant to part with that girl. He''s even willing to sacrifice his future." "I know, right?" At this moment, Grace walked out elegantly from backstage. She had a shawl over her shoulders. She bumped into Samuel. "I didn''t expect you to have the time toe and attend the g, Director Walker. Why didn''t you inform me in advance so that I could make arrangements?" She smiled brightly. After enduring it for several months, she finally no longer needed to be cautious. Samuel almost gritted his teeth and sneered. "Ms. Lewis, I''m an old hand. I advise you not to be too pleased too soon. Even if Byte Technologies earns a lot today, it won''t survive on the stock market on Monday." Unimpressed, Grace extended her fingers to inspect her newly done nails. "Where should I start?" "Heh, Caleb is now Amirate''s artist. With such a huge scandal, do you think Amirate won''t be affected?" Chapter 586 Grand Finale Chapter 586 Grand Finale "How are you still his sister? You stayed silent amidst the rumors and showed up at such an event. If I were you, I would feel quite embarrassed." Grace understood that Samuel was getting a bit anxious at this point. "Director Walker, you seem quite interested in my brother''s scandal. Do you enjoy gossip, even at this age? People are right to say that men will always be boys." Grace easily got on Samuel''s nerves. "You!" Grace maintained her smile. She instructed a staff member, "Arrange a seat for Director Walker in the front row so he can have a clear view of the performance on stage." Despite her calm facade, Grace''s thoughts began to wonder. Samuel''s continuous remarks about Caleb must mean that he had a hidden agenda. She didn''t believe he would be interested in gossip at his age. The staff member walked up to Samuel. "Director Walker, please follow me." Samuel stood still in ce. "I''m staying right here. Mind your own business!" The staff member looked awkward. "Then, turn the screen in front toward Director Walker," Grace said before walking away. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Samuel watched her leave and grinded his teeth in frustration. "Let''s go!" As he was about to move, the stage suddenly fell silent. The entire venue went dark, and whispers of confusion echoed among the audience. Puzzled, Samuel also looked at the stage. A rhythmic male voice slowly sounded amidst the background music. It was charming and familiar. Within just three seconds, the audience recognized the voice, and a wave of cheers erupted. The stage lights brightened gradually, and the singer rose onstage on the tform. He was dressed in a ck suit with an open chest, subtly revealing his toned abs. It made him look extremely alluring. The man had delicate features, and his eyes were clear and bright as he looked at the camera. He sang into a microphone. As the song approached its climax, he suddenly leaped down from the five-foot-ten-inch tform,nding effortlessly with his hands on the floor. The loud thud reverberated, and mes shot up from the stage. The audience went wild with excitement instantly. "Caleb! Caleb! Caleb!" Samuel was startled by the sound and lost his bnce, falling onto his assistant. In shock, he stared at the stage. "Caleb? How is this possible?" "Caleb?" Standing among the staff members, even Lydia looked at the stage in disbelief. He had actually shown up. Zoey instructed the photographers to take more pictures. "He''s really hot." He had such charisma that he could make everyone boil with excitement. Despite being prepared, Benjamin was also stunned into a momentary silence by the scene. Timothy, on the other hand, was delighted. "Wow." Caleb sessfully brought the g to a climax, and the numbers on the big screen behind him soared with his performance. Outside the venue, his name trended on various major tforms and rose to the top in seconds. Caleb performed several songs in a row. When he finally stopped, he held the microphone, panting as he said, "I know that many people today were specting whether I would show up because of the rumors the past few days." This statement piqued countless people''s curiosity, and excited screams echoed through the venue. "Oh my God! Caleb seems to be addressing the rumors directly!" someone behind Samuel eximed. Samuel turned pale. Caleb''s wless face appeared on the big screen. His eyes were shining, and he seemed ted. "I''ve read a lot ofments trying to guess whether the photos are real, whether that woman is real, and whether the two of us are really a thing." The crowd erupted into cheers once again. Caleb looked at the audience and remained silent for a few seconds. Then, he suddenly smiled and said, "It''s all real." Chapter 587 A Man of Responsibility Chapter 587 A Man of Responsibility "Ah!" Grace instinctively covered her ears, nearly going deaf because of the audience''s cheers. "I want to say that ¡­" Caleb held the microphone, somewhat nervous. "I''ve been an idol for ten years. During these ten years, you''ve seen many of my morous moments. But what gave me the confidence to have all of this was something that woman once told me." Lydia stared in astonishment at the charming man on stage. Caleb''s gaze wandered and finallynded on her. His voice trembled a little. "She told me that she hoped I would be able to freely express my feelings." In an instant, Lydia''s eyes welled up with tears. She hadn''t expected Caleb to remember. "After ten years, I feel like I''ve reached a point where I can freely express my feelings. I want to tell everyone that I''m indeed in love. She''s an amazing person, and I love her very much." Caleb leaned forward, and the ne on his neck slid down. It was a handmade ne with a moon charm at the end. It showed signs of wear but had a unique charm. Many people in the audience were moved to tears, while others remained silent. This confession was different from the one he had made to Grace at one of his previous concerts. After all, she was his sister. This time, it was a genuine public deration of a romantic rtionship, which would undoubtedly have a significant impact on Caleb''s career. Hence, Samuel was shocked in his ce. "What did he say? He actually made it public ..." That too at such a grand event. "I want to say sorry to my fans. Compared to being a popr artist, I''d rather be a responsible man." After Caleb said that, there was a moment of silence in the audience, followed by a loud round of apuse. Grace watched this scene with satisfaction, her eyes glistening. Meanwhile, Benjamin subconsciously nced at her. With Caleb''s perfect statement, she was undoubtedly the biggest winner tonight. The number on the big screen had reached 150 billion dors. Matthew was smiling uncontrobly. They had broken records in ratings and became a dark horse in the industry in terms of transactions. Choosing Grace and Amirate had been the right choice! "Here''s thest song. It''s called ''Photograph''." This wasn''t Caleb''s own song. He had specifically chosen a song without intense singing and dancing. He wanted a gentle rendition. Grace sent a voice message to Xander. "It''s a pity you''re not here. This is the most romantic confession I''ve ever seen." Xander replied, "There are videos online. I saw it. Indeed, it''s really romantic." Grace smiled heartily at his message. "Have younded? What time can you get here?" Benjamin was close enough to hear her. He frowned. He hadn''t expected Xander to reallye back. No wonder Grace had been so confident earlier. "I''m already on the highway, heading toward the venue. Don''t be so excited." "I''m not excited." She once revealed her adorable side to him as well. At this thought, Benjamin clenched his fists. He watched her act coquettishly with another man, but there was nothing he could do. He turned around. "How many routes are there from the airport to here?" "It''s remote here. There''s only one highway." Benjamin pressed his lips together. "I don''t want to see Xander before midnight." Hearing this, Larry nced at Grace, who wasn''t far away, and understood. "I''ll arrange it." Xander told Grace that he would definitely be there in half an hour. Delighted, Grace walked toward Lydia. At this moment, Caleb was singing thest few lines. "Though I''m away, I remember my promise to be the brightest star on the. "I promised to fulfill your hope for me. Now, let me be with you." He changed the lyrics. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. It became a song that belonged only to the two of them¡ªa special confession. The staff members were also touched. "He does indeed have a sense of responsibility to do this." As they turned around, they saw Lydia sobbing. "Look, Ms. York is so moved." Chapter 588 Finding Someone or Taking Pictures Chapter 588 Finding Someone or Taking Pictures Grace had just arrived. She handed tissues to Lydia and said in a half-teasing tone, "So our great designer''s talent began to show ten years ago." Lydia chuckled through her tears, knowing that Grace was referring to the ne on Caleb''s neck. "He''s too showy. Why didn''t you stop him?" "Just tell me whether you''re happy or not." "... I am." Grace pretended to be dissatisfied. "You haven''t even made me a ne." Lydia stopped crying and regained herposure. "Why are you jealous? What I gave you is more valuable than any handmade ne." At this moment, Caleb had already left the stage, and the host was making remarks. Grace said rascally, "That''s different. Something made by hand always shows more sincerity. Besides, it''s a gift from a loved one." It was understandable why Caleb cherished it so much. Lydia tilted her head. "Xander will give you one too." He had said that he wanted to give her a gift. Grace smiled, unable to hide her excitement. "Caleb said he would wait for you backstage." "There''s too many people here. Maybe we shouldn''t ..." Lydia hesitated. "I''ve arranged everything. No one''s there. Don''t you have anything to say to Caleb?" Grace signaled for Ashley toe forward. Thetter gestured to Lydia and said,. "Come with me, Ms. York." Lydia pressed her lips together and quietly followed Ashley backstage. "Isn''t that the woman in the photos?" Noticing that, Samuel''s assistant suddenly whispered. Samuel immediately looked over and seethed in anger. "Go and check. It''s best if you can take photos. I don''t believe this won''t affect Caleb at all!" Samuel''s assistant hurriedly went after Lydia. Meanwhile, the g was about to end, and the host was inviting relevant VIPs to the stage for speeches. "Ms. Lewis, you''re the hero tonight. You should speak first," Matthew said. Grace waved her hand. "Tonight belongs to Byte Technologies. I can''t overstep my bounds, or people will say I don''t understand the rules. Do you want me to get scolded, Mr. Thorne? What a malicious thought you have." Her wit made a fewpanies'' presidents nearbyugh heartily. In the end, Matthew went on stage first.Grace breathed a sigh of relief. Truth be told, besides the reasons she had mentioned, she also wanted to wait for Xander. She called Luke. "Have you picked him up?" "Not yet, Ms. Lewis. I''ve been waiting, but I haven''t seen him." "Wait a little longer, then." Xander woulde. Just as she put away her phone, she casually looked up and saw someone sneaking into the backstage area. It was Samuel''s assistant! Grace''s expression changed. ¡­ Samuel''s assistant was about to turn at the corner when a voice rang out. "What are you doing, Mr. Hale?" Grace was holding her dress''s hem up and staring at him with sharp eyes. Samuel''s assistant, Josh Hale, immediately broke out in a cold sweat. "I-I came in to find someone." "Find someone?" Grace''s gaze fell on the phone he was holding, which had the camera app open. "Are you looking for someone, or are you taking pictures?" She had long suspected Samuel, and now she had solid evidence. At her words, Josh quickly locked his phone screen. "You misunderstood me, Ms. Lewis. I just followed Director Walker''s orders to find someone backstage." Grace didn''t believe him. She slowly walked up to him. "Show me your phone." "You ... I really didn''t take pictures." He grinned nervously.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "I''m considered your superior. Can''t I take a look? Or have you done something you don''t want others to know?" Josh remained silent. They were in a deadlock when a staff member rushed over. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Thorne is cueing you on stage. It''s time to go up." Chapter 589 He Didnt Make It Chapter 589 He Didn''t Make It Grace narrowed her eyes. After careful consideration, she calmed down. "Stay here and keep an eye on him. Don''t let him leave without my permission." After saying that, she took off her coat and quickly returned to the front of the stage. In front of the cameras, she walked up gracefully, her long dress flowing elegantly. With a standard smile on her face, she looked very charming. Since she was no less beautiful than a female celebrity, there was amotion in the audience. "Mdy really looks great." Timothy watched Grace happily. Meanwhile, Benjamin nced over indifferently. "Ms. Noelle, aren''t you upset that the man pursuing youpliments other women like that?" Timothy clicked his tongue and gave Benjamin a nudge. "Are you trying to sow discord between us?" However, Noelle was busy admiring Grace. "It''s okay. She''s also my Mdy." Timothy burst intoughter. Benjamin''s expression remained grim. On stage, Grace bowed slightly, showing her beautiful neck. "Thank you, Mr. Thorne. But I dare not take all the credit. Byte Technologies'' sess today is the result of all the staff members'' hard work. The development of emerce to this day is inseparable from good policies and a good era ..." She had such a broad perspective. Larry couldn''t help whispering, "It''s a pity that Ms. Lewis hasn''t considered doing politics." Benjamin finally smiled and led the apuse first. Grace surveyed the faces of the people below, and her gaze lingered on the empty seat. Xander still hadn''t arrived. She suppressed her disappointment. There were still ten minutes until midnight. He had said that he would make it. Her feet felt sore in her high heels. Time passed second by second, but that seat remained empty, waiting for its rightful owner. ¡­ On the highway, vehicles were stuck in a long line. Peter knocked on the car window. "Mr. Fulton, I went ahead to check what''s happening. The road has copsed, and it may take several hours to repair." Xander controlled his emotions, gripping the phone tightly. "Call the deputy director of the Department of Transportation. Tell him to solve it within an hour at thetest." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Peter swallowed hard. "But even if so, we still won''t make it." It was toote. The g''s live broadcast wasing to an end. Matthew had just finished his speech, and Grace was walking to the stage, facing the camera. Xander lowered his eyes slightly, lost in the scene. He had tried to be as fast as possible, but he still hadn''t been able to make it. At this moment, the camera swept across the audience. Benjamin led the apuse, standing out with his elegant figure. Feeling a surge of emotions, Xander clenched his fist so tight that his fingertips turned pale. His face looked extremely ugly. "Go!" The ck Friday sale would end in one minute. The host on the stage started counting down. "Ten, nine, eight, seven ..." Grace stood beside Matthew, holding a party popper. A sense of loss filled her heart. Xander still hadn''t shown up. "One!" They popped the party poppers, and the data on the big screen immediately paused. The domestic market revenue was 210 billion dors, and the overseas market was 20 billion dors. These were impressive figures. Even with only a 3%mission, it was enough for Amirate to achieve its performance goals, not to mention Grace''s 1% bonus from the entire Byte app''s revenue. In the audience, Samuel turned pale with anger. Of course, he understood what those numbers represented. What surprised him was that Byte Technologies had been able to enter the overseas market. Although they had only made 20 billion dors, it was a very good result for an emerce tform that had just started. How could this be? Where had he gone wrong with his predictions? How could Grace have had such a keen insight? When did she achieve all of this? "Are you angry, Director Walker?" A voice sounded. Startled, Samuel turned around and saw a woman wearing a mask and hat, staring fixedly at the stage. Chapter 590 Corporate Spy Chapter 590 Corporate Spy It was none other than Jessica. She had been there the whole time, witnessing Grace''s brilliant victory. The confidence Grace radiated stabbed Jessica deep. That was something Jessica had never experienced before. She couldn''tprehend how Grace could be so fortunate. "You ..." Jessica took a deep breath. "As far as I know, you have a bet with Grace. If she can''t increase Amirate''s performance by 30%, she''ll pack up and leave. If she seeds, you''ll give up your decision-making power at Amirate, right?" Samuel''s expression turned extremely ugly. "Now it seems that not only did she seed, but she probably doubled the performance. You lost." "If I had known earlier, I wouldn''t have let her achieve this so easily." Their limited vision was to me. "There''s no use in ming yourself now. If I were you, I''d settle this before the board meeting is held." Jessica''s tone was chilling. Startled, Samuel narrowed his eyes. "Ms. Landon, do you mean ..." "Tonight is a good opportunity. The venue is close to our construction site. Director Walker, I can only help you up to this point. What you do next is your choice." Her words were full of underlying messages. She didn''t want to stay there for another second, so she got up and left. As the audience slowly left, only Samuel remained seated. He was on pins and needles, and beads of sweat fell down his face. Jessica was right. If the board meeting were held, Grace would undoubtedly force him to give up his decision-making rights. Perhaps he wouldn''t even get his bonus. He couldn''t just sit and wait for his doom. As Grace left the stage, her assistant quickly handed her a coat. When Grace lifted her head, her eyes fell on Shawn. Most of the audience had left. Shawn was sitting alone, exuding a distinguished air. Not far away, some girls were whispering, trying to guess if he was a celebrity. Smiling, Grace was about to approach him when a voice called out, "Ms. Lewis." She stopped "Director Walker? Did you enjoy the show?" Samuel heard the sarcasm in her tone and became even more annoyed. "I heard Josh is with you. What right do you have to detain him?" Grace smiled. "I''m the one who should ask questions here. Why did you send him backstage to take photos without permission?" "I didn''t." Grace didn''t believe him. "I found out there was a corporate spy backstage, so I sent Josh in." Samuel spoke righteously. "A corporate spy?" "Yes. You''re now on top. Have you forgotten that standing out will attract attention? I''m several decades older than you. I''ve seen all sorts of tricks. "But you ¡­ How could you not know that there''s a spy in Amirate?" Samuel''s words were dripping with ridicule and usation. At first, Grace didn''t believe him. If there really was a spy, how could she not have known? However, his words made some sense. Josh had said that he had gone backstage to find someone. Hence, she believed him to some extent. "How did you find out about the spy?" "You don''t need to ask that. If you want evidence, why don''t youe to the office with me? You can see it for yourself." Feeling skeptical, Grace didn''t agree. "You don''t even have the courage to do this. I don''t even know why Mr. Thorne trusts you," Samuel said. Without hesitation, he turned to leave. Despite his act, his palms were actually covered in sweat. "Wait, I''ll go with you." Grace spoke up. After all, they were going to Amirate. There shouldn''t be any problem. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. With his back turned to her, Samuel heaved a sigh of relief. Grace nced at Shawn again. As she walked out, she said, "I''m sorry, Mr. Griffin, but I have something urgent to attend to. I''m afraid I can''t introduce you to Caleb tonight." Chapter 591 Jessica Was There Chapter 591 Jessica Was There Shawn watched her figure, his eyes filled with infatuation. "It''s okay. I''ve seen Caleb''s charm on stage." He hade here with a purpose, but it wasn''t to meet Caleb. Grace smiled and thanked him. At the exit, she happened to run into Luke. "Ms. Lewis, I didn''t see Mr. Fulton." Grace couldn''t hide her disappointment, but she still forced a smile. "Xander must have been held up by something. He wouldn''t just note. Stay here and wait for him. Let him know I''m going to Amirate." Luke agreed. When he nced at the person beside her, he frowned. "Director Walker ..." Seeing the distrust in Luke''s eyes, Samuel immediately said, "Mr. Ziegler, are you looking down on me now because you''ve assisted two generations of presidents at Amirate?" "That''s not what I meant." "Then, what do you mean?" "That''s enough." Grace didn''t like Samuel''s overbearing attitude. "Let''s go, Director Walker." ¡­ Meanwhile, on the other side, the audience exit was crowded. Benjamin was swept along with the crowd. By the time he got out, he couldn''t find Grace anywhere. Larry said, "Ms. Lewis has probably already left." Benjamin narrowed his eyes. "Is Xander still stuck on the highway?" "I just received news that the Department of Transportation promptly repaired the road, and it''s clear now. He should be out." But it was toote. The g had already ended. Benjamin breathed a sigh of relief. Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw a familiar figure. He was about to look over when he heard the sound of tires screeching. Xander rushed out of the car. "Luke!" Benjamin looked in Xander''s direction, missing the man who quietly left behind him. "Mr. Fulton, why did you just arrive?" Xander was silent for a few seconds. "Where''s Grace?" "She just went to the office. She asked me to wait for you here." Xander pressed his lips together. Even at such a time, Grace had still been thinking about him. His guilt gradually turned into a worry. Feeling a pair of eyes on him, he nced sideways and met Benjamin''s eyes. Benjamin smiled victoriously before leaving in his car. Peter immediately figured out what had happened. "Mr. Fulton, he¡ª" Xander raised his hand to stop Peter. His expression changed unpredictably, showing a hint of danger. ¡­ In the car, Larry received a call from a subordinate and reported it to Benjamin, who was resting. "Our people saw Ms. Landon at the g." At the news, Benjamin opened his eyes. "What was she doing there?" Jessica harbored a deep hatred for Grace and was willing to go to great lengths to get back at her. If she had shown up at the g, she was definitely up to no good. Benjamin couldn''t help but worry about Grace. "It seems that she met with Director Walker, and they had a conversation." Benjamin''s temples throbbed. He had a bad premonition. "Find out what Jessica and Samuel have been up to recently. Also, has Grace left?" ¡­ After leaving the venue, Xander immediately called Grace. The line rang for almost a minute, but no one answered the phone. Feeling anxious, he sent her a message. "I''m really sorry." He didn''t exin because saying anything he said would sound like an excuse at that moment. Suddenly, Peter stepped on the brakes. They had arrived at Amirate Corporation. Since Grace had won a battle today, the entire building was brightly lit. Xander took a step inside. "I''m looking for Ms. Lewis. Please help me contact her."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. The receptionist didn''t recognize him. "It''s quitete. Do you have an appointment?" Xander frowned. At that moment, Luke entered and overheard the conversation. "How dare you? This is Mr. Fulton from Futurelink Corporation. Why would he need an appointment?" The receptionist was shocked and scared to the verge of tears. "But Ms. Lewis hasn''t returned since she left this morning." Xander''s expression shifted abruptly. Chapter 592 Grace Had Been Kidnapped Chapter 592 Grace Had Been Kidnapped It was already 2:00 am, but various tforms were still buzzing with trending news. All the trending topics revolved around Byte Technologies'' g, spanning from Caleb''s appearance to his confession, Grace''s stunning beauty, and finally, the total revenue they had generated. The servers had crashed several times. However, beneath this celebratory atmosphere, an unknown danger lurked. In a dark and damp construction site, the sound of water dripping onto a woman''s forehead echoed through the silence. The cold sensation brought the woman back to consciousness. She blinked her eyes, slowly opening them. "Ugh ..." A deserted construction site came into Grace''s sight. She was tied to a pir. Her arms were bruised, and she was unable to move. The red dress she had worn for the g was soaked with dirty water, and her face was pale. "How did I end up here?" Thest thing she remembered was being in Samuel''s car. Halfway through the journey, Samuel had suddenly said that he needed to use the restroom. So they had stopped on the side of the road. However, as soon as he had gotten out, the driver had turned around and delivered a harsh p to Grace. She had been unconscious ever since. "Is anyone here?" Grace shouted, trembling. She had a very bad feeling. Clearly, she had been kidnapped. She didn''t have time to think about who might be behind this. She thought it would be best if someone was keeping an eye on her. At least then, there might still be room for negotiation. If not, there was a high chance she could freeze to death. A kidnapper demanding ransom wasn''t terrifying. The most frightening people were the ouws, who wanted nothing. "Why are you shouting, bitch?" a rough voice echoed through the building, apanied by the sound of a steel pipe being dragged across the ground. A bearded middle-aged man with a limp, who looked extremely vicious, appeared. He was followed by a dozen men. "Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?" Grace looked up at them, trying her best not to tremble. The limping man burst intoughter, lifting Grace''s chin with the steel pipe. "Because we don''t like you, Ms. Lewis. You''re too arrogant." Grace swallowed hard. "Which gang are you from? Just say it. If I''ve offended you, I''ll apologize." One of the limping man''s subordinatesughed. "Hahaha! Brodie, this woman is quite clever, but she doesn''t understand the situation." Grace gritted her teeth. "Do you know Max?" When dealing with thugs, she could only use Max''s name. Unexpectedly, the man named Brodie disdainfully dismissed her. "Max is nothing. Even if he were here, he would have to show me some respect, understand?" Grace''s heart sank. She thought that this was the end of her. She encountered a tough one. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. "What do you want? Just say it. I''ll do anything for you if it''s possible." Brodieughed again. Suddenly, he took his phone out and started recording. "You really know how to act ording to the situation. You used this skill to rely on men and get this far, right?" Grace suppressed her disgust as she faced the camera. "If you want nothing and just find me annoying, you could have killed me earlier. But you tied me up here. It''s because I still have some use for you, right? You can just say it." Brodie finished recording. He was nning to send the video to someone. "You''re indeed clever, but I won''t negotiate with you." Grace''s eyes widened. ¡­ At the same time, at Hawkins Manor, Benjamin paced back and forth with his hands in his pockets. His anxious expression rxed when he heard footsteps approaching. "What did you find?" Larry rushed in. "Ms. Lewis left in Samuel''s car. Here''s the surveince footage." In the video, the car stopped in a remote area after some time. Samuel got out, and then the driver drove away. Shortly after, Samuel returned, looking bewildered at the empty spot. "The car avoided surveince cameras. They''re professionals. I heard Ms. Lewis hasn''t returned yet." Chapter 593 They Want Two Billion Dollars Chapter 593 They Want Two Billion Dors Benjamin''s chest heaved. "Search for this car throughout the city!" Larry rushed to leave. "Wait!" Benjamin suddenly stopped Larry. Frowning, he thought of something. "Danielle ..." How could it be just a coincidence that this had happened right after Danielle had shown up at the g? "Has construction been continuing at the Eastwood property?" "I haven''t heard of any news about it being halted." Benjamin had received information that there wasn''t much money left in the ount. Why was construction still ongoing? He quickly made a decision. After grabbing his coat, he headed out. "Take me there." Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡­ In Amirate, just as the receptionist finished talking, someone suddenly rushed in, stumbling. It was Samuel. He was panting heavily. "What''s wrong with Ms. Lewis? If she doesn''t like me, she could have just said it. How could she leave me on the road?" He looked up and saw Xander, who looked extremely serious. This left him stunned for a moment. Why was Xander back? Soon, he looked at Luke with his hands on his hips. "Where''s Ms. Lewis? Get her out here!" Luke looked confused. "Director Walker, didn''t Ms. Lewis leave with you?" "Yes, but she left me on the road. I couldn''t catch a cab, so I had to walk here!" Samuel shouted. Then, he surveyed their expressions. "She didn''te back?" Luke remained silent for half a second, then rushed outside. Peter quickly followed him. Meanwhile, Xander clenched his fists and headed straight to the elevator. "Director Walker,e with me." ¡­ Ten minutester, in Amirate''s conference room, Xander sat at the head of the table. His eyes were bloodshot as he listened to Samuel''s ount of events. . "My assistant just hired this driver. I really don''t know what''s going on." Samuel panicked. Xander stared at him. "You told Grace that Amirate has a corporate spy. Who is it?" Suddenly, Samuel hesitated. "This is Amirate''s matter. I can''t tell you." Xander''s gaze was profound, as if he could see through Samuel. Thetter couldn''t help but look away. At this moment, the phone rang on the table. Xander swiped to answer it and put it on speaker. "Speak." "Mr. Fulton, it''s confirmed that Ms. Lewis is missing. I''ve mobilized all our personnel in Pamore, and Mr. Ziegler has already reported it to the police. We''re searching the entire city," Peter said. When Xander heard the word "missing", his pupils suddenly contracted. If he had gotten there sooner, this wouldn''t have happened. He restrained his emotions. "Hurry up and find her." Samuel shrank, showing a hint of worry. Just then, a staff member suddenly rushed in with aptop. "Director Walker, we received a video on thepany''s email. It''s about ... about Ms. Lewis." "What?" Xander quickly moved forward, grabbed theptop, and clicked y. Grace was tied to a pir and covered in countless red bruises. She even had wounds on her face. She looked like she was almost on the brink of death. She trembled while negotiating with the kidnappers, like a stubborn rose on the verge of withering. Xander''s fingers trembled uncontrobly. He felt like his heart was being pierced by a knife. The next moment, he mmed theptop on the ground. The loud crash startled everyone. The staff member was also shocked. "What should we do? The kidnappers said not to report it to the police. They want two billion dors transferred to their ount within half an hour, or they''ll kill Ms. Lewis ¡­" "Two billion dors?" Samuel was shocked. "How can we get two billion dors within half an hour?" "But they said that if we can''t do it, they''ll kill Ms. Lewis ¡­" Xander sat down, his chest heaving. Anger flooded his veins. He had seen the email address that had sent the video just now. It belonged to an overseas ount, which couldn''t be traced by the police. Chapter 594 Collect Her Corpse Chapter 594 Collect Her Corpse "Director Walker, I don''t know about anything else, but I''m sure Amirate''s ount isn''t short of money tonight." As Xander said that, he casually rolled up his sleeves, pulling them to his elbows. Samuel shrank back. "Indeed, we''re not short of money, but such arge sum requires a unanimous decision from the board. It''s impossible to gather everyone in half an hour." He showed no concern for Grace. Ignoring Samuel, Xander turned to Luke, who had just walked into the conference room. "Withdraw the police report and give me Amirate''spany stamp. I''ll bear the responsibility for this money. If something goes wrong, Futurelink will pay double inpensation." Luke was surprised to hear that. He nced at theptop on the ground and immediately understood that Grace was probably in great danger. He only hesitated for a few seconds. "I''ll get it right away." Thepany stamp had legal implications, and this could be considered illegal. However, in this situation, there was no time to consider such details. Moreover, Xander had grown up with the members of the Lewis family, so entrusting thepany stamp to him would surely be a safe choice. Luke hurriedly fetched it. When he returned, Xander had just finished a call in time to receive the stamp. He was about to stamp it when Samuel grabbed him. "No, this is Amirate''s money. You can''t touch it!" Xander gave him a sharp look. "Your president is the one who''s in danger!" "If two billion dors are gone just like that, Ms. Lewis will be upset when she finds out." Samuel continued to stop them. Luke stepped forward to restrain him. "I''m sorry, Director Walker. Please don''t get involved at this critical moment." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Luke, you''re double-crossing us! Let go of me!" Suddenly, Samuel was pressed against the conference table. Xander stared down at him. "If something happens to Grace, I don''t need to take action. The Lewis family will be the first to hold you ountable. Think carefully, Director Walker." Samuel watched helplessly as thepany stamp fell on the paper. After stamping the document, Xander opened aptop and video called the number the kidnappers had sent. The kidnappers answered quickly. The camera was aimed at Grace, who was on the ground. She had lost strength and couldn''t speak. Xander immediately clenched his fists. "So have you considered it? Do you want her or money?" Xander''s voice was hoarse. "Her." Hearing the familiar voice, Grace regained some consciousness. She looked at the camera. "Xander ¡­" Brodie immediately kicked her with his foot, and she groaned. "Don''t hurt her!" Xander shouted in horror. "If you want money, I can give it to you. I''ve stamped this two-billion-dor bill. I can transfer it at any time. You just need to tell me where you are, and I''ll transfer the money immediately." "You''re negotiating conditions?" Brodie sneered. "How do I know it''s not a trick?" "After you tell me the address, I''ll transfer the money in real time. You can leave immediately. I guarantee the police won''t find you." At his words, Brodie hesitated for a moment. Xander urged. "I only want her." Brodie clicked his tongue. "Fine." After that, he quickly typed an address and sent it to Xander. It turned out to be the Eastwood construction site. Xander copied the address and sent it to Peter. "Get ready." Holding a dagger, Brodie approached Grace. "Transfer the money, or I''ll kill her." Xander narrowed his eyes and looked at the staff member next to him. "Transfer it!" The staff member typed on the keyboard. "It''s been transferred." "It''s already done. Aren''t you leaving?" Hearing that, Brodieughed loudly. He brought the dagger closer and lightly shed Grace''s neck. "Mr. Fulton, I''m an honest person. You give me money, and I give her back to you. The address is real. You cane to collect her corpse." After saying that, he raised the dagger toward Grace, right in front of Xander. At the critical juncture, someone suddenly flew in and kicked him aside. Chapter 595 The Report Was Abruptly Withdrawn Chapter 595 The Report Was Abruptly Withdrawn It was a well-prepared ambush led by Peter. He had also brought reinforcements, and they engaged in a fierce fight with Brodie and his men. The video call was immediately cut off. Xander''s expression changed dramatically. He rushed out of the conference room, followed by the rest of the staff members. Only Samuel was left panting on the table. He couldn''t help but recall Jessica''s words. "I want money, and you want her. It''s a fair deal." But now, Grace might not survive. Samuel felt so panicked that he was sweating profusely. ¡­ Larry parked the car at the construction site. It was pitch-ck, and there were no signs of life around "Mr. Hawkins, do you think Ms. Lewis is here?" Benjamin paced in a circle, then suddenly came to a stop. "Did you hear anything?" Larry listened attentively for a moment. "That sounds like a fight." The two immediately followed the sound. As they went deeper inside, the noise grew louder. Benjamin frowned when he saw the shocking scene. Dozens of people were engaged in a violent brawl. Peter tried to get close to Grace. But Brodie, who had been in the underworld since he was 17 years old, was rather skilled in fighting and managed to hold him off for quite a while. In the dim and dreary environment, Benjamin followed Peter''s gaze, and a ssh of red caught his eye. Grace was lying on the ground, almost lifeless. "Grace!" Benjamin eximed as he rushed toward the red spot. Larry barely had time to stop him. "Mr. Hawkins! It''s dangerous!" When Brodie''s men saw Benjamin, they immediately rushed forward. Benjamin had had some training, so he was able to dodge them with a few moves. His attention was fixed on Grace. When he got to her, he bent down, untied the ropes binding her, and cradled her in his arms. "Grace?" He didn''t even dare to touch her. She seemed fragile, as if she would shatter with a single touch. Benjamin''s throat choked up as he held her. They hid in a safe spot. "Wake up, Grace." ¡­ All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. At the same time, dozens of ck cars drove along the highway, passing by Shawn, who was on his way back to Premier Manor. Suddenly, he saw someone familiar at the intersection. The person was in uniform and was walking back amidst the crowd. "Chief Bradley." The man immediately turned around. "What a rare sight! Why are you still out sote? "Something came up." Danzel Bradley lit a cigarette. "Today''s a big day. Did you go out for a date? That''s rare." Shawn thought of Grace but didn''t respond directly. He nced at the police officers returning from duties at the entrance of the police station. "Got a case?" "Don''t mention it. There was a sudden missing person case. We just sent out personnel to search when the report was abruptly withdrawn." "What kind of person requires mobilizing so many people?" Danzel looked around and lowered his voice. "A big shot. They''re likely to be Pamore''s new major taxpayer this year." Shawn frowned, suddenly having a bad feeling. "Is it a woman?" Danzel was amused. "How did you know?" Shawn becamepletely serious. He probed, "Is it Grace?" Danzel flicked his cigarette, looking surprised. ¡­ "You''re quite skilled. You''re clearly not from Pamore." As he caught his breath, Peter entwined his wrists while keeping an eye on the equally breathless Brodie. Brodie spat out a mouthful of blood. "Your skills aren''t bad either. You must have been a mercenary overseas." Peter had used some moves that only mercenaries would know. The reason Brodie was familiar with them was because he had had plenty of encounters with mercenaries in the past. Suddenly, a realization hit Peter. Brodie must have been hired at a high rate. He had been well- prepared to kidnap Grace. "Your men aren''t up to the task." Brodie nced at the others. Peter''s team had gradually fallen to a disadvantage. Temporary reinforcements weren''t a match for a well-trained team. Peter could only buy time. Chapter 596 Not the Same Person Chapter 596 Not the Same Person "It''s too early to draw conclusions now!" With that, Peter threw a punch at Brodie, and the two continued to fight. Meanwhile, in a hidden corner, Grace regained some rity in her mind as warmth seeped back into her body. She opened her eyes and saw someone holding her. "You ..." Sensing that Grace was about to pull away, Benjamin held her tightly. "Your body is too cold. You could get hypothermia at this rate. Don''t move if you don''t want to die." Grace didn''t move. She understood the situation, so she didn''t resist. "Did you do this?" Benjamin was shocked. "Why would you think that? Do you think so lowly of me?" "Who knows? Those men troubled me for a long time. I never contacted you, but you knew where I was. Isn''t that strange?" Benjamin admired her ability to think clearly, even at such a moment. He held her even tighter. "I''ll exinter. It wasn''t me. If it had been me, I wouldn''t have bothered to save you." Even though he held her close, Grace was still cold. Benjamin wanted to escape from this chaotic scene. If he were alone, he could have done it, but with Grace there too, it wouldn''t be easy. Hence, he could only take refuge by hiding in the corner. Gracey in his arms, looking at him in a daze. "It''s not quite the same," she suddenly said. Benjamin frowned and leaned closer. "What?" Grace didn''t know why she had recalled memories from the past at such a time. "That year at the airport, you made me feel like time stood still. But now, looking at you, I can''t find a single trace of that person. It''s as if you''re not the same person ..." Normally, there was some resemnce, but from this angle, there was none at all. At her words, panic briefly shed across Benjamin''s face. "It''s been so many years. People change." Closing her eyes, Grace said, "Maybe my understanding of you was wrong from the beginning." This statement made Benjamin lose hisposure. He tightened his grip on her arm. "Grace, if it hadn''t been for that encounter, would you still have fallen in love with meter?" As her body warmed up, Grace started to feel much better. She chuckled. "If we hadn''t had that encounter, we wouldn''t have met." So what was the point of talking about love? Her words seemed to plunge Benjamin into the abyss. He understood that he could never tell her the truth about that encounter. Suddenly, the sound of brakes screeching rang through the air, followed by hurried footsteps. Grace struggled to get up and looked at the situation outside.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. The man at the forefront strode in, his expression fierce. The people behind him turned out to be policemen. One of the policemen fired three shots. "Stop!" The whole scene fell silent. "Xander," Grace whispered softly, her gaze fixed on the man who had just shown up. Xander''s expression was extremely ugly. Ten minutes ago, a team of police had caught up with him. They had somehow received the news and wanted toe along with him. But these details didn''t matter. Xander looked around, searching for Grace. Meanwhile, Brodie tightened his grip on the de. He had been fighting with Peter around the area Grace was hiding, so now he was very close to her. Suddenly, he threw a dagger at Benjamin. Benjamin''s eyes widened when he saw that, and he instinctively dodged it. Taking advantage of this, Brodie rolled forward, grabbed Grace, and held her by the throat in front of him. "Who dares toe over?" "Grace!" Xander and the others stepped forward. "Stop!" Benjamin also wanted to step forward. Brodie showed a fierce expression. "Mr. Hawkins, they want to stop me. But do you want to stop me too?" "What nonsense are you talking about? I don''t know you!" "Do you know Ryan Madden, then? The contractor for this construction site." Upon hearing that name, Grace looked at Benjamin in surprise and noticed the hint of panic in his eyes. "Ryan Madden? Did he order you to do this?" Brodie held Grace''s throat and said, "I saw you two meet with my own eyes. He paid me five million dors to deal with Grace. Didn''t you know? Why are you ruining my n?" Grace wed at Brodie''s arm, trying to loosen his grip so she could breath. Chapter 597 The Most Wanted Criminal Chapter 597 The Most Wanted Criminal "I have no idea what you''re talking about. Release her now!" Benjamin eximed. Surprised by Benjamin''s bold assertion, Brodie shot him a piercing re and retorted coldly, "Well, if that''s the case, don''t expect any mercy from me." With Grace held hostage, Brodie scanned the surroundings and dered, "I know this woman isn''t just some ordinary girl. I demand to speak to the person in charge here!" Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Stepping forward, Danzel looked Brodie in the eye and spoke sternly, "You''ve been on our wanted list for years, Brodie. "It''s surprising to see that you have the guts to show your face in Pamore and are hiding behind a woman like a coward. You''re truly despicable!" Brodie snickered in response. "Ah, Chief Bradley, always a pleasure to see you. You know, you wouldn''t have managed to catch me if it hadn''t been for that kid, not even with a hundred inclothesmen on my tail. "Too bad I still don''t know his name. Pass along a message for me. Tell him toe out and face me if he''s got any guts!" Even as Grace gasped for breath, she couldn''t help but find a twisted sense of honor in Brodie''s actions. Danzel asserted, "In that case, you''ll have toe with us. I''ll let him interrogate you personally." "Zip it! Get three cars ready, and get us out of the country! Otherwise, I''ll end this woman!" Brodie threatened and tightened his grip on Grace, whose face paled at his forceful hold. Clenching his fists tightly, Xander instructed, "Do as he says, Chief Bradley." Upon getting no immediate response from Danzel, one of the policemen behind him spoke up. "Mr. Fulton, you might not be aware, but Brodie has taken lives. "He''s highly skilled and holds the top spot on our wanted list. If we let him go, there''s little chance of catching him next time!" "I don''t care about that. Grace is in his hands. She must stay alive! Just do as he says!" Xander ordered, his frustration evident in his tone. Just as everyone was hesitating, Danzel gestured to his subordinates and said, "Do as Brodie says." As preparations for Brodie''s demands were underway, he maintained a vignt stance. He kept his hold on Grace as a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Suppressing his anxiety, Xander said calmly, "I heard about you on my way here, Brodie. "You entered the underworld when you were 17 years old, became the gang head at 19 years of age, and took on risky businesses by the time you were 20 years old. "There was a time you got thrown into the sea for a mistake, but your strong will brought you back to shore. I truly admire your will to live." Surprised to hear his life story from a stranger, Brodie furrowed his brows and asked, "Who are you? I''ve never seen you before. Are you a new recruit?" "I''m just a businessman. You mentioned receiving five million dors to deal with this woman. Frankly, I don''t think it''s worth the risk. "Given your capabilities and experience, it seems insufficient for you to jeopardize yourself in Pamore, let alone harm a woman." Xander shot a sharp gaze at Brodie, his words going for the jugr. Grace sensed Brodie tense up, and she held her breath cautiously. "You get me, huh?" Brodie red. Unfazed, Xander lit a cigarette and titled his head. "The person who sent you must mean a lot to you. Either they saved your life, or they have something you can''t afford to lose. Knowing you, I''m inclined to believe it''s the former." Benjamin furrowed his brow at Xander''s words. At the same time, Grace could sense Brodie''s cautiousness easing. "You''ve got me all figured out. Too bad we can''t be buddies," Brodie remarked. "I appreciate the sentiment, Brodie. I''ll be straight with you¡ªthe woman you''re holding is my family. If you release her, I''ll ensure you safely reach the border. As for what lies ahead ¡­" Xander paused and nced around before saying, "Who knows what the future holds?" Chapter 598 Gain His Trust Chapter 598 Gain His Trust Puzzled, Brodie questioned, "She''s your family? You''re from the Lewis family?" "Exactly," Xander replied confidently. He refrained from revealing their romantic rtionship, lest it incur Brodie''s wrath. Presenting himself as a blood rtive would suffice to convince Brodie of his determination to rescue Grace. Besides, he wasn''t lying, since he had grown up with the Lewises. Understanding Xander''s intentions, Grace stared at him and pleaded, "Just leave me, Xan." Xander widened his eyes in shock at her words, but he asserted firmly, "There''s no way I''m leaving you." Meanwhile, Benjamin waited for a chance to act. However, Brodie was highly alert, so Benjamin couldn''t risk putting Grace in danger. At that moment, Danzel''s subordinate approached them and reported, "The cars are ready, and the roads have been cleared." Danzel acknowledged the information with a nod and shouted at Brodie, "What do you want now?" "Tell your men to stay put. I''ll release her once I get to the border!" Brodie demanded. Unexpectedly, Xander stepped forward and said, "Don''t make things difficult for the chief. They have their jobs to do too. Let me take the risk, Brodie. Let me go with you." He put his life on the line with those words. Upon hearing this, Peter and Danzel were utterly shocked. They were about to interject when Xander raised a hand to stop them. "You''re crazy, Xan!" Grace eximed in disbelief. Brodie was taken aback by Xander''s resolute decision as well. He scoffed. "Do you realize what it means to go with me? You don''t seem to value your life, do you?" "What kind of person would I be if I left my family in danger? Brodie, did your boss ever inform you about the Lewis family? If anything happens to Grace, you won''t be able to survive anywhere. "I''m telling you this for your own good," Xander reasoned, his words gradually prating Brodie''s defenses. Ultimately, Grace sensed Brodie''s wall of resistance crumblepletely. With Grace held hostage, Brodie cautiously descended the stairs as the crowd parted for him. He made his way outside and halted in front of the waiting car. Turning around, he beckoned Xander over. "You,e along," he demanded. "Absolutely not!" Peter interjected hastily. "You stay on guard here," Xander ordered before confidently striding toward the exit and taking a seat in the car. Brodie followed suit, keeping Grace in his hold. Once inside, Brodie''s subordinate stepped on the elerator, and the car sped away Benjamin rushed out, eximing, "Why did you let him go, Chief Bradley?" To his surprise, Danzel replied casually, "Rx. We''ve positioned men along the way." When Benjamin heard the news, his furrowed brows eased in understanding. Yet he couldn''t wrap his head around one thing. "If you''ve deployed in advance, why did Xander¡ª" "There''s no better n than having him willingly step into the game," Danzel stated. Benjamin was stunned. Even with their careful nning, there was still a significant risk involved. Despite that, Xander had decided to take that risk for Grace. At that moment, Larry approached Benjamin and whispered, "We''ve looked into Ms. Quine''s whereabouts, but she''s nowhere to be found." N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Benjamin hadn''t expected this, and his eyes widened in surprise. ¡­ Meanwhile, three cars were racing ahead down the open road. Brodie was sitting in one of the cars, with Grace and Xander on either side. The air inside the car crackled with tension, setting the stage for an intense journey ahead. Mario, Brodie''s driver, couldn''t help but ask, "Why did you let him tag along, Brodie? It''s too risky!" "You fool! Why do you think those cops let us go so easily? It''s because he''s with us!" Brodie retorted. He then nced at Xander and remarked, "That being said, you''re a clever one. You know it''s the best choice to work with me." Xander replied calmly, "I''ve transferred two billion dors into your ount. From the beginning, my only concern has been Grace''s safety. "As long as you stay true to your path, I trust your word more than the cops." Brodie scoffed at his words, yet a cold sweat broke out on his back. Even in this perilous situation, Xander remainedposed. Brodie realized he wasn''t someone to be taken lightly. "I''ll dly ept your offer then. You''re quite lucky to have such a caring brother, little woman." Amused, Brodie casually stroked Grace''s chin. Chapter 599 Launching a Sneak Attack Chapter 599 Launching a Sneak Attack Grace tensed under Brodie''s touch, and she stole a quick nce at Xander. "Xan is really nice, but he can be so stubborn," she confided, her eyes reddening. "Is that a problem?" Brodie asked. "Of course it is. Since we were children, he''s always prioritized my well-being over his own. I just wish he could live his life to the fullest too," Grace replied, her thoughts drifting back in time. Xander had willingly stepped aside and allowed her to marry Benjamin. And now he had put himself in harm''s way to save her. Grace was consumed with remorse and guilt as she reflected on the sacrifices he had made. Understanding the weight on her shoulders from her words, Xander clenched his fists and dered, "I''m content as long as you''re happy." Hearing that, Grace sadly closed her eyes. She had known that Xander would never let her go. As Brodie warily observed the scenery outside, he was reminded of something from their conversation. He asked, "The Lewis family has three sons. Which brother are you?" "I''m the second brother," Xander replied. Aaron had stepped into the limelight by assuming control of the family business, while Caleb had achieved worldwide fame as a celebrity. That left Victor, who rarely showed himself in public, the perfect choice for Xander''s disguise. Plus, Brodie had no time to verify Xander''s ims amidst the looming threat. As the car fell into silence once more, Xander unexpectedly spoke up. "Once we return, you''re not allowed to make any public appearances. Especially not with Benjamin." Grace was taken aback by his sudden demand. Xander wasn''t known for making such derations, but she quickly discerned his intentions. "Why? Benjamin isn''t that bad," she countered. "As a lover, he offers nomitments; as your boss, he bears no responsibility. He''s not worthy of you," Xander exined. "But I love him! That''s all that matters!" Grace argued, her exasperation pushing her to confront Xander while disregarding the dagger threatening her life. Xander scoffed, dismissing her words. "Don''t be a child. You can''t feed yourself with love." Defiant, Grace shouted, "I don''t care! I''m marrying him!" Brodie watched in bewilderment as the two engaged in a heated exchange. Frustrated, he swung the dagger through the air and yelled, "That''s enough! Both of you, shut up!" In that moment, Xander swiftly disarmed Brodie. He knocked the dagger out of Brodie''s hand and restrained him in a wristlock. "Get down, Grace!" Xander ordered. "Fuck! You dare to sneak up on me?" Brodie groaned in pain. No matter how prepared he thought he had been, he hadn''t been ready for a surprise attack. Witnessing the chaos, Mario panicked and swerved the car off course. Taking the cue, the waiting ambush team swiftly emerged from their hiding spots and brought the cars to a halt. In an instant, a brilliant light enveloped the entire scene. Reacting quickly, Grace leaned over and reached for the center console. She then pressed a button to unlock the door. "Come on, Xander!" she urgently shouted. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. In response, Xander pushed Brodie aside, securing Grace in a protective embrace before leaping out of the car. The twonded with a heavy thud on the concrete road, rolling for a few turns beforeing to a stop. Xander''s body bore bruises and scratches, though he suppressed a grunt and maintained a protective hold on Grace. She, on the other hand, emerged unscathed from their tumble. Hurriedly getting to her feet, Grace checked Xander''s injuries. "Oh my god, Xander! Are you hurt anywhere?" Xander winced in pain before holding her hand andforting her. "I''m fine. Just some scratches." "Do you realize how dangerous that was? If you hadn''t caught Brodie off guard, he could''ve stabbed you to death!" Grace kneeled by his side and wailed. The terrifying scene lingered in her mind. With a gentle smile, Xander wiped away her tears and said, "But I''m alright, aren''t I?" Now that the police had surrounded the criminals, it was their turn to take control of the situation. Still, Grace couldn''t shake off her fear. "What if I misinterpreted your intentions and put you in danger? How could I ever face Aunt Hestia and tell her the truth?" "You wouldn''t have. You''re a smart woman, Gracie. I was sure that you''d understand," Xander assured firmly, his eyes shining brighter than the stars in the sky. Chapter 600 As Long as Shes Safe Chapter 600 As Long as She''s Safe Grace wiped the tears from her face, feeling torn between frustration and amusement. "Xander! Don''t ever do that again!" Xander smirked. "You can call me ''Xan'' from now on. It sounds much better than ''Xander''." Although Grace''s red dress was in tatters and her body was covered in wounds, her face was gorgeous. Kneeling under the moonlight, she appeared inexplicably dested. The sight of her tugged at Xander''s heart. He held her face and said, "I''m sorry for beingte." If he had arrived on time, things wouldn''t have turned out this way. "It was my fault to have trusted Samuel." "He told me it was the driver''s n." Grace was stunned. "How could it be? I''ve met the driver. He''s worked for Samuel for many years." Xander fell silent. Time had been running out, so he hadn''t had the chance to verify the truth. Brodie was highly skilled, capable of taking on ten opponents at once. Soon, Danzel arrived with his men. With ample manpower, he dered, "Surrender yourself, and you might get a lighter sentence!" Brodie knelt on the ground, gasping for breath. "It''s the first time I''ve fallen for someone''s trap!" As he spoke, he red at Xander with a menacing gaze. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Meanwhile, Benjamin hastily got out of the car. He immediately witnessed Brodie break through the circle of people, wielding a dagger and charging toward Xander. Thetter was lying on the ground, powerless to defend himself. Grace''s eyes widened in horror, and she instinctively tried to shield him. Right as Brodie was about to seed, a shadow suddenly appeared and sent him flying to the side with a kick. The dagger fell to the ground while Brodie howled in pain. Xander came back to his senses and held Grace up, examining her. "Are you hurt?" Shaking her head, Grace looked at Brodie, whose arms were subdued behind his back, unable to move. Brodie struggled to turn his head, but he could recognize the mysterious man at a nce. "It''s you!" The man in question had his back toward Grace and the others, so they were only able to see that his attire was different from the police officers. Grace frowned, finding the person''s figure somewhat familiar. Xander noticed her expression and asked, "You know him?" Uncertain, Grace shook her head. "No." The person tightened his grip on Brodie and remarked, "It''s not toote to arrest you today." And so Brodie was arrested, and the matter came to an end. As the police left the scene, no one noticed that Benjamin was experiencing emotional turmoil not far away. He leaned on the car door with one hand, the veins bulging on the back of his hand. Benjamin silently stared at the figure from a distance for a long time. By the time everyone arrived at the police station and gave their statements, it was already dawn. Grace sat in a medical room with a coat around her shoulders. The medical staff was bandaging Xander up. When he removed his shirt, his well-built back was covered in shocking wounds. Grace couldn''t help frowning. She said to the medical staff, "Please be gentle. He''s afraid of pain." Xanderughed. "Who told you that?" "Don''t act tough. Yourplexion doesn''t look good right now." Even his face had small cuts. Worried, Grace murmured, "Will it leave scars? It won''t look good if it does." "I''m a guy. Why would I care?" "If it leaves scars, I''ll call you ''scar face'' instead of ''Xander''. How does it sound?" Xander pursed his lips as he considered the name. "You''re right. I hope it doesn''t scar." The medical staffughed when he heard their conversation. "I heard that Mr. Fulton risked his life several times to save you, Ms. Lewis. You two are very close." The sudden teasing made Grace blush. Something crossed her mind, and she asked, "You always risk your life to save me. Are you not afraid of dying?" "I''m not," blurted Xander. Each time they were in danger, all he could think of was her safety. The rest didn''t matter to him. Chapter 601 Its Not Over Yet Chapter 601 It''s Not Over Yet "Have you two been together for a long time?" the medical staff asked. Grace wanted to say no, but Xander held her hand and nodded. "Yes." His answer made her heart skip a beat. After getting his wounds bandaged, Xander left to give the police his statement. Grace waited in the lobby of the police station, Xander''s coat still on her. "Samuel vanished after the incident. He''s likely involved," reported Luke. Grace massaged her temples. "I can probably guess why." N?velDrama.Org (C) content. "Mr. Fulton ordered the news to be suppressed. Word won''t get out." "What about my family?" "We tried to keep it from them, lest they worry. But Caleb was around and found out about it." Just as Luke exined the situation, two figures rushed into the police station. The one in the lead had a mask on, and he called out, "Gracie!" To their surprise, it was Caleb. Caleb grabbed a staff member and demanded, "Where''s Grace? I''m looking for Grace!" Grace spoke up weakly, "Caleb, I''m over here." Caleb immediately turned to look in her direction. At the sight of her battered appearance, his brows furrowed in distress. "Gracie ¡­" Then, he crouched in front of her, his eyes teary. "Does it hurt?" Grace felt like crying as well. "It doesn''t hurt, Caleb." Caleb embraced her tightly and grumbled, "That bastard dared toy his fingers on my sister. I''m going to kill him. I must make him pay!" The lobby was bustling with people, and Grace felt somewhat embarrassed. She nudged him and said, "Caleb, we''re at the police station. Keep your voice down." However, Caleb couldn''t care less. "I''m going to ask Aaron to annihte Brodie and his people. None of them will be spared!" Amused, Grace chuckled. "Are you a gangster?" "I will never forgive them for hurting you!" "All right. Don''t tell Aaron for now. I don''t want them to worry." "What? Are you going to let this slide?" Grace narrowed her eyes as she replied, "Of course not. It''s not over yet." Caleb was very displeased. He wasn''t willing to let it go so easily. So Grace changed the subject and asked, "Where''s Lydia?" Hearing her teasing tone, Caleb grinned through his tears. "Lydia is very worried about you. I told her to wait for news from me at home." "How sweet." At that moment, Danzel appeared. Grace quickly got up and greeted him. "Chief Bradley." Danzel sized her up and said, "You seem to be in good spirits. It''s fortunate that you''re not seriously injured." Grace smiled in response before getting straight to the point. "I wanted to ask who had saved us today. From the way he was dressed, it didn''t look like he''s from our side." "Saved you?" "Yes. The man who kicked Brodie into the air and subdued him." Her funny description made Danzelugh. After pondering for a while, he seemed too troubled to answer her question. "He''s one of us, just with a different role." "Great. Can you take me to see him? I''d like to thank him in person." Danzel waved dismissively. "That''s not necessary. It''s our duty to protect the public." "I just want to give him my thanks." "Ms. Lewis, I''m sorry, but please understand." Danzel promptly walked away with his team after that, leaving Grace standing there in a daze. Caleb came up to her and tightened the coat around her. "What''s wrong? Who do you want to meet?" Grace didn''t know exactly who the person was. When she looked up, she happened to see Benjamin exiting the interrogation room with Larry. The two of them made eye contact. Caleb also spotted Benjamin, and he couldn''t help getting annoyed. "Damn, why is he here too?" Benjamin didn''t take his eyes off Grace. "I want to speak with you." Grace remained calm. "I figured you would." Chapter 602 Got Together Chapter 602 Got Together There was a plum blossom tree in the police station''s courtyard. It filled the air with a sweet fragrance. Benjamin stood under the tree, ncing at Caleb, who was staring at him from the side. "I don''t know Brodie, and I didn''t orchestrate the incident." "What about Ryan Madden?" Grace held his gaze as she questioned, "It just happened to be the Eastwood property''s construction site, and the contractor is Ryan. You know him. "Besides, everyone knows that Jessica is the investor. What''s your rtionship with her?" Brodie had been right. Benjamin had indeed met Ryan once. When Benjamin had gone to see Jessica the other day, he hadn''t left immediately. Instead, he had parked his car in the distance and watched Ryan sneak out suspiciously. At that time, Ryan had been extremely rmed when Benjamin stopped him. "You ¡­" Benjamin had opened a pack of cigarettes and handed him two, warning, "I''m watching you. Don''t do something you shouldn''t." Perhaps Brodie had witnessed their interaction. In hindsight, Benjamin had been unexpectedly outwitted. It seemed that Brodie had had his eye on him all along. Now, that had created a misunderstanding that Benjamin couldn''t easily rify. Benjamin turned to the side as he responded, "The Hawkins and Quine families are influential and respectable in Pamore. I do have some personal ties with Jessica; I won''t deny that. "But that doesn''t mean that I orchestrated the kidnapping. Grace, I don''t need to harm you, and I won''t." "Then, can you guarantee that Jessica isn''t behind it either?" asked Grace. Benjamin opened his mouth, but ultimately, he couldn''t provide an answer. "You can''t?" Grace chuckled. "Benjamin, you can''t even be honest with me from the beginning to the end. "As far as I know, the Hawkinses and the Quines aren''t close enough for you to give out billions of dors to Jessica just like that. What on earth is going on between the two of you?" Despite her questioning tone, Benjamin sensed a hint of jealousy. A smile formed on his face at the thought of it. Just as he was about to exin, Grace cut him off. "Whatever. I don''t want to know. I just know that if Xander hadn''te to my rescue in time, I would have died because of her." After that, Grace turned to walk away. But Benjamin grabbed her wrist and promised, "I''ll find out the truth and clear things up with you." "No need. I''d rather not have met you in the first ce." Benjamin''s heart sank at once. He felt the warmth slip away from his palm while an unprecedented panic crept up on him. Had Grace discovered something? Just then, Xander came out of the police station and saw them. He stood still, watching as Grace left Benjamin without hesitation. When she spotted him, she halted in her tracks, and a trace of panic shed across her face. "Xander ¡­" Xander reached out to help her up the steps, brushing off the fallen plum blossoms on her shoulder. "I told you not to call me by my full name." Grace felt helpless that he still remembered this conversation from so long ago. "Just now, I ¡­" "It''s fine. You should talk to him anyway." On the side, Caleb stood with his arms crossed. As he watched the two of them, his expression turned to one of shock. "Wait, hold on. The two of you ¡­ What''s going on? What did I miss?" Meanwhile, Luke couldn''t contain hisughter. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Grace shot him a re. "What are youughing at?" It was then that Caleb fumed. "You two got together!" His voice was loud, attracting a number of looks from people around them. Grace hurriedly covered his mouth and hushed him. "Quiet down." "So it''s true! Gracie, why didn''t you tell me such big news?" Xander stood aside as he watched them banter, his eyes crinkling as he smiled. Chapter 603 Doesnt Matter if Youre Alexander or Shawn Chapter 603 Doesn''t Matter if You''re Alexander or Shawn Xander''s phone vibrated in his palms. He nced at the caller ID before calmly stepping aside. "Speak." Hazel sounded urgent and flustered. "Mr. Fulton, you finally answered. Did something happen at Pamore? I can''t reach Peter either." "It''s okay. What''s the situation at Fulton Group?" Hazel didn''t press for details since he didn''t want to exin himself. Sheposed herself and said, "Mr. Fulton Senior has discovered the Aether project. He''s furious and ising to thepany to see you. "I''ve been trying to dy him but can''t hold him off much longer." "Tell him that I''m in Pamore with Grace." Hazel was surprised that mentioning Grace had such an effect. "Do they know each other?" Xander let out a light chuckle. "More than you think." "What about the project?" "Just mention Bobby. He''ll give my father an exnation." The call ended, and Grace happened to walk over. "Business?" Xander nodded and reached out for her hand. There was a scratch, bandaged with gauze. "Let''s go to the hospital." "I''ve already taken care of it. It''s not necessary." He didn''t say anything and led her outside. She took small steps, and her dress fluttered, making her look captivating. "What a perfect couple," someone in a room on the second floor sighed. Shawn, who had been standing by the window, finally averted his gaze. "Angus." Angus immediately handed over a document with respect. "Sir, I found the information you wanted." Shawn took it and gave Angus a warning re. "It doesn''t matter if you''re Alexander or Shawn. Wherever you are, you will always be our leader. That will never change," Angus said with deep affection. As Shawn nced through the information, Angus asked, "Five years ago, when you were undercover in Coronia, you wiped out Brodie''s men, and only he managed to escape. "I never thought he would dare toe back. Now, he''s finally caught. Don''t you find it suspicious? "He disappeared for so many years, then risked his life toe back and kidnap a woman." "Yeah! What''s so special about that woman? Danzel said you personally went therest night and told him all the details about Brodie. "What''s your rtionship with her?" Angus grinned as he gossiped. Shawn elbowed him and said, "Brodie mentioned Ryan Madden at the scene. Who is he?" "Oh, he''s a contractor at the Eastwood construction site. Everyone calls him Ryan." "And where is he?" "He''s gone missing, and we''re conducting a city-wide search." Shawn gathered the documents. "Hurry and interrogate Brodie. Update me if there''s any news." Ashley brought a change of clothes to the hospital. After Grace freshened up, she returned to bed with an IV. Xander sat beside her, peeling an apple and watching her, not allowing her to remove the needle. "How is the situation at thepany?" Ashley stammered, "Mr. Fulton orderedst night to stop the news from breaking, so everything is alright. But the two billion dors ..." It was not a small sum. "I''ve already instructed my men to freeze the ount before the transfer. It will be returned in one day," Xander spoke at the right time. Ashley was amazed at how meticulous he was. "Where''s Mr. Walker?" "He''s gone." Grace wasn''t surprised. "Hemitted a crime. That''s why he ran away quickly. Jessica is probably also in hiding. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Xander handed her a slice of apple, and she bit into it, feeling content. Caleb, who had been watching from the sidelines, clicked his tongue. "Xander,e with me for a second." Chapter 604 My Only Sister Chapter 604 My Only Sister Grace was immediately cautious. "Caleb, you..." "You''re already defending him, and I haven''t even done anything yet." Xander ced a bowl of apples in her arms. "Finish these, and the IV drip will be done. Wait for me toe back." The two men with simr build walked out of the hospital, one after the other. Grace was worried and asked Luke, "Can you check on them? I hope they don''t get into a fight." "Mr. Caleb won''t do that. It shouldn''te to that." The strong wind on the hospital rooftop blew open their coats. Caleb was an experienced celebrity over many years. He stood tall and distinguished, but Xander didn''t pale inparison. "Caleb, you have something to say." All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. After a long moment, Caleb looked at him intently and said, "We grew up together. Your parents were like family to me. We''re not brothers by blood but are closer than that." "Of course." "We used to be close, but then we each got busy with our careers and lost touch. I don''t know what you''ve been up to these past few years, but I''ve never doubted you. "Even Aaron and Victor trust you enough." Caleb spoke slowly, and Xander nodded in agreement. "Yes." "We are happy that you''re pursuing Grace. We have no objections to you two being together." Xander waited for him to continue. "But today, when I got to the police station and saw her disheveled, sitting in the lobby, I wanted to kill you! "Is this how you take care of her? Letting her suffer an unwarranted disaster, I doubt you can take care of her!" Xander took his usation to heart and agreed. "It''s my fault. This will not happen again." Caleb was both angry and helpless. He didn''t expect him to admit it so frankly. "You!" "Caleb, I wanted to confess to Grace a few years ago and invited you to be there. "You asked me then if my heart would ever change. I can tell you it won''t. Not now, not ever." Xander stood beside him with determination. Caleb looked at the scrape on his arm and, after a moment, elbowed him. "You brat, she''s my only sister. You better take good care of her." The two looked at each other andughed. Grace finished thest piece of apple just as Xander pushed the door and entered. She smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. "You didn''t lie. I finished eating, and you came back!" Xander also smiled. "Your brother has gone back." "He didn''t make things difficult for you, did he?" "Making things difficult for me would make things difficult for you. He wouldn''t do that." He squatted in front of her, removing the IV needle and quickly using a cotton swab to stop the bleeding. Graceughed at his words. "Xander, you''re so shameless! How do you know it would make things difficult for me? I wish he would punish you on my behalf." "Punish me for what?" "For not being on time, as promised. You still missed it," she muttered quietly. Xander didn''t mention what happened on the highway. "You''re mad, so why act like you''re alright before?" Grace kicked him with her foot. "You''re so annoying!" He grabbed her delicate ankle, pulling her closer. His breath, warm on her cheek, was filled with desire. Grace tensed up, barely daring to breathe. When she thought he would kiss her, Xander whispered, "I''m sorry for making you suffer." Grace rxed, not sure if it was relief or disappointment. On the way out of the hospital, they also happened to meet Petering out. The construction site had a fight involving many men. He got some minor injuries, but he still stood tall. "Mr. Fulton, I just received news that Jessica has gone missing." It was as he had expected. Chapter 605 Most Likely Him Chapter 605 Most Likely Him "Why would she run if she had nothing to hide? She most likely orchestrates this incident." Larry stood in front of the desk at Hawkins Group, frustrated with the situation. Benjamin fiddled with a pen in his hand. His face darkened as he said, "Ryan isn''t capable of hiring Brodie. It was Danielle. She has connections with those people at the border." "She had such connections?" This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. "It''s sparse. She wouldn''t use them unless necessary." Larry pondered and said, "Danielle must be desperate." "The construction project is on the brink of copse. She wanted to take preventive measures by asking Grace for money. "She didn''t expect Xander to return suddenly, making her efforts futile. Now that the construction site is under investigation, it''s no wonder she fled." Benjamin tossed the pen on the desk, visibly irritated. "So, what do we do now? Amirate Corporation won''t let this go without an exnation." Benjamin rubbed his temples. "Not just them, Brodie''s identity has alerted the police. With my brother involved, they won''t stop investigating." At first, Larry didn''t take it seriously, but then he reacted with shock. "What? Alexander?" "I saw him at the scene. I didn''t see his face, but judging by his build, it''s most likely him." Although they were half-brothers, Benjamin was sure he wasn''t mistaken. Larry was taken aback. "Alexander is alive? So, the government helped himy low all these years. No wonder we couldn''t find him." They would never have known the truth if Jessica had not revealed this fact. "He''s already met Grace. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have shown up that day." Benjamin was certain, and his heart sank. He suspected his elder brother harbored some unresolved feelings. Benjamin''s mind was filled with Grace''s impatient attitude towards him, which worried him more. "Send someone to find Jessica. She''s in charge of the project. She can''t leave Pamore. Keep a close watch." "Understood." "Also, have Timothye over." Grace sat in the warm afternoon sunlight at Summitview Manor while Xander peeled an orange for her. "Amirate Corporation and Byte yed a win-win game. They made a move on you right after the party ended. You were lucky to have survived." Aaron spoke on the phone with a chilling tone. Grace held her breath. "Aaron, it''s my fault for being too trusting." She knew Caleb must have told him. Aaron didn''t me her. "Mr. Walker has been in the Amirate Corporation for many years. I thought he was just old- fashioned. I never expected him to be so ambitious. "We don''t need to keep him around. Have you found him?" Xander dipped some fresh shrimp in sauce and brought it to her lips. Grace hesitated to eat and answered, "Not yet, but finding him won''t be hard. I''ll get it done." Aaron hummed in acknowledgment, not intending to hang up. Just as Grace bit into the shrimp, he asked, "Are you with that Fultond?" Grace choked unexpectedly, coughing for a long time. Xander handed her a tissue with a smile lingering on his face and took over the phone. "Aaron, you made her choke." Aaron wasn''t surprised by his presence. "When did this happen?" "Not long ago." "Is it you who doesn''t want to exin this, or is it her?" Xander nced at Grace, who was watching him expectantly. "It''s not stable yet. We have our considerations." "At least such mistakes shouldn''t happen. This is a matter of life and death." Chapter 606 A Second Setup Chapter 606 A Second Setup Grace was close enough to hear Aaron''s words and stuck out her tongue. Xander patted her head gently and braced himself for the scolding. Aaron didn''t dwell on it further and changed the subject. "I attended a meeting today and ran into Jake." Xander was startled when he heard this. Then, he regained hisposure. Nobody else was aware that Xander had a brother. He didn''t expect Aaron to know. Turns out this was an unspoken secret amongst the elites of Frenda. "The meeting was about foreign trade distribution. Jake was there. "He was injured, sitting at the back. He didn''t recognize me. I heard you demoted him." "It''s temporary. He can still be of use when the timees." "After the meeting ended, I saw Uncle Raymond teaching him a lesson as I was leaving the parking lot." Xander understood the reason but remained silent for a moment. "Jake''s still his son, after all. You should be cautious." Aaron was clearly giving a heartfelt warning. "I understand." Xander immediately caught on. A hint was all he needed. After hanging up, Aaron sat pondering. His secretary asked, "Mr. Lewis, what are you thinking about?" "I''m thinking about what kind of person my future brother-inw is." Aaron thought of how Jake was willing to risk everything to return to headquarters even after Xander had demoted him. Raymond was intent onpensating him. But right after the meeting, Jake fell for Xander''s second setup. A conniving man was not to be taken lightly. The secretary seemed to miss the point. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. "Ms. Lewis has a boyfriend?" Aaron put on a straight face. "I''m still not sure if he could be my brother-inw." Meanwhile, Xander returned the phone to Grace. She caught his finger and shook it yfully. "I''m sorry. It was my fault for not taking care of myself, and you got lectured by my family." He smiled and said, "I should take responsibility." "Your brother¡­ Jake, has he been causing trouble recently?" Xander knew she had overheard and sat back down leisurely. Grace quickly said, "I still have a lot ofxatives!" Heughed, "If you prank him once, he won''t ever drink your coffee again." "There''s always a way." The weather was starting to get warmer. Xander''s heart had never felt so at peace with his loved one by his side. He took Grace''s hand fondly. Grace looked at him. Her thoughts suddenly ran wild, and she said, "I want some water." Xander immediately leaned over to pour her a ss. As they were close, Grace took the ss but didn''t drink. Instead, she suddenly leaned forward, kissing him on the lips. Xander stiffened, feeling his blood rushing. Her lips were soft and seductive, her voice husky, "Xander, it''s been two days. You haven''t touched me. You really have some self-control." His chest heaved violently, his heart pounding uncontrobly. He slowly reached out, intending to deepen the kiss. "Grace¡ª" A voice interrupted them. They instinctively pulled apart, both looking toward the sound. Outside the manor, on the street, Matthew was going out with Henry. Matthew covered his mouth a moment toote. Matthew smiled awkwardly and said, "Kids don''t understand. Mr. Fulton, Ms. Lewis, please continue." Grace''s face flushed, wishing she could bury herself in a cave. Xander stood up calmly. "You''re going out, Mr. Thorne?" "Yes, a lot is going on in Byte recently. I have to tend to it personally." "Congrattions, Mr. Thorne." "You too, Mr. Fulton. It''s a joyous asion that Amirate Corporation and Futurelink Corporation are now a family." Grace wanted to run away as she listened to the teasing words. Chapter 607 Boyfriends Should Look Out for Their Girlfriends Chapter 607 Boyfriends Should Look Out for Their Girlfriends After they left, Xander crouched down and lifted Grace''s face, which was flushed red. "Why are you acting so shy? You took the initiative." She forgot that Matthew also lived in the area. She didn''t expect him to pass by just at that moment. Grace avoided his eyes. "I me you for flirting with me outside and embarrassing me." Xander was speechless; her unreasonable ability to argue had always been unparalleled. The doorbell rang. Luke had arrived. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Walker''s whereabouts are unknown. We contacted the bank, and there''s not a penny in his ount. "The construction site is under investigation due to the kidnapping case. We''ll trace the funding issue within two days. Grace had expected this. "Mr. Walker borrowed a considerable amount of money at high-interest rates to invest in the Eastwood property with Jessica. "Even if he doesn''t show up, those who lent him money wille knocking on our door. Assign someone to keep an eye on them." Luke nodded in agreement. "There are rumors circting within Amirate. Do we need to respond?" Grace pondered for a moment. Taking action against Samuel was necessary, but influencing the other directors wouldn''t be good. "Tomorrow is Monday. We''ll have a meeting, and I''ll handle it." It quickly became evening as the two discussed. The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, and the housekeeper brought out dish after dish. Xander came out of the study and offered, "Stay and eat together." Luke quickly waved his hand. "Absolutely not. I have work to do tonight." Grace also tried to persuade him, but Luke refused. "I''m just happy that you have someone to take care of you." "Mr. Zier, you''re not young anymore. Have you ever thought about marriage?" Luke looked embarrassed at the mention of this. "I have." Grace suddenly became excited and asked, "With whom?" "She is already married." Grace widened her eyes. "I didn''t know beforehand. I ended things immediately after," Luke exined hastily. Seeing that Grace was about to pester him for more gossip, Xander intervened and let him leave first. Grace let herself loose since they were officially dating. She sat beside Xander, her legs draped over his, and he fed her while she ate. "Why didn''t you let me ask? These days, taking care of my injuries has almost made me useless. Something fun finally happened," she whined. "Luke will probably be traumatized if you keep pressing on." All she did was rub salt on the wound. Grace burst outughing. She couldn''t help but take a photo of the heartwarming scene and share it with the group chat. Her fair-skinned legs rested on a man''s suit pants. Within a minute, several voice messages were sent simultaneously. Zoey and Emily, in unison, screamed, "Grace! Who is next to you?" Only Lydia kept a low profile and offered her blessing, "Wishing you a lifetime of happiness." Graceughed uncontrobly. The housekeeper watched and scolded, "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fulton''s injuries haven''t healed yet." Grace suddenly realized she had moved carelessly and identally touched Xander''s wound. He pursed his lips without saying a word.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "Sorry, I wasn''t paying attention. Are you okay?" Xander nced disapprovingly at the housekeeper, "It''s just a scratch." Grace put down her phone and apologized, "I promised to take care of you, but now it looks like you''re taking care of me." "Aren''t we a couple?" Xander yed with her slender fingers. "It''s only natural for a boyfriend to look out for his girlfriend." Grace felt her heart warmed up. When she married Benjamin, she skipped all the steps and missed out on dating. This experience felt strange, and she couldn''t express it, but she felt very happy. She was happy with Xander by her side. Chapter 608 Is He Back Chapter 608 Is He Back This ce was simultaneously the quietest and most crowded club in Pamore. The rich and the powerful came and went constantly. It was quiet because it wasn''t decoratedvishly, and it was crowded because it was always fully booked. It was hard to get a room here. In one of the rooms that were further inside, the atmosphere grew quieter and quieter as the meal progressed. Howard Donegan pulled at his cor and raised his ss. He looked at the rich heirs around the table. "Timothy, I just remembered that I''ve got something to do. I''ll make a toast to you. Happy birthday." He downed the drink and got ready to leave. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Timothy and Frederick exchanged nces. Timothy hurriedly stopped him. "Mr. Donegan, you''ve only been here for ten minutes. What''s the rush? My parents haven''t even arrived yet, and they''re dying to see you. Please humor them." Howard did not say anything, but there was a fiery look in his eyes. The Donegans had an international chamber ofmerce and carried out trade in business. It was inevitable that they would get embroiled in conflicts sometimes. asionally, they would ask Howard to help in his capacity as chief director. However, he never entertained personal requests and kept things strictly official. As time passed, the Donegan family began to dislike him, even though he was the oldest son of the family. Howard liked the peace and quiet, and he focused on advancing in his career instead. That was why he did not believe what Timothy had said. He put his hands behind his back. "What on earth are you all up to? What do you want from me? Spit it out." Timothy had already cursed Benjamin a hundred times over in his heart. He squeezed out a smile. "We just haven''t seen you for a long time, and we miss you. Recently, I''ve been in a bit of a dilemma, and I''d like you to educate me." "Nonsense! If you want education,e straight to the police station and ask for me!" Howard took a step forward, but he bumped straight into a man who was dressed discreetly and carrying gifts. The man said respectfully, "Chief Donegan." He had addressed him by his position. Howard took a step back and recognized him. "You''re¡­ the Hawkins'' son. Mr. Hawkins." "I had an urgent meeting and camete. I was the one who asked Timothy to make you stay. Please don''t me him." They were all seated once more. Timothy and Frederick left with the rest, and only Howard and Benjamin remained in the room. "If you want to ask about the development of that case, then save it. Currently, there''s nothing I can say." Benjamin sat diagonally across from him, and there was a shrewd look in his eyes. "Chief Donegan, I was there that day. I believe that there is someone I need to be concerned about, so you don''t need to y dumb." Howard looked up at him, but he continued to y dumb. "I don''t understand, Mr. Hawkins." "Is my older brother back on the team?" Howard looked sharply at him. "Who is your older brother?" "... Alexander." "Oh!" Howard burst intoughter. "So you remember that you have a brother called Alexander! I thought that you''d forgotten about it long ago!" Benjamin was embarrassed by his mockery. He continued asking, "Is he really back?" "Well? Does his return have anything to do with the Hawkins family? You left him for dead long ago, so why not keep up the charade?" "In the past¡­" "In the past, something suddenly happened to Alexander, and there was no corpse. "The Hawkins family didn''t even ask. You didn''t even send a servant, and it was the police who arranged for his funeral. What right do you have to interrogate me?" At the mention of the past, Howard''s rage was still intense. Benjamin lowered his head. That year, after something had happened to Alexander, Benjamin received the news. He had wanted to go and take care of things, but Susan had threatened tomit suicide. "He''s always had his own mind, and he cut ties with us long ago to be a civil servant. Why do you care about him? "If you take one step out of this house, I''ll kill myself right in front of you!" Chapter 609 The Other Hawkins Son Chapter 609 The Other Hawkins Son Alexander was the eldest son in the Hawkins family. His mother had died in childbirth, and his father had married Susan almost right after that. She had taken over the family assets and given birth to Benjamin and Celia. The strange thing was that Benjamin bore a strong resemnce to Alexander. This bothered Susan, and she disliked Alexander even more as a result. If it hadn''t been for Elizabeth''s protection, he wouldn''t have survived. After they grew a little older, Alexander went to boarding school. He rarely went home until he started work. After some time, nobody within the circle knew that the Hawkins had an older son named Alexander. After his ident, Grace had appeared. This strange woman had grabbed him and started gabbling nonsense at him. Benjamin knew that the person she had taken him for was Alexander, not him. She had liked him for so many years because of Alexander, not him. He didn''t know why, but he hadn''t told her the truth. He had simply allowed things to develop to this point. Now, Alexander hade back all of a sudden. Outside the room, all the rich young men were glued to the walls and the crack of the door. Luke was on his way to greet a guest when he saw them. He was startled. "M-Mr. Donegan?" Timothy turned around at once and lowered his voice. "What are you doing here, Mr. Ziegler?" "What are you all¡ª" They hadn''t managed to hear anything at all. Timothy did not know why Benjamin wanted to see his uncle either, so he waved his hand dismissively. "I haven''t seen mi¡ª I mean, I haven''t seen Ms. Lewis in a while. Where is she? Amirate is doing so well. Howe there''s no news of her?" Luke was impassive. "Ms. Lewis is not a high-profile person. If you have something to ask her, you can contact her directly." In the past, Timothy would have done so. But they were just friends; he didn''t think it was appropriate to disturb her for no reason. Timothy waved his hand and beckoned to his friends. They would go somewhere else. When they were gone, Luke looked at the room with its closed door. When Benjamin heard what Howard had said, he got up and pulled the door open. "Thank you, Chief Donegan. You''ve already given me the answer I wanted. As for what happened in the past, I will personally apologize to Alexander." Howard hadn''t expected to fall right into Benjamin''s trap in his agitation. He tutted and pped his thigh. Benjamin left immediately, and he did not notice Luke, who was standing in the corner. "Benjamin has an older brother?" All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Xander sat on a sofa in Summitview Manor, holding Grace''s phone. Luke stopped. He hadn''t expected Xander to be the one picking up. "Ms. Lewis¡­" Xander nced at the tightly closed bathroom door. "She''s having a shower." Luke was speechless. However, since they were so intimate, there shouldn''t be a problem. "Mr. Fulton, please deliver this message from me to her." "You''re sure that Benjamin himself said that it was his older brother?" "I only heard one sentence, but it''s what he said." The representative of the Hawkins in the external world had always been Benjamin alone. They had never heard of there being another son. Besides, Benjamin had especially gone to see Howard. This was very strange. "Maybe it''s something to do with kidnapping and trafficking or something," Luke thought. "If so, the Hawkins wouldn''t have kept quiet about it. There must be another reason. I''ll get someone to investigate this." The call was disconnected just as Grace came out with a towel wrapped around her. Her wet hair hung limply on her snow-white shoulders. Droplets of water slid down her skin. "You ¡­" "I brought you fruit. I picked up a call for you from Luke." Grace pulled her towel tighter around her. She was a little shy. "What did he say?" Xander got up and began untangling the hair dryer cord. "Heined about your mistreatment of the staff and about the fact that he has to entertain guests in the middle of the night." Graceughed. "Rubbish." "Come here. I''ll dry your hair for you." Chapter 610 The Third Party Chapter 610 The Third Party Grace''s hair was long, ck, and straight. She maintained it very well, and it felt like silk in Xander''s fingers. Xander patiently blew it dry bit by bit. The fragrance of her shampoo wafted in the air, and it was a calming scent. Grace was thoughtful. "Xander, no one except my older brother has ever helped me dry my hair." The sound of the hairdryer was loud, so Xander teased her. "Not even Benjamin?" "While we were married, he avoided me like the gue. I would be dreaming if I tried to get him to dry my hair." Grace snorted withughter. It sounded ridiculous when she said it out loud. Xander ran his fingers through her hair thoughtfully. The difference between Benjamin then and now was too big. Grace wasn''t an unattractive woman. There must have been times when he was tempted, but Benjamin had suppressed it by force. Then, he had pestered her continuously after their divorce. This didn''t make any sense unless something had stopped him from taking action with Grace. Suddenly, he stopped talking. Grace turned around, and her hair got caught in the hairdryer. She cried out in pain. Xander hurriedly turned it off and helped her with her hair. He rubbed her head. "Does it hurt a lot?" He suddenly got closer to her, looking concerned. Grace felt like she had been struck. She forgot about the pain. "What were you thinking about just now?" He frowned. She misunderstood him. "Was it because you mind about Benjamin and I? Do you mind that I''ve¡­ been divorced?" To women, getting married twice was a hard hurdle to cross. Even someone as strong as Grace would still worry in front of the person she liked. Xander was exasperated and pinched her cheek. "I was teasing you. I''ve never cared about that." "You''re lying. All men mind." She was going around in circles. Xander smiled. "Even if you currently had a family and wanted to have an affair with me, I would be willing." "Homewrecker?" Grace''s eyes lit up. Heughed. "Yep. I would be a homewrecker for the sake of love." Sheughed andy down on hisp, her eyes scrunched up in a smile. After some time, she looked up at Xander''s gentle face and suddenly said, "I''m sure that I''m completely over Benjamin. "I fell in love with him at first sight, but that was just the impulse of youth. It wasn''t love. Do you believe me?" She was willing to express her heart, which Xander had not expected. He lifted her chin. And suddenly, without warning, he leaned down and kissed her. Grace did not avoid it. This time, Xander took the lead aggressively. He seemed to take the breath out of her mouth as if he wanted to absorb her into his bones. His heavy breathing and the sound of her moans eventually filled the entire room. Xander was burning all over, and in the depth of his desire, he picked her up and put her on the bed. He looked down at her from above, but he did not continue kissing her. He rubbed her red lips instead. "We can''t do this yet." Grace frowned and wrapped her legs around his waist. "Why not?" Xander did his best to restrain himself. He waited for her to adjust her towel. "It''s too fast. It would be irresponsible of me." Grace was still in the throes of desire. She gripped his shirt tightly. "I''ve never done that¡­ with Benjamin." He was startled and frowned. "That''s not what I meant." "You don''t think I''m good enough." "What are you talking about?" Xanderughed lightly and sat down beside her. He lit a cigarette, trying to alleviate the effects of pent-up desire that had no release. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. "Gracie, you don''t need to tell me about your past. That is your freedom." Grace sat up, too, her hair hanging around her like a curtain. "All men mind." Chapter 611 Recognize His Corpse Chapter 611 Recognize His Corpse Xander saw that she was being obstinate and pinched her nose. Grace snatched the cigarette from his fingers. It was too strong, and she wasn''t used to it. She coughed heavily. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Xander patted her on the back. "Then when can we do it?" She persisted. Xander was finding it hard to stand firm. He pped a hand to his forehead. "Wow, you''re keen." It was an unfulfilled desire, after all. Grace swatted him away and hid herself in the nkets. She scrunched up her face. "You''d better not regret it!" Xander had never been in a better mood. The next morning, the servant came to make a report. "There''s someone outside who insists on seeing Ms. Lewis." Grace looked up. "Who is it?" "He says his surname is Yeager." Grace frowned. A few minutester, the door opened. Grace had just sat down when Quentin tumbled in and slid to his knees in front of her. "Ms. Lewis, Ms. Lewis, you''ve got to save me!" Grace was shocked. She frowned. "Quentin, what do you mean by this?" Quentin was sweating, and he knelt there, refusing to move. "The other day, you tried to persuade me not to skimp on materials while doing business, and I understood what you were hinting at. I told the workers to stop transporting the stuff, but¡­" The moment he mentioned it, Grace remembered. She remembered that there had been no further developments, but why was he now¡­? "Are you really doing this kind of business?" "I haven''t done it for many years, but Ryan forced me to! "He has evidence of what I did many years ago, and he threatened to expose me if I didn''t work with him on the Eastwood project. "I couldn''t bear it, so I had no choice but to continue." Grace said nothing. "After you reminded me, I knew that I couldn''t continue. I was about to get out of it when Ryan kidnapped my son. "He said that if I tried to leave, he would kill my son, and I¡­ I really have no solution for this." Quentin was in tears. "Now the police are onto Ryan, and they''ll find out about me very soon. I don''t want anything except to find my son!" He had heard of Grace''s record and knew that she had the means to help, which was why he had come to ask for help despite the risk. Grace understood. She was expressionless. "Ryan''s subordinate, Brodie, has already been caught. If your son hasn''t been found yet, then it doesn''t look good." Quentin''s knees buckled, and he slumped to the ground. The noise attracted Xander''s attention. He walked over to thending on the staircase and watched them from above. "How much of the materials for the Eastwood project were transported by you?" "Ten tons of¡­ the faulty ones." This amount would be enough to put him in jail. Grace narrowed her eyes. "Ryan told you to do this? Is there someone behind him?" "He''s a gambler, and there must be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes. I don''t know who it is, Ms. Lewis, but I know where he is!" Quentin crawled to Grace on his knees and grabbed hold of her nightdress. "I know where he is!" Grace''s brow furrowed even more deeply. "What do you want?" "I only want my son. As long as you can find my son, even if it''s just his corpse." Grace realized that someone was watching them. She looked up. Xander inclined his head to her. She relented. "I can help, but the moment we find your son, you must stand out to testify when we need you to. Of course, this will result in your imprisonment." "Of course! Of course!" Quentin was ecstatic and groveled in front of her. "I''ve been living on tenterhooks for so many years. I''m prepared." After some time, Peter arrived. He would be looking for the specific address. Grace was doubtful. "Is the address Quentin gave real? Could it be a trap?" "Peter was once a mercenary and had a lot of knowledge about counter-reconnaissance. It''ll be fine." Xander looked at the address. "You should start." Chapter 612 Let Her Keep Winning Chapter 612 Let Her Keep Winning It was Monday, and Grace needed to attend thepany''s regr meeting. Xander helped her put on her coat to cover up the scars and the hickey on her neck. He drove her to Amirate himself. Before she entered, she was a little nervous as she adjusted her clothing. "Do I look okay?" "You always do." "I''m serious." "You really always do." He smiled. In the meeting room, out of the 12 directors of Amirate, 11 were present. Samuel was absent. "Amirate''s finance report for the fourth quarter has already been distributed to all of you. Please peruse it at your disposal." The report was very detailed, and the earnings for the fourth quarter were 58.8% higher than that of the third quarter. This was a stunning amount. Someone said in awe, "The trade amount of Amirate has grown 629.9% year on year. We''ve all heard of Ms. Lewis'' outstanding results." Grace sat at the head of the table and clicked on the next slide. "You''re giving me too much credit. The projects that Amirate took part in this year are all going very well. "The yearly results surpassed the previous year''s by 50%, thanks to the hard work of all the staff at Amirate. "I can''t take all the credit." There was silence in the conference room for a while. Everyone knew that it was due to Grace''s sharp eye and outstanding strategies. "Of course, our excellent results are also thanks to the support from all of our directors. I''ll raise the year-end dividend amount for everyone by five percent." The conference room immediately began buzzing with excitement. Five percent was a very high investment ratio. "Ms. Lewis, this¡­" "I''m counting on all of you to continue supporting us next year. There''s no need to stand on courtesy." Grace smiled as she spoke. Then her lips suddenly turned down at the corners. "Where''s Mr. Walker? Today is a good day. Why isn''t he in attendance?" "He lost his bet with you, Ms. Lewis. He''s probably too embarrassed toe," someone said. "We need to rely on the new generation when ites to malls. It''s time for the old fogeys to retire." Grace maintained a slight smile. "Mr. Walker has worked hard for Amirate for his entire life. "Even though he lost the bet, I wouldn''t make him give up his decision-making power. This dividend should be given to him. "If anyone has news of him, please let me know." When the meeting ended, Grace strode out of the conference room. She stood with her head held high in confidence. The directors muttered to each other. "This woman is ruthless. A new era has begun at Amirate." Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. At the same time, Xander stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in Grace''s office. He watched the traffic below him for a long time. Hazel called. "Jake is unhappy about having to bear the responsibility for the Aether Group project. "Prisci is so angry that she just fainted and was sent to the hospital. Mr. Fulton Senior urges you to return quickly." "One week." "Four days at most," Hazel said urgently. "We can''t dy this any longer." "Alright." Before she hung up, Hazel asked, "Peter let it slip that you were injured¡­ Is that true?" Before he could say anything, Grace came in. She was in a good mood. "What are you looking at?" Her voice was bright and energetic, like a bird in spring. "Just looking around your workce." Xander smiled as he hung up. Hazel stiffened on the other end. The way Xander and Grace were speaking to each other was so full of love that she could practically feel it. "Were you on the phone? I''m sorry, I didn''t realize." "It''s fine." Xander took her hand and pulled her over to sit down on the sofa. He leaned on the table. "How does victory feel?" "It feels good, of course. It''s a pity that Mr. Walker wasn''t there." She looked as proud as a peacock. There was a sense of childish glee in her manner, and Xander''s gaze softened. He liked seeing her this way. "It''s alright. You can keep winning." "No one can win forever." "With me here, you will always win," he said carelessly. Chapter 613 Hickeys Chapter 613 Hickeys Grace stayed at Summitview Manor for two days straight. Xander sent her to and from work himself. Some staff members managed to catch a photo of the two of them walking together. They looked perfect together. After ck Friday was over, the entire industry knew that Amirate had won an enormous victory. Added to the relentless promotion through Zoey''s finance magazine, Grace was at the top of her game. They mored for Grace to treat them to dinner. Grace had no choice. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. She showed the conversation to Xander, who smiled and made a reservation at a Pamore restaurant, which charged at least ten thousand per person. Before they arrived, Grace startedughing her head off at her phone. Xander leaned over to look at the conversation, but she dodged before he could see anything. "Are you checking up on me?" "Can''t I?" "You can check any of my conversations with men, but you''re not allowed to look at any of my conversations with my girls." The chat history of their group chat together would ruin her reputation if it ever got leaked. Naturally, Xander should never see it, either. His eyes creased into a smile. "Are you talking about me behind my back?" Grace buried half her face into her red scarf and said nothing. A few people still hadn''t arrived yet due to work. They sat in a private room that had an amazing night view of Pamore. Xander unwound Grace''s scarf for her, revealing half her neck. The scars weren''t fully healed, and they interspersed with the hickeys on her neck. It was very eye- catching. He smeared some ointment on it for her. "This is imported medicine. It''ll prevent scarring." "Jessica chose to go for my neck because she wanted to torture me. "The moment the money was transferred, she told Brodie to kill me. She really did not want to let me live." Grace still felt traumatized by what had happened to her. Xander focused intently on putting the medicine on for her. "Peter found out that three years ago, Jessica saved Brodie''s life. That was why he took the risk to come back. It was to repay his debt." Grace did not know if he was loyal or just dumb. "Three years ago? In what circumstances would someone like Brodie need her help?" "He must have been backed into a corner with nowhere to turn. Jessica must have had inside information, too." Xander was sure about it. "I''ve already sent people to investigate the Quine family." His finger moved over her skin and suddenly pressed onto the hickey that he had made. "Grace." She was confused and asked him what was wrong. Xander concealed his feelings and smiled mischievously. "This''ll disappear in two days. It won''t cause you any trouble." Grace blushed hotly and swatted at him yfully. He had said that he wouldn''t touch her, and he stuck to it, but whenever they kissed, he would choose the most obvious ces and make sure to leave a mark. He was a sly man. Just as the two of them were messing around, a group of people passed by the door. The one in the lead nced casually inside and stopped. The people behind him didn''t have time to stop and bumped right into him. "Hey, Captain Hawkins!" The man in the lead immediately walked forward. "Don''t call me that in public. I have nothing to do with you people." They were walking at a fast pace, and they brushed past a bunch of women. "Can''t they wait? Must they torture us this way?" A voiceined from the doorway. It was Zoey and the others. Grace hurriedly got up and adjusted her clothes. "It''s not what it looks like! He was just helping me put medicine on." The others looked at her meaningfully. Xander remained calm and smiled. He handed them the menu. "We were waiting for you before we ordered." The others wanted to keep teasing them, but his calm energy made them all quiet down. Grace sat beside her girlfriends and told them in a small voice about what had happened recently. When she got to the exciting part, Emily mmed the table with her fist. "What the hell does Jessica think she is? We have to lock her up and get her sentenced!" Chapter 614 Owe Her an Explanation Chapter 614 Owe Her an Exnation Grace lifted her ss and smiled. "Do you have proof?" "I haven''t found proof yet." "You will." Grace looked at Lydia. "Where''s Caleb?" "He''s got a new song, so he''s in the recording studio." After they had gone public with their romance, Caleb had taken charge and made sure that Lydia''s identity was not revealed. The only thing he could do in the ensuing uproar was to show everyone his skills. The challenge would be good for him. Xander listened to them talk and made sure to fill up Grace''s te from time to time. He had excellent table manners. "Mr. Fulton, I''d like to make a toast to you. Gracie doesn''t have a good temper, so please be more understanding of her." Zoey lifted up her ss. She spoke with the confidence of someone who was like family to Grace. "We''re friends. You don''t need to stand on formalities." Xander lowered his ss and looked at Grace. "She has a pretty good temper." Everyone immediately started teasing them. Grace blushed. "Mr. Fulton moves fast! Somehow, he managed to win our Gracie over. Got any tips?" Emily was on the lookout for gossip. "Just a sincere heart." The women fell all over themselves,ughing. "So cheesy!'' Xander knew that the women would have things that they wanted to talk about amongst themselves. So, after a couple of rounds of drinks, Xander went out to take a call. The moment he left, the room erupted. "How far have you two gotten? Tell us the truth!" "Will he stay in Pamore?" "How''s his technique?" The questions got bolder, and Grace red at them. "We haven''t done that." "What?" "That¡­" Her friends realized what she was talking about and said simultaneously, "But there''s news about the two of you living together!" "You''re living together, and you haven''t done that yet? He has excellent self-control." Grace was exasperated. "What do you mean he has self-control? Maybe I''m just hard to get." The others burst intoughter. "That''s impossible." The noise was contained inside the room. Xander stood on the balcony, listening to Peter''s report. "The address Quentin gave was correct. Ryan is hiding in the slums." "Are there a lot of people living nearby?" "Yes." "Lure him out before you strike." He hung up, and Xander yed absent-mindedly with the phone in his hands. Then he turned around and bumped straight into a familiar figure. "Mr. Hawkins." Benjamin was here on a social engagement and hade out for some fresh air. He had seen Xander from afar. If Xander was here, then Grace must be as well. He narrowed his eyes. "You and I seem destined to meet, Mr. Fulton." Xander leanedzily on the railing. "I don''t agree." "Hawkins Group has booked the room behind me consecutively for three years. We use it for social engagements. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "Grace often came here when she was my secretary. Was she the one who brought you here today?" Benjamin''s words were pointed. Xander did not care. He stayed still. "It''s just a room. If you want to change, then I don''t mind. I''m not that territorial." "You like taking other people''s leftovers, don''t you, Mr. Fulton." Xander looked up sharply, and his entire demeanor became menacing, as if he had just unsheathed a sword. "How could you call someone you love ''leftover''? You deserve to lose to me, Mr. Hawkins." Benjamin''s brow furrowed even more deeply. "That''s not what I meant. To me, Grace is different!" "Is she? Then what have you done for her?" Xander straightened upzily and walked over to him. "On ck Friday, if you hadn''t nned that incident on the highway, I would have gotten there on time. Mr. Walker wouldn''t have been able to kidnap Grace." Benjamin shuddered slightly. "Don''t you think you owe her an exnation?" Chapter 615 Are You Jealous Chapter 615 Are You Jealous Everyone enjoyed the meal thoroughly. Grace watched her friends leave. She hung on Xander''s arm as they stood beside the car. "Did you smoke?" There was a faint whiff of smoke on his person. It wasn''t strong. In fact, it smelled rather nice. "Just one." Xander rearranged her scarf for her. "I met Benjamin just now." Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. "What did you guys talk about?" "He said that for the past three years, this restaurant has been booked by Hawkins Group. He said that you used toe here often." All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Xander''s tone was measured, but he dragged out his words on purpose. It made Grace rather ufortable. Grace looked past him and saw Benjamin, who happened to be walking out. She looked away. "That''s true. I used to meet clients here for him when I was his secretary, but I''d forgotten about it." She''d been so busy with Amirate for the past year and hadpletely forgotten about such a minor detail. When Grace looked up at Xander, there was a pleading look in her eyes. Xander rubbed her hand. He looked a little displeased, and his expression changed slightly. "I really didn''t think about it," Grace said imploringly. "Secretary and wife. Best not to mix these two." Grace was upset. "You said you didn''t care." Xander knew that he should stop teasing her. He smiled and pulled her into his arms. "I was just ying with you. Benjamin told me that he''s willing to lure Jessica out." Grace pushed him away in shock. "Really?" "Are you touched?" Grace was exasperated and curled her fingers into his shirt. "I was wondering why you were teasing me. Are you jealous, Mr. Fulton?" "I don''t like being jealous." "Well then, you should stop!" The night air was cold, and the two of them stood under a snow-white moon. Love seemed to envelop them in their own little cocoon, like any other couple in love. Larry felt sorry for Benjamin. "Let''s go, Mr. Hawkins." Benjamin looked away. At that moment, he realized what it meant for something to really be out of reach. The elevator descended, and there were a few people standing inside. Shawn stood at the front, and behind him, Angus and the others were chattering together. He didn''t hear a single word. He stared at the figures in the distance in a daze. The little girl from all those years ago had grown up. She seemed womanly now, and now every action she made was feminine. It touched the man''s heart. "What are you looking at, sir?" Shawn nced at him. Angus stopped talking at once. "Shawn." Shawn changed the subject. "What did Brodie spit out?" "He''s a tough one. He insists that it was all done under Ryan''s orders." "What about Mr. Walker from Amirate?" "We''ve found him. He couldn''t get out of Pamore and was hiding out in the sticks. The loan sharks found him, and they started fighting. "The vigers called the police, so he dropped right into our hands." The elevator reached the first floor. Xander and Grace had disappeared. Shawn strode outside. "Contact the people involved and tell them toe to the police station." The next day, Grace heard the news about Samuel from Luke. "He probably didn''t expect the loan sharks to find him first. He''s locked up in the police station now." "He''s reaping what he sowed." "The police have called. Do you want to go and im him?" "You go. I won''t make an appearance." He disgusted her. Grace thought for a moment. "The work on the site has stopped, and he''s saddled with a huge debt. He''ll be killed by the loan sharks even if he gets out." "That''s good. Someone like him must not stay in Amirate." "Of course not. However, before that, I''m going to make him spit out what doesn''t belong to him." Grace stood up. "Release his secretary and let him go and bail Mr. Walker out." Chapter 616 Loan Sharks Chapter 616 Loan Sharks It had only been a couple of days since theyst met, but Samuel had undergone a huge transformation. He was dressed shabbily and hadn''t shaved. His beer belly added to the effect, making him look completely down and out. The secretary couldn''t believe his eyes when he came to pick him up. "When did you get out?" Samuel red at the secretary and then kicked him. "Why didn''t youe and rescue me after you got out? Ingrate!" All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. The secretary dodged his kicks, wailing, "Mr. Walker, I only just got out! I came to bail you out the moment I was released!" Samuel''s kick didn''tnd, and he plopped onto the floor. He panted as he looked at the road. "Where''s my car?" "I¡­ your assets have all been taken by the loan sharks. I came here by public transport¡­" Samuel was aghast. "It''s all gone?" "... it''s a-all gone." The secretary did not dare to look at him. "I still have a house¡­" "Perhaps you''ve forgotten this, but you mortgaged your house for cash to invest in the Eastwood construction site¡­" This reminder made Samuel scramble up from the ground and grab him by the cor. "How''s that piece ofnd? Is it still under construction? Say something!" The secretary trembled all over. "Those in the positions above found a problem. Construction has stopped¡­ that piece ofnd is probably going to stay unfinished¡­" Gone¡­ It was all gone. Samuel stumbled two steps back, looking dazed. He had never imagined that he would lose the bet. "Did Grace win?" They were in a dpidated rental house. Samuel sat on a tiny stool with a cup of hot water in his hand. The secretary approached him timidly. "Mr. Walker, you can''t hide here at my ce. "Although the loan sharks have been arrested, theirckeys are still atrge. They''ll find you sooner orter¡­" "Are you trying to get rid of me now? You''ve been with me for so many years! Who was the one who gave you food and drink? "Who was the one who made it possible for you to lord it over everyone for so many years? Are you going to burn your bridges now?" Samuel roared in anger. The secretary retreated. "That''s not what I meant. I''m just worried about your future. The money still has to be paid, right?" Samuel grabbed his cor again. He was about to say something when someone violently kicked the door to the rental house. "Is someone in there? Speak up!" "Who is it?" Samuel lowered his voice. The secretary trembled violently. "I don''t know¡­" "Dammit, are you ying dead? Open the door!" The person outside grew impatient after a while and kicked the door open. As they had feared, there were seven or eight burly men outside. They were all holding sticks! "Ha¡­ we knew you were here! You''re Mr. Walker, aren''t you? Get out here! Where''s the money?" Samuel fell off the stool, looking pale. "Gentlemen, I just left the police station. Give me some breathing room, and I will definitely return the money!" "As if! You got myckeys into the police station! How can I trust you?" Then he swung his stick at Samuel. There was the thud of wood hitting flesh. "No! No, no, no! I''ll return the money, I really will!" Samuel sprawled on the ground, tears and snot running down his face. "Give me a few days. I''ll collect the money!" "Mr. Walker, when your secretary came to borrow money from us, he saw how we operated. "Those who don''t pay us back end up with injuries at best or death at worst! Think before you answer me!" Samuel was sweating profusely. He looked at the secretary, who nodded vigorously. "Their arms and legs are cut off¡­" "I''ll pay, I''ll pay! I''ll pay it back!" "How are you going to pay? With this rundown rental house? "The whole city knows that your investment failed and that you''re bankrupt!" A knife was held to Samuel''s throat, and his jowls quivered. "I have money. I still have stocks in Amirate!" Chapter 617 Selling Shares Chapter 617 Selling Shares "Amirate is at the top of its game, and its stock is worth a lot of money, you know that. "As long as I sell it at a high price, I''ll have money!" "Gentlemen, please give me some time!" The men looked at each other. They decided to believe Samuel. "I''ll give you one day. If you can''t pay, then you''re dead!" The crowd of men moved off. The secretary hurriedly closed the door. "Mr. Walker, were you telling the truth? Those are Amirate''s shares!" Samuel sat on the floor and looked down. There was the sharp smell of urine, and he turned red with embarrassment. "What do you think? Do you think that I''d be able to go back to Amirate now? Grace wants my life even more than those people!" This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Samuel was thinking clearly. "What about Jessica?" "I can''t reach her¡­" "Bitch!" They were at Summitview Manor. "The moment Mr. Walker was released, all the shares for Amirate were put on sale," Luke reported. "Ten percent in total." Grace didn''t even look at it. "Buy them all." "He''s asking for a very high price." "How would he pay the loan sharks if he didn''t ask for a high price?" Grace smiled. "Our Mr. Walker is getting old. Let''s not make him worry about finances." "Understood." Everything was done very quickly, and the next day, the contract was signed. Samuel saw the name at the bottom and gritted his teeth. "Grace is buying my shares?" Luke stood opposite him with a differential expression on his face. "At the moment, Ms. Lewis is the only one who''s able to afford this price. She said that after you leave Amirate, you should keep your eyes open. Don''t dabble in real estate again." He was openly mocking Samuel! Samuel red at him. In his anger, he grabbed the contract and was about to tear it to pieces when Luke stopped him. "If you tear that up, there won''t be a second copy." He stopped. In the end, he did not tear it up. Samuel fell back in his seat. After a moment, as if resigned to his fate, he picked up the pen and signed his name. When he was done, he suddenly burst intoughter. "I''ve always been smart, and I climbed my way up step by step to the position of director at Amirate. "Who would''ve thought that I would end up losing to a young woman? What a joke! It''sughable!" Luke took the contract back. A voice suddenly rang out. "You didn''t lose to me. You lost to your own greed." A woman walked in, her high heels clicking. She walked over to Samuel step by step. "Grace? You''re safe¡­" Grace wore a shawl and lookedzily at him. "Of course I''m safe. You, on the other hand, don''t look so good!" Samuel mmed his fist on the table and stood up angrily. "You nned this! You were out to get me from the start!" "You must be joking, Mr. Walker. You lied to me about an internal spy and made me return to Amirate with you. "As a result, I almost died at the hands of Brodie and the rest of that gang. Who''s the culprit here?" Grace spoke calmly, but there was an oppressive note in her voice. A chill ran down Samuel''s spine. "It wasn''t me. I didn''t n it. I really didn''t know¡­" "They brought me to the construction site that you invested in. What do you have to say about that?" "Coincidence! It''s a coincidence! After all, that was the closest ce to the g!" "Was it? However, Jessica has already admitted that you both nned this together." Samuel''s eyes widened immediately. "What? How dare she betray me? I never gave her up, even when I was locked up in the police station! She betrayed me!" There was silence. Grace stared at him and smiled suddenly. "I lied. We haven''t found Jessica yet. You just gave yourself up, didn''t you?" Samuel was in shock. "You tricked me." "Yep. It worked pretty well." Chapter 618 Must Protect Her Chapter 618 Must Protect Her Samuel had reached a dead end. He rushed toward Grace and tried to strangle her but was stopped in time by Luke. "Do you want to bear another charge, Director Walker?" Grace stood behind Luke, coldly watching Samuel struggle. She then made a call. "Officer, you can come up now." Shortly after, Angus and other police officers quickly entered and handcuffed Samuel. "You''re suspected of intentional harm, illegal detention, invasion of privacy, and other charges. You''re now under arrest." Samuel was almost dragged away. "Officers, this is a misunderstanding! She''s inducing me to make a confession! It doesn''t count!" "Our conversation might not count, but what your assistant said might have some credibility, right?" Samuel looked at Josh at the door in disbelief. "You? It''s you!" "Director Walker... I didn''t want to, but if I don''t speak, I''ll end up in jail, too." "You...!" "He told me that the revtion of Caleb''s rtionship was your n. Today, I''m returning everything to you. Enjoy the consequences of your actions." Desperately, Samuel shouted, "Grace! You''ll die miserably! You won''t end well!" His voice faded and gradually disappeared into the distance. Grace let out a slow breath, considering this matter resolved. Luke was puzzled. "Why didn''t you ask him about Jessica''s whereabouts?" "Jessica is a very cautious person. When she ran away, she didn''t even inform Samuel. Do you think he''d know where she went?" "... Fair point." Luke smiled. "Now, with Samuel''s share, your stake has reached 30%, the highest within Amirate. You''ve secured your position." Grace remained silent. Only she knew how hard-won everything was. In Hawkins Tower, the news of Samuel''s arrest reached Benjamin immediately. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window and took a deep drag of a cigarette. Larry said, "If we know, Jessica probably knows, too. She won''t just sit back and wait to be caught." Benjamin said nothing. "You promised Xander to lure Jessica out. Are you sure about this?" "She has something I want. If I lure her out, she''ll take me down with her." "But..." Larry didn''t understand. "Alexander has already met Grace. By all ounts, she should know by now." Benjamin felt a throbbing headache. "When Ist talked to Grace, I sensed that she only suspected but didn''t know. "For some reason, Alexander didn''t tell her. I still haven''t seen Alexander. I can''t act recklessly." As he finished speaking, the phone in his pocket vibrated. After taking it out, he found that it was an unknown number. Benjamin answered. "Samuel has been arrested. Benjamin, you have to protect me." It was Jessica. He remained silent. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Jessica grew impatient. "You invested the money in Eastwood. Some of the people involved in this project are big shots in Pamore. "Now that things have gone south, I believe you need to use your connections. If I get caught, I''ll expose you, Benjamin. You have to save me!" Benjamin took a final drag of his cigarette and coldly snorted. "I didn''t ask you to kidnap Grace." "... It has already happened. Brodie is in jail now. At this point, what else do you want? Are you going to settle scores with me for her?" "How can you be sure he won''t expose you?" "He''ll protect me even if it costs his life." Jessica was extremely confident. "Including you, Benjamin. You must protect me." "... Let''s talk in person." Chapter 619 What Happened Back Then Chapter 619 What Happened Back Then "As the end of the year approaches, major corporations have disclosed their financial reports for the year. Among them, the data from Amirate Corporation is particrly remarkable. "We can see that several projects coborated on by Amirate Corporation have brought them tremendous profits, exceeding their previous year''s profit by 40%. Now, let''s take a look..." In a dim room, Jessica curled up on a damp and cold sofa, drinking wine one gulp after another. As she nced at the TV, she suddenly threw the bottle in her hand fiercely, smashing the screen. The host''s face became distorted at once. "You bitch!" Jessica gasped heavily. Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Faced with the strong smell of alcohol, the person instinctively covered their nose. With steady steps, they walked over to her and picked up the fallen bottle from the floor. "No matter what, you''re the only daughter of the Quine family out here. Mr. Quine Senior would be heartbroken to see that you''ve fallen into such a state." Jessica raised her eyes abruptly. "Quit the acting, Benjamin. You y a part in my current state!" He put the bottle down. "I gave you a chance to start over. You didn''t cherish it." Jessica sneered, stumbling to her feet and walking up to him. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "From the start, I came back to seek revenge on Grace. She ruined my whole family. "What''s wrong with me seeking revenge on her? Why are you all protecting her?" "And now?" Benjamin stepped back with disgust. "You''ve done everything, but she''s still alive and well. I told you, Danielle. You''re not her match." "No, I can definitely take her if she''s alone." Jessica raised her finger. "It''s all because there are too many people around her." "Enough! Even now, you''re still not waking up. Samuel has been arrested. He has nothing left. If he rats you out, do you think you can leave Pamore?" At his words, Jessicaughed. "That''s right. That''s why I called you, and you''re here. Don''t forget. You were involved in all of this. Grace won''t forgive you." The enchanting Jessica chuckled eerily. Benjamin stared at her with a heavy expression. "What are your conditions?" "Give me some money and help me get out of Pamore. As long as I leave here, I still have a chance to start over." "A fugitive?" Benjamin rubbed his forehead. "You think too highly of me. I can''t escort a fugitive out of Pamore." Jessica frowned. "Are you kidding me?" "I can give you money, but I can''t help you with anything else. You can go ahead and expose me." Benjamin''s tone was calm, and they sounded genuinely helpless. Suddenly, Jessica sobered up, revealing panic. At this moment, Benjamin spoke. "Alexander is back. Do you know that?" Jessica was shocked. "What did you say? He''s back?" "You two went through thick and thin together. You can go find him. Maybe he''ll help you." However, Jessica covered her chest and stepped back. "No, I can''t let him know where I am. If he finds out, he''ll arrest me!" Seeing her so panicked, Benjamin squinted his eyes. "You''re afraid of him. What really happened back then?" All he knew was that Alexander and Danielle were in the same car back then, and they had a car ident. The two flipped off a bridge. The rescue team searched for three months but couldn''t find anything. Over time, everyone assumed they were dead. That car ident became an unsolved case, sealed by the police. Chapter 620 The Truth of the Car Accident Chapter 620 The Truth of the Car ident Jessica remained silent. After a moment, she grabbed Benjamin''s hand. "If he''s back, that''s another reason for you to help me get out of Pamore. Otherwise, if Grace finds out... Don''t you love her? Aren''t you afraid?" Benjamin''s expression was unexpectedly calm. He grabbed Jessica''s hand and shook it off. "Isn''t Pamore a good ce?" "What do you mean?" "Instead of hiding and running around, why not let Alexander leave Pamore? Isn''t that better?" Jessica frowned, looking at him incredulously. "How is that possible? He works for the government! And even if he leaves, his people won''t let me go." "My power in Pamore is enough to hide you." Benjamin had his own considerations. "There''s only one way to get Alexander out." "What?" "Create a more serious case rted to him." Benjamin sat down. "I need to know why Brodie helped you." Jessica didn''t want to say, but at this critical moment, she had no other choices. "Can I trust you, Benjamin?" At her words, he smiled and shrugged. "Other than me, do you have any other choices? Like you said, we''re in this together." After some contemtion, she took a deep breath. "I saved him." "When?" "At the time of the car ident." Jessica remembered that at that time, the rtionship between the Hawkins and the Quines was still good. She knew about Alexander. When she was traveling in Coronia, she saw a familiar figure on the street. "Benjamin?" She ran up and patted the person''s shoulder. The person was wearing a leather jacket and seemingly waiting for something. With his sharp eyes, he nced at her. "You''ve got the wrong person." "But you''re... " Danielle suddenly realized something. "Oh, you''re Alexander, right?" Alexander squinted his eyes. Just as he was about to retort, a bullet shot over. Swiftly, he pressed Danielle down. "Get down!" What followed was intense fighting. Alexander directly took her into the car. "Fasten your seatbelt!" Danielle cried in fear. "Who are they?" "Criminals." Alexander drove fast, but the gang behind them was faster. They recklessly collided with Alexander''s car. He picked up a walkie-talkie and said, "We have a situation. I''m exposed. Request backup!" He circled the city for half an hour, but there was no response. When they reached the bridge, the pursuers ruthlessly crashed into Alexander''s car. He stepped on the gas, colliding with the other vehicle. In the end, both cars overturned and fell into the river. Alexander was prepared and had lowered the car window in advance. In the panic, Danielle saw his blood flowing into the water. Following him, she struggled to climb out of the car window. The river flowed swiftly, sending several of them far away. When they reached downstream, a local gang rescued them. Alexander and Danielle were disfigured and unconscious. The person in the other car at that time was Brodie. He woke up with Danielle, who was terrified. "Don''t even think about running. You have to take responsibility for this! I''ll call the police!" "Police? Do you know where we are now? In the hands of a gang! Can your phone even make a call?" Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Danielle was terrified. Brodie directly knelt in front of her. "I''ve checked. There''s an exit nearby, but only one person can go through. You help me divert their attention, and I''ll go out to find help for you." "Why should I trust you?" "You can only trust me now! Alexander is unconscious, and you''re not familiar with the road. Can you go out alive?" Danielle hesitated for a long time. "Please, I have a wife who''s about to give birth. Let me go, and I''ll owe you this favor for a lifetime." Chapter 621 Alexander Must Die Chapter 621 Alexander Must Die "Your empty words are useless. I won''t believe you." Brodie immediately ripped off a ne from his neck and handed it to her. "Consider it a token." "... If you don''te to rescue us, I''ll find a way to kill you!" Growing up in the Quine family, Danielle had seen many deals and favors, so she made up her mind. She helped Brodie to get out while she and Alexander stayed with the gang. Those people were ruthless. Luckily, they didn''t suspect Danielle and Alexander but just treated them as ves. Danielle had nothing. That, coupled with her disfigurement, left her with no way to fight back. Moreover, when Alexander woke up, he lost his memory. This was a devastating blow to Danielle. They had no choice but to continue staying with the gang. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. One year had passed, but Brodie''s rescue still hadn''t arrived. Suddenly, one day, Alexander regained his memory. With his strong intelligence, he left the gang with Danielle. "A while ago, I had no way out, so I thought of Brodie. I managed to send the ne to him. When he knew I was still alive, he was terrified. "He was afraid that I would destroy his base, so he had no choice but to agree toe back to Pamore to help me kidnap Grace." Only after hearing all this did Benjamin finally know that there was such a thrilling incident back then. "No wonder we couldn''t find you two back then." "After we got out, we returned to Pamore." Danielle raised her eyebrows. "When?" Benjamin was very surprised. "After leaving the gang, our first stop was Pamore. We saw that you and Grace were already married and living a happy life, and the Quine family was thriving. "It seems like there''s hardly any difference without me." Jessica took a deep breath. She still remembered Alexander''s expression at that time. It was mncholy and sad. "You could have told Grace that you were the one she loved. Benjamin is just a fake." Alexander listened, wearing his mask and hat properly. "What''s done is done. As long as she''s happy." Before they went their separate ways, Alexander asked, "Why didn''t you go back to the Quine family?" "With my face now, they wouldn''t believe I''m Danielle." The car ident disfigured Danielle, and even after reconstructive surgery, her face hadn''t fully recovered. "I want to take on a new name and start anew." After finishing her story, Jessica suddenly leaned in, getting closer to Benjamin. "You took Alexander''s wife. Now that you''ve divorced Grace and he''s back, he won''t spare you. Especially if he knows that you were involved in her kidnapping case." A chill ran down Benjamin''s spine. In the past, he was afraid that Grace would know about this secret. Now, he was more afraid of Alexander''s revenge. He grabbed Jessica''s wrist. "So, you and I need to join forces. Alexander can''t stay. You have to help me." Jessica shook him off. "Now you''re asking for my help?" "I''m in the open, and you''re undercover. Who''s more anxious?" Benjamin gazed at her sharply. "After we get rid of Alexander, I''ll naturally help you leave Pamore." Jessica looked numb. "You better not deceive me. Otherwise, I''ll make sure you go to hell with me." Without a word, Benjamin inserted his hand into his pocket and pushed open the door, leaving. Larry was waiting in the car by the roadside. Seeing Benjamin looking distraught, he was surprised. "It didn''t go well?" Benjamin felt weak all over. Leaning with one hand on the car roof, he took deep breaths. After a long time, he said, "Jessica is right. I owe him." Larry was shocked but didn''t understand what had happened. Chapter 622 The Heart Remains True Chapter 622 The Heart Remains True The day Samuel concluded his testimony, the police contacted Grace to gather information. The servant served coffee, and the discussion went on for two hours. "He implicated Jessica, but we don''t know where she is. We''re actively searching for her. If Amirate can provide any assistance, we''d appreciate it." Toward the end, Angus spoke in an official tone. Grace rose gracefully and thanked them. "Thank you foring in person. I appreciate your efforts." "Ms. Lewis, you''re now one of Pamore''s major contributors to taxes. It''s only right for us to make the trip." Angus closed the pen cap and stood up. "You''re different from us ordinary workers." Grace handed him his briefcase. "You''re serving the people." As she saw them out, Luke walked in. They nodded in acknowledgment as they passed by each other. Then Luke handed her a red invitation letter. "I went back to your ce this morning and saw an invitation. I thought I''d bring it over." Angus turned around just in time to see Grace open the invitation. "What are you looking at? Can''t take your eyes off a beautifuldy?" his colleague teased. Angus nudged him. "No, I was looking at the invitation. It seems familiar." "Blossoms Teahouse is done renovating?" Grace was puzzled when she saw that it was Shawn''s invitation. "Yes, it''s been nearly a month. It reopens tomorrow. If I hadn''t seen the invitation, we might have missed it." Shawn probably didn''t know that she had moved to Summitview Manor, but Grace appreciated his gesture. "Prepare a gift. I''ll go tomorrow." Luke hadn''t responded yet when arge hand took the invitation from her hand. The man''s voice was slightly hoarse. "Blossoms Teahouse?" Grace turned around in surprise. "You''re awake. Did you sleep well?" "I haven''t taken a nap in years. It feels a bit strange." Xander was working even with his injuries. Grace couldn''t bear to see him like that, so she insisted that he take a two-hour nap. Originally, she promised to apany him, but she had woken up at some point. Xander closed the invitation. "What is this?" "The teahouse that had a firest time is reopening. The owner saved me, so I thought of preparing a gift. "What kind of gift do you think would be good?" Grace nestled in his arms. Xander pondered the name of the teahouse. "Blossoms wither, yet the heart remains true. This owner is quite interesting." As he mentioned this, Grace''s eyes lit up. "That''s the meaning of the teahouse''s name? Does Mr. Griffin have someone in his heart?" "Hisst name is Griffin?" "Yeah, Shawn Griffin. I made Luke deliver a thank-you gift to express my gratitude. Oh, I invited him to the g that day." Grace suddenly remembered. "I promised to introduce Caleb to him, but there was a little mishap..." All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Xander lowered his gaze. The scar on her neck had faded. "Gracie, you introduce your family to anyone?" Grace denied it. After a moment of contemtion, she understood the hidden meaning of his words. Sheughed joyfully. "Why be jealous? He saved my life. Of course, I have to do my best to fulfill any request." She was quite naive in certain matters. Xander didn''t say much. "I''ll go with you tomorrow." Since he was willing to apany her, Grace had no objections. She wrapped her arms around his neck, acting coquettishly. "I forgot to ask you. How many days are you staying this time?" He had agreed to attend the g at thest minute. He probably hadn''tpletely resolved Fulton Group''s matter. Yet, he had been staying in Pamore for four days already, which was quite long. Xander took the opportunity to embrace her. "Are you trying to drive me away?" Chapter 623 Reopening Chapter 623 Reopening "That''s not what I meant. I just suddenly thought that Aunt Hestia and Uncle Raymond would be upset if they knew that you got injured because of me." Grace felt guilty. "It''s just a minor injury." "For parents, there''s no such thing as a minor injury. They would feel sorry for you." After Grace said that, Xander was momentarily lost in thought. In the early years, when Hestia and Raymond were divorced, it seemed no different from before for outsiders. But only he knew that Raymond had to leave often to visit Prisci and Jake. No matter if they were close or not, Jake was still his biological son, and Raymond was not a heartless person. After growing up, Xander asionally saw Prisci¡ªthe woman who had destroyed hisplete family. Yet, he still had to respectfully address her as Aunt Prisci. If Raymond had felt sorry for Xander, he wouldn''t have put him in this situation. "What''s on your mind?" Grace smoothed his furrowed brow. Xander came back to his senses. "It''s nothing. I''ll probably leave in three days." Grace couldn''t help but hold him tighter, feeling a bit teary-eyed. "So soon?" "You seemed very magnanimous just now." Grace blushed at his words. "I don''t want you to leave. I''ll miss you." She hadn''t expected that her rtionship, after so many years, would be a long-distance one. They said long-distance was challenging, and she was starting to feel it. "I''ll stay with you after this," Xander promised. However, Grace didn''t take it to heart. Considering the scale of Fulton Group, it couldn''t function without him. "I can visit you often." Seeing the lovebirds being lovey-dovey, Luke withdrew sensibly. The next morning, Peter came to report. "Quentin''s information was urate. We''ve found Ryan. The casino''s debt collector went after him, and he lost a hand." Hearing that, Grace was terrified. She turned around to straighten her cor. She loved to sleep. When Xander woke her this morning, she stayed in bed and refused to move. Helpless, he tickled her waist, making her burst intoughter. They fooled around and tumbled on the soft bed. Except for thest step, they did everything they could. The scar on her neck waspletely covered by a hickey. Xander put on his windbreaker. "Where is he?" "In our custody. His confession is almost the same as Samuel''s testimony. Both im to have been instigated by Jessica. "He provided a few ces where Jessica might be. We looked, but she''s not there." "What about Quentin''s son?" "Luckily, after Ryan disappeared, his men also ran away. Quentin''s son was barely alive. When he was brought to Yeager Residence, Quentin almost fainted." When Grace finished getting ready and turned around, Xander just happened to say, "Now that it''s clear, send him to the police station to cooperate with the investigation." The reopening ceremony of Blossoms Teahouse was grand, with many high-end cars parked outside. Grace got out of the car, and Xander, carrying a gift, followed. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. When they reached the entrance, Grace handed over the invitation. "Hi, is Mr. Griffin here?" "Yes, but he''s very busy today. If it''s a gift, you can leave it with me, and I''ll register it." After some thought, Grace felt it wasn''t appropriate to do so. "Tell him that I''d like to personally give him this gift." The person opened the invitation and took a quick look before closing it. "Oh, Ms. Lewis. Mr. Griffin instructed me to reserve a private room for you. Follow me." Hearing this, Xander squinted his eyes. The teahouse was so nicely renovated that no signs of the previous fire remained. The private room was elegant, and though the tea set wasn''t expensive, it was tasteful. Xander opened the window. "The owner is not only aesthetic but also quite well-connected." Chapter 624 Wish Your Business to Flourish Chapter 624 Wish Your Business to Flourish Downstairs, there was a constant flow of influential figures. "He must have some connections to open a teahouse in this location. It''s a new opening. Surely people wille to show their support." Grace skillfully cleaned the tea set and brewed the tea leaves. "Is that so? But Benjamin is also here." Hearing that, Grace frowned. When she nced to the side, she indeed saw Benjamin entering the adjacent private room. He usually didn''t like tea, but he actually came. Smiling, Xander took a seat. "I''m getting more and more curious about the kind of person your savior, Mr. Griffin, is." What kind of person? He was a person who needed to wear a mask year-round so as to not reveal his true identity. When Shawn received the news, he had just finished a social engagement. Spencer reported to him, "A private room was reserved a month ago. "I didn''t know it was Mr. Hawkins. Since he''s here, he probably already knows your identity." Shawn''s eyes above the mask revealed his change of emotion. "Just let him drink. I don''t want to see him." The day he saved Grace, he was prepared for exposure. "Ms. Lewis is here, too, just next door to Mr. Hawkins. She says she wants to see you." Shawn frowned. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. When the first pot of tea was ready, Grace poured a cup for Xander. "I promised to make you tea last time. I didn''t expect it to happen so soon." Xander lowered his gaze and took a sip. "It''s delicious." "By the way, Pamore is such a big ce. Where do you think Jessica could be hiding?" "Have you heard of hiding in in sight?" "You mean she might be right under our nose?" As soon as she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Grace opened it, revealing Shawn. "Mr. Griffin, congrattions on the reopening." Her figure blocked the view of Xander behind her. Shawn smiled. "Just call me Shawn. My men said you have a gift for me." Grace nodded and handed over the gift. "A purple y tea set customized for you." Shawn nced at it and knew that this tea set was surely worth several hundred thousand. He pursed his lips and refused. "It''s too expensive. I can''t ept it." Yet, Grace directly stuffed it into his hands and said adorably, "It''s not for the teahouse. It''s for you. Use it when you entertain guests." Shawn smiled wryly. "You''ve already given me somethingst time, and I''ve also gone to the g. "You gave me a good seat. That''s already enough. There''s no need to buy such an expensive gift." "How can it be the same? That was a thank-you gift. This is to celebrate your reopening and a wish for your business to flourish. It has a different meaning." Her eloquence left Shawn with no choice. "Ms¡ª" "Please ept it, Mr. Griffin. It''s just a little token of appreciation from Grace." A male voice suddenly came from behind her. Shawn was stunned. When Grace turned sideways, Xander, who was sitting on the side, was finally seen. The two men saw each other face-to-face. Their vibe waspletely different. Shawn was calm and steady, while Xander was more outwardly expressive, with a pair of eyes full of thoughts. The two didn''t speak for a moment. Grace hurriedly introduced, "Mr. Griffin, take a seat. This is my boyfriend, Xander Fulton." The word "boyfriend" caused Shawn''s pupils to shrink. He pressed his lips into a line before finally sitting down. "Thank you both foring." Xander poured a cup of tea and ced it in front of Shawn. "Let''s take this tea for wine. Thank you for saving Grace. If you need help in the future, you can find me at Futurelink Corporation." The tea leaves floated in the water. Shawn didn''t touch the cup. "I can''t drink. I appreciate it, but I''ll pass this time." He didn''t drink. On the contrary, Xander blew on the rim of the cup and took a sip. "Mr. Griffin, you don''t drink tea, yet you opened a teahouse. That''s quite special." Chapter 625 Gift Chapter 625 Gift "It''s just a hobby." Shawn observed Xander. This was a manpletely different from Benjamin. Thetter had grown up in struggles for power and had been tainted by money. However, Xander appeared to be like a refreshing breeze, unaffected by the storms. This demeanor must have developed in an extremely rxed environment. "Mr. Griffin, your gaze is quite sharp. It''s good to have the ability to discern the ways of the world." Xander spoke up, stopping his scrutiny. Shawn finally nodded. "Ms. Lewis doesn''t owe me anything. She''s just being polite. Don''t worry about it, Mr. Fulton. Just treat me as a passerby." "Gracie and I have never been ungrateful. Moreover, you''ve been so considerate, giving her a private room during the busy opening. "I''ll remember this favor. You can find us anytime, so we can repay it." Xander fiddled with the ring in his hand, seemingly serious but carefree. Gracie. Shawn had never heard of this address before. He looked at Grace and saw her nod. "Yeah. By the way, I''m sorry I didn''t let you meet Caleb at the g." She still remembered. Shawn smiled helplessly. "It doesn''t matter. Witnessing his heartfelt confession was already a feast for the eyes." Grace chuckled. "Caleb likes to show off. He''s very happy when doing such things." "It''s normal to feel happy when confessing to a loved one." Shawn suddenly recalled. "His ne was very nice. You can tell that his partner is a skilled person. Probably a designer?" "My God." Grace was shocked. "You have a sharp eye. I can''t believe you noticed that." "Just some careful observation and guessing. It''s nothing special." While the two were talking, Xander leaned against the chair and observed Shawn. Grace asked him, "Xander, did you notice Caleb''s ne? I even told Lydia that I envied Caleb." It was just an adorable, casual remark, but Xander looked at her. "Why envy? You have one, too." "Have what?" The next moment, Xander took out a wooden box. "I promised to give you a gift. Here it is." He had mentioned it before, but with so much happening, Grace had long forgotten. She didn''t expect him to remember it all along. "What is it?" Grace felt a bit embarrassed to open it in front of Shawn. "Mr. Griffin is not a stranger. Go ahead and open it." Shawn''s eyes darkened slightly. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. The pattern on the wooden box was obviously made by a master. Since the box was so exquisite, the item inside wouldn''t be ordinary. And indeed¡­ "T-This ne..." Grace picked it up in surprise and looked at the beautiful red ruby on it. "This looks very familiar. Is this Eternal Love?" Xander nodded. "Yes, the one you showed me from a magazine during your school days." Back then, Grace had been neglecting her studies and delving into fashion design, often studying fashion magazines. One day, she came across a red ruby ne and excitedly showed it to him. "The Queen of Mardovia wore this in thest century. It''s dedicated to her beloved. That''s why it''s named Eternal Love. "Oh my God, how romantic! Look, Xander. Isn''t it beautiful?" In Xander''s eyes at the time, there was only her lively and animated expression. "It is." "It''s a pity it disappeared..." She had short-lived enthusiasm. After saying this, she forgot about it. However, Xander remembered it. When he received news about the ne, he immediately had someone buy it at the auction. Chapter 626 No Longer a Cop Chapter 626 No Longer a Cop Grace was extremely surprised. She didn''t expect Xander to remember everything. "How much was it?" It was over 100 million dors¡ªdefinitely not a small amount. But Xander thought it was worth it. "Do you like it?" His eyes were gentle as he gazed at the surprised Grace. "I do... but how much was it?" She knew that it was undoubtedly expensive. Even though they were notcking in money, it wasn''t an ordinary essory after all. Xander took the ne and bent down to put it on for her. "The price doesn''t matter as long as you like it." Their interaction was intimate, like a couple deeply in love. After Xander put it on for her, he turned to face Shawn. "Let Mr. Griffin take a look." The ruby wasrge, and Grace''s skin was fair. It looked exceptionally beautiful on her. Shawn squinted his eyes. When he noticed the hickey below her corbone, he quickly looked away. "Ms. Lewis is beautiful. Anything looks good on her." Shawn then stood up. "Thank you both foring. I have other matters to attend to. Enjoy your time here." He left and closed the door. Just then, Spencer approached. "Why do you look so pale? What happened?" "I''m wearing a mask. You can tell?" "You''re giving off a murderous vibe. Do I need to look at your face? Did Ms. Lewis provoke you?" Not answering, Shawn handed over the gift. "Put it away." When Spencer left, Shawn raised his head and met Benjamin''s eyes in the opposite private room. Benjamin was sitting cross-legged, like a wolf that had been spying for a long time. Inside the room, Grace put away the ne since she didn''t want to draw too much attention. "Why do I feel like he''s not very happy today?" All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Xander lowered his eyes, pondering his own thoughts. "Where were we just now?" "Jessica. You said she might be right under our nose." "When I return to Frenda this time, I''ll leave Peter to handle follow-up matters and protect you. At least I can ensure your safety." He was serious, but Grace chuckled. "I have bodyguards around me. You don''t need to leave Peter here." Xander poured out the tea and brewed a new pot. "What kind of tea do you like?" "ck tea." "I''ll order some to be stocked here. Maybe we''ll have a chance toe by in the future." He changed the subject, and Grace couldn''t do anything about it. As she cradled her face, she observed him skillfully executing a series of actions to brew the tea. With his long fingers and impable technique, his performance was truly a visual delight. She took out her phone and took pictures, not taking his eyes off him. "Why are you taking pictures?" "Memories. I don''t know when I''ll see you again." Seeing her pitiful face that evoked sympathy, Xander chuckled. "It''s been so many years, and you won''t even say hello when you see me?" In the private room next door, two men with simr figures sat opposite each other. Benjamin took a sip of tea and slowly spoke. Upon careful observation, the two only had slightly simr facial features. Other than that, they werepletely different. Shawn was firm and decisive, while Benjamin was gentle and deep, someone who had been used to currying favor in the world of fame and wealth. "I appreciate you attending the opening ceremony of Blossoms Teahouse, Mr. Hawkins. As for the rest, I''m not quite sure." "Blossoms wither, yet the heart remains true. You opened this teahouse because you resent me." Benjamin clenched his fingers, feeling aplicated emotion. "Resent you for what? Resent you and your mother seizing everything from the Hawkins family? Or resent you for knowing that she liked me, yet still pretending to be me and marrying her?" Shawn spoke calmly, but he hit the nail on the head. Benjamin mmed the table. "I didn''t know back then! Plus, you had the ident¡ª" "Benjamin, I don''t want to pursue the past. Why do you insist on bringing it up?" Shawn interrupted him. "Is that so? Then why did you open this teahouse? Isn''t it to oppose me¡ª" "I want a life." Shawn interrupted him again. "I''m no longer a cop." Benjamin was stunned. Chapter 627 Those Things Are Already Yours Chapter 627 Those Things Are Already Yours "Why?" Benjamin couldn''t help but ask after a long while. "You were at the scene that day." "This is my business. I don''t need to exin anything to you." Benjamin frowned, and Shawn continued, "Besides you, no one will know that I used to be Alexander. Hawkins Group is all yours. No one ispeting with you." Hearing that, Benjamin didn''t feel assured at all. His eyes were filled with suspicion. "No one? What about Grace?" Shawn put down the teacup. "She didn''t recognize me." The teahouse was peaceful. Closing the door to the private room seemed to iste them from the outside world. Grace slept in Xander''sp for a while and woke up two hourster. The two of them walked out side by side. Suddenly, Xander received a call from Hazel. Grace understood that it must be an internal matter of the Fulton Group. "I''ll wait for you outside." "Okay, I''ll go to the restroom." It was surely a call to urge him to return to Frenda as soon as possible. Hazel was anxious. "Mr. Fulton Senior stayed at Ss'' ce for two consecutive nights. Jake has fallen out of power. "He''ll definitely take this opportunity to make aeback. Fulton Group cannot be without a leader now." Xander turned on the tap and washed his hands. "I''ll be back in three days." Hazel hesitated for a moment and then said in one breath, "I received information that Jake admitted all of his doings on Aether''s projects. "Although he was punished, he also stated that he could go to Pamore to make amends on your behalf. He''ll return tomorrow." Upon hearing this, Xander instinctively tightened his grip on the phone and turned off the tap. Two minutester, he walked out of the men''s room. As he passed the corner, he heard a familiar voice. "We can''t use Shawn anymore. He''s no longer a cop." It was Benjamin. Xander took out a tissue to wipe his fingers. Benjamin seemed to be on the phone. The other end said something, and his tone turned heavy. "Jessica, you can tell Grace about this. I don''t care anymore. "I''ll do my best to get you out of Pamore, but you can''te back. We''re even now." After saying this, he hung up and walked away quickly. Xander tilted slightly to avoid being seen. Grace waited at the teahouse''s entrance for a while. When she saw Shawn socialize with people at the door, she said to the receptionist, "Your boss is a very decent man, as if he was born for this job." "Right? He''s very good to us, just not very talkative." Grace held her face with one hand, watching for a while. Suddenly, she felt that Shawn''s figure was somewhat familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere. Before she could figure it out, she saw Benjamine down from upstairs, passing by Shawn. This scene made Grace frown. Just from the side profile and back, the two people seemed to have a natural resemnce. "Gracie." Xander held her hand, appearing next to her at some point. Grace snapped out of her thoughts and held his hand. "Why is your hand so cold?" Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Xander walked out with her. "What were you looking at?" Grace pressed her lips together. For some reason, she didn''t tell him. "Opening a teahouse in the city center can attract guests from everywhere. I was anticipating the scale of this ce in the future." "Wanna make a bet? I bet the business will go down in the future." "No way. With the location and connections, it shouldn''t go down." Grace was confident. "It''ll definitely be bustling." Xander was confident of winning. He pulled her toward the car. "What are we betting?" "I like the Phantom in your garage." He chuckled. "Those things are already yours without betting." Chapter 628 A Hundred of My Stores Chapter 628 A Hundred of My Stores The sunlight was perfect, shrouding the two of them in a halo of light. They were like a picturesque scene by the roadside. Xander loosely wrapped his hands around her waist. "Let''s not worry about the bet for now. We''ll see." Benjamin''s car happened to pass by at this moment, and he saw this scene. His expression turned ugly as he gritted his teeth. Larry was very concerned. "Mr. Hawkins..." "I understand why Alexander gave up." Larry waited for the next sentence. "At this point, even if it''s not me, it won''t be him either." Grace had long since found the right guy, a man who had the ability to protect her. Benjamin rubbed his forehead, never having felt so defeated in his entire life. In the private room, Shawn said, "I gave up everything, but that doesn''t mean that I won''t collect some debts from you." "What?" "You took my ce and married Grace, but you didn''t treat her well, making her suffer. I''ll remember this. One day, I''ll make you pay." Benjamin couldn''t retort because it was the truth. "Arrange people to get Jessica out of here tomorrow." Larry was surprised. "Aren''t we supposed to keep her here? Our people may not have this level of expertise." "Arrange a dinner tonight. I want to meet someone higher up. It should be possible to make preparations and give her a new identity." In the car, the driver raised the partition, isting the sound from the back seat. "You''re leaving tonight? Why so sudden? You said three dayster." Shocked, Grace sat in the corner, creating distance from Xander. "Something happened at Fulton Group. I have to go back." "Is it because of Jake?" Xander rubbed the cigarette box in his hand, enduring the urge to smoke. "More or less." Grace''s chest heaved. Although reluctant, business came first. She could only try to understand. "Help me say hi to Aunt Hestia and Uncle Raymond. Take care of them." At this moment, she looked so pitiful, with her face crinkled. Xander endured augh, lifting her chin. "What about me?" "Just stay alive." Xander burst intoughter, scolding her for being heartless. At 8:00 pm, Grace sent him off at the airport. Before leaving, he held her hand tightly. He didn''t say anything, but it felt like he had said so much. Peter was indeed left behind. "Ms. Lewis, are you going back to Summitview Manor?" With Xander gone, Grace wasn''t particrly interested in that ce. She gave an address to find Emily. "This ne is with you? When did you get it?" Surprised, Emily held the ruby and examined it under the light. "He gave it to me. How much do you think it''s worth?" Emily gave a cool smirk. After some thought, she said, "Not much, just about a hundred of my stores." Grace frowned at the answer. Emily carefully put the ne back in the box. "Xander is really generous to you. Any random gift is worth hundreds of millions of dors. Ask him if he has any siblings and introduce one to me." Graceughed and scolded her for being obsessed with money. "But he does have a younger brother..." "He''s not an only child? Who''s his younger brother?" After careful consideration, Grace changed the subject and didn''t answer directly. While the two besties chatted enthusiastically, Peter stood at the door and received a call. "Benjamin will probably send Jessica out of Pamore these two days. Keep an eye on his movements. Inform me if there''s anything." "Got it." Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. The ne slowly took off. Before hanging up the phone, Xander heard thest sentence from the other party. "It''s confirmed. The Hawkins family indeed has an eldest son. Not Benjamin, but a person named Alexander. "He''s not a businessman. He works for the government." Chapter 629 Tell Her the Truth Chapter 629 Tell Her the Truth Winter rain continued to fall. Jessica wrapped herself tightly in her coat, sitting in the car. She had been drinking heavily for several days, but today she abstained. It was a rare moment of sobriety. Her face was pale. "Do I really have to go?" "Our boss said so. Your staying here will put everyone in danger. "If you get caught, your charges could add up to decades. Don''t be ungrateful, Ms. Landon." It was still early, so they were the only car on the road, speeding in the rain. After some time, a ck car suddenly appeared in the rearview mirror, following behind them. Jessica became alert. "We''re being followed! Is it the cops?" The driver turned the steering wheel. "I''ll shake them off." He was skilled, but the other party was equally skilled. After several rounds, the driver still couldn''t shake off the pursuer. Instead, they were overtaken. The other car blocked their way horizontally, forcing them toe to a halt. The driver''s heart sank. "How could this happen? Mr. Hawkins said no one would interfere." This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Jessica''s face grew even uglier. Just then, a tall man dressed in casual clothes got out of that car. He walked over and knocked on Jessica''s car door. "...Who are you? What do you want?" The driver trembled. "I''m not a cop." Peter held a phone. "Open the back seat. My boss has something to say to Ms. Landon." Jessica squinted at him, watching him get into the car and hand her the phone. "Who is it?" "If you want to get out of here, just ept the call." Jessica had no choice. This person clearly understood her every move and knew she had no way out. "Hello..." She took the phone. There was a brief silence on the other end before a man''s voice came out softly. "Ms. Landon, before you leave, did you forget something?" The voice was familiar yet unfamiliar. Jessica gritted her teeth. "Who are you?" "Benjamin can pull some strings, and so can I. If he wants to let you go, I can also arrange for you to be caught during security checks. "Think carefully about whether you should do me a favor." The man''s voice had a hint of fatigue, but his thoughts were clearly organized. "What do you want me to do? I won''t do anything that concerns my interests." "It''s simple. Tell Grace the truth." Jessica was stunned. "What?" She never expected that she would be asked to do something for Grace. "What truth?" "You''ve been hiding something for Benjamin. I just want you to tell the truth. It''s not difficult." Finally, Jessica realized something. She sneered. "You''re Xander." There was no response from the other end. "The flight Benjamin arranged for you to leave at 6:10 am. You still have 20 minutes to think. If you dy any longer, the ne won''t be able to take off." Jessica was cornered. There was simply no room for negotiation. She bit her lip so hard that it started to bleed. The choice was to offend Xander or Benjamin. It was truly a dilemma. "If you tell the truth, Benjamin won''t know immediately, and he won''t have the chance to regret it. But if you defy me, I can ground the ne now." "I''ll say it!" Jessica had no choice. At the same time, Grace woke up at 8:00 am after a good night''s sleep. Xander''s scent still lingered on the pillow. She sniffed it and finally stretchedzily, waking up. She took out her phone and saw two unread messages. One was from Xander, informing her that he had safelynded in Frenda. The other was from an unknown number, and the sender had sent a video. Grace sharply sat up from the bed, and her hand holding her phone was trembling. In the video, a man was answering questions in ss. His figure and side profile were exactly the same as her impression from many years ago. The teacher smiled and said, "Well done. What''s your name?" "Alexander." Chapter 630 Siblings Gathering Chapter 630 Siblings Gathering The next day, Grace seemed a bit absent-minded. Ashley reminded her several times. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Caleb is on the line. He couldn''t reach you and called me.¡± Grace finally snapped out of her daze and took Ashley''s phone. Caleb''s face appeared on the screen. "Gracie, what''s going on? You haven''t been answering my calls. I was so worried!" "My phone ran out of battery... What''s up, Caleb?¡± Grace simply made up an excuse "Victor is on vacation. He''sing to Pamore to see you. Let''s have dinner together tonight." Grace was delighted. "I haven''t seen Victor in a long time. When will he arrive? I''ll book a restaurant." "I''ll have someone pick him up.¡± Caleb suspiciously stared at her face. ¡°You look unwell. What happened?¡± Grace shook her head vigorously, insisting that she was fine, and hastily hung up the phone. Having once traveled to Pamore for a man whose name she didn''t even know and eventually married Benjamin by a twist of fate had already angered her family. If she were to tell them now that the man wasn''t actually Benjamin, they might be even more furious. Grace felt somewhat lost, not even knowing how to face this truth herself. As night fell, the three of them gathered at a famous restaurant. Given Caleb''s special status, Grace had reserved a private room. It was an antique-style ce that served barbecue. When Grace pushed open the door with her coat, Victor was grilling sausage. Caleb enthusiastically suggested, "Grill more. I love sausages." "Does your manager let you eat this?" "Eating one or two pieces won''t hurt. She''s not here anyway." Suddenly, Lydia, who was sitting next to him, tugged at his sleeve and signaled him with her eyes. When Caleb nced in that direction, his fork fell to the ground. "Gracie?" Only then did Grace walk in with a smile. "Your manager is not here, but your boss is." Caleb made a mournful face. "If I Knew I''d end up listening to you, I wouldn''t have gone to Amirate.¡± Everyoneughed.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. After Grace greeted Victor, she asked, "You''re taking leave so early?" Il''ve been working my ass off for them. Shouldn''t they give me a break for a couple of days?¡± Victor lifted her chin to scrutinize ¡ª her. "You''ve lost quite a bit of weight. Did Xander starve you? He''s not doing a good job." Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~ Grace burst intoughter. Just then,Caleb exposed Victor. "Victor heard about your kidnapping and I purposely applied for leave to came and see you." Content ¡®belongs to NovelDrama.Org a Hearing that, Grace was touched. Victor yfully tapped Caleb''s hand with his fork. "You talk too much.¡± As they were all family, they didn''t pay much attention to formalities. Although Grace was happy, she didn''t talk much. This was the first time Lydia had met Victor since she became I. Caleb''s girlfriend. During the meal, she toasted Victor twice, andfie drank on both asions. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~ Suddenly, Lydia received a call and had to leave for work. Caleb stood up to walk her out. The private room quieted down at once, with only the grilling sound on the barbecue grill Grace lit a cigarette and took a drag to rx. "He only has his eyes on Lydia now. They''re very happy. I think they might get married.¡± Victor smiled. "Not necessarily." "You don''t think so? Why not?" Victor looked at her, not answering, "Do you have something on your mind?¡± Being seen through, Grace was surprised. She shook her head. ¡°Nope." Victor pinched her cheek. "Since you were young, whenever you have something on your mind, it shows on your face. "Of course, I can tell. You haven''t been smiling much tonight.¡± Fortunately, she still had family members in this world who knew her well. Grace sighed, not knowing how to start. . Victor, if you found out that something you''ve always persisted in is actually wrong, what would you do?" Chapter 631 Just a Puff of Smoke Chapter 631 Just a Puff of Smoke Victor stood up and opened the window for some fresh air. He was a health-conscious guy, rarely involved in smoking or drinking. "Give up and change course. There are many things in this world worth persisting for." He was very rational Grace looked at him. "But all the effort and time in the past would go up in a puff of smoke. Don''t you think it''s a pity?¡± "You should be happy. If those things keep lingering in your memory, you''ll Keep remembering and regretting them. "Letting them be a puff of smoke allows you topletely let go, doesn''t it?¡± Victor yed with a lighter in his hand as he spoke indifferently. With his personality, he had never been torn by such ethereal things. Grace frowned, but she felt a sense of enlightenment. Victor was right. That person never appeared all these years, indicating that they were not meant to be. "Anyway, we chose the paths ourselves. We took the step for a reason." Hearing this, Grace extinguished her cigarette. "You really hit the nail on the head. But I really want to see what you will be like if you''re bound by something one day." Victor chuckled. "You''re so mean. I''mforting you. and you want to see me make a fool of myself?¡± "I didn''t...¡± At this moment, Caleb returned and pushed the door open. ¡°What are you guys talking about without me? You guys are giving off a weird vibe.¡± "Not everyone is like you." Grace put on her coat. "Didn''t you send Lydia home?" Caleb sat down with a helpless expression. "She''s afraid of being seen." She wasn''t ready to tell everyone that Caleb was her boyfriend, as it would have a huge impact on her life. ¡°Your road ahead is long and arduous." Grace patted his shoulder. Annoyed, Caleb kicked her with his leg. Laughing. Grace left the private room. As she walked out of the restaurant, her smile faded Luke was waiting there When he saw her, he immediately reported, "I had someone check the records. The Hawkins family indeed has an elder son named Alexander, born to the original wife.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. "Benjamin is the son of the second wife. The two have a simr age and look.¡± Grace took a deep breath. It was as she suspected I''ve been with the Hawkins family for three years and never knew they had another son." Elizabeth never mentioned it. and Grace wouldn''t have thought about it, let alone investigated it. "I found that the Hawkins family doesn''tlike Alexander. With the. suppression from Benjamin''s. * mother, he had a hard timesContent belongs to NovelDrama.Org - "After being epted into the police academy, he became a cop.¡± It sounded like aplete stranger to Grace, nothing like the boy in her memories. Grace was lost in thought. "What happenedter?¡± ¡®We coulda''t find any further information about him after he Ss joined: the police. It seems he sno langer in Pamore." Contentbelongs to NovelDrama.Org ¡ª Benjamin never mentioned anything about this. Irritated, Grace lit a cigarette. Since this person was Benjamin''s brother, it meant that Benjamin knew she mistook him for someone else back then. Instead of exining, he epted this identity. He deceived her for so many years! "I''ve checked the number that sent you the message. It''s deregistered, and there''s no way to trace it." "The persgwho sent the message. to me must know the truth. No. mattenwhat their purpose is, at least theyctold me the truth and didn''t let me look like a fool.¡± Contentbelongs t6 NovelDrama.Org - Luke could tell that she wasn''t in a good mood and wisely didn''t say much. just waiting on the side The night wind was strong, blowing her head clear. She held her phone, eventually choosing to turn it on. Many messages flooded in, including some from Xander. She didn''t reply to his messages, and he seemed a bit anxious. Grace opened the messages directly and deleted the one with the video Victor was right. It was just a puff of smoke. It should disappearpletely. Chapter 632 Hows Grace Chapter 632 How''s Grace It was the afternoon in Frenda. The vast conference room was filled with all nine directors, along with various high-ranking executives andmittee members. When Xander walked in, all eyes turned toward him. He scanned the room, noticing that Jake had already taken his seat in his usual ce¡ªon the side in the front row. Jake even greeted him with a smile from his seat. Xander took his ce at the head of the table. "Aren''t you supposed to be in the hospital? It seems you''re perfectly fine now." Hearing that, Jake moved his bandaged wrist. ¡°Everyone knows that I''m a workaholic. In the past few years, even when you weren''t around, I never missed a single board meeting "So I''m back here even with this injury just in case you have anyst-minute issues, and I can take charge." It was an insinuation of ambition, clear for all to see. Without responding, Xander flipped open a document. "I apologize for keeping you all waiting. Let''s start the meeting." Suddenly, a director asked, "Mr. Fulton, did you return from abroad?" Xander paused his document, shuffling and gazing sideways. Standing behind him, Hazel whispered, "I didn¡¯t leak your schedule."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Xander replied calmly, ¡°Yes, something urgent came up." The director continued relentlessly, "Fulton Group doesn''t seem to have any relevant projects in Pamore." They even knew about his trip to Pamore. Xander adjusted his sleeves and answered casually, "I went to handle some personal matters." "As long as you''re not managing Futurelink''s matters. Remember, Mr. Fulton, you can''t be distracted. ¡°Otherwise, we''ll be very concerned about leaving Fulton Group to you." There was no mention of Grace, but instead, they shifted the focus to Futurelink. This acted as a more serious warning. Those old men from Fulton Group, who were discontent with Xander running his business outside, took the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction. Xander smiled, deliberately casting a nce at Jake. "If any of you have evidence of my misconduct, you can report it to themittee. If not, let¡¯s start the meeting.¡± Displeased, the other party took a sip of coffee. "It seems there''s none. Let''s proceed.¡± With thatmand, various departments began reporting their progress. Xander had been away for a week, and there were indeed many things left unresolved. It was already four hourster when the meeting ended After leaving the conference room, Xander: turned on his private phon¡¯ and saw Grace''s reply. His frosty mood finally eased slightly: Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org - "Xander." A voice came from behind. It was Jake. "It''s surely tough for you to travel back and forth. How''s Ms. Lewis?" he asked, smiling. Evidently, he already knew why Xander went to Pamore and was aware of Grace''s identity. Xander''s tone was indifferent. "It''s surely tough for you too. You harmed yourself just to return here. Why go to such lengths?" After hearing his words, Jake''s expression turned a little humble"! just want to share your burder: This minor injury is nothing.¡± Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org = The two went to the chairman''s office together, with Hazel trailing behind Seeing Xander storming, Hazet ¡®sweated profusely. It was clear that he was furious. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org ~ Raymond stood at the desk, seemingly kind yet stern. He drew on a piece of pastel paper without looking up. ¡°Is the meeting over?¡± Xander replied, "Recent affairs are all settled. Sorry for letting you worry.¡± Raymond nced at him. "Hazel mentioned you got injured. Is it serious?" "Just a minor injury. Nothing to worry about.¡± "And Gracie? Is she okay?" "She was startled, but you know her. She fears nothing.¡± Xander approached him and helped him sharpen a charcoal pencil. Chapter 633 Dont Go to Pamore Chapter 633 Don''t Go to Pamore Raymond nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. He turned to Jake, who had been quietly listening. ¡°Grace is the apple of the Lewises'' eyes. She''s like a half-sister to you. You''ll have a chance to meet her in the future." "I know. I met herst time. She''s indeed different. Xander is really lucky.¡± Jake said with a half-smile. "It''s worth it for him to give up work for her." Xander remained silent, narrowing his eyes. "You should thank Jake. If he hadn''t been mediating with themittee these days, they would have asked for you to be impeached "As a president, how can you leave thepany without any news for a week?" Raymond scolded. "Yes, I should thank Jake," Xander said without arguing. "Anyway, I left Hazel at thepany to handle the work." "You''re the president of thispany. If you don¡¯t approve those projects and funds, would your employees dare to start working?¡± Raymond was genuinely angry. Jake interjected, "Dad, don''t get worked up. Xander is back now. The future of thepany still depends on him." "I already know about Aether Group''s project. Jake is willing to take the me and go to Pamore to oversee the project.¡± Xander released his hand from sharpening the charcoal pencil at those words. "Oh? Seeming that Jake is willing to sacrifice himself like this, it seems I''m a bit ignorant as his brother." Jake maintained his smile. "It was my fault. Dad has already scolded me. Going to Pamore is nothing. I just hope you won''t hold it against me, Xander.¡± Xander pulled out a tissue and wiped away the charcoal stain on his hand "Why would I hold it against you? I''m lucky te have a selfless and thoughtful brother like you." Seemingly unable to resist, Jakeughed. "I''ll ensure Aether Group''s project is a sess." Next to Raymond, Xander wore an inscrutable expression. "You can leave now. I''ll have Xander help me frame up this piece," Raymond said Sensibly, Jake turned and left the office, closing the door behind him. "Why didn''t you make me revoke the order?¡± Raymond scrutinized Xander. "You''ve already made up your mind. I believe you have your reasons. I don''t need to say much.¡± Seeing howpliant and calm Xander was naturally eased Raymond''s heart. "Came here." Xander approached him. The pastel paper depicted a drawing of an authoritativemander leading an army. "Now that you''ve decided to return to Fulton Group, you can''t waver because of a woman. Jake is capable. "If you make a mistake, those directors can immediately oust you. Do you think he has been idling around for the past two years?" Xander stared at the drawing. ¡®He orchestrated the n to send me to Ramore, aiming to > monopolize power. Now, to please yOu, he''s taken the hit for meaHis motives are clear." Content¡¯belongs t6 NovelDrama.Org - "What''s wrong with being clear? rity and execution are what I want from my son and the president of Fulton Group." Raymond tapped the table with his. fingers."You haven''t been in your right mindtely. If it''s true love, YOu don ''thave to be constantly ? together." Content belongs.to NovelDrama.OrgContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Xander frowned. "Don''t go to Pamore anymore. Stay here. I want to see what Jake can achieve.¡± Raymond''s words held a hint of admiration. Clearly, he was satisfied with Jake''s determination to return despite his injuries After Rayniond left, Hazel knocked. onthe door and entered cautiously. "Mr. Fulton, why didn''t you insist? The.Aether Group project was¡± originally set up for our ow? ruse." Chapter 634 Vixens Trick Chapter 634 Vixen''s Trick "If I had insisted, it would prove that I had set this up." Xander massaged his temples. "But I think Mr. Fulton Senior is very happy with Ms. Lewis dating you," said Hazel. Xander''s face darkened. He didn''t express any opinions on that. "He''s already supporting Jake. When Jake returns from Pamore, this project will be a crucial step in his promotion. By then, there might be another director added to the Fulton Group''s board." Hazel was astonished. "Is it a dead end?" "He doesn''t know the difference between me going to Pamore and staying in Fulton Group. As long as I''m here, I won''t let him have this opportunity.¡± It was already nighttime in Frenda when Xander left thepany and went to Hestia''s ce. When the housekeeper opened the door and saw him, she excitedly called out, "Mr. Xander, you''re back." Xander raised a finger to signal her to keep it down. He then took off his coat. "Where''s my mom?" "She''s in the living room, having a video call with Ms. Lewis." As he walked over, he heard Grace''s voiceing from the phone. "Aunt Hestia, I''ve gathered some supplements that are good for beauty and health. I''ll send them to you tomorrow. You must take them." In the video, Grace was bare-faced, and her hair was casually tied up in a bun. Hestia smiled happily, satisfied with everything about Grace. "Sure. If it''s from you, I''ll definitely take it. Thank you." "I''m quite busy with work since it''s the end of the year. I''ll fly over to visit you whenever I have time.¡± Before Hestia could respond, a voice suddenly came from behind her. "What about me? Aren''t you gaing to visit me?¡± Hestia was startled. "You rascal, you walk so quietly!" Grace also chuckled in surprise. "Have you finished work?¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Xander took the phone and sat next to Hestia. ¡°Yeah. I saw Caleb''s Instagram story. You met Victor?" Grace was surprised that he had this meticulous side. She nodded. "Yeah, Victor came to see me, so I went back to my house. I''m not used to you not being at Summitview Manor.¡± Suddenly, Victor also leaned over to greet Xander. "Hey, it''s been so long since we had a meal together." "I''ll definitely treat you when I''m free.¡± Satisfied with Xander''s answer, Victor left the frame. Since Hestia was present, Xander and Grace didn''t say much and quickly ended the call. After Hestia calmed down from her joyful mood, she asked, "You went to Fulton Group?¡± "Yeah, Jake will handle the Aether Group project. I didn''t contest it." At these words, Hestia raised an eyebrow-Her tone became sharp as she ask¨¦d, "Why? That''s a project you werked hard to secure. = Rayrtiond must be crazy to give it to hiss for no reason." Content belongs to¡° - " om." Xafider picked up an orange from thetable. "Dad and the board are already unhappy with me. IfP insist-on leaving Fulton Group! wont e able to secure my pasition as-president.¡± Content bngs to - He had originally nned to stay in Pamore and remotely handle Fulton Group''s affairs. But now, with Jake gaining support, it would be difficult to restrain him. ¡°Even so, you shouldn''t give Jake¡ª" "Prisci wasn''t feeling wellst week and was hospitalized for two days. Dad went to visit her. I heard he even took care of her." At the mention of Prisci, Hestia closed her eyes. After a moment, she said, "I can''t and won''t learn that vixens tricks." Sometimes, men were like that. The more they appreciated capable and beautiful women. the more they preferred weak and obedient women by their side. "Prisci has been able to control Dad for so-many years. It''s not just becaus¨¦ she has a son, but also- because you always give him a bad attitude. She takes advantage of that." NovelDrama.Org - Chapter 635 Create Surprises Upon hearing that, Hestia asked, "Are you ming me, Xander?" "I didn''t mean that." "I can''t help it. I hate him whenever I think about how he betrayed our marriage and had a child with another woman. "I just hate them so much that I wish they were dead. If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t even see him again." Hestia gritted her teeth, unable to control her trembling. Xander understood that these years of deception andpromise had been hard for Hestia. He held her hand and said wearily, "I understand. Leave it to me. I''ll handle it." "I''m sorry that you can''t do what you want because of me. You can''t be in charge of Futurelink and can''t reunite with Grace." Hestia looked at him with a sense of guilt. She knew Xander had not had an easy time in both his career and rtionship these past few years. Raymond was right about something. "If it''s true love, we don''t have to be constantly together." Getting up, Xander said, "Grace is not a petty person." Back in the bedroom, he took a shower and video called Grace. It was daytime in Pamore. She was in the car. "Have you had dinner?" "Yeah, at Fulton Group." Xander scrutinized her on the phone. "Where are you going?" "I have work outside," Grace simply replied, leaning closer to the camera. "I put on makeup today. Do I look good?" "Very good, and you seem to be in good spirits." He smiled. Grace acted quite normal. It seemed that she hadn''t been affected by that text message. She didn''t have any intention of telling Xander about it either. "You should go to bed soon. It''s gettingte in Frenda. Rest well."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Unbeknownst to Xander, after the call was ended, Victor approached Grace. In a joking tone, he said, "Why didn''t you tell him that you''re going back to Frenda? You''ve learned how to give surprises." The vehicle was heading in the direction of the airport. Grace scolded adorably, "Stop saying nonsense. I freed up my time to go back to visit Grandpa with you." Victorughed louder. "If Xander wasn''t there, would you have agreed so quickly and been so willing to go back with me?" "Okay, enough." Grace covered his mouth. "It''s all your fault foring to find me and tempting me to go back." As it was the end of the year, most projects wereing to an end. Hence, Grace had wrapped heel and nned to leave with At the same time, Jake boarded a private ne at the airport. A woman, who was seeing him off, cried miserably. "You''ve never been to Pamore. It''ll be tough for you." "Are you worried?" Jake smiled, wiping away her tears. "Take care of yourself. What can happen to me? I''m a man." Afterforting her, he let his assistant take her away. The moment she turned around, Jake''s smile disappeared, reced by disgust. He made a call. "Give her some money and deal with her." After receiving confirmation, he removed the SIM card and inserted a new one. The ne then took off. When Jake''s nended in Pamore, a man in working attire was waiting at the exit. "Mr. Jake, I''m Jon Scott, your assistant during your time in Pamore." As they walked out of the VIP passage together, Jake instructed, "Help me check on someone. She''s named Grace Lewis." "Ms. Lewis from Amirate?" Jon blurted out. "Do you know her?" "Everyone in Pamore knows her. She''s very capable, and she''s aplished several major projects." Jake stopped in his tracks, a yful look in his eyes. "That''s interesting." He stood with his back turned and didn''t notice that two young men and a woman were walking just behind him. The woman had a bright and vibrant face. "Victor, wait for me." Chapter 636 Backing Xander had never overslept. Early in the morning, as he was putting on his coat, the housekeeper knocked on the door. "Ms. Yale is here." Hazel stood in the vi''s living room. She was carrying files in her arms. Hestia invited her for tea, so she drank politely and didn''t overstep. She had been doing this for the past few years. Hestia appreciated her. "You''ve been with Xander since he joined thepany. At that time, there were many elites, and quite a few prettydies among them threw themselves at him. Do you know why I chose you?" Hazel respectfully said, "I dare not specte on your thoughts, Madam Fulton, but I am curious about why I stood out." "Those people were too ambitious. They had too many ideas and wanted to achieve too much. Only you simply stood there with both honor and disgrace. I like that." Hestia rarely praised someone. But over these years, Hazel had indeed passed the test. Pleased, Hazel smiled and said, "Thank you for your praise, Madam Fulton. But I''m not as good as you think." Hearing this, Hestia reached out to straighten Hazel''s cor. "Xander was able to get where he is today thanks to your assistance over the past few years. He still has a long way to go. I hope you''ll continue to do a good job as his secretary." Hazel''s eyes widened slightly. She understood what Hestia was implying.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Just then, Xander came downstairs. He walked briskly without looking at Hazel. "Let''s go." Inside the car, Hazel reported, "Jake has gone to Pamore. The moment hended, the construction of the subway project here had an issue. "Sean Brooke, the materials supplier, said that the materials are stuck on the road. He is using it as an excuse to dy the construction progress. People are already talking about it." Xander pressed his finger against the documents. "Jake is eager to find something for me to do." "He''s counting on the fact that this project ultimately belongs to Fulton Group. He''s just a titr person-in-charge. If anything goes wrong, the problem will still be yours." If something went wrong, Xander''s position as president would be even more precarious. Xander massaged his temples. "Sean Brooke?" Hazel understood his question. "Yes, a well-known and cunning man in Frenda He became rich with the help of his grandfather and is used to being domineering. He also loves women." "How are the people I instructed to train doing?" "Some of them have already been arranged around those people. They have been carefully trained ording to their preferences and can be put into action at any time." Xander was satisfied. "Send one over tonight." Hazel nodded. While she was sending a message, Xander made a call. "Peter." Peter said something on the other end that made Xander smile. "Let her sleep." After whatever was said on the other end, his smile faded. "Jessica''s goal is the border. She must have some backing to go there alone. Investigate thoroughly, and have someone keep an eye on her closely. Don''t let her leave our sight." The other end agreed. When the call ended, Hazel cautiously inquired, "Jessica? I don''t recall hearing that name before." Xander frowned at her presumption, showing his displeasure. "You''ll know when it''s time for you to know." Hazel wisely kept quiet. Men who had been in the business world for many years and had seeded had some unique quirks. There were plenty of women for There w them, but each person had different tastes and preferences. For the sake of a family alliance, Sean had married a woman from a suitable background. She was used to being domineering since she had her family''s backing. Therefore, Sean had a special fondness for gentle and obedient beauties. Hazel had arranged for exactly that type today. "Does that mean I can meet Mr. Fulton today?" The person was very excited. Chapter 637 Xanders Type Hazel red at thedy. "How dare you have your eyes on Mr. Fulton?" "I didn''t mean that. Everyone says Mr. Fulton is cool and poised. I just want to see it for myself. I would never dare to covet Mr. Fulton in front of you, Ms. Yale." Thedy''s words were filled with hidden meaning. She was trying to please Hazel. Xander avoided women and had no scandals. If there were any rumors, they were about his closest secretary, Hazel. They said that the reason Xander maintained a clean image was because he already had Hazel. Xander ignored these rumors. But over time, it became the unspoken truth among those people. "Don''t talk nonsense," Hazel scolded, but she didn''t directly deny it. "If the higher-ups find out, they''ll skin you alive." Curiously, thedy grabbed Hazel''s arm. "Ms. Yale, what type of woman does Mr. Fulton prefer?" Hazel squinted her eyes, involuntarily recalling Grace-proud and beautiful. "That''s not something you should be asking." On the other hand, Grace hurriedly ran out of the vi. It was winter in Pamore, so she had to wear a coat almost every day. But in Frenda, the climate was mild. So, she had worn a white dress. As she ran, she looked like a butterfly in spring. From the second floor, Victor scolded angrily, "Grace! You just got home, and you''re running out already? Aaron and Grandpa aren''t back yet!" They had suddenly returned to Frenda, shocking the butler. He had informed them that Aaron had just gone to the hospital with Harold for a check-up. Standing in the yard, Grace looked up at Victor. "They''ll only be back at night! I can go out for a while!" "Are you that eager to see him? Aren''t you tired?" Victor could tell what was on her mind, and she couldn''t help butugh. "Victor, you''ll understand this feeling once you find your love. By then, you definitely won''t scold me!" Grace said, smiling. Then, she waved, ran out of the yard, and got into a mboyant red sports car. She headed straight for Fulton Group. Grace didn''t inform Xander about her return to Frenda, as she wanted to give him a surprise.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Peter, who was driving, felt guilty. "Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fulton might not be happy if you keep this from him." Not only was she keeping it from him, but she had also asked Peter to keep it secret. Not long ago, Xander had called and asked what Grace was doing. Peter had almost given the secret away and could only say she was sleeping. "A surprise is only a surprise if it''s unexpected." They arrived in ten minutes. The words "Fulton Group" stood tall the square, and the building towered over them. Content bel Grace hurried inside. "Hello, I''m looking for Mr. Fulton." The receptionist nced at her, feeling a sense of familiarity. "You are... Do you have an appointment?" "An appointment? I don''t think so." Grace wanted to surprise Xander and didn''t want to reveal her name. As she was facing a dilemma, Peter stepped forward. "Tell Hazel that Peter is here." The receptionist immediately understood and made a call. "Ms Yale, someone named Peter is here looking for you. Should I let hime up?" Hazel said something, and the receptionist handed Peter the phone. Hazel''s voice came through. "Peter, is it urgent? Mr. Fulton and I are with a client outside and won''t be back for a while." Grace quickly shook her head. Peter answered, "It''s not urgent. Where are you? I cane over and report in person." Since Peter was someone Xander trusted, Hazel let her guard down. "Fortress." Fortress Club catered to the wealthy, with dealings worth millions or even tens of millions of dors. Outside Fortress Club, Peter asked, "Hazel sent me the room number. Are you going in, Ms. Lewis?" Chapter 638 Asking for Hazel Since it was a ce where social events were held, it naturally involved women and alcohol. The room was filled with alluring music, and beautiful women stood in a row. Hazel bent down to pour a drink for Sean. "I''ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Brooke. I finally got to meet you today. You truly live up to your name. Let me make a toast to you." With a gentle expression, Sean pushed the ss away with a smile. "Xander came in person. This drink should be for him." Hazel hesitated and looked at the man behind her. Though Xander''s eyes shed with a cold glint, his expression remained respectful. He took the ss. "Mr. Brooke is my senior. All things considered, I should be drinking this." He downed the full ss of whiskey. Sean pped his hands approvingly. "Xander, I have to say, Jake is doing better than you in recent years." To reach his current position as Fulton Group''s president, Xander had stepped on numerous people and brushed aside many personal rtionships. Sean was one of them. Dissatisfied with the materials provided by Sean, Xander had consistently avoided appointing him for the projects contracted by Fulton Group. When the subway project had fallen into Jake''s hands, he had immediately capitalized on it and signed a contract with Sean. This had created a dilemma that Xander was facing today. He was forced to apologize. "Jake is known for being considerate. I''m indeed inferior to him in some ways. That''s why I''m here to apologize to you, Mr. Brooke." Xander smiled faintly. "Feel free to choose any of these beauties. All the expenses tonight are on me." All the women were stunning and elegant. "Since you said so, it would be impolite for me to refuse." Sean reclined on the couch.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. After ncing at the women, he beckoned with his finger. "You." The woman delightedly sat on Sean''sp. Hazel also breathed a sigh of relief. "My men are not sensible enough. Please forgive us for any inconvenience caused." Xander yed with the whiskey ss in his hand "Give me a definite answer. When can the construction start?" Sean observed Xander under the colorful lights. It was said that Xander was ruthless, but now he seemed quite amiable. Sean chuckled. "One is not enough." Xander raised an eyebrow. "Your secretary looks quite good. I like her. Let me have her, and we''ll start the construction tomorrow." Shocked, Hazel instinctively looked at Xander. Xander''s smile disappeared from his face. "You want to have a mistress?" Sean burst intoughter. "You can ask around. I''ve been doing this for many years. Why are you surprised?" Seeing Xander put down his ss, Hazel suppressed her fear. She sat beside Sean and massaged his thighs. "Mr. Brooke, I''m honored that you favor me. But I have a contract with Fulton Group, and not working would be a breach of contract." "I''ll pay the penalty for your breach of contract. It just depends on whether Mr. Fulton is willing to let you go." Sean embraced Hazel with one arm, his eyes fixed on Xander. The otherdy sensed the danger and quickly tried to please Sean. "Hazel only knows how to be a secretary. How can she serve you better than me, Mr. Brooke? Don''t you like me?" She was specially trained to have a voice that could make people melt. However, Sean remained unmoved. He was clearly targeting Xander. If it had been anyone else, Xander might haveplied with his request. But everyone knew that Hazel was Xander''s most trusted secretary. Giving her away would be a p in his face. "Mr. Brooke," Xander smiled and said, "Are you not afraid I''ll change the material supplier for this project?" Sean looked at him for a moment andughed. "What nonsense are you talking about? The contract has been signed and stamped with yourpany''s seal. If there''s a dy in the construction, you''ll be fully responsible for it." Chapter 639 Let Her In Xander nodded. Hazel''s heart was pounding like a drum. She feared he might act impulsively, but she also wanted to see how far he would go for her. She remained silent for quite some time. After a while, Xander said with a darkened face, "I''ve reviewed the contract Jake signed with you. He offered you a 30% profit margin. I''ll be the boss today. I can offer you 40%. As long as you''re happy." The 10% increase in the profit margin shocked Hazel. Sean''s pupils contracted slightly. He hadn''t expected Xander to be so generous. "You''ll be the boss? Do you know what that means?"Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Xander''s smile reappeared. "I know. Consider itpensation for my foolishness all these years. Will you forgive me?" At this point, Sean was somewhat shaken. Xander had given him enough respect today. Of course, as Xander''s senior, he could act arrogantly, but he knew when to stop. If he went too far, it wouldn''t end well. After a moment, Seanughed heartily and released Hazel. "It seems you do cherish this secretary of yours. The rumors are not unfounded." The crisis seemed to have passed. Hazel cast a nce at the calm Xander, her heart racing. At that moment, her phone vibrated inside her bag. She stepped out of the room and answered the call. "Peter?" "It''s been two hours. Is Mr. Fulton still inside?" Hazel walked onto the balcony and saw Peter''s tall figure standing next to the sports car in the square. "He''s not done yet. Is there anything urgent?" "It''s not me. It''s Ms. Lewis." Hazel frowned, squinting her eyes. Sure enough, she saw a slender figure with exquisite curves sitting in the sports car. "Why is she here?" "Don''t tell Mr. Fulton yet. How much longer will it take?" Gripping her phone, Hazel turned back to look at the private room. The door had already opened. Xander and Sean had finished their discussion and were walking out. "A while more. Let Ms. Lewis in." She pursed her lips and stated the room number. She hung up the phone and walked briskly toward Xander. "Mr. Fulton." "Whose call was that?" "Just a work call." Xander nodded and walked out. "Ask your people to serve Sean well. I''ll cover the expenses." Hazel acknowledged him and followed him out. Meanwhile, Grace stretched in the car. She nearly fell asleep. Peter bent down and exined, "Hazel said it''s almost over. Ms. Lewis, why don''t you go in directly?" Grace originally thought that it wasn''t appropriate, but it was gettingte, and she had limited time. If she didn''t return home by midnight, Aaron would surely get angry. So, she got out of the sports car. "Okay, I''ll go in and find him." Grace walked briskly. People in such ces were keen-eyed. They could tell that she had an extraordinary presence, a quality that ordinary women did not possess. Sean also noticed it. When Grace pushed open the door to the private room, he was busy touching a woman. Hearing the noise, he turned around. He saw a petitedy who was speaking softly. "I''m sorry. I got the wrong room." Sean''s eyes instantly lit up with desire. "Oh my, Xander is quite sensible." A car sped through the streets. In the back seat, Hazel clutched her fingers and cautiously asked, "M Fulton, why did you save me just now? A profit margin 10% is too much." It was normal for women to be harassed at social events, but he had been willing to give up profits for her. The lights outside the window swept across Xander''s cold profile. He inexplicably irritated, tugging. gat his nt belongs tie "You''re mine." Content & to NovelDrama.Org Chapter 640 Pay for It With Your Life Hazel''s gaze was intense. "So are the women you had me train." "They willingly sell their bodies for profit. It''s a fair trade. You''re different. You signed a work contract with me, so I have an obligation to ensure your safety." Xander''s tone was firm, just like when he was talking about business. "Besides, over the years, I did offend Sean. That 10% profit margin can be as mypensation." This was within Hazel''s expectations, but she couldn''t help feeling a sense of disappointment. Xander picked up his phone. He still had not received a response to the message he had sent Grace. His agitation intensified. Just then, a phone call came in. He squinted as he answered, "Hi, Aaron." "Where''s Grace? I can''t reach her on her phone. It''s alreadyte. You guys should know when to part." Aaron''s voice wasn''t particrly serious. It even had a hint of a teasing tone. Victor chimed in from the side. "What''s wrong with the couple spending a little more time together? Grace is not a little girl anymore, but you still set a curfew for her." Aaron smiled. In fact, he had no intention of rushing Grace home. He just wanted to ensure her safety. But the next thing Xander said made the smile freeze on his face. "Grace is back?" Xander''s jaw tensed, and his words were icy. Hearing that, Hazel froze in ce. Trembling, she hurriedly said, "Ms. Lewis has been waiting for you outside Fortress for a long time." Xander nced at her sharply, and his face darkened. "Turn around!" Hazel was on the verge of tears. "Peter instructed me not to tell you." The driver floored the gas, and the wheels spun as they raced back to Fortress. Back at Fortress, they saw Grace''s car parked at the entrance, but there was no one inside. Xander''s face was extremely dark as he strode forward with swift steps. Hazel hurriedly followed. "Peter is with her, and the employees in Fortress are vignt. She should be safe." Xander had a clear goal in mind. He took several steps at a time. "Did you tell her which room I was in?" Hazel had no time to think and could only answer, "Yes." Xander suddenly stopped, his hand rising abruptly. Hazel instinctively closed her eyes, expecting the p. Yet it didn''tnd on her face as she anticipated. "Mr. Fulton..." His body swayed. "If something happens to her, you''ll pay for it with your life!" Xander headed straight to Sean''s private room. At once, Hazel straightened her body and grabbed his arm. "Mr. Fulton if something happens to Ms. Lewis, I''ll naturally pay for it. But at this erucial moment, our losses will be greater if you offend Sean." However, Xander didn''t pause for a moment. He stood at the door and kicked it open. Hazel couldn''t stop him at all. Inside the room, the atmosphere was suffocatingly silent, with a faint scent of blood in the air. Sean was pinned to the couched, unable to move, while Peter held a broken beer bottle against him. Meanwhile, Grace was curled up in a corner. Her trembling hands were dripping blood, staining her white dress. The floor was a mess with broken ss. Xander''s heart sank at once. His voice shook as he called out, "Gracie." Grace''s mind was foggy. Her face was pale. Upon entering the room and not finding Xander, she had immediately wanted to leave. Yet Sean had grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Such a beautifu lady Xander is really finding met mistress." a The lighting was poor, so he had not been able to see that Grace was wearing high-end designer clothes.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "I don''t know you! Get lost! Let go of me!" "Don''t struggle. I''ll be gentle." At once, Grace had grabbed a bottle from the table and smashed it directly onto Sean''s head. That was when Peter had reached the room. Chapter 641 Shes My Girlfriend At this moment, Peter released his grip and stood straight on the side. "Mr. Fulton." Sean trembled as he climbed off the couch. "You bitch, how dare you hit me? Xander, is this how your people handle things?" His head was bleeding. Half of his face was covered in blood, making him look terrifying. However, Xander didn''t even nce at him. Instead, he walked over to Grace in the corner and slowly crouched down. He reached out his trembling hand. "Gracie." Grace had been holding back her emotions this whole time. When she saw Xander, she broke down at once. Tears streamed down her face. "I don''t know him." Xander lifted her face. It was so cold that it pierced his heart. "I know. I''m here now. Calm down." Seeing this, Sean''s eyes widened. "Y-You know each other? Xander, you set me up!" Just then, the manager rushed over with people. When he saw the scene, he knew the situation was bad. "Mr. Fulton, this happened because of our negligence." Upon closer inspection, Grace''s frail figure waspletely unfamiliar-she was not someone from Fortress. This was bad. The situation had be uncontroble. "Say something, Xander! Did you find this bitch to set me up?" Sean mmed the table furiously. "You''ve got some nerve to make a move against me! I bet you don''t want this project anymore!" "Mr. Brooke." Xander helped Grace to her feet and took off his coat to wrap around her. "You''ve been indulging in the red-light districts for too long, neglecting Mrs. Brooke at home. I think it''s time for her toe and take you home." His tone was indifferent, yet filled with immense pressure. This hit Sean where it hurt the most. His eyes widened. "What are you trying to do, Xander? Don''t you want the project anymore?" He relied on this marriage to sustain his career. Over the years, he had been with many women, but his wife knew nothing. If she found out about these affairs, he wouldn''t be able to recover for at least five years. Xander tightened his grip on Grace''s hand an stepped aside. "I stepped aside. "I forgot to introduce you. This ''bitch'' oned is my girlfriendntent Hearing that, Sean took a step back in disbelief. At this moment, he realized he was in trouble. He had touched ''s woman. Xander wouldn''tContent bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. noff the hook easily. Hazel lowered her head. She hadn''t expected Xander to admit his rtionship with Grace in such a situation. It seemed he had zero tolerance for anything when t involved Grace. Before Grace had entered the room, Sean had already gotten intimate with another woman. Since they were in this industry, the women were always prepared. Videos were their weapon to threaten such men. The woman approached and handed Xander the phone. "Mr. Fulton." Xander didn''t take it but looked at the manager. "You handle it." The manager quickly took it. "Understood." Xander''s face remained grim, as if a storm were brewing inside him. He carried Grace out without a word. As he passed by Hazel, he spoke in a harsh tone. "Terminate the contract with Sean." Hazel could only nod and watch his tall figure gradually fade away. Grace had never seen Xander like this. In her memory, he was always gentle andposed, rarely showing his emotions. But now, the veins were bulging on the back of his hand, and his lips were almost pursed into a straight line. He had reached his limit. When Xander carried Grace into the car, her chest was heaving. "Xander." He didn''t respond but picked up a cigarette from the console and lit it. A breath escaped from his chest amidst the smoke. As he massaged his temples, his hand was still trembling slightly. This time, Grace was in more danger than ever before. Chapter 642 Whats Wrong With the Car If Peter hadn''t arrived in time, and if Aaron''s call hade a littleter... Xander didn''t dare to think about what would have happened. "Why did youe back to Frenda?" Grace held onto his coat tightly as she said softly, "I came to see you."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "You came to see me without telling me?" Xander couldn''t control his temper. "Do you know what kind of person Sean is? How could you just go in?" "I don''t know. I just wanted to give you a surprise. Hazel said you were at Fortress, so I came over." Grace felt wronged. Upon seeing her pitiful expression, Xander calmed down at once. He raised the temperature in the car and took off her coat. "Where are you hurt?" She had specially chosen this white dress, but now it was stained with blood. Xander embraced her and carefully checked her for injuries. He was relieved when he found none. "The blood is Sean''s." Xander tightened his grip around her waist and buried half of his face in her neck. In a muffled voice, he murmured, "I''m sorry." Grace wanted to break free. Her voice was hoarse as she said, "I messed up. You lost the project because of me. I even failed to surprise you. I''m such a failure." At this moment, Xander held her even tighter. He cupped her neck, forcing her to turn her head and kiss him. "You seeded. Having you by my side is a surprise." Their kiss was passionate. It was a release of tension after narrowly escaping danger. Xander''s body was hot as he kissed her passionately. Grace couldn''t escape. Her rapid breath filled the car. After a while, she pushed him away. "We''re in the car." "What''s wrong with the car?" Her face was flushed. Without the facade as a strong businesswoman, she was just a youngdy who couldn''t withstand his yful and tender side. Xander chuckled. When he recalled how upset she had looked in the room, his grip on her waist tightened. Grace let out a muffled groan. "I saw Hazel looking rather pale earlier. Did you scold her?" At the mention of this, Xander''s rationality gradually returned. He buried his face in her neck, pressing against her firmly. "If anything happens to you, she''s responsible." Grace sat on hisp. As she looked out of the car window, she saw Hazel approaching. Hazel knocked on the car window. "Sean''s sex tape is ying on the screens in the Fortress lobby. By tomorrow, everyone in the circle will know about it. Mrs. Brooke was furious and came with a knife." As she spoke, her eyes involuntarily flitted toward Grace beside Xander. Grace''s lips were now flushed devoid of the paleness they had earlier. ne Xander just grunted. Hazel didn''t know what was on his mind. She cautiously said, "My carelessness today almost put Ms. Lewis in danger. I can ept any punishment. Please forgive me, Ms. Lewis." She looked at Grace, waiting for her to speak. But after a while, Grace remained silent. She leaned against her seat and yed with Xander''s hand as if it had nothing to do with her. Hazel felt a bit embarrassed. Xander frowned. "You should go back first." The window went up, cutting off Hazel''s line of sight. In the cramped space, Xander turned to the side to face Grace and coaxed, "Are you angry?" Grace held his hand but didn''t answer him directly. "Your secretary is not a simple person." "I smell jealousy." Grace snapped. "I''m not jealous!" Xander suppressed a smile, grunting in acknowledgment. As he pulled her closer to him, he kissed her, picking up where they had left it. Chapter 643 Her Issues Have Been Resolved Half an hourter, the driver hurriedly returned. "Mr. Fulton, here." He held out a bag. Inside was a white dress, identical to the one Grace was wearing. While she changed, Xander leaned against the car and lit a cigarette. Peter stood respectfully by his side. "The subway project is ready to start at any time. Are we being too impulsive by terminating the contract with Sean?" "He''s not the only material supplier in Frenda. If not for my respect for the older generation of the Brookes, I would have terminated this contract long ago." Otherwise, Xander wouldn''t have been struck by Jake with this move. "What about the directors and themittee?" "I''ll handle them." Xander took a deep drag from his cigarette. "Inform Hazel that she should go to the branch office from today on. There''s no need for her toe back to the headquarters." Peter was taken aback. He hadn''t expected Hazel to receive such a severe punishment. ... The lights were on in Lewis Manor. Xander parked the car in the garden and led Grace out by the hand. Victor emerged from inside casually, teasing, "Oh, you remembered toe home, Ms. Lewis." Xander nodded to him in greeting. Victor did the same. Grace whispered, "Is Aaron angry?" "Thanks to you, Aaron, who usually goes to bed at 10:00 pm, is still awake." Grace looked disheartened. Xander patted her head. "I''ll go in with you." Aaron was in the study. His cup of tea has been changed three or four times, but he still hadn''t take a sip. Xander''s response to his call earlier had unsettled him. If not for Victor holding him back, he would have sent people to find Grace. Grace''s kidnapping still haunted him. Hearing amotion at the door, Aaron looked up expressionlessly. It was none other than his long-awaited sister. Grace whispered, "Hi, Aaron." "So, you still remember the way back home." Aaron stared at her, then tossed the book he had beside him. It missed Grace and was caught by arge hand that Xander extended from behind her. "It''s my fault. We took a wrong turn on the way and wasted some time. If you want to vent your anger, please direct it at me."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Narrowing his eyes, Aaron stood up and walked to the couch. "She''s confused, and you''re confused too?" His tone was obviously not as angry as before. Smiling, Xander led Grace to sit wietne as she''s with f home always make sure she gets me safely, no matter howte it WYS." Ultimately, Aaron still respected Xander. The former poured tea f him hand said to Grace, "Grandet swet hasn''t gone to bed yet. Go see him." Grace was taken aback but quickly understood. "I''ll go now." As she reached the door, she turned around and said, "Aaron, don''t make it difficult for him." Then, she quickly left. Aaron chuckled. "She''s already siding with you. It seems like you''ve charmed her, Xander." "Don''t tease me, Aaron." Both were peers who used to address each other by their names directly. Now, the address seemed to have another meaning to it. "Are you serious?" Aaron asked solemnly as he looked at Xander. Xander understood what he meant. "I''ve always been serious all these years." "Grace seems smart, but she''s easily confused when ites to rtionships. She has her issues. Can you ept that?" Xander understood what he was referring to and remainedposed. "Her issues have been resolved." "Your brother is a notorious yboy in Frenda He spends money on women like it''s nothing. With his status, he has the money, yet I''ve never heard of him giving anyone a title or truly loving anyone. Aaron looked at him. "What about you?" Chapter 644 No Intention of Marrying It was widely believed that the future of the Fulton Group rested on Xander''s shoulders. In a circle like this, it was rare to find someone who was not corrupt. Xander picked up his cup, the warmth radiating from his fingertips. "I pursued Grace with the intention of having a future with her." One sentence reassured Aaron. When smart people conversed, they just needed a few words to get the whole picture. Aaron seemed satisfied. "You must always remember what you said tonight. If Grace ever gets hurt again, I''ll hunt you down." Xander gently ced the cup back on the saucer with a soft clink. The next day, during the morning meeting at Fulton Group, two changes were announced. Firstly, the contract with Brooke Group had been terminated. After thepensation, Brooke Group would be cklisted. So, they had to select a new material supplier. Secondly, Hazel was demoted for withholding information. These two changes immediately stirred up a storm. No one had expected Hazel, who had been with Xander for so many years, to be suddenly demoted. This matter even rmed Raymond. "I understand why you got rid of Sean, but what did Hazel do wrong? Why are you banishing her to the branch office?" "I''m just dealing with my secretary. Why do you have to ask about it? Are you too free?" Xander smiled faintly, showing his rebellious side. Seeing him like this, Raymond understood that Xander was truly angry. He softened his tone. "I asked Peter. It was indeed Grace''s request not to inform you. Hazel followed the instructions, so it can''t be considered wrong. At most, she''s just not quick-witted enough." Xander remained expressionless. Those who reached such positions were all astute. Hazel knew what to do, but she had deliberately hid from him. This indicated she had ulterior motives, something Xander wouldn''t tolerate. "I''m just reminding you not to be too hasty in your actions. Hazel has been with you for many years. If you deal with your people ruthlessly, others will be afraid to work with you." Raymond''s words made sense. Xander turned to the side. "Let her gain experience first. I may bring her back up depending on her performance." Meanwhile, at Lewis Manor, everyone in the Lewis family knew about the news of Caleb''s rtionship. After all, it had spread worldwide.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Harold couldn''t stop praising Lydia. "Lydia is good. She''s a good girl." Some were happy, but some were sad. With Caleb finding a partner, Victor who rarely visited home, was pushed into attending numero ne social events, all with the goal of finding him a girlfriend. Victor retorted, "Aaron doesn''t have anyone either. Shouldn''t you have him attend these events first?" Harold swung his crutch at Victor''s leg. "If you dare to make him attend, please do so." Victor fell silent at his words. Graceughed loudly. Hearing that, Victor changed his target. "Gracie, since you have nothing to do, why don''t youe with me?" Like he had done before, she fell silent. The resources of heirs and heiresses were mostly controlled by the wealthy women of the circle. Most of the gatherings consisted of these people. Sitting at the head was I Travis, whose husband had made his fortune in trade with assets worth billions of dors. She grabbed Victor''s arm. "It''s been many years, and you''ve grown quite handsome. Not bad. With your assets, many political and business daughters will be vying for you. What are you doing now?" Everyone knew that the second son of the Lewis family was the most mysterious. He hadn''t shown his face for years. Victor smiled faintly. "I repairputers." I''s smile froze on her face. On the side, Jean Pena quickly intervened, trying to smooth things over. "Repairingputers must be a child''s y for him. Anyway, he''ll surely have a share of the Lewis family''s assets in the future." "I have no intention of taking money from my family." Victor remained calm. Grace couldn''t help but chuckle. The atmosphere became awkward. Everyone looked at each other, understanding that this guy was there to stir up trouble. He had no intention of marrying. Chapter 645 Finally Meeting Priscilla Unable to findmon ground in conversation, they decided to y poker instead. Wanting to liven things up, I made phone calls inviting more people to join. During the waiting period, Grace filled in for two rounds.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "Mrs. Brooke isn''t answering her phone. Is something wrong?" "You don''t know? Last night, Mrs. Brooke stormed into Fortress, wielding a knife. It''s said that when she arrived, the screens in the lobby were ying a loop of her husband with a woman," Jean recounted excitedly. "What video?" "You know, that kind." Thedies burst intoughter. "Did she offend someone? The Brooke family has a solid background. Isn''t this a p in their face?" "Fortress doesn''t easily disclose client privacy. Whoever did this must be a big shot." Grace gazed at the cards in her hand, smiling but saying nothing. Bored of the women''s chatter, Victor excused himself for some fresh air. He sent a text to Grace. "I''ll wait outside. Come out after two rounds." That was her n, too. After two rounds, she politely prepared to leave. But just as she was about to stand up, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside. A soft voice sounded. "Sorry for beingte,dies." Hearing that, Grace turned around. It was a woman full of charm. Though she was aging and had fine lines at the corners of her eyes, her every move exuded a seductive allure that men would find irresistible. "Prisci, you''re finally here," Jean greeted warmly, stepping forward. "I left as soon as you called," Prisci replied as she was pushed into a seat. Then, she nced at Grace. "Oh, it''s rare to see such beauty. Which family are you from?" Grace didn''t appreciate how she acted familiar and hesitated for et moment before replying, "I have some urgent matters to attend to. I''m sorry,dies." They didn''t insist on her staying. As Grace reached the door, she overheard Jean asking, "I heard your son, Jake, had an ident. Is he okay?" Grace''s footsteps halted. Jake? "It was a minor injury. Raymond values him greatly. As soon as he recovered, Raymond sent him abroad to oversee a project." "Lucky him." Grace released her grip on the door handle and stepped back. "My ns got canceled. I''ll stay and y with you,dies." Some didn''t react to her return in time, but I had already stood up to vacate her seat. "Then, let''s enjoy ourselves. I''ll go make coffee." The heiress of the Lewis family was not someone she could offend. Grace sat across from Prisci. "I''ve met the otherdies before, but I don''t believe we''ve met. Which family are you from?" Prisci didn''t directly answer. "Just call me Aunt Prisci." "Do you know Uncle Raymond?" Surprised by her address, Prisci asked, "You call him Uncle Raymond?" Jean quickly intervened, saying, "This is Grace, the daughter of the Lewis family. She''s like Raymond''s daughter. Don''t you recognize her?" Prisci''s smile faltered for a moment. "He''s mentioned her, but I''ve never met her. You''ve grown into quite a beauty, Grace." Grace pushed a chip into the middle. "He''s never mentioned you to me." She was now sure that this woman was Raymond''s mistress, Jake''s mother, and the one responsible for destroying Raymond and Hestia''s rtionship-Prisci Ss The room fell silent for a moment. Prisci calmly ced a chip on Grace''s "We didn''t know each other before, but we do now. Just call me Aunt Prisci. If you don''t want to, it''s okay." She was quite confident. Years of Raymond indulging her had made her so. Chapter 646 The Chips Are Mine It was normal that Prisci didn''t know Grace. In this circle, the line between the original wife and the mistress was clear. Men were smart. They knew who could be brought out in front of whom and who couldn''t. Although Raymond and Hestia had divorced long ago, he had never given Prisci a title in all these years. She could only mingle in the circles of these wealthydies because of Jake and a lot of money. Others respected her for two reasons. Firstly, because Hestia was aloof and never participated in their activities. Secondly, they spected whether Jake would ascend to power and hence give her a boost in status. "Oh, Aunt Prisci. I''ll address you as you wish for Uncle Raymond''s sake," Grace responded casually. It wasn''t for Prisci. It was for Raymond. Prisci wasn''t angry. "I''ve heard about you from Jake." "What did he say about me?" "He said you were the Lewis family''s youngest daughter and that you are bold and charming. He really likes you." Grace suddenly felt disgusted. "But I don''t really remember him. I just remember that... he was chubby, overdressed, and not taller than five feet two. He''s very much like you, Aunt Prisci." This statement made Prisci''s face darken. "You''ve mistaken him. My Jake is well-known for his looks." Jean hurriedly intervened to smooth things over. "Yes, Grace, I''ve met Jake before. He''s about five feet ten. There aren''t many who can match him in our circle." Grace lifted her gaze. "How aboutpared to Xander?" At the mention of that name, Jean stiffened. "Well, naturally, Jake falls short." This was an acknowledged fact in the circle. Xander''s looks were outstanding, and he had achieved a double doctorate degree at 18 years old. Now, he was even in charge of the Fulton Group. Jake was nothingpared to him. Grace smiled faintly at Jean. "So, you do have eyes, Mrs. Jones. Otherwise, I would have thought Mr. Jones had abandoned his original wife and married a blind and ignorantdy." Jean, who had also been a mistress, was particrly close to Prisci. Feeling embarrassed by being exposed she didn''t dare vent heret frustration and could only endure it silently. The gap between the Jones and Lewis families wasAll content is ? N0velDrama.Org. insurmountable. Prisci put another chip in the middle. "Looks can''t feed you. Capability is what matters." "True." Grace followed suit. "Jake has been demoted to Pamore. I''m stationed there regrly. If there''s anything he needs help with, you can tell him toe find me anytime, Aunt Prisci." Prisci tightened her grip on her cards, squinting at the sharp-tongued woman before her. The confidence Grace had because of her family background was something that otherdies didn''t have. When I returned with coffee, she sensed the tense atmosphere. She knew something was wrong. "Were you guys just chatting? Haven''t you finished one round?" Grace happened to reveal her cards. She had a royal flush. "Sorry, Aunt Prisci. The chips are mine." They agreed to leave after Grace yed two rounds, but Victor had waited outside for a whole hour without seeing her. He was getting impatient and sent her a message. "What game is taking so long?" There was no response. Victor didn''t want to go back and find her. He found conversationsz with these wealthydies tiresome. Just as he was about to leave, he ran into a man, who was entering the ce. The quiet ambiance of the pavilion was perfect for discussions. Xander had arranged to meet a new material supplier there. "What a coincidence." Victor approached him. "You''re alone?" Victor briefly exined the situation andined immediately. "She''s probably gotten carried away with the game. She''s still inside." Xander smiled and instructed his new secretary to go ahead and entertain the client. "I''ll go take a look." Chapter 647 Call Me Xan Xander knocked on the door, and an attendant opened it. I looked up and saw the good-looking man. Xander gestured with his finger, indicating for her not to make a sound. At that moment, Grace had already won over a dozen rounds. Anotherdy at the table understood the situation well and kept folding her cards. Combined with Grace''s sharp wit, Prisci and Jean were utterly defeated. A pile of chipsy on the table. Prisci was visibly upset. After finishing thest round, she conceded. "You''re really clever, Ms. Lewis. I admit defeat." Even from the back, Grace seemed delighted. "Okay. Losing isn''t scary. It''s being afraid to admit defeat that''s scary. Aunt Prisci, you need to practice your poker skills." Prisci remained silent. After collecting the chips, Grace bid farewell and turned to leave. But as she did, she stumbled into a man''s arms, hurting her nose. When she looked up, she saw Xander. "Xander?" Everyone looked over. Smiling, Xander gently rubbed her nose for her. "How long have you been here?" Her tone softened.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. "I just arrived. Are you tired of ying?" "Just a bit." Their intimate interaction clearly indicated a close rtionship. Prisci stood up and said, "Xander, why are you here?" Xander raised his hand to adjust Grace''s cor without looking at Prisci. "I have a meeting here. I heard Grace was here, so I came to see." "Mrs. Jones told me that Ms. Lewis is like Raymond''s daughter. I heard that the Lewis family has three brothers. Are you considered the fourth?" Upon hearing this, Xander cast a disdainful nce at Prisci, his eyes growing colder. Grace blurted out, "We''re not siblings." "It doesn''t matter how I see you. What matters is how the outside world sees you. Everyone knows about the rtionship between the Fulton and Lewis families. Though you''re not siblings, you''re close like family." Xander''s hand slid down, gripping Grace''s hand tightly. "Oh, please, Aunt Prisci. If I cared about how the outside world sees things, you and Jake wouldn''t be here anymore. Don''t you think so?" Prisci''s remaining smile vanished. Since he had been young, Xander had always been respectful and courteous to her. But only she knew that there was a wolf ready to attack underneath his gentle facade. After Xander and Grace left the private room, she chased in her chips. "Can you speak to her like that?" Xander didn''t answer. "How did you know who she was?" "Mrs. Jones mentioned Jake''s name to tter her. I figured it out. Smart, aren''t I?" He chuckled. "Indeed." After a while, the chips were all chased in. "I won 160 thousand dors." 12 Her face was fair, and she spoke with vivacious charm. Xander picked a of her hair and yed with it. "Did you do this on purpose to vent for me?" Grace felt a bit embarrassed. "I was venting for Aunt Hestia." Still unsatisfied, she said, "If I had met her earlier, I would have won more than just this 160 thousand dors. It''s all your fault for not telling me before." Hearing that, Xander felt warm inside. When men were vulnerable they wished to be cared for just like women. Grace was like sunshine, piercing through the deep and dark ocean and filling his heart with light. Xander''s secretary hurriedly came to find him. "Mr. Fulton, the client has arrived at the door." Only then did Xander let go of Grace. "I''ll go now, okay?" She replied with a hum. "What should you call me?" He couldn''t bear to part with her. "Xander?" He shook his head. "Mr. Xander? Mr. Fulton?" Grace hadn''t sensed anything odd yet. "What should I call you?" Smiling, Xander leaned closer to her ear, spraying his breath gently. "Xan." In an instant, Grace''s face flushed. She red at him, not wanting toply. Yet his cold lips fell on her cheek, coaxing, "Just say it once." "Xan." He chuckled softly, finally letting her go, and went to attend to his business. Grace''s heart was pounding heavily as she watched them leave. As expected, Hazel wasn''t by his side anymore. Instead, there was a new face. Chapter 648 Jessica Is Missing They finally decided on who to work with to supply the raw materials. Before signing the contract, Xander smiled lightly and said, "We will not tolerate any deception or shoddy work for these projects. I won''t show mercy if I discover anything wrong." The older man was somewhat intimidated by Xander''s presence. He wiped his sweat nervously. "Of course, I understand." With everything settled, Xander rubbed his temples to relieve fatigue. The new secretary handed him a cup of coffee. "Mr. Fulton, the car is ready. Where would you like to go?" Xander''s eyes were bloodshot. "I don''t drink coffee." The secretary quickly withdrew his hand. "I''ll get something else." Xander took his coat and headed out. He didn''t want to make things difficult for the secretary. "Forget it. I''m going back to my mother''s ce." Peter waited by the car, ready to report to him. Xander stopped to a still and unbuttoned his shirt cor, revealing his muscles under the night breeze. "What''s the matter?" "It''s Jessica. We lost track of her," Peter said, lowering his head. Xander''s face darkened. "How could she get away? Isn''t the border your territory?" "Our people were following her to see where she was headed, but she caught on. She didn''t give them a chance to engage, and jumped into the sea, disappearing out of sight." Peter quickly added, "They searched for her in the water. There probably is a secret passage down there, a route we haven''t secured."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Xander breathed heavily. His stern face showed no expression, and it was intimidatingly serious. After a moment, he spoke, "From today on, start monitoring the entire border. Report to me immediately if there is any suspicious activity from anyone!" "Yes, Mr. Fulton!" He had intended to catch Jessica by following her, but she escaped. Xander feared that she mighte back to target Grace again. After Peter left, the secretary, Chad Murray, reported to Xander in the car. Xander''s time, even on the way home, was precious. Chad had been newly appointed to fill in for Hazel''s position temporarily. He fumbled through the report, and Xander rested with his eyes closed the entire time. He wasn''t paying attention, but asionally, he would correct mistakes. "The report must be proficient and urate." "I will do my best, Mr. Fulton," Chad whispered. "There''s another matter. People stopped going to Fortress Club after Mr. Brooke''s scandal there. The manager contacted us, implying that we should ask for your orders. Please provide a solution." Xander slowly opened his eyes. Sean alone wouldn''t have had this much impact unless he had someone backing him to keeppetitors away from Fortress Club. This was a deration of war. The Brooke family and the Iverson family had grown close. Besides Fulton Group, Iverson Group was the secondrgest enterprise in the country. The two Groups were constantly at odds since their territories ovepped, leading them to be recognized enemies over time. "Mr. Jake was the one that stole this project from the Iverson Group. Now that he''s on the run, the mess naturally falls on me. Iverson Group is just using Fortress Club asan excuse." Chad was confused and asked, "So, should we go to Fortress Club?" "Help me deliver something to the manager." Grace had also heard about the situation at Fortress Club. At that moment, she was sitting in the garden, having a video conference with the executives of Amirate Corporation. Aaron sat beside her, pouring her a cup of tea. It was rare for him to be free. It seemed more like he was supervising her work. Chapter 649 The Gift is Just a Gimmick "Despite the improvement in our performance, the after-sales issues in emerce remain our top priority. All departments need to put in more effort to identify and resolve these problems," Grace said calmly, feeling a bit parched. Aaron handed her a ss of water. She mouthed "thank you" to him. Luke waited until everyone finished reporting before speaking, "As the end of the year approaches, it''s time to arrange the annual meeting for Amirate Corporation. Ms. Lewis, how do you think we should proceed this year?" When Grace had been with the Hawkins family, she had handled many annual meetings, most of which were very dull. They mainly involved preparing the programs and buttering up to leaders. She thought it was boring, so she suggested, "Since we''ve done so well this year, why not throw a party and let everyone have some fun?" The video conference immediately buzzed with excitement, "That''s a great idea!" "What''s the theme?" someone asked. Grace pondered for a moment and said, "Let''s inform the employees and let them vote." After the meeting ended, she looked up and saw Aaron looking at her with a smirk. "You''re quite democratic," hemented. Grace smiled. At that moment, Aaron''s secretary entered. "Fortress is fully booked tonight." Aaron tilted his head and asked, "What did Xander do?" Grace also perked up her ears. News of Xander sending gifts to Fortress had quickly spread throughout the city, with the promise that Fortress would be packed tonight. She had inquired about it, but he had mysteriously avoided the question, saying she would find outter. The secretary seemed embarrassed and answered, "I couldn''t find out." "Fortress wouldn''t disclose it. The gift is just a gimmick. He''s making such a big fuss to attract those high-ranking officials and dignitaries," Grace exined. The secretary nodded in understanding. "But those people are afraid of the Iverson family''s power. They probably won''t be easily lured." "There are others who club here. Those who fear the Iverson family might not go, but those who respect the Fulton Group would," Grace pointed out. Fulton Group was clearly ahead now. Grace found it amusing. Xander''s tactics were clumsy, but they were effective. Aaron caught her amused expression and tapped his fingers on the table. "Did you win over a hundred thousand dors ying with Mrs. Jones and the otherdies yesterday?" She was surprised. "How do you know about it?" Aaron had people all over this ce. He chuckled and said, "Uncle Raymond called me." That exined it. Grace suddenly Interest. "He won''t me bullying his lover and ask moet the money, will belongs to NovelDrama.Org "What are you thinking?"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. In fact, Raymond hadn''t mentioned any of that. Aaron had only mentioned that Harold was looking for a girlfriend for Victor and Raymond said that he had a suitable candidate. Just from this sentence, Aaron inferred that Grace had met Prisci. Grace choked on her water, almost spitting it out. "Victor won''t go. He''s not interested in these things." "It''s an invitation from an elder. Victor should attend out of courtesy," Aaron said sternly. Grace ignored him. "Uncle Raymond helped youst time. Don''t be stubborn," Aaron said in a low voice. Indeed, no matter how reluctant she was, Raymond had watched her grow up, and he was also Xander''s father. "I''ll try to persuade Victor to show up," Grace said reluctantly. Aaron was finally satisfied with her answer. At the same time, a ck Porsche pulled over outside Fortress, and smoke billowed out of the window. A deep, menacing voice came from inside on. Why car. "Tell me what''s going g to Fortress?" y are there still people el A delicate woman curled up inside the car. Her face was flushed. She had obviously just finished serving him. The man outside trembled, avoiding his eyes. "Mr. Iverson, the manager of Fortress asked me to give this to you." Chapter 650 Blood Feud The man took it suspiciously. It was a document folder. He reached out, and the woman immediately crawled over and handed him his sses. He was an older man with high cheekbones and wore old-fashioned ck sses. He tore the folder open, and the contents poured out. It turned out to be a contract. He flipped through it page by page, and after seeing the signature at the end, he gritted his teeth. "Well done, Xander." Iverson Group made its fortune in real estate, and maintaining assets for generations was no problem. Unfortunately, Gregory Iverson had a prodigal son who had gotten involved in stocks and lost half of the family fortune.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Just then, Xander, who had graduated at the time, had taken advantage of the situation and made his first bucket of gold. Later, while running Fulton Group, Xander had used this money to establish Futurelink Corporation. The woman curiously leaned over and saw the name "Joshua" written on the signature line. Her voice was soft, and she asked curiously, "Joshua, have you worked with Xander before?" "I''ve never worked with him. What we have is a blood feud." Joshua Iverson narrowed his eyes. The woman was taken aback, "What feud?" He looked up and suddenly pushed the woman away. "I didn''t ask for your opinion. Shut up!" She fell to the side, clutching her hand tightly. She was unable to get up because of the pain. Joshua crumpled the contract and threw it into the trash, his face turning livid with anger. Sean had groveled and begged for his support. If it had been Jake, it would have been easy to assert dominance, but unexpectedly, it was Xander. Joshua couldn''t take drastic measures and could only p him on the wrist. Unexpectedly, Xander sent him the contract from back then. This was a reminder of his past failures, and a warning not to repeat them. Being undercut by a punk back then was a great humiliation for Joshua, and now, Xander had brought it up again. He wished he could kill Xander. His men trembled outside the car, "Mr. Iverson, we..." Joshua stared at Fortress, which was bustling not far away. "Tell them, no one will win forever." With that, he instructed the driver to start the car. In the car, the woman looked at Joshua in surprise. The Iverson family was one of thergest families in the province. Although their status was not as glorious as it used to be, nobody dared offend them. She had tried her best to get close to him precisely because of this. Now that she had put herself up, all she Was Joshua''s brutal wel Meanwhile, Grace finally persuaded Victor to go to the appointment, but she paid a small price for it. "I''ve been working in the national security system for years, and I don''t have as muchworking resources you do. Help me find out about someone in the future." Grace became excited when she heard Victor''s request. She thought it was about a woman. "Who is it?" "The famous hacker, PhantomX!" Grace''s eyes widened, and she frowned. "Victor, you''re so obsessed with him. Is he really that powerful to make you admire him so much?" "You wouldn''t understand even if I told you. Just help me find him. It''s one of my only wishes." Victor looked somewhat distressed, his tall figure showing his teenage angst. "Why don''t you ask Aaron for help?" "He''ll scold me for being unprofessional!" Graceughed and promised to help him find out. In fact, among the entire Lewis family, Victor had the most freedom. He didn''t have to get into industries like, had no ambitions for he the $3 fortune, and lived the` most free life. Raymond had chosen Fortress as the meeting spot. He was an important man. This arrangement meant he was giving face to Xander and Grace. It meant he stood on their side. Chapter 651 The Second Daughter of the Jorson Family However, Grace hadn''t expect Raymond to bring Prisci along. As soon as they entered and handed their coats to the waiter, they saw Raymond and Prisci standing side by side at the head of the table. Prisci looked gentle and elegant. Grace wanted to leave immediately, but she forced herself to stay. Victor, on the other hand, seemed casual. "Uncle Raymond, you''ve gone through a lot of trouble." "Uncle Harold is old and he''s always worried about the happiness of his grandchildren. Of course, I have to share his worries too." Raymond smiled and continued, "Let me introduce you. This is Prisci. Grace has already met her." Victor nced at Grace and immediately realized why she looked upset.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. He nodded and greeted, "Aunt Prisci." "Victor, right? I had not met you that day. Thedies all said you were outstanding, and it seems they were right." Prisci smiled as she approached them. "This is a gift I specially prepared for you. This wine is over hundred years old. Young people like you are busy with work, but you also need to rx." She handed over a red box and added, "I also have one for Grace. I guess there might have been some misunderstanding between us. Don''t take it to heart." Grace frowned and declined the gift. "I should be apologizing for winning your money that day. You should enjoy this wine yourself." The atmosphere turned awkward. Raymond''s expression darkened, and Victor intervened at the right time, "Let me thank you on behalf of Gracie." After they got seated, Prisci busied herself with ordering dishes. She asked about dietary restrictions and was very polite and hospitable, as if she were thedy of the house hosting her guests. Grace kept her head down and yed with her phone. asionally, Raymond would ask her a question. Only then would she look up. "This is a blind date for Victor. I''m just apanying him." "I know about you and Xander. He can work steadily because of your support, Grace. You have always put me at ease since you were young." Grace yed with Victor''s hand without saying anything. Prisci continued smoothly, "The two of you are verypatible. I saw them the other day, and Xander''s eyes were filled with love for Grace." Grace couldn''t help but roll her eyes. Victor pinched her. She whispered, "Why am I getting tortured when you''re the one on a blind date?" "Just wondering. Do you have any ns to get married?" Finally, Grace met her eye and said, "This doesn''t seem to be something you should worry about." Prisci choked for a moment, then ve .ne laughed, You''re right. Parents always n for their children. This should be Hestia''s concern. bwon''t interfere." Her strategic retreat was skillful. She then asked Raymond, "I heard Hestia hasn''t been feeling welltely. Is she better now?" His expression turned sour. "Same old problems." Grace became increasingly restless, and Victor noticed. He spoke up, "Hasn''t she arrived yet?" Prisci replied, "She''s on her way. Perhaps there''s some traffic at this time. Victor, she is the second. daughter of the Jorson family. She''s highly favored and is on par with your family background." Upon hearing this, Grace became sharp and asked, "You''re very well-informed. Do you know her?" "Back then, there was a big uproar when Marcus wife cheated on him with another man. After the divorce he remarried someone, who happens to be my cousin. The girl you''re meeting is her second daughter." With such close ties, the motives could not be pure. Grace''s expression darkened immediately. Raymond said in a deep voice, "I''ve seen that girl before. She''s well-educated and sensible. She is very suitable for Victor." Victor didn''t really care. After all, he had never intended to meet anyone for real. He was just going through the motions. He held onto Grace and said, "You insisted that Ie, but now you can''t stay yourself." Grace pulled her hand away. "I suddenly remembered Aunt Hestia invited me to go shopping. I can''t stay any longer. You all can continue." She motioned for Victor to stay as she stood up. Prisci watched as Grace left, and her expression became extremely unpleasant. Chapter 652 As Long As You Are Happy Grace had thought of showing Raymond some respect. She had wanted to try to endure it if she could and finish the meal peacefully. But she hadn''t expected Prisci to set her sights on the Lewis family. It was just insane. Hestia had heard that Grace was back and had indeed made ns to go shopping with her. But it wasn''t time yet. Grace arrived early. She sat by the window in the caf¨¦, quickly typing on her phone as she recounted the events to Xander. After her anger subsided a bit, she said, "Was I too impulsive?" There was a moment of silence, then he called her after a while. Heughed smoothly through the phone, "Grace, you being a bit impulsive is nothing." Grace grumbled, "You''re joking at a time like this!" "She''s not entirely wrong to try to strengthen ties with the Lewis family with this scheme. We both know Victor. If he doesn''t like it, nothing wille of it. Why are you upset?" It was true. It was unlikely for Victor to fall for a woman from a wealthy family. Grace felt much better at this thought. "But I just left rudely." "Did you feel good leaving at that moment?" It was hard to deny that it felt good. Grace nodded, but then she remembered that he couldn''t see her. So, she hummed in agreement. Xander chuckled, "As long as you''re happy, that''s enough. It''s a small matter. I''ll handle it for you." Suddenly, she felt more confident. Grace''s expression softened as she stirred her coffee. "What are you doing?" "Working overtime."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. She couldn''t see him, but behind him was a group of high-level executives waiting for a report. They had just been in a meeting when he saw her message pop up. He couldn''t find time to reply but then he saw her message where she had been ming herself. He couldn''t resist pausing the meeting to call her and calm her down. "You''re working hard. What time will it end? I''ll order food." Xander told her a time and said, "Thanks. I appreciate it." Just then, Grace saw Hestia arriving on time. Thetter exuded a charm and grace as she walked toward her. Hestia asked, "Why do you look so upset? What happened?" Grace hung up the phone and yfully threw herself into Hestia''s arms. "Aunt Hestia!" Hestia sighed with pity and patted her back. "Poor thing. Tell me, what happened?" Grace linked arms with Hestia''s and recounted the events until they reached the third floor of the mall. Hestia just sighed and patted Grace''s hand as she listened. "I rpsed. He came to see me yesterday, but I didn''t let him in." No wonder Raymond had looked so upset when Prisci had asked about it. "Aunt Hestia, is your back hurting again? ds it bad? Have you seen a or done rehabilitation?"et with concern. Hestia''s back problem was a chronic condition, caused by years of strain. "It''s okay. It is just a minor ailment thates with old age." §Ö Hestia looked at her and said, "But as for you, you don''t need to confront that woman for my sake. If he truly cared all these years, she wouldn''t have been there in front of yout." Grace lowered her gaze, understanding that Hestia was implying that Raymond silently approved of Prisci''s actions. "But I worry about you." Hestia was very touched, and she sighed. "It''s better to have a daughter." Xander naturally cared for her, too, but he would never express such sentiments verbally. The Lewis brothers were more actioned as well. At this moment, a sales representative approached them and asked respectfully, "Are you Ms. Riley?" Chapter 653 Kidhnian Gown "It''s me," Hestia answered. She took Grace''s hand andforted her. "Don''t be angry. Look at the gift I brought you."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "Gift?" They were at a bespoke tailor shop, and it wasn''t very big. There were a few old tailors inside, both male and female, and they were all focused intently on stitching the swathes of fabulous cloth in their hands. Grace looked at the disy case in surprise. "A Kidhnian gown?" "I don''t think I''ve ever seen you wear one. It''s almost time for the New Year, so I wanted to make things more festive for you." After all, they were Kidhnian. These things were important to them. One of the tailors teased, "This was ordered two months ago. You''re very lucky, youngdy." Grace''s eyes widened. "I read a news article about you when I was studying fashion design!" The tailors at this shop were protectors of cultural heritage, so they took every stitch seriously. Their specialty was custom-made Kidhnian gowns for the elite. Even the ordinary rich couldn''t even get one foot in the door. Despite this, the waiting list was three years long. Grace had thought about ordering one, but the wait was so long that she was afraid that her figure would change. After all, Kidhnian gowns were figure-hugging and had to fit just right. Hestia exined, "I know the owner of this ce, which was why I got to cut the queue." Grace was shocked. "This is too expensive." "Don''t be silly. As long as you like it, I can give you anything." The tailor took out the gown that belonged to Grace. It was an ivory white gown with fur at the cor. Every intricate pattern had been embroidered on, and the material was soft and silky. It was much too extravagant for an ordinary person to wear. "I like it," Grace blurted. "Aunt Hestia, I''m going to go and try it on!" "Okay." The effects were extraordinary. Grace had a gorgeous figure, with just the right curves and a tiny waist. Her skin was pale and creamy. Since the gown had been made especially for her, it fit her perfectly. It made her seem every inch an heiress. Her expression was gentle. "Does it look good?" Hestia nodded vigorously. There were even tears in her eyes. "I wish your parents could see how much their little girl has grown." Grace went up to her quickly and wiped her tears away. Each move she made exuded elegance. At that moment, there was the sound of a cup smashing in the next room. A woman yelled in a shrill voice, "Why isn''t it done yet? I''ve waited for a month!" The tailor was at a loss. "Miss, you''ve already cut the queue, and we needed to rush your gown for youn order to maintain the quality of our products, we can''t just rush it. We already agreed that it would take two months." "Why would it take two months to make this? I think you''re just inting the price. Do you know who I am? Can''t you put in more hours to make this for me? I said that wanted it in a month, and meant it." The woman sounded young, but she was arrogant and domineering. The tailor spoke abruptly. "I''m sorry, then. We can return your deposit. Please leave." "How dare you speak to me this way? Don''t forget that this gown was ordered by Mr. Iverson!" "It doesn''t matter who it is. We have our bottom line." The woman became even more agitated. Grace was about to go up to them and mediate, but Hestia pulled her back. "Forget it. Everyone who works here is a professional. They''ll take care of it. It''s not good for you to make too many enemies in Frenda." Grace frowned. That was true. If the woman had had the means to cut the queue like Grace had, then she must also be from a wealthy background. Their families probably moved in the same circles, and it would createza rift between them if Grace BUT intervened. That would make things awkward whenever they crossed paths. It was better to stay out of trouble. Grace nodded. She went to the dressing room to change out of the gown. She had just turned when the woman happened to look up and see her. The woman was enchanted at once. "Two months is fine. I want the exact same one that she has." Chapter 654 Car Accident After eating with Hestia, Grace bought some food to go and sent it over to Fulton Group. She told Xander that she had hired an errand boy, but the truth was that she was already in the car. "Ferolia requires a reservation, and they change their menu every three days. They won''t repeat their menu, either." Xander replied, "Thank you, Grace. I''m anticipating it greatly." Grace couldn''t help but smile when she saw the message. After the previous incident, the receptionist recognized who Grace was and did not try to stop her. Instead, she led Grace straight to a private elevator. "Pleasee with me." After the receptionist had swiped her card for ess to the top floor, Grace inclined her head in thanks. Although night had fallen, Fulton Group was brightly lit, especially the top floor. It wasn''t the first time Grace hade over. She saw that the office that had belonged to Jake had now been converted to a data room. She walked down the corridor, holding the box of food, and stopped when she reached the end. Xander''s voice traveled out from the conference room. She stood still and looked through the window. He was sitting at the head of the table with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The table was covered with documents that had been approved or were pending approval. There were several executives surrounding him, reporting about their work and discussing strategic ns. Grace watched and became momentarily dazed. People did say that men looked the most handsome when they were working, but Xander was different from Benjamin. He didn''t just look handsome; he also had such a righteous air to him. Xander had not noticed her, but Chad had. He opened the door and walked out. "It''s you, Ms. Grace." He had remembered her after meeting her thest time. Any woman who could be by Xander''s side would not be an ordinary woman. Grace''s lips curved. "How long will it take for him to finish?" "It''ll take a while longer. Do you want me to inform Mr. Fulton?" "You don''t need to disturb him. I''ll wait for him." Chad immediately began to lead her away. "You can wait in Mr. Fulton''s office." Thest time had been too rushed, so this was the first time Grace had been to Xander''s office. The office was furnished in ck and gray tones, and the overall style was minimalistic and sleek. It was an open-n office with an area for entertaining guests and another for working. At the end of it was a lounge where Xander could rest or stay in when he was working overtime.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. One of the windows was open, allowing the breeze in. It ruffled the papers on the desk. "I will let Mr. Fulton know as soon as he''s done." Grace inclined her head politely. As she sat on the couch and took in the room, she suddenly wondered what an upright and serious man like Xander would be like in bed. Sheughed at the thought. She was getting too distracted. Xander''s meeting went on for longer than Grace had expected, and she fell asleep. She was jolted awake by a phone call. She peered groggily at it and saw that it was Victor. "Victor?" "Have you gone home to sleep? Wow, Grace, how could you leave me here to suffer?" It was noisy on Victor''s side. It sounded as if he was by the roadside. Grace became more alert. "No, I haven''t. What is it?" Victor gave her an address. "Come with your driver''s license and save me. I got into a car ident." Grace was now wide awake. She put the box of food on the table and hurried out. "What happened?" The two of them had driven out together. She had lost her temper and left without the car, leaving it for Victor. How had he gotten in a car ident? Grace had just entered the elevator when the door to the conference room opened. Grace was walking so fast that she collided with a woman when she exited the elevator. The documents thetter was holding scattered over the ground, so Grace hurriedly bent down to help ''Sorry, I was in too much BUMS rush." "It''s okay." of a When they had picked up all the documents, the two of them looked at each other. Both of them were startled. Grace hadn''t expected it to be Hazel. "Ms. Lewis..." Chapter 655 Wilful Murder Grace did not have time to say more. She got up quickly. "I have an urgent matter to attend to. I''m sorry." However, Hazel followed her, clutching her documents. "Did you drive?" Grace did not speak. She walked quickly as she looked at her phone. "This is the peak rush hour around Fulton Group as all the employees are getting off work, and it won''t be easy to get a cab." Hazel grabbed her arm. "I drove. If you don''t mind, I can give you a lift, Ms. Lewis." Grace pursed her lips. She subconsciously wanted to resist Hazel''s attempts at reconciliation, but she didn''t have a better choice right now. "Thank you in advance." Hazel''s car wasn''t as grand as Xander''s, but she seemed very pleased with it. She maneuvered the steering wheel as she said, "I''m about to be sent to our branchpany. I came to the secretariat office to do a handover today." Grace hadn''t expected Hazel to take the initiative to exin, so she was a little surprised. "You''ve worked hard." Hazel nced at her and said carefully, "Ms. Lewis, I''m really sorry about the incident at Fortress Club. I really didn''t do it on purpose, but I know that it was because of me. I''m d you didn''t get hurt." Grace felt conflicted. "I''m fine. Let''s talk about this in future." Hazel nodded and focused on driving. When they reached the scene of the car ident, they saw smokeing out of a car, while there was a motorbike fallen on the ground beside it. Grace''s heart skipped a beat. "Victor!" "I''m here!" The voice came from the median strip. It was Victor. There was a graze on his forehead, and he looked resentful. "What are you doing? I thought you knew how to drive! How did you get into a car ident?" Grace was shocked. She grabbed him and looked him up and down. "I''m fine. It''s just a small injury. I was driving when this Harley Davidson just popped up out of nowhere." "A Harley Davidson?" A female voice rang out beside them. "If you hadn''t stopped at the red light, I would have passed long ago. You were the one who got me into this mess." It was a bold, sassy-looking woman with a helmet in hand. There were grazes of varying degrees on her arm. "You-" "Alright, as long as you''re okay," Grace interrupted quickly. The traffic police arrived soon after that and asked them what had caused the ident. Then, they examined Victor''s driving licensen et While they were questioning the woman, Grace finally had time to ask, "How was the blind date?" Victor looked even unhappier. "The Jorsons told me that their daughter ran away." Grace couldn''t help bursting intoughter. "I never thought the day woulde when you would get stood up by someone." It must be a woman who was not interested in a marriage alliance either. "I-hey, I''m Victor! I wouldn''t have gone on any blind dates at all if I did not need to humor our family. How could that Jorson woman stand me up" "My name is Zara Jorson." UMSAll content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "That''s right. I think that''s what her name was." Victor agreed, but then realized that something was wrong. The person who had said that was the woman who was being questioned. She stood under the streetlight. Her face was bare, and she looked obstinate and defiant. The traffic police had just asked her about her name and was moving on to the next question when Victor interrupted him. "Your name is Zara?" The woman red at him. "Do you have a problem with that?" Victor looked again at her motorbike, which was still lying on the ground. It had obviously been modified and must have cost tens of thousands. A woman from an ordinary family wouldn''t have been able to afford it, unless- Grace was having trouble suppressing herughter. "Victor, did you just die a little bit inside?" Victor looked up at the sky. Zara stomped her foot, looking confused. "What do you mean by that!" "Nothing. I just want to say that the ident you had wasn''t undeserved." Victor squeezed out a smile. Zara was furious. "Officer, this is wilful murder!" Chapter 656 An Orphan By the time the matter was resolved, and the car had been towed away, it was already 10:00 pm. After Xander ended his meeting, he turned to the office and handed the document he was holding to Chad. "In future, add a redbel to urgent documents and a bluebel to non-urgent documents." Chad took it hurriedly and nodded. He was a man and was not as meticulous as Hazel had been. Xander entered his office and was enveloped by a feminine scent. The familiar fragrance made him frown. "Did Gracee here?" "She came two hours ago to deliver food to you, but your meeting hadn''t ended yet-" Xander interrupted him in a low voice. "Why didn''t you tell me?" Chad felt wronged. "I wanted to tell you, but you were dealing with the city-west demolishing issues and arguing with Mr. Leroy. I wanted to report this to you, but you gestured at me to stop me." He was right. Xander closed his eyes, and then walked forward to open the box of food. The box itself was beautifully presented, and so was all the food inside. He picked some up with a fork and put it in his mouth. His jaw muscles worked as he chewed.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The food had been left outside for too long and had gone cold. He felt rather irritated. On the other side, Grace was in the middle of thanking Hazel. "Thank you for your help today." "Mr. Fulton is still my superior. It''s my duty to help him out. Don''t mention it, Ms. Lewis." "I''m the one you helped. How is that helping him?" "Mr. Fultonmanded his subordinates to treat your affairs as his affairs, so I will do my best." Xander''s concern and Hazel''s honesty surprised Grace. She wondered if she had judged Hazel wrongly. Her phone rang, and she picked up. Xander asked at once, "Where are you right now?" Grace''s lips curved. "Did your meeting just end?" He grunted in assent. "I didn''t know that you came." "If I hadn''t delivered the food myself, I wouldn''t have known that you were eating your meals at this hour every day." She sounded reproachful. She could guess that he had just left the conference room, and he must have called her when he saw the box of food. Xander rubbed his temples. "All the high-level executives were at the meeting. It wouldn''t have been appropriate for me to eat alone." He heard the sound of traffic on Grace''s side, so he asked, "Where are you now?" She told him briefly about what had happened, and Xander''s tone immediately grew sharp. "Don''t move. I''lle over straight away." Victor was standing nearby, still bickering with Zara. After a while, several ck cars sped up and stopped right in front of the two of them. The first car rolled the window down, and they saw that it was the stern-looking Lars Jorson, Zara''s father. "Come home!" Zara stood with her head held high brimming with resentment for Victor. She felt bitter. If it had not been for this car ident, she would have been out of the city long ago! "Look at you! How can you be so udylike!" Zara knew that there was no way out of this, so she had no choice but to obediently get in the car. Just as she opened the car door, Lars at Victor and said calmitor, I''m sorry for causing you trouble. I''ll be sure to teach her a lesson when we get back. Victor was having trouble suppressing hisughter. "Thank you, Mr. Jorson." Zara was stunned. "Dad, who did you say he was?" "You idiot! He''s the second son of the Lewis family that you were supposed to meet today!" Zara was speechless. The cars sped off, and Hazel looked back. She sighed. "Sometimes when I look at these heiresses, I wonder why they want to run away. What could they be unhappy about? Why couldn''t be someone who receives love too?" Grace frowned slightly. "You..." "Mr. Fulton has never told you, has he? I''m an orphan. If it had not been for his financial support, I would never have been able to get to where I am today." Chapter 657 Dark Side Hazel had grown up without a family, which was why she was like a drifting leaf. Xander had been like a savior to her. "I''ll never forget the days when I had to make every penny count, and I won''t forget the debt I owe to Mr. Fulton. When I first joined Fulton Group with him all those years ago, I swore that I would always obey hismands." Hazel looked firm. Grace narrowed her eyes. The lights at the roadside seemed to re brightly in her eyes. "You were with him every step of the way as he reached the position he''s in today." "Of course." "Did he suffer a lot in the past?" "When Mr. Fulton first joined Fulton Group, he started from the bottom so that he could prove himself to everyone. "There was a time when he waited outside a client''s house every day for a month without fail just so that he could get the client to agree on a project. One monthter, the project was confirmed, and he was promoted by 3 levels." Hazel leaned against the car, smiling as she reminisced about the hard times they''d had together. "Two yearster, Mr. Fulton became one of the nine directors in thepany. However, the client we were working with at the time suffered a slump in their business. In the end, he became bankrupt and jumped off a building.'' Grace''s heart jolted when she heard this. "Did Xander do it?" "Ms. Lewis, things in the business world are never that absolute. Mr. Fulton never did anything personally, but he definitely yed a part in it. "I admire his style. If you want to be the top dog, you have to have this kind of determination." At this point, Xander''s ck car slid to a stop in front of them. He got out of the car, and there was a gush of wind as he mmed the car door shut. Grace''s hair swirled in the wind, and then she was pulled in his arms. "Are you alright?" He was breathing slightly heavily, giving away how worried he was. Hazel moved away.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Grace clutched his shirt tightly and instinctively pushed him away. "I told you that I was fine. Why did you rush over here?" Xander held her face in his hands and looked closely at her. He finally rxed when he saw that she really was fine. Grace gestured to Hazel. "I met Ms. Yale. I''m very thankful to her for giving me a ride." Xander frowned and finally noticed Hazel standing beside them. She said respectfully, "Mr. Fulton, I came to deliver the handover documents." Xander only inclined his head. Then, he looked at Grace again. "I''ll drive you back." She did not refuse. Once they were in the car, the driver raised the partition between himself and the back seat. Grace nestled into Xander''s embrace. "Did you ever help Hazel out financially?" Xander did not deny it as he knew that Hazel must have told her. "My mother sponsored a batch of underprivileged students in my name. Hazel was one of them. Out of all of them, she was the most capable, so after she graduated she became my assistant." Grace yed with his fingers thoughtfully. "The other day, I was at fault as well. It isn''tpletely her responsibility. Don''t demote her. Let her stay." Xander raised his eyebrows. He lifted Grace''s chin, as if to search for a trace of something. However, there was nothing. "You''re not jealous at all." There was a note of danger in his voice. "I don''t need to be jealous of something like this." Grace felt rather mncholy. "I just feel that as a woman, it must not have been easy for her to get to this point. She shouldn''t be punished so severely for such a small mistake." What she found harder to ept was that Hazel had been with Xander through the most difficult time in his life, while Grace hadn''t cared about him at all at the time. He studied her closely and frowned. "What did Hazel tell you?" "She told me about the client that made things difficult for you for a month. I know what you''re like. If he hadn''t tortured you, you wouldn''t have pushed so hard against him. At least not to the point of pretty much foreing him to jump off a building." That was it. Xander looked stern as he rubbed his fingers together. "Hazel shouldn''t have told you about this." Xander wished that in front of Grace, he would always be gentle and bright. He did not want her to see his dark side. Chapter 658 Returning Home However, Grace became agitated. She took his hand. "Why shouldn''t she? I want to know about your past, but you never tell me anything." "I know what you should know and what you shouldn''t. Some things are too dirty, and they would defile your ears." Xander rolled the window down slightly and looked outside. "We''re lovers. Do we need to withhold anything from each other?" Grace looked at his silhouette. "No matter what it is, as long as it''s rted to you, I would never find it dirty." Her voice seemed to pierce right through Xander''s heart, and he frowned. "I like Hazel telling me these things, because I can see a different Xander. You underestimate me. I know what the world is like, and I''m not as sheltered as you think I am." Grace sighed and grabbed his hand again. "Xander, I hope that in future you''ll tell me about your family, friends, and work." He looked back, and there was a rather disoriented look in his eyes. He hadn''t expected Grace to be so magnanimous and epting. Perhaps it was because he had always seen her as someone who was out of his reach. Now, it surprised him to find that she was willing to try and understand him. "You silly woman." Xander tucked away the loose strands of hair behind her ear. "In the past, I wouldn''t have worried so much, but now I bear the burden of so many things. Being with me will always be difficult." That was why he had not dared to express his feelings at the beginning. Grace''s mood lightened, and she leaned against his shoulder. "You forget that being with you is means to stand by you through thick and thin. I''m your girlfriend. We don''t need to talk explicitly about these things." Xander''s lips curved. There was gentleness in his eyes as he looked at the soft, pliable woman in his arms. After Xander dropped Grace home, he returned to Hestia''s house. She was still awake. She was sitting on the couch with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She had obviously been waiting for him for a while. "Tonight, Raymond took Prisci out to entertain the Lewis siblings. You''ve probably already heard." Her tone was cold, as it always was when she spoke about this kind of thing. Xander looked weary. "Even men of Dad''s standing would seek thefort of a gentle embrace when they face setbacks." Hestia pretended not to hear the pointed tone in his voice. "They were introducing the Jorsons'' daughter to Victor! Her niece! It was so obvious what they were trying to do. They want to form a marriage alliance with the Jorsons to take my position. She''s dreaming." Xander sat down and lit a cigarette. "No matter what, the Lewis family is always on your side." He looked at her through the smoke. "Besides, you and Dad are already divorced. What do you mean by taking your position?" Hestia narrowed her eyes when she heard this. "Your father has remained single for all these years, and I know that it''s partly out of consideration for me. "If he married anyone else, I would have to ept it, but if he dares to marry Prisci, I will fight him to the death. Xander, the reason I''m fighting him is all for you!" Xander lowered his eyes. He was tired of all this. "I received the news that Jake has already taken over the Aether projectpletely, and he''s making ripples in Pamore as well. "When he returns from the branchpany, he will definitely be promoted by two levels, and he''ll then be a direct threat to your position. "What are you nning to do about this?" "I made the Aether project for myself. If he has the guts to devour it, then I will have my ways of making him spit it out." Xander grabbed his coat and stood up when he''d finished speaking. "I''ll get going." "You''re not staying over?" He did not pause as he strode out. After Grace had stayed at Frenda for about a week, the voting results for Amirate''s annual party were released.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. "Dance Party" had gotten the highest number of votes. On the phone, Lukeughed as he said, "There are a lot of single workers at Amirate. They all want to find a chance to get a partner." Graceughed too. She confirmed the time once more and decided to return home. Chapter 659 Punishment Withdrawn Xander personally drove Grace to the airport. She sat in the passenger''s seat, nagging at him the entire way there. "Aaron says that he''ll also return to Pamore for the New Year once he''s taken care of everything here. He''s also bringing Grandpa. "What about you? Will youe back?" The New Year was approaching, and it was a very important day in their culture. Xander looked gently at her. "I''ll go wherever you are." Grace broke into a smile. Victor was already at the airport. He looked resigned when he saw them holding hands. "Do you have to be so lovey-dovey?" Xander punched him on the shoulder. "I didn''t get a chance this time, but I''ll treat you to a meal next time." "Did I say I wanted to eat with you? We ate too many meals together when we were students." Xanderughed. "Take care of Grace." "She''s my little sister. You''re crossing the line and meddling." "Victor..." Grace was displeased. "Fine. Look at you taking his side. Where''s your gumption?" Victor said sourly. Hazel swiftly walked over to them. "Ms. Lewis, I''ve checked in your luggage for you already. This is your boarding pass." Grace nced at her, but did not take it. Hazel''s reappearance next to Xander meant that Fulton Group had withdrawn her punishment and decided not to send her to a branchpany. Grace inclined her head and took it. "Take care of Xander." "Thank you for your kindness, Ms. Lewis. I will treasure this chance." The ne sped through the sky and disappeared without a trace. Xander''s smile disappeared, and he turned to leave. Hazel followed closely behind him. "Mr. Fulton, you told us to keep an eye on Hawkins Group. We''ve found a loophole." This was an instruction he had given previously. Xander walked straight ahead. "That''s very conscientious of you." "I would never dare to forget amand of yours." "What loophole is it?"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "There''s a problem with Hawkins Group''s taxes. It''s neither big nor small. "Mr. Hawkins may or may not know about it, but he does have connections to the high-level authorities. They might be turning a blind eye on purpose." "How do you know that Benjamin doesn''t know?" "I''ve investigated this. The tax financial reports that Hawkins Group''s employees have been submitting are suspected of being false." Xander stopped in his tracks. "Give me the details." After living in Pamore for some time, Grace had gradually gotten used to the climate. The moment she got off the ne and said goodbye to Victor, she received a call from Zoey, who sounded rather sarcastic. "Gracie, you''re finally back." Grace was amused. "How did you find out? Do you have spies on me?" "Your location on the Byte app shows that you''re already in Pamore." Before getting on the ne, Grace had been bored with nothing to do, so she had edited a few videos and uploaded them. She looked at them again, and saw that in just a few short hours she already had hundreds of thousands of likes. There were also countlessments. "You really are a media figure. News of any movement of yours travels like lightning." Since it had been a while since they''d seen each other, Zoey asked her out for dinner. "But I happen to have an interview, so you may have to wait for me for a while." Grace didn''t mind. She asked Zoey for the address. Zoey was having her interview at a caf¨¦ known for its ambience. The ce had been set up with a high-resolution camera and ring lights, and staff were busy inside. Grace tiptoed and caught sight of Zoey''s elegant figure. Her view oft the interviewee was blocked, but she could just make out a pair of broad shoulders. It was probably a man, althoug couldn''t tell who it was. "Excuse me. Who''s being interviewed?" Grace casually asked one of the staff. "He''s the man of the hour in Pamore right now. Don''t you know him?" Grace had been gone for a week, and she hadn''t expected a new "man of the hour" to pop up out of nowhere. She shook her head. "Nope." "Then, move aside. Don''t interrupt my work." Grace tutted. Chapter 660 Nouveau Riche of Pamore Grace waited for an hour before the interview finally ended and the staff dispersed. She went up to give Zoey a ss of water. "You''ve worked hard. I ordered some drinks for everyone." Zoey looked at the crowd. "Say thank you to Ms. Lewis, everyone." "Ms. Lewis?" They all exchanged looks. Then, they shouted loudly, "Thank you, Ms. Lewis!" Grace smiled and looked past Zoey at the interviewee''s spot. As she did so, she said, "Who were you interview-" She stopped abruptly. That was because she was looking straight at a face that felt both familiar and distant. "We meet again, Ms. Lewis." Grace''s expression had frozen, but Zoey didn''t realize that anything was wrong. She introduced them to each other. "This is my friend Grace, and she''s the CEO of Amirate. Gracie, this is one of the nouveau riche in Pamore, Mr. Jake Fulton. He''s in charge of the Aether project." Then, she whispered in Grace''s ear. "He has the same surname as Xander. What a coincidence." Coincidence? What a joke! She had known that Jake was in Pamore, but she hadn''t expected to meet him so soon. Jake remained rxed as he looked at Grace''s strange expression. He adjusted his clothes and smiled as he said, "Ms. Lewis doesn''t seem happy to see me at all." Jon handed over a cup of the coffee that Grace had bought. He said happily, "Mr. Fulton, this is from Ms. Lewis." Jake''s gaze swept over it. "I won''t be drinking that. Ms. Lewis enjoys drugging other people. Drinking something that she gives youes at a price." Grace looked angry. No matter how slow Zoey was on the uptake, even she had realized that something wasn''t right. "You two know each other?" "No," Grace said. She looked intently at Jake. "I don''t drug people lightly, unless that person is terribly annoying."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Jakeughed coldly, but he did not get angry. "You''d better be careful then, Ms. Lewis. I have never been known to have a forgiving heart. Anyone who touches me can expect the same in return." "Anytime." Jake''s smile disappeared. "Let''s go, Jon." Grace gnashed her teeth in anger as she watched them go. An hourter, once Zoey had heard about everything, she was thoroughly amused. "Xander has a younger brother? I was wondering why they resembled each other." "Since when did he be the nouveau riche of Pamore? What''s the standard of your finance magazine when choosing people?" Zoey prepared a bowl of soup for her. "Let''s cool you down first." "He''s rich. His status is even higher than that of Benjamin''s. The Aether project went through a few rounds of bidding, and it finally came to him. He is fully qualified, both in terms of his power and money." Grace knew this very well, but she was still unhappy about it. "Fine. If you really dislike him that much, I''ll take him off the headlines and stuff him in a part of the newspaper that no one red that?" . NovelDrama.Org Zoey coaxed her gently, and Grace finallyughed. How''s "Forget it. Do whatever you need to do. I''m not afraid of him." Zoey nodded. After dinner, Grace had just reached home when she received a call. "Mr. Griffin?" She was surprised. Shawn sounded very exasperated. "The restaurant''s packed to the brim all because of you. I haven''t even gotten off work yet." Grace was bemused. "Because of me?" "Have you forgotten what you did?" After a few minutes, Grace remembered that she had posted a photo of herself and Xander having tea at the tea house. A lot ofizens must have gone there to take photos afterward. Grace was extremely embarrassed the be happy that business is You should be thanking sher of the tea house, you booming. me." After a few moments of silence, there was a softugh on the other end of the phone. "Then, I really do thank you." "You''re wee!" Grace said innocently. Chapter 661 Sprained Ankle "Did you go abroad?" Shawn asked after a moment. He must have seen her video. "Yep. I was visiting family." "Your rtionship with Mr. Fulton is going very well."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. It was a statement. Grace''s voice was full of love as she said, "We''re pretty stable right now. Don''t envy me, Mr. Griffin. You''ll have the same thing in future." She thought he was envious of her. On the other end of the phone, his lips curved without thinking. "I''m fine." "No one can be fine. Everyone yearns to be loved. Don''t be anxious. That person will appear one day." She thought she wasforting him, but it made Shawn moody. He picked up the purple y teapot. "What if she never appears?" "Hmm... Then, I''ll introduce someone to you. I don''t have much, but I do have a lot of girlfriends." Shawnughed again. He was about to speak, but then he heard her cry out in pain. He said anxiously, "What''s the matter?" "I missed a step while I was going upstairs and fell." Grace inhaled sharply and looked down. Her ankle was swelling up rapidly. "Is anyone at home? Are you alright?" Grace did not like having too many housekeepers at home. They usually came to cook and clean during the day, and they all went home at night. Shawn noticed that she was silent. There was the sound of something dropping on his end. "Give me the address. I''lle and take you to the hospital." "No! You don''t need to go through the trouble. I can just put some ointment on it." Grace hurriedly stopped him. She tried to get up to go back to her room, but she couldn''t move at all. The pain in her ankle was piercing. She had probably sprained it. "Can you move?" Grace remained silent. Shawn had already started the engine. "You can''t move around if you''ve sprained your ankle. It''ll swell up even more. If you don''t want to go to the hospital, I''ll bring some medicine over. It''s really good for sprains." He spoke calmly, and it helped her to calm down. Since he had already started off, Grace could not refuse further. Besides, Was true that she e able to do anything her "Then, I''ll have to trouble you, I''m afraid." At the same time, a Maybach parked outside the vi. The car window rolled down, and the man in the back seat dooked up at the lit windows of one of the vi''s rooms. There was aplicated expression on his face. "Ms. Lewis lives here," Jon said. In the rear view mirror, he saw Jake look up, and there was danger in his eyes. He flicked the ash off his cigarette. "Do you think that Grace is beautiful?" Jon said carefully, "Of course she is. She''s even prettier than a celebrity." "No wonder my older brother likes her, huh?" Jake had heard long ago that there was a woman in Xander''s heart that he could not forget. After he''d investigated it, he realized that the woman in question was already married. He had then put the matter out of his mind, but unexpectedly, the story had O continued. Jake had never expected someone as upright and prim as Xander to ept a divorced woman. This piqued his interest in Grace. "Remember this ce. We maye here again." Jake stubbed his cigarette out and indicated for Jon to start the car. However, right at that moment, a Volvo drove in their direction. It was going very fast, and it stopped in front of Grace''s vi. A tall man got out of the driver''s seat, holding a bag of things in his hand. He headed inside directly. He didn''t even knock as he pressed the password on the digital door lock and entered. There was a sly light in Jake''s eyes as he snorted. "That isn''t my brother. Grace has a man in her home at this hour?" Jon didn''t quite get what he meant. "Should we still leave?" "Wait a moment more." Shawn carried Grace downstairs, much to her embarrassment. "I''m sorry to make youe here at this hour." "If I hadn''te, you would''ve had to spend the night on the stairs." Chapter 662 Putting on Medicine for Her Shawn was very practiced with his movements. He disinfected the area, then sprayed some medicine on. He rubbed his hands to warm them and began to massage her ankle. His movements were gentle and slow. Grace could feel the pain in her ankle receding quickly. "You''re very experienced. Have you ever learned professionally?" Her legs were slender and fair, and slightly reddened from the sprain. Shawn concentrated on his actions, and did not let his gaze linger. "Yes, I''ve studied this. I often got injured because of my job, and after some time, I became almost as good as a doctor." He was still wearing a mask and baseball cap at this hour, and the only thing she could see were a pair of gentle eyes. Grace was curious. "What did you do before? Why did you get injured so often?" Shawn''s movements paused. "I don''t have a good education, so I mostly did physicalbor." Grace was startled, and suddenly felt that she shouldn''t have asked. "I''m sorry, I didn''t do it on purpose. I had no idea." Shawn suppressed a grin at how flustered she was. "It''s okay. It''s nothing that can''t be said." His hands were calloused, unlike Xander''s smooth, clean fingers. It was clear that he had done physicalbor in the past. "Isn''t the tea house closed at this hour?" She was trying her best to find something to talk about. "Yes. All eight of my employees, including Spencer, are so tired they can barely stand. But it can''t be helped. All the guests want to get a photo at the tea house Ms. Lewis visited." There was a teasing note in his voice. Graceughed, and her eyes curved into half-moons. "Isn''t that a good thing? I made a bet with Xander that your tea house would definitely be crowded with people! Mr. Griffin, I think that we have a win-win situation on our hands. You earn money, and I win my bet." Shawn''s movement slowed unconsciously when he heard her. "What did he bet?" "Hmm... he said that your tea house wouldn''t have many patrons. How could that be?" Shawn stopped what he was doingpletely, and seemed dazed for a moment. Grace caught on. "Oh, we... we weren''t betting on your business on purpose..." "It''s okay. Both of you have an eye for such things. I''m also very curious about which direction my tea house will develop in." Shawn put on a different medicine "The swelling will go down ow. It''ll probably take another two days for it to stop hurtingpletely." "You''re a great doctor." Grace thought for a moment before she said, "If I win, then let''s split the winnings 50-50!" "That''s generous of you. What did you bet on?" "We haven''t decided yet. However, Xander''s things are all of high quality." Grace hugged her knees as she spoke. She looked pleased. Shawn nced at her, and saw that she waspletely immersed in the honeymoon period of her romance. SJust like a little girl with a crush. "Are you very happy in this rtionship?" He blurted out.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Grace was confused. "Yes, I''m happy. Oh right, I haven''t told him that I''d reached yet. I''ve been too busy." Then, she picked up her phone and tapped on it, smiling from time to time. Shawn looked down and bandaged up her ankle. Then, he went to wash his hands. Xander seemed to have called her. She said piteously, "I sprained my ankle as I was going upstairs. It hurts so much." There was an anxious noise from the other end. It seemed like Xander had asked her how she was. "I''m fine." Grace nced at Shawn, but in the end, she did not say anything. "I got up myself." It wasn''t appropriate for her to let Shawne to her home at this hour. She wouldn''t have let hime if he hadn''t apnsisted. It would be better et not Xander, in order to avoid misunderstanding. Xander was reassured when he heard her say that she was fine, and reminded her to take care of a few things. It went in one ear and out the other, and when Grace mentioned how she had met Jake that day, her voice was filled with anger. Shawn stared at the headlights outside the vi as the tap ran continuously. He felt like something was weighing on his chest. Chapter 663 Taking the Mask Off Xander found her endearing, so heughed gently andforted her. "It''s been hard on you. You''ll have to endure it for a while, but avoid meeting him if you can." As Grace''s anger subsided, Xander spoke again. "Turn on the camera. Let me see." Grace had been speaking excitedly, but she froze for a moment when she heard his request. She looked at Shawn. Strangely, she felt like she was cheating. "I''m about to go to bed. I don''t look good right now." Xander thought that she was just being coy. "I''ve seen you in all kinds of states. Come on, be good. Let me have a look at you." "I really don''t look good. I''m tired." She persisted. The issue was that Shawn was still there. It would be awkward for both of them. Xander didn''t insist anymore and just told her to rest early. He asked her to turn on her video for him the next day, and she agreed at once. By the time she hung up, ten minutes had already passed. Shawn came in from outside. "Mr. Fulton is very concerned about you." Grace felt a little ufortable. "I''m sorry for neglecting you. I''ll make it up to you next time. Thank you, Shawn, and please don''t tell anyone else." "Of course." Shawn packed up his things and got ready to leave. Grace suddenly said, "Wait." He stood still and turned to look at her. She looked extremely embarrassed. "Um... could you help me into the bedroom? I can''t walk right now." Her ears had turned bright red. Shawn''s ears felt warm as well. He hadn''t thought much about it earlier, but now he was very aware that they were going to be in close contact with each other. As he walked with her in his arms, he could feel the warmth of her body on his. The veins in his neck bulged. Grace''s bedroom was very big, and its interior was decorated in a simple but feminine style. There was a subtle fragrance in the air. Shawn put Grace on the bed. His palms were hot, and his lower abdomen felt as if it was on fire. He got up quickly. "Do you need anything else?" "No." Grace buried half her face in the nkets. "Shawn, I want to tell you something." "What is it?" He went closer to her to listen. "You look really good with a mask on. I''m sure you look equally good without it too." Grace spoke earnestly. "I''m not being sarcastic. I''m serious. I think that you''re a very charismatic person, and no one would ever judge you for your looks. At least, D wouldn''t." As his gaze bore into her, he frowned slightly. She thought that he didn''t believe her, so she raised her hand as if she were swearing an oath. "Really! I really wouldn''t!" Shawnughed lightly. "I had reconstructive surgery after the ident, so I''m not hideous. It''s just that I can''t ept myself like this." He noticed that Grace was indeed perceptive and had sensed his difort. It seemed that he hadn''t been wrong about her. "Shawn, we shouldn''t judge a book by its cover. Even when it''s ourselves." She spoke slowly and sincerely. "Thank you for your advice, Ms. Lewis." Graceughed out loud. "Can I see?" There was a sh of surprise in Shawn''s eyes. He had never shown his true face to anyone after being disfigured, but for some reason, he felt that he could trust Grace. He seemed to think of something, and he raised his hand to take the mask off. "Okay." Grace didn''t look away. His face wasn''t particrly handsome. There were scars, but he still looked very manly. There were clear traces of the reconstructive surgery, but the faint lines at the corners of his eyes gave off a sense of righteousness. Grace just couldn''t tell what he had looked like before he had been disfigured. "You''re not ugly." She spoke from the heart, and she sounded oddly affectionate. "Why aren''t you able to face it? Keeping the mask on must be very tiring." Shawn put it on again, and there was a cold glint in his eyes. "Perhaps it''s because I haven''t put down the chains in my heart." Grace didn''t overstep her boundaries and refrained from probing further. When Shawn left the vi, he no longer felt frustrated, and his footsteps were swifter. There had been a Maybach parked outside to the right of the vi. When Shawn walked out, he was justa heThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. time to see its tail lights disappear around the corner. Chapter 664 Elysium Banks Annual Party Just as Shawn had said, Grace''s foot injury healed within two days. The moment she returned home, she received countless invitations to the annual parties of variousrgepanies. Hawkins Group was among them. Larry had personallye with the invitation, but Luke had intercepted him smoothly. "You didn''t need to bring it, to be honest. Ms. Lewis will not attend." Larry had looked awkward. "I understand. Nevertheless, she still used to work at Hawkins Group. What if she still has a shred of feeling toward it? We sincerely invite Ms. Lewis to return and see how much thepany has developed." Luke had shaken his head at that. "The past is the past. There''s no point in looking back." Hence, Larry had been left with no choice but to return. When Grace heard about what had happened, there was no trace of emotion on her face. She said to Luke, "You did well." The other invitations were rejected as well, all except for one, which was from Elysium Bank. Noelle had personally written the invitation to Grace, and she had added a line at the end in cute handwriting, saying, "You muste!" Grace smiled, and she instructed Luke to prepare a generous gift. When they entered the venue for Elysium Bank''s annual party, Noelle recognized Grace at once and rushed over to them. "Grace!" Grace smiled. "Elysium Bank is very extravagant. We''re feeling a bit stressed." Anthony followed behind Noelle. "I''m sure that Amirate''s annual party will be just asvish. You''re too modest, Ms. Lewis." Grace inclined her head to greet him. When she looked up, she saw Benjamin and Timothy get out of a car together. They began walking toward her, and her expression changed. She had almost forgotten that, given Timothy and Noelle''s current rtionship, he would be sure to attend. It was no surprise that Benjamin, who was close to Timothy both professionally and personally, was also there. After watching that video, Grace couldn''t help but feel like Benjamin was bing more and more of a stranger to her. Noelle looked over, and her eyes shone when she saw Timothy. Anthony noticed it and warned, "This is a formal asion. You need to conduct yourself ordingly." Noelle pouted. "You''re such an old fogey, Dad." Grace seemed to sense something. "I''m guessing that we''ll be hearing good news soon?" "Not so soon. I still need to observe him. I only have one daughter! I''m not going to let him get her so easily." Anthony was very strict when it came to Timothy. Even though he was still far away, Timothy was already nervous. He adjusted his cor and asked Benjamin, "Do I look okay?" Benjamin''s eyes were fixed on Grace. "You look okay." "You didn''t even look at me!" Benjamin obligingly nced at Timothy. When he turned to look back again, Grace had already taken Noelle''s hand and was entering the venue. Luckily, Elysium Bank had arranged the seats in a very considerate manner and had ced all the younger ones at one table. In ordance with Noelle''s wishes, Timothy was seated beside her, while Benjamin sat beside Grace. Grace moved away from him soundlessly.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Benjamin pursed his lips. He tapped his fingers on the table. "You went back to Frenda a few days ago." Grace made a noise of assent. She focused on listening to the speeches that were being given onstage. She snubbed Benjamin. He knew that Grace had gone back in pursuit of Xander, but it was clear that she would always have toe back to Pamore. "How has your grandfather''s health been recently?" "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Jackson is a veritable weathervane when ites to trends in banking, so you should listen to his speech." Benjamin pretended not to hear the sarcasm in her tone. "You were once responsible for bank loans at vel. Hawkins Group. You know I''m not good at this stuff." Grace rolled her eyes. "Then, you should listen carefully, Mr. Hawkins. If Hawkins Group runs into financial trouble in the future and their leader is incapable, they''ll be doomed." Chapter 665 Suspected of Insider Trading Benjamin took a deep breath and puffed out his chest. Grace was growing more and more distant from him by the day, but it was okay. Jessica had already been sent away, so Grace would never know that the person she had fallen in love with at first sight was actually Alexander. Anthony finished his speech, and the programme that the staff had prepared for the night began. The food was served. Since Noelle was the sessor to Elysium Bank and she rarely appeared in public, many people came by to toast her. Timothy sensed that the atmosphere at their table had be rather awkward, so he tried to lighten the mood. "Mdy, do you know the Iversons? They''re one of the fourrgest families in Frenda." Grace knew about them. "We''ve had a few dealings in the past." "The second son of the Iversons is here in Pamore." Grace thought about it for a moment. She vaguely remembered that the name of the Iversons'' second son was Joshua; he had been the one who had gone against Xander because of Fortress Club. "What''s he doing here?" Timothydled some food onto Noelle''s te. "He acquired a productionpany. Thepany''s market value rose sharply within a couple of days, all thanks to his trading." Joshua was being very aggressive, and his motive foring to Pamore was unclear. It was a move that would attract a lot of attention in the capital market. Timothy was a professional trader. He had received the news at once. Benjamin overheard them. "I heard that he''s lost quite arge chunk of the Iversons'' family fortune. That''s why he''s not popr among the elders in his family, and other families of equal standing are unwilling to let him marry their daughters." "That may be so, but he does have talent. He''s just overconfident, which is why he gets trapped. Do you know who the person was who ended up with half the Iversons'' family fortune?" Benjamin mulled over it. "It''s a mystery. He doesn''t seem to have a name." "I know." Timothy looked mysterious. "His surname is Fulton." The two of them simultaneously looked at Grace, who looked confused. She was quick to react and said, "You''re talking about Xander."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "Mdy, I''ve investigated this. Futurelink Corporation was established in Pamore with that money. Didn''t you know?" Xander had never mentioned it, but it didn''t surprise Grace. She was confused. "The stock market always has its ups and downs, and bottom fishing is normal. Xander does have that ability." "Perhaps so, but ording to my information, this incident seems to be linked to insider trading. After all, Xander was just starting out at the time. How could he have had such a huge sum of money?" Xander had only been 18 years old at the time. Timothy was known as a genius in the industry, and even he wouldn''t have been able to pull that off. He suspected Xander. Graceughed. "It''s impossible. He wouldn''t be able to do something like that." Benjamin''s eyes narrowed. He hadn''t expected her to trust Xander so much. Timothy clicked his tongue. "You didn''t even know about this. How are you so sure that he didn''t do it? Mdy, I''m not trying toe between you two. I just found out about it too, and I''m just giving you a heads up. Don''t get yourself mixed up in this." Of course, Timothy was also trying to get Benjamin another chance. Grace didn''t like listening to this. She said carelessly, "You''ve misunderstood." Then, she got up and headed to the restroom. She had her own opinions on the incident, and she decided to ask Xander about it. "Grace!" Benjamin called out to her. He caught up to her quickly as she was walking down the corridor. She stopped and stood still. "What is it?" Her cold, distant eyes stung Benjamin. "What Timothy said makes sense. If Xander is suspected of insider trading, you''ll be affected as well. You''re such a rational, person. You should know what this means." . "I told you. He wouldn''t do that." Benjamin grabbed her arm, incensed by how biased she was. "How do you know he wouldn''t? This isn''t the only thing he''s hidden from you!" Grace stared at him, looking unusually calm. "If I shouldn''t trust him, am I supposed to trust you?" "What?" Benjamin was bbergasted. "You know very well what you''ve lied to me about." Chapter 666 Cards on the Table Grace''s ck eyes were very bright, and there was a firm resolve in them that no one else had. She looked at Benjamin, who let go of her guiltily. "I did hide things from you in the past, but I''ve never done that since we got divorced. Although it''ste, I''m sure you know how I feel about you." "That''s not what I''m talking about. I''m talking about before we got married." Benjamin swayed, and he pressed his lips together tightly. He didn''t speak for a long time. "What?" Grace hadn''t wanted to expose him. In fact, she had initially nned on just treating him like a stranger if they met. Since Benjamin insisted on pestering her, she didn''t want to be taken for a fool. "If you had admitted it yourself, I would''ve still admired your guts as a man, even though it''ste. But it seems that you don''t even have the courage to admit it." Grace spoke slowly, watching as Benjamin''s expression turned gradually darker. "Does your older brother, Alexander, know that you married me in his stead?" Benjamin turned as white as a sheet. So, she knew all about it. How had she found out? After a long time, he spoke with difficulty. "You met him?" Grace didn''t answer directly. "Don''t you think that you owe me an exnation at this point? You knew that the person I was looking for was Alexander, not you. "Not only did you fail to tell me, but you even pretended to be him and married me. You made me ve away like a housekeeper for your family, and you wasted my youth! "Was it fun, Benjamin?" Grace walked closer to him with every word. He retreated backward. He didn''t dare to meet her eyes. Being exposed felt even worse than he had expected. He felt lightheaded, and his vision seemed to be turning ck. His heart grew heavier. "You knew about everything, but you just watched me sink deeper and deeper. You trapped me in Pamore to be your secretary and ve away for your family for so many years! Don''t you feel even a shred of guilt toward me?" Grace became more and more emotional as she spoke. Her raised voice startled the people passing by, and they all began to look over. Benjamin took a deep breath. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to a corner. "I already told you. I love you, just like you love Alexander. When you love someone, you''ll do anything to keep them by your side. What have I done wrong?" Grace was bbergasted. She shook her head. "Because of you, I no longer love Alexander. I don''t even know how he is right now. "Benjamin, you made a fool out of me. You pretended to be someone else for so many years and married me. What right do you have to meddle in my affairs? What @ght do you have to appear in front of me?" The words she had hidden deep in her heart spilled out of her. Her eyes filled with angry tears for the years that she had wasted; they were tears of hate and resentment. Benjamin''s breathing slowed. "I was. wrong. I''m sorry. I didn''t know that you were from the Lewis family. If I had known, I wouldn''t have kept you in Pamore." He seemed to be trying to protest his innocence. Graceughed out of sheer anger. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "You still don''t know what you did wrong. Even if I wasn''t the heiress of the Lewis family, you shouldn''t have lied to me! "Nobody should be a tool for someone else! No one should be the tool to satisfy your personal desires, Mr. Hawkins!" "Then, what should I have done? You thought that was Alexander. You were so devoted and so determined to follow him, but now you''ve fallen in love with Xander. If Alexander were to find out about this, he would hate you too." Even though Grace knew the truth, Benjamin knew that she still didn''t know that Shawn was Alexander. That was his only saving grace. Grace swayed. His confident and aggrieved tone made her feel that she had done something wrong.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Chapter 667 Is That Celia "You''re impossible." Grace turned around. "I don''t want to see you again." She strode off. Benjamin reached out a hand to try and stop her, but he missed. Grace''s dress red, and Benjamin caught sight of her bandaged ankle. He frowned. He had seen that kind of bandaging before. Anyone who had graduated from the police academy would know how to do it. Every New Year, Alexander refused to return to Hawkins Manor. It always made Elizabeth rather sad, so she would arrange for things to be delivered to him. Once, Benjamin had been roped into it and had gone to see Alexander. It had been raining heavily that year, and the police academy had been in a remote location. As they had been driving, andslide had urred. Both Benjamin and the driver had been buried in it. The students from the police academy had rescued them. Alexander had been one of them. He had been surprised to see Benjamin, but he was mature beyond his years. "You''re Benjamin." "...you''re Alexander." "A stone fell on your foot, but I''ve bandaged it up for you. You''ll just have to rest for a few days." Alexander hadn''t lingered around after he''d finished speaking. He had grabbed his water bottle and left to fill it up. Benjamin had never interacted much with him. All he had known was that the two of them looked alike, but when he had met Alexander, he had thought that they were very different. He had surprised himself when he had called out, "Come back home for the New Year." Alexander had paused in his tracks for a moment, but he hadn''t looked back. "I won''t." Benjamin pulled himself out of his memories and narrowed his eyes. The bandage on Grace''s ankle looked exactly like the one Alexander had done for him before. They had been in contact again.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Meanwhile, once Grace got back to the table, she began wolfing down her food. She even downed several sses of alcohol, one after the other, shocking Noelle, who tried to stop her. "Grace, what''s going on with you?" Grace felt slightly better once she had filled her stomach. "Nothing much. I just ran into a rabid dog." Benjamin returned to the table at that moment, and Timothy took a sharp intake of breath. He lookedpassionately at Benjamin and mouthed, "You bear a heavy burden." Benjamin''s expression turned thunderous. Grace had onlye to the party out of courtesy, and now that Benjamin was back, she had no intention of staying. She picked up her bag and said a few words to Noelle as she got ready to leave. At that moment, there was amotion at the entrance. Everyone looked over. Anthony''s voice rang out. "It''s Elysium Bank''s honor to have Mr. Iverson here with us tonight." Joshua? Grace looked over. She saw an older-looking man dressed in a suit. He seemed to be about 40 years old. He had a chilly smile as he shook hands with Anthony. "This is my first time in Pamore, which is why I came here to greet the industry leaders. I hope that I can count on your help in my future developments here." "You jest, Mr. Iverson. Your father and I are old friends. This is a win-win situation, so we are on an equal footing here." Anthony treated Joshua with great importance. He made a toast to thetter and looked toward Noelle. "Come here, Noelle." Noelle was reluctant. She nced at Timothy, who looked sour, but she couldn''t refuse Anthony in front of everyone. She had no cho x but to walk over quickly. "Dad." "Do you still recognize Joshua? When you were a little younger, he used to drive you around." Joshua looked Noelle up and down. "You''ve be so pretty. I wonder who the lucky guy will be in future." Timothy clicked his tongue. He was about to stand up when Grace stopped him. "This is Elysium Bank''s annual party. Are you really going to make a scene here?" Timothy took a deep breath and pulled at his tie. He had no choice but to stay where he was. "Joshua, you''ve changed too. You used to look like my older brother, but now you look more like my uncle." Although Noelle''s words were sharp, she spoke in a sweet tone. Hence, one could call her out on it. "Is thisdy your wife?" Joshua just frowned. Anthony red at Noelle. He wanted to set her up with Joshua, but she was messing things up on purpose. Although the Iversons had lost their former glory, they were still one of the fourrgest families in Frenda. Their power wasn''t to be taken lightly! Chapter 668 It Is Celia There was a woman standing beside Joshua. She looked like she was trying to keep a low profile, but anyone could see that she was dressed from head to toe in branded attire. It was obvious that she was afraid that no one would notice her. She took Joshua''s arm and smiled sweetly. "Ms. Noelle, you''re as beautiful as I imagined." Noelle had been talking to Joshua, but the woman had interrupted them. The people around them looked at her strangely, and Joshua pulled his arm away. In answer to Noelle''s previous question, he said, "No." The woman''s expression darkened. Noelle''s lip curled. "No wonder. Since we haven''t met for so many years, I thought that perhaps your taste in women got worse." She was young and very charming. Joshua couldn''t look away from her. "You''re all grown up now, and you''ve got a sharp tongue. Do you have a boyfriend?" Noelle was about to speak when Anthony stopped her. "Not yet. She''s still young. We''re not in a rush about these things." "She''s reached the age for marriage." Noelle hadn''t seen Joshua for many years, and his rude behavior made her temper re up. Grace couldn''t hold Timothy back any longer. He strode directly toward them. "You haven''t married, even though you''re already 40 years old, Mr. Iverson. Why are you rushing a youngdy in her 20s to do so? That''s rather rude of you." Timothy had a roguish air to him, and he swaggered over with a ss in his hand. He clinked sses with Joshua. Joshua looked at him, then at Anthony. "This is..." Timothy gripped the stem of his wine ss tightly. He was a gifted trader, and he was well known not just in Pamore but also on Bull Street, which was a renowned ce for traders. Joshua was just pretending like he didn''t recognize Timothy so he could embarrass thetter. Timothy didn''t wait for Anthony to introduce him. "I''m the executive vice president of an investment bank, and I''m also the heir of the Global Chamber of Commerce. You can address me however you like, Mr. Iverson."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Joshua''s gaze turned sly as he nced at Noelle. "You''re a Donegan. You''ve grown so big. I first saw you when your grandfather came to see my grandfather so that they could develop thepany." He was belittling Timothy in every way. There was a dangerous look in Timothy''s eyes, which was at odds with his usual devil-may-care expression. "Since you''re an elder, please be seated." Joshua didn''t refuse. He walked ahead of them, and the woman with him followed closely. The most well-known person at the event had arrived. Since didn''t like Joshua to beth, she hadn''t cared at fire! e happened to nce up, and she froze when she noticed something. Benjamin stood next to her with the same expression on his face. "Celia?" Benjamin frowned in disbelief as he stared at the woman next to Joshua. She was dressed so extravagantly as she walked with her head held high and her chest puffed up. It was Celia! It had been a long time since they''dst seen her. Benjamin had exiled her to Astana! What was she doing here? Why was she with Joshua? Grace was amused. She had never imagined that she would meet Celia again and that thetter would''vetched herself onto Joshua. Their seats were facing Grace. As Celia passed by, she bumped hard into Grace, who only managed to avoid falling by holding onto the table. UMS Celia''s lip curled, and she didn''t even deign to nce at Grace. But when she passed Benjamin, he grabbed her arm and exerted force. "Don''t you owe me an exnation?" "What are you doing?" Celia leaned weakly against Joshua, and thetter''s gaze swept over Benjamin. "Mister, you''re hurting her." Benjamin didn''t let go. "She''s my younger sister. You have no right to tell me what to do." Then, he tried to drag Celia away. "Come with me." Celia refused to move. She held on to Joshua tightly and said piteously, "I don''t know who he is." "You-" Benjamin couldn''t believe it. Celia had changed a lot, probably because she had gotten stic surgery done. She had apletely different vibe from before. Chapter 669 Youre Crazy Joshua stuck out his hand and pulled Celia into his embrace. "She says she doesn''t know who you are." Benjamin didn''t say anything. He stared intently at Celia, who had changed sopletely. No matter how angry he was, he couldn''t make a scene at this time. Elysium Bank''s annual party wasn''t a joke, and there were many high officials present. He couldn''t embarrass Anthony. Joshua was even more powerful than Hawkins Group, and it wouldn''t be a good idea to offend him either. Grace could tell that Benjamin was suppressing his anger. When Joshua and the others took their seats, Timothy followed them. Grace grabbed Noelle''s hand and whispered in her ear. Noelle nodded. After that, Grace didn''t hang around longer; she left the party. Luke was waiting outside. "The productionpany that Joshua invested in is Ster, which is one of the most poprpanies right now. They''re rivals with Amirate''s film and television department." "Check the artists that he''s signed on recently." Grace took a deep breath. She hadn''t nned on investigating it in such detail, but now it seemed like she had no choice but to check thoroughly. "Celia?" Xander''s doubtful voice traveled over from the other end of the phone. "Yep. Even though we didn''t talk, she''s changed a lot. Joshua is from Frenda. You probably know more about his movements. Can you help me check?" It was noisy on Xander''s end, and he seemed to be walking. After he got indoors, he finally said, "Okay." Grace could sense that something was wrong. She also wanted to ask him something else, but she didn''t know how to start. The two of thempsed into silence. Xander spoke first. "Is your sprained ankle feeling better?" Grace nced down. It didn''t hurt much anymore. She undid the bandage that Shawn had done for her. "It''s fine." She continued, "Um... I''ve heard about that incident with Joshua. They say that you took half of the Iverson family''s fortune by bottom fishing." Even though she was tentative, she still decided to ask about it. She felt that she should be honest. There was silence on the other end for two seconds. "Yes." "You were only 18 years old at the time. How did you do it?" "An information gap. Joshua thought that he was invincible in the stock market, and he was so arrogant that he didn''t care about funds. "He didn''t know that the stock market was facing a revolution at the time. I just got the news before he did." Grace understood. No wonder there were rumors that Xander was involved in insider trading. "Then-" He interrupted her before she could finish. "You heard the rumors." Her voice lowered. "Yes. It''s not that I''m suspecting you. I just want to know how it happened. I''m afraid that something will happen to you."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Xander wasn''t in a good mood that day, but he felt better after hearing her say that. The image of her obedient, gentle expression rose up in his mind. "I understand. If someone is set on making me a scapegoat, then Joshua is probably behind it. You''d better be careful." "I know." The two of them fell silent again. Xander suddenly asked, "While you were at Hawkins Group, did you know about any problems they had with funds and taxes?" "Half of them went through me, and there weren''t any problems." Grace said. Then, she suddenly realized why he was in a bad mood. She hurriedly said, "I''m not asking you to investigate Celia because of Benjamin." At least she was quick-witted. Xanderughed lightly. Although she had misunderstood, it still made him feel better. "If you hadn''t exined, I wouldn''t have been able to sleep well tonight." Graceughed. "So, were you sulking by yourself, Mr. Fulton? What would you have done if I hadn''t guessed?" "I would have flown back to Pamore to demand an exnation from you." He sounded earnest. It didn''t sound like a joke, and Grace thought that he really would have done it. She murmured, "You''re crazy! Are you just going to toss Fulton Group aside?" "None of that is as important as you are," he said casually. Chapter 670 An Important Guest The next day, Noelle rushed to Amirate to tell Grace about what had happened the night before. "Joshua has an official girlfriend that he''s been seeing for about three or four months. However, the Iversons don''t acknowledge her existence, and her background is unclear. They just treat it as him ying around." Grace was flipping through some documents. "For the Iversons, even both the Hawkins family and Hawkins Group put together are insignificant. "Besides, Benjamin had exiled Celia to Astana. How did shee back?" Noelle shook her head. "No one knows. I heard that Joshua erased all traces of her past." This was interesting. Was Celia really that capable?All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Grace twirled the pen in her hand. "How were thingsst night?" "Joshua and Timothy were like oil and water. Timothy tried to trick him into slipping up but failed despite trying the entire night. He was furious." Grace couldn''t helpughing at the idea that Timothy had failed for once. "Celia was at the table ying cards with the rest of the women. The otherdies were afraid of Joshua, so they gave her a lot of advantages. She won quite a lot of money and got all high-and-mighty about it. She looked down on everyone!" Noelle got angry again when she thought about Celia''s behavior. "I wouldn''t even have spared her a nce in the past, but now she''s somehow gotten herself into this position and is lording it over everyone." Grace felt resigned. She poured Noelle a ss of water. "What would she be without Joshua as her benefactor? You''re the heiress to Elysium Bank You don''t need to stoop to her level." Noelle deted at once. "What would I be without Elysium Bank? We''re the same, to be honest." Grace was startled. "Grace, my father still wants me to have a marriage alliance." "Why? The Global Chamber of Commerce is doing well, even by international standards. They''re on par with Elysium Bank." She knew that Noelle and Timothy already had feelings for each other. "My father says that we''re conflicting entities, and Elysium Bank isn''t in a particrly good position. He doesn''t like Timothy ch either, because he thinks that Timothy is too carefree. He wants his future son-inw to be stern and reliable." Grace understood. Anthony''s ultimate goal was to gain a strong ally for Elysium Bank through a marriage alliance. Among the current unmarried heirs of prominent families, Joshua was one of those who fit the bill. Grace sighed andforted Noelle. "Don''t be sad. It''s almost the new year. Let''s go shopping." Noelle didn''t remain in low spirits. "Alright. The bag I ordered has arrived, and I''m toozy to get someone to deliver it." It happened to be at Grace''s boutique. Grace had messaged Emily in advance, but unexpectedly, she didn''t get a reply. She parked her sports car outside the boutique, only to find that it had been sealed off. One of the sales assistants rushed out. "I''m sorry, Ms. Lewis. We have an important guest here today." Grace was surprised, but she dismissed it. If richdies wereing to her boutique, it meant that they acknowledged it. "It''s alright. You can get on with things. We''ll wait." The sales assistant was hesitant. "That important guest has a gold card and is a premium customer Now, they''re making things difficult for Ms. Jenkins on purpose, aff because of a bag. They insist that it''s fake and that it''s damaged." Making trouble for Emily? Grace''s expression changed immediately, and she pulled Noelle in with her. As expected, several women were standing in the waiting area. They couldn''t see the face of the one in the middle clearly, but she was holding a bag and pointing usingly at Emily. "I trust this brand, and I know that they would never manufacture fake goods. You are the one who must be benefiting from this by changing my bag." Emily''s tone was tinged with tolerance. "Lalready told you. Why would I change the customers'' bags? I manage this boutique. You should go out and ask around. This has never happened at our store! Celta, you''re crossing the line!" Celia! Grace and Noelle exchanged nces. Then, they pushed through the crowd. "Do you have evidence that it''s fake?" Chapter 671 Would You Eat It if I Made It Celia heard Grace''s voice and turned around slowly. "Oh, I see that the boutique''s real owner is here." Grace was calm as she snatched the bag from Celia''s hand. She scanned it with her phone. "The official website''s scanner shows that it''s authentic. What do you have to say?" Emily took Grace''s arm. "She''s doing it on purpose. She just wants to make trouble. I already scanned it earlier." Celia crossed her arms over her chest and said arrogantly, "Then, it must be damaged because you didn''t store it properly. I''m not going to ept this bag. You must give me a full refund." "You''re shameless!" Emily was so angry that her scalp prickled. She tried to push past Grace. Grace stopped her. "Ms. Hawkins, it''s okay if you don''t ept this bag. We can give you a full refund as well. I''ll just let the official manufacturer know so that they will never custom-make anything for you from now on. How about it?" In other words, Celia would be cklisted. Celia''s expression changed. This brand was representative of how prestigious one''s status was. It would be embarrassing if she wasn''t able to own any of their bags in the future. "There''s no need to take things that far. I haven''t met you in such a long time, Ms. Lewis. It was just a little joke." Celia turned around and asked her friends, who were standing with her, "You all know Ms. Lewis, don''t you? She''s from Amirate Corporation, and she''s been in the limelight recently. I used to know her." Her friends knew that Celia was Joshua''s girlfriend, so they were all exceedingly polite to her.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. "So, you two are friends?" "We''re not friends. I''m her ex-sister-inw. You didn''t know that, did you? She used to do all the work in my house, including theundry, cleaning, and cooking. Now that I mention it, I do miss her cooking. Grace, can you cook for me again?" The corners of Celia''s eyes crinkled provocatively. Grace rolled her eyes. She wryly realized that her dumb mistakes in the past had left her with an embarrassing history. Celia hade here specifically for her. "You''re right, Ms. Hawkins. I am your ex-sister-inw. I can cook for you, but would you dare to eat it?" She spoke calmly and confidently. At that moment, the door to the boutique was pushed open. A man strode in with a woman on his arm. The woman said, "Oh, Jake. We''vee at a bad time. It seems like someone is making a scene." Jake leaned against the wall and stared at the crowd. There was a knowing smile in his eyes. "If you make it, I''ll eat it. After all, you might be my sister-inw in the future. If that happens, you''ll have to cook many meals, so you''d better practice in advance." Among the offspring of the four Joshua was ranked higher than Jake. If he married Celia, Grace would have to address her as her sister-inw. Grace snorted and put the bag aside. She said, "You don''t have to worry about that. Hemember that Joshua has a first love whom he dated for ten years. I wonder if he''s really gotten over her. Perhaps I should give her a call. You might never be able to take her ce." Celia hadn''t had any idea about that. Her brow furrowed tightly as she wondered if it was true. Her friends retreated slightly when they heard Grace. If things weren''t definite, they shouldn''t be trying to curry favor with Celia so much. "That''s all in the past. We need to look forward, and I''m the one by Joshua''s side now!" Celia gritted her teeth. She hated Grace. If it hadn''t been for Grace, Benjamin. wouldn''t have exiled her to Astana. She had suffered so much there; it had been so bad that she had felt as if ayer of skin had been peeled off her. Grace took her phone out and asked Emily, "Shall I try to make a call?" Emilyughed and yed along. "Alright. I haven''t heard her voice in a while." Chapter 672 Stalked "That''s enough." Celia cut her off, looking sullen. She had suffered at Grace''s hands before, and she knew that it was very likely that thetter indeed had a connection with Joshua''s first love. She didn''t dare risk it in front of so many people. Grace turned her phone in her hands. Celia approached her and said in a low voice, "Don''t get too triumphant. There''s more in store for you." Grace touched her hair, and her eyes shifted to the figure in the distance. "I''ll be waiting." Celia turned around angrily and left the boutique with her posse.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Silence fell at once. The smile dropped off of Grace''s face. Noelle asked hurriedly, "Grace, does Joshua really have a first love?" "I made it up." Emilyughed out loud. "I knew it! Only Celia would be dumb enough to be fooled by that. This just shows that she doesn''t know Joshua well enough. She''s just bluffing and putting on airs." At that moment, Jake and his femalepanion came up to them. The woman said, "I''vee to get my bag." Noelle hurriedly said, "Me too." Emily immediately switched to a professional expression. She asked them to show her their numbers. "Pleasee with me." They followed her to the waiting area. Jake turned slightly and said, "We meet again. You''re just as sharp-tongued as ever, Ms. Lewis. You''re very bold." Grace crossed her arms over her chest. A smile yed on her lips. "Mr. Jake, you''re just as charming as ever. I see that you''re keeping yourself busy in Pamore with an endless stream of women." "I can''tpare to you, Ms. Lewis. You have one on the hook in Frenda and another here in Pamore. Does my brother know about that?" Jake spoke in amusement as he yed with the lighter in his hands. It was custom-made, and his name was engraved on it. Grace stared at him and frowned slightly. She realized that something was off. "Making up rumors is rather shameless, Mr. Jake." Her first thought was that he had found out about Benjamin and was poking fun at her. "Rumors? So, you think that you have nothing to hide, Ms. Lewis?" "Of course. Even if you say anything to Xander, you know who he''ll believe between the two of us." Jake smiled, and the corners of his eyes turned upward. He looked a bit like a fox. "A man wasing in and out of your homete at night. Not only was he in close proximity to you as he put on medicine for you, but he even carried you up the stairs. How romantic." He spoke slowly, but it made Grace feel as if she had been plunged into ice. She had never imagined that Jake would have seen what had happened that night. She recovered quickly andposed herself, masking her nervousness. "Have you been stalking me?" Jake didn''t speak. He just smiled as he looked at her. "Now you''re afraid, Ms. Lewis." "You''re shameless." Grace enunciated each word clearly. "If you have the guts to do it, you shouldn''t be afraid of being seen. From what Tremember, my brother is very possessive. When we were kids, my father casually gave me one of Xander''s toys. After he saw that, he never touched that toy again." Jake came closer to her. His lips almost touched her earlobe. "Then, when I went to university, I chose the same major as he did. He immediately gave up on two years of hard work and switched majors without a second thought." He followed her like a devil, and she couldn''t get rid of him. Grace forced herself to suppress shivering from the chill that ran down her back. She felt like she was going through the suffering Xander must have experienced with ake around. "You like what he likes, and you studied whatever he studied. Are you a copycat?" Grace pushed Jake away. "Only copycats would covet others'' achievements like a rat in the gutter and try to destroy their happiness." Jake swayed slightly before steadying himself. His smile dropped slightly, but he didn''t get angry. He said menacingly, "So what? Rats have to live too." He turned his phone on and swiped through several photos in front of her. "If Xander sees these, do you think he''ll abandon you, too?" Chapter 673 An Angry Little Kitten Grace took a sharp breath. The photos were of the night Shawn had gone over to her house. It showed him massaging her feet, talking to her, and helping her up the stairs. The photos had been captured at angles that made them look like a couple. Grace''s face turned pale. She once againmented Jake''s despicableness. "This isn''t the truth." "Even if it''s not, Xander will see it that way." Jake flipped to thest photo, which showed Shawn standing alone in the yard. His figure looked lonely and forlorn. "Look at this one. Doesn''t it look like post-sex calm?" Grace looked up, then suddenly pped him across the face. The crisp sound echoed in the boutique. Luckily, there was no one else around. Jake turned his face to the side. As he licked the corner of his mouth, he tasted blood. "Did you just hit me?" "How shameless can you be? Do you think I''ll sumb to your threats?" "I haven''t said what I want you to do. Why are you so anxious?" Grace''s palm throbbed faintly. She had a gut feeling that Jake had something on her and would make her do something bad.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "Do you know that you look like an angry little kitten right now?" Jake approached her with a smile. As he straightened her cor for her, he spoke slowly. "Don''t worry. I won''t tell him for now. But if you do something that displeases me, then who knows?" That range was too broad. Grace clenched her fists and pushed him away again. "I''ll confess on my own. I won''t be threatened by you." After speaking, she walked straight into the lounge. The heat made her face turn red. Or perhaps it was from anger. She took her phone out, intending to send a message to Xander. However, after typing a few lines, she deleted them. Last time, when she had been photographed with Benjamin, Xander had flown to Pamore in a fit of madness. If he found out that Shawn had entered her home in the middle of the night and behaved so intimately... He would be furious. Moreover, she hadn''t told him about the situation that night when he''d called. Grace''s mind was in turmoil. For a moment, she didn''t have the courage to confess. At that moment, her phone vibrated, as if responding to her thoughts. Startled, Grace looked at the caller ID-it was Shawn. "H-Hello?" Sensing that her tone was off, Shawn sounded slightly nervous. "Is something wrong?" "Nothing. Why did you call?" Grace quickly adjusted her emotions. "Mr. Fulton ordered a batch of high mountain tea, which just arrived today. I couldn''t reach him, so I thought of contacting you." Shawn''s tone was calm. "Okay, I got it. Didn''t he order ck tea before?" "Mr. Fulton''s secretary said that he returned to Pamore before Christmas and arranged to meet someone at the teahouse. This batch of tea is for that meeting." Grace leaned against the wall. She hadn''t expected Xander to trust Shawn''s teahouse so much. Was it because of her? She didn''t speak for a moment, so Shawn continued, "Your ankle should be almost healed by now, right?" "Yes, it''s already healed. Thank you." She was thanking him again. Shawn chuckled softly. "Remember to change the password to your door. I crossed the line by going over that day." Grace hadn''t been able to go over and open the door that night. So, she had told him the password to her door hadn''t expected him to remember. He was really attentive. "Shawn, I want to ask you 12 el.r something. Imagine you were threatened, Resisting could ruin a rtionship, butpromising would mean doing something against your will. What would you choose?" Chapter 674 Getting Dirt on Him Grace sounded quite troubled. Just then, Spencer pushed the door open with some documents in his hands. He waited for Shawn to finish the call. Shawn raised his hand, gesturing for Spencer to sit first, while he walked to the window. "How important is the rtionship?" Grace blurted out, "Very important." "How serious is the threat?" Grace didn''t dare say that the matter was rted to him. She swallowed and said, "It doesn''t involve a life-or-death situation. It''s a businesspetition at most." Shawn had a clear idea of the situation now. "If it were me, I would choose to endure it and resolve the matter carefully. After all, it''s a very important rtionship. Once it''s ruined, it can''t go back to the way it was before." For some reason, when he said this, Grace heard a hint of mncholy in his tone. "Shawn, did I touch on something that upset you?" "No, it''s all in the past." After a pause, he asked, "Do you need help?" Grace had already found her answer and hurriedly thanked him. "I can handle it myself. Thanks." Spencer nced at the time. The call hadsted for five minutes. After hanging up, Shawn stood by the window, lost in thought. Spencer didn''t dare to disturb him, but the matter was urgent. So, he couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Griffin, I''ve got the documents you asked for." Only then did Shawn turn around to take them. "You''re quite quick. Did the people at the station give you a hard time?" "No, when they heard that I was helping you, they were very cooperative. You used to be their captain, after all. They still showed their respect," Spencer said with a smile. After some hesitation, he asked, "By the way, why aren''t you wearing a mask today?" It was the first time Spencer had seen Shawn without a mask since he had been disfigured. He had been mentally prepared for a major change in appearance, but he hadn''t expected not to see a trace of Shawn''s former self. He felt sad for Shawn. Shawn continued to flip through the documents. "Someone asked me to let go of my burdens." Spencer was shocked and instinctively thought of the phone call just now. His intuition told him the two things were rted. "Are all the ounts Hawkins Group submitted in the past few years here?" "Yes." Shawn flipped through the pages and saw Grace''s signature at the bottom, followed by Benjamin''s final signature. "You can get back to work." Spencer sighed. "That damn Ms. Lewis. Her video has made this ce famous online. My back hurts after work every day." There was still a long line outside the teahouse at that moment. Shawn couldn''t help but smile. He patted Spencer''s shoulder. "Cut the nonsense. Just go." Meanwhile, Emily rushed into the lounge from outside. "Gracie, Gracie! Guess what I saw?" Grace was puzzled. "What?" "Remember the couple who came in just now? When the man paid the bill, he signed his name as Jake Fulton. And his card is a special card under Fulton Group. I recognized it," Emily said excitedly, holding Grace''s hand. . NovelDrama.Org UMS "You know what I''m going to say, right?" Grace remained calm. "Yes, he''s Xander''s half-brother from a different mother." Emily was stunned to hear that.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Grace immediately covered her mouth. "Don''t spread it around. When he epted Zoey''s interview he didn''t reveal his identity. I suppose the Fultons still don''t acknowledge him as the second son." UMS Emily nodded slowly. "I''ll try to keep it a secret." Grace and Noelle then left the boutique. When she looked in the rearview mirror, she realized that Jake''s car hadn''t moved. He was leaning against it and ying with his phone. As if he had sensed her gaze, he looked toward her. Grace raised an eyebrow. The next second, she received a text. "Get dirt on Bobby Baxter for me." Chapter 675 Requesting an Invitation Grace knew that the two of them had struck a deal, but she still frowned. "I don''t know him." "You will." After dropping Noelle off at home, Grace headed straight to Amirate and called Luke over. "Help me look up someone named Bobby Baxter." Shawn was right. She couldn''t provoke Jake right now. If he were to send the photos to Xander, it would cause a huge problem. She needed to navigate this carefully and find an opportunity to crush Jake. Before long, Luke found out about Bobby. "Bobby Baxter is the president of Aether Group. In terms of infrastructure, Aether Group has secured most of the national corporate projects. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say they''re like a state-owned enterprise. He holds considerable sway." Grace''s heart sank at those words. Jake''s current project also had ties to Aether Group. Why was he looking for dirt on Bobby, and why was he so confident that she could find it? "Oh, and Bobby is on the list of attendees for our annual party." "Why was he invited?" Luke smiled. "Ms. Lewis, have you forgotten? It was your idea to invite all the top executives on par with Amirate." Grace had almost forgotten. No wonder Jake was so confident. He had already investigated thoroughly. Seeing her troubled expression, Luke asked, "Should we still send the invitation?" "Yes." She had actually hoped that Bobby woulde up with an excuse to decline, but unexpectedly, Aether Group quickly agreed to attend. Grace''s heart sank even further. Luke asked again, "There''s another Mr. Iverson in Pamore now. Do we invite him?" "Leave him out." Grace didn''t have a good impression of him and didn''t want to stir up trouble for herself. Anthony had been pressuring Noelle as ofte. Whenever she was in a bad mood, she woulde to Grace. That day, the two of them were having afternoon tea on the top floor of a mall when Noelle suddenly mentioned, "Celia attended the Hawkins Group''s annual party." Grace raised an eyebrow. "She went as a member of the Hawkins family. She criticized Benjamin for abusing his power and sending her to Astana. "She also said that hecked humanity and familial affection and didn''t care for her and their mother, all for the sake of a woman. She only said harsh words. You should''ve seen Benjamin''s expression." Grace chuckled as she imagined it. "You saw it?" "Timothy told me."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. It seemed that there was another topic for gossip at Hawkins Group. Grace was happy to see the Hawkins family in chaos. After all, they had nothing to do with her anymore. At that moment, a voice came from behind them. "You seem to love telling jokes, Ms. Noelle." It was a mature and gentle male voice. Noelle and Grace both turned around and were surprised to see Joshua. Dressed in a suit, he looked at them with gentle eyes. They didn''t know why he was there or how much of their conversation he had heard. Noelle subconsciously leaned toward Grace. "Joshua, are you on a date with your girlfriend?" Joshua didn''t look at her, but at Grace instead. "Gracie, I didn''t get a chance to say hellost time." Grace stood up calmly. "I should be the one greeting you first. You''re older than me, after all." "Oh, please. But I have one question. Where''s my first love?" "What?" Grace didn''t understand. "You said I have a first love whom I''ve loved for ten years but can''t get over. Where is she now? I''d like to meet her." Grace suddenly realized that her lie had been exposed. Joshua had his cor up today, but the scratch marks on his neck were faintly visible. Grace smiled discreetly. "Your girlfriend was quite aggressive. I had to find a shield. If I''ve offended you, I apologize." "There''s no need for that." Grace breathed a sigh of relief. "If you really want to apologize, invite me to Amirate''s annual party. I''ve heard about it. As a neer in Pamore, I''d like to experience new things." Chapter 676 Dance Partner Grace''s heart sank. She hadn''t expected Joshua to directly make such a request. He knew she couldn''t refuse since she was at fault. Grace forced a smile. "What haven''t you experienced before? There''s nothing at our little party for you to enjoy." "I''ll find it enjoyable if you''re there." Joshua nced mischievously at Noelle. "Don''t you want to invite me?" "That''s not what I meant." Grace had no choice but to agree. "I''ll have my secretary send you an invitationter." Only then was Joshua satisfied. He bid farewell and left briskly. However, his back still showed signs of aging. Noelle was worried. "Joshua''s smile is so scary. I always feel like he''s hiding something." "You''re right. He definitely is." Otherwise, he wouldn''t have epted Celia and returned to Pamore. Grace''s eyes darkened. She felt like she was caught in a tangled mess that she couldn''t sort out.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Amirate had reserved the whole building of the most luxurious hotel in Pamore for its annual party. From the first floor to the top floor, the entire ce was crowded with Amirate employees, followed by celebrities and executives. Grace was in a private room on the top floor. She wore a mermaid dress that outlined her dazzling figure. She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the luxurious cars lined up downstairs. "When are youing back?" she asked softly into the phone. Xander''s warm voice came through. "I''ll definitely be back two days before Christmas. Mom will be with me." When she heard that, she confirmed the date. Shawn had said Xander had an appointment at the teahouse before Christmas. It seemed to be true. "Okay, Amirate will be on holiday after today. I can spend time with you when you''re back." She only had a few days left before Christmas, and she had to use that time to resolve the issue with Jake. Xander chuckled. "The theme of the party tonight is quite appealing-a dance party. Who''ll be your dance partner tonight?" She joked, saying, "Since you''re not back, of course I''ll choose another hot guy to dance with." Xander''s voice became husky as he spoke in a low tone. "You can try." "I''m just kidding." Fortunately, Xander didn''t take it seriously and hung up after a few words. Lydia, who was helping Grace put on Eternal Love, heard the whole conversation. "You two are really inseparable. Truly a couple in love." "Don''t tease me." Grace rubbed her temples, feeling a headacheing on. As she sat down, she called Luke toe in. "Instruct Ashley to keep a close eye on the artists. There can''t be any problems." Joshua had already invested in the rival productionpany, so his request to attend Amirate''s annual party likely suggested a hidden agenda. Luke acknowledged her order. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. To Grace''s surprise, it was Caleb. He wasn''t performing that day and was dressed casually. "Ladies, are you ready?" Lydia chuckled softly. "Almost. We can go any time." Caleb approached and squeezed Grace''s shoulder. "I''ll escort you." els The dance party was in the evening, so there were meetings to attend during the day. The real party wouldn''t begin until a series meetings concluded. of While Grace busied herself navigating through the crowd, Xander finished signing thest document at Frenda Airport and handed it to Hazel. He rubbed his temples. Hazel took the document. "If Ms. Lewis finds out that you worked overtime to see her, she would be very touched." Xander had lied when he''d said that he would return two days before Christmas. He had missed the ck Friday g thest time, so he wanted to make up for it and give her a surprise this time. Xander smiled. He was in a good mood. "I don''t need her to be touched. I just want her to be happy." The ne took off and made an arc in the sky. Chapter 677 How Did He Get In It wasn''t until evening that Grace finally resolved all the work-rted matters. The hotel was lit up, and all the big shots had arrived. Grace held her dress and walked gracefully onto the stage as everyone looked on. "Thank you, everyone, for taking the time out to attend Amirate Corporation''s annual party. I hope we can all have a smooth partnership in the future. Let''s have a great time tonight." After saying that, she took a ss from a waiter and raised it to the crowd. As she raised her head to drink the wine in one gulp, the ruby on her neck shimmered. Cheers and apuse erupted from below. Following that, the lights dimmed, and the music started ying. Since the theme was a dance party, everyone was dressed boldly and exuberantly, showing their youthful side. After stepping down from the stage, Grace noticed that Matthew was shaking his body as he talked business with others. "This annual party is so innovative, Ms. Lewis. I feel ten years younger." She smiled. "You''re not very old, Mr. Thorne. I''m afraid you''ll have to go back to school if you''re ten years younger." After exchanging pleasantries, she kept her smile and walked straight to the corridor. She asked Ashley, "How are the artists?" "We''ll announce the new idol groupter at the party. They''re ready, and they''re all very eager for this opportunity." Grace nodded. After Caleb officially announced his rtionship, Amirate had noticeably weakened in thepetition between idol groups. She couldn''t let others dominate the market, so the talent department hade up with a new n to deal with it. As Grace raised her head, she happened to see Joshua entering the room, apanied by Celia, who was dressed mboyantly. "Gracie," he called out. Feeling somewhat helpless, Grace went over. "Joshua." After waiting for a while and not hearing her next words, Joshua turned sideways. "And?" Grace locked eyes with Celia, who smirked arrogantly. "I''m not worthy of Gracie''s respect. It''s okay, Joshua." Grace narrowed her eyes. She didn''t think Celia deserved to call her "Gracie". "You''re my girlfriend. The Lewis family has taught their children well. Of course she''ll treat you with respect." Joshua was there to support Celia. His words indicated that ignoring Celia would be considered ack of manners. After a moment, Grace calmly said to Celia, "Are you going to marry Joshua? You''re not Mrs. Iverson until you''re engaged." "It''s just an address. Why are we talking about engagement?" Joshua was displeased with her persistence. "I''m doing this for Ms. Hawkins. If I address her as Mrs. Iverson and the Iverson family found out, consequences would be wovern Celia sneered. "If you don''t want to show me respect, that''s fine. You didn''t have toe up with such a cowardly excuse."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "The consequences would fall on you, not me," Grace said insinuatingly. "Cherish your life, Ms. Hawkins." Celia shuddered involuntarily at Grace''s words, and she subconsciously looked at Joshua. "Is that true?" Joshua''s face turned ugly. Since he maet came from a prestigious family, he wouldn''t be allowed to marry an ordinary person. If he dared to decide on such an important himself, his family would definitely take action. Grace saw through it. Displeased, Joshua pulled Celia into the venue. Grace breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she turned around, she suddenly saw a figure leaning against a corner, holding a cigarette between his fingertips. He exuded a shady Vibe. She didn''t know how long he had been watching. "You''re quite eloquent." His voice was deep. Grace couldn''t help but shiver. "Mr. Jake, you seem to enjoy eavesdropping." "We''re out in the open." After extinguishing his cigarette, Jake put his hands in his pockets and walked into the light. "You don''t have an invitation. How did you get in?" "I don''t think you should question the process but rather the result because I''m already standing in front of you." The smell of smoke on him suffocated Grace. She clenched her fists and took a step back. Chapter 678 A Dance Together Suddenly, there was a mor outside the door. Bobby had arrived, apanied by a group of influential figures. Grace looked over. "This is my first time meeting Bobby. What exactly do you want me to get on him?" Jake smiled. When he smiled, he didn''t seem evil. "I don''t know. It depends on your abilities." With that, he pressed his palm against Grace''s back and pushed her forward. She stumbled forward. "M-Mr. Baxter." Surprised, Bobby looked over. He didn''t recognize Grace at first. It was the people beside him who told him. "It''s Ms. Lewis from Amirate." Bobby suddenly remembered and raised his ss. "Ms. Lewis, I''ve heard of you." Grace forced a smile. "Thank you foring." "It''s my pleasure." Bobby had heard about Grace and knew she was Xander''s girlfriend. Otherwise, he wouldn''t havee there. His gaze fell on the ne around Grace''s neck. It was the Eternal Love ne he had seen before. It seemed that Xander indeed cherished her. Hence, Bobby thought it wouldn''t hurt to please her. After a drink, Bobby took the initiative to introduce the people around him, all of whom had a political background. "Ms. Lewis, we can work together in the future." Grace analyzed the people''s backgrounds. All of them seemed to be rted to construction projects. Could what Jake wanted be rted to them? After that, she stood nearby and closely watched Bobby''s movements. Suddenly, the music and lights changed, and someone started chanting, "Show us your moves, Ms. Lewis!"Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. When Grace snapped back to reality, she was surrounded by cheers. She hadn''t nned to dance that night. Just as she was about to refuse, a voice came. "It''s Amirate''s annual party. Ms. Lewis, you wouldn''t refuse to join the fun, would you?" Since there was no way she could refuse, she searched for Caleb''s figure while agreeing, "I''ll join, of course." However, Caleb wasn''t on that floor at the moment. Luke''s voice came through her earpiece. "Mr. Caleb wentoutside. He probably won''t make it back in time." Seeing Grace frowning, Noelle called Timothy. "Don''t bother getting my bag. Hurry back and help Grace out." Since she had grown up in a family like the Lewises, socializing and dancing were Grace''s forte. She wasn''t too bothered. "I''ll just dance alone-" "I wonder if I have the honor of dancing with you, Ms. Lewis." The voice came from a corner. It was incredibly charming and carried a hint ofziness. The man wore a bright suit and a half-mask, making it impossible to see his face clearly. Yet anyone could tell he was incredibly handsome. Grace almost gritted her teeth. While others might not have recognized him, she did. It was Jake. He had already made his way to the front of the stage. He bent down and extended his hand. "I''ve admired you for a long time, Ms. Lewis." Grace couldn''t refuse him in front of everyone, or else she would seem ungracious. "Sure. Do you know the Magyaron dance, Mr. Jake?" It was the most difficult dance. "Of course." As the music started ying, they were a sight to behold. After all, a beauty was dancing with a hot man. The atmosphere became lively. Jake held Grace''s waist as they moved to the rhythm of the music. Grace thought she would end up stepping on him, but it went smoother than she had expected. She couldn''t help but sarcasticallyment, "I didn''t expect a love child like you to be so skilled in dancing." A prestigious family usually only trained the eldest son. Chapter 679 Coming Back From Abroad Surprisingly, Jake didn''t get angry. "Besides this, I excel in many other aspects." Grace spun around. "Too bad. You''ll always be inferior." Inferior to Xander. Jake''s expression changed slightly. Despite being a bastard, he had wielded power for years, so no woman had dared to talk to him like that before. Grace was the first who waspletely fearless of him. He exerted more force on his grip on Grace''s waist. Suddenly, he reached out to touch her ne. "Eternal Love. Xander is really generous. I wonder what he would think if he knew you were dancing with me while wearing it." Grace pushed his hand away. "He would trust me, of course. After all, your reputation speaks for itself." Jake smiled. "Are you that sure?" Grace didn''t want to continue that topic. She just wanted to finish that dance quickly. At this moment, her gaze fell on Bobby, who was talking nearby. She spoke up. "You want to rece Bobby and gain control of Aether Group." It was a statement. She believed she had hit the mark. Jake lifted her hand, changing his posture. "You haven''t gotten any dirt on him yet. You don''t have the right to negotiate with me." Grace was speechless. After a moment, she reminded him, "Don''t harm the innocent. Shawn is just an ordinary person." "I''m not interested in that teahouse owner." Meanwhile, outside the hotel, Caleb stood with Lydia. She carefully tugged at the corner of his shirt. "Sorry, Caleb. That was just my colleague. Please don''t be angry." Caleb puffed his cheeks in anger, and he didn''t speak for a long time. He was the third son of the Lewis family and a globally renowned superstar, yet Lydia didn''t seem to care about any of that. She didn''t want to make their rtionship public, and he had never felt so frustrated. But as he looked at her pitiful face, he couldn''t stay angry. "Forget it." Caleb sighed softly, rubbing her hair. Just then, a red Bentley Mulsanne arrived and stopped in front of them. Caleb nced at it and was surprised. "Xander?" The man who got out of the Bentley stood against the light, showing his slim figure. He closed the door behind him calmly. "Public disy of in front of so many people? You''re quite brave now." Caleb suddenly felt embarrassed. "Why did you suddenlye back?" "It''s Amirate''s annual party. Also, you''re here. Why can''t I be here?" Xander was in a good mood. He looked at the bustling building. "Where''s Gracie?" "Inside. She''ll be very happy to see you back Caleb''s gaze fell on Hazel, who was behind Xander. He assumed that she was Xander''s secretary. She was carrying a bag of food in her hand. "Who''s showing affection now? You came back from overseas but still brought her favorite dishes on the way." Since Lydia hadn''t interacted much with Xander, she stood behind Caleb. She was unusually docile. "Yeah, you''re so thoughtful." Xander smiled at their words. He knew that Grace must have been too busy to eat on such an asion. After getting off the ne, he had purposely gone a little out of his way to get her favorite dishes. They were all light and mild dishes. Chicken soup, roasted vegetables, grilled portobello mushrooms, and ham sd. Xander entered the building, took the VIP elevator, and went straight to the top floor.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. As he approached the entrance of the venue, he could hear the lively sounds of dance musicing from inside. He couldn''t help but feel young at that moment. He was surprised at himself for feeling excited, like a young man. "Give me that. You wait outside." After Hazel handed Xander the bag of food, he pushed the door open. The dance music had juste to an end. Jake ended the dance with his arm around Grace''s waist. Leaning in close to her ear, he whispered, "I must say. I''m quite interested in you." Chapter 680 Xander Is Here Their dance ended beautifully. Apuse erupted from the crowd. Grace tightened her grip on Jake''s cor and said each word clearly, "Too bad I''m not interested in you." After that, she released her hold and was about to leave when Jake suddenly grabbed her wrist tightly. "You..---" Jake gazed in a certain direction and grinned. "It''s okay. Someone is interested in both of us." Grace was confused and tried to break free. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye. At once, her whole body froze, and her blood ran cold. Xander stood at the entrance of the venue. His face was devoid of the gentleness it had shown before. It waspletely cold-even chilly-now. Jake slowly removed the mask from his face. As he leaned down, his breath fanned against Grace''s cheek. "Xander''s here. Shall we go say hello?" Grace almost went crazy. She pushed Jake away abruptly and rushed out of the crowd. Gasping for breath, she walked up to Xander. "Let me exin." Xander didn''t look at her but stared at Jake in the crowd. A mix of hatred and disgust overwhelmed him. After a moment, his gaze finally settled on Grace''s face. She looked pale, guilty, nervous, and helpless. Grace held his arm tightly. "Can you give me a chance to exin?" Xander was too calm, and his expression was devoid of any warmth. She would rather he was angry than so indifferent. He withdrew his arm expressionlessly and turned to leave. Grace quickly followed behind him. "I didn''t want to dance. Jake volunteered to dance, and I couldn''t refuse when everyone was looking at me. "I''m sorry, Xander. I didn''t mean to. I know about your rtionship, but I really¡ª" Xander walked fast and got straight into the elevator. Grace was at a loss for words. She grabbed his cold fingers outside the elevator. "Xander, don''t you believe me?" Since she had just finished dancing, her neck was slightly pink. With the ruby dangling on her chest, she looked as alluring as ever. Xander grabbed her hand and pulled her into the elevator. After pressing all the buttons, he pinned her against the cold wall. "How long did you dance?" His voice was hoarse. Grace could tell that he was on the verge of exploding.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. "At most six minutes." Trembling in his arms, Grace looked at him with teary eyes. "Why did you suddenlye back?" As he lightly pinched her neck, he spoke in an icy tone. "To give you a surprise, just like you did." With that, there was the sound of something falling to the ground. The next moment, Grace''s world turned ck as his kiss descended upon her. It was hot and filled with possessiveness. He almost devoured her. Grace couldn''t breathe. Eventually, her whole body turned weak, and she melted in his arms, trembling. She then said with a choked voice, "I''m sorry." Only then did Xander''s rationality finally return. He slowly released her, breathing heavily. "Are you trying to make me mad?" Grace hugged his waist tightly as she gasped for breath. "You won''t really be mad at me, will you? make it up to you, so don''t be upset anymore." A woman with no experience in dating was acting coquettishly. It was almost irresistible. Xanderughed in anger and pinched her cheek. "How will you make it up to me?" Actually, he actually believed Grace''s exnation. Jake''s acting was too clumsy and didn''t hold up to scrutiny. After the passionate kiss, Grace looked even more alluring. "I''ll... kiss you." She tiptoed and kissed the corner of his lips. It was simple but incredibly enticing. Xander''s eyes were bloodshot, and he felt a burning sensation in his lower body that he couldn''t ignore. Chapter 681 It Was Originally His "Has anyone ever told you that you''re terrible at kissing?" Grace immediately felt wronged. "I haven''t kissed anyone else other than you." Her words pleased Xander, and thest hint of hostility dissipated from his face. He pressed the button for the top floor again. "Stay away from Jake." Grace pressed her lips together, choosing not to reveal the deal between her and Jake. She knew it wasn''t a good time to bring it up. She nestled in Xander''s arms and looked at the bag of food he handed her. "Is this for me?" "It''s for a stray dog."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Graceughed and hugged him tightly again. "Can''t you speak your mind?" Her movements were clumsy, and she identally touched something. Frowning, Xander helped her steady herself. "The elevator isn''t an ideal ce for your first time." Grace was momentarily stunned. It took her a while to finally realize the meaning behind his words and what she had identally touched. Her face turned beet red, and she couldn''t utter a word. Even when they returned to the venue, the blush on her face hadn''t faded. The party was still lively, and Jake was nowhere to be seen. Grace found a corner and enjoyed her food. Xander sat beside her. He felt better after seeing her eat happily. Under the colorful lights, he exuded a unique charm. He attracted many nces by just sitting there. Matthew came over to greet them, followed by Bobby. "Mr. Fulton, I told them that you would definitely attend Ms. Lewis'' annual party. I got it right." Xander clinked sses with him calmly. "How''s the project?" Bobby sat down, looking frustrated. "I thought you were taking on this project. I didn''t expect it to end up with Mr. Jake. "I''ve had a hard time dealing with both sides. Mr. Jake isn''t easy to get along with, and I''ve been suffering every day." Xander yed with Grace''s hand under the table. "Sorry to hear that." Grace caught the keyword and put down her spoon. "The project with Aether Group was originally yours?" "I nned for it to be mine." Frowning, Grace quickly thought about it. "Why?" Xander pinched her fingertip. "The project is in Pamore. Why do you think?" It was so that he coulde back and end their long-distance rtionship. Grace''s heart skipped a beat. She hadn''t expected Xander to n so much for her. However, the project had fallen into Jake''s hands now, ruining his n. She thought for a moment. "It''s okay. Things are fine as they are now." She wasn''t good atforting people. Xander smiled faintly as he wiped a drop of soup from the corner of her lips. Bobby continued toin, spilling many confidential details about the project. Though Grace was eating silently, n¨¦t she figured something out. Jake wanted her to get dirt on Bobby because he knew thetter had a close rtionship with Xander. Attacking Bobby was like attacking Xander. "What are you thinking about?" Xander suddenly spoke up. Grace looked up and realized that Bobby had already left. She was about to speak when Ashley approached them. "The new idol group is about to go on stage, Ms. Dewis. Would you like toe and see?" Excited, Grace pulled Xander''s hand. "The members of our newly trained girl group are all very pretty. Let me take you to see them." He wasn''t interested, but she was pumped up. He didn''t want to spoil her mood, so he let her lead him out. Below the top floor was the artists'' area. After the performance on stage ended, everyone stood up when they saw Grace arrive. "Ms. Lewis." "Hi, Ms. Lewis." "Ms. Lewis, who is this?" Smiling, Grace linked her arm with Xander''s. "My boyfriend." Chapter 682 Blatant Provocation The crowd eximed in surprise, cheering, "Ms. Lewis has a boyfriend! And he''s so hot!" "I''ve heard about it. He''s Mr. Xander Fulton from Futurelink Corporation." "I didn''t expect him to be so elegant and hot in person, just as the rumors say." What was with the hype? Grace didn''t know how to react, but Xander remainedposed. He nodded in acknowledgment and said, "I''ll double the prize money for the lucky draw tonight for Grace." The crowd cheered even louder. "Mr. Fulton is so generous!" The atmosphere was lively. Xander held Grace''s hand. Although his expression didn''t give much away, the corners of his eyes clearly showed his joy. Suddenly, Grace noticed the cameras and instinctively pulled him to a corner. She asked Ashley, "Did you invite the media?" "Of course, each member of this girl group has undergone years of systematic training. They''re all very talented. If they sessfully debut, they''ll definitely be the new generation of idol groups. The media was invited to help with the promotion." As a manager, Ashley excelled in marketing and managing artists. Grace nodded. At this moment, the host on stage announced, "Let''s give a round of apuse to wee X-estar to the stage! This is also their first appearance." Apuse broke out. Since everyone in the audience was an artist from Amirate, they would take care of the newbies to some extent in the future. Caleb was also there. Seeing Grace and Xander, he walked over. "I''ve seen this group in the training room. They''re all passionate and have great potential." "Since they managed to get your approval, I suppose they''re really good." Just then, the lights went out, and music started ying. Everyone looked toward the stage. But even after waiting for several seconds, no one appeared. Grace frowned, and Ashley immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie. "What''s going on? Where are they?" "I don''t know, Ms. Ashley. They were here just now, but they suddenly disappeared." Ashley''s expression turned ugly at once. She rushed backstage while instructing the host, "Quickly arrange for someone else to perform!" Upon hearing the instructions, the host quickly raised the microphone. But before he could speak, the sounds of footsteps suddenly approached the stage, and the music changed abruptly. The lights came on. Celia stood on stage in a girl group outfit. Smiling brightly, she danced gracefully to the music. Surprisingly, it didn''t seem out of ce at all, as if she had practiced for a long time. Whispers arose from the audience. "Wasn''t it supposed to be a girl group? Why is there only one person?" Caleb''s eyes widened. He didn''t realize what was happening. "Who''s that?" On stage, Celia danced while managing her expressions. She even smiled and winked at Grace. Grace''s face turned pale as she suddenly understood everything. She realized why Joshua had asked her for the invitation. It was all for this. Ashley rushed over in a flurry. "The girls have been drugged unconscious. What should we do, Ms. Lewis?" At that moment, Celia''s performance ended. She took the microphone and said, "Hi, everyone. My name is Celia. I''m an artist from Ster. First of all, I want thank Ms. Lewis for inviting me. I''m d to have this opportunity to perform at Amirate''s annual party." It was absurd for a Ster artist to perform at Amirate''s event. Celia had cleverly used Grace''s invitation to shut everyone up. She even nced in Grace''s direction, smiling victoriously. It was a tant provocation. Grace felt chills run down her spine and did her best to restrain her anger. If it hadn''t been for Xander supporting her, she would have rushed up the stage. Xander reminded her, "Stay calm. Now''s not the time to act out."Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Grace closed her eyes briefly, then turned to Ashley. "Call the police. I''ll make the person who dared to drug my artists pay the price." After saying that, she walked straight out of the venue briskly. Xander followed closely behind her. Unexpectedly, a figure blocked his path. "It''s been a while, Xander." " Chapter 683 Became a Stepping Stone The man in front of Xander, although aged, exuded an elegant and amiable demeanor. Yet his eyes seemed like he was hiding something. He was holding a ss of wine while staring at Xander slyly. Xander stood still. From the corner of his eye, he saw Grace''s figure getting farther away. He gave Caleb a meaningful gaze, indicating that he should follow. He then replied, "It has indeed been a while, Joshua." Joshua raised his ss andughed. "My woman performing at your woman''s event shouldn''t be a big deal, right?" As he spoke, Celia had already stepped down from the stage and walked to Joshua''s side. She then linked her arm with his. "We meet again, Mr. Fulton." She was extremely pleased about upsetting Grace, so she acted proud and triumphant. Xander''s expression darkened. "It was just a dance. Grace and I don''t mind it." Joshuaughed even louder. "Then, I can rest assured. It''s just that your woman seems unhappy. Should I apologize? But it wasn''t intentional. I know there was a problem on Amirate''s side, so I just wanted to help out as a senior." His words sounded nice. He just wanted to "help out". Xander was dressed in a trench coat. Standing there with his hands in his pockets, he exuded a cold and profound sense of detachment. "Grace is my girlfriend, not my woman. This is public knowledge, unlike..." He nced nonchntly at Celia. "Unlike you and her. You should understand that, Joshua." Joshua''s expression changed. Celia''s face also turned ugly. That simple sentence stated the difference between her and Grace. "As for the so-called problem, we''ll have to wait for the police to determine the results before we know more." After saying that, Xander smiled. "Joshua, I''ve been looking forward to facing off against you since the Fortress incident." With that, he walked past Joshua, leaving them to ponder over the meaning behind his words. Frowning, Joshua gritted his teeth as he watched Xander''s figure. Xander was more than ten years his junior, but he possessed a demeanor and presence that Joshua couldn''t match. Celia felt somewhat scared. Worried, she said, "Grace called the police. Will they-" "They won''t." Joshua was sure. Fortunately, it was just a performance within thepany, so the news was quickly sealed off. Apart from a few people who knew about the incident with the girl group, the information wasn''t leaked to the outside world. The problem was that word of Celia''s performance had somehow spread online. She had practiced for years, so winning some favor wasn''t difficult. Soon enough, she had fans asking about whichpany she belonged to. Ster''s sock puppets immediately sprang into action to promote her. This time, Amirate had inadvertently be Celia''s stepping stone. Grace rushed to the hospital first thing. The idols had already woken up. With IV drips attached to their hands, the young women had tears glistening in their eyes. "Ms. Dewis, did we miss the opportunity?" Grace couldn''t help but feel heartbroken as she saw them cry.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. She reassured them, saying, "I''ll give you an exnation for this. Don''t worry. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Just wait a little longer." The young women remained silent, bowing their heads. Grace felt a lump in her throat. As she walked out of the ward, the first person she saw was Xander. He stood at the end of the corridor in silence but provided her withfort. "Sorry, you came back all the way here but had to apany me to the hospital." Xander just raised his hand to tidy her hair. "Don''t be too upset." Grace couldn''t hold back any longer. Her eyes welled up with tears. "Joshua and Celia came for me, but my artists had to bear the brunt. I feel guilty." Chapter 684 Charity Auction Celia hadn''t been trying to seize any so-called opportunity. She had just wanted to embarrass Grace and give her a p in the face. "If you put it that way, Joshua came for me too. In the end, I''m the one who got you into this mess." Grace immediately retorted, "No, it has nothing to do with you." Xander calmly held her cold hand. "The police are already collecting evidence. Based on my understanding of Joshua, he wouldn''t have left any clues behind. It''s unlikely that they''ll find any substantial evidence." "But this is illegal! Are we just going to let them get away with it?" "Of course not. There are many ways to bring them down. You''re so smart. You''ll surely think of something. "But right now, you''re too angry and can''t think straight. Don''t you think you should calm down first?" Xander''s voice was soft and gentle. For some reason, Grace''s tumultuous emotions suddenly calmed down. She nodded obediently, feeling her confidence return once more. She sighed. "Xander, you actually have the potential to be a teacher. If you weren''t in business, you would surely have students all over the world." He had tried tofort her sincerely, but she ended up saying he should be a teacher. Xander chuckled as he pulled her out of the hospital. "I''m not patient like this with everyone. Besides, I didn''t want to be a teacher when I was young." "What did you want to be?" She had never really asked about his past. She only knew that everything he was doing now wasn''t what he was passionate about. He thought for a moment, trying to sum it up with a simple word. "Programmer?" Grace widened her eyes in disbelief. "You wanted to be a programmer? Are you kidding? You''ll go bald." That was a stereotype, but she couldn''t imagine what Xander would look like bald. He smiled, not delving deeper into the topic. "Is Victor bald?" "He''s not, but who knows? What if he goes bald in the future?"Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. "If he hears you say that, he''ll probably give you a good beating." Grace couldn''t help but burst intoughter. The walk to the car wasn''t long. The two walked while holding hands, looking like any ordinary couple. Suddenly, Luke called Grace. "Ms. Lewis, the auction is about to begin. All the big shots are in ce. You need to hurry back." Grace quickly hung up the phone and exined to Xander, "There''s a charity auction at the end of the annual party. The proceeds will be donated to impoverished mountainous areas. I initiated it, so I have to go back." "I''ll go with you." Back on the top floor of the hotel, everything was already set up. Many business tycoons, like Matthew and Anthony, sat in the audience. Since the auction was one of Grace''s initiatives, they were participating to show her respect. Grace hurried back to the hotel. She went on stage to speak as the initiator. Xander didn''t care about the seats and simply sat in the back row. He apuded for her after her speech ended. Grace sat in the front row and sent him a message discreetly. "Mr. Fulton, please support the charity cause." She was so mischievous! He smirked and signaled for Hazel to raise her paddle. Hazel obediently ced a bid. Xander rarely appeared at auctions in person. He hadn''t even shown up during the auction for Grace''s ne, which was worth over 100 million dors. His appearance today was indeed special. There were ten items up for auction, with a total estimated value of around 60 million dors. Everyone actively participated in the bidding. By the eighth item, Amirate had already raised their target amount of funds for the auction. Xander had ced a bid for two items. Even one item would have et been generous enough, so his actions drew the attention of some people in front. Matthew turned around to take a look. He said, "Oh, it''s Mr. Fulton. That makes sense! He''s supporting his girlfriend." Chapter 685 Confronting Jake Thest item up for auction was an ancient poetry book, with a starting bid of two million dors. Grace jokingly messaged Xander. "This item has great research value. I was originally reluctant to bring it out. Are you interested in it, Mr. Fulton?" Xander''s slender fingers glided across his phone. "Let''s end this year on a high note." Upon receiving this message, Grace heard Hazel''s bid from behind. "Three million dors." Since Xander was supporting his girlfriend, most bidders didn''t darepete with him. At most, they only raised the price slightly. Matthew was among them, bidding up to six million dors before backing down. The auctioneer announced, "Mr. Fulton bids 6.5 million dors, going once, going twice¡ª" "7.5 million." A crisp, young voice that hadn''t been heard all evening rang out from the corner. At once, all eyes turned to look. A man sat in an inconspicuous spot. His profile cast a slight shadow under the light, exuding a debonair charm. Hazel whispered, "It''s Jake." Naturally, Xander had noticed too. Jake was focused on the stage and the front row. Grace''s heart was in turmoil. She hadn''t expected Jake to stir up trouble like this. She immediately looked toward Xander and shook her head. Xander understood what she meant. Receiving the order, Hazel continued bidding, "Eight million dors." "8.5 million dors." "Nine million does." "9.5 million dors." Jake persisted in bidding, incrementing the bid by 500 thousand dors with each round. Except for the auctioneer''s voice, the only other voices in the entire venue belonged to Hazel and Jakes, who were bidding against each other, making the atmosphere particrly tense. Grace sensed that something was wrong and messaged Xander. "Don''t bid anymore. Let Jake be the fool if he wants to." Xander saw the message but didn''t reply. Hazel''s bid had already reached 13 million dorsBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Even the auctioneer was now excited. "Mr. Fulton bids 13 million dors. Does the gentleman over there have a higher bid?" It was no wonder she didn''t know Jake''s name; it wasn''t on the list. Jake raised his paddle. "15 million dors." "18 million dors." They were truly insane. Grace''s heart was pounding hard. While the item did indeed have research value, the price was outrageous and exceeded the of bidding. It had turned into a scope "20 million dors." Hazel lowered her head to inquire. Upon receiving the answer, she took a sharp breath before raising her paddle. "30 million dors." Clearly, Xander was tired of the wrangling. He directly increased the bid by 10 million dors, confronting Jake head-on. Everyone looked at Jake. There was a momentary change in his expression, but it quickly disappeared. The auctioneer asked three times but didn''t see Jake raise his paddle. She then concluded, "30 million dors! This item goes to MroFulton. Congrattions!" Apuse filled the room. Sitting still, Xander remained calm and ignored Jake''s gaze. Once the auction ended, Grace went to handle follow-up matters. As she stood up, she nced at Xander. He remained calm as usual, but she could sense his emotions brewing beneath the surface, ready to erupt. After walking through the crowd, Jake With a smile, "Xander et never knew that you liked poetry. I didn''t expect you to spend somuch and take away what I wanted. Xander was slightly taller than him. The two locked eyes. Xander took a handkerchief to wipe his hands. "I didn''t expect you to be so interested in attending my wife''s annual party." "Don''t you think it''s too early to call her your wife now?" Chapter 686 Act Innocent Smiling, Xander said meaningfully, "It''s just a matter of time. When it happens, pleasee to the Fulton residence for the celebration." Jake''s expression froze for a second. Since he had been born, he had never returned to the Fulton residence. Since he wasn''t a legitimate child, the elders of the Fulton family wouldn''t allow it. Xander was clearly provoking him. As Hazel went to handle the procedures, Jake nced at her figure. His words were dripping with deep implication as well. "I hope you can fulfill your wishes like you did today." After that, he walked straight out of the hall and disappeared around the corner. Xander remained standing straight, like an evergreen tree. On the other hand, Grace was busy handling the work. As soon as she finished, she went downstairs. The police had finished collecting evidence. "There are signs of deliberate tampering with the surveince. The evidence at the scene is not sufficient. We need more time for the investigation." The person speaking was Angus, whom Grace had met before. Grace nodded understandingly. "Thank you, Officer Boone. This matter concerns my employees'' physical and mental health. Please notify me once you have the results. If there''s any need for cooperation, we''ll do our best." "Sure." Angus nced at the information about the parties involved. "You really care a lot about your employees. They''re lucky to have you." To put it bluntly, those young women just had upset stomachs, but Grace was taking it so seriously. It was rare for a capitalist. "Weplement each other. If there are any problems, I should take responsibility." Angus nodded and left with his colleagues. When everything was over, it was already 2:00 am. Xander sat in the car and closed his eyes for a nap. The long flight had left him tired. Hazel stood by the car, asionally checking the time. It wasn''t until she saw Grace dragging her tired body out of the hotel that she stood up straight. "Ms. Lewis." Hearing that, Xander opened his eyes and got out of the car. Grace walked up to him, frowning slightly. "You could have gone back first. Why did you wait for me?" "Isn''t it natural for a boyfriend to pick up his girlfriend from work?" Grace was amused. "You flew across the ocean to pick me up from work. I''m ttered." Hazel then drove them back to Summitview Manor. As the divider rose and the dim light in the car came on, Xander bent down to help Grace take off her high heels. He held her feet in his hands and massaged them. "It has been a long day for you." Feelingfortable by his side, Grace leaned on his shoulder. "What did Jake say to you?" "It''s not important." Grace carefully looked at his expression, relieved when she saw nothing amiss. She took off the ne from around her neck. "It''s quite heavy. It''s better suited for collection." "Why did you choose to wear it today?" Xander nced at her. Grace pretended to be angry. "Can''t you guess? Don''t act innocent." Xander smiled faintly. Of course, he knew the reason. It had been Amirate''s annual party, and many prominent figures hadz been in attendance. She had deliberately worn the gift he had given her as a way to assert her dominance and show him respect. She put the ne on his palm. As he rubbed the ruby, he felt the warmth from her body. "Jake touched it." Xander pursed his lips as he recalled the scene from a while ago when Jake had pinched her waist and his lips had almost touched her ear. Just thinking about it was unbearable. "He didn''t. I tried to stay away from him as much as possible," Grace exined hurriedly. "I have boundaries."Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. She was scared. Smirking, Xander lifted her chin and gave her a light kiss. "Such a good girl. Remember to stay away from other men when dating me." Chapter 687 Thats Quite Kind of Him Grace was in Xander''s arms. Tears shimmered in her eyes from his kiss. Her body stiffened for a moment at his words. Suddenly, she asked, "What if... one day you find out that I''m too close to another man?" With eyes filled with desire, Xander wiped the moisture from her lips. "I''ll make him disappear." Grace opened her eyes slightly. "Are you that serious? What about me?" "A naughty girl deserves punishment." As he spoke, he pinched her waist as if warning her. In reality, he spoke with a smile in his eyes and wasn''t entirely serious. But Grace felt a hint of fear. She pursed her lips. Some subtle clues from before had made her realize that Xander was not as gentle and calm as he appeared on the surface. Inside, he was like a bomb, ready to ignite at any moment if someone dared to provoke him. He could be mad. Xander adjusted his posture, allowing Grace to straddle hisp. Suddenly, she hissed in pain. "What''s wrong?" He frowned, his desire dissipating by half. "My ankle hurts." Arge area of her left foot was red. Xander leaned in, frowning. "Your foot injury hasn''t fully healed yet. How could you wear high heels?" "I thought it had almost healed-" "Nonsense!" Grace cowered, shrinking back. Seizing the opportunity, she said, "Shawn''s method was very effective. It''s hardly painful anymore." At the mention of Shawn, Xander''s eyes became more alert. "What?" "On the day I sprained my ankle, after I hung up the phone with you, Shawn informed me that your tea shipment had arrived. "He heard that something was wrong from my voice and happened to be nearby, so he came to help me with my ankle." Grace altered the timeline, adding a known element to make Xander believe her. Despite her outward calmness, her heart was pounding. She watched Xander''s expression, afraid that he might detect something. "He helped you?" His tone was devoid of emotion. "Yeah." She needed to tell him about this, but she couldn''t reveal the details. Grace kept her guard up. "That''s quite kind of him." The car came to a stop just then. Xander carried Grace out of the car and into Summitview Manor. "Yeah, he even reminded me of many precautions. It seems he has a lot of life experience." Grace wrapped her arms around his neck. She wasn''t entirely lying. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Without answering, Xander put her on the bed and went to get an ice pack for her feet. He remained silent the whole time, and Grace was anxious. "Xander, are you angry?" "No. He helped you when you were helpless. I should thank him." Xander attentively applied the ice pack to her feet, but his face was inscrutable. Grace was easy to read. He could easily tell whether she had any romantic feelings for Shawn. Obviously, she didn''t. However, Shawn was a familiar yet mysterious man. He raised an eyebrow. "Lucky that you''re not angry." Grace breathed a sigh of relief. Even if Jake gave those photos to Xander in the future, she would have a chance to exin things. At least there would be no misunderstanding between them. Shawn was right. She couldn''t confront things head-on. Quietly resolving them was the safest option. "I''m not angry." Leaning in, Xander brought his face close to hers. "What will youpensate me with?" Grace blinked. "Compensate?" "For what happened at the ball, you haven''t exined it to me yet." As he spoke, his hand moved downward. His expression was soft but possessive. Grace blushed immediately. "Ipensated you in the elevator." "What did youpensate me with?" He teased her deliberately. "A kiss." "I want more than that." The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!