Grace wanted to refuse. But Benjamin's words were too tempting. He must have found out something for him to come 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 explain, but Xander had already read her mind. "Gracie, do what you think is right." Grace was surprised for a moment and then nodded gently.… 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, Gr
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 flashed 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 relationship 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—" 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?" Ju
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'
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 flash of uneasiness crossed her features, and then she asked uncertainly, "Jessica? You know Jessica?"Grace assented. Adeline laughed, 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 relation 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
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 relationship than most people. Something in particular 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 particular. 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 two completely 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 you come 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 s
Grace frowned slightly. Were they just going to give up? She wouldn't accept that! 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 playing 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 planning 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 explained, "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 i
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 welcome. 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."Ms. Wentworth, if there isn't anything else, we'll take our leave. Thank you for your time today."Grace and Xande
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 related to the car accident 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 accident, 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 a
"Well, it's just that since Mrs. Jarvis introduced me to Ms. Lewis last time, I haven't had the chance to say thanks."The elevator doors opened then, and Dexter left after saying this.…After two hours of emergency treatment, Diana clung to a thread of life. Grace walked out, exhausted, and saw the angry figure of Dexter.Coincidentally, Dexter saw her as well. He turned and called out to her, "Ms. Lewis."Dexter, known for being stern and upright, suddenly smiled, which surprised Grace. "Mr. Hamilton.""You don't need to address me like that outside of work. Just call me by my name."As he had a higher seniority than her, Grace didn't dare be casual. "Are you here visiting a patient?"The weather was nice today. Standing in the sunlight, Grace's complexion was shining, seemingly hovering between youthfulness and freshness. She seemed even more beautiful than the flowers.Dexter suddenly recalled something Orson had said, and his expression darkened momentarily."I must ask
"Mr. Fulton, this.."The guard looked hesitantly at Benjamin lying on the ground and frowned."Isn't this a hospital? He won't die."As Xander said this, he coincidentally met the gaze of a nearby doctor. The doctor flinched and instinctively took a step back."Xander—" Benjamin's call suddenly came from behind as Xander took a step forward."Even if you deal with me, can you handle Alexander?"Benjamin's voice was filled with resentment and self-mockery. He lay flat on his back on the ground, staring at the ceiling. "My elder brother seems to avoid fighting, but if he does, you're no match for him."Xander paused momentarily, then continued to walk away without looking back or responding.Hazel followed closely. "Benjamin doesn't seem to be joking. Could there be a backup plan?""Someone needs to take over to completely deal with the Hawkins family. Let's see if the eldest son of the Hawkins family is willing to step up."As Xander entered the elevator, he coincidentally met
At the entrance, the police saw what was happening and moved to intervene but were stopped. A signal to hold back was given. "Don't worry. Mr. Fulton won't cause any fatalities.""Especially since you dared to make a move against Grace." Xander gave a cold laugh. "She spent a few days in prison, so I'll make sure you repay that a thousand times over.""Xander—"Grace brought this on herself. She even dared to investigate the Hawkins family, to dig into the past of the previous Mrs. Hawkins, to investigate Alexander!" Benjamin endured the pain he felt and was on the verge of a breakdown. "By the way, do you know who Alexander is? And the person he loves the most."Xander's face turned ashen, and he applied more force, causing Benjamin to scream in agony."If you were in my position, you would do the same." Benjamin struggled to speak. "Besides, don't you want Alexander to disappear? Don't you want Grace to be yours and only yours?"Xander remained silent, looking around disdainful
A commotion broke out again outside the hospital room. At the same moment, the medical equipment started beeping urgently. Reina's face turned pale with fright as she threw herself onto Diana. "Di Di! Doctor! Someone come quickly!"In a panic, Grace rushed out and pounded on Cael's office door. "Bed 24, Dr. Simpson! Di Di is not doing well!"Cael immediately hurried over with the nurses.Grace was pushed into a corner by the crowd. She leaned against the wall, her face filled with melancholy. This scene did not escape the eyes of someone hidden in a corner, who also felt a sense of wistfulness.She didn't notice the figure cast long shadows in the light, with her being the sole focus in their view.…Meanwhile, in another building, police stood guard at the hospital room door where Benjamin was confined. His face was haggard and unshaven, and he no longer looked like the well-dressed Benjamin Hawkins.Instead, he resembled a prisoner.Before entering, Xander asked, "What's the
"If it were as usual, working for these wealthy families would keep money in my hands. But after Di Di's incident, our whole family got crushed. Her father wanted to give up, but I couldn't, so we divorced.""When I worked at the Hawkins family, both Mr. Hawkins and Mrs. Hawkins treated me well. Mrs. Hawkins knew about Di Di's situation and kept giving me money, but it was never enough. One day, I accidentally stumbled upon Mr. Hawkins having an affair with Susan…"Reina recalled the past with a look of melancholy on her face. "Susan gave me hush money and promised another payment if I did something for her."Grace had a hunch after hearing this. "She wanted you to frame Mrs. Hawkins, who was pregnant at the time.""I didn't want to." Reina shook her head, clearly pained. "But I have a daughter. I couldn't lose Di Di. I needed that money."Even as a mother herself, she could actually harm Felicia Wilson, Alexander's mother."The Hawkins family is wealthy. If you had told Mrs. Haw
Grace thought about it. So that's what happened."So you had someone beat him up?""I forgot to ask. Which hand did he touch you with?" Xander asked seriously.She thought for a moment. "The left hand? I can't remember exactly.""No problem. Both hands were hit," Xander said casually as if discussing the weather. Grace remembered the content of that video. Orson was clearly heavily injured and beaten mercilessly.Luckily, he got what he deserved. Xander had fiercely avenged her.The coat slipped off, revealing her outfit for the day. Xander glanced at it and said, "You're going out."Grace didn't deny it. She thought of today's matter with Celia. "Benjamin was released for medical treatment. I want to see him."Since it had come to this point, a meeting with him was reasonable.Xander leaned back on the couch, not speaking for a moment, his jaw clenched tight. He seemed to be contemplating something, or perhaps he was angry.Grace couldn't be sure, but she was resolute. "I
An hour later, Xander concluded the negotiations, with the partnership successfully sealed and the contract signed that day.He personally escorted the clients to the elevator and then returned to his office. Hazel approached cautiously with a cup of coffee. "Mr. Fulton.""Speak." Xander didn't look up from his documents."Ms. Lewis came by."He looked up at Hazel, his expression shifting. "Where is she?""She wanted to see you directly, but since the contract wasn't finalized, I didn't dare let her in to disturb you, so I…""I asked where she is."His gaze was icy, cutting her off mid-sentence.Hazel immediately lowered her head. "She's in the lounge."He stood up abruptly and headed straight for the lounge, leaving a stern warning, "If you take matters into your own hands again, resign."Hazel was left stunned.Grace hadn't left. Exhausted from the sleepless night, she lay on Futurelink's large couch, lost in thought.When Xander entered, he saw her fragile figure, as if
"What is it?""Ms. Lewis, I just received news that Orson from the municipal bureau is in trouble…"Grace's expression changed. She had just seen him last night. How could something have happened so suddenly? Her first thought was of Xander.Luke sent her a video.It was night time In the video, the street outside a bar was brightly lit, and neon signs flashed from the tall buildings. The place was bustling with people. The videographer had been capturing the night scene when suddenly, the sound of roaring engines was heard—Orson stepped out of a car, dressed formally, and entered a club discreetly. But within minutes, he was kicked out, landing heavily on the ground.Approaching him were five or six masked men in black, clearly part of an organized group of thugs. Orson screamed in fear, "Who are you?"Two men grabbed him, while the others began beating him badly. His screams echoed through the street, and it was clear they were showing no mercy.Blood pooled on the ground.
With nothing better to do, Grace nodded. "Let's watch."Caleb led her out the door.The leading actress of the film they were heading to was a friend of Caleb's in the industry, which allowed him to visit the set under the guise of catching up. As their car parked at the entrance, they saw a throng of reporters pushing their way inside.Celia wore a hat and mask. She was dragging a suitcase, and she looked disheveled and desperate. "You can't fire me! I'm the second female lead! The film is almost finished! You're breaching the contract!""You caused a scandal. That's the real breach of contract. It's a good thing we're not asking you for damage compensation! Get out, get out!"The staff were shoving her out.Reporters swarmed her. "Celia, how do you respond to the video online?""Is it true you have a sugar daddy?""Celia, Celia!""Shut up!" Celia screamed, her hair a mess. "It's fake, all fake! I'm an actress, how could I do such things?""But the video…"Celia lashed out,