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've come 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—" "Benjamin, you look down on both Byte Technologies and me. Yet you jumped into the lake 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 disgu
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 glanced 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. "
Grace stepped back in disbelief, covering her mouth. "Xander? When did you come 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 glanced 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 you come back all of a sudden?" Gazing at her deeply, Xander caught her hand. "I'm here to return the car."Grace hit him playfully. "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 place, Xander parked the car b
From this angle, Xander looked somber. His face was dark and clouded, which made Grace feel alarmed. She couldn't help but straighten up and ask, "What's wrong?" Xander stared at her for a moment, lost in thought, and then relaxed. "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 we
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 placed 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't come 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, muscular arms. He tapped his fingers on the dining table. "I heard that Matthew ended up taking Henry home." Grace
Grace watched as Xander's face rapidly darkened. His smile disappeared. "What?" 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—you 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 from compromising and intimate angles. Xander glanced 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'
Grace finally caught her breath. She placed 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 you come back to Pamore?" She was sharp and got straight to the point. "I was afraid you would rekindle things with Benjamin.""I didn't—" 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 place.
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 glass 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 glass 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 the latter smiling