“What are you eating?” Caden loomed at the entrance.
Grace’s hand which was holding the bottle trembled and she recovered from momentary panic.
“Vitamin tablets. I’ve asked Gloria to bring for me the day before yesterday.” Caden walked towards her
as she spoke and he took over the drug bottle from her hand. He peered at it and his suspicion
vanished. He pondered and remembered Gloria did actually come that day.
Mr. Garcia came and he knocked the door by chance. Both Caden and Grace turned towards him
synchronously. “What’s wrong?” Caden asked him while putting down the drug bottle on his hand. “A
married couple has come downstairs and they say they’re madam’s parents.” Mr. Garcia was hired as
the butler of the Shaw Manor and he managed everything no matter big or small in the huge mansion.
He was an excellent butler and had pursued this career for several decades. If he was not brilliant
enough, Caden would not have laid his eyes on him.
A brilliant butler like him would naturally know things he should know before taking over the entire
management of the Shaw Manor, and he would inquire more regarding the master and the boss lady of
the mansion. Therefore, he definitely understood well that the married couple downstairs was the
chairman of the James Group of City S and his wife, and they were also Grace’s biological parents. Yet
he still said euphemistically that the married couple downstairs addressed themselves as whose
parents when he reported. Because of the cautiousness he portrayed, Grace threw another glance to
the new butler who looked taciturn at the entrance, and she felt glad for being lucky at the same time
when the corner of her eyes caught a glimpse of the drug bottle labeled ‘vitamin C tablets’ on the
dressing table. She knew well that the opportunity to take the ‘vitamin C tablets’ from Sam without the
cautious new butler’s notice in the future was miniature.
Caden frowned with disgust when he heard the James couple was downstairs and wanted to meet
Grace. Yet he did not decide for Grace and only asked her, “Do you want to meet them?” Grace did not
respond instantly. She pondered with her eyes lowered and suddenly lifted her head. “Does the James’
have any collaboration lately and want to seek the Shaw’s help?” Caden was not surprised but there
was a trace of sympathy in his slim eyes. “Maybe they’re just missing their own daughter.” He could not
even believe himself when he said that, but at this moment, he hoped she would believe it.
Grace chuckled. Her glance swept past his face and their eyes met in the air like two lines intersecting
each other, clashing each other for one second and then separated. “I’ll go check them out.” She did
not rebut his words at all. Every bitterness and feeling that was difficult to describe was conveyed
without speaking from her eyes.
Although she did not rebut his words, it did not mean she had agreed to him. If that couple would still
miss her as a daughter, the three-years’ time spent in the prison would already be enough for them two
to fly from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere, to cross the Pacific Ocean from the
western continent to the other side of the ocean, to visit her for tens and hundreds times! Yet they
never visited her even once when they were in the same city, and that was the cruelest fact she was
reluctant to admit.
Jafar and Mrs. James were waiting at the living room. The sound of footsteps approached and both of
them turned with their eyes gleamed. Mrs. James ran forward excitedly and seized Grace’s hands.
“Grace, it’s so nice to see you. Mom is happy.”
“Mrs. James.” A hand gently pulled her hand away. “Mrs. James, do have a seat.”
“You…Grace…” Embarrassment appeared on her well-cared face at once.
Jafar let out two coughs at the side and spoke. “President Shaw, we’re here to see Grace today. Her
mother has missed her deeply after that day and she could not even eat and drink properly. I feel sad
watching her growing thin day by day, therefore I decide to bite the bullet and bring her mom over to
see Grace.” He seemed to be explaining the reason of their abrupt visit.
Caden did not agree nor deny but replied blandly. “If so, Mr. and Mrs. James have been really
considerate.” Maybe because he felt guilty, Caden’s bland words seemed to have another meaning
from Jafar’s point of view. He then smiled awkwardly. “It’s nothing, President Shaw.” Caden only smiled
as a reply.
Grace had already grown indifferent to Jafar’s pleasant words. Mrs. James’s face was actually looking
great and rosy to her eyes.
Mrs. James held Grace’s arm affectionately. She turned and pleaded Caden. “President Shaw, I really
miss Grace…Could you give me some alone time with Grace? We have so much to talk about between
mother and daughter.” Caden’s eyes passed through her and landed on Grace. “I respect Grace’s own
intention.” As he said, Mrs. James looked towards Grace quickly and anxiously. She seemed to be
worried that she would refuse and her mouth approached her. Her lips moved as if saying something to
her with a voice only both of them can hear.
Grace’s breathing stopped and she stared at Mrs. James in disbelief. Mrs. James exerted some force
on the hand that was grasping Grace’s arm and gave a slight nod. After seeing that, Grace took a deep
breath and lifted her head, looking at Caden saying. “The weather today is good and the plum flowers
at the garden outside have blossomed. I want to have a walk there.” Caden nodded. He took off the
jacket he wore while walking towards Grace. He put the jacket on her and covered her nicely. “Do
return soon. Although the weather’s good, it’s still winter now.” Grace nodded and went outside the
house with Mrs. James. Caden threw a glance at Mr. Garcia and Mr. Garcia followed behind them while
keeping a distance.
There were two plum trees at the east side of the yard and the blossomed plum flowers were beautiful.
Grace stopped between the two trees and turned. “You said, those gangsters that tormented Wallis
Venus four years ago have returned to City S?”
“Yes.”
“How did you and Mr. James know about this?” She was doubtful as there was no surveillance camera
at the scene and since she had never seen those gangsters’ faces, how would her parents? “Grace,
don’t you keep on saying ‘Mr. James’. That’s your father.” Grace was outraged by her words. She
pursed her lips and replied with a cold face. “If Mrs. James is here to reminisce the past today, I think
there’s no need for us to stay here any longer.”
“Hold up! Grace!” Mrs. James quickly held her back when she was about to leave. “Grace, I can
understand that you refuse to forgive me and your father as we have hurt your feelings. Yet we’re
forced to do that. After the auction, both of us felt sorry and we really want to help you this time.”
Grace’s eyes twinkled and there was bitterness on her face. Should she believe her? Her rationality
and emotion were fighting with each other. She shook her head and clenched her fist, taking a deep
breath in order to maintain her composure. “Mrs. James, tell me, how did you know about this---how
did you know it was the same gangsters that committed the crime back then?”
“Grace, to be frank, besides the phone call history and the message between you and Wallis Venus,
there’s a half drunken witness that testified to your criminal charge. He had witnessed the filthy process
when it happened. He chose not to call the police as he’s scared to involve himself in the trouble, yet
he still remembers some of the gangsters’ looks. And few days ago, he has spotted those people at a
bar at the bund.”
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