Grace didnât wake up until the afternoon due to her exhaustion and fever.
She blinked her eyes open and took in the white celling, wondering where she was.
âWake up?â
A magnetic voice suddenly sounded.
Graceâs heart stuttered before turning back to see the man languidly leant in the chair, holding a file in his hand.
When Grace looked at him, his narrowed eyes happened to meet his. âHungry?â
He shifted his eyes back to his file after asking.
Grace looked around and words slipped out of her dry lips, âPresident Shaw, thank you for taking me to hospital. Sorry to bother you.â
Caden annoyingly clenched his file tightly as he heard her husky voice.
President Shaw, thank you for taking me to hospital. Sorry to bother youâ¦Was those all she could say to him?
Grace look down to the ground, not daring to look at him, for he didnât say anything.
Nothing but Page turning sound filled the whole ward.
Caden kept going through his file as Grace was in silence.
Awkward, yet kind of harmonious.
Neither of them bothered to ruin the weird air.
Finally, Grace uttered.
âPresident Shaw.â
She opened her mouth, gently calling.
But the man by her bed had no response for her calling as he was busy with his own business.
ââ¦â
After a moment, Grace couldnât stand the silence anymore. âPresident Shaw?â
Only the sound of turning pages answered her.
ââ¦â Seconds ticked by. âPresident Shaw?â Her voice was louder this time.
âWhat?â The man laid down the file and gently raised his brow, leveling Grace with a look.
âIs Ruby alright?â
Boom!
His temper was blown up.
Composed and calm as he was, he was pissed off.
âGrace, donât you think youâre way too Mother Maria? How come a patient like you should care for otherâs safety?â
Grace bit her lips and looked at Caden sincerely. âI only beg you to leave her alive in one piece, while you can do whatever you like to punish her.â
âWhat now? You are too kind to be her best friend?â He teased.
Grace didnât retort, instead, she sincerely looked into his eyes. âYou can punish her as sheâs one of your staff. I only beg for her life.
And I promise itâs the last time I beg for her.â She emphasized, âI really donât want to get another killed owing to me.â
Which felt like a great debt.
Caden unassumingly looked at the woman in bed.
âDid you admit it, Grace?â
âDid you just admit that youâve got someone killed?â
âGrace, please donât admit it.â
âGrace, since you have denied it for three years, just keep it to yourself forever.â
âWhatâs going on? You canât bear the torture anymore?â
âGrace looked down to the ground, her eyelashes covering the indifference in her eyes.
Sheâd be willing to explain to Caden three years ago.
But today, after three years, she wouldnât.
She was not the past Grace James anymore. She has become new Grace James, who had no spine or soul.
It was just a coincidence that she shared the same name with the daughter of family James, who was famous in City S.
âSay it! I order you to speak. Donât you have anything to explain?â Cadenâs face was icy-cold, but there was a trace of unknown expectation in his intense eyes. He was expecting for her explanation.
Perhaps, heâd forgive her for any reason she gave.
Grace had no responseâ¦To explain?
Three years ago, he refused to hear her explanation, even if she kneeled in front of the gate of the Shaw Manor on the rainy night.
What was the difference of today?
âIâve been in the prison and suffered the punishment,â Grace slowly said as her husky voice upset Caden. âNow my explanation is useless to me.â
She suddenly shifted her eyes on Caden. âOr you want to throw me into jail again? For how long?
Three years? Five? Ten?â
The nonchalance in her eyes indicated her caring for nothing, as if she really didnât care.
With unassuming exasperation, Caden clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes on the woman in bed.
âYou know what? Youâre right. Whether you explain or not, it doesnât matter, because youâve admitted that youâve got someone killed.â His eyes were cold. âHow can you pay for it?â
âWith my rest life. Isnât it enough?â Grace said without any remorse. âI promise Iâll pay it off, even if Iâm in the hell.â
She didnât say she has nothing to do with Wallisâ death.
She once said, but Caden didnât believe her.
âPresident Shaw, what time is it?â
âFive thirty.â
âFine. Iâm going to work.â
Grace took off the covers, trying to get out of the bed.
Cadenâs arm latched on hers and said, âYouâre allowed to take a sick leave.â
âSorry, but I donât need it.â
Cadenâs eyes narrowed. âYou donât need it? Donât you know you miss something in your body? Donât need a rest?â
Grace was shocked.
She snapped her eyes widened, her fingers clenching into fists.
Still, her hands were trembling.
He just said it.
He spoke her shameful secret in her face.
While he was the guy to blame.
âPresident Shaw, I know what I have lost. I donât need your reminders.â Her breath was erratic, and her eyes were scarlet.
âFor which I have to thank you. It was your goodness that made me who I am today. You donât have to remind me of your kind treatment.â
Fury. Pain. Sorrow.
Caden Shaw, why did you have to rub it in my face?