Chapter 1326: Sunflowers

"Goodbye, Niece."

A giggle immediately escaped Grace as she imagined Penny’s reaction. The last time Grace had joked with Penny, the latter had taken it dramatically— and not well.

"Hmp!"

A grumpy huff suddenly came from the bed. Looking up, Grace saw Chairman Bennet frowning deeply, glaring at the television. When she glanced at the screen, all she saw was an emotional scene with the protagonist crying. A smile tugged at her lips as she turned her gaze back to the chairman.

"Chairman, I believe you should be tearing up at that scene, not glaring at it," she quipped.

The chairman huffed again. "It’s her fault he’s in that state anyway," he grumbled. "Why should I feel sorry? She caused everything to spiral out of control. I hate stupid characters! She shouldn’t be the female protagonist—the villainous woman should be."

"I see you fully support villains in stories."

"Not support them—sympathize with them."

"Are you saying villains have the right to hurt others just because they had a rough past?"

Chairman Bennet scowled but said nothing. He kept his focus on the drama, though his mind was clearly elsewhere. In truth, he just disliked the female lead.

Grace, meanwhile, smacked her lips and shrugged. As she slowly arranged the papers on the table, she mused,

"If a tough past excuses horrible actions, wouldn’t that be unfair to victims who did nothing wrong?" She let out a small sigh. "Even though I’m a corporate lawyer, I’ve handled a lot of domestic and divorce cases. So many defendants use their past for sympathy, while others shamelessly drag the victim’s character and dignity through the mud."

She glanced at the chairman and smiled. "I have no sympathy for people who deliberately hurt others. But that’s not what’s really bothering you, is it, Chairman?"

Chairman Bennet’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, he said, "You and Haines—I don’t approve."

"Why not? You’re the one who said I need a man in my life."

"He’s too old for you!"

Grace hummed playfully. "Is he? I think he’s handsome."

"If he’s handsome at that age, then I should join a male pageant!"

Grace burst into laughter, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "I’d pay just to see that."

"Tch!" Chairman Bennet clicked his tongue, looking away. "And if he breaks your heart, I can’t press charges—because he’s family."

Grace blinked, momentarily surprised, watching the chairman’s side profile.

"It’s easier to bully someone else if that happens," he grumbled. "Besides, how can he take care of you when he can’t even take care of himself? Even if Charles is that kind of boy, at least he knows how to take care of his wife and children."

Charles... taking care of his children by raising them far away from him. Perhaps it was a good thing, or perhaps it wasn’t. Either way, Chairman Bennet had never truly bonded with them. Not that he wanted to—it was too late now.

But Grace... she was like the grandchild he never had.

Smart, understanding, and easy to talk to. With her, he didn’t have to tread on eggshells or regret his words. She simply brushed things off with a smile, choosing only what she wanted to hear.

Considering the time they had spent together, he could say they had bonded. Which was why he didn’t approve of her interest in Haines.

"Thank you," Grace said with a soft smile. "But even if you disapprove, I still want to see where this leads. Who knows? Maybe my efforts will thaw the ice around his heart."

Chairman Bennet cast her a sidelong glance, then huffed grumpily.

"Just eat your lunch and work. I’m watching."

"I’ll bring you some headphones tomorrow," she teased. "Thanks for keeping the volume low for me."

"I didn’t do it for you. I just can’t stand the female protagonist’s voice."

With that, Chairman Bennet returned to his drama while Grace resumed her work. Silence fell over the VIP ward as they focused on their respective tasks.

After some time, Grace’s phone vibrated.

Peeling her eyes from the case file, she glanced at the screen. Seeing it was her assistant from the firm, she pushed her reading glasses onto her head and answered.

"Yes?"

"Miss Grace, someone sent flowers to your office. Since you’re not here, I received them," her assistant reported, setting the bouquet on Grace’s desk. "Should I send them to the hospital or leave them here?"

Grace smiled. "Just leave them. I’m busy."

"Alright!" The assistant nodded, then glanced at the office corner. "Also, the other flowers... they’ve already withered."

"Throw out the ones that have withered."

"Miss Grace, you have a long list of suitors. Your office looks like a flower shop," the assistant joked as she cleared out the old bouquets. "I’ll put the new ones on the stand."

"Alright, thanks. Next time, you don’t have to call me. Just toss the withered ones but leave the notes so I know who sent them."

"Okay."

With that, the call ended. Grace didn’t think much of it.

---

Grace spent most of the day at the hospital, knowing she had been too busy lately to visit Chairman Bennet. Since he might get bored, she stayed with him until dinner.

After nagging him about his medicine, she left. But she wasn’t going home yet.

One of her associates was handling their first pro bono case, and as a good senior, she wanted to help.

Driving to the firm, Grace carried a stack of case files, which she dropped off on her junior’s desk. The office was almost empty, with only a few people staying late.

Afterward, she headed to her office to retrieve some documents. But just as she picked up the papers from her desk, something caught her eye.

Turning her head, she noticed the bouquet stand in the corner. Her gaze landed on the sunflower bouquet—standing out among the dozens of roses with its bright and different color.

She approached, smiling as she picked it up. There wasn’t a note in it to let her know who sent it.

Without sparing the countless roses another glance, she chuckled. "I might end up liking sunflowers."