Chapter 3
“Here,” Brian said, interrupting Grace’s thoughts flatly. At the same time, he placed an exquisite box in
front of her.
Grace was slightly struck dumb.
“Birthday present,” Brian explained coldly.
“Oh, thank you,” she replied, opening it to find a beautiful bracelet. She wasn’t really an expert when it came to jewelry, but it somehow looked really nice.
However, she didn’t want to accept it. Over the past three years, Brian had given her many things, and she had politely declined each one. The few she couldn’t refuse were neatly kept in her room’s cabinet, never used.
But now, when she thought about the next three months, about raising her child alone and the additional expenses, she felt it might be good to have some extra assets.
‘Maybe I can consider it as a support payment from the father, thought Grace.
Thinking this, Grace didn’t hesitate. She closed the box and put it in her bag..
Brian observed her actions with a dark, disdainful look in his eye. ‘So, all her previous refusals of expensive gifts are just an act. With only three months left, she is trying to take what she can get before it is too late, isn’t she?‘ thought Brian.
After dropping Grace off at home, Brian turned to leave. Just then, his phone rang.
Brian picked it up and saw a message from his assistant.
[Mr. Francis, Miss Sherman’s medical records from the hospital have been sent to your email.]
Meanwhile, when Grace got home, she felt exhausted and fell asleep the moment she lay down in her
room.
Outside her room, the butler Melvin received a call from Brian. “How’s she been lately? Anything unusual?” Brian’s cold voice came through the phone.
Melvin sighed heavily. “Mr. Francis, Miss Sherman hasn’t had any significant changes recently. Some changes in her routine. Sleeping early, waking up late. She used to have coffee before bed. Now, it’s milk. Sometimes, she forgets to drink it. It seems like her appetite isn’t great. She doesn’t eat spicy foods anymore and prefers bland stuff. That’s about it.”
Brian sat behind his desk, listening to Melvin’s words, reading through Grace’s medical records from the hospital in his email, and slightly squinting his deep, mysterious eyes.
The medical record indicated Grace had low blood sugar and no other content.
“Take care of her, don’t let anything happen,” Brian instructed Melvin before hanging up the call. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Grace was up to something. He vowed to himself that if she caused any
trouble in these three months, affecting his and Louise’s wedding, he wouldn’t spare her. Thinking about it, a touch of hostility flashed through Brian’s gloomy eyes.
The following day, Grace was rudely awakened by a series of knocks at the door before she was fully awake. She felt a sudden burst of anger. She had been planning to sleep in, and now, someone was disturbing her. Annoyed, Grace got up without bothering to put on shoes and stormed to the door, swinging it open. To her surprise, she found Louise standing there.
Louise was dressed in a white tracksuit, hair pulled up high, her face completely makeup–free, revealing smooth skin and lovely features. On the other hand, Grace had just woken up with her messy hair, loose pajamas, bare feet, and possibly sleep in her eyes.
“Why haven’t you gotten up yet?” Louise inquired.
“Why are you here?” Grace shot back, both of them asking a question almost simultaneously.
Louise frowned, examining Grace. “I think Brian’s standards for staff are too low. It’s almost noon, and you haven’t even gotten up yet, not to mention cooking.”
“I’m off today. Don’t disturb my sleep. Brian’s barely home during the day. Go find him at the office,” Grace impatiently responded, slamming the door shut.
She turned back to her bed but couldn’t fall asleep again. Seconds later, she heard the door being opened. “I said I’m off today,” Grace grumbled, turning to sit up only to see Brian at the door.
“Get up and make breakfast for Louise,” he ordered, a command that made Grace feel utterly aggrieved.
“Have the house staff do it,” Grace protested.
But at that moment, Louise, who was behind Brian, questioned, “Aren’t you the house staff?”
“I…”
Under Brian’s chilling gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to say, “I’m not staff. I’m Brian’s wife.” She told herself she had to endure it now and endure for just three more months before it could all end.
“Louise just moved in this morning and hasn’t had breakfast. Her stomach isn’t well, and your cooking is light, probably more to her taste. Hurry, it’s almost noon,” Brian said, suddenly awakening Grace completely.
“She moved in? She’s staying here?” Grace asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Brian answered firmly.
Hearing his response, Grace fell silent, clenching her teeth.
At that moment, the butler, Melvin, came in. Bowing slightly, he kindly tried to defuse the situation. “Mr. Francis, I was out running errands this morning, just got back, and I’ve forgotten Miss Adkins. My apologies. I’ll go prepare breakfast for Miss Adkins now.” With that, he turned and headed to the kitchen.
“It’s okay, don’t bother.” Louise/suddenly spoke up, stopping Melvin in his tracks. “I just moved in and don’t
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Chapter 3
want to cause any trouble. I’ve been living alone overseas, so I can cook for myself. I asked her to help earlier because I had just finished exercising and wanted to take a shower. I’m really sorry” She wore an apologetic look, pulling Melvin back, and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
Seeing that Brian didn’t intervene, Melvin excused himself, busy with his own tasks, leaving Brian and Grace alone in the room.
“Remember who you are.” Brian’s dark eyes bore into Grace, his voice coldly reminding her.
Grace took a deep breath, biting her lip as she countered, “When is she moving out?”
“In three months,” he replied.
Grace remained silent upon hearing that.
She hadn’t anticipated having to live under the same roof as Louise for three months. She felt like Brian was intentionally making trouble for her. But she had no other choice. She had to endure it.
“If you reveal your identity, or…” Brian continued to remind her, noticing her silence.
“I know!” she cut him off, suppressing the bitterness in her heart. “I’ll hold on until the very last day for that money.”
“That’s for the best,” he said before turning around and leaving her room without looking back.
Grace got up, her thoughts in disarray, and went downstairs. In the dining room, she saw Louise eating while flipping through something.
Initially uninterested, she inexplicably walked closer, only to realize that Louise was looking at bridal magazines. Grace’s heart felt like it shattered into pieces in an instant.
“You’re up? I made some snacks. There’s a bit too much. Have some.” Louise generously invited her for a meal, then resumed looking through the magazine as if nothing had happened earlier.
Grace felt emotionally complex, standing there motionless. Louise was beautiful, gracious, not pretentious, and from the noble Adkins family. Considering how perfect Louise seemed, Grace could understand why Brian liked Louise. Louise and Brian indeed seemed like an ideal match. Thinking about it, an unnamed sense of inferiority washed over Grace.
“No need to feel awkward. I’m not one to hold a grudge.” Louise looked up and gave her a slight smile.
“Thank you.”
Grace sat down a bit awkwardly, suddenly feeling superfluous. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that Louise was Brian’s true wife. Yet, unnoticed by anyone, there was a trace of unseen darkness in the corner of Louise’s eye.
