Chapter 9
Just as I was brawing ginger tea for Alexander Pierce, the doorbell rang.
When I opened the door, Ethan Pierce, with reddened eyes, immediately embraced me, his chin resting on my shoulder as
he broke down sobbing: “Grace, I’ve lost everything.”
“I’ve lost everything”
“Please, I’m begging you, don’t leave again. I truly love you, I really do! Don’t go, please Grace….
Ethan was crying almost uncontrollably, his body trembling as he held me tight.
“Grace, Sophia Rood works for Uncle! They’re conspiring to take over my company. Please don’t leave
stoy?”
“Grace, without you, I have nothing left…”
еш
e again, will you!
Overwhelming grief seemed to consume him, suddenly leaving him stammering and struggling to form complete
sentences.
I forcefully pushed him away, fooling somewhat dazed as I looked at Ethan crying like a child before me.
Seeing my silence.
Ethan dropped to his knees with a thud, clutching the hem of my clothes while crying and pleading: “I know I hurt you, I know I was wrong. You never pushed Sophial It was my fault, I didn’t believe you. I’m sorry Grace! I’m so sorry…”
“Can you forgive me?”
His tears flowed freely, crying more wretchedly than ever before, as if bogging for my mercy, his words becoming
increasingly incoherent
I hurriedly tried to help him up from the floor, but he refused.
He seemed determined to force my compliance.
As I was about to shake my head, Alexander Pierce walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
The two men stared at each other.
Everything became clear without a word being spokon.
Ethan stopped sobbing, gazing blankly at Alexander and me, before finally letting out a self–mocking lough.
He stood up, wiping the tears from his face.
But the next moment, tears rolled down from his lifeless, grey e
eyes. He stood frozen for a long while, lost and confused, before leaving in a daze with unsteady steps.
I knew this would probably be the last time I’d see Ethan.
Afterward, I brought the ginger tea from the kitchen to Alexander. He drank it all, and as I turned to take the bowl back to the kitchen, he suddenly embraced me from behind.
“Grace, I never used you!” Alexander hold me tightly.
My voice hoarse, I said: “You brought Sophia back to the country, helped me see Ethan’s true nature. I’m grateful for that.” “But I can’t accept this life of schemes and deception!”
“I’m just an ordinary person!”
Hearing this, Alexander released his hold, and finally dressed and left.
After the house grow quiet, I sat on the sofa and noticed a cord on the coffee table.
There was a note that read: “Consider it my compensation.”
The house felt too quiet, so I turned on the TV for once.
The screen showed a story about children in the mountains yearning to see the outside world. Without hesitation, signed up for a teaching volunteer program.
It was rushed, but I booked a flight for tomorrow.
Before leaving. I visited my parents‘ grave, bought two bouquets of chrysanthemums, and another bunch for a promise
I’d made in high school to a brother, to bring flowers to his parents every year.
“Mom, Dad, I’m going to volunteer teach. I’m tired of life here, I want to contribute to society.”
“I might not be able to visit you for a long while.”
After leaving the flowers, I boarded the plane.
