I've Been There Before (Grace and Caden) novel Chapter 60

Grace didn’t 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.

“Wake up?”

A magnetic voice suddenly sounded.

Grace’s 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. “Hungry?”

He shifted his eyes back to his file after asking.

Grace looked around and words slipped out of her dry lips, “President Shaw, thank you for taking me to hospital. Sorry to bother you.”

Caden annoyingly clenched his file tightly as he heard her husky voice.

President Shaw, thank you for taking me to hospital. Sorry to bother you…Was those all she could say to him?

Grace look down to the ground, not daring to look at him, for he didn’t 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.

“President Shaw.”

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.

“…”

After a moment, Grace couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “President Shaw?”

Only the sound of turning pages answered her.

“…” Seconds ticked by. “President Shaw?” Her voice was louder this time.

“What?” The man laid down the file and gently raised his brow, leveling Grace with a look.

“Is Ruby alright?”

Boom!

His temper was blown up.

Composed and calm as he was, he was pissed off.

“Grace, don’t you think you’re way too Mother Maria? How come a patient like you should care for other’s safety?”

Grace bit her lips and looked at Caden sincerely. “I only beg you to leave her alive in one piece, while you can do whatever you like to punish her.”

“What now? You are too kind to be her best friend?” He teased.

Grace didn’t retort, instead, she sincerely looked into his eyes. “You can punish her as she’s one of your staff. I only beg for her life.

And I promise it’s the last time I beg for her.” She emphasized,

“I really don’t want to get another killed owing to me.”

Which felt like a great debt.

Caden unassumingly looked at the woman in bed.

“Did you admit it, Grace?”

“Did you just admit that you’ve got someone killed?”

“Grace, please don’t admit it.”

“Grace, since you have denied it for three years, just keep it to yourself forever.”

“What’s going on? You can’t bear the torture anymore?”

“Grace looked down to the ground, her eyelashes covering the indifference in her eyes.

She’d be willing to explain to Caden three years ago.

But today, after three years, she wouldn’t.

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.

“Say it! I order you to speak. Don’t you have anything to explain?” Caden’s face was icy-cold, but there was a trace of unknown expectation in his intense eyes. He was expecting for her explanation.

Perhaps, he’d forgive her for any reason she gave.

Grace had no response…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?

“I’ve been in the prison and suffered the punishment,” Grace slowly said as her husky voice upset Caden. “Now my explanation is useless to me.”

She suddenly shifted her eyes on Caden. “Or you want to throw me into jail again? For how long? Three years? Five? Ten?”

The nonchalance in her eyes indicated her caring for nothing, as if she really didn’t care.

With unassuming exasperation, Caden clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes on the woman in bed.

“You know what? You’re right. Whether you explain or not, it doesn’t matter, because you’ve admitted that you’ve got someone killed.” His eyes were cold. “How can you pay for it?”

“With my rest life. Isn’t it enough?” Grace said without any remorse. “I promise I’ll pay it off, even if I’m in the hell.”

She didn’t say she has nothing to do with Wallis’ death.

She once said, but Caden didn’t believe her.

“President Shaw, what time is it?”

“Five thirty.”

“Fine. I’m going to work.”

Grace took off the covers, trying to get out of the bed.

Caden’s arm latched on hers and said, “You’re allowed to take a sick leave.”

“Sorry, but I don’t need it.”

Caden’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t need it? Don’t you know you miss something in your body? Don’t need a rest?”

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.

“President Shaw, I know what I have lost. I don’t need your reminders.” Her breath was erratic, and her eyes were scarlet.

“For which I have to thank you. It was your goodness that made me who I am today. You don’t have to remind me of your kind treatment.”

Fury. Pain. Sorrow.

Caden Shaw, why did you have to rub it in my face?