I've Been There Before (Grace and Caden) novel Chapter 96

“Cad…” Humbert said and fell silent. Caden looked frightening. Even a person like Humbert felt cold looking at him.

Caden didn’t bother with Humbert and his eyes fixated on Grace. His current expression was extremely horrible!

One felt angry and all the pent-up frustrations when looking at this woman.

“You really can’t learn to be obedient!”

The man’s voice was cold and chilling.

Humbert was terrified. His eyes moved between Caden and Grace and the atmosphere of the room was ice cold!

It looked calm on the surface but feelings were raging within!

When the woman on the patient bed looked at the person standing by the door, her shoulders trembled. She hated this man as she was scared of him.

Her face turned pale.

“These three years didn’t turn you into a better person but you even became bolder.” His voice was colder than ice and could freeze anyone’s heart!

Even though for countless of times she had told herself not to interact with Caden; even though she failed time and again; Even though she told herself that ‘She can’t be bothered’; she just wanted to live properly and repay her debts properly, but Grace was still hurting.

“Then send me back to prison!” She couldn’t control her temper and yelled, “Caden, send me back to prison! I will still tell you in a period of three years, or two periods of three years or three periods of three years! Countless periods of three years! That means that on the day of my death, I will still use my life to curse Wallis to hell!”

How well she treated Wallis in the past was now much she hated this person now!

During these three years, she was locked up without a chance to see the sky. She had plenty of time to think about what happened that night.

Three years was sufficient time for her to figure some things out.

Except that until the day of her release from the prison, she couldn’t dare to believe, it was as if she was hypnotized and told herself repeatedly, ‘Surely it’s a misunderstanding. Surely it’s because she had been tortured and shamed and too dark and dirty. That’s why her heart became ugly and everyone she saw was bad. She had vented her anger towards Wallis.

Countless times she lied to herself and countless times she told herself that it wasn’t Wallis fault and it was her heart that turned ugly and thought of Wallis in a bad way.

But when they were at the Royal Club and Quinn asked her why did she force Wallis to drink the bottle of whiskey, Grace could no longer lie to herself.

So, it wasn’t her heart turning ugly after experiencing all these traumatic conditions.

But from the beginning to the end she had misplaced her trust for that girl with the sweet and pretty smile, who was acting like a gentle, and adorable girl!

Wallis, Wallis!

She had thought that she never treat this person bad and yet Wallis kept acting in front of her. What was she feeling when each time she said to herself, “Actually I don’t like Caden”?

Whenever she was rejected by Caden, Wallis would console and encourage her and she would believe and be so touched by her.

Actually, Grace could see that each time she proposed to Caden and each time she failed, Wallis who observed by the side and comforted her would actually be secretly laughing at her who was actually being taken in by Wallis.

Grace didn’t want to recall those memories but the memories wouldn’t let her forget them. They were like the rising tide and each time it rose, it would threaten to drown her!

Those were the memories that she had been through!

Wallis kept saying reluctantly, ‘I don’t like Caden.’

Wallis was warm like a small sun consoling herself, ‘No worries, that is Caden’s personality, but Grace, you are very talented and Caden will understand your intentions.’

Wallis said modestly, ‘Grace, I think I fall for someone but I’m afraid of Caden. Quickly get the affection of Caden and I won’t be frightened of Caden anymore. By then you’ll be able to convince Caden.’

And that night, Wallis held onto her innocently, ‘Grace, take me to the nightclub for some fun. I’ve never been there before. I’m very curious. Grace, let’s go to the ‘YES Club’. From what the friends said, the live singer is handsome and can sing very well.’

It was a tragic joke that she actually naively believed!

Thereafter… thereafter Wallis was raped and she, she was thrown into prison by Caden. That was a period of three years of torture and the label of a murderer for life.

Revulsion!

She can’t control her hatred, she absolutely can’t control her hatred. She can’t control the hatred within her and she can’t control everything!

She raised her head as she bitterly smirked. Her eyes became exceedingly sore but she told herself not to cry!

“Caden! Kill me if you can!

I’m saying that even if you kill me!

Wallis deserved a terrible death!

Wallis deserved worse than death!

Wallis deserved every bit of it!

Damn Wallis to hell! I will curse her for the rest of my life! Wallis will not see the afterlife!”

She practically used all her strength to shout and yell!

As if she said everything in a breath. She had never spoken so fluently, fast, and with such conviction, since she was released from prison.

She… had almost lost her mind!

She had been so trusting and now so hurt!

She had been her best friend but now she was filled with hate!

Grace had basically lost control of herself from the moment Quinn asked her in the private room. She should have been like this long ago. What could be compared to being ‘stabbed’ in the back by her closest friend whom she trusted the most? And this ‘stab’ practically claimed her own life!

No… it wasn’t ‘practically’. It already claimed Grace’s life!

Grace who had lost everything and totally devoid of dignity… was she still Grace?

She suppressed it all, suppressed her thoughts and that’s why it erupted in hatred!

But she couldn’t escape from Caden’s casual words and insults. He was also capable of saying something that will trigger her into a desperate state.

“Fuck Wallis to hell! I will curse her for the rest of my life! Wallis will never reach the afterlife!”

“Smack!”

The shouts stopped as the crisp sound rang out. The air in the patient room practically froze!

The woman’s head snapped to a side and her hair was in a mess. Half of the face was covered and the other half was in the shadows.

The left side of the face hurt when moved and the pain radiated towards her heart.

She didn’t touch it with her hand but she could taste some blood from the corner of her mouth. It flowed slowly down and dripped onto the bed sheet.

“Grace, you shouldn’t say those in front of Caden. Don’t be so stubborn, just apologize and be done with it.” Humbert’s heart was beating fast and the current situation was way beyond his expectations. He was also afraid of Grace’s spiteful tongue and tried to calm the situation down and persuaded Caden to leave.

Regardless, the way Grace cursed was too ruthless, not to mention that Wallis had already passed away. No matter what, she shouldn’t have cursed someone who had died… Humbert frowned in disapproval and glared at the woman who laid on the bed.

Caden was emotionless and the usually brash President Shaw’s hand felt as if it was scorched. He hid his hand behind him and was unable to control its tremble.

His pair of deep eyes stared towards the woman and saw the blood on the bed sheet. His eyes had a trace of regret… and his hand trembled violently behind his back.

No matter was Wallis’ good character or otherwise and neither her looks as he could hardly remember. But the manner of this woman three years ago was clearly imprinted in his mind.

He couldn’t let go of Grace!

Grace shouldn’t turn into this woman who was spiteful and full of scorn … he, won’t allow it!

“Don’t ever let me hear these words ever again!” He said firmly.

The woman on the sick bed licked her dry lips and scoffed, “President Shaw, either you set me free or send me back to the prison.” She turned to look at him, and laughed silently in despair!

Three years of prison robbed her of her freedom.

Three years later he forcefully robbed her of her freedom.

If that was the case, what the difference between this and the prison?

Either set her free and she will have her freedom. Otherwise, send her back to prison, there wasn’t any difference as now.

It was the first time since she was released from prison, she held her head high. Though she was in a sorry state, her spirit, proud eyes, smirk, determination, silent smile, these were all a tease, from hopelessness!

She was teasing them like a moth to the fire!

Caden, make your choice!

Humbert was stunned!

Caden was dumbfounded!

Grace!

The hearts of both men were on the same frequency and three words jumped out!

This was Grace!

This was definitely Grace!

Grace!

She was pitiful, half of her face was swollen and her bleeding lips were clearly very painful.

She laughed silently and licked her painful lips. She didn’t blink nor did her eyebrow twitch. She lifted her chin in pride… this was Grace!

But… what did she say?

Either let her go or send her back to the prison?

The warmth of Caden’s eyes dissipated and was filled with a chill. He calmly said coldly, “Get out.”

Humbert’s heart trembled and wanted to say something but as soon as the chilly stare fell on him, Humbert’s heart flustered and he left the room without a saying a word and thoughtfully closed the door.

“Have you realized what you did wrong?”

His magnetic voice said emotionlessly.