I've Been There Before (Grace and Caden)

“What are you eating?” Caden loomed at the entrance.

Grace’s hand which was holding the bottle trembled and she recovered from momentary panic. “Vitamin tablets. I’ve asked Gloria to bring for me the day before yesterday.” Caden walked towards her as she spoke and he took over the drug bottle from her hand. He peered at it and his suspicion vanished. He pondered and remembered Gloria did actually come that day.

Mr. Garcia came and he knocked the door by chance. Both Caden and Grace turned towards him synchronously. “What’s wrong?” Caden asked him while putting down the drug bottle on his hand. “A married couple has come downstairs and they say they’re madam’s parents.” Mr. Garcia was hired as the butler of the Shaw Manor and he managed everything no matter big or small in the huge mansion. He was an excellent butler and had pursued this career for several decades. If he was not brilliant enough, Caden would not have laid his eyes on him.

A brilliant butler like him would naturally know things he should know before taking over the entire management of the Shaw Manor, and he would inquire more regarding the master and the boss lady of the mansion. Therefore, he definitely understood well that the married couple downstairs was the chairman of the James Group of City S and his wife, and they were also Grace’s biological parents. Yet he still said euphemistically that the married couple downstairs addressed themselves as whose parents when he reported. Because of the cautiousness he portrayed, Grace threw another glance to the new butler who looked taciturn at the entrance, and she felt glad for being lucky at the same time when the corner of her eyes caught a glimpse of the drug bottle labeled ‘vitamin C tablets’ on the dressing table. She knew well that the opportunity to take the ‘vitamin C tablets’ from Sam without the cautious new butler’s notice in the future was miniature.

Caden frowned with disgust when he heard the James couple was downstairs and wanted to meet Grace. Yet he did not decide for Grace and only asked her, “Do you want to meet them?” Grace did not respond instantly. She pondered with her eyes lowered and suddenly lifted her head. “Does the James’ have any collaboration lately and want to seek the Shaw’s help?” Caden was not surprised but there was a trace of sympathy in his slim eyes. “Maybe they’re just missing their own daughter.” He could not even believe himself when he said that, but at this moment, he hoped she would believe it.

Grace chuckled. Her glance swept past his face and their eyes met in the air like two lines intersecting each other, clashing each other for one second and then separated. “I’ll go check them out.” She did not rebut his words at all. Every bitterness and feeling that was difficult to describe was conveyed without speaking from her eyes.

If that couple would still miss her as a daughter, the three-years’ time spent in the prison would already be enough for them two to fly from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere, to cross the Pacific Ocean from the western continent to the other side of the ocean, to visit her for tens

the living room. The sound of footsteps approached and both of them turned with their eyes

hand gently pulled her hand away. “Mrs. James, do have a

on her well-cared face at

spoke. “President Shaw, we’re here to see Grace today. Her mother has missed her deeply after that day and she could not even eat and drink properly. I feel sad watching her growing thin

so, Mr. and Mrs. James have been really considerate.” Maybe because he felt guilty, Caden’s bland words seemed to have another meaning from Jafar’s point of view. He then smiled

James’s face was

her and landed on Grace. “I respect Grace’s own intention.” As he said, Mrs. James looked towards Grace quickly and anxiously. She seemed to be worried that she would refuse and her mouth approached her. Her lips moved as if saying something to her with

arm and gave a slight nod. After seeing that, Grace took a deep breath and lifted her head, looking at Caden saying. “The weather today is good and the plum flowers at the garden outside have blossomed. I want to have a walk there.” Caden nodded.