I've Been There Before (Grace and Caden) novel Chapter 182

“Witness?”

“Yes. Witness.”

“If there’s a witness back then, how come I didn’t know about that?” Grace replied with a sharp mind. She needed clarification as it was a big deal to her. Mrs. James sighed and stared at her. “You know this person too. And the person’s family did not wish to disclose the matter that the person has witnessed such an obnoxious thing like rape to everyone.” There was another meaning in her words and Grace understood it. If she knew that person and the person’s family did not wish everyone to know about that, then there was high chance that…

“Which family does the childe come from?” She cut straight to the point. It was difficult to regain their tenderness towards each other as mother and daughter in the past when they had experienced so many things. “It’s not a childe. It’s the second mistress of the Donald family.” Light dawned on Grace at once. It was a ‘she’! That would explain why she did not receive any news back then. The reputation would be bad if the mistress of a noble family had witnessed such an obnoxious crime scene. It was not an ordinary crime scene as it was the shameless harassment of a few men towards a woman!

Grace could not accept the truth on the other hand the moment she was enlightened. “You said the fact that she has witnessed the crime was made one of the evidences to declare me being guilty.” She chuckled. “Mrs. James, let me ask you. What on earth has she witnessed that it became one of the evidences that decide for my imprisonment? Did the second mistress see me at the crime scene?” Her chest slightly raised and she tried hard to maintain her composure. Grace, you said you wanted to be rational instead of emotional. Why are you being so disappointing that your emotion fluctuates?

“Hasn’t President Shaw told you about this?”

The corner of Grace’s lips curved into a light smile. She obviously knew the answer and there was no need for her to ask. Would she still be ignorant regarding the second mistress until now if Caden had told her about that before? She then stared at Mrs. James who was in front of her, who was her biological mother. There was no need for her to act dumb.

Mrs. James then coughed. “So…President Shaw really didn’t tell you. Oh, how could he not tell you such an important thing like this?”

“Yeah, why didn’t you tell me such an important thing like this?” Grace continued and there was an awkward look on Mrs. James’s face. She muttered. “Well…we thought President Shaw has told you everything. Who would have expected this?”

Grace no longer wanted to discuss whether Caden had told her about the matter with her and the reason why he did not. She then asked straightforwardly, “Since Mrs. James has known about this, I hope Mrs. James would do me the honor to tell me what the second mistress has witnessed at the scene of crime. Why did her words become an evidence of me convicting the crime?” She then reminded her. “I wasn’t at the scene that time so what has she seen that assured her I was the culprit?”

“Well…The second mistress did not intend to disclose it instantly at that time. It’s just that after Wallis has committed suicide and the second mistress has met the dead body, she felt that it’s unfair to the deceased therefore she told others regarding what she has witnessed. She said she has heard Wallis’s shrieks when she witnessed the process.” She then glanced at Grace with a careful look before she continued. “Wallis was pressed under the men and she was bawling something like ‘Grace James! It’s you! You’re the one that did this to me! I curse you to die like a dog!’”

Grace looked up to the sky and laughed uncontrollably. Mrs. James seemed worried and she asked. “Grace, what’s wrong?” Grace pushed her away and replied. “I’m fine…don’t touch me. Let me laugh for a while.” She resisted the hand extended by Mrs. James and covered her tummy. She laughed until her tears were out. “Grace…Grace…Don’t laugh anymore, don’t…” Mrs. James panicked from her laughter and kept on advising her not to laugh anymore, yet the latter ignored her and laughed even harder. Mrs. James grew more anxious and impatience flashed across her eyes. She could not help but yell. “I’m asking you not to laugh anymore! Can’t you hear me?”

The laughter ceased the moment she finished her words. Mrs. James covered her mouth and her eyes blinked frequently upon meeting Grace’s eyes. “No…Grace, mommy’s only feeling sorry for you.” Grace did not speak and she stared at her silently. Her gaze was level yet it gave Mrs. James a painful delusion that she was being whipped. “Grace…” Her face flushed and went pale at the same time.

Grace stood to her feet and Mr. Garcia was about to walk towards her. She waved at him and said, “I’m okay. It’s just that I’ve not seen Mrs. James for a very long time and she has just told me a joke.” Mr. Garcia nodded and retreated without uttering a word. Grace then once again laid her eyes on Mrs. James with the corner of her lips slightly curved. “What you told me would only further prove that I, Grace James was a heinous murderer.”

“No! I trust you, Grace. Your father and I all believe that you’re innocent. It’s just that we didn’t dare to step forward and oppose President Shaw as we didn’t have any evidence and were intimidated by President Shaw’s power. Yet now that President Shaw is being nice to you and you have become his wife, and those gangsters who have committed the crime have shown up in City S once again, as long as we find them, we could definitely find out the truth from them and prove that you’re innocent.”

Grace had the urge to laugh. What did she say? She said that they believed she was innocent? It was just that they did not have the evidence back then? She shook her head and reckoned laughing could not even eliminate her rage and disappointment. “Mrs. James, it’s windy here, I’m feeling tired now,” she said and turned, ready to leave. Mrs. James panicked and grabbed her arm from behind. “Wait up! Grace.” Grace was not prepared for that and she turned without speaking. Yet her look had represented her words, asking “is there anything else”.

Mrs. James grasped her hand with her gaze softened down. She pleaded with a guilty look. “Grace, we really want to help you this time. Both your dad and I feel very guilty for not helping you back then and let you suffer so much. You were once the mistress of the noble family, the sweetheart of the James family, yet you were bullied at a place like that. Your dad cares for his pride and has become a joke in Shanghai after what happened to you; therefore he was that…cruel to you after you’re in trouble. Yet your dad did feel guilty and he always tries to make up for you. This time, God has finally given him an opportunity due to his love for his daughter. Grace, do…trust us this one time.” Mrs. James’s eyes went teary and she held her hand tightly, reluctant to let go. She was afraid that she would run away when she did.

Grace gazed at Mrs. James for a while and did not go all teary. She doubted that the couple would feel guilty and sorry for her. Any pleasant talk would appear frivolous and amusing in front of the inhumane ordeals she suffered in these three-years. Yet, if there was a chance to find out the truth back then, to shed light on the case, to escape from the accusation and to do her justice…She closed her eyes and asked, “Mrs. James, how are you supposed to help me?” She had nothing more to lose.