Grace, your clothes are so worn out they're pilling. You should really toss them!"
A classmate who worked part-time with Grace Howard couldn't help but comment. Grace was notoriously frugal, wearing $1 market stall clothes for years without replacing them, even when they were faded.
Grace smiled, "They're not torn yet, so it'd be a shame to throw them away. I'll head out now, see you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow!"
After she left, the others couldn't resist discussing her.
"She wins the top scholarship every year and works multiple jobs, earning quite a bit. Why is she so thrifty?"
"She spends it all on her boyfriend, that's why she's struggling," one informed insider revealed.
"What?" Everyone perked up instantly.
"He's a pretty boy who hangs out in nightclubs, using his looks to mingle with rich women. He claims to be a singer, but he's more like a gigolo. Many people know, but she's completely in the dark."
"No way!"
...
When her paycheck came in, Grace eagerly ordered an expensive pair of sneakers.
William Stewart had wanted these shoes for a long time, and she finally saved enough to buy them as a birthday gift for him.
Just as Grace was happily imagining William's surprised expression, her phone suddenly vibrated.
It was a message from her roommate.
"I just saw your boyfriend hugging some girl, and they went into room 601 together..."
The location was the bar where William Stewart worked.
Grace Howard's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned her car around.
Once she entered the bar, her steps were unsteady as she approached the door of room 601, but she couldn't muster the courage to barge in.
The door was slightly ajar, with light spilling out into the dim hallway. Inside, William and the alluring woman were oblivious to Grace's presence, continuing their flirtatious banter.
"I heard you have a girlfriend studying at the nearby university?" the woman giggled.
"What girlfriend? I haven't even touched her. She's just a dumb, plain maid who cooks and cleans, thinking she's doing me a favor," William replied lazily.
Maid?!
Grace felt as if she'd been struck by lightning, unable to move. But the next words hit her even harder.
"Wow, that's harsh. If she heard you say that, she'd be heartbroken."
"You're overthinking it. No matter how I treat her, she'll always come crawling back like a dog, and I can't get rid of her even if I tried..."
Grace's blood boiled as she burst through the door. "William Stewart, you've gone too far!"
Her whole body trembled, and even her voice shook with anger.
The two people in the room were startled. When they saw who it was, William Stewart paused for a moment, frowning. "What are you doing here?"
Grace Howard was so furious that her words stumbled over themselves, tears streaming down her face. "You... you have the nerve to ask me that? What you just said... was that even human? I've given you everything, and you..."
William shrugged. "Could you take this outside, ma'am? You're interrupting my time with this lovely lady, thanks."
With that, he continued to flirt and laugh with the seductive woman, completely ignoring Grace, even going so far as to kiss the woman's red lips.
William's humiliating actions shattered something inside Grace.
Her mind went blank, her hands and feet turned cold, as she watched the chaotic scene unfold.
The usually gentle and forgiving Grace felt her gaze harden.
She picked up a bottle of wine and slowly walked over to William.
William noticed her approaching out of the corner of his eye and was surprised. Before he could react, everything went black...
After Grace Howard left, the sultry woman looked at William Stewart, whose face was covered in blood, and belatedly screamed.
"Someone help! Will's been hurt!"
The bar erupted into chaos, with some people trying to bandage William and others suggesting they call the police.
"Forget it, no need to call the cops," William said, holding his wound with a complicated expression, lost in thought.
On the bus ride back to school, Grace covered her face, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.
When she first got together with William, many people doubted their relationship, saying he was too young and reckless, not a good match.
But Grace, blinded by infatuation, fell head over heels for him.
William earned a decent wage at the nightclub, but he spent money carelessly and was always overdrawn. She paid for their dates, gave him spending money, and often went to his place to clean, do laundry, and cook. She never missed giving him expensive gifts on holidays, yet in all these years, William only gave her a rough stone pendant of unknown value.
Thinking about it, Grace yanked the pendant from her neck. She wanted to throw it out the window but worried it might hit someone, so she angrily shoved it into her bag, planning to toss it in the trash when she got off the bus.
A heartfelt devotion fed to the dogs, it was all a mistake in the end!
Grace Howard was silently cursing William Stewart, wishing him childless with a house full of kids,
when a sudden brake caused her forehead to smack against the seat in front, making stars dance before her eyes.
"What happened?" The other passengers were just as unlucky, some even fell, and curses filled the air.
"The bus broke down. You'll have to catch another ride," the driver apologized.
The bus erupted into chaos.
After getting off, Grace noticed a small, dusty, nondescript bar and felt an inexplicable urge.
She never drank in bars before, partly because she couldn't hold her liquor and partly because it was too expensive.
But today was different. She decided to indulge and drown her sorrows, hoping to start fresh once she sobered up.
Grace walked in with her head held high and sat at the bar. "Give me a dozen beers!"
The bar was nearly empty, and the bartender was taken aback when he saw her. He smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, miss. We're closed for a private event today. Please come back another time."
Grace felt like her world was collapsing: Why did everything have to go wrong when she was down on her luck? First, her boyfriend cheated on her, then the bus broke down, and now she couldn't even get a drink because of a private event?!
"Why isn't there a sign outside if it's closed for an event? You tell me only after I come in—is this a joke? Do you think I can't afford it? Don't worry, I have money! I'm drinking today, and I'm not leaving until I do!" The more Grace spoke, the more upset she became, and tears started streaming down her face as she cried uncontrollably.
The bartender looked troubled and glanced over at a man sitting in the corner.
The man gave Grace Howard a brief, indifferent glance but said nothing.
Understanding his cue, the bartender smiled and said, "Miss, don't cry. I'll get you a beer right away." He placed the drink in front of her.
Grace, sniffling, began to drink. She had overestimated her tolerance; she was already feeling tipsy after just three bottles, far from the dozen she had boasted about.
"William Stewart, you jerk! Calling me dumb and plain!!... I got into A University as a top student without any extra classes. Call me plain, fine, but who are you, a total slacker, to call me dumb?!" Grace ranted and pounded the table, taking swigs of beer between her tirades.
William Stewart?
The man in the corner raised an eyebrow at the mention of the name, his interest piqued by the disheveled, drunken woman at the bar.
Grace was in the middle of her rant when a glass of lemon water was slid in front of her.
Through her bleary eyes, she saw a tall, lean man dressed in black sitting beside her. His voice was calm, "If you can't handle your drinks, don't push it."
Too drunk to see his features clearly, she only sensed that he had a good build. She misunderstood his identity, assuming he was one of the bar's male hosts. William Stewart's bar had quite a few of those, men who entertained wealthy women for commissions. She had seen them several times before.
"I-I have plenty of money! I don't need to drink this kiddie stuff!" In a bid to spite William Stewart, Grace Howard threw her arm around the man's shoulder and shouted, "Come on, you drink with me! I'll give you a tip if you drink well!"
The bartender's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Did this woman even realize what she was doing? She was actually getting handsy with the boss?!
Ethan Hugh, the man Grace had latched onto, didn't show any displeasure. Instead, he looked at the bartender with interest and said, "Bring the drinks over."
"Y-yes, sir..."
"So, what's your connection to William Stewart?" Ethan asked, sipping his drink while trying to get information from Grace.
"Wh-what connection? I'm his father!" Grace declared angrily. "He said he'd marry me after I graduated, that little brat..." Her voice trailed off as she slumped onto the bar, completely passed out.
"What should we do next, boss?" the bartender whispered to Ethan.
"Take her to the apartment," Ethan replied, retrieving Grace's ID from her bag and handing it to the bartender. "Find out what her relationship with William Stewart is."
"Yes!"
It was the first time Grace Howard had ever been so drunk and slept so deeply.
She didn't wake up until the afternoon of the next day, her head pounding. As she opened her eyes, she was confused: Where was she? What happened?
The bed was as soft as a cloud, and the luxurious decor was far from where she should be sleeping. Wait, she was in different pajamas? What on earth happened??
Feeling panicked, Grace quickly changed into her own clothes, grabbed her bag, and tried to leave this place of trouble. But as soon as she stepped out of the room, she bumped right into Ethan
Hugh, who was casually sipping coffee at the dining table.
Ethan looked up and said calmly, "Awake?"
This was the first time Grace had seen Ethan clearly while sober, and she was stunned.
What a... what a handsome man!!!
William Stewart was already considered the pinnacle of good looks, yet the man before her seemed to surpass even him. From his facial features to his physique and aura, everything was flawless. He could easily be described as breathtakingly beautiful. If there was anything to criticize, it would be the coldness and arrogance in his eyes, which were so intense they made others feel ashamed and hesitant to approach.
Grace was speechless for a long moment. When she finally came to her senses and tried to find something to say to ease the awkwardness, her gaze froze, and her face turned pale!
Ethan Hugh stood there in a loosely tied robe, revealing his well-defined physique. The sight was enough to send anyone's imagination running wild!
"I, we..." Grace Howard stammered, her tongue tying itself in knots. "Last night, did we..."
Before she could finish, Ethan already knew what she was getting at. He had intended to reassure her that nothing had happened between them. But seeing the panic on Grace's face, he suddenly felt a mischievous urge.
Ethan's lips curled into a slight smile. "Last night, we did everything."
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