Completely unaware of his attention, Oliver's gaze had been fixed on Grace since their return to the Jefferson residence.

"Oliver, today, we've both helped each other. So, we're even now, right?"

With everything clarified, she skipped two steps at a time as she headed upstairs.

Oliver watched her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight.

Maya's gaze, however, remained fixed on Oliver. She had seen firsthand how his eyes were filled with the image of another woman.

Maya gritted her teeth in jealousy. With a feigned weakness, she reached for Oliver's sleeve and called out in a pitiful voice, "Oliver, you're finally back!"

"Did you drink today?"

Seeing his cold demeanor toward her, Maya mistakenly thought that he disliked her drinking habits.

Maya immediately shook her head. "No, if you're really that upset about my drinking habits, I promise that I'll never touch alcohol 

Oliver stood there for two minutes. He let out a soft sigh before heading upstairs with an emotionless expression.

Grace was surprised to see him return. "I thought you went out on a date. Why are you back so soon?"

Oliver gave her a disapproving look before heading into the dressing room.

"Ugh, why are you rolling your eyes at me? You're not the only one with eyes." Grace scoffed behind his back.

In the courtyard, Juniper returned home from her outing. As soon as she stepped out of the car, she saw Maya sobbing uncontrollably on the balcony.

Instructing the maid to take her belongings to her bedroom, she walked over to Maya's side. "Maya, what's wrong?"

Maya saw Juniper and quickly wiped away her tears. "Juniper, you're back." 

"Maya, why are you crying?" Juniper glanced around and then at the two teacups on the coffee table and asked, "Who bullied you just now?"

Maya couldn't b

Just as Brad was about to speak, Grace called out, "Dad, Oliver, dinner's ready! Come and eat!"

After dinner, Oliver gave Grace and her parents some time to chat before they left that afternoon.

As they were leaving, Grace sat in the passenger seat, rolled down the window, and looked at her parents standing at the doorway through the rearview mirror.

They were getting farther and farther away.

Grace's eyes welled up with tears, and she kept raising her hand to rub her eyes. Oliver could feel it from the seat next to her.

He increased his speed and drove out of Majestic Citadel Vistas until the milky white building was lost in sight. Only then did Grace close the window, and Oliver slowed down.

Oliver asked, "Do you usually talk this much at home?"

"Not really. It's your first time here, and it's also the first time my parents are meeting their son-in-law. As their daughter and your wife, I had to keep the conversation going. Otherwise, it would have felt awkward for both of you."

It was the first time Oliver had heard a girl refer to herself as a wife. Looking at her face, it was as if a child were pretending to be an adult while an adult watched from the side.

But she wasn't wrong. She was indeed the wife that he had married.

"Thank you for today, though." In the three days since their wedding, this was the first time they had a peaceful conversation.

Grace knew how to be grateful and always showed her polite and respectful side, but only if the person she was being polite to deserved it.

Today, Oliver had earned it.

"I thought you didn't listen to a word I said last night," Grace said.

Oliver swallowed before replying curtly, "I'll investigate it myself."

"You could have told me earlier. I would have gone to bed instead of bothering you for two hours and getting kicked out."

Oliver glanced at her again while driving. Was Grace's tone blaming him for keeping her up?

They returned to the Jefferson residence.

Despite getting along quite well, they entered the house and saw someone who shouldn't be there.

Maya was there again.

Didn't she notice Peter's dark expression?

Grace and Oliver stood side by side. She leaned her head slightly toward Oliver and said, "I'm a loyal friend. You helped me a lot today, so don't worry. I'll help you too."

Oliver tilted his head slightly and looked down at his petite wife.

Grace looked up at him. She blinked hard and said, "Watch me."

She smiled as she walked over to the living room couch and called out, "Dad, we're back."

Peter pretended to yawn. "I'm tired too, Grace. You're the lady of the house. You should entertain the guests."

When he said that Grace was the "lady of the house", Maya's expression hardened.

Peter was trying to dissuade her from dreaming of a future with Oliver.

Grace glanced at Maya and nodded. "Alright, Peter. I'll take you to rest first."

"I don't need any help. I can walk by myself."

Peter went up the stairs with Rodrigo's help.

After ensuring Peter had left, Grace turned to Maya with a confident gaze.

Maya was quite pretty, but her makeup was a bit heavy and her perfume was a bit strong. So this was Oliver's type.

Maya felt a prickling sensation, as if Grace's gaze were a needle stabbing her with humiliation.

Maya stood up and said, "Grace, Oliver doesn't love you."

"I know."

Grace pointed at Maya and said to Oliver, "Peter's gone. You can take her away now."

After she finished speaking, she waved goodbye to him happily and walked up the stairs.

Wait.

She suddenly turned around and met Oliver's dark eyes.

Completely unaware of his attention, Oliver's gaze had been fixed on Grace since their return to the Jefferson residence.

"Oliver, today, we've both helped each other. So, we're even now, right?"

With everything clarified, she skipped two steps at a time as she headed upstairs.

Oliver watched her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight.

Maya's gaze, however, remained fixed on Oliver. She had seen firsthand how his eyes were filled with the image of another woman.

Maya gritted her teeth in jealousy. With a feigned weakness, she reached for Oliver's sleeve and called out in a pitiful voice, "Oliver, you're finally back!"

"Did you drink today?"

Seeing his cold demeanor toward her, Maya mistakenly thought that he disliked her drinking habits.

Maya immediately shook her head. "No, if you're really that upset about my drinking habits, I promise that I'll never touch alcohol again."

Oliver glanced at the empty staircase once more before he turned and said, "Let's step outs

Chapter 18