Chapter 4

Grace took the slap, her head tilting slightly to the side. There was no light left in her eyes. Alice quickly stepped to Carmen's side, soothing her. "Mom, I'm really fine. There's only a million dollars tied to my card. I was afraid that if I gave her too much, she'd keep spending recklessly like before, so I didn't put in much in that account." Grace's throat burned with pain. She suddenly pulled open the door of the taxi parked nearby. "Please take me to…" But her mind was blank—no place came to mind. Through the car window, she watched as the four of them walked into the house together. The taxi driver glanced at her and sighed. "Are those your family or your enemies? You didn't even say a word, and they just slapped you. Forget the hundred bucks. Just get out." Grace's tears, which she had been holding back, finally spilled over. She wanted to ask the same thing—were they really her family or her enemies? Not far away, Alice clutched Yancey's hand. A flicker of triumph flashed across her eyes. "Mom, Yancey, do you think Grace really lost her memory? Maybe we should call her back in." Carmen's expression darkened. Just the mention of Grace filled her with disgust. "If she really had amnesia, she wouldn't have been able to find her way here!" She then turned to Yancey and said, "Yancey, you should call off the engagement with her as soon as possible. Don't let Alice suffer. She's already experienced enough hardships outside. As her mother, I can't bear to let her go through more pain." "Don't worry, Mrs. Lambert. I'll take care of Alice for the rest of my life." As for Grace? Sure, they had grown up together, but he had long since grown tired of her. Besides, when Grace and Alice had gone out together years ago, Alice was the one who got kidnapped. When Alice was finally found five years ago, they all learned the truth—Alice had shielded Grace and told her to run for help. Grace had run, but she had done nothing—she left her own sister to be taken away. She had been rotten from the start. After Alice was brought home, Grace bullied her constantly, believing Alice had stolen her place in the family. Any time Yancey defended Alice, Grace would throw a fit. Everything that happened to her now was—she brought it upon herself. … Grace sat alone by the roadside, still wearing her hospital gown. She looked frail and weak. A car pulled up beside her. "Grace?" A young woman's voice called out. Grace looked up and found her face to be familiar, but she couldn't remember who she was. "What's this? Did you fight with Yancey again? At least change your clothes before running away from home next time." "Who are you?" Joanne Sylvester facepalmed, then unlocked the passenger door. "Just get in. Honestly, I don't blame people for getting tired of you. You pull the same stunt too many times. I don't even get why you put Yancey on such a pedestal." Grace got into the car and sat in silence. Joanne drove back to her residential area. "Stay at my place tonight. Not that it matters. You'll probably be running back to him first thing in the morning." Grace followed her inside, politely changing into slippers at the entrance. The place felt familiar—it seemed that this person was probably a friend of hers. She sat down on the couch while Joanna poured her a glass of warm water. Holding the cup in her hands, Grace finally felt a bit of warmth return to her body. Joanne, visibly exhausted, yawned. "I'm going to take a shower. You can sleep in the same room as always. And in the morning, don't forget to take the clothes you left behind last time." Then, she muttered, "Honestly, I wish you'd grow a spine and stop surrendering to Yancey so quickly. Every time you run away, it never lasts more than three days. "The moment he crooks his finger, you go crawling right back, letting him trample all over you. It's no wonder he and his friends look down on you. Seriously, Grace, if you ever actually lost your memory, I'd set off fireworks to celebrate."