Chapter 14

After Casey finished her interview, she went to look for Carolyn. That was how she found out that Carolyn and Matthew were preparing to marry Grace off to an old man for 300 million dollars. Seeing as how Luther wasn't replying, Casey added fuel to the fire by saying, "I heard Carolyn say that Grace requested a gift of 300 million dollars for their marriage. I never thought she'd be that kind of person… "She even said that she can't register their marriage yet because she hasn't completely divorced you, so they're going to hold a wedding first." … Grace was oblivious to the fact that Carolyn and Matthew were actually preparing for her wedding. They had not taken her words back then seriously. Carolyn was sure that Grace didn't have the guts to die, so she wouldn't die so easily. After all, Grace had suffered so much when she was younger but still chose to keep going, so Carolyn thought that it would be the same this time round. Matthew had asked Oscar to transfer the 300 million dollars early on to start a new company. He didn't feel a single trace of guilt or feel indebted to Grace for that. On this day, Grace received Carolyn's message, which said, "Mr. Russell has picked the date for the wedding. It's on the 15th of this month. There are four days left, so prepare yourself. You must win his heart this time, alright?" Reading the message, there was this indescribable feeling that rested heavily on Grace's chest. The 15th… It would be the day Luther and Grace would officially divorce. It would be the day she was forced to marry someone else. It would also be the day she left the world once and for all. Grace was afraid she'd forget those events and recorded them in her notebook. After that, she began writing her will. She picked up her pen, but she didn't know what she should write. In the end, she wrote a message for Teresa and another message for Charles. Once she was done writing, she placed the will under her pillow. Three days later, it was the 14th, and it was raining especially heavily today. The phone on the coffee table kept ringing non-stop. They were all from Carolyn to ask for her whereabouts. After all, she was going to get married the next day, so Carolyn wanted her to head home and prepare for the wedding. But Grace didn't reply and changed into a brand new coral-colored dress instead. She also applied her makeup really well. She had a good foundation, but she was too skinny, and her complexion was too pale. Grace looked into the mirror and noticed how stunning and bright she looked right now. It was as if she had returned to the time before she got married to Luther. Grace took a cab to the cemetery, and she held an umbrella after she got out of the car. Then, she walked toward Maxim's tombstone and placed a bouquet of daisies in front of it. "Dad," Grace called out. The cold wind was howling, and Grace could only hear the raindrops pattering onto her umbrella. "I'm sorry… I didn't want to come here at first, but I really have nowhere to go. I know that I'm a coward. I'm scared to leave this world alone. That's why I chose to come to you… You can scold me all you want if you wish to," Grace said lightly. Afterward, she sat by the tombstone and hugged herself. As soon as she switched on her phone, Carolyn's threatening and vile messages continuously pinged one after another. "Grace! Do you think you'd be able to hide forever? "Matthew has already received the money, and Mr. Lloyd is incredibly powerful. Do you think he'll let you off? "You'd better think it through and return home tomorrow. It's better than having someone else drag you back just for a wedding. "Be pragmatic…" After Grace read the last message, she sent a message back, stating, "I'm not going back. You can find me in West Taseville tomorrow and take me back. I'll wait for you by Dad's tombstone." Once Carolyn received Grace's reply, she didn't think much of it and thought that she had given in, so she stopped calling her. Grace then enjoyed the peace she currently had. For the whole day, she sat there, and when night fell, she took out the wooden figurine Maxim had personally hand-carved for her when she was a kid. She carefully hugged it and used her body to block out the dark night and heavy rain. Time ticked by slowly, and eventually, her alarm rang at 12:00 am. It was the 15th. Grace tilted her head to look up at the pitch-black sky. Her throat tightened with much bitterness. At 3:00 am, Grace trembled as she fished out a bottle of medicine from her bag. … At the same time, Luther was sitting on the couch in Websmith Residence after he returned. He didn't turn on the lights. He rubbed his temples exhaustedly before he gave in to sleep. Soon after, he jolted awake. How strange… He had a nightmare again, and it was about Grace. He dreamt that she died, and it felt all too real… Luther held up his phone and saw that it was only 4:00 am. Thinking about how they would be getting divorced today, he couldn't help but send a message to Grace. They had promised to go through the divorce procedures today. By the time Grace received his message, she was already feeling a little muddled. But she still forced herself to reply to him, "I'm sorry… I don't think I'll be able to make it anymore. But don't worry. We'll still be divorced…" After she passed away, the marriage would naturally be considered invalid. When Luther heard her voice message, he heaved a huge sigh of relief. Of course, why would Grace be dead? Not only would she keep living, but she would still keep holding onto him. Luther then called her. All these years, Grace rarely received Luther's call. Usually, he'd send brief and succinct text messages. He almost never called her. As such, Grace accepted his call, but before she could say anything, she heard Luther's cold voice. "Grace, don't test my patience. Didn't you say you wanted to divorce back then? Are you regretting it now? Or is it because I haven't given you enough money? Is that why you're going to marry someone else? Is 300 million not enough for you?" Hearing all that made Grace's throat dry up, and there seemed to be a heavy lump resting in the back of her throat. She couldn't seem to hear anything else, but in the end, she gathered the last of her energy and replied to him, "Luther… I never married you… for your money… I'm not divorcing you… because I want your money either… "You probably wouldn't believe me, but I didn't know that… my mother and Matthew breached the contract back then. I really… didn't know… Now, I wouldn't marry anyone else… for 300 million dollars either…" Grace wouldn't admit to anything she had never done. Her words were breaking up with pauses in between as she spoke. Luther heard the strong sound of the wind howling and the pounding of the heavy rain from Grace's end. He asked, "Where are you?" Grace couldn't hear his voice and held onto her phone tightly as she continued to explain, "If… I had known what my mother and brother did, I definitely… wouldn't have chosen to marry you… If I had known that… you liked Casey all along… I wouldn't have married you either. "If I had known that my dad would get into a car accident on my wedding day… I wouldn't have married you." Grace reasoned why she wouldn't have married him back then, and Luther could tell from her tone that she possessed a particularly strong unwillingness as she spoke. He could also make out how she deeply regretted marrying him. It felt as if something was blocking his throat, and it didn't feel comfortable. "What right do you have to regret it? Didn't you cry and beg for me to marry you back then?" Luther voiced out in a deep and hoarse voice. But Grace's voice was getting smaller and smaller, and Luther could barely make out what she was saying. "Grace! Where are you?" Luther asked again. Yet, Grace didn't reply to his question and said, "Actually… I hope that you'll always… be happy." Then, there came a bang that sounded from the other end of the line.