I've Been There Before

Chapter 184 Returning to the James Family

At a night a few days after the incident, Grace mentioned her wish to go back to see the James family.

"I am going out for business for a a few days. How about I bring you there when I come back?"

"Why don't I just ask Gloria to go with me. I have been staying at home for a long time. I do not have any better place to go. Since my parents... Mr. James and Mrs. James are really trying to make up for their mistakes," She lowered her eyes while packing up for Caden's business trip leaving tomorrow. She said slowly, "... Gloria will be there with me anyway, and I am just going to eat lunch."

Since she said so, Caden looked at her more gently, "Okay. I will call Gloria and ask her to go with you tomorrow."

...

A night with no dreams.

The next day, Caden went out. He was heading to Britain for a few days. Before he left, he asked his subordinates to take good care of Grace.

Standing by the door, Grace waved her hand at the man, "Come back early."

The two were like a normal couple. If one didn't know them well, one would have never expected the conflicts between them to be so many.

Caden's eyes were getting more gentle and got in the car. The freezing breeze in the winter day could never blow away the warmth in his heart.

As Caden's car drove all the way out of sight, Gloria tugged Grace's clothes, "Let' go, no need to pretend."

Grace was slightly surprised, ‘"How do you know that I am pretending?"

Gloria glanced at her with a smile, "I still remember that the first time we met, I asked you why you were willing to be a janitor in the Royal Club. Do you remember your answer?"

Of course... she remembered.

"I said, if it's necessary, I am willing to spread out my legs and welcome the customers. Before coming to the Royal Club, I knew that I am not qualified to earn money with my body, so I could only contribute my labor force and do what I can do the best."

With that, Grace went silent.

Gloria smiled, patting Grace at the shoulder, "For you, it's probably the same to play up to Caden obediently and work as a janitor lowly... In both cases, it is just a transaction, a deal."

Gloria suddenly leaned forth close to Grace's ear, "You're really a heartless person. However, I, or anyone else, have no right to judge you. Because a person, who was forced to be heartless and dared not possess any feelings, must have suffered a lot more than anyone could have imagined. I have never experienced that, then how am I qualified to judge you."

After saying that, she smiled lightly and patted Grace, who was already stunned, "Alright, it's time to go."

...

The front gate of the James family was fifty meters away. Both Grace and Gloria sat at the back row of the car, and Ladd was the one to drive.

When Caden left, he brought Kirk and other people, leaving only Ladd for Grace.

Ladd was different from Kirk in personality. At least when Grace was with Ladd, she felt less hostility emanated from Ladd. Therefore, she would be more relaxed.

"Don't be nervous." A warm hand covered on Grace's hand. Grace didn't realize until this moment that she was getting nervous because of returning to "the house that she had lived for more than twenty years."

She nodded rigidly, "I am fine."

The car drove into the front gate of the James family and parked in front of the mansion of the James family.

"I am here with you." Before getting off the car, Gloria held Grace's palm tightly as though the former was trying to pass her courage to the latter. Gloria looked at Grace seriously after the two holding hands. Then they got off the car.

Meanwhile, Ladd also got off, and he was about to open the car door for Grace before the door was pushed open from inside.

"Why don't you go in?" Gloria asked.

Grace raised her head to look at the familiar building as seriously as the moment before she was thrown into the prison.

However, the members of the mansion had never gone to visit her. The corner of her mouth curled up mockingly... How could she believe Jafar James, who claimed himself to be her biological father?

Yet, she had to admit it cowardly that when Jafar said he was wrong, tears streamed from her eyes like a waterfall, even though she knew it was fake. She was expecting from the deepest place of her heart that Jafar said his words sincerely.

She sighed, "Let's go."

They went into the James family. Mrs. James held Grace's hands happily, walking to a quiet place to have a nice conversation between the daughter and the mother.

"Is Ms. Su..." Gloria walked into the mansion with Grace. Mrs. James looked at Gloria awkwardly, then looked at Grace. What she meant was that this place was inappropriate for Gloria to follow in.

Grace lowered her eyes, "Gloria, me and Mrs. James haven't met each other for a long time. There are some private conversations that we need to have."

Gloria had followed Caden for a long time, adventuring around the country, so she was experienced enough to comprehend the situation. She left the room silently, "I don't feel well, may I use the bathroom?"

Mrs. James also knew the meaning of Gloria's words and answered, "The bathroom is downstairs at the end of the hallway."

The two's sights touched, who didn't know the other's purpose?

Mrs. James wanted Gloria to be away, meaning the conversation that the former was going to have with Grace wouldn't be that simple. And Gloria used the excuse of going to the bathroom.

After the door was closed, the three were completely isolated.

Gloria walked away for a few steps, but still turned around to look at the closed door contemplatively, with a trace of hesitation in her eyes. The tip of her feet turned suddenly for ninety degrees. Judging from the direction, it seemed that she regretted it and was about to knock on the door.

However, all of a sudden, she stood still!All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

She gritted her teeth and turned around again, heading toward the stairway.

The sound of the high-heeled shoes knocking on the obsidian floor was coldly clear... But also ponderous.

Every step she took, the hands hanging at the sides of her body clenched tighter... She knew that she was Caden's subordinate. Caden put her alongside that silly woman was to monitor Grace.

If she was cruel and reasonable enough, she should knock on that door now and dragged Grace out, preventing the latter from any contact with Mrs. James.

But... She, Gloria was not cruel and cold-blooded enough. She was still thinking about helping that silly girl... Gloria didn't know what they were talking about in that room, but she knew the attitude that silly woman held— Grace came to the James family with her own intentions.

"Where is Mrs. Shaw?" Ladd saw Gloria walk downstairs alone, a light flashed across his eyes, and asked, "Why are you coming down alone? Didn't Mr. Shaw ask you to stay with Mrs. Shaw all the time?"

"My stomach doesn't feel well." Gloria took out some cigarettes while looking at Ladd. She didn't seem to have a stomachache at all. She took a sip playfully and curled up the corner of her mouth seductively,

"You know her longer than I know her, right? Ladd... Why don't you go to find her if you are so worried."

With that, she walked past Ladd toward the bathroom.

Ladd stood still, his eye kept twinkling. Finally, he chased Gloria, "Hurry up. Stay with Madam after you feel better."

Gloria walked in the bathroom, her red lips spread into a smile... She was right that Ladd wasn't hostile to Grace, compared to Kirk. Sometimes Ladd even looked at Grace pitifully.

The room upstairs was quiet after the door was closed. When the door was opened again, a woman walked out, looking very awful. She held the edge of the door, her skinny body shook without control.