I've Been There Before

Chapter 271 He Smiled Foolishly

Caden was hospitalized for observation in Italy. After Caden’s condition stabilized, they returned to S City.

But...

Looking at the slender fingers at the corner of her clothes, Grace didn’t know how to describe her feelings.

Caden was cautious like a child. Everything changed overnight.

Few people knew that. Besides Humbert and Ingemar, the bodyguards who had protected Caden since Caden was young knew that.

Ladd, Scott and the others wouldn’t betray Caden.

It was impossible for Humbert and Ingemar to betray Caden.

However, Caden was different from before.

It was OK in Italy. Once Caden went back to S City, it might be discovered.

They couldn’t come up with an idea soon.

Humbert was smarter. “We can let Caden ‘take a vacation’.”

Ingemar nodded heavily, “That’s all we can do. Hope Caden will recover soon.”

Although it was possible, they knew that the chance was slight.

“We can’t let others know that.” Humbert thought about it. “Don’t forget that Kern’s in the Shaw’s. Master Shaw and Kern are smart. They will seize the opportunity.

We must keep the secret as long as possible.”

“OK. Caden has a private manor on the Chongming Island.

It’s in the suburbs. It’s underpopulated and beautiful. It’s a good place to take a vacation.”

They had no other choice.

Even Grace couldn’t think of a better way.

“When Caden is not in the group, someone has to deal with all of the Shaw Group’s affairs.”

This was a new problem.

Ingemar clapped his hands and said, “It’s easy. Let Caden make a temporary appointment for us. You and I are Caden’s good friends. If we deal with the affairs of the Shaw Group, no one will suspect. We did that.”

Then he glanced at Grace.

Grace rubbed her nose. Why did he look at her?

“I need your cooperation, ‘Mrs. Shaw’.”

Ingemar said solemnly and emphasized the words “Mrs. Shaw”.

Grace was in a mess. She nodded randomly.

It was difficult for her to accept what had happened. It was too sudden.

Since they had made their decision, Humbert and Ingemar started to take action.

After they returned to S City from Italy, they didn’t waste any time. Caden had stayed in Italy for a long time. It aroused Hale’s suspicion. As soon as Caden returned to S City, Hale sent a message to Caden’s manor. Hale’s men said, “Master Shaw missed Mr. Caden. Master Shaw hopes that Mr. Caden can visit him.”

On the second floor of the main building of the Shaw Manor, a man stood behind the handrail. He said coldly, “Please tell Master Shaw that I’m busy recently. Please let him care for his health.”

Hale’s men knew that they were not welcome here. They observed the man behind the handrail carefully and left.

As soon as they left, the indifferent man behind the handrail changed his expression and turned around to ask for praise urgently.

“Miss, did I behave well?”

Behind him, Grace stood quietly.

“Very well,” she said. Just now, she almost thought that he pretended to lose his memory.

His tone was as cold as before. No one would believe he wasn’t Caden.

However, her thought was shattered by Caden who was eager to please her.

If Caden didn’t lose his memory, how could he be a man who showed the white feather?

He even wanted to please Grace. She couldn’t imagine that. If he didn’t lose his memory, he wouldn’t be like that no matter what happened.

Caden was arrogant.

Caden was cold.

Caden was indifferent.

Caden was cruel.

Caden wouldn’t show the white feather and please her.

She didn’t know why.

She didn’t notice that she was disappointed. She didn’t want to admit it.

Grace was absent-minded. “Didn’t I behave well?” When he grabbed her clothes again, she regained her senses.

“Very well.”

He felt happy. He stretched out his head towards her.

“What are you doing?” Looking at his head, Grace was confused.

“I want a reward. Mr. Humbert said you would reward me if I behaved well.” Caden raised his head and revealed half of his face. He was handsome. He was eager to get the reward.

She didn’t know what to say and felt disappointed. Didn’t he remember anything?

“Can’t I get the reward?” He almost cried.

Grace bit her lips and said, “You behaved well.” She had mixed feelings and stroked his head.

He put his head on her shoulder. She was surprised. She saw his face vaguely. He was happy.

He was so happy.

“Don’t you remember anything?”

She wanted to ask him the question, but she didn’t.

Humbert walked over from behind and said, “Everything is ready. Let’s send Caden away.”

A car left the Shaw Manor. They picked up the motorway to the Chongming Island.

It was quiet inside the car. Grace looked at Caden who was leaning on her shoulder and sleeping soundly.

She recalled what happened in the past. Some memories were good, while some memories were bad. She even recalled what happened before and after she was in prison.

In her memories, Caden occupied more than half of her life. He appeared in most of her memories.

However, no matter the memories were good or bad and no matter the things happened before or after she was in prison, she was the only one who remembered these things. He occupied half her life, but he didn’t remember these things.

She put her hands on her legs quietly. When she recalled these things, she clenched her fists tightly. She left nail marks on her palms.

She felt gloomy. She turned around and looked at the rapidly retreating scene outside the car. She was at a loss.

He didn’t remember these things.

Only she remembered the love, hatred, entanglement and pain between her and him.

Her fists on her legs trembled as if she was enduring something.

They got off the motorway and drove to the suburbs. The destination was remote.

They turned into an inconspicuous path. The trees beside the road were towering.

Then they drove about forty minutes. Not far away, there was a house among the trees.

“Here we are.”

They got out of the car. Caden fell asleep. Humbert bent down and pulled Caden away from Grace’s shoulder. He carried Caden with Ingemar and walked into the manor.

Ingemar had arranged everything.

Ladd and Saul arrived here earlier.

The silent manor became lively.

They arranged everything and asked Ladd and Saul to stay here and take good care of Caden.

Grace, Humbert and Ingemar went back to S City overnight.

Humbert and Ingemar had a lot of things to do.

They needed to be in charge of the Shaw Group in S City. Otherwise, it would arouse suspicion.

Caden was “on vacation”.

Grace needed to be in charge of the James Group.

She also needed to pay attention to the James family.

Everything was ducky.

Ladd called Grace and said that Caden clamored for her after he woke up.

Ladd and Saul tried their best to coax Caden.

Ladd didn’t say how they coaxed him.

Caden calmed down and stayed quietly in that manor on the Chongming Island.

Grace was very busy.

During Grace’s trip to Italy, Nora looked for Grace. Vivian lied that Grace was away on business, so Vivian gave up.

After Grace came back, Nora looked for her again.

Nora said carefully, “Mrs. Shaw, the hospital called me and said that they got the matching result. I’m waiting for you to go to the hospital.”

“You were on business. I didn’t go to the hospital. Let’s go to the hospital to get the report together. I don’t know the result.”

Nora explained.

Grace raised her arm and looked at her watch. She made a call, “Vivian, arrange the car for me.”

She didn’t have much time to deal with it.

When they arrived at the hospital, Mrs. James and Payne stood there. Payne’s face was pale.

When Grace looked at them from afar, she was worried.

Payne lost weight a lot.

She looked way and saw Mrs. James who was standing beside Payne. “Hi, Mrs. James.”

“Hi, Grace.” Mrs. James was older. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were obvious.

Grace looked around, but she didn’t see Jafar who should have appeared here. “Why didn’t Mr. Jafar come here for such an important matter?”

Jafar didn’t come.

It was about his two sons. Jafar was their father, but he didn’t come here.

Grace sneered. No one noticed that.

Nora was awkward. “Jafar had a bad cold. He’s recuperating at home, so he didn’t come here.”

It was better for Nora to keep silent. Mrs. James couldn’t help but say, “You called my husband Jafar so intimately. You’re a bitch who seduced a married man.”

Nora was embarrassed. “Mrs. James, this is a public place!” Nora controlled herself and clenched her fists tightly.

“I don’t care. You can do such a shameless thing. Why can’t I talk about it?”

Mrs. James was more disdainful. She didn’t let Nora go.

Grace pursed her lips and said, “Mrs. James, Ms. Dyer, let’s get the report.” Grace wouldn’t mediate in the dispute for them, but she didn’t have time to stay here and listen to the argument between Jafar’s wife and his mistress.

Grace was tired. She had been tired recently, especially after she returned from Italy. She took half a step to the side quietly and leaned her back against the wall.

After they got the matching report, Mrs. James snatched it over and checked it. Then she checked the report again as if she couldn’t believe it.

Payne asked anxiously.

“Mom, did it succeed? Did it succeed?”

He was so anxious.

Mrs. James didn’t look well. Payne snatched the report. As soon as he got the report, he checked it. After he saw the result, he staggered a few steps and fell onto a chair against the wall. “How could...?”

“I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it.”

Grace stretched out a hand and took the report.

After she saw the result, she frowned. It failed.

It failed.

Looking at Payne who was at a loss, she wanted to say something, but she didn’t say anything in the end.

Payne thought of something and grabbed Grace’s palm.

“Grace, only you can save me!”

He gambled all his hopes on her.

Grace was shocked.

“Let go.”

Payne grabbed Grace’s hand tightly. He looked at Grace hopefully, “Grace, you will save me, right?”

She felt sad. She stopped struggling to free herself from Payne’s palm. She looked at him coldly for a long time. Under Payne’s uneasy gaze, she said indifferently.

“I only have a kidney and you want me to save you. What should I do if I gave you my kidney?”

She didn’t care about anything else and didn’t have any purpose. She wanted to know what he would do for her. He was her brother. They grew up together.

She wanted to know his answer to this question as her brother.

Payne said anxiously, “You will be fine. Everything will be fine. Grace, you’ve been strong and brave since you were young. You killed the person accidentally. You only went to prison for three years. Then you were let out of prison. You live a good life.

Grace, you’ve been lucky since you were young. You’ll be fine. Don’t you live a good life after you lost a kidney?”

Vivian was angry. “Payne, how could you say so?”

Vivian was sharp-witted. She held Grace who staggered. Vivian said, “Ms. Grace…”

Grace interrupted Vivian and said decisively, “Shut up.”

Grace looked up at Payne. She felt that she was unfamiliar with Payne. She didn’t understand him. Under Payne’s gaze, she prised his fingers one by one.

“Mr. Payne, take care of yourself. Good luck.”

Grace’s voice was so muted they hardly heard what she said. She held Vivian’s arm softly. She whispered in Vivian’s ears, “Help me downstairs.”

If it wasn’t for Vivian’s excellent hearing, she wouldn’t hear what Grace said.

“Grace...” Mrs. James cried out behind them.

Vivian turned around and stared at them sharply. “Don’t come over! You’re so shameless!”

Vivian supported Grace. Although Grace pretended to be indifferent, Vivian noticed that Grace was trembling in her arms.

When they walked out, Grace collapsed and leaned against Vivian. “Grace, they’re shameless...”

“Help me get in the car and send me back to the group.”

“Do you want to go back to the group?” Grace didn’t look well.

Vivian was worried. Grace’s face was pale. “Grace, can I take you home? Don’t worry about the group’s affairs. I’ll deal with it with the others.”

Grace shook her head. “You can’t handle it.” Vivian only knew that the situation of the James Group was complicated and bad, but she didn’t know that the situation of the James Group was terrible.

“Jafar,” Grace muttered his name softly.

Vivian gave up persuading Grace. Grace was stubborn.

Vivian knew Grace well.

In the car, Vivian told jokes. She wanted to make Grace happy.

After a while, Vivian looked up at the rearview mirror. She was astonished.

On the back seat, Grace closed her eyes and shed tears silently. She was so strong that she was able to support such a large enterprise. No matter how tired she was, she never complained.

Vivian felt sour and bitter as if she were pricked on a needle. She felt painful. She looked away and drove the car silently and slowly.

Once people were busy, they forgot everything.

Grace didn’t know where and when she heard it.

Grace was immersed in her work. Gradually, it was dark outside.

“Ms. Grace, it’s time to get off work.”

“Bye. I haven’t finished my work.”

Vivian shook her head. She knew Grace well. It looked like that Grace was delicate, but she was so stubborn that no one could change her mind.

“I’ll stay with you.”

“Thank you. You can go back.”

“No.”

“Go back.” Grace looked up and whispered firmly, “Go back and take a rest. We have a negotiation tomorrow morning. The task is arduous.”

Vivian looked at Grace who was behind the desk and nodded, “I see.”

It was late at night. It was quiet. The lights in the office on the highest floor of the James Group were turned off.

The patrolling security guard said, “Ms. Grace, you work so late.”

Grace supported the wall and nodded. She didn’t look well.

“Ms. Grace, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I’m hungry, so my blood sugar is low.”

The security guard handed over a fruit candy. “Sometimes my blood sugar is low. I usually put candies in my pocket. Here you are, Ms. Grace. Eat a candy and you’ll be fine.”

Grace nodded, “Thank you.”

She went downstairs and used her phone software to call a car. She didn’t drive today and Vivian got off work.

After walking out, she noticed that it was raining heavily.

When the driver arrived, she got in. She was exhausted. She felt dizzy.

When she got out of the car, her phone rang.

“Hello?” Her voice showed that she was exhausted.

“Caden is missing!”

No matter how tired she was, she was shocked.

“Say it again!”

“Ladd called me and said that Caden was missing!”

“Have they searched the entire manor?” Grace asked anxiously.

“They’ve searched the entire manor, but they didn’t find Caden. That manor is idle. Some places haven’t been repaired. Ladd and the others found the button on Caden’s clothes beside the dog hole.”

Grace asked, “What does Ladd mean? They found his button beside the dog hole. The dog hole led straight to the outside. Did he...?”

“Yes! You’re right. There are footprints of Caden outside the wall. Caden tricked Ladd and Saul and left the manor.”

Humbert said.

Grace was angry, but it was untimely. She took a deep breath and said, “We must find him.”

“Ladd, Saul, Deacon and the others on the S City have set off, but they’re far away from the manor.”

“I’ll drive over now.”

“Wait a minute. In terms of looking for someone, you can’t compare to Ladd and the others. I’m calling to let you know the situation. As for looking for Caden, I, Ingemar, and Ladd will look for him.”

Then he hung up the phone.

Grace was no longer tired.

Caden was missing.

How could he disappear?

She went to the underground garage and drove to the Shaw Manor. What if...?

What if he remembered everything and returned to the Shaw Manor?

She drove fast and arrived at the Shaw Manor soon.

When she got out of the car, she knocked on the door and pushed the butler who came to open the door away. She searched the rooms one by one from the first floor.

“Mrs. Shaw, what are you looking for?”

She pursed her lips tightly and kept silent.

The butler asked her many times. She replied, “You can have a rest. I’m looking for something. I forget where I put it. After I find it, I will leave.”

She searched the Shaw Manor, but she couldn’t find Caden.

She sat down on the marble aisle limply. It was rational that he couldn’t return to S City from the Chongming Island. If he recalled the past, how could he not tell Ladd and the others and crawl out of the dog hole secretly?

It was a dog hole!

If he recalled the past, he wouldn’t crawl out of the dog hole.

Grace sat on the ground and shook her head ironically. She knew that he wasn’t here.

He didn’t recall the past.

She was ridiculous.

She knew the answer.

She was deceiving herself.

Grace didn’t leave. The butler didn’t have the guts to go to sleep.

“Mrs. Shaw, are you alright?”

Grace pushed the butler away who wanted to help her. “I’m fine. I didn’t find it. I have to go.”

She drove away.

She sat on the driver’s seat and felt lonely.

Grace mocked, “Exhaustion makes me hallucinate.”

How could Caden appear here?

How could ... Caden appear here?

There was a squeal of brakes. Grace stepped on the brake and hit the steering wheel. However, she stared at someplace as if she didn’t feel painful.

The headlights illuminated a person not far away.

It was raining heavily. She could see the traces of the rain.

She couldn’t see his face clearly. He was seven to eight meters away. She held her breath.

Then she took action!

She unbuckled her seat belt, pushed open the door, got out of the car and ran forward unsteadily.

The road was slippery. She almost slipped.

She ran towards him. When she was three to four meters away from him, she stopped.

She opened her eyes wide. She walked step by step. She walked towards him slowly.

Gradually, she could see his face clearly!

Her breathing became quicker. Her heart beat faster.

She was only a few steps away from him. She ran over quickly.

She breathed heavily and kept silent. He stared at her.

“Caden! Do you know that we’re worried about you?

Do you know that we’re frightened as you were missing?

Humbert and Ingemar are busy with your group, but they have to make the time to find you!

Ladd and the others do a lot for you. They need to take care of you, protect you and coax you!

Do you know what mistakes you’ve made?

Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused?

Do you know that?”

She shouted out. What she said to him was mean. Her heart beat faster. Her voice was hoarse.

She looked at Caden. Her forehead was covered in sweat.

Caden was scared by her. He looked at her blankly.

She didn’t know why. She recalled everything that happened in the hospital during the day.

She recalled what Payne said and Mrs. James’s crying.

She was reluctant to show she felt aggrieved or show the white feather. She straightened her back. She was as arrogant as a queen.

She thought that she didn’t feel aggrieved and sad. She left the hospital and went back to work.

She thought that she didn’t care about that and wouldn’t cry for that. When she was tired from work, she only felt exhausted instead of feeling sad.

She worked late at night. She thought that she was tired enough to fall asleep. After she fell asleep, a day would be over.

She was wrong!

He disappeared!

She was anxious to find him.

He put her to a lot of trouble.

Before he lost his memory, she suffered a lot because of him. After he lost his memory, she also suffered a lot because of him.

She was wrong. How could he be her disaster?

When he appeared in front of her car, she vented her anger, sadness and all her negative emotions on him.

Caden was frightened by Grace. “Miss, Ladd said you would visit me as long as I behave well. I ate, slept, watered the flowers and waited for you obediently. I waited for a long time, but you didn’t come to see me.

I even made good friends with the fish in the pond in the garden, but you didn’t show up.”

I missed you so much.”

He was at a loss. He almost cried and looked down. “Did I make mistakes?”

At this moment!

Her heart beat faster. She felt painful. The pain was indescribable.

“You...” She was frightened by her own voice. Her voice was so hoarse.

She stopped talking.

He stretched out to protect her head from the rain. She looked up. His palm seemed to have become bigger. His palm was big enough to cover the rain above her head.

She mocked herself. This was an illusion.

“Miss, don’t get caught in the rain. I’m worried about you.”

Caden said in a child-like voice. She heard what he said.

She looked at Caden who put the other hand on his left chest. She stared at him blankly. Then she met his gazes. He was so innocent.

She was touched! It was inexplicable.

It was sudden! She wasn’t ready. She was touched. It was inexplicable.

It was so sudden!

For an instant, she recalled what happened in the hospital during the day once again. She blinked to hold back her tears.

“Miss, don’t worry. I missed you. If I knew that you would feel sad because I escaped to see you, I wouldn’t escape.

Miss, don’t be sad. I will stay in that manor.

I won’t be sad. I have good friends. I can talk with the fish.

If I missed you, I would tell the fish.”

Grace closed her eyes. It was too late! She shed tears.

“How did you get here?” she asked hoarsely.

“I came out of the dog hole. Gold showed me the way.”

“Who is Gold?”

He said proudly, “Gold is a big yellow dog. Am I smart?”

Grace was surprised. If Caden didn’t lose his memory, he wouldn’t been like this.

Did he really...?

“You live so far away. How did you get here from there?”

Grace asked him.

He replied proudly.

“I ran for a long time. Then I arrived at a wide road. I met a man who drove a big car.

I pulled him not to let him leave. He had no choice but to ask me where I was going, I said that I was going to S City. I asked Ladd where you were. Ladd said that you were in S City and I used to live in S

City with you.

The uncle could only send me to the road ahead.

I remembered that road. When I took the big plane and came to that manor, I went through there.”

Grace understood what happened. Ladd had been tricked by Caden who was like an eight-year-old child.

She looked at the direction that he pointed at. She didn’t know which road he was referring to. Regardless of which road, he overcame the difficult and found her.

“Did you find me like this?”

“Yes. I’m smart, right?”

Grace looked at Caden. He had suffered a lot. She looked down at his feet. His shoes were worn out. He must have walked a lot and found her for a long time.

It was sudden!

He hugged her. She heard he said innocently like a child.

“Miss, I can’t protect you from the rain by hand.” He hugged Grace tightly, pressed down her head and hid her head in his arms. He used the simplest and most direct way he could think of. He used his entire body to protect her from the rain.

“Are you cold? I’m not cold.”

Grace was hugged by him. His arms were wide and warm. He asked her if she was cold. He said that he wasn’t cold, but his voice was trembling because of the coldness.

It was rainy, cold and windy. He overcame the difficulty and walked from the Chongming Island to find her.

Grace leaned against his arm tightly. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably. © NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

“I’m not cold,” Caden stuttered and smiled foolishly as he trembled.