Grace had known Yancey since childhood. Although most of those memories had faded, she still felt occasional pangs of bitterness in her heart. It had taken Allor only a short time to push her into complete isolation. Without a word, Grace yanked her hand free from Yancey's grip and got into the car, a yelp of frustration escaping her. Grace had never seen him act this way before, even if he was waiting on her this time.

"Grace," he stepped forward, intending to follow her into the car, but Alice's voice rang out just then. "Yancey, what are you doing in the south wing?" And then Yancey remembered why he had come and pointed to his car. "I brought you some food Mrs. Lambert made. She was worried you wouldn't be used to the food because of your diet, so she specially asked me to bring it. It's still warm. Do you want to have some?

Carmen rather cooked it herself but had gone to great lengths for Allen." Alice's eyes lit up. "Really? Mrs. Lambert actually cooked?" "Yeah. She's been so worried about you these past few days that she has barely eaten anything." Alice glanced at Grace. The car's dim lighting made it hard to see her expression, but she could guess that Grace was feeling awful. Grace used to be so desperate for the Lambert family's approval, willing to do anything for a single word of praise. Mrs.

Carmen had almost never cooked for her. In their house, the household staff took care of everything, which only made these home-cooked meals all the more precious. "Grace, you've been busy all day. Why don't you come back and eat with us? I'm sure you miss Mom's cooking too." Yancey quickly stepped in. "Mrs. Lambert made the food for you, not for Grace." "Yancey, don't say that." Grace didn't respond; she simply signaled the driver to start the car. Mandy, sitting beside her, was fuming.

"Those two scumbags! They'll get what's coming to them one day!" Grace closed her eyes, unwilling to waste another thought on them. Her mind was already preoccupied with other matters. Meanwhile, Alice's eyes glowed with satisfaction as she watched Grace hurry away. "Yancey, come eat with me." Yancey nodded. For some reason, he felt a sense of relief. He hadn't seen Grace's expression clearly just now, but she had to be hurting. And as long as she was hurt, it satisfied Alice.

She happily took his arm and turned toward the eastern courtyard. But she stopped in her tracks at the sight of someone sitting in the distance - it was Ethan. His presence was overpowering. Even confined to a wheelchair, he was impossible to ignore. Alice had seen Ethan a few times before. She had been awestruck back then. She used to fantasize about him. If a man like him ever fell for her, wouldn't that make her the most distinguished woman in Druville?

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But after his accident, she had lost all interest. No matter how powerful he once was, he was just a cripple now. Besides, even when his legs had been perfectly fine, he had always treated her with indifference, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. When she later heard about his injury, she had actually felt relieved. The perfect Ethan could belong to no one, so he was better off like this, crippled and alone for the rest of his days.

Yancey quickly straightened up and greeted respectfully, "Uncle Ethan." Their intertwined hands. His tone was indifferent. "Who told you to address me like that, Mrs. Lambert?" Alice had expected him to be blunt. Her expression froze, then her face flushed crimson. But Brian was the current head of the Henderson family. Even if he was crippled, he remained at the very center of power. He was someone no one could afford to offend. "Why? Why had he always been so cold to her?

Why was he like this?" Alice was beautiful enough to attract many men. Her family favored her above all else. Even Yay's friend, Sloan, was obsessed with her, unable to contain himself. In her experience, all it took was a beckoning finger and a playful glance, and men would fall over themselves to please her - except Ethan. The challenge was precisely that separation. The more distant and restrained he was, the more she wanted to see him lose control, to see him unravel.

If it was the last thing she did, she would have him. "Uncle Ethan, my engagement with Grace is nothing but an empty formality now. She's the one clinging to it, refusing to let go." Lately, Grace had been distant, more intolerant. And strangely, that made him pity Grace. Brian walked away, his mind in turmoil. "When you nearly drowned, it was Grace who saved your life, yet you promised everyone that you'd marry her." Indeed, he had been selfish, assuming she would always be there.

And Alan had always been there. "Allor's voice was delicate, purposely soft enough for only the two of them to hear. "That day when Uncle Ethan was well, do you think ---" "That's impossible!" Tatery cut her off immediately, a strange pain seething in her. His expression darkened. "Alice, don't say things like that. Uncle Ethan has never been interested in women. The only reason he ever paid Grace any attention was because of me." Resentment filled her.

She refused to accept that Ethan had shown even a hint of kindness to Grace. She wanted to take whatever Grace had. "I was just saying," she murmured. Her gaze lingered on Ethan's stoic figure, her eyes filled with greed as if she could already see the day he would worship her. And when that day came, she would play with him before cruelly discarding him, making sure he suffered because of her. Just the thought of it sent a thrill through her.