Chapter 119

Aiden Thompson returned to his sleek penthouse , slumping into a chair by the floor-to-ceiling windows, leaving the lights off. The only illumination came from the cool moonlight streaming in, casting a silvery glow over everything, including him.

He leaned his chin on his hand, staring out at the moon.

It was a perfect, round moon tonight.

Aiden had never felt so defeated. Earlier, he'd been excited to celebrate Grace Li's birthday, full of plans and hope.

But now, he was full of doubt.

Even during the rough patches with his parents, he hadn't felt this unsure.

He unlocked his phone and saw Grace Li's latest Instagram story.

Clicking on it, he read her post: The road ahead is full of obstacles, and the future's uncertain, but I've got my reasons to keep moving forward. Good night.

A warmth spread through his chest. His brow softened, and a small smile tugged at his lips.

He liked the post and left a comment: I'm the one walking beside you. I've got your back, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect you.

After posting, he waited for a bit before closing the app. Setting his phone down, he went to the bathroom to take a shower.

He'd been feeling lost after Shichen Li's words. He'd wondered if he could give Grace the future she deserved. But when he saw her words, everything clicked. Why should he doubt himself when she was facing the future alongside him?

Maybe their future wouldn't be perfect. Maybe Rex and Mabel would never fully accept Grace. But he was willing to fight for it, because he knew in his heart that Grace Li was the one he wanted to spend his life with—and he'd do whatever it took to make her happy.

Grace Li woke up early the next morning, the sun creeping through the cracks in the curtains and landing softly on her face. She grabbed her phone and opened Instagram to check her notifications.

The first reply was from Aiden Thompson. Seeing his comment made her heart warm instantly.

The road ahead is full of obstacles, and the future's uncertain, but I've got my reasons to keep moving forward.

He was the reason she kept pushing forward.

Grace Li woke up early, the sunlight streaming through the gaps in the curtains and landing on her face. She grabbed her thermometer and checked her temperature—it was back to normal. Her nose was still a little stuffy, and her throat was a bit sore, but she felt much better.

Huiyun Liang was already in the kitchen, busy with breakfast. Before long, the delicious smell of fried eggs, bacon, and toast filled the air.

Since her parents didn't have any specific plans, they decided to visit Grace's office. Grace, heading to work, offered to drive them.

Shichen Li and Huiyun Liang had only visited her office once before, during the grand opening nearly nine months ago.

Back then, the company had just Grace and Aiden Thompson. Now, three employees had joined, and the open office space had trendy office furniture, with modern art hanging on the walls. The whole place felt much more like a successful, modern business.

Once they arrived, they didn't just sit around. Huiyun Liang grabbed cleaning supplies and started tidying up the office. Grace had recently bought a new filing cabinet, which had arrived yesterday afternoon but hadn't been assembled yet. Without hesitation, Shichen Li grabbed a screwdriver and got to work.

They had always been proud that Grace had built her business from the ground up, and in the neighborhood, many of their Chinese-American neighbors were proud of her too.

After spending some time at the office, Shichen Li and Huiyun Liang decided to check out a nearby tech park. Grace let them go on their own.

But instead of just walking around, they ended up at Tom Wilson's company. During their conversation the day before, Tom had mentioned that his company was nearby.

Shichen Li had saved Tom Wilson's number, and when he called, Tom dropped everything to greet them. He personally escorted them upstairs for a tour of the office.

Hengyue Technology had expanded a lot over the past year, and the office space had tripled in size. Inside the open-plan office, employees were busy at their desks. When Shichen Li saw that many of them were in wheelchairs, he was surprised. "Do you only hire people with disabilities here?"

Tom Wilson chuckled and explained, "Actually, no, they're all able-bodied. When we started the company, we used the wheelchairs as part of our design process to test them for comfort. I believe in fully experiencing a product before improving it. Over time, everyone just got used to it."

"I see," Shichen Li said.

Huiyun Liang asked, "How much does one of these wheelchairs cost?"

Tom replied, "Our base model starts at $2,999. We also have mid-range and premium models, which are a bit more expensive."

"Not bad. It seems like regular people could afford them too," Huiyun Liang said.

"Actually, Grace Li said the same thing—to lower the profit margin so that more people can afford them," Tom added, smiling when he mentioned Grace.

He gave them a tour of the showroom, explaining the features of the different wheelchairs, from the smart control systems to the ergonomic seat designs, paying attention to every detail.

Huiyun Liang said, "When we get back, I'll make sure to tell everyone in the neighborhood about these."

After showing them around the office and introducing the products, Tom Wilson took them to his office. The space was sleek and modern, with comfortable seating. He brewed them coffee himself.

Shichen Li took a sip. "Thank you for taking the time to show us around."

"No problem at all," Tom said with a smile. "I'm glad you're here. It's already past eleven—how about we grab some lunch? There are plenty of great places nearby."

Huiyun Liang smiled and waved him off. "No need. We have leftovers from yesterday at home."

"There's no need to be so polite! There are plenty of places around here, we'd love to treat you."

"Thank you, but lunch isn't necessary," Shichen Li said, setting down his coffee and getting to the point. "Actually, we came to talk about something else."

"Of course, go ahead, Uncle."

Shichen Li hesitated before speaking. "It's about Grace. Her boyfriend's family doesn't approve of their relationship. Her mother and I have discussed it, and we're concerned. The boy's family is very wealthy, and we're just a regular family. Even if Grace marries into their family, she might not be treated well. I spoke to him yesterday and asked him to stop delaying things. Grace is already 31, and dragging it out isn't fair to her."

Tom Wilson knew that Aiden Thompson had taken over the family business but hadn't realized the family disapproved of their relationship. "So what would you like me to do?"

Shichen Li glanced at Huiyun Liang, who nodded encouragingly. Shichen Li then said, "I can tell you care about Grace. I noticed yesterday, when she was sick, your mom made her soup. I have to ask—do you have feelings for her?"

Tom's heart raced. He hadn't expected the conversation to go this way. "Yes, Uncle, I do like Grace Li."

A spark of hope lit up in Shichen Li and Huiyun Liang's eyes. Huiyun Liang asked carefully, "Have you told her?"

Tom Wilson shook his head. "When I met her, she was already with Aiden. It didn't feel right to get involved."

Shichen Li said, "They're not married yet, and with the family's objections, it will be hard for them to make it work."

Huiyun Liang nodded. "Exactly. If the family doesn't approve, even if they push through, it won't make them happy."

Tom Wilson added, "My parents have met Grace, and they like her very much."

"That's wonderful," Huiyun Liang said with a smile. "You like Grace, your parents approve of her, and we're happy with you as well."

"Thank you, Aunt," Tom replied, feeling encouraged. The message was clear—they hoped for him and Grace to be together. With that in mind, he was determined to try.

Huiyun Liang beamed. "Good. We really hope you two can make it work."