What a Luxurious Place

Grace's face turned red, not just from embarrassment, but from disappointment too.

Even if there weren't any feelings between them, there should at least be basic respect.

Accusing her of stealing without proof?

You wouldn't even treat a stranger like that!

"I didn't take it," Grace said firmly, her voice calm but strong.

Lily stood beside her, annoyed. "Aren't you two being a bit much? How can you accuse a guest of stealing with no evidence?"

Mina let out a cold laugh. "If Ms. Grace won't admit it, then don't blame me. Aunt Christine, search her!"

Just as Lily was about to stop her, Christine quickly stepped up to Grace and, within seconds, pulled a sparkling diamond ring out of her pocket!

Grace's eyes went wide in shock. "Who put that there? I didn't take it!"

Christine sneered. "Before you lie, you should at least think it through. This house is covered in cameras. If you feel wronged, call the police. Let them find out who set you up!"

She spoke with so much confidence because she had already tampered with the surveillance yesterday.

There were now blind spots in Mina's dressing room, especially near the jewelry box.

Everything had been planned carefully, relying purely on boldness and luck.

Lily really wanted to believe Grace, but Christine's confident attitude made her hesitate.

Grace took a deep breath and said calmly, "Then let's call the police. I'm not going to admit to something I didn't do."

Just as things were getting even more tense, Mina, clearly worried that the surveillance might reveal too much, backed down and said, "Since the ring's been found, let's forget it. Ms. Grace probably just had a moment of carelessness. It's not a big deal."

Lily frowned. "Maybe it just accidentally fell in? Grace isn't that kind of person."

Grace felt a heavy weight in her chest.

Even though Mrs Li was trying to help her, it still stung. It was like she was saying, "you might've done it by mistake."

"I'll say this one last time. I didn't do it. If you don't believe me, go ahead and call the police. Until the truth comes out, stop assuming things."

Grace borrowed Lily's phone and saved her number. "Ma'am, if you decide to call the police, this is my number. I'll cooperate however you need."

With that, she walked out of the dining room without even glancing back.

Back in her room, Grace packed her stuff and made a call to Henry as she walked.

Ethan had told her that if she ever couldn't handle the situation, she should contact Henry to come get her.

Weird. Did he already expect this would happen?

Probably just overthinking… It's not like he could see the future or anything.

Rich families really had so much drama. By the time Grace reached the front gate, Henry's car was already waiting.

Right then, Li Wan showed up in a golf cart, her face full of guilt as she grabbed Grace's hand.

"Grace, I trust you. I know you'd never do something like that. Please come visit again, okay?"

Grace forced a smile, bitter but thankful. "Thanks for believing in me, ma'am. But I don't think your daughter likes me, and my mother seems to already have a bad opinion of me. I think it's better if I don't come back."

With that, she said goodbye politely and got into the car.

Watching Grace's calm but lonely figure disappear into the distance, Li Wan suddenly felt something strange in her chest, like a sharp pin had poked her heart.

Had she said something wrong at lunch?

Christine appeared beside her at some point, face full of disgust. "Ma'am, you're way too trusting of strangers! I knew she was trouble from the second I saw her. Look what happened, she's a thief! You should delete her number immediately and never contact her again, or you'll be welcoming a wolf into your home!"

Seeing Christine clenching her teeth with such hate in her voice, Li Wan felt something off.

She didn't argue out loud, but secretly gave an order to check the security footage, and found something strange.

Although there were a few blind spots that didn't capture everything, Grace's arms were always at her sides, and she never touched the jewelry box.

Could it be...

Li Wan had a vague suspicion but quickly shook it off.

No, it couldn't be.

Mina was just a little spoiled; she wouldn't go so far as to frame someone.

Her daughter, Li Wan thought, couldn't possibly have such a cruel heart.

··

Grace returned to the Hugh residence feeling down.

She didn't see Ethan, but instead, an old lady in a black dress, short and thin, with sharp eyes, was glaring straight at her.

"Are you Miss Grace Howard?" the old lady asked.

Grace swallowed. "Yes, I am."

"Follow me."

The old lady turned and walked ahead, leaving Grace no choice but to follow her into a cozy but luxurious bedroom.

"You'll be staying here from now on. Don't wander around or go snooping in other places, understand?" the woman said with a huff.

"Okay." Grace suddenly remembered something Ethan had told her and felt like a light went on in her head. "Are you the housekeeper here?"

"Smart girl. My last name's Yang, but you can just call me Mrs. Taylor. It's late, so you should rest. The bathroom's inside, pajamas are in the wardrobe, and clothes for going out are in the closet to the left," Mrs. Taylor instructed before turning to leave.

Grace was still shaken by what happened at the Sue family's house, so just hearing the word "closet" made her flinch a little.

But curiosity won in the end, and she went to take a look.

The second she stepped inside, she was stunned.

Even though it wasn't as big as Mina Sue's closet, and there weren't as many clothes, this one somehow felt more... elegant.

The way the colors, textures, and materials were organized made the whole space look like an art gallery. It was sophisticated and calm.

Mina's closet, on the other hand, even though it was packed with all kinds of expensive stuff, felt more like a department store during a clearance sale, cluttered and messy, with no real style.

For some reason, Grace felt like this closet must've been picked out by PR Ethan. It just seemed like his taste.

Still kind of dazed, Grace came out, took a shower, and found a set of pajamas in the wardrobe. Then she carefully climbed into the soft bed to rest.

Everything in the room looked so high-end, Grace couldn't help feeling a little out of place.

But the bed was really comfortable, and the blankets smelled fresh.

Before long, Grace was deep asleep, the kind of sleep where even thunder wouldn't wake you.

It felt like, just for one night, she had left all her worries behind.

It was weird, though.

How come she felt more at peace sleeping here, in a stranger's house, someone she wasn't even related to, someone with such a complicated connection to her, than she ever did at her own mother's place?

Emotions and relationships between people are really complicated... impossible to figure out.

Grace slept like a rock until morning and only woke up because her stomach growled.

She blinked at the ceiling, confused for a second as she tried to remember where she was.

Oh right. She needed to get up and eat something.

Grace sat up and stretched with a big yawn.

But right in the middle of that stretch, she suddenly froze...

Wait a second...

Where was the suitcase she had left by the wardrobe last night?!