Chapter 143
A sharp, dull pain shot through Grace’s chest.
She stared blankly at the coffee cup on the table. It was Yancey beside her who broke the silence.
“When did Alice start seeing a therapist?”
He was clearly unsettled despite having been furious with Alice only a day ago.
Liam sat back down, his mood slowly calming. “She started after coming to the Lambert family. Mom said she was abused by her adoptive parents while growing up.”
Was it too much to forgive a person with severe psychological trauma for making one mistake?
Yancey hesitated briefly before glancing at Grace and speaking. “Grace, I know this whole situation has been unfair to you. I promise I won’t accuse you without reason again. I’ve thought a lot about Alice and me these past few days.
“You’re my fiancée in name, but I’ve been sneaking around with her behind your back. I admit that was my fault. If you’ll admit to doctoring the recording, I’ll publicly announce that we’re breaking off our engagement. From then on, we’ll go our separate ways with no further ties between us.”
No one in their circle had been officially told about their engagement being called off until now.
Even though preparations for his marriage to Alice were already underway, society had always been harsh on women. As long as the engagement wasn’t formally ended, Grace would be seen as the abandoned woman-the one whose marriage had been broken before it even began.
Grace met Yancey’s gaze, but he couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eye. Her gaze shifted to Liam, who also avoided her eyes.
She gently tapped the coffee cup, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“Fine.”
She pulled out her phone and posted a message on her social media.
“I fabricated the audio recording circulating online.”
She had a lot of followers on social media, but she had lost all memory of them.
Her post quickly garnered countless comments, but she couldn’t be bothered to check them. Instead, she handed her phone to Yancey.
Yancey’s lips were pressed tightly, his fingertips trembling slightly. Suddenly, memories of the good times he shared with Grace flooded back.
Grace had truly been good to him. She would make him stew in the dead of winter, never complaining even when the hot liquid burned her skin. She would stay by his side when he was drunk and always look at him with those bright, adoring eyes.
Now, all of that was gone.
Yancey pressed his lips together, took a deep breath, and posted something on his social media as well.
“Alice and I will get married at the end of the month. My engagement to Grace was annulled long ago. I’ve said many hurtful things about her and sincerely apologize to her here. I was the one who changed my mind and broke the already set
engagement. I disappointed her, and for the sake of my reputation, I said many things that demeaned her.
“I was wrong. From now on, we’ll go our separate ways with no further ties between us.”
His post also caused an uproar.
Grace read it and felt strangely satisfied. At least this scumbag knew how to write
a decent apology.
She stood up to leave, but Yancey suddenly stood as well.
“Grace.”
He then pulled her into an embrace before she could react.
Grace froze and saw Ethan going past the floor-to-ceiling window out of the corners of her eyes. She wasn’t sure if he saw her, but she felt an uncomfortable tightness in her chest.
Yancey let go of her before she could push him away.
“Grace, I’m sorry about me and Alice.”
Grace’s attention was already fixed on Ethan’s retreating figure. Her heart raced in frustration, and she couldn’t care less about Yancey’s current apology. She stepped. forward, heading straight for the
door, determined to chase after
Ethan.
He was accompanied by several high-ranking people. They were most likely his subordinates who were about to attend a business function with him.
Grace caught up with him, her hands instinctively reaching for his wheelchair. But Tim swiftly blocked her way.
“Ms. Lambert, please stand to the side.”
She cast a quick glance at Ethan. His lips were pressed into a thin line, curling downward.
“Sorry, Mr. Henderson. I had to take care of something and am a few minutes late.”
She thought he might be upset because of her tardiness and immediately tried to apologize.
However, Ethan didn’t say a word. The air he gave off was cold, and the atmosphere around him was heavy.