Chapter 168
The following day, Grace woke up with the same dilemma, wondering if she should take the initiative and resign first to save some dignity.
Feeling sluggish, she dragged herself out of bed and headed downstairs, only to run into Yancey. It turned out he had also spent the night at the Lambert residence.
Yancey’s gaze lingered on her bare face, and something tightened in his chest. He had seen Grace at her most vibrant, full of life. Her beauty was undeniable. Though many were quick to judge her character, no one ever questioned her looks.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her face, and when he snapped back to reality, he quickly started heading downstairs. In his haste, he even tripped.
Grace couldn’t be bothered. She was about to head home when Yancey called after her. “Grace, I wanted to take you somewhere today. It might help you regain your memory. I even checked with the doctor.”
She frowned and walked straight to the living room door. “Can you just leave me alone?” she said impatiently.
Her words stunned him for a few seconds. He had said that phrase countless times over the years, but hearing it from her now caught him off guard.
A sharp pang shot through his chest, and his eyes turned red with the rush of emotion.
Grace felt even more irritated. Of all things, seeing Yancey like this unsettled her, and she had no idea why.
Yancey pressed his lips together, swallowing the sharp retort that once would have come so easily. Instead, he said, “I’m just trying to help. Without your memories, you’ll always be at a disadvantage. That could put you in danger. I know I was wrong before, but this time, I mean it-I want to help you.”
Grace rubbed her temples. He wasn’t wrong. Without her memories, she was always at a disadvantage. She was about to respond when Alice suddenly rushed down the stairs.
“Grace!” Alice’s voice trembled as if she were barely holding it together. “Yancey and I are getting married soon. Can you at least try to be considerate while you’re here? I’ve been trying to hold myself together, but I’m terrified I’ll lose it again.” She clutched her head as if she were on the verge of a breakdown. “I hate myself every time I lose control. I feel like I’m losing myself, and it’s unbearable.”
Grace hadn’t even said a word, yet Alice had already thrown herself into a full- blown meltdown.
Concerned for Alice’s state, the whole family rushed to her side-some handed her medicine while others tried to soothe her.
Alice’s face was ghostly pale. Grace almost wanted to ask her outright-how did she make it look so convincing?
Grace had seen enough. She turned to leave, but Carmen’s voice cut through the tension.
“Grace, I told you Alice isn’t well. Are you trying to push her over the edge?” she snapped. “You know how much she cares about Yancey-why can’t you stay away? Didn’t you swear you were over him? Or does the thought of Alice being happy bother you?”
Grace’s gaze flicked from Carmen to Liam. Liam, rattled by Alice’s outburst, hardly reacted. His hands trembled around the medication, too caught up to pay Grace any mind.
She exhaled sharply, then gestured toward Yancey. “Go take care of your fiancée. And don’t say that again. I’ll talk to Joanne—she should know where I used to go.”
Before Grace’s words had fully settled, Alice tugged Liam closer and whispered something to him.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Liam’s face before he turned to Grace, quietly pulling her aside.
“Grace,” he murmured. “Alice wanted me to talk to you. She didn’t mean what she said earlier-she couldn’t help it. She hates being like this, too.”