Inside the room, the piano melody continued without pause.
Nydia hurriedly caught up. “Zane, this is my sister’s room. She’s always been a little withdrawn and is not fond of socializing. Especially now, with her face suffering from an allerge reaction, she really isn’t to meet anyone 1 hope you won’t mind.”
Zane stopped knocking, “Sorry, that was rude of me.”
Nyda fashed a gentle smila. “Why don’t I show you the flowers in our back garden instead?”
While they admired the flowers, Nydia took the chance to slander Grace in various ways, branding her as a temperamental and arrogant bully,
But Zane wasn’t so easily fooled. Though he had yet to meet the eldest Harper daughter, he had heard the rumors. He knew she had been exiled abroad at just ten years old. Even upon ber return, she wasn’t given a proper room and had to stay in the attic,
Ze knew perfectly that Cole couldn’t have possibly chosen a useless socialite as his won. Not to mention, his own mother had sung nothing but praises of Grace during their calls, describing her as a kind, beautiful, and capable woman.
Since the eldest Harper daughter was already Cole’s
an, and Zane’s heart already belonged to Grace, Zane was not interested and decided not to expose Nydia’s lies
He was only bare today out of pomeness and for the sake of a future partnership between their families.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Cole had arrived unexpectedly. All the household’s attention ad focused on Zane, and they went with him to the back garden.
Cole listened to the powerful, surging notes of Croatian Rhapsody and knew exactly who was playing
For years, Grace had been enduring hardship in silence to prepare for this showdown, even gambling her own marriage. Her battle with the Harper family was about to begin.
Step by step, Cole ascended toward the attic, and it was as if he could see the path drack carved for hersell the blood, sweat, and tears she had to endure to rise from the ashes and be reborn as a woman of unshakable strength.
And when the final, soaring note faded into silence, he knocked on the door.
Grace frowned. Assuming it was Kate coming to warm her again, she said impatiently, “Don’t worry, I won’t be coming downscales today.”
A familia male voice answered, “Is that so?”
Stunned, she quickly got up and opened the door. Standing there was Cole, dressed sharply in a light gray suit. The usual coldness he carried seemed to have softened today, and was replaced by a certain warmth.
Grace pulled him inside and locked the door behind him “What are you doing here?
“What’s wrong? Are you not happy to see me?” Cole took a step forward, his presence overwhelming.
‘Or are you afraid I’ll notice you still harbor farlings for Zame?
Grace bucked away tinctively and found herself trapped against the window “No. I’ve told you there’s nothing between us anymore.”
Grace didn’t dress up today. She wore a loose white nights, and her silly hats was buaided into a fishtail plate tied with a belge lace ribbon, with two strands of hair falling around her ears. There was house of the glamorous allure she usually showed a nightclubs, and her usual alostness had vanished She looked like a muse in a painting–crisp and pure,
Cole boushed his fingers orderly causs her cheeks and asked coldly, “Mas Jensen, how much longer are you planning to keep me as your secret lavet, hmm?”
Sensing the chill in his tour, Grace tried to explain, “Can you please pree me a
more time?
“And what’s in it for me?
Having spent enough time with hip to
moshat understand his nature, ta ace bit her lip and whispered, “My period is almost over. How about tomorrow night?” “And song? Shouldn’t I at least eam some interru?” “What do you want?”
Cole pulled her into his arms by the waist and granted king her
–
Meanwhile, down in the garden, was not
was not interested in Nydia’s lecture about orchids. Noticing that the plan’s melody had gone silent, he instinctively glanced up toward the attic.
