Chapter 4
In the past three years, Grace had never once questioned his whereabouts. It was always Zane who voluntarily reported to her.
This was the first time she questioned him, and it made Zane feel an inexplicable sense of panic.
“Last night, Dylan had a fight with his girlfriend. We drank a lot together, and after we got drunk, I just crashed at his place. If you don’t believe me, Dylan and the others can vouch for me.”
His seemingly heartfelt words only made Grace feel sick to her stomach. The “pure, devoted boyfriend” she thought she had was nothing more than a guy tangled up with a group of sleazy party friends.
As he spoke, he handed his phone to her. “I’ll call them right now.”
“No need. I didn’t sleep all night. I’m exhausted. You can go if you want.”
“Then don’t be mad, okay?”
“Sure.”
“Oh, I’m having dinner with some friends tonight. Want to come with me?”
He knew Grace was always busy and rarely attended his social dinners. She usually turned him down.
Now, the very thought of seeing his rowdy friends made her nauseous. She replied coldly, “I’m tired. I’ll skip it.”
“Then get some good rest. Oh, Grace, I’ll have a gift for you in a few days.”
“Okay.”
Not long after, he left the house. Grace lifted the covers and got out of bed.
It was her first time stepping into the guest bedroom. Even after three years of dating, she had always respected boundaries.
She had never once checked his phone, never snooped through his belongings. Maybe it was because he knew how she valued that sense of distance that he hadn’t even bothered to hide everything.
Grace found a property certificate in a drawer for the townhouse she rented. The owner’s name was changed to Zane’s.
So, this must be the “gift” he had planned for her. She figured this house was his way of making up for sleeping with her.
Next to it was another phone. What surprised her was that the lock screen was a photo of her. The passcode was even simpler. It was her birthday.
Zane didn’t love her, yet even his hidden phone was filled with traces of her. For a brief moment, it almost felt like she might be his whole world. But then, a single glance at his second WhatsApp shattered that illusion entirely.
Inside were chats with the usual scions from Jadewood and a fair number of women as well.
“Darling, that night on the cruise really stays with me.”
“Mr. Jensen, when will you come find me again?”
He hadn’t replied to any of those messages. The one with the most messages came from a woman saved under the contact name “Elena Marlowe”.
Grace clicked on her profile picture. She bore a slight resemblance to herself.
“Zane, I miss you.”
“I’ve been in your city for a while now. Don’t you miss me?”
“Zane, whatever your girlfriend can’t give you, I can.”
Attached were several photos, each one more provocative than the last.
The final message was Zane’s reply. “10:00 pm. Wait for me at the hotel.”
Looking at the pile of evidence of his cheating, Grace felt cold and lost. The young man she thought was easy to handle was actually a total player behind her back. Thank goodness she’d never slept with him.
Suddenly, her thoughts raced back to the chaos of last night, sending a chill down her spine. Could that man be the same?
She regretted being so impulsive. She needed to get herself checked, just in case.
Grace pulled herself together and saved every bit of evidence. No wonder Zane would go home every now and then under the excuse of visiting family. Now she finally knew just how wild things got whenever he was back.
Yachts, nightclubs, cars, private jets… He was young and had a high sex drive.
Yet, pretending to be innocent while behaving so poorly was disgusting. Breaking up with that dirty, lowlife bastard seemed too lenient.
Grace decided she was going to take revenge on him hard. He had picked the wrong woman to mess with. Afterward, she put the phone and the property certificate back where they were and walked away.
She tapped on the contact saved as “Grandpa”. She deleted the message she had drafted earlier about bringing her boyfriend home.
Then, she typed, “Grandpa, mission accomplished early. I’ll come home next week.”
She had originally planned to wait another two weeks. She wanted to give Zane time to finish up with graduation, and then they’d go back to Jadewood together. Yet, it seemed unnecessary now.
Before leaving, she had one last gift to prepare for Zane. She called her assistant, Alex Quinn. “Get me a fake medical report for late-stage cancer.”
“Ms. Harper, what are you planning?”
“Don’t ask questions. Just do what I said.”
A slap and a breakup would only hurt Zane for a moment. She wanted him to suffer for a lifetime.
Ever since the day Serena passed, Grace had learned one thing. A woman’s tears were useless unless they could be turned into a weapon.
There was no point wallowing in heartbreak. It was time to start looking for a better marriage partner.
Soon enough, she pulled herself together. Then, she tidied up the mess from the night before and prepared a lavish dinner for herself.
As nightfall settled, her thoughts drifted back to last night’s wild encounter. After some contemplation, she realized she feared encountering another jerk like Zane. Hence, she drove to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Cole was dining with Zane. They chatted briefly about recent events, but Cole’s assistant, Jordan Blake, hurried over and whispered something in his ear.
Cole glanced at Zane. “I have something urgent to take care of.”
“Alright.”
Cole rushed to the hospital. He wondered if he had gone too far last night or if he had hurt her.
By the time Grace arrived, only the doctor on duty was left. The female doctor told her indifferently, “Take off your pants. Lie down and bend your knee.”
Grace fought back her embarrassment. After all, she had never had sex previously. So, even during physical checkups, she had never undergone such a thorough examination.
Nevertheless, she feared she might have contracted something. Therefore, there was no better alternative available.
Noticing her discomfort, the female doctor casually pulled the curtain, put on gloves, and approached with a swab in hand.
Grace squeezed her eyes shut in anxiety, not daring to look.
Before even touching her, the doctor said, “Young lady, take it easy during intercourse. This is a tear. I’ll apply some medication while I’m at it. Be more careful next time.”
Grace’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Yes, thank you, doctor.”
Before the doctor could continue, her phone rang. She answered it and rushed off in a hurry. “Wait here, I need to see another patient. I’ll be right back.”
And just like that, she left Grace lying on the examination table.
Not long after, Grace heard the sound of the door opening. She quickly shut her eyes.
Feeling someone pull the curtain aside, she whispered, “Doctor, it really hurts right now. Could you please apply the medicine?”
The cool ointment felt cold and painful on the wound. Grace shuddered from the sharp sensation, her delicate brows knitted as she let out a soft gasp. “Ahh…”
The person quickly gentled their movements.
Grace bit back another sound and asked, “Doctor, is the tear serious? And… is there anything unusual? I’m worried about an infection.”
Suddenly, a familiar male voice replied, “Don’t worry. I’m perfectly healthy. No STDs.”
Grace’s eyes flew open. Cole, holding a swab in one hand and dressed in a sharp suit, looked vaguely familiar.
Her voice trembled. “It’s… It’s you…”
He looked down at her with a knowing smile. “Great to see you again, my girlfriend.”
