Chapter 6
“Zane’s uncle?” Grace tapped lightly on the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Oscar replied, “Yes. He’s been working abroad all these years, and he’s still single. But he’s returning soon.
“If you could marry him, you’d have a real say within the Jensen family. Mr. Zane is still young, and he hasn’t taken over anything yet. Who knows what the future holds?”
His words carried a deeper implication. If Cole were to assume control of the Jensen family, then even if Nydia married Zane, they might not ultimately hold the power.
If Zane hadn’t lied to her, Grace wouldn’t have been so aggressive. But now, she had decided to go for Cole. Even if he turned out to be completely useless, she would make sure he rose to power.
She had tried to chase love once. But if effort still couldn’t earn her what she wanted, then she’d cling to authority. In this world, only money was reliable, and only money and power earned true respect.
Zane was still devising plans to keep her hidden away in the South. Now, she eagerly anticipated the look of shock on his face when he learned that she had married his uncle. What a satisfying twist that would be.
If Grace hadn’t been able to vent her anger, the past three years would have been a waste.
“Oscar, get me everything you can on Cole. As soon as possible.”
“Yes, Ms. Grace.”
Just as she hung up with Oscar, Grace received a message from Nydia.
Bitch: “Grace, I’ll be meeting Zane from the Jensen family in three days. Originally, it was supposed to be you, but I just mentioned it once, and Dad let me go instead. I snatched your fiancé. Hope you’re not mad?”
Grace: “Not at all. I hope you two are soul-bound, grow old together, and have lots of kids.”
Bitch: “Grace, you’re so generous. You’ll definitely come back for the meeting, right? I saw a photo of him. He’s really handsome. But I’m not sure about his character. Grace, help me size him up, okay?”
Grace: “Sure. I’ll be there right on time.”
Grace sneered. A bitch and a playboy. What a perfect match. Since Nydia was determined to take everything from her, she was eager to see if Nydia could handle what she’d stolen this time.
Grace set her phone aside and returned to the office to finish the handover. By the time she left, night had already fallen.
She glanced back at the office building. There were hundreds of companies inside.
Over the past three years, she had worked her way up from a few small rooms to an entire floor. She had poured so much of her energy into it.
Much like her feelings for Zane, there lingered a sense of heartache, even as she walked away.
She had strong self-control. Her withdrawal wasn’t nearly as intense as most women’s, but that didn’t mean she felt no pain.
She brushed away the sadness. He was merely a young man. The next one would surely be more compliant.
There were many men in the world. Zane was never her only option.
Afterward, Grace drove home. The moment she opened the door, she noticed the lights were off. Rose petals were scattered across the floor, and a path of candles led her straight into the living room.
Zane was there in a suit, kneeling on one knee with a bouquet of roses. “Grace, I’m the man. It’s only right that I be the one to propose.”
If she hadn’t overheard what he said to his friends, she might’ve actually been a little moved. But after learning his true colors, all she felt was ridicule.
He must have used the same tactic on other women before. She suppressed her disdain and maintained a straight face, acting as if everything was fine. “What are you doing?”
Zane’s gaze was gentle, his expression solemn. “Grace Harper, will you marry me?”
It should’ve been a romantic moment. But somehow, the image of him in bed with Elena suddenly flashed through her mind.
Grace put on a show of being moved and replied, “I do.”
Zane slipped a seven-carat diamond ring from a high-end luxury brand onto her finger. It seemed like he was finally ready to reveal his identity.
Zane knew long ago that she harbored real feelings for him beneath her composed facade. As long as the gestures were grand enough, he believed no woman could resist.
Undoubtedly, he truly liked her all these years. It wasn’t just an act. He even felt that if her family had a similar social status to his, he would marry her right away.
“Grace…”
He leaned in close, but Grace gently pushed him away, redirecting his attention to the ring. “Zane, this ring must’ve cost a fortune, huh?”
“I’m sorry, Grace. I’ve been lying to you…” He began recounting the backstory Grace had already figured out long ago.
She had to feign surprise the entire time, despite knowing every word before it was even spoken.
“So, you’re from the Jensen family at Jadewood. Does that mean you’ll take me back to meet them?”
“Grace, I love you. Of course, I want to take you home, but I’m still young. Right now, I need to focus on building my career. Just give me a few more years. Once I’ve secured my place in the Jensen family, I promise I’ll marry you in the grandest way possible.”
Grace put on a hesitant expression. “You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“Could I lie to you for three years? Grace, you’re the kind of woman I wanted to marry the moment I first saw you.”
The sweet talk kept coming, one line after another. Then, he pulled out a property certificate he had prepared in advance.
“Haven’t you always wanted a home? I’ve already bought this townhouse. In a couple of days, I’ll transfer it under your name. Sound good?”
“No, I can’t accept that. It’s too expensive!”
“What’s mine is yours, and here’s a card with a million-dollar monthly limit.”
Zane’s fingertip brushed gently across her soft cheek. “Grace, I told you. I’ll take care of you. You don’t need to work so hard anymore. Connections, resources, whatever you need, I can give you. All you have to do is marry me.”
What a beautiful dream. He had managed to paint the life of a kept woman into something so enchanting. If she had never seen through his true colors, she might’ve been charmed by this illusion.
Grace played along perfectly, letting a single “tear of emotion” fall. “Zane…”
It would be difficult for any woman to think clearly under such a tempting proposal. Yet, just as his kiss was about to land, Grace noticed the hidden camera inside the little teddy bear made of roses across from her.
He planned to capture the evidence to prove it to his friends.
Grace shoved him away. “Not today…”
The coldness in his eyes was evident, and he forced patience as he asked, “Why?”
“I’ve been staying up late lately, and with my irregular diet, my period came early this month.”
Grace looked at him with a pitiful expression. “I’m sorry. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”
“Of course not. We have plenty of time,” he replied with a reluctant smile.
But Grace whispered, “We have no time left…”
“What did you say?”
She panicked. “Nothing… I…”
Just then, his phone rang. His gaze shifted uncomfortably, and he walked a few steps before answering. After hanging up, he mentioned he needed to leave.
Grace grabbed his hand. “Could you stay with me tonight?”
Zane patted her head. “Dylan’s been in a bad mood since the breakup. I need to go check on him. You stay here and be good.”
Grace knew exactly that Elena was calling him again. Since she had rejected him, he’d naturally go off looking for fun.
She compromised. “Fine. Come back early.”
“Hmm.”
Zane rushed away, and as he glanced back, he saw Grace wiping her tears. A woman as strong as her must have been moved by his words.
What he didn’t know was that Grace was already preparing for her departure. She poured a bit of blood plasma onto a napkin, deliberately tossed it into the public trash can, and covered it with a tissue. However, she made sure a corner of the bloodstained napkin was “accidentally” exposed.
After finishing, Grace moved to the teddy bear with the hidden camera, holding the property certificate and crying softly.
Her shoulders trembled as she passionately performed. “Zane, how I wish I could be with you forever, to truly give you a home…”
