“Later, she forgot about it.”


    Now, thinking back, Grace’s reaction that day did seem quite suspicious.


    Brian discussed some cooperation matters with Marshall downstairs and then returned to thepany


    shortly. Before leaving, he sent a text message to Louise.


    At the Francis Group.


    Brian had just sat down when he received a call from Melvin.


    “Mr. Brian, Miss Sherman had a good appetite today. She finished all the soup that was prepared for


    her.”


    Brian responded with a faint “Hmm” and then asked, “How are her feet?”


    “Still the same as usual.”


    Brian furrowed his brow slightly, saying, “Got it,” and then hung up the phone.


    He browsed through the orders he ced on his phone yesterday, and with his slender fingers, he


    tapped on the review section. He left a negative review without any apanyingments.


    At around 4:30 in the afternoon, his phone suddenly received a call from the merchant.


    “Hello, Mr. Brian, this is Seven Star Pharmacy. We noticed that you gave us a negative review. May I


    inquire about the reason for your dissatisfaction?”


    Brian paused with his fingers on the mouse, then leaned back in his chair and coolly said, “Your


    medication ispletely ineffective!”


    After saying that, he promptly ended the call.


    Shortly after, the customer service called again, inquiring whether he had used the product in the


    correct manner. They emphasized the effectiveness of their medicine, stating that they had never


    received a negative review before, and Brian was the only customer who had given their store a


    negative rating. They went on to request him to consider removing the


    review.


    Brian responded sarcastically, “If you still want to run a pharmacy, stop bothering with phone calls!”


    Unaware of the identity of Brian, the customer service, under pressure from her manager, dialed his


    number once again.


    Brian nced at the caller ID and promptly called in his assistant, Camren.


    “Acquired the Seven Star Pharmacy on Drake Road,”


    Camren was momentarily stunned, but after confirming with him, he went out to start preparing for the


    acquisition.


    A little after 5 o’clock, as Brian nced at the time on the wall and prepared to leave work a bit early,


    his assistant suddenly walked in. “Mr. Francis, there’s a dinner at 6 PM tonight at the tinum Hyatt


    Hotel. It’s with Mr. Wilson from Summit Sphere Group and a few executives from the political arena.


    Brian frowned, and his assistant immediately sensed his reluctance. He said, “Mr. Francis, this


    cooperation with Summit Sphere Group is quite crucial, a project worth over ten million dors. It’s


    important for our partnership.”


    Brian, feeling irritable, tugged at his tie. He couldn’t quite exin why, but today, he just wanted to


    leave work early and head home.


    After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately returned to his office and sat back down.


    In the private room on the second floor of the tinum Hyatt Hotel.


    Brian symbolically raised a few sses with the people at the dining table, and after a short while, he


    nned to leave.


    Seeing his intention to leave, Mr. Wilson joked, “Mr. Francis, you’ve be quite domestically


    controlled by Mrs. Adkins right after announcing the engagement, haven’t you?”


    Brian’s expression remained indifferent. He neither confirmed nor denied the remark. He raised his


    ss and continued drinking with the others.


    It would be easier to handle if it were just a cooperation with Mr. Wilson. After all, involving several


    political figures made it tricky for him to simply walk away.


    Brian was persuaded to drink quite a bit, and when he finally left, it was already past midnight.


    this


    Camren escorted him back, and Brian, with slightly drunk and blurry eyes, nced at his phone screen.


    There was a missed call from Louise and two text messages, while the rest were irrelevant


    notifications.


    As if prompted by a strange impulse, Brian clicked into the sent messages in his inbox.


    The word “Grace”y quietly at the bottom of the list, indicating that thest message sent to her was


    nearly a month ago.


    Back then, whenever he came homete, he would always receive messages from her, cautioning him


    to drink less and inquiring about when he would return.


    It seemed that she hadn’t sent him any messages since Louise returned.


    A cold smile yed on the lips of Brian. Grace was indeed a dutiful wife, always attentive and


    responsible..


    Closing his eyes, the face of Grace suddenly shed in his mind, which was cold, stubborn, devoid of


    the once tender gaze.


    A sudden wave of difort swept over his chest, and he couldn’t quite fathom why he kept thinking


    about her tonight.


    Perhaps, he reasoned with himself, it was the effect of having a bit too much to drink, always seeking


    someone to stir up trouble.


    Hence, Brian headed straight to Grace’s room after the car stopped at the vi.


    Seeing him walking unsteadily, Camren couldn’t help but step forward to support him.


    “Mr. Francis, are you okay? Let me help you inside!”


    Brian raised his hand in a gesture, signaling him not to follow.


    Camren watched him enter the living room before driving away.


    N


    48% 20:09


    Grace’s door was not locked, and Brian pushed it open directly. He didn’t turn on the lights, but in the


    faint glow from outside, he saw her lying on her side in bed, seemingly in a deep sleep.


    Didn’t she used to wait for him in the living room whenever he had social engagements outside in the


    past?


    He suddenly felt an impulse to disrupt her peace ruthlessly.


    He sat abruptly at the edge of the bed, and the not–so–subtle movement startled Grace. She groggily


    opened her eyes, recognized the figure before her as Brian, and instinctively shifted backward.


    “How did you get here?”


    Brian leaned forward, effortlessly gripping her chin.


    “Weren’t you showing a lot of love for me before? Waiting for me no matter howte it was? Now that


    Louise is back, and you think you don’t stand a chance, you can’t even be bothered to pretend, can


    you?”


    Grace caught a strong scent of alcohol, feeling a bit nauseous. She frowned deeply and said, ‘You’re


    drunk. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why aren’t you with Louise? What are you doing here?”


    “Have you forgotten your current status?” Brian pulled her towards him with a swift motion.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    “No, I’m very sober. I know I’m just a shield you bought, and I won’t have any delusions, Grace replied


    coldly, meeting his gaze with a hint of pain in her eyes.


    Inexplicably filled with anger, Brian suddenly lowered his head and fiercely kissed her lips.


    “Mmm… Let go of me! Grace instinctively struggled.


    Images of him sweetly embracing Louise shed in her mind, and suddenly, she felt disgusted and


    ufortable.


    She didn’t understand. Louise had returned, and he repeatedly imed to love her. Then why was he


    doing this behind


    Louise’s back?


    In Brian’s eyes, Grace’s resistance seemed futile. He effortlessly pressed her down on the bed.


    A chill ran down Grace’s chest as she realized what he intended to do. She shoved him in horror.


    “Brian! You can’t do this to


    me!”


    “I can’t? But you’re still carrying the identity of Mrs. Francis. Why can’t I do this to you?” Ban asked in a


    low voice near her


    ear


    Grace, nervous, pleaded, “Don’t! Please don’t do this. I… I’m on my period!”


    Brian froze at her words.


    Just when Grace thought he might finally let her go, arge hand suddenly moved toward the inside of


    her thigh.