I've Been There Before (Grace and Caden) novel Chapter 32

The sound of her knees impacting the floor!

 

“President Shaw, 'I will pay you back the five million, not a cent less into your account. 'I will work hard, please believe me. Give me some more time”

 

Five million was a figure that the man said to make things difficult for her. This was to make up for the insult to him... If this can make him feel better and not be angry, then she was willing to do anything.

 

Five million for her freedom.

 

Caden's fury within him raged uncontrollably.

 

What he didn't realize was when he looked at Grace's expression, he was actually feeling a complex mixture of heartache.

 

What kind of a woman was she!

 

Spineless, pitiful, inferior, meek... Since when were these words used to describe her?!

 

Kneel?

 

Kneel?

 

This damned kneel!

 

“Are your knees so worthless?”

 

Ha, hahaha...hahaha! Grace opened her eyes wide open as she was worried that once she blinked, her tears would flow.

 

She's scared of getting beaten.

 

Not that she was afraid of the pain, but she was scared of the sound of her dignity shattering when she was beaten!

 

‘Caden, you should know that in that prison, 'I dared not shed a tear because each tear would bring forth a beating:

 

‘You should know that Grace was no longer Grace.

 

‘You should know that being bound to the toilet seat for the night and to be laughed by all those around. At that moment, 'I thought that 'I was no longer a person. I'm a beast, a dog, a pig!’

 

“lask you for the final time, Grace, you really don’t want your dignity?” He asked coldly. He never revealed his emotions and no one could guess his feelings.

 

Who could have seen that under that cold voice, was hiding his anger and pain? Even he didn't realize that.

 

Grace's hands were trembling.

 

She quickly looked down at the ground.

 

Dignity? What's dignity?

 

It was already gone after the three years in prison,.

 

The sting in her eyes was unbearable and in her ears was the girl named Leona, she said, girl, just cry, 'I feel your pain just by 

looking at you. 'I will watch the door and not let them see you. Just have a good cry.

 

And then she cried.

 

After that, this girl, Leona was implicated and beaten together with her.

 

‘Caden, 'I don't even have the right to cry’

 

So what was the dignity that you mentioned?

 

“Grace, was already not Grace anymore.” She said in her raspy voice to Caden.

 

At that moment, the indifferent Caden opened his eyes wide open. He couldn't believe it and looked at her!

 

She... actually said that!

 

She... finally admitted!

 

The atmosphere fell silent.

 

In the room, a strange gust of air blew .. suddenly!

 

The man's thin lips smiled, “Since Miss James said it yourself, 'I, Shaw, can't let down your wishes. So, Miss James please 

‘work diligently’ at the Royal Club.’

 

Grace scoffed silently.

 

Her eyes drooped to cover her sorrow so that no one can see.

 

‘Caden, why bother?”

 

‘I turned into this state all because of you’

 

‘A crippled body, a shattered soul... what have you left me with? Just to let me maintain that proud heart of the past?’

 

‘Why bother to act as if you don’t know anything:

 

‘You gave the orders to turn me into this state, don't you know all these?

 

And now you still wanted me to be the Grace of three years ago? That proud and self-confident Grace!’

 

“Thanks, President Shaw:’

 

Her pink lips were pale and split. Each movement stung.

 

These words easily infuriated him.

 

“Buzz off!”

 

“Yes.

“'I said ‘Buzz’ off!”

 

Caden looked at her coldly and she didn't hesitate and pretended to be a bee with buzzing wings, "Yes, President Shaw”

 

That mindless obedience... was so damn annoying!

 

That shameless woman ... was such an eyesore!

 

That... Caden stood up and walked to the ‘bee’ and stretched out his hand and dragged her by the collar to the lift and threw 

her in, “Buzz off! Don't let me see you again!”

 

The lift went down.

 

When the door opened, Gloria quickly asked, “Are you alright?”

 

She heard that President Shaw took her away.

 

Leon never liked to meddle with other's business.

 

Gloria looked at Grace from top to bottom. If Grace had the beauty of an angel and a devilish body and mesmerized Leon, 

then she could understand.

 

But the person before her... Gloria shook her head in disgust.

 

She held onto Grace's hand and lifted up her head to look at her face, “You're trembling?”

 

“I'm alright”

 

''..” Gloria rolled her eyes but she knew that it’s close to impossible to get Grace to say anything.

 

“You're too stubborn.”

 

Grace didn't answer.

 

“Hungry? I'll take you to eat something, get some nourishment. You don't have to work today”

 

Gloria didn’t understand why does she have to treat her specially. She didn't have the looks and neither the figure.

 

Perhaps... she knew but she just didn’t want to admit.

 

It was as if, if she treated Grace better, it was a way of redeeming her past.

 

“It's alright, there's a canteen in the company”

 

“You... This woman was really stubborn.

 

Gloria shook her head. Everyone said that this Grace felt so inferior and have no pride. But how come she can't see her 

humility?

 

“You must have been a very self-confident person in the past,’ Gloria asked inadvertently.

 

Grace hesitated for a long time and slowing mumbled, “In the past... that was like a lifetime ago”

 

“Wait a minute, this cheque is for you” Gloria handed Grace a cheque, “Mr. Lo wanted me to give this to you”

 

“So much?” Grace was startled when she saw the figure on the cheque.

 

Gloria laughed bitterly, “'I also had a fright when 'I saw it. Grace, can you say what did you do to Mr. Lo to let him be so 

generous.” An immediate five hundred thousand!

 

Although a transaction of this amount has occurred at the Royal Club.

 

But, Grace...?

 

Gloria looked at Grace, it was not that she looked down on Grace but now the world was so superficial.

 

Leon was talented, unique, and superior. In S city, he was usually regarded as a comparison to Caden.

 

“Gloria, this, can 'I trouble you to bank it into that bank card?" Grace gave the cheque back to Gloria, “Gloria, is there any work 

for me?”

 

“You!” She sighed...

 

The Royal International Entertainment Club, 28th floor.

 

The man stood by the window and quietly looked at the Pearl Tower. His slender fingers gripped a cigarette burnt to the butt 

with a long stem of ashes. It eventually broke off and fell silently. His finger was scorched and he frowned and tossed the cigarette butt.

 

He took up the phone, “Book a ticket to New York... Yes, leaving tomorrow morning.”

 

He hung up the call, pursed his lips, and closed his eyes...