When Stanhope Brown and Shane Sim left, the elevator doors hesitated for a moment before closing.
Looking at the upright figure of Stanhope as he receded, Grace Gordon felt that the series of numbers he had left on her arm burned fiercely.
What did he mean when he said, "Let's have a meal when you have time"?
Could it be that as eldest young master of the Brown Family and our Secretary of State, he was missing a dinner?
Grace understood why Shane emphasized dinner: a dinner to express thanks, not lunch... but dinner, and after dinner...
Did Stanhope mean that too? Dinner?
Grace really couldn't understand Stanhope's intentions. Due to her drunken mistake, she had ended up in his bed, leading to the suicide of the woman he loved... why then, would he want her to divorce her current husband and become his wife?
Could it be that, as he said... he was impressed by Grace's crisis management skills, but felt it would be awkward if he simply hired her?
Remembering what he had said last time… Though no one dares mention that matter now, all the insiders from back then would make the most scandalous assumptions each time they saw them together. Rumors like this would surely ruin his reputation.
Grace thought she was somewhat discerning and able to see through people's hidden intentions. But with Stanhope... even when he stood right in front of her, allowing her to scrutinize him, she found him completely inscrutable.
She pulled her sleeve down to hide the row of numbers.
Back in the hospital ward, Ian Leighton had the news on TV and his brows were furrowed intensely.
"It is reported that global superstar Gail Wright, CEO Yale Lewis Yale, and Young Mistress Grace Gordon of the Yale Family are all good friends. During this airport incident… CEO Yale has been standing on Maya Mansfield's side the whole time, even indulging Maya's assistant to hurt Grace's brother, the once legendary figure in the business world, Ian Leighton, who suddenly announced his retreat for recuperation. Many are guessing that it is true love between CEO Yale and Maya Mansfield, and that CEO Yale's political marriage has reached its end, with Maya Mansfield potentially replacing Second Miss of the Gordon Family, Grace Gordon, to become Yale's Young Mistress."
A pretty news anchor was still speaking on the TV when Grace walked over and promptly turned off the machine.
"Grace… They said Lewis plans to divorce you, is it true?"
Sitting beside the sickbed, Grace responded with a faint smile: "We were together the entire afternoon. Did you hear anything about it?"
"But Lewis is bad! He is with that woman… watching others hurt Grace and making Grace sad!" Ian spoke with substantial grievance.
A pang of pain went through Grace's heart. At least… the Ian who had turned juvenile had really liked Lewis, as Lewis was her husband.
Grace gave a light laugh and said nothing. She didn't know what to say and simply just grasped Ian's hand and quietly sat with him.
Ian Leighton moistened his lips and he opened his arms to bring Grace into an embrace. "Every time… when I'm feeling upset, I feel better when Grace hugs me! I feel better with Grace in my arms. Good girl, Grace…"
The childish tone in Ian's words carried a strong sense of naiveté, but it was enough to warm up Grace's frozen heart.