The steady hum of Li Holdings pulsed around Grace Wu as she reviewed the latest project reports at her desk. The executive floor was quiet, save for the soft tapping of Emily's keyboard nearby and the occasional shuffle of papers from distant offices.
Lilly Li hadn't left her office since their brief conversation that morning. Grace suspected she was still brooding over her father's sudden meeting, though Lilly would never admit it aloud.
Grace's eyes skimmed over the project data, but her thoughts drifted—not to Li Jian, but to Victor Zhou.
Victor wasn't supposed to be this close yet.
In the last timeline, Victor's presence around Lilly had been a subtle thing, lingering in the background until Rocky's downfall was already well underway. By the time Grace noticed him, it was too late to stop the collapse.
Now, Victor was moving faster. And worse—Lilly welcomed it.
The soft creak of Emily's chair broke Grace's train of thought.
"I think that's the first time I've seen her smile after one of her father's meetings," Emily mused, resting a hand against her growing stomach as she turned toward Grace.
Grace glanced up. "Lilly?"
Emily smirked, nodding toward the closed office door. "Victor's doing more for her mood than any double espresso ever has. You noticed it too, right?"
Grace leaned back, folding her arms as she mulled over her response.
"I noticed," Grace replied carefully.
Emily stretched lazily, letting out a soft sigh. "I mean, I'm not complaining. If Victor keeps her occupied, maybe things will actually run smoother around here."
Grace arched a brow. "You're that confident in him?"
Emily snorted softly, shaking her head. "Oh, no. I don't trust Victor for a second. But if anyone can keep him in line, it's Lilly. She's not Rocky."
Grace narrowed her eyes slightly at that. "What do you mean by that?"
Emily spun her chair slightly, resting her elbow against the desk. "Rocky was always... predictable. He chased things because they were shiny, not because he knew how to handle them. Lilly's different. She doesn't just chase power—she bends it to fit."
Grace considered Emily's words, watching as she casually returned to her emails.
It was true.
Rocky had always been too reckless, relying on charm and bluster to get him out of trouble. Lilly, on the other hand, was precise.
Victor was powerful, but if Lilly wasn't careful, he could become a problem she couldn't control.
Grace set the reports aside, rising from her chair.
"I'm grabbing coffee," she said, reaching for her coat. "Want anything?"
Emily waved her off. "I'm good. If you're heading by the café, pick up one of those scones for Lilly. She likes the cranberry ones."
Grace smirked. "Got it."
The streets outside were livelier now, the hum of midday traffic filling the air. Grace kept her pace steady, slipping between clusters of businessmen and tourists, the distant sounds of market stalls blending into the city's natural rhythm.
Her mind, however, was elsewhere.
Victor.
She had barely seen him in this timeline, yet his influence was already pressing into places he had no business being.
And that wasn't the only thing that felt off.
As Grace neared the café, her phone vibrated in her coat pocket.
She slipped it out, narrowing her eyes at the name flashing on the screen.
Rocky Chan.
Grace hesitated, thumb hovering over the button. Let him wait.
But this time, curiosity got the better of her.
"Grace," Rocky's voice filtered through the line, a mix of forced cheerfulness and the faintest undercurrent of something darker.
"Rocky," Grace replied smoothly, stepping into the café. She slipped into line, lowering her voice slightly. "Something I can do for you?"
Rocky chuckled, though it lacked his usual energy. "Can't I just call my favorite assistant to check in?"
Grace smirked faintly. "I'm not your assistant anymore, Rocky."
"I know, I know," Rocky said quickly, the grin evident in his voice. "Still adjusting to that."
Grace placed her order, stepping to the side as the barista rang it up. "Seriously, what do you need?"
Rocky paused for a beat, then sighed.
"Anna's been stirring things up again," he admitted, lowering his voice. "I thought maybe you'd know something."
Grace's jaw tightened at the mention of Anna Feng.
"I don't keep tabs on her," Grace replied coldly. "She's your problem now."
Rocky let out a dry laugh. "Yeah... that's what I was afraid of."
Grace exhaled softly, leaning against the counter as she watched the barista prepare Lilly's scone.
"Rocky," Grace said evenly, "you made your bed. Don't call me when it gets uncomfortable."
There was silence on the other end.
Finally, Rocky let out a soft breath.
"You're right," he murmured. "Sorry, Grace. I shouldn't have bothered you."
Grace's fingers lightly tapped against the counter.
"Take care of yourself, Rocky," she said quietly.
The call ended with a quiet click.
The barista handed Grace the scone and coffee, and she slipped them into the small paper bag, tucking her phone back into her coat as she stepped outside.
Rocky's voice lingered in her mind, but she pushed it aside.
Her focus needed to stay on Lilly—and on Victor.
As she walked back to the office, the city stretched ahead of her, and for the first time in a while, Grace felt like she was exactly where she needed to be.