Chapter 18: Did Grace Win?

Albert's voice grew more aggrieved as he spoke, and in the cramped car, he was practically shouting.

"I've been good to you, but you won't accept it. I want to talk to you, but you refuse. So tell me, what exactly do I need to do?What will it take for you to finally grant me the forgiveness I’m asking for?"

"It's not enough!"

Serenity raised her voice, her emotions finally showing.

She yanked her hand free from Albert's grip, her eyes sharp as knives, reminding him word by word: "Not enough! Albert, you owe me a debt you can never repay."

"What do I owe you?"

Albert shot back instinctively: "I gave you money, I gave you a house, I gave you the position of the Sanchez family's female host. What haven't I given you that you wanted?"

"I don't care about any of those things."

Serenity's voice was tired, long past the point of explaining.

"What I wanted was your respect and love, your sense of responsibility toward our marriage!"

"But you never gave me any of that."

No doubt Albert remembered all of Grace's preferences, but what about me?

I told Albert a long time ago that I'm allergic to seafood, so I can't eat it.

But during our few dates together, Albert would always forget this.

So many times, Serenity would sit there looking at a table full of seafood, forcing a smile.

She had been disappointed so many times. If she started from the first one, she probably couldn't finish in three days and nights.

Serenity chose to give up.

The car fell silent. Albert opened his mouth to explain but found he couldn't say anything.

After a long while, he quietly stepped on the gas and drove onto the highway.

The whole way, neither spoke. The atmosphere was suffocatingly awkward.

When the car finally stopped at the villa entrance, Albert said in a low voice.

"I still have some things to handle at the company, so I need to go back. The villa's security patrols have been strengthened, so you can relax, but you'd better stay home and not go out. If anything comes up, wait until I get back."

He seemed not to know how to face his relationship with Serenity anymore. Albert didn't even dare look her in the eye right now.

Serenity's lips curved into a mocking smile, and she sneered coldly: "Coward."

As soon as the words fell, the car shot out like an arrow from a bow.

What Serenity didn't know was that Albert heard her.

His face flushed red instantly, but he didn't dare argue back.

He knew Serenity was right.

He was a coward, afraid to face his mistakes, afraid to admit his selfishness.

Right now, he needed a place to settle his mind and reflect. He had to figure out how to bridge the distance between them and truly make amends—to find a way to keep Serenity from leaving him for good..

Serenity returned to the villa and continued packing her things.

She didn't have much—mostly clothes and books, plus some simple daily necessities.

Some clothes and books she didn't want, she packed up neatly, planning to donate them.

She didn't know how long she'd been organizing when the doorbell rang.

She walked to the door and looked through the video doorbell—it was Grace.

Just as Serenity hesitated, her hand hovering near the handle, Grace entered the password without a word and pushed the door open.

The two came face to face, and Grace jumped in surprise.

"Serenity, what are you doing standing at the door? You scared me to death!"

Serenity's expression was cold as she asked quietly: "How do you know the door password?"

Grace covered her mouth, laughing smugly.

"Serenity, who else do you think would tell me besides Albert?"

"If not him, could it be you?"

Without waiting for Serenity’s somber expression to lift, Grace walked straight in and settled comfortably onto the sofa, her gaze sweeping through the villa with practiced ease.

Seeing the clothes and books packed in bags large and small, Grace raised an eyebrow.

"Serenity, why are you packing? Are you planning to leave Albert on your own and let me have him?"

"Actually, he and I are already divorced."

Serenity didn't feel like talking to her and spoke bluntly.

"I'll be leaving soon. No one will disturb your romance. I wish you both a long and happy life!"

Grace froze, clearly not expecting Serenity to be so straightforward and direct!

Actually, Grace came today with the intention of forcing the issue.

If she couldn't see clearly before who Albert really liked, last night she won completely!

In that pouring rain, she regretted leaving as soon as she left, wishing she could turn back immediately.

But she also wanted to see what Albert would choose.

Later, Albert chose her after all.

They embraced tightly in the heavy rain, and Albert said sorry to her over and over.

From that moment, she knew she had won.

Albert really couldn't let her go!

Later, staying at the hotel was also Grace's idea.

She claimed she didn't want to return to the villa where she'd suffered so much, so Albert stayed by her side and comforted her all night.

Even if nothing happened between them, spending the whole night together was real.

Grace really didn't know how she could possibly lose!

The only thing not in Grace's expectations was Serenity's answer.

As far as Grace was concerned, if Serenity were truly willing to walk away, it would only work in her favor.

Suddenly, Grace looked at the jade bracelet on Serenity's slender wrist, and her eyes lit up instantly.

Grace recognized it—that was the Sanchez family's heirloom jade bracelet, given to Serenity by Jeremy. Only the Sanchez family's female host could wear it!

Grace had coveted this bracelet for many years.

Grace reached out her hand, pointing at the jade bracelet on Serenity's wrist, her tone carrying arrogant entitlement: "Serenity, since you're divorcing Albert anyway, you should give me back that jade bracelet!"

"If I hadn't gone abroad back then, this bracelet should have been mine in the first place. You were just keeping it for me temporarily."

Serenity glanced at the jade bracelet on her wrist. Jeremy had put it on her hand himself years ago.

He'd told her to take good care of it, saying it was the symbol of the Sanchez family's female host.

Back then, she naively thought she could have a good life with Albert.

But now, everything had changed.

This bracelet no longer meant anything to her.

She took off the jade bracelet without hesitation and handed it to Grace: "Take it. I have no use for it."

Grace quickly reached out to catch the jade bracelet, afraid it would fall to the ground.

She carefully put the jade bracelet on her own hand and looked at herself in the mirror again and again, her face showing a smug smile.

"Thank you, Serenity. I knew you were a reasonable person."

That evening, Albert returned to the villa. As soon as he walked in, he saw Grace sitting on the sofa, holding the remote control and watching TV.

"Albert, you're back!"

Grace stood up smiling and walked to his side, extending her hand wearing the jade bracelet and waving it happily in front of him.

"Look, does this bracelet look good on me? Serenity gave it to me. She said she doesn't need it anymore."

"Albert, don't worry, I'll take good care of this bracelet."

Albert stared hard at the jade bracelet, his brow furrowing instantly as he ordered angrily: "Who gave you permission to wear it? Take it off!"