Chapter 59
Adele was momentarily speechless under Grace's cold gaze. She pulled a file folder from her bag and handed it over.
"Here. But listen, your priority right now is to keep Damian happy. The most important thing for you is to find a way to marry into the Wolfe family."
Grace took the folder without a word and turned to leave.
In the living room, John was trying to make small talk with Damian, wearing a fawning smile.
"Mr. Wolfe, I just got a new batch of excellent coffee beans. How about we go to the study for a cup of freshly brewed coffee?"
Damian lounged on the sofa, legs crossed, exuding a powerful aura that warned others to keep their distance. He toyed with his phone and didn't even bother to look up.
"No need."
John's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Then how about a tour? The maple trees in our backyard are beautiful this time of year..."
"Where's her room?" Damian finally looked up, cutting John off.
"Huh?" John was momentarily confused.
"I said, where's Grace's room?" Damian stood up, his tone now tinged with impatience. "I'll wait for her there."
It was a blatant disregard.
He made it clear that he had no interest in this house or its occupants. His sole purpose for being here was Grace.
John's face darkened, but he forced a smile and pointed upstairs. "It's... the second room on the left on the second floor."
Damian said no more and headed straight for Grace's room.
Grace's room was small and simply furnished. A single bed, a wardrobe, and a desk by the window.
It was clean but lacked any personal touch, more like a temporary guest room than a girl's bedroom.
As soon as Damian walked in, he frowned.
This was nothing like he had imagined. He thought that even if she was living under someone else's roof, she would at least have a decent room.
He walked over to the desk, where a few professional books and a lamp were neatly arranged.
His gaze fell on a row of books, two of which had been knocked over by the wind from the window. Damian straightened them.
A piece of paper slipped out from between the pages, catching his eye.
It bore the logo of a top design school abroad, with the words "Application for Admission" clearly printed below.
Damian's eyes narrowed.
He remembered Grace mentioning she needed to pick up some documents.
A thought struck him.
So, she came back today for this.
His expression darkened.
Damian opened the book and shook it, but nothing else fell out. He then opened her drawer.
Inside, he found a manila envelope and emptied its contents.
There was the application form, transcripts, a portfolio CD, a draft of a recommendation letter—everything needed for a study abroad application.
He picked up the partially completed application form, his eyes landing on the signature line.
It was unsigned, but the date, written in neat handwriting, was from a few days ago.
That night, they had been passionately intertwined, with her yielding to him beneath him. What he didn't know was that just before that, she had updated her overseas application materials, contemplating how to leave him.
Since they had been together, he had stayed up with her while she worked on her graduation project. He had brought her warm cocoa when her stomach was upset.
He thought all their moments of closeness and warmth meant something to her.
But it turned out, it was all one-sided.
She had only gotten close to him to escape the Parker family and then leave.
Damian was just a stepping stone, a tool.
A tool to be discarded once used.
A surge of indescribable anger and disappointment, mixed with the sting of betrayal, filled his chest.
All expression vanished from his face, and his eyes turned cold, devoid of any warmth.
He didn't question or rage. He simply folded the documents neatly, put them back in the manila envelope, and returned it to the drawer.
He closed the drawer with a soft "click," like the sound of something breaking.
Then, he straightened up and walked out without a word.
Downstairs, John saw Damian coming and was about to speak, but Damian's dark expression stopped him.
Sensing trouble, John quickly approached. "Mr. Wolfe, are you leaving? Dinner is almost ready..."
Damian walked past them without a word, the oppressive aura around him silencing John.
He strode through the living room, opened the front door, and walked out.
"Bang—"
The heavy door slammed shut with a loud bang, shaking the entire house.
When Grace came downstairs, only John and the cleaning staff were left in the living room.
The previously lively atmosphere was now dead silent, filled with an eerie stillness.
She looked around, not seeing the familiar tall figure.
"Where's Damian?" she asked John, her voice trembling slightly.
John's face was grim. "He left." Then he looked at her with confusion. "What happened between you two?"
Grace was even more confused.
"Left?" Grace stood there, stunned. "When?"
"Just now," John replied.
Grace pulled out her phone and called him, but the call was immediately declined. When she tried again, she found her number had been blocked.
No matter how busy he was, he always sent a text saying he'd call back later.
Now, he had blocked her number.
Even Grace, as oblivious as she could be, realized Damian was angry.
John watched Grace's suddenly serious expression and sat back on the sofa, speaking earnestly.
"Grace, a man like Damian can have any woman he wants. While you're still young, the real benefit is what you can gain from him. Everything else is an illusion."
"When he gets tired of you, you'll be left with nothing."
"If you can help the Parker family gain favor with Damian, the Parker family will thrive, and your mother will have a better life. So will you."
He lit a cigar and took a slow puff. "You need to understand, a man like Damian will never stay interested in one woman forever, but the Parker family can always protect you."