Chapter 89
William noticed I was feeling down and said, "Don't forget you're Nightingale. If you really have no motivation, you can watch me dance. I just learned some moves. Do you want to see?"
I shook my head with a smile. "Please don't. Other people's dancing is entertaining, but yours is deadly. Spare me, Mr. Jones."
William looked disappointed. "Alright then."
Seeing his exaggerated look of hurt, I couldn't help but laugh through my tears. My mood really did improve quite a bit.
"To thank Mr. Jones for keeping me company, and for those enlightening words just now, let me treat you to dinner tonight." I took the initiative, wanting to show my gratitude and also change my mood.
William readily agreed. "Sure, then I'm picking somewhere expensive and really making you pay."
As we discussed which restaurant to go to, the heaviness in my heart lifted considerably.
Just as I picked up my bag to leave the office with William, my phone rang at the worst possible time.
A name flashed on the screen that made me frown instantly.
Violet Smith.
I stared at that name, feeling a strong wave of resistance and exhaustion.
Last time, when George used me as an excuse to brush off Violet so he could accompany Sarah to the auction, saying something about keeping me company to cheer me up.
At the time, to smoothly get the divorce agreement without complications, I had to swallow my pride and take the blame for him, going along with it in front of Violet.
Now Violet was calling again. Had George made up another excuse to be with Sarah this time?
Did he want me to cover for him again?
I was no longer the Grace who would compromise endlessly to maintain surface peace.
I didn't answer, letting the phone ring in the quiet office until it automatically disconnected.
I thought that was the end of it.
Unexpectedly, a few minutes later, Mom called.
"Grace," Mom's voice carried some worry and helplessness, "Just now, Violet from the Smith family called me. She said she couldn't reach you and was very worried."
"She asked if you and George had another argument. Anyway, Violet is getting old, and she's always been good to you and Milly. When you're done with work, call her back so the old lady doesn't worry."
I gripped my phone tighter.
The Smiths were really persistent.
To find me, they'd even call Luna.
I knew Luna was in a difficult position, and I didn't want her worrying about me.
"I understand, Mom. I'll call her back right away." I reassured Luna with a few words, then, after hanging up, took a deep breath and dialed Violet's number.
The call was answered quickly, and Violet's kind, gentle voice came through. "Grace, were you busy just now? I didn't disturb you, did I?"
I tried to keep my voice calm. "Grandma, I'm sorry. I was in a meeting earlier and had my phone on silent."
"I knew it!" Violet laughed, her tone carrying a hint of understanding and dissatisfaction with George. "I told George you were probably busy, but he lied to me, saying you probably didn't have your phone with you. That boy, always making things up."
My heart sank.
George was indeed making up stories about me to Violet again.
Violet continued, "Grace, I haven't seen Milly in so long. I miss her so much."
"Could you bring Milly to see me soon? I've prepared lots of delicious food for you and Milly."
Bring Milly back to the Smith family's old mansion?
My first instinct was to refuse.
I knew Violet genuinely loved Milly.
But I also knew clearly that going back to the Smith family meant possibly running into George, meant stepping back into that oppressive environment full of cold memories, meant Milly might be hurt again by Jack's provocations or George's indifference.
I didn't want Milly to go through any of that again.
I remained silent, not responding immediately.
Violet seemed to sense my resistance. She sighed softly, her voice taking on a pleading tone. "Grace, I know George must have upset you again, which is why you're avoiding me and not even answering my calls."
"I'll make him apologize to you today, okay?"
She paused, her tone becoming firmer, even carrying a note of insistence. "I'll send you the restaurant location. It's a private kitchen, very quiet."
"I'll wait for you both. If Milly gets tired after dinner, I'll have the driver take you home right away. I won't keep you long."
With that, before I could make more excuses, Violet hung up. Soon, a location message came through.
I looked at my phone screen, feeling deeply helpless.
With Violet putting it that way, even using the word "wait," refusing would seem too heartless.
"William, I'm sorry," I turned to William, who had been patiently waiting, and gave him an apologetic smile. "Something urgent came up. Dinner... can we reschedule?"
William looked at my somewhat tired and helpless expression, but didn't ask questions, just nodded understandingly. "Sure, anytime. If you need help with anything, just say the word."
"Thanks."
Following the address Violet sent, I drove to the private restaurant in the old district.
The environment was quiet and elegant, indeed suitable for conversation.
A server led me to a quiet private room.
When I pushed open the door, Violet was already sitting inside. Seeing me alone, disappointment clearly flashed in her eyes, but she immediately showed a loving smile.
"Grace is here, come sit." She beckoned me to sit down, her gaze lingering on me for a moment before nodding slightly. "Mm, you look better than I expected. This outfit looks sharp, too. You have your own style now. Good."
Today I wore a well-tailored cream-colored shirt with light gray wide-leg pants and a thin, quality trench coat over it. I'd done light but flattering makeup.
Compared to when I was at the Smith family, always wearing expensive dresses that fit Mrs. Smith's status but weren't necessarily what I liked, the current me indeed had more independence and confidence.
Violet took my hand, her brow immediately furrowing. "Why are your hands so cold? Are you feeling unwell? Or are you not dressed warmly enough?"
I shook my head and withdrew my hand, wrapping it around the hot tea already poured on the table. "I'm fine, Grandma. Probably just got some wind on the way here."
Violet sighed, her gaze carefully examining my face, as if she could see through my calm exterior to the exhaustion and struggle beneath.
She gently patted the back of my hand, her voice lowering with heartache and understanding.
"Grace, tell Grandma the truth. Is George... treating you badly? Making you suffer?"
"Child, your complexion still looks poor, and there's no light in your eyes. You don't need to put on a brave face in front of Grandma."
My heart suddenly ached.
Violet genuinely cared about me, and she was the only elder in this family who could vaguely sense something was wrong between George and me.
She probably had long noticed the coldness and distance between us, but she hadn't probed deeply.
But today, she had specifically arranged this dinner, clearly wanting to do something.
I lowered my head and took a sip of hot tea. The scalding liquid slid down my throat, but couldn't warm the coldness in my heart.
I didn't respond to Violet's words.
Should I tell her that George had long betrayed me, that his heart only held Sarah, that he was cold as ice to me, even allowing Sarah and her son to bully Milly and me?
Would she believe it?
In her eyes, perhaps George was just a bit cold in personality, not good at expressing himself, but toward me, his wife, he was surely very good.
He gave me a comfortable life, made me the envied Mrs. Smith.
She wouldn't understand what that marriage meant to me. What kind of cage and drain it was.
Nor would she know how much unknown grievance and heartbreak the title of Mrs. Smith carried.
Moreover, she and all the Smiths were kept in the dark about the tragedy of my past life.
After my rebirth, my sole focus was to stay away from all the Smiths, to sever all connections, precisely because I didn't want any more ties to that desperate past.
Seeing my silence, the worry in Violet's eyes deepened, but she didn't press me. She just sighed again. "George has been strictly controlled by his father since childhood, making him cold in personality, but his heart, I know..."
Her words trailed off as the private room door was gently knocked on, then pushed open.