This whole time, Tessa had probably been through more than a few hard days. In a place like this, could she really have endured it? And yet, even if she asked, Grace didn’t know what she could say to comfort her. She let out a sigh, her face clouded with tension.
Albert glanced over and couldn’t help but scoff inwardly. What a classic softie. He wondered just how much damage her hesitation might cause in the end. If it weren’t for the fact that they needed the Walton Corporation’s influence, Albert would’ve gladly kept his distance from Grace altogether. In his opinion, she was never cut out for serious responsibility.
Of course, he’d never say any of that out loud. Impatient now, Albert urged the chief, “Mr. Winter, let’s get this moving. Bring them in already.” He had somewhere to be by six. He couldn’t afford to waste more time here. This was just his son, after all. If it weren’t for the Walton Corporation’s involvement–and the need to clean this mess up–he’d have washed his hands of Julian a long time ago. What did the boy have to offer? He got no talent and no sense. Bringing him anywhere was like putting a spotlight on the family’s embarrassment.
The chief picked up on their impatience instantly. And it made sense–they’d been waiting since early afternoon. With the way their businesses ran, every minute cost money. Grace, on the other hand, remained composed. She wasn’t in any rush. After all, she still had Aurora overseeing things. With her daughter at the helm, she didn’t need to micromanage. She trusted Aurora completely.
Chapter 964
There was absolutely no way anything could go wrong.
The chief offered a placating smile. “Alright, alright, no need to get impatient. I’ve already sent someone to bring them over.”
Sure enough, Albert and Grace soon heard the rattling clank of chains approaching. Both of them had cuffs on their wrists. Tessa bit her lip, clearly unwilling to cooperate. At first glance, Grace almost didn’t recognize her. She shot up from her seat, staring at the frail woman in front of her, her messy hair and tattered clothes–her eyes gradually welled with tears. Was this really her daughter? It hadn’t even been that long. How had she ended up like this?
Beside her, the man kept his head down, hair even more unkempt than Tessa’s, like he’d been through hell. He radiated pure defeat, his clothes clearly unchanged for days. He didn’t even walk on his own–one of the officers had to push him forward. It was as if he’d lost the ability to move under his own will.
Albert, stunned, instinctively rose to his feet. He leaned against the glass, eyes wide. This was his son? He may have planned to cut Julian off, but that didn’t mean he wanted him to look half–dead. When the two of them emerged, they looked more like homeless vagrants fleeing a disaster. Tessa still looked slightly better, since she’d managed to maintain the habit of showering until a few days ago. But recently, as part of the police’s pressure tactics, she’d been denied bathing privileges. That, on top of being forced into manual labor during the day, had left her completely disheveled.
Seeing Grace dressed immaculately, hair neatly swept back, face carefully made up, nails done in the latest trend, Tessa’s fists clenched tighter and tighter. Next to her mother, she looked like nothing more than a disgrace. And Aurora? She was probably just as polished and poised, if not more.