Her father, stepmother, and Evelyn exchanged hesitant glances. Her stepmother started to curse and pound on the door, but her husband stopped her. "Let it go," he said.

Her father shrugged. "Come, let's leave. Perhaps the man was recently released from prison! There are all sorts of people in prison. Who knows why he was sentenced?"

Hearing this, Evelyn and her mother exchanged a glance. "Then should we just let it go?"

Her father hesitated. "Let's wait. If Assistant Director Curtis holds Evelyn accountable, we'll think of other ways." He lacked the courage to confront the man.

Evelyn frowned. "Was that manreally in prison?" Though his long hair obscured his features, she found him good-looking and strangely familiar. Was he perhaps also in the entertainment industry?

Inside the apartment, Grace looked at Jay and said, "Thank you." If Jay hadn't arrived, her father would have beaten her.

"Don't thank me, Sister. It's what I should do." He pointed to her ankle. "It's not healed yet. Let me apply some safflower oil."

He silently removed her sock and shoe, rubbed in the oil, and re-bandaged her foot. Several minutes later, Grace bit her lip. "Why didn't you ask what those three wanted?"

"I won't ask if you don't want to tell," he replied.

"They're my father, stepmother, and half-sister," Grace said. "But they're no longer my problem." After a moment, she added, "Didn't you have other questions?" He must have heard her father's accusations about her prison sentence.

His eyelashes flickered. He lifted his eyes. "What would you like me to ask?" His dark eyes held a strange silence in the dim light.

Grace took a deep breath. Shame, a lifelong burden, consumed her. She was innocent, but that didn't matter. She'd been tried, convicted, sentenced, and served her time.

"I was sentenced to three years for drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter, Jay. I was released recently."

Many people changed their attitudes upon learning this. Since her release, people treated her with prejudice and avoided her. That's why she worked in sanitation; no one else would hire her.

Waiting for his reaction, for judgment in his beautiful eyes, she felt the same anxiety she'd experienced awaiting the court's verdict.

"Really?" he said indifferently, massaging her ankle.

"Thatthat's it?" she asked, surprised. "You don't mind?"

"Why should I?" he responded. "As you said, we only need to care about each other."

Her heart swelled. With a stranger, she found acceptance—a stark contrast to her unloving family.

Grace smiled, relieved of a heavy burden. "Jay, I'm so lucky to have met you."

Something flickered in his eyes, then vanished.

On Sunday, Lina visited Grace's apartment. Seeing Jay, she whispered incredulously that he didn't resemble the homeless person her friend had described.

Grace groaned, then laughed. It was true. Jay was attractive. Even in his inexpensive clothes, his tall, muscular frame and perfect bone structure were undeniable. His slightly overgrown hair somehow looked intentionally styled. He was handsome and kind.

Grace valued Lina's opinion, but she wouldn't tolerate any disrespect toward Jay.

Pulling Grace aside, Lina asked, "Are you sure he's homeless? Seriously, he could be a star or model!"

"Not all good-looking men are suitable for those careers," Grace replied.

Lina considered the realities of the entertainment industry. "Since you see him every day, don't you know anything about him?"

Grace rolled her eyes. Wasn't Lina previously worried Jay would harm her? Now, she seemed concerned Grace would harm him.

"He's a few months younger than me. I consider him my younger brother."

Lina confronted Jay. "You can live here, but promise you won't lie to Grace. She hates deception; if you lie, I'll call the police!"

"Lina, what are you talking about? Jay wouldn't lie to me," Grace said quickly.

"How long have you known him? Jay, did you hear that?"

He smirked. "Okay, I know." His light smile didn't equate to a promise of honesty; Grace noticed his evasion.

Grace vehemently shook her head, stopping Lina's interrogation. Grace had a big heart, and Jay was likely the first of many she'd help.

Lina glanced at Grace. "Cats are easier, you know. Even dogs are more loyal."

Jay snorted. Grace rubbed her eyes, embarrassed.

"Walk me out," Lina said, linking arms with Grace. "I see why you keep him around—he's easy on the eyes. But I don't think he's all he seems." She kissed Grace's cheek. "Protect yourself. Call if you need anything."

"I will. Love you," Grace replied.

Alone, Grace said, "Don't mind Lina. She's worried."

"She's your friend. I won't take it to heart," Jay said, his expression unreadable. "Are you close to her?"

"Do you know what a life-saving straw is? When you're drowning, you can't grab anything. A straw, even if it doesn't save you, gives you hope." She murmured, "Lina is that straw to me."