Of course, I'll stay with you. You're not well; why would I leave? I'll lie right here beside you on the floor. Just say the word, and I can get you anything you need."
"This bed can hold two people. Come and lie beside me." Even he was unaware of the longing look on his face.
Grace bit her lip, hesitated, and then nodded. "All right." She lifted the quilt and lay down beside him.
She was astonished that she had agreed to sleep beside a man. His scent enveloped her, and his body radiated warmth—not feverish, just the warmth of a healthy body.
"Are you sure I can't take you to the hospital?" She didn't think he had insurance, but she could work out a payment plan. The cost was irrelevant; his well-being was all that mattered.
"I'll be okay," he assured her. "Just stay with me."
She held his hand and shifted, holding one arm loosely around him. Comforting him felt novel, bringing into sharp focus how long she'd denied herself comfort and connection.
She had friends, and she loved them. But this—this involved trust and a new connection. After all she'd been through, she was glad she hadn't lost her humanity.
She switched off the light. It was just the two of them, holding each other, breathing quietly.
"Sister, will you stay with me forever?" Jay asked softly.
"Of course! Even when you get married and have a family, I'll still be here for you." Bonds stronger than blood could be forged. Hadn't she learned that? While her own father and half-sister had abandoned her, Jason had proven his loyalty. And she would be there for him.
Jason slowly closed his eyes. Her voice reassured him, and the pain gradually subsided.
"Get married?" he mumbled. Since his fiancée's death, he hadn't considered marriage. Grace, however, was already thinking ahead.
"Sister, do you mean what you said?"
"Yes," she replied.
He made a soft sound and fell asleep.
Early the next morning, Grace awoke and touched Jay's face and forehead. No fever. His body had relaxed during the night, suggesting his stomach pain had eased. He looked peaceful and handsome. His large frame occupied most of the bed, and even in his sleep, he pulled her close whenever she tried to move away.
She edged away gently, hoping to let him sleep.
"Morning," she said, believing his pain was gone.
"Sorry, I woke you," Grace said. "It's still early. Rest a little longer." She hurried to wash and change.
She prepared soup in the slow cooker and placed his medicine on the counter. "Try to eat something. And please remember to take your medicine three times a day."
After giving the instructions, she left.
Jason was alone again in the small apartment. He buried his face where she had lain, still smelling her scent and feeling the warmth of her body on the quilt. This woman cared for him, asking nothing in return but his friendship and company. He breathed in her scent, his thoughts turning darker.
Terrence saw his boss holding a cheap, old mobile phone—unusual for Mr. Reed. However, Mr. Reed instructed him to get a SIM card, which he did.
Terrence was surprised but didn't question it. He procured the SIM card quickly and handed it over.
After his boss inserted the SIM card and sent a text, an alert sounded. Mr. Reed, usually cold, smiled after reading the message.
Terrence blinked in disbelief. He glanced at the sender's name: Sister.
Sister? Mr. Reed was an only child. Could Grace be the "sister" he referred to?
That afternoon, during the Reed Group's quarterly financial meeting, Jason's phone rang. Everyone saw him take out the cheap phone and answer it.
"All right, got it. I'll remember to eat," Jason said, his voice gentler than anyone had ever heard.
The top management was even more surprised than Terrence.
"Who's the boss talking to?" William Sharf asked.
Terrence pretended not to hear.
After the call, Jason stood up. "I need to leave for a while. Continue the meeting." He left, leaving everyone astounded. They all looked at Terrence.
"Secretary Klein, what happened? Who called the President?"
Terrence smiled awkwardly. He'd been sitting near Jason and heard "take medicine" on the other end. He'd seen the medicine bottle on Jason's desk and guessed he'd gone to take it.
Terrence found it unbelievable. Mr. Reed took medicine because Grace called. Previously, he'd only do so if in extreme pain, and even then, only if he felt like it, not because someone told him.
"This is the President's private matter," Terrence said. "Let's continue the meeting." He nodded and resumed the meeting's schedule.
Across town, Grace put away her phone and continued sweeping with Claire.
Claire noticed her smile. "Who did you call?"
"My younger brother," Grace replied.
"You have a brother?" Claire asked, amazed. "I never knew."
Grace just smiled.
Later, at the Sanitation building, women watched a news report about the upcoming union of the Stevens and Atkinson families. A picture of the beautiful couple flashed on the screen, showcasing Lily's enormous diamond ring.
"the six-carat pink diamond ring is exceptionally rare and of the highest quality. The diamond costs around 10,000,000…"
"Lily's a winner," one woman said. "Lucky girl. Pretty, rich, and her husband's handsome and wealthy."
Grace pursed her lips. Yes, they were attractive and wealthy. But they had ordered her torture and watched as her fingernails were ripped out and her bones were broken. Beautiful on the outside, ugly within.