Chapter 164

Aunt's words were merely an attempt to justify Uncle, her husband, and the others' actions and clear their names. However, regardless of their pleas, Grace remained unaffected. She ignored them, her gaze fixed on her grandmother lying in the hospital bed. Her only concern was her grandmother.

Suddenly, her grandmother's mouth twitched, as if she were trying to speak while in a coma. When Grace leaned close to her grandmother's lips, she froze. The words that emerged were the names of her uncle, second uncle, and third aunt.

Grace silently straightened, then left the ward. Her uncle and second uncle followed, attempting to persuade her to drop the case.

"Why would I drop the case?" Grace responded coldly. "Since you don't consider me family, why should I treat you as such?"

"You ungrateful swine! How can you let your grandmother down?" her aunt snarled.

"Whether or not I let Grandma down is my business," Grace retorted. "At least I haven't wronged you. Your husband and son, however, owe me a debt for their actions—that's why they're in jail!"

Her aunt, speechless with rage, choked.

Grace left the hospital alone. Her aunt tried to pursue her, but her second aunt intervened. "Don't," she said. "A powerful person is protecting her; we can't afford to offend her. If she gets angry, she'll extend our family members' sentences. What then?"

"How dare she!" Aunt raged.

"Before you question her audacity, can you even afford to antagonize her?" Second Aunt countered. "You'll end up arrested yourself!"

Aunt, intimidated, retreated. Her anger remained, but she dared not chase after Grace.

Grace took a taxi back to Emerald City. The journey consumed nearly half the night; by the time she arrived, dawn was breaking. She hadn't slept. At 5:00 a.m., she resumed sweeping the streets.

Claire noticed Grace's fatigue. "Grace, you look awful. Didn't you sleep?"

Grace mumbled a noncommittal response, her thoughts consumed by her grandmother. Dropping the charges wouldn't free her uncle and the others. To secure their release, she needed Jason.

The thought of Jason brought a pang to her heart. She had already rejected his proposal to remain by his side, causing his anger. Now, should she beg him? Would he even agree?

If not, her grandmother might never see her uncle and the others again. Her sons and daughter might not even be present at her deathbed. Grace knew her grandmother still cared for them, but she'd concealed it, unwilling to hurt Grace.

Grandma wanted justice, yet couldn't accept it. If Grace could resolve her grandmother's emotional turmoil and facilitate her recovery, she might be willing to forgo her own pursuit of justice.

At noon, Grace examined her phone, gazing at a number—the one she'd obtained when purchasing Jay's phone. She didn't know if he still used it.