Chapter 30

Lily frowned and glanced at Sean. After all, the Stevens family had projected the ad.

Sean remained calm. "Let me inquire about the situation…"

He'd barely finished speaking when his phone rang. He left the dining area, answered the call, and his expression instantly soured.

"What? What do you mean, taken down? All of them? Aren't they afraid of the penalty fees?"

"The order stated that the ads must be removed, even if they have to pay the full penalty."

"Who the hell authorized this? Fine. Replace the ad agency, and get them back up. Immediately."

The manager's voice was choked with tears. "President Stevens, we contacted other companies, but none would project the ads."

"Who's trying to undermine the Stevens family?" Sean asked, his face ashen. Rage and fear warred within him.

"The Reed family," the manager replied. "Their secretary, Terrence Klein, handled it personally."

Sean was stunned. Terrence… Jason's personal secretary! Could this be Jason? Did he want the ads taken down?

What did it mean? Did Jason object to the Stevens-Atkinson wedding? And how far would he go to stop it? The thought sent a chill down Sean's spine.

The Stevens family's citywide projection ads—ninety-nine locations—had been removed in a single day, sparking heated online debate. Many questioned Sean and Lily's relationship. Some called it a bad omen. One gossip column even reported that Lily had called off the engagement.

That night, Sean and Lily issued a joint statement affirming their relationship. The ads had been removed due to the time limit, but their love, they said, would never expire. Lily's fans largely supported the statement.

Back at the apartment, Grace was browsing online when she saw the news. She was astonished. She'd only mentioned the ads to Jay yesterday, and they were gone today.

"The ads are down," Jay said, his voice cutting through her thoughts. "Sister, are you happy?"

She'd been startled by his sudden appearance beside her; he seemed to have noticed the article on her phone. A smile played on his lips.

For a moment, she wildly wondered if he was involved. But that was absurd.

She laughed. "Well, their publicity campaign ended rather abruptly." She shrugged.

"But…?" he pressed.

She shrugged again. "There's nothing to be happy or sad about. What happened between Sean and me is over. I have no feelings for him; his future is none of my concern," Grace replied.

"Really, sister? You don't care about him at all?" He stared at her intently, as if trying to read her soul.

"Would you care about someone who abandoned you?" she retorted.

An image flashed in his mind—the woman he called mother, who had abandoned him without a second thought, even when he begged her.

His smile deepened. "You're right. That was a stupid question. Who would care about someone who abandoned them?"

Grace began to understand his moods better. If she hadn't spent so much time with him—sharing coffee, listening to his stories, sleeping beside him—she might have missed it. But she saw the flicker in his eyes. He'd been hurt. Abandoned.

She remembered him saying he had no family. She glimpsed his enduring pain, hidden so well.

Understanding dawned. She put an arm around his neck, pulling him close.