Chapter 41

He paused, glancing at the still-dumbstruck couple. "Then don't let them enter this house again."

Harold rocked back on his heels, shocked, and Lily shivered. Jason's words were a clear ultimatum: leave without the ring, and sever all ties with the Reed family.

After Jason left, Harold and Lily exchanged dismayed glances. The pool before them, while not deep, covered approximately 100 square meters. Worse, its muddy, algae-covered bottom made finding a small ring a daunting task.

Lily was close to tears. "Dad, what should I do? Do I really have to search for the ring? Can't we call someone, or try to reason with Jason? This is ridiculous!"

"The man doesn't care about your excuses, Lily," Harold snapped. "You caused this mess; you solve it. If the Reed Group cuts ties with us, you know what will happen!"

The future of his family was at stake. Even his daughter's pleas couldn't sway him.

Lily fell silent. She knew their family's holdings depended heavily on the Reed Group. Jason's hostility would be devastating.

Helpless, Lily entered the pool, step by step. The water was cold and smelled like a swamp. She began searching, bending and feeling along the bottom, wincing and screaming at scrapes against rocks and other unknown obstacles. The thought of turtles and the possibility of losing a finger sent shivers down her spine.

She hadn't expected Jason's revenge for Grace. Now, she wondered what else he might do.

When Jason returned to the apartment, he found Grace washing clothes in ice-cold water. Her hands were already red from the cold.

"Why don't you use hot water?" he asked, frowning.

"Boiling hot water uses too much electricity," Grace replied. "Besides, your hands warm up after a while in cold water." She soaked and wrung out the clothes.

He took her cold hands in his. "Next time, use hot water. Don't worry about the electricity; I'll earn the money," he said.

She laughed, patting his shoulder. "It's alright. I save where I can. We'll have plenty of expenses later. How was dinner with your colleagues?"

"Not bad," Jason replied. Dinner had been an excuse. He suspected Lily was still searching for the ring. He wondered how long she would take.

"It seems to have grown a little longer," Grace murmured, pulling Jason back to reality. She gently pushed his hair back. "Jay, let me trim your hair. It must be annoying, getting in your face."

He laughed. He kept his hair tied up during the day, only letting it down around Grace to avoid recognition.

She ran her fingers through his hair. "It'll look so good," she said.

His eyes gleamed. "Alright," he said softly.

Grace had only simple tools: a comb and scissors. She wrapped a cloth around his neck.