Chapter 60

“Farah Steele, I don’t want anyone to be hostile toward my colleagues. Your actions—rallying coworkers to isolate and bully another employee—constitute harassment.”

“What?”

“Grace served time in jail, but she has paid her debt to society, as determined by our judicial system. You have no right to judge her or invade her privacy by publicizing her past to create workplace unrest.”

Farrah paled.

“Furthermore,” the director continued, “we should give her a chance. Since you can’t work with Grace Cummins, you should resign.”

Farah was stunned. She was an established member of staff! Dismissed like this? She’d done nothing wrong! She’d told the truth!

“Farrah, say something,” a voice urged.

Farah saw Grace and felt a surge of resentment. Stepping forward, she said, “It’s your fault! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been dismissed! You should leave!”

Everyone was shocked. Farah was the one being dismissed?

“Farrah, are you kidding?”

“How is this possible!”

Farah glared at Grace, her resentment unconcealed. She raised her hand to slap Grace, but her arm was caught. Grace ducked instinctively; she was no stranger to violence.

“Stop it,” Chase intervened. “The director wants you to go. What does Grace have to do with it? Can she control the director’s decision?”

Grace looked up to see Chase. Others in the office shook their heads at Farah or dispersed to avoid the escalating drama.

The confrontation ended abruptly. Farah stormed off. Grace watched her go.

“Thank you,” Grace said to Chase.

“It was nothing,” Chase replied, embarrassed. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn't have been targeted by Farah in the first place.”

As Grace prepared to leave, Chase asked, hesitantly, “Is your younger brother really your biological brother?”

Grace looked surprised.

Chase continued, “I just… you don’t seem like siblings. When I saw you with him, you looked like a couple.”

“He’s not my sibling, but he’s family to me,” Grace replied.

Chase was unconvinced. Even if she considered him family, did he reciprocate that sentiment? His gaze toward Grace seemed possessive—not the way siblings look at each other.

“Babe, are you listening?” Lily’s voice rose. Sean had been distracted all day. She’d asked him the same question three times.

“Ah!” Sean finally snapped to attention. “What did you say?”

“What’s wrong with you?” Lily asked, annoyed. “If you’re going to accompany me to try on my gown tomorrow in this state, I might as well find someone else!”

“Lily, I’m sorry. I’m swamped with work, and I just remembered something!” Sean stood abruptly and rushed out of the private room, leaving Lily alone with a table full of unfinished dishes.

Lily frowned. What could possibly be so urgent he couldn't wait an hour to finish dinner? He was completely unlike his usual attentive self.

Sean called his secretary. “Go to the Sanitation Service Center and get Grace’s address.”

The address was quickly sent to Sean’s phone. He drove toward Grace’s residence.