Chapter 7
Grace was furious; her chest ached. She wanted to gather her important documents, but froze upon opening the last drawer. Inside lay a pile of certificates, including her Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst credentials—prestigious achievements in finance, golden tickets to Varnell Street, yet relegated to the drawer's neglected corner. Wasn't she supposed to be a useless woman, solely focused on men? She briefly scanned them, then, unwilling to remain, packed a few clothes to leave.
Liam entered. “Grace, running away again? Stop it. I’m starving.” He snatched her suitcase. “Apologize to Mom and Alice now, or no one will bother with you. How long this time? Wasn't it yesterday you pulled this stunt? You were gone a few hours before returning. You’re embarrassing yourself, ruining the household harmony.” He angrily tossed the suitcase, scattering her clothes. “Why does everyone prefer Alice? She’s gentle, educated, competent. Miles ahead of you. Seeing Mom and Dad refuse you shares, shouldn't you reflect?”
Grace's patience snapped. She slapped him. Liam clutched his cheek, a red mark appearing. “You hit me?” She, who always endured silently, had struck him? His initial shock morphed into anger. “You hit me? Grace, I’m done! Unless you cook for me for a year, don’t talk to me! Leave! You’ll be back in days anyway!” He stormed off.
Downstairs, Carmen’s sharp voice cut through the air. “Unbelievable! You hit your brother! You’re out of control! Kneel until we’re satisfied, or leave!” Grace saw Alice tenderly massaging Liam’s cheek, concern in her eyes. Liam looked deeply moved, even exaggerating his reaction when he glanced at Grace, eliciting a stabbing pain in her heart. But her lost memories had erased her instinct to grovel. Calmly, she said, “Good. I don’t want to stay. Since I’m unwelcome, I’ll leave. Live happily together. I won’t disturb you. Goodbye.”
Carmen, trembling with rage, thought she’d misheard. “You—how did I give birth to such a child? Fine, go! You’ve never worked! Let’s see how long you last. You’ll be back begging!” Grace slammed the door. Carmen, furious, collapsed onto the couch, trembling as she reached for water. “I shouldn’t have given birth to her!” Alice’s eyes sparkled with amusement, though her expression remained worried. “Mom, don’t worry. She always talks big. The harsher her words, the faster she returns.” Liam readily agreed. “Yeah, and after today, I’ll never forgive her.”
Grace left with Joanne’s ten thousand dollars, needing housing. While Joanne offered a place, she didn’t want to impose. She searched online for rentals near Henderson Group, but Druville’s high cost of living made affordable apartments near impossible. Even commuting from further away would be expensive. Spotting a nearby electric scooter station, she opted for a cheaper apartment in an older neighborhood, a twenty-minute scooter ride to work.
She unlocked a scooter and attempted a practice ride. Unsure of her abilities due to her amnesia, she found it incredibly difficult. The scooter wobbled, she drove slowly, and cars honked. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she clung to the handlebars, avoiding accidents.
Nearby, in a luxury car, Ethan reviewed documents. At a traffic light, he glanced out and saw Grace struggling with the scooter. Her hair was in a ponytail, her skin translucent and youthful under the sunlight. Her riding, however, was atrocious; she nearly crashed into a car. Ethan’s gaze froze.
From the driver’s seat, Tim Bennet spoke. “Isn’t that Grace? What’s she up to? Didn’t she refuse to ride anything under three million dollars?” Tim, Ethan’s assistant, glanced in the rearview mirror. “Sir, let’s stay away from that walking disaster. We don’t need her dragging you into trouble again.”