Chapter 1

"Ms. Grace Lambert in Bed 16, have you not recalled anything? You've been hospitalized for three days now. You need to get a family member to pay the hospital bill soon," said a nurse.

Grace had bandages wrapped around her head. She gave the nurse an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, but I really can't remember my phone's password."

"Do you have an emergency contact?"

"I…"

Before she could finish speaking, the door to the hospital room was pushed open forcefully. A young man with sharp features walked in, his expression looking impatient.

"How many times is this now? What kind of game are you playing again? You dragged Alice out with you, and it ended in a car accident. If she hadn't been lucky, you would've ruined her face!

"Grace, let me make this clear—our engagement is off! Stop thinking you can win me over with these little tricks. Even if you threw yourself into a river, I wouldn't care!"

Behind Yancey Henderson stood a gentle-looking woman who lightly tugged on his sleeve.

"Yancey, I'm fine, really. Grace didn't do it on purpose. My injuries have already healed, so please don't blame her anymore. Luckily, when the windshield shattered, it didn't cut my face. Otherwise…"

Grace's eyes flashed with confusion. She touched the bandages on her head.

She had only woken up that morning. The nurse told her that she had barely survived and that they hadn't been able to reach any of her family members.

Yancey frowned. He was indeed handsome, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. At that moment, he held Alice Lambert tightly in his arms.

"Grace, Alice is the one I like. You and I may have grown up together, but I have never had those kinds of feelings for you. You've been following me around like a lovesick puppy for five years now. Don't you find it disgusting?

"Alice never dared to confess her feelings for me because you were always chasing after me. I'm making it clear today—your behavior is pathetic. Alice and I are already together, and we've been intimate with each other. I'm not leaving her!"

Alice's face was full of emotion as she clung to his arm, a hint of triumph flickering across her delicate features. "Yancey…"

Grace lowered her eyes, watching the two of them with their intimate display. Her heart felt like it was being eaten away by ants, leaving her breathless. A flood of emotions overwhelmed her, and her eyes burned. However, she forced herself to stay composed and cut them off.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know who you two are. But I think I do have a boyfriend. Do either of you know his number? Please ask him to come see me."

Somewhere in the depths of her mind, there was someone like that.

Yancey's eyes flickered with confusion and shock, but then he quickly scoffed. Was this another one of her acts?

At that moment, the television on the wall was broadcasting financial news. The headline reported the return of Ethan Henderson, the youngest head of Henderson Group.

Rumors swirled that Ethan had been in a car accident two years ago, leaving both his legs crippled and half his face scarred. Since then, he has refused to make public appearances.

Yancey lifted his hand and pointed at the screen. "That's my uncle, Ethan Henderson. He's your boyfriend. I'll give you his number. Go find him."

He picked up Grace's phone, easily unlocking it with practiced ease, and left behind a string of digits.

Beside him, Alice covered her mouth, amusement flickering in her eyes as she whispered, "Yancey, is this really okay? Two years ago, because of her, your uncle…"

Yancey pulled Alice into his arms, his gaze filled with scorn.

Someone who had chased after him for five years wouldn't give up so easily. This had to be a new trick—playing hard to get.

Since she claimed she didn't remember who her boyfriend was, he would let her deal with Ethan, the person she hated the most.

"You've got the contact now, Grace. This time, you better keep up the act for at least a week. Otherwise, even if you beg on your knees, I won't spare you another glance."

Chapter 2

After saying that, Yancey wrapped his arm around Alice's waist and left without hesitation.

Grace stared at the string of numbers on her phone. That man just now had claimed to be her fiancé, yet he hadn't shown a shred of concern for her from beginning to end. All he cared about was defending Alice.

It felt like an iron wire was tightening around her heart. Her face turned paler as a dull pain spread through her chest.

Alice looked like she had recovered fully, while she, the one being blamed, had barely survived.

How could a man like that possibly be her fiancé?

She had been missing for three days, yet no one from her family had reached out to her. The only thing lingering in her hazy mind was the faint memory of having a boyfriend.

Without hesitation, she dialed the number.

It was answered by a robotic, professional voice, which likely belonged to an assistant.

"Ms. Lambert?"

"Hello. Is this Ethan Henderson? I think I lost my memory in a car accident, and I—"

"Mr. Henderson just returned to Druville and is still undergoing rehabilitation. Last time, you called him with the exact same excuse, asking him to pick you up. You even used the same car accident story. And he actually went—only to end up in that accident with you.

"Ms. Lambert, if you have even a shred of conscience left, please don't contact Mr. Henderson again."

"But I—"

The call was abruptly cut off.

Grace let out a sigh and leaned back against the pillow. Her head throbbed, and a sense of fear and uncertainty about the future crept in.

She glanced down at her unlocked phone. At least her payment app was still accessible.

She handed the phone to the nurse who had just walked in. "Could you check if there's enough balance on this?"

Her eyes swept over her transaction history. Just a week ago, she had spent exactly 200 thousand dollars. It seemed she had bought a pair of men's cufflinks. That meant she wasn't short on money, right?

The nurse's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Insufficient balance. The emergency treatment and hospitalization fees total 20 thousand dollars."

Grace lowered her gaze, confusion evident on her delicate face. She had just spent 200 thousand dollars a week ago. How could she not even have 20 thousand dollars left in her account now?

She went through the contact list and found one labeled Mom.

Taking a deep breath, she called the number.

The moment the call connected, an angry voice lashed out at her.

"So, you still remember to call me, huh? Grace, how old are you now? Why are you still playing these childish games? Yancey and Alice have been secretly dating for a long time. Alice never told you because she didn't want to hurt your feelings.

"But what do you do? You see them kiss once and drag Alice out, leading to a car accident! You're such a burden! Honestly, you should've just died out there! Alice has always been so considerate of you as her sister, and all you do is resort to these dirty tricks! How did I give birth to such a vile creature like you?"

Grace was about to say something when she suddenly heard Alice's voice on the other end.

"Mom, I think Grace might have lost her memory this time. Maybe you should go easy on her."

"Memory loss? How many times has she 'lost her memory' this year alone? What a fool—always pulling the same stunt. If she really had any backbone, she'd stay gone forever. That way, I wouldn't have to deal with the stress of her existence.

"Alice, stop defending her. Haven't you suffered enough over the years? Yancey confessed to you first, but because of your kindness, you let Grace cling to him like a fool. She never dared to confront him directly, so she takes it all out on you. You're too kind, my dear."

Upon hearing this, Grace felt a sharp pain in her chest, an unbearable bitterness spreading through her heart.

Was this really her mother? Why was she just like Yancey—never once asking how she was or concerned about her injuries?

She opened her mouth, her voice trembling in disbelief. "Are you really my mother?"

What kind of mother would say such vile things to her daughter?

"What do you mean by that, Grace? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? If you don't want to acknowledge me as your mother, then fine! I don't want a disgraceful daughter like you either! Do you have any idea how many humiliating things you've done chasing after Yancey?

"Can you stop embarrassing yourself for once? You even got jealous when I bought Alice an extra car. Do you even see her as your sister? I don't want to see you for the time being. Didn't you lose your memory? Just stay gone! Our family will be much more peaceful without you. What a jinx!"

The call ended abruptly.

Grace stared at her phone, the dull ache in her chest refusing to fade. Something wet slid down her cheek.

She reached up and touched her face—they were her tears.

She scrolled through her social media feed and realized Alice had posted something new.

It was a photo taken before a massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the river in Druville, with fireworks exploding in the night sky.

The caption read, "With my loved ones by my side."

The reflection in the glass revealed Yancey and two blurred figures of middle-aged adults.

A sharp pain stabbed through her chest, and Grace nearly doubled over from it.

Chapter 3

Grace didn't know who to turn to for the 20 thousand dollars. In the end, at 9:00 pm, she called Ethan again.

A deep and slightly hoarse voice came through the receiver, reminding her of snowflakes on a winter night.

"Grace Lambert?"

It was as if an invisible hand tightened around her throat, suffocating her with overwhelming grievances.

"Hello, Ethan. Can you lend me 20 thousand dollars? I'm in the hospital and can't afford the medical bills."

The only response was the sound of steady breathing and the faint rustling of fabric.

Just as Grace was preparing herself for rejection, she heard him ask, "Account number?"

"Let… Let me find it."

She quickly grabbed the bag beside her and started searching frantically, afraid he would hang up before she could give him the details.

The nurse told her this was her bag, but inside, there were only cosmetics for touch-ups.

Finally, she found a card in the innermost compartment and quickly read out the number.

In less than a minute, the notification of a bank transfer came through.

Grace hesitated to hang up. After all, this was the only person willing to acknowledge her since she had woken up with amnesia.

However, she hesitated for three full minutes, unsure of what to say.

Surprisingly, Ethan didn't hang up either.

In the quiet stillness of the call, they could hear each other's breath.

"Ethan, I…"

"Are your injuries serious?"

His voice wasn't gentle. If anything, it carried the same chill of a late-night breeze.

Yet to Grace, it was the first true concern she had heard since waking up.

Something stirred in her heart, but her words failed her, so she simply said, "I'm fine now. Thank you. I'll find a way to pay you back."

"Grace, how long are you planning to lie to me this time?"

Her heart skipped a beat. Panicking, she quickly hung up the phone, her thoughts a mess.

What did he mean by that? Had she lied to him many times before?

No matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn't make sense of it. Instead, she only got more confused.

For now, all she could do was settle her outstanding hospital bill and complete the paperwork for her discharge.

However, when she stepped out of the hospital, she found herself at a complete loss. She had no money and no idea where she lived.

Eventually, she found an address in her message records and took a taxi there.

The place was a beautiful villa with a meticulously maintained garden.

The taxi driver tapped the steering wheel. "That'll be a hundred dollars. Are you paying cash or online transfer?"

Grace got out of the car with an awkward expression. Coincidentally, a luxury car pulled up in front of her.

The window rolled down, revealing Yancey's face. Alice, looking fresh and delicate, was in the passenger seat.

Alice stepped out of the car and asked with concern, "Grace, why did you leave the hospital?"

She looked stunning today. Her dress was adorned with shimmering crystals, and her handbag was a limited edition model worth at least three million dollars.

"Didn't Yancey tell you earlier? Your boyfriend is Ethan Henderson."

Alice's eyes reddened, and she continued, "Are you here because of me again? What do you want from me?"

Before Grace could say anything, Yancey had already got out of the driver's seat, his gaze filled with mockery.

"I really thought you'd last longer, but you couldn't even hold out for six hours. Grace, do you have no shame? Do I really need to repeat myself over and over again?

"I like Alice. Do you not have an ounce of self-respect? Do you enjoy being humiliated? Why do you keep making things difficult for Alice?"

Alice leaned into his embrace, shaking her head. "Forget it, Yancey. I'm used to it."

The last trace of color drained from Grace's face. She was still dressed in the oversized hospital gown, and her long, dark lashes trembled like fragile glass, ready to shatter at the slightest touch.

She forced herself to look away from the scene and whispered, "Do you have a hundred dollars? Can you lend it to me?"

Yancey scoffed, his disgust barely hidden. "I'd rather give it to a dog than to you."

He looked down at Alice in his arms and said gently, "Let's go inside. Just ignore her."

Alice wiped her eyes and smiled softly. "Grace, here. Take my card. Use it if you need to."

Grace lowered her gaze, swallowing down the bitterness in her heart. She wanted to throw away her pride and accept the card because, at that moment, she was truly desperate for money.

Eventually, people had to face and accept reality for what it was.

But just as her fingertips were about to touch the car, another luxury car pulled up beside her.

Her mother, Carmen Oblak, stepped out of the vehicle in a fit of rage. The moment she saw the scene before her, she strode over and, without hesitation, slapped Grace hard across the face.

"Are you bullying Alice again? Haven't you taken enough from her? Grace Lambert, what do you want from us? Do you want to make everyone miserable because of you?

"Ever since Alice was found and brought home, you've made her life difficult. Why weren't you the one kidnapped instead? Alice has already suffered so much. Can't you just grow up and deal with things like a mature adult?"

Chapter 4

Grace took the slap, her head tilting slightly to the side. There was no light left in her eyes.

Alice quickly stepped to Carmen's side, soothing her. "Mom, I'm really fine. There's only a million dollars tied to my card. I was afraid that if I gave her too much, she'd keep spending recklessly like before, so I didn't put in much in that account."

Grace's throat burned with pain. She suddenly pulled open the door of the taxi parked nearby. "Please take me to…"

But her mind was blank—no place came to mind.

Through the car window, she watched as the four of them walked into the house together.

The taxi driver glanced at her and sighed. "Are those your family or your enemies? You didn't even say a word, and they just slapped you. Forget the hundred bucks. Just get out."

Grace's tears, which she had been holding back, finally spilled over. She wanted to ask the same thing—were they really her family or her enemies?

Not far away, Alice clutched Yancey's hand. A flicker of triumph flashed across her eyes.

"Mom, Yancey, do you think Grace really lost her memory? Maybe we should call her back in."

Carmen's expression darkened. Just the mention of Grace filled her with disgust. "If she really had amnesia, she wouldn't have been able to find her way here!"

She then turned to Yancey and said, "Yancey, you should call off the engagement with her as soon as possible. Don't let Alice suffer. She's already experienced enough hardships outside. As her mother, I can't bear to let her go through more pain."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Lambert. I'll take care of Alice for the rest of my life."

As for Grace? Sure, they had grown up together, but he had long since grown tired of her.

Besides, when Grace and Alice had gone out together years ago, Alice was the one who got kidnapped.

When Alice was finally found five years ago, they all learned the truth—Alice had shielded Grace and told her to run for help.

Grace had run, but she had done nothing—she left her own sister to be taken away.

She had been rotten from the start. After Alice was brought home, Grace bullied her constantly, believing Alice had stolen her place in the family.

Any time Yancey defended Alice, Grace would throw a fit. Everything that happened to her now was—she brought it upon herself.

…

Grace sat alone by the roadside, still wearing her hospital gown. She looked frail and weak.

A car pulled up beside her.

"Grace?" A young woman's voice called out.

Grace looked up and found her face to be familiar, but she couldn't remember who she was.

"What's this? Did you fight with Yancey again? At least change your clothes before running away from home next time."

"Who are you?"

Joanne Sylvester facepalmed, then unlocked the passenger door. "Just get in. Honestly, I don't blame people for getting tired of you. You pull the same stunt too many times. I don't even get why you put Yancey on such a pedestal."

Grace got into the car and sat in silence.

Joanne drove back to her residential area. "Stay at my place tonight. Not that it matters. You'll probably be running back to him first thing in the morning."

Grace followed her inside, politely changing into slippers at the entrance.

The place felt familiar—it seemed that this person was probably a friend of hers.

She sat down on the couch while Joanna poured her a glass of warm water.

Holding the cup in her hands, Grace finally felt a bit of warmth return to her body.

Joanne, visibly exhausted, yawned. "I'm going to take a shower. You can sleep in the same room as always. And in the morning, don't forget to take the clothes you left behind last time."

Then, she muttered, "Honestly, I wish you'd grow a spine and stop surrendering to Yancey so quickly. Every time you run away, it never lasts more than three days.

"The moment he crooks his finger, you go crawling right back, letting him trample all over you. It's no wonder he and his friends look down on you. Seriously, Grace, if you ever actually lost your memory, I'd set off fireworks to celebrate."

Chapter 5

Grace had no way to explain herself. Upon seeing how exhausted Joanne was, she didn't want to argue the point.

Joanne placed a fresh set of pajamas on the bed. "Your room has its own bathroom. Go shower and get some rest. I'm too tired to chat tonight."

Grace nodded and simply said, "Thank you."

When she saw Joanne enter one of the bedrooms, she knew the other room had to be hers.

She grabbed the pajamas and took a shower. Finally, she felt a little more comfortable.

Just as she was about to sleep, her phone buzzed with a new message.

It was from her younger brother, Liam Lambert.

"Grace, I'm home for break. Just got back. It's Alice's birthday today. Why aren't you here? Mom said you ran away from home again. Are you serious? Can you stop already? Just come back. The housekeeper's cooking is awful. I still prefer your food. I want mashed potato salad for breakfast, okay?"

"Alice cried tonight. Just come back and apologize first. Aren't you tired of making a scene all the time? Yancey doesn't even like you. Sometimes, I feel embarrassed because of you."

As she clutched her phone tightly, she felt a sharp pain stab through her heart. It felt like the whole world adored Alice.

Meanwhile, she was just trash that people couldn't even be bothered to kick aside.

Even without her memories, she could still feel the pain.

…

The next morning, she woke up early with dark circles heavy under her eyes.

She went to the kitchen and started cooking, surprised to find that she seemed quite skilled at it.

Joanne walked out of her room, inhaling the scent of food, and sighed.

"Are you bringing breakfast to Yancey again? Over the years, how many meals have you made for him? Has he ever eaten a single one? A rich girl like you wasting her time perfecting cooking skills just so you can chase after a man…

"You graduated and didn't even look for a job. You spent years running after him, and all you got in return was everyone's mockery. What's the point?"

Grace's hand froze. She wanted to say that she hadn't made this for Yancey.

But from what she learned so far, no one would believe her anyway.

She silently plated the food and brought it to the table.

Joanne's resume was sitting there, so Grace glanced at it. "Joanne, I want to find a job. What did I study in college?"

Joanne stared at the food for a moment, frowning in thought.

"Grace, you're acting more convincingly than ever this time."

A bitter feeling crept up in Grace's heart. She pushed a bowl of soup toward Joanne. "Just tell me."

Joanne ate some and let out a sigh.

"You studied finance, but your family's company belongs to Liam. You probably don't even know which direction the office doors face. Even Alice has ten percent of the shares, but you have nothing.

"Back when you graduated, you had the chance to intern there, but you turned it down because working would mean less time to pursue Yancey. Now Alice has made a name for herself in the company. Everyone knows her as the second daughter of the family. No one even remembers you exist."

Grace quietly ate some food before suddenly saying, "Then I'll work at Henderson Group. Ethan just got back, right? I want to go after him."

Joanne choked on her soup, coughing hard as if she had just heard something ridiculous.

She quickly grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth.

"Did you hate Ethan the most? Since Yancey never liked his uncle, you followed suit. Every time someone mentioned Ethan, you looked absolutely disgusted. Do you even know what kind of man he is?

"He graduated from Haverford with a double degree at 18. At 19, he founded the biggest acquisition firm overseas. He was a regular on Varnell Street finance covers. If it weren't for the accident two years ago that crippled his legs, every woman in Druville would still be in love with him."

Grace thought about the deep, compelling voice she had heard over the phone and couldn't help but ask, "What does he look like?"

Joanne did a quick search and pulled up a foreign news photo.

"Here."

The man in the picture was wearing a black suit, and his shirt was buttoned all the way up. He had a reserved, almost ascetic air about him. His gaze, cold and deep, was like a vast ocean on a winter's night, concealing unseen storms beneath the surface.

It was the most breathtaking face Grace had ever seen, over a hundred times better-looking than Yancey's.

Joanne clicked her tongue. "It's a pity. After the accident, he never returned to Druville. No updates in any domestic or international newspapers. Even with his legs injured, he still has women lining up for him.

Grace took a sip of soup and suddenly said, "Yancey told me he's my boyfriend. I'm going to Henderson Group."

Joanne gave Grace a strange look and rubbed her temples.

"Are you going to Henderson Group to pursue Yancey, or are you actually going after Ethan? Do whatever you want. If you can manage to win over Ethan, I swear I'll never criticize you again."

Chapter 6

Grace finished eating and was about to leave when she hesitated and asked, "Can you lend me some money?"

Joanne took a deep breath. "You spent 200 thousand dollars on a pair of cufflinks for Yancey last week, and now you're telling me you're broke?"

Grace awkwardly scratched her cheek. "I had to borrow money just to pay my hospital bill yesterday. I'll pay you back."

Joanne transferred ten thousand dollars to her and patted her shoulder. "Your family cut off your spending ages ago. But instead of saving for yourself, you kept using your money to buy gifts for Yancey and even tried to win over his relatives.

"There's no point lecturing you on this. You don't have to pay me back. If you don't have anywhere to stay tonight, just come back here."

Grace felt a wave of gratitude for Joanne.

Since she had decided to apply for a job at Henderson Group, she needed to return home to find her ID and other important documents.

When she arrived at the Lambert residence, she felt a little uneasy as she rang the doorbell.

A young man's voice called out from inside. "Who is it?"

The door swung open, and Liam stood there. The moment he saw her, his face darkened with frustration.

"Grace, what the hell? Didn't I tell you to come back early and make breakfast? You're just getting home now? Hurry up, I'm starving."

Grace looked at the tall, handsome young man standing in front of her, then lowered her head and slowly changed her shoes at the entrance.

"Don't we have a housekeeper?"

"The housekeeper's food isn't as good as yours. What's wrong with you? You've been doing this for so long, and now you suddenly want to act differently? Cooking for the family is your responsibility, isn't it?

"Even when you had a high fever before, you still cooked for us. Mom would praise you, and you'd be happy about it for hours."

Grace felt a heavy weight in her chest after hearing that. Her gaze drifted to the couch.

Alice, Carmen, and her father, Quentin Lambert, were all sitting there.

The moment Carmen saw her, she scoffed, "I thought you weren't coming to cook today. Looks like you couldn't keep up the act. Go to the kitchen. Your brother is starving. You really don't act like an older sister at all."

Alice, who was sitting elegantly on the couch, smiled softly when she heard that.

"Grace, I want some shrimp with broccoli. Don't add too much salt to my meals. I don't want to get bloated. Yancey and I are taking some glamor shots soon."

After that, she turned to Carmen. "Mom, Dad, what would you like to eat?"

Carmen's face instantly lit up with a bright smile, and she stroked Alice's head tenderly. "Alice, you're so thoughtful."

Grace stood by the entrance, finding the entire situation laughable.

Then, the housekeeper walked over and handed her an apron with a slight frown. "Ms. Grace, you usually wake up at 5:00 am to cook breakfast. Why are you only getting back at 7:00 am? Everyone's been waiting. If you're going to be late, at least give us a heads-up next time."

So, they all just saw her as a servant?

Grace didn't take the apron. Instead, she turned and walked toward the stairs.

Everyone froze at that.

Liam immediately jumped up. "Grace, what's your problem? I'm really hungry! Just apologize to Alice for missing her birthday yesterday and go make breakfast!"

Carmen spoke up as well. "They all prefer your cooking, and you're used to it. Stop being so difficult."

Grace had already reached the staircase when she suddenly let out a soft chuckle after hearing their responses.

Her features were naturally striking—stunning and refined. When she wasn't smiling, she had a cool, distant air. Her complexion was so fair that her skin seemed to glow.

She would undoubtedly be ranked among the top beauties of Druville.

However, because she had spent years pursuing Yancey, she had become a laughingstock.

"I'm charging 100 thousand dollars for each meal. Who's paying?"

Her words plunged the room into an eerie silence.

Quentin slammed his newspaper onto the coffee table. His face was dark and stormy, looking as if he no longer recognized his own daughter.

"This is ridiculous! Where did you pick up such a money-grubbing attitude?"

Grace calmly tucked her hair behind her ear, her gaze sweeping over the four people in the room.

"Why should I cook for you for free? I'm the one putting in all the effort. Yet Alice only asks what you'd like to eat, and that makes her the considerate one. If she's so thoughtful, let her cook."

Just as Grace turned around to go upstairs, Alice immediately burst into tears.

"Grace, what do you mean by this? You were the one who insisted on cooking for us, saying it was to make up for things. I know you've never liked me since I came back five years ago. You always think I stole something from you. Fine, I'll just move out."

She wiped her eyes, looking like she had suffered some unimaginable grievance.

Carmen's heart ached, and Liam jumped in to reprimand Grace. "Grace, look at what you've done! Why are you always like this?"

Grace didn't bother responding. She swallowed the suffocating bitterness in her chest and curled her lips into a faint smirk. "Sure. Move out. Want me to help pack?"

Alice clearly hadn't expected that response. Her eyes gaze looked even more aggrieved. "I knew it. No matter what I do, you'll never like me…"

"What are you crying for? Did I hit you or insult you? You sure have some talent for summoning tears on demand, huh? I suppose the drama you generate is enough to entertain the entire country for life. You and Yancey are really the perfect pair. Please stay together. Just don't bother me anymore."

Alice's tears stopped as she stared at Grace in shock.

The old Grace would never have said something like that. She wouldn't have been able to bring herself to say anything harsh about Yancey.

It seemed that she had been pushed to the brink and lost her mind.

Alice's lips curved ever so slightly. That was fine as well. She had always hated Grace's face and wished she could destroy it.

Jealousy flashed in her eyes.

"How could you say that about Yancey…"

Grace couldn't be bothered to argue anymore. She simply walked upstairs.

Carmen stormed after her furiously. "You're out of control! Do you even hear yourself?"

She reached for Grace's sleeve, but Grace shoved her off.

Carmen was stunned by her reaction and was dazed for a few seconds.

Grace had always been obedient—never complaining or fighting back. Just a little bit of praise from the family would make her eyes sparkle with joy.

Now, that same daughter was defying her. It made her feel uneasy. "Have you been possessed or something?"

Grace ignored her and continued upstairs. She asked one of the housekeepers and found her bedroom.

Inside, it was a mess. There was even a grand piano and various instruments cluttered about.

She walked over and took a brief glance, realizing that they were all labeled. Some belonged to Alice, some to Liam.

Was there no other place in this massive villa to store instruments? Did they really have to turn her bedroom into a storage room?

Chapter 7

Grace was so furious that her chest ached. She wanted to quickly gather all her important documents, but when she opened the last drawer, she froze.

Inside was a pile of certificates. Among them were the Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst certificates, two of the most prestigious credentials in the finance industry.

Some of these certificates were known as the golden tickets to Varnell Street, yet they had been shoved into the most neglected corner.

Wasn't she supposed to be a useless woman who only knew how to chase after a man?

She scanned them briefly. Unwilling to stay in this house any longer, she quickly packed a few sets of clothes and prepared to leave.

Just then, Liam walked in. "Grace, are you running away from home again? Cut it out. I'm starving."

He strode over and yanked the suitcase out of her hands.

"If you don't go apologize to Mom and Alice right now, no one will bother themselves with you anymore. How long do you plan to be gone this time? Wasn't it just yesterday that you pulled this same stunt?

"You were gone for only a few hours before crawling back. You're embarrassing yourself, you know that? You're ruining the harmony of this household."

As he spoke, he angrily tossed her suitcase to the side, scattering her neatly packed clothes onto the floor.

"Do you know why everyone likes Alice more? She's gentle, educated, and competent at work. She's miles ahead of you. Seeing how Mom and Dad refuse to give you any shares, shouldn't you reflect on your own actions and attitude?"

While looking at her clothes on the floor, Grace's patience ran out. She raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

Liam clutched his cheek in shock. A red mark instantly swelled on his face. "You hit me?"

Grace had always been the one to endure everything in silence, always indulging him. And now, she had actually hit him?

His heart twisted for a moment, but soon, anger replaced the shock.

"You hit me? You actually hit me? Grace, I swear I'm done with you! Unless you cook for me for an entire year, don't even think about talking to me again! Just leave already! We all know you'll come crawling back in a few days anyway!"

He stormed off furiously.

As Grace dragged her suitcase downstairs, she heard Carmen's sharp voice.

"Unbelievable! Grace, you actually hit your own brother! You're completely out of control! Get outside and kneel until we're satisfied. Otherwise, you're no longer welcome in this house!"

Grace glanced at the couch. Alice was gently massaging Liam's swollen cheek, her eyes filled with concern.

Liam looked deeply moved. When he turned toward Grace, he even snorted coldly, exaggerating his reaction.

A stabbing pain shot through her heart. However, she had truly lost her memories. She no longer had the instinct to grovel for their affection.

She calmly pulled her suitcase toward the door and said evenly, "Good. I don't want to stay here anyway. Since I'm no longer welcome here, I'll leave. The four of you can live happily together. I won't disturb you anymore. Goodbye."

Carmen thought she had misheard. She trembled with rage. "You-you…! How did I give birth to such an ungrateful child? Fine, go! You've never worked a day in your life. Let's see how long you last out there. You'll be back begging in no time!"

Grace's response was the loud slam of the door.

Carmen's body trembled with fury. She collapsed onto the couch, hands trembling as she reached for a glass of 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 comes back."

Liam quickly agreed. "Yeah, and after what she did to me today, I'll never forgive her."

…

Grace dragged her suitcase out of the house. She had only the ten thousand dollars Joanne had sent her, and her first priority was finding a place to stay.

Although Joanne had offered her a place, she didn't want to impose.

She searched online for nearby rentals, aiming to find a place close to Henderson Group.

But the company was located in the heart of Druville, where every inch of land was worth a fortune. The cheapest apartment she found was nearly 20 thousand dollars a month, which was far beyond what she could afford.

If she rented somewhere farther away, the daily taxi fare would cost a fortune.

After thinking it over, she spotted a nearby free electric scooter station.

With no other choice, she decided to rent a place in an older neighborhood. A scooter ride to Henderson Group would take about 20 minutes.

She unlocked a scooter parked outside the complex and took a practice ride on the main road.

Since she had no memory of her past, she wasn't sure if she even knew how to ride one. Watching others, it looked easy enough.

However, as soon as she started, the scooter wobbled like crazy. It was painfully slow, and every passing vehicle honked at her.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she clung to the handlebar, staying as close to the roadside as possible to avoid an accident.

Meanwhile, in a luxury car nearby, Ethan sat in the backseat, reviewing a stack of documents on his lap.

When the car came to a halt at the traffic light, he closed the folder and turned to glance outside—only to see Grace struggling to control a scooter on the road.

Today, she had tied her hair into a ponytail. Under the sunlight, her skin looked almost translucent, radiating a fresh, youthful energy.

However, her riding skills were atrocious, and she nearly crashed into a turning car.

Ethan's gaze froze for a moment, his fingertips curling slightly.

From the driver's seat, Tim Bennet spoke up.

"Isn't that Grace? What's she up to now? Didn't she used to refuse to ride anything that was cheaper than three million dollars?"

Tim was Ethan's assistant and had just returned to the country with him.

He glanced at the rearview mirror and met Ethan's eyes.

"Sir, let's stay far away from that walking disaster. The last thing we need is for her to drag you into trouble again."

Chapter 8

Grace had underestimated the acceleration of the electric scooter. The moment she twisted the throttle, it lurched forward and crashed straight into someone's car.

She tumbled to the ground and scraped her knee. The sharp sting made her frown.

The car's owner stormed out furiously. "Do you even know how to ride? Are you in a hurry to die or something? Damn my luck. This is a new car I just picked up from the dealership, for goodness sake! You better pay for the damages."

Grace glanced at the car emblem and realized it was a Maserati.

Just great. There was no way her ten thousand dollars would cover this.

A crowd quickly gathered, eager to see who had the misfortune of crashing into a luxury car.

The man grabbed her sleeve. "Pay up, woman, or I'm calling the police!"

Grace adjusted her stance to alleviate the pain in her leg. "Is ten thousand dollars enough?"

The man thought he was hearing things, and his face immediately flushed with anger. "Do you take me for a beggar or something?"

Meanwhile, the traffic light at Ethan's intersection had turned green.

His gaze flicked back to the scene, and the air around him turned colder as his gaze darkened.

Just as Tim was about to step on the gas pedal, Ethan spoke up. "Go settle it."

Tim's grip on the steering wheel tightened immediately. He had the urge to say something but finally decided against it and got out of the car.

The temperature outside was high, and Grace's forehead was already covered in sweat.

She was just about to figure out who to call for help when she noticed a young man approaching.

The young man spoke in a professional tone. "Call the traffic police first. How much is it? I'll cover it."

The Maserati's owner was about to explode in rage again, but when he noticed that Tim had stepped out of a limited edition luxury car that was worth tens of millions, his heart skipped a beat.

There was no second car like this in Druville, and he couldn't afford to offend the owner.

Not wanting to wait for the police, he quickly said, "A hundred thousand dollars. You can just transfer it."

Tim transferred the money and turned to leave, but Grace stopped him.

She wore casual sportswear today, emphasizing her shapely legs and waist. A tiny beauty mark on the tip of her nose added a touch of warmth to her otherwise cool and striking features.

"Um… I don't have the money to pay you back right now."

She glanced at the nearby car, feeling that someone else was in there.

Tim waved her off. "Forget it."

His face was a picture of impatience, clearly uninterested in talking to her any longer.

But Grace walked toward the car anyway. "Can I get your contact information? I'll make sure to pay you back as soon as I have the money."

A look of mockery flashed across Tim's eyes.

She really was committed to this clueless act, huh? She even claimed she'd pay back once she had money!

As if a daughter of the Lambert family wouldn't even have a hundred thousand dollars to spare!

He couldn't be bothered to play along. With a smirk, he said, "Ms. Lambert, people get sick of your overacting. I told you to forget it. Just stay away from us. Everything about you is just screams of a scam and misfortune. Please don't bring your bad luck onto us."

Grace was taken aback. She had no memory of this person, no idea who he was.

But if he hated her so much, why did he even help her?

She lowered her eyes for a moment, then smiled as she thought of something. "If you dislike me so much, that's all the more reason I need to pay you back. Give me your contact info. If you won't, I'll go ask the person inside the car. I'll get your contact information one way or another."

Tim wasn't about to let her meet Ethan just like that, so he scribbled down a string of numbers in annoyance.

Grace carefully saved it and offered an elegant bow. "Thank you."

Tim was stunned. This woman had been rude and indifferent to everyone in the past, never bothering with basic courtesy. Had she really changed?

Just as that thought crossed his mind, he scoffed, dismissing it. It was probably just another ploy to get Yancey's attention.

Everyone in Druville knew what kind of person Grace was—she was completely insufferable.