Five Years Wasted Now They Beg Her Back novel Chapter 383

The Clarke family estate, with its elegant pavilions and winding, secluded paths, exuded a century of history and prestige.

Grace walked into the main hall, her arm linked with Damien's.

Harold sat in an imposing armchair, his complexion rosy. Though he still needed a cane, his authoritative air remained.

The Clarke family matriarch, her hair completely silver, sat beside him, fingering a string of prayer beads.

As for Marianne...

Grace had heard that when the matriarch found out how easily Amelia had manipulated her, she was furious and sent her back to her family out west to reflect.

"Dad, Grandma."

Damien led Grace forward.

Grace quickly followed suit, "Dad, Grandma."

Harold kept a stern face, but his eyes held a hint of a smile.

He beckoned to her. "Come here."

Grace stepped forward.

From a curio shelf behind him, Harold took out a rosewood box.

He opened it to reveal a jade bracelet of the finest quality, a solid, translucent green.

"This is passed down to the daughters-in-law of the Clarke family. By rights, I should have given this to you long ago... Since Martin... well..."

Harold sighed, then said with a smile, "I was too foolish in the past. You're the one who saved my life, not to mention you're Damien's wife."

Thinking of the past made his eyes sting.

"Dad," Damien couldn't help but remind him, "let's keep things cheerful."

Harold snapped out of it, pushing the thoughts aside. He picked up the bracelet and gestured for Grace to extend her hand.

Grace instinctively glanced at Damien.

One month later, on the first day of summer, Graceline Technologies officially went public.

Grace stood on the terrace at the celebration party, swirling a glass of expensive champagne.

Her star-dusted blue haute couture gown had been custom-made by that eccentric master designer at Valeria, a special request from Damien. Each of the three thousand crushed diamonds sewn into the skirt seemed to mock the memory of the girl who once wore a faded school uniform, ostracized by Lilian and her clique.

"What are you thinking about?"

Damien wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin in the crook of her neck. His warm breath ghosted over her ear.

"I was just thinking..." Grace looked down at the flow of traffic, like ants below. "...what I was doing six years ago today."

Damien's arms tightened slightly.

Grace gave a soft laugh.

"Six years ago today was Lilian's birthday party. The Hart family had booked the entire Peninsula Hotel. And I was locked in a storage room to 'reflect' because I'd accidentally broken one of Lilian's crystal figurines."

"It rained heavily that night, and the storage room was leaking. I was running a high fever, huddled on a pile of soaked cardboard boxes. I could hear the cheers from outside as they cut the cake, and I could smell the scent of cream drifting in. My stomach was cramping with hunger."