In the Lap of Luxury

Chapter 564 Confession

Benjamin's gaze gradually darkened. He stood in place for a long time before he finally made a call.

"When did Xander come back? Why wasn't I informed?"

…

Outside, the weather was cold. Grace stood at the door, her breath forming a wisp of white mist.

Half of her face was buried in her scarf, only revealing a pair of coy eyes, which made her look rather pitiable.

Xander walked up to her. "Why aren't you getting in the car?"

Grace replied irritably, "I have a car."

Xander looked at her and covered her hand with his own, warming it. "I haven't slept since last night. Humor me, won't you? Don't be angry."

Grace grew even angrier. "Thanks to you, I haven't slept either!"

Xander chuckled. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault."

His complexion was already pale. Since he was wearing a black coat, it made his face look even more ashen—somewhat sickly even. Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Grace's heart softened a bit. "How did you know that I was here?"

Xander glanced in the direction where Hazel was waiting. "Besides work, your whereabouts are quite routine and easy to track."

Grace kicked him.

"So you have everything under control, Mr. Fulton? It seems like you've been scheming this whole time."

Xander hissed as the kick landed on him, instantly worrying Grace. "Did I hurt you? I'm sorry, I ..."

Then, she met his knowing gaze.

"You still care about me."

Grace fell silent and shook his hand off her before pacing forward in frustration. "I can't be bothered with you!"

Laughing lightly, Xander followed her quickly. "Everything I said today is true. Maybe my approach was wrong, but I didn't lie."

"Benjamin asked for my forgiveness by using the Hawkins Group's clients as leverage."

Xander frowned.

Grace walked backward, looking at him. "What can you offer?"

"Were you moved?"

"Of course not. But I met Timothy today. He said he's been pursuing someone he likes. He's been gifting her horses, investing in industries she likes, and spending lavishly."

Toward the end of her sentence, Grace's voice rose. "Mr. Fulton, you say you like me. How come you're here empty-handed?"

Xander looked at his own hands. He had indeed brought nothing.

He said, "Do you remember your postgraduate studies graduation year?"

Grace was startled. That year, she had agreed to return to Frenda after graduation. But unexpectedly, during her layover in Pamore, she had met Benjamin again.

That once heart-fluttering moment had convinced her to stay in Pamore and give up everything, sowing the seeds of several years of chaos. How could she forget?

"I remember."

"On the day you were supposed to return, I specially arranged a proposal at the highest peak in Frenda. I invited your closest family to witness my confession to you.

"Besides the limited-edition car model you'd been talking about, I put that manor under your name. But I never saw you at the airport."

Grace stopped in her tracks, shocked by the truth she had never known.

"At that time ..."

At that time, she had met Benjamin at the airport, which was why she had blown Xander off.

"It doesn't matter anymore. I'd liked you, Grace, even before that year."

Xander spoke clearly, his expression dark. The pain from waiting and suffering all these years made it hard for him to speak.

Grace felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Then why ..."

"I was a step too late. Do you remember? The first thing you told me on the phone was that you had found the person you had fallen in love with at first sight and wanted to stay in Pamore to marry him."

Grace stopped in her footsteps.

She remembered that she had indeed said that. But she had never realized that Xander had already liked her for a long time.

Xander's smile was bitter, and his eyes were filled with regret and pain.