Wife by Day, Boss by Night

But Gracia still had the backing of the Howard family, and maybe there was a sliver of hope for a turnaround!

“Without a proper lesson, she'll do it again!” Samuel pointed at Gracia with fury in his voice.

“Isn't this punishment enough?” Lydia retorted through her tears.

“Enough with the arguing.” Then, cradled in Lydia's arms, Gracia suddenly spoke up softly.

She gently wiped the tears from her face and continued, “Howard family’s bodyguards are right outside the door, and Brian could come back any minute.

They'll hear everything.”

She had one last lifeline with the Howard family. She couldn't let Samuel and Lydia ruin it. Samuel looked at Gracia, who suddenly became composed, feeling an odd flicker of something unfamiliar inside.

He had never seen Gracia like this before. It was as if she had a second persona.

Piece by piece, Gracia dried her tears, her eyes reddened as she looked up at Samuel. “And besides, didn't you two make what kind of person I am? Who else can you blame?”

Her mother was the other woman who had climbed her way up, and her father had abandoned his family, refusing to give a dime in alimony to Audrey and Natalie. These things she had witnessed growing up had twisted her psyche.

But what could she do? She was Gracia, a product of their making, taught to be evil

“My mom's right. Could you have hoped to gain anything from the Howard family without me?” she asked quietly.

“You...” Samuel was stunned.

But Gracia didn’t wait for him to speak, continuing in a soft voice, “While the Howard family still hold some gratitude toward me, you'd better treat me with some respect. Whether the Wright family can turn their fortunes around depends on me. Or do you think you can get Natalie to change her heart, to care for you in your old age? Let me tell you. From the moment she lost her child, she’s hated you, wishing you would drop dead! Samuel, I'm all you have.”

Samuel never realized this was how Gracia truly felt. He just stared at her, speechless.

After Gracia’s words fell silent, a shuffle of hurried footsteps echoed outside the door.

The door to the hospital room swung open.

Having heard that Gracia was driven to attempt suicide by the press, Davis had rushed over to check on her. As he entered and saw Gracia, who had been perfectly fine just a few days ago, in such a state, his heart lurched.

“Gracia!”

12:02

“ . ’ ” Se Davis... I'm sorry..." Gracia's lips quivered, and the next second, tears streamed down her face. Lydia silently moved aside, giving Davis room. She exchanged a glance with a 3Samuel, and Gracia's cunning and ability to switch faces in no time astounded her.

Upon hearing that Natalie was involved, Davis immediately concluded that Natalie had intentionally set Gracia up.

Without asking further, he turned to5 5 : am Lydia and Samuel with distress, “It's also my fault. I was the one who suggested that she should receive the Best Actress award. Had Gracia not won it, none of this would have” :

happened.”

“It's not entirely your fault. Gracia is probably too kind-hearted, too trusting...”

Lydia replied softly, her head bowed.

Davis sighed. “Once she’s discharged, she should stay with the Howard family for a while.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“If Gracia goes home now, those vulturous reporters will continue hounding your company and home. She'll be safer with the Howard family.”

Lydia and Samuel exchanged a look and then nodded in agreement.

I , : . .

You're right. We were discussing

) .

what to do.