I've Been There Before (Grace and Caden) novel Chapter 197

“You bitch! You can still laugh now! You murderer! You heartless bitch!”

His voice became agitated and tinged with seething anger, “If it were not because of you, Wallis wouldn’t have been gone from this world at a tender age from the beginning. If it were not because of you, how could Wallis become a victim of those barbaric animals! It was all because of you! You evil heartless bitch!”

Grace was tied to a chair which had one of its legs severed in half as she stared blankly at the elderly person who was cursing at her.

“I couldn’t believe that Wallis had been seeing you as her friend, and a best friend at that. But what have you done in return? What the hell have you done?”

Sam was shaking Grace along with the chair violently as if he was transferring his anger through this motion. His eyes were dripping with venomous hatred!

Grace had endured his onslaught of wrath silently, until Sam had mentioned that “Wallis had been seeing you as her friend”… This was the last straw for her!

“I used to think the same many years ago. Wallis was indeed my best friend and I was her best friend in turn.” Sam glared at the girl tied to the chair who was starting a muffled chuckle. As if he was overcome with poison, it penetrated through his body … Slap!

“You still dare to laugh! You still have the guts to laugh!”

His slap was strong enough to completely twist Grace’s face in another direction. Her head was tilted sideways as her body remained motionless, half-leaning on the chair. Although her mouth was throbbing with pain due to the slap, she looked unfazed while maintaining her posture as she slowly opened her mouth, “Sam, do you think I’m stupid? Do you think I wouldn’t be able to figure things out after spending three years in prison?” Her head gradually spun around so that her gaze was now falling upon Sam’s distorted face.

“Who was the instigator? Who was the one harboring ill intentions? And who was the one failing spectacularly instead in her actions and got who she deserved?” She spelled out each word with conviction. Her voice was crystal clear. Although the corner of her mouth was decimated due to that slap, she still insisted to make her thoughts clear here and now!

It was as though she would finally be able to clear the mess entangling her and Wallis through her announcement here. This was also her plead to reveal Wallis’ crime even after all these years!

How could she not be sure of every detail here?

She was the one who had fallen from the apex of the pyramid into a muddy swarm. She understood that these seemingly insignificant details in others’ eyes were paramount to her. She must hold on to every leverage she could get so that she could be sure of her own decision and concern!

“You…” Sam’s heart seemed to skip a beat as he spiraled into confusion. He gaped at the person tied to the chair and a glint of suspicion flashed across his eyes. Did she find out about the truth?

No!

How could that be possible?

If she really knew the truth, then why hadn’t she paid the Shaw Manor the moment she was released from jail?

If she was really in the know, why didn’t she say anything about the pettiness and difficult treatment she had received while staying in the Shaw Manor?

She wouldn’t have known the truth!

If the inverse was true, then how could she stay oblivious to everything happening to her? How could she remain silent?

Grace didn’t register the shock on Uncle Venus’ face, or more accurately, she didn’t care less about his reaction whether it was one of astonishment or other emotions. She wouldn’t care about anybody’s opinions as she started to put her memories into words while staring at the white fluorescent light above her head.

“Sam, do you remember? When I was still a child, I always had a lot of fun with Wallis in the garden of the manor. Just the two of us, we would feel contented even if we were just reading a book with our backs propped up against each other’s under the huge tree. When my grandpa was still alive, he had been very strict towards me. I had to learn a lot of things, much more than my peers. Sometimes, I had to study even if it was already past midnight, so there weren’t much time for me take a break. Once I caught a chance to rest, I would go to the Shaw Manor. Caden didn’t pay me any attention most of the time, instead it was Wallis who had spent the most amount of time with me.”

“What are you trying to imply by uttering all of this?” Sam’s face was full of apprehension and suspicion, “Are you perhaps thinking that by resorting to sentiments, it would work against me?”

Grace’s line of gaze finally shifted from the white fluorescent light and dropped onto Sam’s face. Her sights were a tad blurry after focusing on white light for too long, hence she couldn’t make out the details of Sam’s face clearly. This hit home her intention--- she wanted to avoid looking into this despicable elderly person’s face as much as she could manage.