Five Years Wasted Now They Beg Her Back novel Chapter 47

"Time and place."

Grace’s voice was cold as she uttered the four words.

On the other end of the line, Mr. Hart audibly relaxed.

"Tonight at seven. The Aurelia Grand Hotel, in the Cypress Room."

"Fine."

Grace hung up without another word.

She watched the screen go dark, a frosty smile touching her lips.

A trap?

At seven o'clock that evening, Grace arrived at the entrance of the Aurelia Grand Hotel.

It was a top-tier fine dining establishment, frequented by the city’s elite.

She gave the name of the private room, and a waiter respectfully led her to the Cypress Room, located at the far end of the second floor.

The further she walked, the deeper her sense of unease grew.

It was too quiet.

Logically, for a “family reconciliation” dinner, the Hart clan should have already been there, making a racket.

The waiter pushed open the heavy, carved wooden doors.

"Ms. Hart, we’re here."

Grace looked up.

The massive private room was brightly lit.

But her father, stepmother, and siblings were nowhere to be seen.

Only two people sat at the enormous round table.

One was her eldest brother, Cassian.

The other was a stranger, a man in his late forties, overweight with shrewd eyes.

Grace stopped in her tracks.

That ridiculous, one-in-a-million flicker of hope she’d harbored shattered into dust.

She should have known.

Some things never change.

Seeing her, Cassian immediately stood up, a fake smile plastered on his face.

"Grace, you’re here. Come, sit."

He eagerly pulled out the chair next to him.

"Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Brooks of the Brooks Group, Mr. Simon Brooks."

This was an elaborate setup.

A... matchmaking dinner.

Or more accurately, a product showcase.

And she was the product on display, complete with a price tag.

She turned to leave.

But Cassian moved quickly to block her path, hissing in her ear.

"Grace, don’t be a fool!"

"Do you have any idea who Mr. Brooks is? You should be thanking your lucky stars that he’s even interested in you!"

"If you dare screw this up tonight, I guarantee you won’t have a future in Jarrow City!"

Grace looked at his polished, villainous face and suddenly no longer felt like leaving.

She turned back, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"You’re right, brother. My apologies."

She walked to the table and sat down in the seat furthest from Simon Brooks.

Seeing her take a seat, Simon Brooks’s eyes lit up. He quickly sat down as well, deliberately scooting his chair closer to her.

"Ms. Hart, please, make yourself at home."