Chapter 75

Grace had been working peacefully at Top Foot for a week. The atmosphere was professional, the employees efficient, and best of all, no one cared about the gossip. She planned to stop by a dealership after work to buy a car. Now that she had her own place, it was time to get some transportation.

At the dealership, she was greeted by a young salesman in his early twenties. He seemed reserved but spoke earnestly as he introduced her to the various models and their features. A few other salespeople nearby watched with indifferent expressions, discreetly focusing on him.

Grace furrowed her brows slightly. Just as she was about to ask him to arrange a test drive, a group of young men strolled in. She recognized the leader immediately. It was Liam.

Liam had been spoiled his whole life, a typical rich boy who had never been told no. He looked arrogant, dressed in trendy streetwear with a pair of headphones hanging around his neck. The trust fund kids behind him immediately zeroed in on the young salesman.

“Well, well, if it isn’t our belle scholarship kid, still working part-time, huh?” one of them sneered. Another shoved the salesman’s shoulder. “Liam’s girl took a liking to you. Must feel pretty good, huh?”

“Didn’t you call us ‘funkies’ last time? Got real high standards for a guy who has to work for a living,” another chimed in.

Liam had been scrolling through his phone, uninterested. He was good-looking, the kind of guy who was probably popular at the university. Just as he was about to put his phone away, his gaze landed on Grace, and his eyes lit up.

“Grace? You came to see me?”

Grace watched the young salesman being showed around, and none of the senior staff seemed surprised. They had seen this happen before. The rich kids acted like they owned the place. Maybe one of their families actually did; no one dared to intervene.

“Grace, are you finally here to apologize? I knew it. You wouldn’t last,” Liam smirked, slipping his gaming console back into his pocket. He ruffled his already messy hair and leaned in. “But I won’t be so easily won over this time. You’ll have to cook for me every day for the past two years, and you have to bring the food to my university.”

Grace watched closely as he approached her happily. Meanwhile, the salesman didn’t make a sound. He had clearly been through this before.

Grace’s voice was cold when she finally asked, “You bully people at your university?”

Liam’s expression darkened instantly. “Tully? He deserves it. He knew I liked that girl and still got close to her.”

The words had barely left his mouth when a sharp slap landed across his face. She hit him so hard that his head turned. It wasn’t the first time Grace had hit him.

Liam clutched his cheek and stood frozen for several seconds before finally speaking, “You hit me again?”

“Liam, you’re 19. You’re in university now. Yet you use your status to harass people, and you’re proud of it?”

The guys surrounding them immediately went quiet. Then, as if snapping out of their shock, they rushed to Liam’s side.

“Who the hell is this? Let’s teach her a lesson!”

“True, he’s bullying him. So what? What’s it got to do with you? You won’t even make me food, you’ve ignored me for months, and you don’t answer my calls. You’re really cutting ties with the family, huh? You don’t want me as your brother anymore, so why should I listen to you?” he snapped.

Snatching his headphones, he put them on and gestured toward his group of followers. “Why did you stop? Keep going. Teach her a lesson.”

There was no plea for help in his resistance. Grace saw that the salesman’s face was already pale, but he remained silent, glancing at her briefly before looking away. Without hesitation, she strode forward and shoved the bullies away.

The group hesitated, their eyes darting toward Liam. They were waiting for his order. Liam pressed his hands together. For a person his age, he carried an air of authority. “Oi, are you really taking his side over mine?”

It was odd. Liam wasn’t a good person, yet he had chosen to intervene with them. To defend someone he despised, felt like a betrayal. His gaze flickered to the salesman behind her, a sudden understanding dawning on him. Moments ago, when he had been explaining the cars to her, he had seen her as prudish and aloof. Now, he wouldn’t even look her in the eye. This was his first sale. The dealership tested him to see if he could make it to his target; he failed miserably.

The Lambert family was wealthy. Liam was a spoiled little brat, but he still had connections to powerful people. They condoned Liam because they wanted access to the Lambert family’s influence.

Liam stormed into the Lambert residence with a handprint on his cheek. The first person he saw was his ever-gentle second sister, Alice. She widened her eyes in surprise. “Liam, what happened to your face?”

He slumped dramatically into a chair and yelled, “Grace hit me!”

Carmen, who had been watering the plants, immediately slammed the watering can down. “Is she out of her damn mind? She’s out of control!”

An idea formed in Alice’s mind as a smile crept onto her lips. “Didn’t Grace used to listen to Mrs. Henderson? Maybe we should have Mrs. Henderson invite her over for a little chat?” Mrs. Henderson was Lily Tanory’s mother.