I've Been There Before

“What are you eating?” Caden loomed at the entrance.
Grace’s hand which was holding the bottle trembled and she recovered from momentary panic. “Vitamin tablets. I’ve asked
Gloria to bring for me the day before yesterday.” Caden walked towards her as she spoke and he took over the drug bottle from
her hand. He peered at it and his suspicion vanished. He pondered and remembered Gloria did actually come that day.
Mr. Garcia came and he knocked the door by chance. Both Caden and Grace turned towards him synchronously. “What’s
wrong?” Caden asked him while putting down the drug bottle on his hand. “A married couple has come downstairs and they say
they’re madam’s parents.” Mr. Garcia was hired as the butler of the Shaw Manor and he managed everything no matter big or
small in the huge mansion. He was an excellent butler and had pursued this career for several decades. If he was not brilliant
enough, Caden would not have laid his eyes on him.
A brilliant butler like him would naturally know things he should know before taking over the entire management of the Shaw
Manor, and he would inquire more regarding the master and the boss lady of the mansion. Therefore, he definitely understood
well that the married couple downstairs was the chairman of the James Group of City S and his wife, and they were also Grace’s
biological parents. Yet he still said euphemistically that the married couple downstairs addressed themselves as whose parents
when he reported. Because of the cautiousness he portrayed, Grace threw another glance to the new butler who looked taciturn
at the entrance, and she felt glad for being lucky at the same time when the corner of her eyes caught a glimpse of the drug
bottle labeled ‘vitamin C tablets’ on the dressing table. She knew well that the opportunity to take the ‘vitamin C tablets’ from
Sam without the cautious new butler’s notice in the future was miniature.
Caden frowned with disgust when he heard the James couple was downstairs and wanted to meet Grace. Yet he did not decide
for Grace and only asked her, “Do you want to meet them?” Grace did not respond instantly. She pondered with her eyes
lowered and suddenly lifted her head. “Does the James’ have any collaboration lately and want to seek the Shaw’s help?” Caden
was not surprised but there was a trace of sympathy in his slim eyes. “Maybe they’re just missing their own daughter.” He could
not even believe himself when he said that, but at this moment, he hoped she would believe it.
Grace chuckled. Her glance swept past his face and their eyes met in the air like two lines intersecting each other, clashing each
other for one second and then separated. “I’ll go check them out.” She did not rebut his words at all. Every bitterness and feeling
that was difficult to describe was conveyed without speaking from her eyes.
Although she did not rebut his words, it did not mean she had agreed to him. If that couple would still miss her as a daughter, the
three-years’ time spent in the prison would already be enough for them two to fly from the northern hemisphere to the southern
hemisphere, to cross the Pacific Ocean from the western continent to the other side of the ocean, to visit her for tens and

hundreds times! Yet they never visited her even once when they were in the same city, and that was the cruelest fact she was
reluctant to admit.
Jafar and Mrs. James were waiting at the living room. The sound of footsteps approached and both of them turned with their
eyes gleamed. Mrs. James ran forward excitedly and seized Grace’s hands. “Grace, it’s so nice to see you. Mom is happy.”
“Mrs. James.” A hand gently pulled her hand away. “Mrs. James, do have a seat.”
“You...Grace...” Embarrassment appeared on her well-cared face at once.
Jafar let out two coughs at the side and spoke. “President Shaw, we’re here to see Grace today. Her mother has missed her
deeply after that day and she could not even eat and drink properly. I feel sad watching her growing thin day by day, therefore I
decide to bite the bullet and bring her mom over to see Grace.” He seemed to be explaining the reason of their abrupt visit.
Caden did not agree nor deny but replied blandly. “If so, Mr. and Mrs. James have been really considerate.” Maybe because he
felt guilty, Caden’s bland words seemed to have another meaning from Jafar’s point of view. He then smiled awkwardly. “It’s
nothing, President Shaw.” Caden only smiled as a reply.
Grace had already grown indifferent to Jafar’s pleasant words. Mrs. James’s face was actually looking great and rosy to her
eyes.
Mrs. James held Grace’s arm affectionately. She turned and pleaded Caden. “President Shaw, I really miss Grace...Could you
give me some alone time with Grace? We have so much to talk about between mother and daughter.” Caden’s eyes passed
through her and landed on Grace. “I respect Grace’s own intention.” As he said, Mrs. James looked towards Grace quickly and
anxiously. She seemed to be worried that she would refuse and her mouth approached her. Her lips moved as if saying
something to her with a voice only both of them can hear.
Grace’s breathing stopped and she stared at Mrs. James in disbelief. Mrs. James exerted some force on the hand that was
grasping Grace’s arm and gave a slight nod. After seeing that, Grace took a deep breath and lifted her head, looking at Caden
saying. “The weather today is good and the plum flowers at the garden outside have blossomed. I want to have a walk there.”
Caden nodded. He took off the jacket he wore while walking towards Grace. He put the jacket on her and covered her nicely. “Do
return soon. Although the weather’s good, it’s still winter now.” Grace nodded and went outside the house with Mrs. James.
Caden threw a glance at Mr. Garcia and Mr. Garcia followed behind them while keeping a distance.

There were two plum trees at the east side of the yard and the blossomed plum flowers were beautiful. Grace stopped between
the two trees and turned. “You said, those gangsters that tormented Wallis Venus four years ago have returned to City S?”
“Yes.”
“How did you and Mr. James know about this?” She was doubtful as there was no surveillance camera at the scene and since
she had never seen those gangsters’ faces, how would her parents? “Grace, don’t you keep on saying ‘Mr. James’. That’s your
father.” Grace was outraged by her words. She pursed her lips and replied with a cold face. “If Mrs. James is here to reminisce
the past today, I think there’s no need for us to stay here any longer.”
“Hold up! Grace!” Mrs. James quickly held her back when she was about to leave. “Grace, I can understand that you refuse to
forgive me and your father as we have hurt your feelings. Yet we’re forced to do that. After the auction, both of us felt sorry and
we really want to help you this time.”
Grace’s eyes twinkled and there was bitterness on her face. Should she believe her? Her rationality and emotion were fighting
with each other. She shook her head and clenched her fist, taking a deep breath in order to maintain her composure. “Mrs.
James, tell me, how did you know about this---how did you know it was the same gangsters that committed the crime back
then?”
“Grace, to be frank, besides the phone call history and the message between you and Wallis Venus, there’s a half drunken
witness that testified to your criminal charge. He had witnessed the filthy process when it happened. He chose not to call the
police as he’s scared to involve himself in the trouble, yet he still remembers some of the gangsters’ looks. And few days ago, he
has spotted those people at a bar at the bund.”