Chapter 49 Brace Yourself
It was late at night at the Winters Estate.
Elias tossed and turned in bed as thoughts of having his body wrapped around Amanda’s earlier filled his head. He couldn’t fall asleep no matter how hard he tried to.
And for some reason, he kept recalling her saying that she despised him.
However, he didn’t find her revulsion all that surprising.
It was impossible for her to not feel hatred toward him after the way he treated her four years.
ago.
He even ended up killing their biological child due to his cold-bloodedness.
But after tonight, Elias seemed to have grown more certain that he didn’t love Grace. He hadn’t developed any feelings for her even after all these years. Even if he did, it was only the love a brother would feel for his sister.
I’ll end the relationship with Grace and make everything clear tomorrow.
It was a sleepless night for the man.
He went straight to the company the moment the sun came out. His early arrival stunned everyone because he had never come to work this early before.
He went and sat on the couch in the meeting area of his office. After spending a long time hesitating, he eventually made a phone call. “Cancel all of Grace’s appointments today and tell her to spend the day with me.”
“Ah… Alright, I’m on it.”
Although it wasn’t professional to cancel work at the last minute, Elias’ words were the law. He was too powerful and influential a benefactor for anyone to go against.
At the same time, Grace had just sent the hair sample to a DNA paternity testing center.
She was on her way back to the company to begin her schedule for the day when her manager unexpectedly called her.
“Hey, Goldie!” Grace greeted her after accepting the call. “What’s the matter? Are there any changes to today’s schedule?”
“Yup, but it was ordered by Mr. Winters himself. He has booked you for the whole day today. You only have to spend the day with him.”
Grace frowned in confusion when she heard that. “You mean he canceled all my appointments. today?”
“Yeah, so hurry up and go see your rich boyfriend. We can’t afford to upset him,” her manager urged before hanging up.
Grace was as confused as could be. What is Elias up to? He is not acting like himself… He has never interfered with my work before.
However, her hatred kept growing when she thought of the phone call from last night. She didn’t even notice the pain when she clenched her fists so tight her nails dug into her palms..
Could it be that he is trying to make it up to me today because he knew he did something wrong last night?
The corners of her mouth curled upward unknowingly when she thought of the possibility.
And so, Grace had her driver drive her to Winters Enterprise.
But when she was there, she didn’t see Elias in his office. His secretary later told her that he was in a meeting.
She continued to wait in the office for a whole day until the man returned at 6.00PM.
Grace was dripping with grouchiness at this point, but she didn’t lose her temper. When she saw the man walk into the room, she smiled and asked, “Elias, did you cancel my plans today just to make me wait for you in your office?”
“Sorry. I had too many meetings to attend.” He walked over to the couch in the reception area and uttered in a deep voice, “Come with me to a dinner party tonight.”
A dinner party? Is he going to introduce me as his woman to the world?
Grace’s annoyance was quickly replaced by happiness. Is he going to announce our relationship to the public?
“But I don’t have a dress. I can’t wear this, can I?”
“I had someone prepare it for you.” He picked up his phone and called his secretary. “Bring the
dress in.”
Grace couldn’t be more surprised than his. It was the first time Elias voluntarily helped her prepare a dress.
After a while, the secretary walked in with a gift box. “Miss Murphy, this is the dress that Mr. Winters picked for you. Let me help you put it on.”
“Sure. Grace got up and walked to the suite behind the office.
The man sat alone on the couch, his handsome face dark and brooding as a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.
Grace had changed into the dress Elias prepared for her when the two of them entered the banquet hall arm-in-arm an hour later. The couple got everyone’s attention as they strode in.
Grace had a proud smile on. This was a feeling she only got when she stood beside Elias. It felt great how it gratified her vanity,
Being able to stand next to him meant that she could get anything she wanted. What she had was only a dream of countless women out there.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Elias, why did you want me to accompany you to the dinner party tonight? Is there something you want to announce?”
She wanted him to announce their relationship to the public.
Also, she loved her high-end custom-designed dress from a famous designer.
Elias glanced at her. “I do have something to announce. Better brace yourself.”
Brace myself?
Grace’s heart was in her throat. Is he really going to announce our relationship at an event like this?
This was a charity dinner that was being live-streamed to the whole Internet to watch. Not only that, there were many reporters here as well.
As expected, a group of reporters surrounded them at the entrance, wanting to interview them.
“Mr. Winters! There are rumors about you and Miss Grace Murphy being in a relationship. Are you officially announcing your relationship today?”
“Mr. Winters, are you and Miss Murphy really in a relationship? How long have you been. together? Do you plan to get married?”
“Miss Murphy, how long have you been with Mr. Winters? Was the previous press release about your relationship to test the public’s reaction?”
A series of questions were thrown at them, and Grace only smiled as she looked at the man next to her.
It would be most persuasive to have Elias answer in this situation. She could justifiably rise in the entertainment industry that way.
She looked at the man’s profile with a sweet and cheerful smile as she waited for his announcement to give her the status of his woman.
However, something no one expected happened instead.
In front of the cameras and microphones of the media reporters and live broadcast audience,
Elias announced. “Everyone. I need to clarify something today. Miss Grace Murphy and I only have a professional relationship. We are not lovers. Miss Murphy is a contracted artist under Winters Enterprise’s film and television subsidiary. That is all. Thank you”
After saying that, the man turned around and walked to where the banquet was held, leaving Grace behind as her smile gradually stiffened. Countless flashes of light were pointed at her. capturing the lost and surprised look on her face.
“Miss Murphy, is what Mr. Winters said true? Do you only have a professional relationship with one another? Why were there so many photos of you both having a secret rendezvous?”
“Miss Murphy, do you really only work together?”
Despite being bombarded with questions by the reporters, Grace couldn’t hear a single word they said. Her mind was filled with Elias’ clarification just now.
Is this why he brought me to the dinner party? To humiliate me in front of everyone? Not only does he not feel guilty about what he did last night, but he is even casting me aside now, huh?
She abruptly turned around and dashed into the hall as tears filled her
eyes.
Who does he think he is? He has no right to abandon me!
She sprinted down the stairs but suddenly remembered her pregnancy and slowed down. Clutching the test strip in her hand, she wondered what Elias Winters' reaction would be once he heard the news.
Yet, when Amanda was halfway down the stairs, she saw two figures in the living room—Elias and a sexy woman. Slowing down her steps, she held the handrail tightly and felt her heart sink. That was because she saw her husband and the woman behaving affectionately as though they were a smitten couple.