Chapter 1002: Contact

Chapter 1002: Contact

Grace's voice trembled with a hint of sadness as she spoke those

words. Horace immediately became serious and said, "Grace, these

are not decisions you can make. You can't change your parents’ minds,

and the only thing you can do is to ensure that you maintain your own

stance. As for others, let things unfold naturally.”

"I understand what you're saying, but now they are forcing me to hurt

Camille, all under the guise of it being for my own good. Who knows if,

after they can't do anything to Camille, it will be my turn next?"

Grace was filled with fear and anxiety about the situation, and she now

approached Brody and Page with caution. She had never imagined

such a day.

Her words made Horace recall the subtle hints Ayan had given him

earlier at Simpson Group, implying that if he wanted to be with Grace,

he needed to make plans soon. It wasn't just about angering Brody; it

was also about Grace's future in the family. If they couldn't exploit

Camille, Grace might be next.

Horace narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming grave. His voice

was low as he said, "Grace, have you ever thought about leaving the

Armstrong family?"

Grace was taken aback. "Leave the Armstrong family? I don't quite

understand. Do you mean cutting ties with the Armstrong family?"

"Of course not. The Armstrong family is your home, and it's impossible

to sever those ties due to some conflicts. What I mean is moving out of

the Armstrong family's residence and living independently, leaving

Armstrong Corp, and doing what you love."

Grace had repeatedly told Horace that she didn't enjoy running the

company, but Brody and Page insisted she work there.

She had never been able to choose what she truly enjoyed. From a

young age, her interests were dictated by others. She didn't like playing

the piano or dancing, but Page believed that as a debutante, she

should have an affinity for such activities to maintain a certain image.

Only Horace knew her true passion-painting. She had a remarkable

talent for it and aspired to become an art teacher, ideally having her

own art studio. This was something she had kept hidden in her heart

because of the environment she had grown up in. Grace felt restricted

and unable to pursue her true passion due to the expectations and

demands placed upon her by her family, especially Page and Brody.

Grace kept these dreams hidden deep inside her heart, and she only

dared to share them with Horace.

Growing up in that environment, Grace had always been fearful of

Brody and Page. Horace's suggestion elicited an immediate response

from Grace. "I can't do that. If I were to do it now, they wouldn't even let

me leave the house."

"Grace, don't worry about anyone else. Just tell me, do you want to

move out and live on your own? Do you want to be free to do what you

love and be with me?"

Horace's intentions were straightforward. He wanted Grace to be happy

and free from any constraints or threats. Grace fell silent, her

expression stiff. She pressed her lips tightly together and remained

silent for a while before finally saying, "Can I really do that?"

"Of course, you can. There's nothing you can't do. You're an adult, and

as long as it's what you truly want, you can pursue anything. But the

key is to follow your own heart.”

Horace spoke to her for a long time. Grace had lived her whole life

under the protection of the Armstrong family. Even when she traveled,

Page was always with her. In this circle, she had few friends because

Page didn't allow her to form deep connections. Page always

emphasized the importance of self-interest, and Grace had grown to

accept it. However, with Camille's return and her ability to stand on her

own and make her own decisions, Grace had started to question her

own choices.

Grace felt inadequate compared to Camille, who could handle

challenges at Armstrong Corp, network effectively, and understand the

motives of others. All of this made her doubt herself.

Fortunately, she had met Horace, and now she wanted to make a bold

decision for her own happiness.

After Grace finished her call with Horace, she changed into comfortable

clothing, grabbed her bag, and left the house.

Page was not at home, and only Brody sat alone in the living room,

reading a newspaper. He looked up when he heard footsteps and

glanced at Grace without much warmth in his voice. He asked, "Are

you going out?"

"Yes, I'm going out for a while. Mom told me to find Camille. I called

her, but she didn't answer, so I'm planning to go to the office.”

"Alright, make sure to handle this matter well. No matter what reason

you use, you must ensure that Camille comes over tonight.”

"Okay," Grace replied coolly, and without further conversation with

Brody, she left the house.

She drove away from the Armstrong family's residence and parked her

car in a nearby garden. From there, she hailed a random taxi.

Meanwhile, it wasn't until late afternoon, around four o'clock, that Brody

realized something was amiss. Grace had been out for the entire day

without any contact. He couldn't reach Grace on her phone either. He

eventually used a phone from one of the household staff to call Camille.

Camille answered the call, and Brody immediately interrogated her.

"When will you and Grace be back? It's been quite a while. Why can't

we reach Grace? What are you both up to?"

Camille's expression turned cold as she listened to Brody's questions.

She was in the middle of preparing dinner, making soup for Old

Simpson. Facing Brody's questioning, she felt somewhat bewildered.

She furrowed her brows and replied, "I don't know where she is. She

hasn't contacted me, so I don't know."

Camille found it unusual. Where could Grace have gone?

Brody's voice came through again, issuing commands. "How could you

not have seen her? She went to find you. Let her answer her phone, or

better yet, bring her back immediately. Hurry!"

Brody's tone was authoritative, and he didn't see anything wrong with it.

Camille involuntarily frowned. Her voice took on a tinge of iciness as

she responded, "I already told you, I haven't seen Grace. If you want to

find her, just contact her directly. Her phone is with you, isn't it?"

Camille realized that Brody might be intentionally causing trouble for

her. Therefore, her tone was no longer as gentle as before. After last

night, she had undergone a significant change in her attitude toward

both Brody and Page.

She had originally thought that even if they didn't like her or treated her

poorly, they were still her parents. She believed it was best to let things

unfold naturally without getting too caught up in their actions. However,

the things Brody and Page had done had exceeded her tolerance.

Camille's response left Brody somewhat stunned. He then asked, "You

haven't seen her at all?"

"No."

Brody sighed in frustration. "Where could she have gone?"

"How would I know?" Camille countered.

"Since she's not here, come over now."

“I have something to do, so I can't come. Do you have anything else?"

Camille's response carried an air of indifference.