Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Louise checked herself in the mirror, then glanced at her back. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw no blood. “It’s okay, no bleeding,” she said softly.

Brian, looking really grim, was angry at Grace. “You can’t even handle this small thing. What else can you do?” he said fiercely.

“Brian, I said it’s okay, please leave!” Louise pushed him out of the dressing room.

“Thanks. I’m really not good at this. Maybe let the shop assistant help you,” Grace said awkwardly, looking at Louise.

“Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal. I’m not mad. Honestly, I’d really like to be friends with you. Would you be my bridesmaid?” Louise held onto her, smiling openly.

Louise’s eyes were earnest, making it seem like she truly wanted Grace as her bridesmaid.

Grace felt a stabbing pain in her heart, glanced away, and said softly, “Let’s talk about it later.”

“Okay,” Louise replied, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

After changing into the wedding dress, Louise stepped out, blushing, and asked Brian, “Do I look good?”

Brian stood up and walked over, gently holding her shoulder. “You look great in anything,” he said tenderly, turning her towards the full–length mirror, lifting a few stray strands from her neck and shoulder.

Suddenly, he noticed Grace’s slender figure in the mirror. He paused for a couple of seconds and then looked away.

They were so busy with the upcoming photo shoot that they barely had time for lunch. Louise ordered takeout after picking out the dresses. Grace was starving after a busy morning, but the smell of fried food made her uncomfortable. Coincidentally, Louise insisted on sharing two chicken legs with her.

Grace wanted to decline, but Louise was adamant. Grace thought if she didn’t eat now, she might pass out in the afternoon. So she gritted her teeth and ate the two chicken legs despite the discomfort in her stomach.

Their chosen spot for the photoshoot was a lavender field in the suburbs. Couples and good–looking people flocked to this place, yet Brian and Louise stood out as the most eye–catching pair among them all.

Grace sat in the least noticeable corner, watching Brian and Louise pose for the camera with sweet smiles, just like a prince and princess from a fairytale. She couldn’t help but feel the irony. Brian, her husband, was now taking photos with another woman, while she, his true wife, could only sit by, observing their affectionate photo session. Adding to that, Grace might end up being Louise’s bridesmaid in the future, which made the situation even more ironic in her eyes.

As she dwelled on these thoughts, images of the two of them walking into a church flashed in her mind.

Grace’s nose stung with bitterness, but she hurriedly pushed those thoughts away. Fortunately, she didn’t have much time to overthink. Soon, a camera assistant rushed over, saying, “Hey, could you help us? Our lighting technician had an emergency and had to leave. Can you lend a hand with the lighting?”

Grace looked over, noticing Brian half–squinting at her. Seeing his gaze, Grace felt she had no right to refuse. Though reluctant, she had no choice but to reluctantly stand up and join Brian and Louise, holding up the lighting board.

Under the scorching sun, Grace’s sweat trickled down her forehead, accidentally seeping into her eyes, making it hard for her to keep them open. Due to her pregnancy, she had been going makeup–free lately. She hadn’t even applied sunscreen when she left, and within half an hour, her face had turned bright red from the sun.

Brian’s peripheral vision caught Grace’s condition, and he furrowed his brows slightly. The photographer couldn’t resist giving instructions. “Sir, please keep smiling and avoid furrowing your brow.”

Brian masked his subtle facial changes, but after a while, he couldn’t help but glance towards another direction involuntarily. Unsure if it was his imagination, he felt as if Grace might collapse at any moment.

The photographer repeatedly tried to get him to focus on the camera, but Brian became increasingly distracted. Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught Grace’s frail body swaying, and the lighting board slipped from her hands.

He furrowed his brow, immediately wrapping his arm around Grace’s waist, instinctively calling out, “Grace!”

She collapsed into his arms, having lost consciousness.

Louise’s eyes flickered with a momentary cruel gleam, then she anxiously asked, “What happened to her?”

“To the hospital,” Brian replied, scooping her up and heading swiftly out of the lavender field.

Louise glanced at the props in her hands, her expression turning grim, before hastily following them.

Without much thought, Brian carried her ahead, opened the passenger seat, and settled her in, fastening the seatbelt securely.

“Brian, let her sit in the back. I’ll sit with her so I can take care of her,” Louise suggested, squinting as she watched his movements.

Brian frowned deeply, hesitating momentarily before saying, “Okay.”

The car sped away. This was the suburbs, and it would take at least half an hour to reach the hospital.

Brian himself hadn’t noticed how fast he was driving.

Louise clenched her fists in silence. At that moment, she understood that Brian must deeply care about Grace. If Grace were insignificant to Brian, he wouldn’t be so anxious right now. Realizing this, Louise gazed at Grace beside her, her expression difficult to comprehend.

After about twenty minutes, Grace slowly regained consciousness.

“Are you awake?”

As Grace opened her eyes, she saw Louise’s perfectly made–up face. Grace slowly sat up and looked out the )

window.

“Where are we going? Are we going back?”

“You passed out. We’re taking you to the hospital.”

Upon hearing the word “hospital,” Grace felt a thunderous crash in her ears, becoming visibly flustered.

She hastily sat up and shouted, “I’m not going to the hospital! Brian, I won’t go to the hospital!”

Louise’s eyes dimmed upon hearing Grace’s words. She couldn’t believe an ordinary maid would directly call her employer by his first name, so she sensed something special between Grace and Brian.

Brian looked at Grace through the rearview mirror. Her cheeks were still red, but her lips lacked color.

Annoyed, he said, “You’re so sick, and you won’t even go to the hospital? How do you plan on working if you don’t take care of yourself?”

Grace was getting anxious. They should be close to the hospital by now. If they took her there and discovered she was pregnant, it would be disastrous.

“I know my own body! The doctor said last time it was just low blood sugar! I’m awake now. Please just take me back!”

Brian remained silent but gripped the steering wheel tightly. He didn’t know why he was so upset, pressing the gas pedal even harder.

“Are you taking me back or not?” Grace was getting desperate, her hand on the door lock, trying to open it.

“Grace, what are you doing? Are you trying to jump out? Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Louise, nervous, grabbed her arm.

Suddenly, Brian roared. “Grace! What tricks are you trying to pull?”