TB

CHAPTER 128

As the winter bird’s cry chirped, Grace opened her eyes to a familiar face softening at her gaze.

How long had this man been watching her? He immediately kissed her forehead and asked in a deep voice.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Uung…”

Grace pretended to be sleepy and rubbed her eyes to blur her vision.

Winston, offered a morning greeting without a hint of sarcasm. Winston, sharing his bed. Winston, lending his arm as a pillow through the night. Winston, waking her with a kiss…

Even though she made it that way, Leon Winston, the affectionate lover, still felt alien to her. So, she didn’t linger in bed but got up quickly, and the day proceeded as usual.

The two had breakfast, sitting by the window after a brief wash.

“Eat this too.”

Perhaps thinking the previous night had been strenuous, he told her to eat more than usual.

Grace ate mechanically while lost in thought. Once breakfast was over, the man would head off to work. He recently went to work at the headquarters.

After his departure, she would be left in the silent annex with only the mute maid for company. She was permitted to walk in the annex’s backyard once, either in the morning or the afternoon, under the maid’s watchful eye.

Then, she’d be confined to her bedroom until the man’s return.

An utterly dull routine, hardly an improvement from being locked in the torture chamber.

“If you want, you can visit the properties in Winsford yourself.”

After breakfast, the man placed the penthouse catalog in front of Grace and vanished into the dressing room.

Only when she was left alone did Grace’s smile fade.

I never wanted this. I don’t want this man.

Her gaze, which was drifting over the luxurious penthouse photos, began to waver. Then, as her eyes landed on the extravagant ring on her left ring finger, she clenched her eyes shut.

Don’t forget. Your goal is to overthrow the corrupt monarchy, ensuring everyone enjoys a more equal and fair world. You’re not alive to become an accomplice of the royal pigs.

She squinted her eyes and looked down at her body. She had endured so much without bending her will.

Don’t be swayed by something like this. Grace, you’re not a snob.

You know this man is just trying to find the location of your base.

What you want, what we want, isn’t this… Don’t waver. It would be a betrayal to your comrades.

You don’t want to degrade yourself to become an ugly traitor like Fred or Peter.

Think of Jimmy.

As the weight of the ring from another man pressed on her ring finger, Grace thought of her fiancé. She didn’t believe Winston’s claim that Jimmy had ordered her suicide. No, even if it were true, she was sure Jimmy had his own unavoidable circumstances.

‘Maybe he tried to save me but couldn’t…’

That must have been it, things she didn’t know because she was trapped in the annex’s basement. After all, Jimmy was the leader of the revolutionary army. Leaders sometimes have to make painfully tough decisions. It must have been a decision he made with a heavy heart.