Grace Howard felt like she had been struck by lightning!
She vaguely remembered what happened yesterday.
She had wanted to get back at William Stewart, so she hired this male escort to drink with her and spend some money, nothing more.
She never intended for it to end up in bed!
Her first time, gone just like that!
Oh my God, how much did she drink last night?! And more importantly, this male escort was top-tier handsome.
How much did a night with him cost?
Could selling herself even cover the fee?
Seeing Grace's world-crumbling expression, Ethan Hugh found the situation even more amusing and decided to stoke the fire.
"I usually only sell my skills, not my body. You forced me to sleep with you last night. You were too strong, and I couldn't resist. It was my first time, so you have to take responsibility. I'll turn over a new leaf and stay with you from now on."
Grace almost fell to her knees. Was she really that terrible?!
The only man Grace had ever been close to was William Stewart, and even then, they had only held hands and hugged, never going further.
With no experience, she completely believed Ethan's words, not sensing anything amiss.
This was a disaster!
How was she supposed to take responsibility?
She was just a poor student, not some rich lady who could afford to keep a male escort.
She could barely handle William Stewart, and this guy seemed even more expensive, definitely not someone she could afford to mess with!
Grace Howard was in a complete panic.
She wanted to run away, but her conscience kept her rooted to the spot.
After all, she was the one at fault for ruining the reputation of a high-class escort.
If she ran away without taking responsibility, how would she be any different from someone like William Stewart, a total jerk?
"What do you plan to do by following me? Just so you know, I don't have any money. I can't afford your lifestyle. Last night at the bar, I was just pretending because I was heartbroken..."
Ethan Hugh almost burst out laughing.
He had never met such a naive woman before. It was too amusing.
So, Ethan replied coolly, "If you marry a chicken, follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, follow the dog. I'm willing to endure hardships with you, just don't abandon me halfway."
"I..."
Grace barely got a word out before Ethan's phone rang. It was his trusted aide calling.
"Boss, we've fully investigated the identity of the lady from the bar. She..."
After listening, Ethan hung up, his gaze on Grace becoming more complex, deep as the ocean, and impossible to read.
Initially, he just wanted to tease her a bit and then let it go, but now things had changed.
Ethan walked toward Grace, and she instinctively backed away until she was pressed against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat.
Long, slender fingers lifted Grace Howard's chin, enveloping her in an intoxicating fragrance.
The man's face was so close, breathtakingly handsome, making the sun, moon, and stars seem dim by comparison. Grace blushed deeply, feeling her heart skip a beat for the first time.
Darn it, she finally understood the joy of being a wealthy woman.
If she were rich, she would definitely spend a fortune on such a stunning male escort!
"You're about to graduate, right?" Ethan Hugh asked.
"How do you know that..."
"You mentioned it when you were drunk yesterday. A top student from Aline University won't have trouble finding a good job. Work hard and keep me."
Ethan took Grace's phone and saved his number, then handed her a card with a charming smile. "This is the key card to this place. Come by when you have time."
With that, Ethan left.
Grace slid down to the floor, feeling weak.
She suddenly regretted not heeding her ancestors' advice, drinking really was a dangerous habit!
If she could turn back time, Grace would have held herself back from stepping into the bar and tattooed "Drinking causes trouble" on her back, reciting it day and night!
But alas, there was no turning back. She could only look at the luxurious apartment before her, imagining her future miserable life with tears in her eyes.
Every day, Grace Howard worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, even on holidays, only to hand over her hard-earned salary.
Yet, this male escort looked at her with disdain, saying, "Useless! This isn't even enough to cover my rent for a month. Forget about sleeping at night; you'll have to work overnight gigs!"
Noooo! She would be completely drained!
Grace's only romantic experience was with William Stewart, a boy who only knew how to spend her money.
Male escorts, by profession, were used to spending women's money.
Besides, she had been the one to take advantage of him, so she felt it was her duty to support him as a form of atonement. That's why she had such a terrifying thought.
Just as Grace was feeling utterly hopeless, her phone rang.
She picked it up and saw it was her grandmother calling, which made her heart skip a beat.
"What's wrong, Grandma?" Grace asked cautiously.
"I'm not going to make it. If you still consider me your grandma, come home and see me!" Grandma said harshly before hanging up.
Her grandmother's voice was strong and didn't sound like someone who was unwell, but Grace didn't dare take any chances.
She hurried out of her apartment and flagged down a cab to her grandmother's house.
Grace's parents divorced when she was just a baby, and she lived with her father.
When she was in middle school, her father passed away due to illness.
Her Uncle Morris's family moved into her house, took the guardianship money, and reluctantly took her in.
Once treated like a little princess by her father, Grace Howard's life turned upside down overnight.
Uncle Morris and Auntie ordered her around like a maid, making her do all the dirty and tiring chores for the entire family.
She worked hard at home and studied diligently, but the harder she tried, the less they seemed to like her.
No matter how clean she kept the house or how delicious the meals she cooked, no one ever praised her.
They all took it for granted.
And whenever she scored perfect marks, her cousin Sophie Howard, who often failed, would throw a tantrum and tear up her test papers.
Auntie would then find an excuse to punish Grace by making her skip meals.
Especially Grandma, who never showed her a kind face.
If she was in a bad mood, she'd raise her hand and slap Grace.
Since moving into her dorm after getting into college, Grace hadn't seen this family.
Why did they suddenly want to see her now?
Returning to the "home" she hadn't seen in ages, Grace looked at her grandmother, who was lying in bed looking quite healthy, and at her uncle, aunt, and cousin, who seemed eager and anxious.
She felt at a loss.
"Grandma, I'm back."
Grandma coughed loudly a few times.
"The doctor says I'm very ill and need a lot of money for surgery. Your Uncle Morris has been struggling with his business these past two years. You should give me this house so I can sell it and use the money for my treatment."
Grace's heart sank.
She bit her lip and remained silent.
Grandma's anger flared when Grace Howard remained silent.
"You ungrateful child! This house belonged to my son, which means it's mine. Who do you think you are to keep it from me? Get over here and sign the papers!"
Grace was quiet for a moment before she looked up and said, "I won't sign."
"What did you say?!" Grandma's eyes widened in disbelief, thinking she must have misheard.
Her timid granddaughter, who had never dared to defy her no matter how much she was scolded or beaten, was actually saying no to her?