"You are speaking absolute nonsense!"

  Upon hearing Grace's suggestion, Mrs. Dylan flew into a rage. Send her son abroad?

  Utterly out of the question!

  Grace gave a slight, indifferent shrug. "It was merely a well-intentioned suggestion. Whether to consider it or not is naturally up to you and Mr. Dylan. But I will not be leaving Aethelburg."

  Jeffrey studied Grace. Though their interaction had been brief, he could already perceive that this young woman was far from the fragile, easily intimidated girl she might appear. Very few young people could maintain such complete composure under the deliberate, oppressive weight of his presence.

  Beneath the surface, she was remarkably strong-willed and resolute!

  Just then, driven by the fear of Jeffrey turning away and missing their only chance, Richard abruptly spoke up. "C-Chairman Dylan, pardon the interruption. I'm Richard, a Computer Science student at the University of Science and Technology."

  As he spoke, he once again extended the document with both hands. "My classmates and I have spent over a year developing an optimization program related to artificial intelligence. This program..."

  Before he could finish his sentence, Mrs. Dylan snatched the document from his hands and threw it to the ground as if it were worthless rubbish.

  "How utterly brazen, soliciting investment here, of all places?" Mrs. Dylan scoffed contemptuously, her gaze sweeping over Richard and Harry with undisguised malice before settling back on Grace. "Keeping company with a girl of her sort, what level of discernment could you possibly possess? One should at least exercise some basic moral restraint!"

  Richard's face stiffened, his eyes dropping to the document lying discarded on the pavement.

  Harry quickly bent down to retrieve it, glaring at the couple indignantly. "If you don't wish to review it, that's fine, but must you resort to personal insults? Is this the demeanor expected of the wealthy?"

  Facing rejection and humiliation twice in quick succession, even someone as naturally optimistic as Richard felt a wave of discouragement wash over him.

  He lowered his head, swallowing his frustration, then tugged at Harry's arm. "Let's go."

  Harry shot Jeffrey and his wife one last furious glare and a disdainful snort before allowing Richard to lead him away.

  Grace observed the scene with a thoughtful gleam in her eyes. A mere chance encounter, an unforeseen coincidence, had just caused the Dylan Group to miss its destined connection with the talented team that was originally meant for it.

  Returning her attention to the present, Grace looked directly at Jeffrey and said, "Morality is a principle for governing one's own conduct, not a weapon for judging others. If this is what Mrs. Dylan considers moral restraint, then I would prefer to have no part in such morality."

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  Jeffrey regarded Grace with a deep, inscrutable gaze for a long moment, internally acknowledging that further discussion was pointless. He offered no response to her words. With a dark, clouded expression, he turned and entered the Vance family estate with his wife.

  Watching their retreating figures, a cold, determined resolve settled over Grace's features.

  She was acutely aware that, given her current resources, opposing the Dylan Group would be a futile endeavor, akin to a mayfly trying to shake a giant tree. Yet, she would not relinquish even the slimmest opportunity. Today, she had intercepted Richard; tomorrow, another opening would surely arise.

  She would dismantle the Dylan Group, piece by piece, and secure justice for every injustice she had endured.

  Standing alone by the roadside for a few more moments, Grace smoothed her emotions back into calm. She did not return to the Vance residence but instead turned and began walking back the way she had come.

  Scarlett certainly wouldn't be in any state for socializing today. Grace decided she would arrange to meet her tomorrow.

  Beep beep—

  A pair of dazzling headlights accompanied by a car horn sounded from behind. Grace paused and glanced over her shoulder. A striking golden convertible sports car had glided to a stop beside her.

  Douglas rested one arm casually on the steering wheel, offering Grace a charming smile. "Hop in, Grace. I'll give you a ride home!"

  A handsome man, a luxury car—paired with a beauty like herself, it would have made for a perfectly picturesque scene.

  Unfortunately, she was already home.

  Grace shook her head and gestured with her thumb towards the luxurious villa complex behind her. "Thank you, but I'm home."

  The typically carefree, roguish expression on Douglas's face finally shifted into one of genuine surprise. His eyes widened, and his handsome brows drew together in a pronounced frown. "You... you live here?"

  "Mhm," Grace affirmed casually, turning to leave.

  "Wait a moment." Douglas quickly called out, grabbing his phone. "Let's connect on LetsChat!"

  Grace smiled, then shook her head once more. "Scarlett explicitly warned me to stay away from you. So, I won't go behind her back to exchange contact information. If you have the audacity, go ask Scarlett for it. If she's willing to give it to you, then I'll add you."

  Having delivered her terms, Grace turned and walked towards her own villa.

  Far from being offended, Douglas found himself even more intrigued. Grace was distinctly different. She was no 'simple beauty'; she was fascinating.

  He watched until Grace used her fingerprint to unlock the main gate and disappear inside, only then withdrawing his keenly interested gaze. For reasons he couldn't quite name, his mood was inexplicably buoyant. Pressing the accelerator, the sports car emitted a low, powerful roar before speeding off into the night.

  Perhaps owing to the two glasses of wine she'd had at the party, Grace slept deeply and soundly. She awoke the next morning at half past nine.

  Drawing the curtains open gradually, bright, cheerful sunlight poured into the room, instantly bathing the entire space in warmth. Grace stretched languidly, picked up her phone to check her messages, and went downstairs to the coffee nook to brew herself a revitalizing cup.

  Scarlett had sent an apologetic message half an hour prior.

  Darling, I'm so terribly sorry. I was the one who invited you, and then I just hid away by myself and left you all alone. Forgive me?

  Darling, are you upset with me? Why haven't you replied?

  Grace could tell from the tone that her friend's spirits had lifted considerably; her messaging style had returned to its familiar cadence. She quickly typed back, Just woke up. I could never be angry with you over something like that. I'm just relieved you're okay. I was worried about you.

  Scarlett replied instantly, Made a complete spectacle of myself in front of you. Please don't worry about me. I'm perfectly fine.

  Grace couldn't be certain if 'perfectly fine' was entirely accurate, but as a friend, she knew the importance of being present. A small smile touched her lips as she sent her home address pin. Feel like dropping by?

  There was a brief pause on the other end. After a moment, a single, tentative? appeared.

  Curling up on the sofa with her coffee, Grace's smile widened. She could vividly imagine Scarlett's stunned expression at that very moment.

  What followed was a rapid barrage of messages!

  What's going on?

  Are you HERE?

  You LIVE here too?

  500 meters!

  Grace hurriedly replied, Yes! I was just as shocked when you sent me your location yesterday!

  Wait right there. I'm coming over immediately!

  Ten minutes later, Scarlett appeared outside the gate, still dressed in her nightgown.

  Watching from behind the gate as Grace emerged from the villa to let her in, Scarlett couldn't contain her excited grin.

  They truly lived this close to each other!

  "Oh my goodness, darling! Your villa is in an even better location than ours! When did your family purchase this place?" Scarlett couldn't help exclaiming the moment she stepped into the courtyard.

  "Snagged it as a bargain from the previous owner. Never imagined your family had moved into the neighborhood as well. From now on, we can commute home and to school together."