Alpha Theo

"Loves Farewell at the Pear Garden"

The night deepened in the rented hospital room where Grace Shaw had just lulled her gravely ill son to sleep. The daytime clamor was swallowed by the darkness, and the pain she had been suppressing surged to the surface.

"Is he still unwilling to come?" she asked.

"Madam, the master is busy," came the reply.

Busy?

Was there anything more important than their son being on the brink of death?

Graces eyes caught sight of the newspaper in the trash bin, featuring a couple deeply in love, looking perfectly matched. The man in the photo, however, was her husband, the heir to the King Family of Rivertown鈥擟harles King.

She knew he didnt like her.

But what had she done wrong?

For four years, his loathing extended even to their son, who shared half his blood. He had never held their son.

"Dad..."

Grace quickly wiped away her tears and looked up at the hospital bed, only to realize it was just her sons delirious mumbling.

Her heart ached even more.

After holding back her tears for so long, they finally fell.

Grace stood up, deciding to confront Charles King.

Charles despised her and always stayed in the penthouse suite of the King Familys hotel.

But when she actually arrived at the hotel, Grace found it was not easy to knock on the door.

What would she say to him? How would she plead?

Should she tell him that their son missed him and asked if he could visit?

Or should she admit that no matter who was at fault, the child was innocent and beg for some care for their son?

She had said it all many times, only to be met with increasingly cold aversion.

Unfortunately, after knocking on the door, Grace didnt even get the chance to say those words.

A woman with big wavy curls, red lips, and fair skin, wearing a nightgown, opened the door.

Graces hand, ready to knock, froze.

This was Catherine Hill, the woman who had been in the newspaper with Charles鈥攕he had come out of Charless room.

The gap in Graces heart widened, and she felt the pain with every breath.

Catherine looked at Grace, dressed modestly in a cross-collared dress, with disdain: "Grace? Why are you here looking for Charles instead of staying in the King Familys deep courtyard?"

That she, seeking her own husband, would be questioned by another woman.

Graces heart ached, but for her son, she gritted her teeth and endured the embarrassment: "Miss Hill, the child is very sick..."

"You are but a lowly performer, do you really think you are Mrs. King?" Catherine smiled gently, but her words were as venomous as a snakes.

Graces face turned pale abruptly, and Catherines words were like a slap in the face.

"Would Charles care about a child with your lowly blood? He said it was the biggest mistake in his life! That wretched child... he should never have been born!"

"You stop!" Grace trembled all over.

She could bear the humiliation and ridicule directed at her.

But the child... was her line.

Catherine suddenly changed her expression to one of sorrow: "Grace, Ive explained that Charles and I are innocent. Why are you still causing trouble for me?!"

Grace felt strange as Catherine grabbed her hand and slapped herself!

Her fair right cheek quickly became swollen, and Grace stood there, stunned.

Catherine covered her face, tears in her eyes, and threw herself towards the man behind Grace, pretending to be wronged: "Charles, she actually hit me..."

She clutched the mans lapel, seemingly wanting to say something but revealing her swollen face just enough, and sobbed: "She also called me shameless..."

Charles was here?

Grace stiffened and turned around, meeting the mans piercingly cold gaze.

His face was handsome, but at the moment, it was dark and gloomy, and his cold eyes made it hard for her to breathe.

What else was there to understand?

The bone-chilling cold spread all over her body.

Grace stood there stubbornly, unwilling to back down: "Charles, even when sentencing, evidence should be considered. You may not believe me, but shouldnt you trust the hotels surveillance?"

Charles took a step forward, grabbed Graces hand.

"Hit her back," Charles said to Catherine without even looking at Grace.

Graces remaining explanations were stuck in her throat.

"Slap."

The slap on her face was so hard that Grace even staggered.

Worse than the slap was the three words that crushed her heart.

He convicted her without question.

Was it because he trusted Catherine so much, or in his heart, everything she did was a sin?

"Get out!" Charles let go of her hand and said coldly.

Grace turned around, and her tears finally couldnt be held back.

She spoke clearly and distinctly.

"Charles King, even when sentencing, evidence should be considered. You may not believe me, but shouldnt you trust the hotels surveillance?"