I've Been There Before (Grace and Caden)

Franklin went back home and got another round of beating from his grandfather. He was wearing a white clean shirt that day, but after he walked out of the house, his white shirt was stained by blood. Elton chased out, "Young master, here."

Franklin looked at the medical ointment in Elton's hand and the coldness in his eyes somewhat dispersed. He reached for the ointment and said, "Thank you, Elton."

The butler hesitated and stopped Franklin before he got on the car, "Young master, why...why do you have to do this?"

"Elton, you don't understand."

"It is just a woman...you will have plenty more in the future, young master."

"There are many women, but only a Grace."

"...The lord will never let you marry such a woman. Why do you have to insist, young master? The boss of Shaw Group is hard to deal with. Besides, you have never touched the business of Cordon Group before. Now you suddenly begin to manage it, of course it will be extremely hard."

"But you have gone this far. To be honest, the lord was already very surprised by what you have accomplished so far."

"But young master, I need to say this to you," The butler continued, "When you were young, you liked to compare with the boy from the Shaw family in everything. And the seniors from two families were well aware of this back then." "But you always lost to that boy."

"Now you and the boy from the Shaw family have both grown up."

Elton didn't care for Franklin's self-esteem and said to him straightly, "Young master, I guess you have witnessed the capabilities and talents of the one from the Shaw family."

"Among all the men in the Shaw family, Caden was the most ruthless one. And he was with great talents and capabilities. Therefore, he was a man without feeling."

"Young master, in front of such a person, if you can't make him your friend, you shouldn't make him your enemy either. You should have known this."

He knew but still he made the mistake.

That was the worst kind of mistake.

An intelligent man like his young master had made a mistake that he should never have.

Elton couldn't help but hold hostility against that woman named Grace.

Hearing what Elton said, Franklin slowly grasped his hands on the steering wheel... The he raised his head and smiled to Elton, "Elton, is everyone sure that I will lose?"

Elton didn't expect this question from Franklin, and all of a sudden, he didn't know how to respond, "Young master... That's not what I meant..."

Franklin smiled lightly, "Elton," He glanced at the sleeve of his shirt which was stained with blood, "The beating from grandfather with the cane was painful. But if I have to give up on that girl, it will hurt me more than a hundredfold."

With that, he started the engine and waved to the butler whose face was full of astonishment, "I know it will be hard for me to beat Caden now. But I believe the old saying, diligence is the means by which one makes up for one's dullness. The situation is not that bad now. Though I couldn't remedy for what I have lost, the situation is getting better... Elton, it's not time for me to yield yet."

Feeling complicated, Elton said, "Young master, is it really worth it? For this woman named Grace, you are willing to make your grandfather angry and endure the pressure from the company, the shareholders and the whole Cordon family. You are willing to sacrifice everything for her. Is it really worth it?"

Franklin pursed his lips and didn't hesitate, "Yes." He was so determined, "Elton, I have business in company. Goodbye."

The car drove away slowly. Thing about Grace, Franklin' lips went up. He touched her thin lips. This was the first woman that made his heat beat so fast when he was kissing her... There were indeed many women in this world, but there was only one Grace. For her, he was willing to take the pressure from the company, the shareholders and the whole Cordon family!

Never give up!

At this moment, his heart was beating as fast as the speed of the car!... Caden, he was not even a match to me!

...

Half a month later.

When Grace saw Franklin again, he had lost a lot of weight. But he looked more vigorous and there was happiness bouncing in his eyes.

"Come on! I want to show you some place." He dragged her into his car without more explanation.

""Where?"

"You will know when we arrive." He continued, "ask for a leave tonight."

"just today, please?" "..."No.

"Oh...I am so pitiful. I have treated someone with so many bowls of beef noodles...but she is not grateful at all. Oh...what an ingrate!" The man sitting in the driver's seat said to himself while driving. His voice was too loud to go unnoticed. "Oh...so many bowls of beef noodles. What a waste!"

Grace kept silent and didn't comment.

"Beef noodles, beef noodles... You died in such a pitiful way. Some woman is so ungrateful. She had so many beef noodles and didn't even want to take a night off for me."

"..." Grace felt like some emotions were boiling inside of her. She hadn't felt this way for a long time, as least not while Franklin was gone.

"My beef noodles......."

Finally, Grace gritted her teeth....

"Actually..." She slowly opened her mouth, and the eyes of Franklin lightened up. Finally, she started talking, "Actually...I don't even like beef noodles."

The smile on Franklin's face suddenly froze. Then with some embarrassment, he said loudly, "What? What did you just say? I suddenly became deaf and couldn't hear you! I Couldn't! Hear! You!"

"Okay then," some resignation appeared in Grace's eyes, "I will take the night off. But you have to tell me first what I need to do."

After she finished, the man beside her immediately turned to her and asked in amazement, "Really? Really?"

"...Didn't Mr. Shaw become deaf?"

"It was temporary. Now I have recovered."

"..." Grace had always kept a peaceful life and never experienced strong mood swings. But at this moment, her face couldn't help but twitch out of suspicion. Then she lowered her head immediately to hide her expression. But Franklin caught this sight and his eyes smiled.

Grace thought of what she intended to ask, "Mr. Cordon, you still haven't told me why I should take tonight off. Where are you taking me?"

With a braking, the car stopped steadily.

"Here we are." Franklin smiled to her, "Get off the car and you will find out."

While Grace was still in confusion, Franklin had got off the car and walked to her door before opening it for her. He said, "Grace, come on."

Grace looked at the architecture before her, which was remodeled from an old factory. It was not extravagant...She breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. Then without any explanation, Franklin held her hand and took her inside. After getting in, Grace found out that it was a place for recreation and tea.

"Grace, the black forest cake here is delicious. We will order one later and you can have a try."

While talking, Franklin took Grace into the innermost private room.

Grace thought Franklin just hit upon a strange idea and wanted her to taste the dessert here.

When they reached the door to the room, Franklin's eyes lightened up and he said to Grace, "I want to introduce you to my best friends from my studying time in America."

Hearing this, Grace became nervous, "I can't..."

But Franklin had already opened the door, "Grace, let me introduce them to you. These are my best friends from my studying time in America. Leon and Cayne."

The door opened, and three pairs of eyes froze.

All of a sudden, Grace's face turned pale!