Hope Williams lightly pursed her lips, "I’ll go upstairs to change. You guys go ahead and eat."
After Hope went upstairs, Grace Gray, who had just left, returned, looking at Waylon Lewis timidly, "President Lewis, I forgot to take my bag."
Waylon Lewis glanced at her coolly without saying much.
Yet this glance unsettled Grace’s mind. Her gaze involuntarily fixated on Waylon Lewis, her heart pounding erratically, even her steps became clumsy as she walked.
Aunt Thompson fetched Grace’s bag and handed it to her with a smile, "Miss Gray, is this the one?"
"Yes, thank you." Grace was about to walk over to receive it, and as she passed by Waylon Lewis, her eyes flickered, her feet seemed to trip on something, and her body suddenly swayed, falling straight toward Waylon Lewis.
Waylon Lewis was sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of coffee, and as he looked up, he saw her crashing straight toward him.
Waylon Lewis’s brows instantly knitted together, but it was too late to stand up, and Grace fell onto his lap.
Grace looked at Waylon Lewis with affection in her eyes, and her face turned red instantly, "President Lewis~"
Waylon Lewis’s brows scrunched into a furrow, as if he had touched something filthy, and stood up with disgust.
Caught off guard, Grace’s body lost its balance, and she fell to the ground, letting out a pain-filled cry, her voice soft and beseeching, stirring pity.
"Miss Gray, are you okay?" Aunt Thompson was taken aback by the scene and hurriedly went to help Grace up.
The coffee that Waylon Lewis was holding spilled out mostly onto him, and the chill in his eyes intensified.
As Grace sensed the coldness emanating from Waylon Lewis, she frantically got up, "I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, President Lewis, it wasn’t intentional."
As she spoke, Grace lowered her head, biting her lip and putting on a pitiful face, then reached for a tissue to wipe the coffee from Waylon Lewis’s clothes.
The scene was fully witnessed by Hope who had just come downstairs.
Hope narrowed her eyes and strode forward. By the time she approached, Waylon Lewis had already taken two steps back, distancing himself from Grace, whose hand was left hanging, "President Lewis."
Waylon Lewis’s expression was filled with disgust, "Stay away from me."
Hope moved beside Waylon Lewis and noticed his shirt was wet, with even a large portion of his pants soaked, making him look a bit disheveled.
Waylon Lewis was clearly displeased, Grace lowered her head, biting her lip tightly, tears wildly swirling in her eyes.
"Go upstairs and change." Hope said to Waylon Lewis, "I’ll take care of this."
Faced with Grace’s return, Hope lost the pleasant demeanor she had earlier. She had seen through the act just now, and her expression grew even colder.
Before Hope could say anything, Grace already started crying, with Aunt Thompson sympathetically comforting her.
"Why did Miss Gray come back?" Hope gracefully sat down on the sofa.
Grace sniffled, "I forgot to take my bag, so I came back to get it."
"Mrs. Lewis, it was my fault that I accidentally fell on President Lewis, it’s all my fault. Please don’t misunderstand, and don’t blame President Lewis."
She was afraid that Hope hadn’t noticed and purposely mentioned it.
Hope saw through her intentions and imperceptibly curled her lips, "Why would I misunderstand?"
Grace slightly forced a smile, "I’m glad you didn’t misunderstand."
Grace continued, "It was my fault I dirtied President Lewis’s clothes. Let me wash it clean for you, it was my mistake."
As she spoke, Grace cried, her face full of vulnerability.
Hope looked at Grace with utter indifference, "That suit’s fabric can’t be washed with water, it’s dry clean only. But with such a large stain, dry cleaning won’t remove it."
Grace bit her lip, "Then... I’ll compensate..."
Hope noticed that Grace’s tears were cheap, as they kept falling, making it seem as if she was being maliciously troubled and bullied.
Even Aunt Thompson couldn’t stand it and stepped forward to console Grace, "Miss Gray, it’s alright, the mistress won’t make you... pay the cost."
"Then pay it." Hope elegantly took a sip of water from the cup in front of her.
Grace’s face turned pale in an instant.
Aunt Thompson didn’t expect Hope to be so concerned about it either.
A suit meant nothing to Waylon Lewis and Hope Williams; previously, when a servant at their house accidentally broke an expensive vase, Hope didn’t say anything and even told the servant to be careful while handling it.
Thus, Aunt Thompson assumed Hope would not care about this incident either.
"I’ll have someone list the price for you later." Hope’s expression was cold and serious, "Additionally, let me tell you, that suit isn’t cheap. I remember it should be around a few million."
Grace bit her lip tightly, panic in her heart, her grip whitening, "Mrs. Lewis, I really didn’t do it intentionally. Could you please overlook it? I’m still a student; I really can’t afford that much money. For you, a piece of clothing means nothing, but to me, it’s more than I could ever earn in a lifetime..."
Oh! Now she’s playing the guilt card.
Aunt Thompson couldn’t help but intercede for Grace, "Yeah, Mrs. Lewis, Miss Gray didn’t mean it, why don’t we just let it go? The gentleman also wouldn’t care about one suit, and you don’t need to make it difficult for her."
Hope slowly glanced at Aunt Thompson, feeling that Grace had a talent for winning hearts. In just a few hours, she had managed to recruit Aunt Thompson to speak up for her repeatedly at her own risk.
"So if it’s not intentional, there’s no need for compensation? That’s the logic? If you don’t have money, you don’t have to take responsibility?"