Starting with A Divorce novel (Ainsley and Cason)
Chapter 656

Chapter 656 Behind the Scenes

Grace placed her hand on Manuel's shoulder, and everyone on the dance floor was surprised that she had chosen Manuel as her dance partner.

"Mr. Gage, I know you care deeply about Ms. Easton. Do you know why I asked you to invite me to dance?" Grace said softly.

Manuel's eyes were cold as he asked, "Why?"

Grace looked down and laughed softly, 'Because I can tell that Ms. Easton likes you too."

'Why do you say that?" Manuel's cold expression softened slightly.

Grace didn't immediately respond, but instead moved closer to Manuel. She sneakily glanced at Ainsley.

Ainsley stood beneath the stage, her brow slightly furrowed. Unconsciously, her hand shook the champagne glass twice before she placed it on a nearby table. 'Look," she said, her eyes signaling Manuel to look at Ainsley.

Manuel followed the gaze and smiled knowingly, 'I knew it all along.'

'But I think there must be some misunderstanding between you two, right? It seems a bit awkward when you're together," Grace said thoughtfully.

Manuel glanced approvingly, but he hadn't forgotten the purpose of his visit. 'However, before you say anything else, I must admit I'm quite curious about you." 'Towards me?' Grace raised her eyebrows.

Manuel nodded, "For example, four years ago, you left the entertainment industry at the peak of your career. Was there any hidden reason behind it?" Grace shook her head, 'Mr. Gage, you're overthinking it. I just happened to see a charity video one day showing how difficult life is for children in the mountains, and I wanted to do my part, however small it may be."

Manuel, however, didn't believe it. "My people have visited the schools in those mountainous areas. They've been to all the schools you mentioned, but some of them said they've never seen you before.' Grace gave an awkward smile and said, "Mr. Gage, there are many people who want to volunteer to teach every day. It's quite normal for the school staff not to remember everyone who has come to help. I can't expect everyone to remember me."

"Ms. Yannin, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to say that with your face?" Anyone who has seen Grace would definitely replace her face unforgettable.

Grace laughed and said, "Can I take that as a compliment from Mr. Gage?"

'You could think of it that way, but I'm more curious about what happened during that time. Ms. Yannin, I remember the number you used before, why did you suddenly stop using it?"

'Mr. Gage, are you playing detective? It's not unusual for someone in the entertainment industry like me to change phone numbers frequently. Once my number is exposed, it can greatly affect my life, so I have no choice but to change it. As for what happened during the time you mentioned, I'm not sure what you mean,' Grace said with a smile.

Manuel held her hand, pulling it closer and then farther away, "Ms. Yannin knows very well what's in her heart. Do you want me to investigate it?"

The waltz came to a halt, and Grace bowed gracefully, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle. "If Mr. Gage replaces me suspicious, then by all means, investigate. Although I'm not quite sure what exactly you replace suspicious about me. Shouldn't you provide a reason before questioning me?"

'Didn't I give you a heads up? You really don't know Jake Easton?' Manuel asked with a sidelong glance as he stepped off the stage.

As Manuel walked away, Grace clenched her fists, trying her best to hide the turmoil within her. However, Ainsley still managed to notice it.

'What did you say to her?" Ainsley asked eagerly as she approached.

Manuel replied, 'It's about your father."

'She knows! She's panicking!" Ainsley immediately rushed over, "Ms. Yannin!"

This time, Grace couldn't sit still any longer. As she backed away, she asked, 'What do you want to do, Ms. Easton?"

"Ms. Yannin, I just want to know about my father's affairs, there's no ill intent," Ainsley said anxiously, afraid that Grace might be scared off by this.

In fact, before Grace had a chance to respond, her manager rushed over and quickly stepped in between the two of them.

'Ms. Easton, Grace is tired and needs to rest now," she said, intending to leave with Grace.

Of course, Ainsley wouldn't agree. She tried to grab hold of Grace, but before she could even catch the hem of her clothes, the manager had already taken Grace away.

Ainsley wanted to chase after them, but was immediately stopped by someone.

Manuel walked over and said, "They probably already know what we want to investigate, so they're too scared to face us and can only hide."

'I just want to know the truth, why is she so resistant? And at the beginning, when I tested her, I could tell she wasn't lying, but why did she panic when you mentioned my father?" Ainsley asked, puzzled. There were too many things she couldn't understand.

'That manager is quite strange, it seems like he knew we were asking about Grace before he came over," Manuel said, slightly frowning.

No matter how much they wanted to stop Grace, there was no way they could get any closer at this moment.

Moreover, the banquet is about to end, and Grace will be leaving soon. It might be quite difficult to see her again.

After leaving the banquet, Ainsley and Manuel waited at the entrance for the driver to bring the car around.

'Aisy..." Manuel hesitated to speak.

He hated seeing Ainsley standing beside him, yet deliberately keeping her distance, and he also despised her intentional avoidance.

However, he had no other choice. Even though they took the plane together and arrived here side by side, even as they walked together with her arm linked through his.

He could also feel that extreme cold and alienation, the unfamiliar and fragmented sensation making it difficult for him to breathe.

Ainsley noticed his hesitation to speak. She didn't say anything, but simply looked into his eyes.

Somehow, her eyes began to sting as a flood of memories washed over her, the happy and the sad. Manuel under the mountain fireworks, Manuel helping her up when she fell in the rain. Those moments, those scenes, she could no longer ignore.

The feeling of oppression in my chest was like having a bullet lodged near my heart, where moving could kill me, and so could staying still.

This suppressed emotion, ever since the day she regained her memory, had been forcefully hidden deep within her heart.

This time, she finally saw the emotions hidden in Manuel's eyes.

She couldn't ignore it, yet it was hard to accept.

'Stop talking, just stop talking," she said softly, her cracking voice seemingly carrying a sob.

The driver brought the car over, and the two people got in.

Manuel and Ainsley walked together in silence. Manuel tried to strike up a conversation with Ainsley several times, but her cold gaze kept him at bay. Back in the room, Ainsley sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. They had assumed that the pain had long since disappeared, but unexpectedly, it hadn't. The bitterness in her heart overflowed, driving her nearly insane as she knowingly did something she shouldn't.

She couldn't continue to be entangled with Manuel like this. After regaining her memory, she made a decision that she must not waver from.

A teardrop fell on the back of her hand. She raised her hand and wiped the tear away with the back of it, only to realize she was crying again.