Chapter 177 I'm Pregnant With Xavier's Child
After Patrick had lashed several times, blood began to seep through Ryan's white shirt. From behind, Ryan's back was marked with welts; Patrick had indeed been ruthless this time.
Ryan's hands were braced against the ground when Patrick finally turned to Xavier. "Xavier, are you satisfied now?"
"He hasn't done anything to wrong me. Whether I'm satisfied or not isn't for me to decide," Xavier voiced.
Patrick turned to Grace, his expression pleading. "Grace, please forgive Ryan this time. If you're still not content, you can punish him yourself, even to the extreme."
As he spoke, Patrick handed the whip to Grace, but she did not take it.
"No need, Mr. Patrick Montgomery. I came here today with only one request. I hope you will reconsider my marriage to Ryan."
Patrick looked troubled. "I cannot agree to this matter."
"Why does it have to be me? There must be plenty of others willing, and they should be better than me," Grace asked directly.
Grace simply couldn't bring herself to believe that it all boiled down to honoring a childhood betrothal.
She stared at Patrick's face, but he was a cunning man, and his expression revealed nothing.
Patrick said, "The Montgomery family is not one to break promises; otherwise, we wouldn't have achieved what we have today. Besides, you and Ryan are indeed well-matched."
"Your father has already accepted the wedding gifts. You should prepare for the wedding. Rest assured, we will not treat you unfairly," he added.
"What?"
Grace, unaware of Zach accepting the wedding gifts, inquired, "How much did he accept?"
"How can you even ask that? Your father has no shame, essentially treating his daughter as a commodity. He even had the audacity to request shares in the Montgomery family, and to top it off, he demanded two hundred million dollars from us!" Wendy interjected.
"Two hundred million dollars?" Grace was stunned. Zach took that much money?
No wonder Zach had refused to cooperate with her last time.
Had he sold out Madison, and now was he selling her out as well?
"Yes, have you never seen so much money in your life? Such a pathetic sight." Wendy rolled her eyes.
The Lewis family was full of people with poor character, including that Madison, who was also terrible.
Wendy didn't know how Madison suddenly became wealthy, purchasing jewelry that seemed beyond her means and flaunting it every day, which greatly irritated her.
And Jessica had been out of touch recently.
"Mr. Patrick Montgomery, I was unaware of this. If I return the wedding gifts and make up for all the losses, can we reconsider my marriage to Ryan?" Grace bit her lip. If Patrick agreed, she would definitely make up for the money.
"Grace, it is already settled. Marrying Ryan won't be a loss for you. Do you look down on the Montgomery family?" Patrick's smile had faded.
"That's not what I mean," Grace said. She didn't look down on the Montgomery family.
She simply didn't like Ryan or the idea of a marriage arranged by others.
"I will explain everything to you, Grace. You should go back and get ready to be a bride," said Patrick.
Then he turned to the butler and ordered, "Lead Ms. Lewis to have a rest."
The intention to dismiss her was clear, and Grace knew it was impossible for her to conceal her marriage with Ryan now. She realized she would need to find an alternative approach. However, she was determined not to give up; she would never compromise.
"Mr. Patrick Montgomery, I hope you will reconsider. Goodbye," Grace said and left the estate of the Montgomery family.
A flicker of something passed through Patrick's eyes as he glanced at Xavier. "Xavier, I have other pressing matters to attend to here. I apologize for any inconvenience caused and for the spectacle we have made of ourselves."
Xavier replied coolly, "Indeed, you should handle your family's affairs properly and not let others see the mess."
As Xavier left, Mason naturally followed. Xavier had come all this way just to hand over a whip; it seemed he was backing Grace. But would Xavier really not intervene in the matter of breaking off the engagement?
As Xavier walked out of the villa, he saw that Grace had not left.
"Xavier," she called out to him, "may I have a word with you?"
Grace appeared very calm, but her usually bright eyes were now dull and lifeless.
Xavier nodded. "Get in the car."
Sitting next to Xavier, Grace didn't know how to start. Her expression was very hesitant, her face slightly lowered, and her fingers were clutching her clothes.
"Just say what you need to say," Xavier said. He had never seen Grace so hesitant before.
"Xavier, as you know, I have started my own brand. I am interested in collaborating with DG Group. I am willing to offer you half of the shares," she said.
This was Grace's fully-owned studio, and she held all the shares. If Xavier was willing, he could have as many shares as he wanted.
If she left, Patrick would certainly not spare Iris. Grace didn't want to see her hard work destroyed. Rather than letting Patrick ruin it, she would rather give it to Xavier.
Xavier saw through her immediately. "You're planning to leave?"
Grace hadn't expected to be so transparent. She denied, "No, I believe that with DG Group's backing, I can grow stronger."
Xavier smirked, finding her explanation far from convincing.
If her goal was truly just to grow stronger, she would have come to him on the first day, or at least when she was first targeted. She wouldn't have waited until now.
"Patrick won't let you go. You must have something he wants; otherwise, he wouldn't go to such lengths," said Xavier.
Patrick would rather find a way to settle everything than call off the engagement, which was not like him.
"But I'm just an ordinary person. I have nothing," Grace said, confused.
What did Patrick want that she couldn't give?
Xavier couldn't figure it out either, but he knew Patrick's character too well. Businessmen never did anything that wasn't in their interest.
"Stop struggling and just marry Ryan."
"Impossible!" Grace would never resign herself to that fate.
"Xavier, considering everything we've done together, are you really going to stand by and do nothing?" Grace lifted her beautiful eyes to look at Xavier again.
"Everything we've done together," Xavier noted, impressed by her boldness in saying so.
He lowered his gaze, his eyes reflecting Grace's image.
His thin lips parted slightly. "What does your matter have to do with me?"
"Aren't you afraid I'll tell Patrick that I've been involved with you all along, that I'm pregnant with your child? Do you think he would still let me marry Ryan then?" Grace tried to threaten him.
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