Chapter 292 Put the Bracelet on Her Wrist
Xavier plopped down next to Grace, and she cozied up, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Hold out your hand," Xavier murmured.
"What for?" Grace asked, extending her hand. "You're not about to give me another gift, are you?"
If Xavier handed her a gift now, she’d have to take it, given how things were between them.
Xavier smirked, "Should I give you props for being so sharp?"
Grace had just been joking, not expecting there to actually be a gift.
Xavier slipped off the bracelet from his wrist and fastened it around Grace's.
The bracelet was made of tiny beads, wrapping twice around Xavier's wrist but needing several loops around Grace's.
Grace was floored. "Isn't this what your mom left you?"
It was his mom's keepsake, super important to Xavier. No way could Grace accept it.
Xavier nodded. "Yep."
His mom had left it for him, praying over it at church for a month. She said it would keep him safe, and Xavier always wore it.
He rarely took it off and was super attached to it.
Everyone who knew him knew about the bracelet. Its color had changed over time, but Xavier never replaced it.
"Nope, I can't take this!" Grace protested, trying to remove it.
"Leave it on; don't take it off!" Xavier insisted, wrapping the bracelet around her wrist. Grace's wrist was so slender that the bracelet looked totally different on her.
On Xavier's wrist, it was deep, solemn, adding a sense of mystery and coolness.
But on Grace's wrist, it seemed to glow, like a piece of art.
Probably because Xavier had worn it for so long, the bracelet was worn and carried his unique scent.
Grace said, "But this was given to you by your mom, and it's the only gift."
No matter how Grace saw it, it was super important. It should stay with Xavier, not be given to her.
When his mom gave it to him, Xavier knew it was important. He wanted her to wear it herself, but she put it on his wrist.
His mom had said to keep it for now, and if he ever met someone he wanted to protect, he should give the bracelet to her.
Xavier used to think that would never happen, but now, he wanted to give the bracelet to Grace.
Xavier said, "Keep it for me."
Actually, it wasn't his mom's only keepsake. There was also a crystal, the most valuable thing his mom had, but Xavier had given it to someone else.
He had put the crystal in a lunchbox and given it to a little girl who had fed him. But over the years, Xavier had never found that little girl.
"I still think something this important should be kept by you," Grace felt she couldn't be trusted with it.
Xavier had given her something so precious, and Grace was really afraid of losing or damaging it.
Xavier said, "I've said, once I give something away, I don't take it back."
Grace fell silent.
If it were anything else, Xavier not taking it back wouldn't bother her much, even if she tossed it. But this was different; she had to keep it safe.
"Alright, I'll keep it for you. If you ever want it back, just let me know," Grace said, stroking the bracelet on her wrist. Just touching it made her feel like Xavier was always there with her.
After chilling for a day in the villa, Grace was feeling a bit sore but already bouncing around.
She was out to have fun, so staying cooped up wasn't an option.
Having just learned to play pool, Xavier mentioned she could even challenge Victor, so she hit him up for a game.
Victor had nothing better to do, so he was down.
Today, Grace went out without makeup.
Since Victor and Isaac already knew her secret, there was no need to hide it.
And with no other familiar faces around, she skipped the makeup and just went to play.
She did wear a baseball cap, though, pulling the brim down low to keep it low-key.
Victor said, "Grace, finally seeing you like this. Want a drink? My treat."
Grace replied, "Thanks, Mr. Hastings, but I'll pass."
Victor shrugged, "Alright. By the way, Xavier, I heard Sterling left that night. Not sure if he left Skigeth."
"He hasn't left," Xavier said calmly.
"Why's he still here?" Victor didn't like Sterling but was kinda scared of him.
Grace and Victor's pool game kicked off. Grace held the cue stick, looking like a total newbie.
Victor started the game with a bold move, giving Grace an advantage, and their match didn't last long.
Grace eyed the scattered balls, found her angle, and leaned over the table, setting up her shot.
In that position, the bracelet on her wrist was exposed.
Victor exclaimed, "Grace, you..."
Seeing Xavier's empty wrist, it was clear that this was indeed his bracelet.
Victor had always wanted to see Xavier's bracelet, but Xavier never let him. Now it was on Grace's wrist!
"What is it?" Grace asked, startled.
Victor shook his head. "Nothing, nothing."
Grace thought her posture or technique was off, but since Victor said it was nothing, she just swung the cue stick and took her shot.
It seemed Xavier was serious this time, giving Grace something so important.
Xavier had already been through a lot. Victor just hoped the world would cut them some slack and let him and Grace be happy!
Victor felt that if anything else happened to Grace and Xavier, it would be so unfair.
Lost in thought, Victor didn't pay attention to Grace's game. When he looked up, he found the balls on the table in weird positions.
Shots that were usually easy for him were now awkward, challenging, and tough to make.
"Grace, your skills are impressive. Didn't you say you couldn't play last time?"
Grace grinned. "My teacher's pretty good."
Just then, Xavier got a call.
Seeing the caller ID, he walked to the side.
On the other end was the estate manager, who said, "Mr. Montgomery, Ryan has also come to the estate. Should we let him in?"
Xavier glanced at Grace, who was playing with Victor, and his eyes darkened. "Let him in."
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