Chapter 626 Waiting for Him at City Hall
"Get off the boat and go ashore. You're just gonna make things worse here. Leave the professional work to the pros," Sterling's voice was cold and direct.
"I'm not leaving. I'm not making things worse," Grace insisted, knowing she couldn't help much, but feeling slightly more at ease by staying.
"Even if you're not causing trouble, do you think Xavier would be okay seeing you like this? He's risking his life to protect you. If you can't think of yourself, at least think of him," Sterling said, knowing this was the only way to persuade Grace.
Grace was suffering more than anyone else, and no one could truly understand her pain. But there were also people who cared deeply for her.
"Can you just let me stay here? I promise I won't get in the way. I want to be close to him," Grace's red eyes pleaded with him.
Even Sterling, with his heart of stone, was moved for a moment. Xavier was gone, yet someone was still looking for him. Xavier was truly lucky.
Sterling thought that if he disappeared one day, there would probably be a crowd cheering, and no one would come looking for him.
Sterling didn't know how to persuade her further. As the sun slowly rose, someone brought breakfast.
Grace had no appetite and couldn't eat a bite.
"It's only nine o'clock, and the sun is already so harsh," someone remarked.
It was summer, and they were at sea. The temperature in Skigeth was high, and people were already feeling the heat.
Nine o'clock?
Grace glanced at the time.
She needed to go back. She had to go back!
"Can I get a yacht? I'll go back myself," Grace said, knowing how to operate one.
"I'll go with you," Sterling offered, puzzled by Grace's sudden change of heart.
Sterling didn't trust Grace to go alone, so he decided to accompany her. He didn't know how to drive a yacht and was about to call someone to operate it when Grace said, "I can do it."
Grace expertly handled the yacht, proving she knew what she was doing.
"What are you planning to do?" Sterling asked, seeing Grace's urgency.
Grace didn't explain. Once ashore, she was ready to drive.
"I'll drive. You just handled the yacht, so let me take over," Sterling said, taking the driver's seat.
"Take me home first," Grace didn't argue.
After dropping Grace off, she quickly grabbed something and came back down.
"Where to now?" Sterling asked, waiting for her.
He noticed Grace had washed her face and tied her hair into a bun, but her eyes were still swollen and red.
"City Hall."
"Where?" Sterling thought he misheard.
"City Hall. I can drive myself if you don't want to."
Xavier had promised that today they would get their marriage license. Maybe he was planning a surprise for her. Maybe he was already waiting at City Hall.
It was now work hours, and the staff would be there to process their paperwork.
He had promised!
Seeing Grace like this, Sterling felt a pang of indescribable sadness.
He drove her to City Hall, where Grace searched inside and out for Xavier. She waited from morning until afternoon.
You promised. You lied again.
If you don't show up, I'll be really mad and never marry you!
Fine, because you've been so good to me, I'll wait five more minutes. If you're not here by then, I'm leaving, and you'll never have another chance!
Maybe Xavier was busy and caught up in something. He said he'd come, so he would. Five more minutes!
But five minutes turned into another five, and another, and still no Xavier.
Hope after hope, disappointment after disappointment.
It seemed like a good day, with many couples coming in to get married, leaving with happy smiles. Grace waited until the staff were ready to leave for the day.
This was really the last five minutes, as the City Hall staff were clocking out.
Someone even asked, "Miss, you've been here all day. Hasn't your boyfriend come yet?"
Grace opened her mouth to say he would come, but Sterling grabbed her wrist, "Come with me."
People watched Grace being led away, their eyes filled with sympathy, imagining all sorts of scenarios.
"Grace, let's go home," Sterling said, having waited with her all day.
Steven had contacted him, asking him to take care of Grace for now.
Grace wouldn't find any answers here. Xavier was gone. He wouldn't come.
It was harsh, but it was the truth.
"Stop waiting. He's not coming."
"Xavier is gone, but you have to keep living. Think about your family, think about the baby."
"There are millions of people in the world. I know you're hurting, but you have to move on."
Sterling tried to wake Grace up. Maybe no one else would say these things to her. Her family might tell her Xavier would come back, not to be sad, to keep looking.
So he would be the bad guy.
"Sterling, I hate you. I don't want to see you!"
Grace wanted to protect herself, to believe Xavier would come.
But Sterling kept shattering that beautiful illusion, laying the harsh truth bare.
"You can hate me all you want, but I'm not leaving."
Grace waited until nightfall, when everyone was gone. Sterling stayed too.
Grace stood up, exhausted. Sterling immediately said, "I'll take you home."
"I'm not going home. Take me to the dock."
"You need rest," Sterling insisted.
"I know you're trying to help, but Sterling, I can't sleep. If I'm not there, I'll worry even more."
Who would have thought that yesterday's goodbye would be the last time she saw Xavier?
That the call she made, worried, would be their last conversation.
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