I've Been There Before

“What ... do you mean?” Payne was surprised. Grace turned around. He quickly grabbed her arm tightly and said, “Did you really
find a donor?”
He stared at Grace nervously. Grace lowered her eyes when noticed Payne’s nervousness, anxiety, and hope.
The hope of survival.
She smiled and answered, “Yes, I did. You won’t die.”
Pulling his hand away, she seemed to have made up her mind.
When she walked to the door....
She smiled at him. He would never forget that smile.
“Payne, stay strong and enjoy your life.”
Then, the door was closed.
Payne didn’t even have time to say “thank you”.
The next moment, he called Mrs. James excitedly, “Mom, I’m saved! I won’t die!”
He was overjoyed.
Mrs. James couldn’t believe it. She kept asking, “Really? Who is so kind?
I must show my thanks to the donor.
I’ll call your ruthless sister. She actually refused to save you!
Even a stranger was willing to do it.
She should be guilty!”
Payne blushed. He said with embarrassment, “Mom, don’t do that. Grace found the donor for me.”
Mrs. James was surprised at first. Then she said, “Whatever. She is not the doctor. She found a donor for you just because she
doesn’t want to donate her own bone marrow.

Do you think she did this for you?
She did this for herself.”
Payne’s face turned even redder. “Mom, I’m tired. I must hang up now.”
Not long after, his attending doctor came and told him that he could have a bone marrow transplant.
Payne hesitated for a moment, but he didn’t ask who the donor was.
The doctor only said, “You’re lucky. From today onwards, I’ll prescribe antibiotics for you as preoperative preparation. You have
to take this. After your body indexes return to normal, I’ll arrange an operation for you.”
The doctor added, “I need to talk to your family. The result would come out one month after the operation.”
...
“Miss James, are you sure you want to donate bone marrow?
Although a person with only one kidney, medically speaking, can still live.” The nurse in charge explained to her.
“Those who lack a kidney usually have poorer health and can’t lift heavy things. They would easily get exhausted and suffer from
some symptoms.
You should know those symptoms beforehand.
It is said that human body can regenerate bone marrow. The bone marrow is like leeks and will grow again.
But your health condition.... Before donating, you need to be injected with growth factor for four to five days in a row. We will
collect hematopoietic stem cells. Then normally the donor will have a fever for one to two days.
But your condition is special.
Moreover, surgery can fail, and the collection of hematopoietic stem cells is not entirely safe. There is still a small risk. Although it
is small, it can’t be ignored.
Furthermore, your condition is indeed unusual.
Miss James, are you sure you’re going to do this?”

“Yes. I’ll take responsibility for any consequences.” She picked up the pen and signed her name on the donation letter—Grace
Shaw, the name on her ID card.
“Isn’t your surname James?” The nurse was surprised.
Grace said indifferently, “My grandfather’s surname is James. I have changed mine.”
The nurse was puzzled....
...
When Grace returned home, she saw a man at the door.
She wanted to turn around and leave, but she resisted the urge to leave and walked to him. “I know you have called me and
texted me.”
She said slowly.
He stared at her with his dark eyes. “OK,” he said in a low voice.
“Why didn’t you call me back?”
She said, “You broke your words first. You agreed to let me think about it, didn’t you?”
Why was he here?
She meant he bothered her.
He didn’t deny that.
His eyes still dark, he asked,
“Where did you go?”
That was an ordinary question.
She stuffed her hands into her pockets and said calmly, “I didn’t go anywhere. I just had afternoon tea with Vivian.”
“Oh ... I see.”

She felt that there was implication in his words. But she was not sure.
She shook her head and told herself not to be worried. He must be busy with work at that time. He couldn’t know where she had
been and what she had done.
“Are you not going to invite me in?”
Caden raised his eyebrows and noticed that she did not take out the keys to open the door.
Grace said calmly, “You promised to leave me alone for some time. Is that a lie?”
He suddenly squinted as he looked at her. “Alright, I’ll give you that.”
He turned around and walked into the elevator, staring at Grace.
“Grace, I just want you to be there for me for the rest of your life,” he said sadly in a low voice.
Grace’s body suddenly trembled, and she lowered her head.
“A lifetime is too long. I’m not sure,” murmured she. However, the elevator door had closed. She took out her keys and opened
the door. Walking into the dark room, she felt like she fell into an abyss.
She was not Virgin Mary. She was aware of the dangers of bone marrow donation. Even the risk should have been small, it
might not be the case for her because of her physical conditions.
Donating bone marrow was her gamble.
It depended entirely on luck.
She hadn’t dared to take the risk before for many reasons.
Now that the James Group was on the right track, grandfather’s efforts would not lead to no end.
At least, the James was not ruined in her hands. She didn’t let her late grandfather down. She didn’t care if his love was
unconditional anymore.
When she had returned home, she had already made the decision to find a bone marrow donor for her brother. If she hadn’t, his
brother would....

She had made up her mind when she returned from Erhai Lake.
Grandfather said that Payne would take charge of the family.
So, how could he die?
She wasn’t ready to died. She really hoped that she could find a healthy bone marrow donor for Payne.
She didn’t want to die heroically. She still missed the beautiful scenery near Erhai Lake.
She still wanted to visit Leona’s grave and talk to her.
She thought that Caden would make troubles after he lost his memories.
However, it turned out that she loved his innocence and tenderness.
But she was too naive.
Caden, you made my heart beat again, and then you pushed me to hell.
You wanted me to stay by your side for the rest of my life, but you were still selfish and bossy like before.
You never changed!
And you never would!
The man who cooked for her every day was a liar!
The man who warmed her feet every day was a liar!
The man who kept saying “you mean the world to me” was a liar!
“Liar!” At the entrance, she said sadly.
He was a liar!
It was his plan!
His care and love were part of his plan!

He never changed. In his eyes, this was just a game. Only he had the right to say “stop”.
He was acting. He was mocking at her.
Now that she had done what she should do, she could relax and have a good rest.
In the dark night, her eyes were filled with despair and exhaustion.... She was just so tired.
Vivian arrived at Grace’s as scheduled. Grace poured a cup of hot water for her.
“The James Group is on the right track now.”
“Recently you have been working hard for me.” Grace took out an equity gift letter and handed it to Vivian.
“Sign your name.”
Vivian picked it up in confusion. She sat straight and scanned it. After a while, she said seriously, “You’re going to give me 5% of
James Group’ shares?”
“Sign it. You deserve it. You know me well. Once I make a decision, I won’t change my mind easily. If you refuse it, I’ll donate all
the money to the poor in your name.”
“Why are you doing this?”
Grace chuckled. “I won’t give it to you for free. I hope you can continue working for me and help me earn more money.”
After all, she knew Vivian well. Her words dispelled Vivian’s doubts. Vivian heaved a sigh of relief, smiled, and took out a pen to
sign. “I’ve signed it. Don’t regret it.”
Grace grinned and shook her head, “I won’t.”