I've Been There Before

Ladd drove the car, speeding down the road. In the narrow space, the petty woman was shivering in the back seat.
A hard arm held her tightly and prevented her from moving.
It was more like imprisonment. The handsome man looked livid.
Sweat oozed down from Ladd’s forehead, but he didn’t have time to wipe it off.
He felt like now he was not driving people, but a storm.
His boss was terrifyingly furious.
Ladd started to envy those who were not in his position.
At least, they didn’t have to stay with the dangerous, angry man.
Ladd turned the wheel and slid down the left lane at a traffic light. Suddenly, a cold voice came from the back seat spooked him.
“Did I tell you to drive us to the manor?”
Ladd shuddered and asked, “Boss, so where should we go?”
“Home,” said the man evenly.
Fortunately, Ladd was smart enough and didn’t ask any more questions. He turned the car around and went on a different route.
Grace remained silent all the way. She did not know what else she could do.
Nor did she know what he was going to do to her.
They were heading to their former apartment.
Grace was tightly held by Ladd all the way there. The car parked at the underground parking lot. The door opened, and she was
dragged out of the door.
Grace suppressed her feelings and didn’t say anything in front of Ladd. She was silent because she wanted to hold on to her
ridiculous pride. She didn’t want to be defeated.
Grace didn’t dare to think about what the man was going to do.

They took the elevator up to the floor where they used to live.
“I don’t have the key.”
She resisted. The door in front of her was familiar, but she didn’t want to enter the room.
The man ignored her and took out the key.
She widened her eyes. With a click sound, the door opened. Finally, she couldn’t help trembling. This time, it wasn’t because she
was afraid, but because she was angry.
“How did you get the key!”
She asked hoarsely in a low voice.
“This is my house. Why shouldn’t I have the key?” He mocked, squinting at her, the irony in his eyes making her tremble even
more fiercely.
Yes!
That was right!
How could he not have the key?
She was stupid!
She was so stupid to believe that he would allow her to move out.
It was just another game.
“What? You need me to invite you in?” said the man frostily. He looked coldly at the woman struggling in his arm, his other hand
clenched into a fist in his trouser pocket.
She was so reluctant!
She did not want to come in!
This was their home. How could she resist it?

It was heart-wrenching. But the man remained cold.
With a snort, he grabbed a shoulder of the woman and forced her into the room.
As he entered the door, out of habit, he squatted down to take his slippers from the shoe cabinet in the doorway. Then his hands
froze in the air.
He stared at the empty space in the shoe cabinet. Then he let out a snort.
The man closed his eyes, stood up, and lifted the woman on his shoulder without saying a word.
“Are you out of your mind?”
She shouted angrily.
She struggled violently but was still unable to get off him.
The man strode towards the bedroom with his long legs. After entering the room, he put her on the bed, stood in front of her, and
stared at her coldly with his arms crossed.
“If I beg you to let me go....”
She didn’t even finish her sentence.
“Change your request,” the man interrupted resolutely. He looked down at her coldly. Deep in his eyes, there was an
undetectable pain.... Let her go?
“Grace, if I let you go, who’s going to let me go?” he thought to himself.
He would rather suffer all his life than let go of the woman in front of him.... He wouldn’t let go, no matter what!
“I’m so....” Tired....
“How about you explain why you were in the hospital? Why did you sign the bone marrow donation agreement?”
Her eyes twitched. “How about you explain why you’re spying on me?”
“Spying on you?” The man crossed his arms, curling up his lips coldly.... She thought that he was spying on her. She knew
nothing!

If it hadn’t been for him.... He clenched his fists.
There was irrepressible rage in his eyes.
“Payne is in bad health,” she had no choice but to tell the truth. She knew the man too well.
“So you’re ready to sacrifice yourself?” he sneered.
“It’s just a bone marrow donation. I don’t want to die.”
“Everyone else will be fine, but you.... Grace, are you sure that nothing will go wrong?
Do you know that if something happens to you, I will....” he reproached angrily and stopped talking!
He clenched his fists so tight that they creaked.
His chest heaved drastically. She didn’t care about anything! Anything! Including him!
There was great pain in his black eyes. The man closed his eyes abruptly so that she wouldn’t see it!
He was more despaired than angry.
He sneered at himself.... She didn’t care about him anymore.
She did not care anymore.
Even if she knew of her condition, even if she knew of the danger that would arise, she still decided to hide the truth from him.
“He’s my brother.”
Caden snorted coldly. Brother?
A man like that deserved to be her brother?
How could a man like that be worth her taking the risk?
He almost couldn’t d breathe, his breath uneven.

“Grace, say you love me,” he ordered. He told himself that as long as she said that out loud, he would believe it. As long as she
said it, he would let go of what happened today.
As long as she said it!
But that damned woman shut her mouth stubbornly.
Time passed by slowly. He was waiting. He said to himself that he could wait.
As long as it was her, he was willing to spend the rest of his life waiting. She only needed to say those words.
“Say you love me. Say it. Say you love me.” He was getting tougher.
She was still silent.
That was....
He felt a burning pain in his heart. He looked at her in agony. He seemed to have lost something important.
Something more important than his life.
“Is it so difficult?” he sneered. Under his tough attitude and dismissive tone, there were hidden pleadings.
However, the woman could not see it. She used to say the three words to him in a bold, happy, and determined way. She had
been willing to say those words a thousand times or ten thousand times. But now, it became extremely difficult.
His pain and despair grew stronger and stronger.
He looked at her in agony and desperation.... Behind the despair, was his madness.
He didn’t believe it!
He did not believe that there was no place for him in her heart.
Suddenly, he bent down, put his arms by her sides, and pressed his lips on hers.
She felt as if she were hitting by a storm.
She snapped!

She slapped him on the face.
“Asshole!”
The man’s head was tilted to the other side and rested on her shoulder. Head beside head, they were so close to each other.
His handsome face buried in the blanket, the man curled up his lips slowly. “Yes, I’m an asshole. So Grace..., stop the pointless
resistance.... It won’t work.”