Novel Palace
Chapter 568
Chapter 568
Grace stood there. Her eyes were wide with shock. As she suddenly dropped the laptop, with a thud,
she fell to her knees before Allison. “Please,” she begged. Her voice was laced with desperation. “Let
Penelope go. Whatever she has done, I’ll atone for it. I’ll do anything, Allison. Just spare her, please.”
Allison felt a vice grip tighten around her throat as she watched Grace prostrate before her. She
stepped back. Her vision was blurring. A part of her heart seemed to crumble, but she didn’t want to
cry, and didn’t even feel pain, just a hollow coldness rushing through the gaping hole where her heart
used to be.
Grace was on the floor, her forehead nearly touching the ground, while Allison’s face was a mask of
eerie calm. She turned to Emma. “Emma, have the security escort this lady out. And, set up a press
conference in three days. Grace, this video... I’ll release it in three days, and no one can stop me.
Unless...”
Her smile was tinged with self-mockery and cold detachment. “Unless I’m dead.”
Emma didn’t immediately summon security. She waited, wary of the swarm of reporters outside who
might twist Grace’s words. She discreetly organized a ride, ensuring Grace was safely sent home
without further incident.
Back in her own lounge, Allison felt bone-deep exhaustion. She could brush off the vile words that
cluttered the internet, but she couldn’t ignore the plead from Grace, the woman she used to call mom.
Emma, sensing Allison’s weariness, came closer. “Don’t dwell on this, Allison. Take a break.”
“Emma, sometimes I feel so defeated,” she confessed, with a tremble in her voice. “It hurts somewhere
deep inside, but I can’t pinpoint where or why. It’s just pain, a pain I can’t physically touch...”
She lay down on the couch, and Emma draped a soft blanket over her, taking her hand gently. “Sleep,
Allison. You’ll feel better after some rest. I’ll wake you for dinner later.”
Nodding weakly, Allison closed her eyes and swiftly succumbed to sleep. Her body finally yielded to the
overwhelming tiredness.
Emma stayed by Allison’s side until she was sound asleep. She then stood up, adjusted the blanket
around Allison, and stepped out onto the balcony to call the driver.
The driver confirmed that Grace was safely home.
Emma typed out a text and sent it to Hughes: [I might be a little late tonight.]
The reply came quickly: [Busy?]
[I need to stay with my boss. She’s just fallen asleep.] Emma responded.
...
Allison woke up around 7 p.m. to the smell of dinner prepared by Emma, set out on the coffee table.
After some sleep, she felt much more at ease. Her stomach growled with hunger, but her appetite was
missing.
“Send the video to my phone,” she said.
“It’s already there, Allison. Are you really going to release it at the press conference?”
Allison pressed her lips together, hesitating. “I’m not sure yet.”
“Maybe you should send the video to Mr. Lindberg first,” Emma suggested.
“Would he believe me?” Allison closed her eyes. There was a fear creeping in. “I’m afraid he’ll be just
like Grace, only trusting Penelope.”
“That’s not going to happen. I have a feeling Mr. Lindberg cares for you, and it’s not just a casual
fondness...”
“Emma, you don’t understand. Lucian and I, it’s just a transaction. My body for his resources,” Allison
said with a bitter laugh. NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.
Emma shook her head adamantly. “No, that’s not it.” She said firmly, “Believe me, Allison. Mr.
Lindberg’s feeling for you is different.”