Due to a hangover, Grace Chandler had a headache, so she took the day off to rest at home.

But once she sobered up and saw the messages from her friends, along with the news online, Grace became extremely tense.

Her face turned pale as she paced back and forth in her house, wanting to call Ivan but too afraid to do so.

Her friend told her that the trending topic had been taken down.

The gossip news was also being massively deleted, saying it might have been handled by the Aiken Family.

But Grace knew it wasn't the Aiken Family who did it; it was Ivan.

Would Ivan suspect her after seeing those news articles?

Probably not. The delivery she received isn't known to Ivan, plus she had a friend in River City publish it, so Ivan wouldn't suspect her.

However, recalling Jimmy's other identity, Grace didn't dare to take any chances.

Grace only hated herself for getting drunk last night, acting impulsively out of jealousy, and doing what she did.

What should I do?

Ivan will definitely not let her off the hook. The carefully maintained friendship she's had with Ivan for years, and everything she's achieved relying on him, might all disappear in an instant.

At this moment, Grace truly regrets it to her core. Yet, she's also intensely jealous and doesn't want to see Ivan with Lia Aiken. She'd rather both she and Ivan remain single than see him love someone else.

In the end, unable to muster the courage to call Ivan, Grace contacted her close friend Victoria Kelly.

"Victoria, are you free now? Can you come to my house? It's urgent, very urgent."

Victoria sensed the urgency in Grace's voice over the phone and asked with concern, "Grace, what's wrong? What happened? You didn't go to work today? Are you sick? Have you been to the hospital? Should I bring you some medicine?"

"Victoria, I've messed up and offended Ivan. Please come quickly, I'm scared and don't know who to talk to." Grace, fearing Ivan's retaliation, was completely candid with Victoria, hoping her friend could help her think of a way to avoid Ivan's wrath, or at least not have him destroy her completely.

After all, she and Ivan have known each other for years, and how long have Ivan and Lia Aiken been together?

Thinking about this made Grace furious. She says she's regretful, but in reality, she's afraid of Ivan's retaliation, not regretful for exposing Lia Aiken's background. Unfortunately, the woman in the photo wasn't Lia Aiken; otherwise, Ivan would certainly have abandoned her.

"How did you offend him? Aren't you two quite close? Did you report something he didn't want to be known?" Victoria first thought of her friend as a reporter, possibly having reported news unfavorable to Ivan, thus offending him.

"I can't explain it over the phone, just come over. I'm at home."

Victoria agreed, "Okay, I'll take leave and come right away."

"I'll wait for you at home. Hurry, I'm so scared, just thinking about the consequences frightens me."

Victoria wanted to say if you're scared, why did you do it, but she held back. In her mind, Grace is a media person with professional integrity. Over the years, Ivan only accepted interviews from her friend because he valued her friend's professional ethics.

She thought maybe Ivan did something he didn't want to be public, and despite their friendship, her friend reported it truthfully, thereby offending him.

What could Ivan have done that he wouldn't want others to know?

Victoria pondered this on her way.

As she arrived at Grace's place and knocked on the door, Grace immediately opened it.

"Victoria, come in quickly." Grace looked behind Victoria to make sure no one was following. Only then did she relax a bit, pulling her friend inside and quickly locking the door, as if she were afraid someone was out to get her.

Victoria noticed her friend was disheveled, still in nightwear, barefoot, and looking pale. If she hadn't known the reason over the phone, she might have thought her friend was seriously ill, as her complexion was ghastly.

"Grace, what's going on? Just look at how pale you are." Victoria easily fetched a pair of slippers for Grace and handed them to her. "I've known you for years, this is the first time I've seen you so unconcerned about your appearance."

Usually, even at home, Grace would look neat and presentable, perhaps wearing a touch of makeup to maintain her pretty image. Unlike now.

Victoria didn't mention it, and Grace didn't even realize she was in nightwear, barefoot, with unkempt hair.

"Victoria, you have to help me. I've really messed up this time, Ivan will definitely come after me. I was just jealous and drunk, the alcohol made me impulsive, and I did what I did."

Now, Grace didn't care about her image anymore, as Victoria was her close friend.

Victoria pulled her anxious and clearly shaken friend over to the sofa, and they both sat down. She comforted Grace, saying, "Grace, don't panic. We're good friends, and I'll do everything I can to help you. But you must explain the situation clearly, so I know exactly what's going on."

"If you're in the right, I'll help you explain things to Mr. Horne and make sure he doesn't misunderstand you or distance himself. Mr. Horne is a reasonable person, and I think as long as you make things clear, he won't blame you."

Grace gave a bitter smile, "Victoria, Ivan has found someone he likes. They're really together now; he told me she's his girlfriend. And they haven't known each other that long, but he already has a girlfriend!"

Hearing this, Victoria's eyebrows twitched, sensing something ominous.

Grace continued, "I've had a crush on him for years, he couldn't possibly not know. How am I inferior to that woman with an undesirable background? Even if I'm not wealthy, my family is clean and respectable. He likes her but not me."

"I'm jealous, insanely jealous. God knows how much it took to hold back my jealousy and not scratch that witch's face when I saw them being lovey-dovey!"

As she spoke, hatred filled Grace's eyes.

Victoria's heart skipped a beat.

She thought her friend had offended Ivan due to work, but it was really about emotions.

Without waiting for Grace to explain further, Victoria interrupted, saying, "Grace, didn't you say you were going to give up? How many times have I advised you, Ivan doesn't like you. As you said, you've had a crush on him, he can't possibly not know, but over the years he's shown no sign, which means he doesn't love you. Why deepen your own sorrow, only to end up hurt yourself? Look at you now, what's become of you?"