My Birthday, My Downfall novel Chapter 29

"I've made up my mind, Adrian."

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the pale, frail reflection of myself.

It turns out that making one of the most important decisions in life wasn't as difficult as I had imagined.

"Grace… will you accept my proposal?"

Adrian Cooper's deep voice came through the phone.

My heart suddenly felt a pang of bittersweet emotion.

As tears quietly slipped down my cheeks, I nodded lightly. "Yes, Adrian, I will."

"Grace, I'm so happy."

"Did you know? I've been waiting for this day ever since we were in college."

Unknowingly, a faint smile had already formed on the lips of the woman in the mirror.

"Adrian, give me half a month. Let me take care of things here first."

"Of course, Grace. I'll be waiting for you."

The call had barely ended when my bedroom door was abruptly pushed open from the outside.

"Grace," my father cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Your sister hasn't been feeling well. Since your room gets more sunlight, why don't the two of you switch rooms for a few days?"

I didn't respond immediately. My gaze shifted to my stepmother and stepsister, Helen Rowen, standing behind him.

My stepmother quickly interjected, "Oh, Mr. Winston, there's no need to trouble the eldest daughter."

Helen chimed in, looking pitiful, "Yes, Dad, I'm fine. Don't upset my sister because of me."

"What trouble? You're my daughter too," my father said firmly before turning to me with a stern expression.

"Grace, you're the elder sister. Be understanding."

I stared blankly at my father.

I thought I would feel heartbroken, that I might cry for this man who loved his stepdaughter more than his biological daughter.

But not a single tear fell.

Instead, I smiled and nodded at them.

"Alright, I'll switch rooms with her."

After all, in just half a month, I would leave this place forever.

Which room I stayed in no longer mattered.

My father seemed pleased with my compliance.

My stepmother was also smiling in satisfaction.

After they left, Helen remained in the room.

"Grace, let me help you pack," she said sweetly, standing obediently before me.

As her eyes swept across the entire room, a trace of undisguised glee flickered within them.

"I didn't expect Dad would actually agree to let us switch rooms."

"Grace, are you mad at me?" she asked innocently.

"After all, I've just taken Paul from you, and now I've taken the bedroom you've lived in for ten years."

I didn't want to engage with her, so I turned to grab my suitcase.

Suddenly, Helen let out a dramatic cry and fell hard to the ground.

In a matter of days, he had fallen for someone younger and prettier.

To him, I was now a venomous and cruel monster.

I didn't want to cry. I even wanted to laugh.

But my tear glands were already throbbing with pain.

"Paul, we've known each other for so many years. Don't you know what kind of person I am?"

Paul frowned slightly, his gaze falling on my face. For a moment, his expression seemed to waver.

Helen suddenly started crying. "Paul, don't argue with Grace because of me."

"I'm fine. If Grace is angry with me, she has every right to be…"

Her sobs were soft, like she was utterly wronged.

Paul's gaze on me turned completely cold.

"You're jealous that I love Helen."

"Jealous that I treat her well."

"Jealous that everyone adores her."

"Grace, you're not the person you used to be."

"You've become twisted now, haven't you?"

With that, he carried Helen in his arms and walked away.

I watched their retreating figures.

Suddenly, I realized that my tears had dried without me noticing.