All Chapters of Always Been You: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

“Seriously, does Grace even know where she stands? Calling Mr. Williams by his first name? So rude.”“Right? Like, does she really think he’s into her? After finally getting to speak up, she acts as if she can do whatever she wants. It’s embarrassing.”“What a total joke. She’s way out of Mr. Williams’ league—he’s got an Oxford degree, for crying out loud.”The harsh words grew even fiercer over the next few days. They were not only said behind Grace's back but also right in front of her. She was getting fed up with the bullying and was on the verge of exploding, which distracted her focus. Fortunately, she managed to restrain herself from revealing the truth: that she was Evan's best friend.Fortunately, Mario was a wise manager who fostered a positive atmosphere in the HR department from the start. Whenever there were negative rumors about Grace, her office remained a safe haven for her. The staff also refrained from passing judgment or engaging in baseless gossip.“Grace, could you

Returning to the office felt like stepping onto a battlefield. Grace prepared herself with several 'weapons' to navigate this challenging environment. First, she equipped herself to handle the harsh words from some of her colleagues. Second, she aimed to steer clear of any involvement with Evan.Grace requested that Mario allow Nita to replace her as the assistant manager for a certain period. This arrangement was initially difficult for both Mario and Nita. Mario preferred to keep Grace due to her greater experience and skills, while Nita felt more comfortable working with computers than in public. Nevertheless, Nita did her best to present reasonable justifications until Grace's request was finally granted.For about a month, Grace successfully avoided Evan. Whenever she was asked to attend to something related to the GM, she always found an excuse to escape. She would only leave her office when absolutely necessary, such as to go to the restroom or the pantry, and even then, it was

As if a dream had come true, more orders began pouring in. Indah became busier each week, making cookies and cakes for birthday parties, social gatherings, office meetings, and more. This was why Grace made sure to come home on time to help her mom, and Anthony also assisted for an hour or two in the evenings.Because of this, Grace felt that her bond with Anthony was evolving into something deeper. He demonstrated genuine sincerity without any expectation of reciprocating the feelings he had once expressed toward her. Gradually, Grace found comfort in his presence.On the Sunday before the Christmas break, Grace and Anthony delivered several cakes to a house in the Sanur beach area. This was their second order from a Danish-Chinese couple. Due to the number of boxes, they used Anthony's pickup truck.The trip was not tiring, as it took less than half an hour. Once they arrived at their destination, the two of them carried the cakes into the large house.“Thank you for making such deli

“—late.” Anthony walked over to the table, holding a transparent plastic bag that clearly displayed its contents. He placed the bag down before approaching Grace and Evan.Evan glanced at Grace, silent and questioning, as if asking who the man was.“Ah, right. Hmm. Anthony, this is Evan; Evan, this is Anthony,” Grace briefly introduced them to one another.Anthony was taken aback and exclaimed, “Oh? Isn’t he…?” but he didn’t finish his thought.Grace nodded, understanding what he was implying. “Well, we… finally made up,” she clarified.Evan sensed there was a connection between Grace and Anthony. It seemed that Anthony even knew about Grace’s past issues with him, which made Evan's heart feel uneasy. “So, are you guys… in a relationship?” he asked without thinking.“Oh, Anthony is—”“Someone who is close to Grace,” Anthony interjected assertively, introducing himself.“A-ah! I thought you were Grace's paid driver. I've seen you several times around the hotel, picking her up.” Evan rep

Grace couldn't believe what she had just heard. She had already known the reason behind her parents' divorce from the beginning, but she never wanted to find out who the third party was. Now that she knew who her dad had been having an affair with, she was at a loss for words.“Grace.” Evan touched her arm with concern. "Please, say something."Instead of responding to Evan's questions, Grace lowered her head and stared at the floor. She clenched her fists tightly.Seeing Grace's reaction to the news, Evan immediately regretted revealing the truth. "I shouldn’t have said anything," he mumbled, running his hand through his hair. He then got up from the couch and moved to the window, looking out.'Why did it have to be Evan’s mom? If it had been someone else, it wouldn’t mean anything to me. But this is my best friend’s mom. Why?' Grace felt a wave of frustration wash over her as she contemplated the situation. She continuously wiped away the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing, and now she