CHAPTER - 30 Adrian makes Grace forget about the blood oath

Once Otis got Grace’s full permission, he lifted the magical knife and drew a straight line on her right-hand thumb. The metallic red blood dripped all over the frame while the letters written on the board absorbed it instantly. It shined for a second before the blood marks disappeared completely from the frame.

Grace closed her eyes as the pain was not as mild as she expected. She actually felt like she was undergoing surgery without anesthesia. She didn’t know that a small cut could give her such intense pain.

“Do not worry, mother-in-law. The pain will be gone in a minute.” Adrian said with a triumph smile.

‘Your days are outnumbered, my dear bride. You are coming for me and I am waiting here with your mother’s support,’ His smile widened and his eyes sparkled.

When Grace opened her eyes and realized she had disclosed her weakness in front of him, she felt humiliated. Still, as he said, the pain did disappear within a minute. Not only the pain, but even the cut mark had also disappeared. No wound could be seen on her right thumb. 

“I will bring this frame away to be kept securely,” Otis informed them.

Then he carefully lifted the golden frame and left the room. Adrian couldn't control his happiness and he let out a chuckle. Grace looked at him in apprehension. She wanted to run away from that place but she couldn’t. Somehow, her heart kept on warning her that she had done something wrong.

Looking at her distress, Adrian sent a message to Otis to bring the next set of course. He had to make sure that she only remembers about the contract and not the blood oath.

“My hand… there is no cut visible… I mean, it disappeared… How? Why? I don’t have a super healing power… How is this possible?” Grace stuttered for the first time in her life.

Adrian didn’t answer her and waited for Otis. He knows even if he gives her an explanation now, she would not remember later. He will make sure that she forgets all the unnecessary parts of this meeting.

Otis came with the main course and placed it in front of Grace. Even though Grace already over ate earlier, when the food was kept in front of her, she couldn’t resist. She picked the cutlery and started to eat.

“Grace, from now on you will only remember about this signed contract.” Adrian pushed the signed contract towards Grace.

“Anything related to the blood oath or other things that we discussed, you will forget them all. Are we clear?” Adrian asked.

“Yes,” Grace nodded her head while stuffing the food in her mouth.

“This signed contract will serve as a bond between me and my future bride. If you are okay with the conditions written on the contract then please sign your name on it. I have already sealed mine. Hope we have a wonderful collaboration.” He said and signaled for his assistant to bring the wheelchair.

Grace was busy eating the food, so she didn’t even notice that Adrain had left. Otis left a ranger next to Grace to take care of the remaining. By the time Grace finished eating, she stood up from the chair and walked outside as if she was in a trance.

She didn’t even wash her hands or wipe her mouth. Food particles stuck out from her lips. She was unaware of anything that was happening around her. She slowly walked to the basement and near her car. The ranger took the contract along with him and dropped it in the back seat.

Grace got into the car and the driver started the car’s engine. Until they left the hotel, she was still in her stupor. Halfway to her home, the driver saw her face through the rearview mirror. The food she ate before she left was still stuck on her face. 

He was confused if he should tell her or not. Somehow, he gathered his courage and said,

“Madam, Tissue Paper,” 

He extended his hands behind and passed her a box of facial wipes. Grace took it and wiped her hands and face like a robot.

The driver let out a sigh and drove the car steadily towards the mansion. Even after the car was parked, Grace sat there inside the car without moving. He opened the car’s door and held it for her to get down. The driver waited for a few minutes for her to get out of the car. But she did not make any effort even after a long time. 

“Madam, we are home,” He informed her.

Grace turned her eyes and looked at the building in front of her. She had been here for many years now but the way she looked at it, made the driver feel like he came to the wrong house. He turned around and checked his surroundings. 

“Madam, is there something wrong?” He asked just to make sure he didn’t make a mistake by coming to the mansion instead of the hospital.

Grace didn’t say anything as usual. She kept on staring at the house in front of her.

“Madam, should I take you to the hospital?” The driver once again asked.

As he didn’t get any response, he closed the door and ran towards the driving seat. When he was about to start the car, Grace opened the door and climbed down. The driver trembled as he could not imagine what would have happened if he drove the car by mistake.

He wiped his sweat and turned around. He saw the contract on the back seat. He lifted the file and ran behind Grace.

“Madam, Madam, you left this file inside the car,” He shouted and dashed near her.

Grace did not stop going inside the mansion and neither did she notice him. Left with no other option, the driver forcefully pushed the file in her hands.

“Grace, how was your meeting?” Mason asked with a thumping heart.

He was trembling in fear of how he should explain to her about their daughter's missing incident. Grace didn’t even look at him and walked straight into their bedroom. She dropped the file into the drawer of the nightstand and laid down on the bed.

“Look at the way she is behaving. What is wrong with her? Did a ghost enter her body that she could not even listen to what you are asking?” Millie huffed.

“I will check what happened to her, Mom,” Mason said and rushed into their bedroom.

There he saw Grace sleeping peacefully. He didn’t have the heart to disturb her, so he closed the door without any noise. When he was coming back, he saw the driver was reporting something to Millie.

“Mam, I am not sure about whom Madam met just now. But after that meeting, I noticed that Madam was behaving a little odd…” He hesitated as he was unsure if he should report what happened or not. 

Even though Millie was the mother of his employer, he was already aware that they both could never stand in the same room for more than five minutes. He knows if he says anything absurd then he may lose his job.

“A little odd?” Mason asked.

“Sir, yes… From the time, Madam sat inside the car, she was in deep thoughts and … later didn’t even realize that we had reached home. I tried to ask her at the hotel, if I should go back home or to the hospital but Madam didn’t respond to me at all. As I was unaware where I should go, I brought her home. 

But later Madam didn’t get down from the car, so I thought I should have taken her to the hospital. But all of a sudden, Madam got out of the car before I could start the car. She even forgot the file and I had to remind her of that. Usually, Madam is not like that and I am uncertain what is actually wrong,” The driver informed him of what he knew.

He didn’t say anything about Grace not wiping her mouth or hands after eating her lunch in the hotel. As it seemed inappropriate and bad-mouthing about his employer's behavior.

“Alright, you may go,” Mason ordered and dismissed him.

“What is she doing now?” Millie asked.

“Sleeping,” Mason replied.

“Is this any time to sleep? Thank Goodness, your parents are not here now. Or else I don't know what they will say. Good thing, you sent them away before this devil came back. Look at her, does she even have any worry about our Tina? Tina is missing and all she is doing now is getting her beauty sleep. Unbelievable!” She pondered over what she should do with her daughter.

Mason did not respond and sat on the couch trying to contact the search team. Till now, there is no good news. 

"How could Tina disappear without any trace? There were several security cameras around the area and everything was working fine. But not even one captured what happened to Tina. How is that possible?" He wondered.