Chapter 10 Grace’s Loyal Admirer Gets Shut Down

Clark hovered around Grace, showering her with attention, but it was clear she wasn’t interested in someone like him. Compared to Kenneth, Clark was in a much worse financial position. He didn’t even own a home, relying on a rental instead. Despite this, Grace kept a polite smile and said, "Thanks, Clark. But I already made plans with a friend for that night. What bad timing!" Disappointment flickered across Clark’s face. He had spent his entire month’s salary on two concert tickets, planning to use the event as an opportunity to confess his feelings to Grace. Now, all his hopes were dashed. Kenneth observed the scene with an amused smirk. This pathetic admirer will never win her over, he thought. Clark, still frustrated, noticed Kenneth’s expression and immediately redirected his anger. He strode over and said, "Kenneth, what kind of man are you? You had Grace help you move stuff, seriously? Grace has been complaining about back pain all morning. Next time, don’t inconvenience her like that!" Kenneth glanced at Grace, realizing she had been the one spreading the story. Grace, pretending to be considerate, added, "Oh, it’s no big deal. I’m not really hurt. It’s just that I’m not cut out for heavy lifting, so I think I strained my back a little." She even reached for her back, lightly massaging it while putting on a pained expression. In an effort to show off in front of Grace, Clark proclaimed, "Kenneth, you should give Grace seventy dollars for her medical expenses." Kenneth’s gaze turned icy as he glared at Clark and snapped, "She helped me out of her own will. I never asked her to. And who do you think you are, bossing me around? Do you really think you’re some kind of big shot?" Kenneth’s fierce response was sharp and satisfying, leaving both Clark and Grace dumbfounded. Clark was just an ordinary clerk in the warehouse, without authority or status. He only dared to criticize Kenneth because Kenneth was usually mild-tempered and avoided confrontation. But seeing Kenneth genuinely angry left Clark shaken. "W-why are you yelling so much? I was just trying to talk to you," Clark stuttered nervously. Kenneth let out a mocking laugh before turning away. He couldn’t be bothered to argue further. They’ll all be gone soon enough. To him, everyone around him was already living on borrowed time. Within a month, ninety-nine percent of them would fall victim to the apocalyptic cold storms. After Kenneth left, Clark turned to Grace and whispered, "Grace, I told you Kenneth isn’t a good person. You should keep your distance from him." Grace frowned, confused. Kenneth had been acting completely out of character these past few days. He didn’t greet her anymore and had stopped texting her at night to talk or say goodnight. There’s definitely something strange going on! Grace thought to herself. After work, Kenneth drove straight to Valkyrean’s Grand Fortuna Hotel, the same five-star establishment where he had previously placed an order. Hearing that Kenneth had arrived, the hotel manager greeted him enthusiastically and arranged for a room. Staying at the five-star hotel cost around one hundred forty to one hundred fifty dollars per night, but Kenneth didn’t think twice about it. With between two hundred eighty thousand and seven hundred thousand dollars still at his disposal, he felt it would be wasteful not to spend it. That night, Grace, the infamous woman, messaged Kenneth out of the blue, "Kenneth, I passed by your house today and saw renovations happening!" Kenneth smirked faintly. "Yes, that’s correct." Grace replied, "You’ve been acting really weird lately. First, stocking up supplies, and now renovating your house. Is something about to happen?" Kenneth raised an eyebrow. This sly woman isn’t dumb after all. His unusual behavior had undoubtedly drawn her attention. Even so, Kenneth didn’t care. What others thought of him had no bearing on his plans. "Nothing," he replied curtly, before tossing his phone aside. Grace stared at her phone, frustrated by Kenneth’s cold and detached response. Over the past two years, Kenneth had always been attentive, checking in on her and coming up with excuses to chat every night. But lately, it was as if he had turned into a different person, he was distant and uninterested, not even initiating conversations anymore. This shift left Grace deeply uncomfortable. She didn’t care much for Kenneth romantically, but she couldn’t stand the idea of him losing interest in her. One of my fish is trying to escape the pond, she thought. Kenneth might not be a wealthy heir, but he was still a decent middle-class backup. If she couldn’t find a rich man to marry, Kenneth could still be an acceptable option in the future. Picking up her phone, Grace sent another message, "Don’t you think we’ve been talking less lately? It’s making me feel a bit lonely." However, after waiting for what felt like forever, no reply came. Irritated, Grace bit her lip, muttering to herself, "What’s wrong with this Kenneth? Has he gone mad? I’m reaching out first, and he doesn’t even bother to reply?" Her roommate Morgan, hearing Grace’s complaints, walked over with a teasing smile. "Kenneth has been acting really weird lately. Who knows why he’s buying all that food and drink? And he’s even ordering loads of banquet meals from hotels. It’s like he’s preparing for a supply shortage or something." Grace frowned slightly and asked, "Morgan, do you think something might actually be about to happen? Could Kenneth have found out and started stockpiling?" Morgan froze for a moment before bursting into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Grace, don’t be ridiculous. If anything serious were about to happen, the government would make an announcement. We’d all know. Just relax. If we started stockpiling like Kenneth, people would think we’re fools." Grace laughed along, a hint of self-mockery in her tone. "You’re probably right." Kenneth spent several days in his suite at the five-star hotel, not leaving the room. During this time, he continued to place large orders for banquet meals from various hotels while also practicing with a compound bow and crossbow in the comfort of his room. Thankfully, Kenneth’s past love for hunting had given him a solid foundation. Now, within a fifteen-meter range, his accuracy was exceptional. Armed with a professional-grade compound bow, he could shoot with the skill of an ancient marksman. Against humans, wild boars, wolves, or even large dogs, the damage he could deal with this modern equipment was formidable.