The case involving the disappearance of several blood sample bags has been resolved, and everyone is back to their usual work activities at the office, although some new gossip is circulating.
A black bloodstain in the men's restroom has shocked the office. Especially with the commotion heard by some people in the men's restroom, followed by the damage to one of the restroom stalls, everyone has started making all sorts of assumptions.
Meanwhile, Grace is frustrated because the man at the center of the gossip hasn't shown up again after what happened between him and Grace.
"I don't understand that man!" Grace muttered angrily.
Grace thought that by helping Lucas alleviate his pain, he would act normally toward her, and they could converse like colleagues or friends.
But five days passed without Lucas showing his face, making Grace feel as though she was the one who had humiliated Lucas.
Grace looked at the apartment door number, which bore the nameplate of the person living there.
Mr. Lucas Valerius.
"Haha... I think I'll end up in a mental hospital after this because I can't control my legs for bringing me here," she said, feeling so stupid.
Since there was no word from Lucas and the office management hadn't informed anyone about his absence, Grace ended up asking one of the HR staff members for Lucas's home address.
Grace pressed the doorbell several times until she finally heard the sound of the apartment door key being turned to open. Grace immediately prepared to scold Lucas after seeing just a glimpse of his face.
"You're such a jerk, Lucas. You disappeared as if I couldn't satisfy you that time!" Grace scolded.
Lucas's eyes widened as Grace's words drew the attention of people passing by the apartment door.
"Grace, lower your voice!" Lucas replied.
"I lost my patience because you made me feel like I had insulted you."
Lucas immediately pulled Grace into his apartment. Other people would stare at them suspiciously because they were discussing something that seemed inappropriate to talk about in public. Even though he was a vampire, Lucas knew the rules.
"You can say whatever you want, but understand the situation and where you are." Lucas patted Grace's head gently.
However, the distinctive and pungent scent of dried roses in Lucas's apartment made Grace fall silent. She stared at Lucas's back, and because the scent of dried roses was so strong, Grace felt that she could see many spears piercing Lucas's body.
Grace could sense the hidden sadness that Lucas didn't show.
"Are you still in pain?" Grace asked.
"No. Thank you for helping me," Lucas replied while opening the refrigerator.
"Then why didn't you go to the office? Is there another problem?"
Lucas handed Grace a drink and invited her to sit down. It was the first time Lucas had had a visitor at his place.
"You didn't answer..."
"Okay, okay, I'll answer. I didn't come to the office because I was ashamed of stealing the sample bag."
Grace nodded. Lucas' confession didn't surprise Grace at all. Since she knew Lucas was a vampire, Grace had already realized that Lucas had joined the BIOVENA company to fulfill his primary need—blood.
Grace didn't want to judge Lucas either. Hearing that Lucas had never wanted to hurt anyone and that he did it because of his instincts was enough to impress Grace.
"Then, why did you come to me?" Lucas asked.
He thought that telling her who he was would make Grace stay away from him. However, Grace became even more persistent in trying to talk to Lucas, even going so far as to visit him.
"I already told you, I don't want you to think that I've insulted you."
"I don't feel that way. Isn't it more accurate to say that I'm the one who insulted you?"
"Then just forget about it and act normally. You can still work without feeling like you've insulted me or vice versa."
Lucas tried to hold back a laugh when he realized what they were talking about. He didn't know how they could think discussing something like that was funny.
"Yes, okay. I'll act normal and go to work tomorrow," Lucas finally relented.
"That's what I want from you. Be a good boy."
"I'm 150 years old. I'm not a child anymore."
Grace choked on her words upon hearing Lucas's response. However, what made her throat feel even more constricted was that it was the first time she had seen Lucas speak with a smile.
He was very handsome.
"Um, so... vampires and goblins are the same kind of creature? I mean, I watched a drama where goblins also have very long lifespans, but their faces remain young and handsome." Grace couldn't believe that there were indeed creatures that never aged.
"That's weird. Aren't goblins supposed to be ugly?" Lucas replied.
"Hey, when your fangs come out and your eyes glow, you're ugly too!" Grace snapped, annoyed because she thought Lucas was mocking one of her favorite actors who played a goblin in a drama.
Like a ray of light in his heart, Lucas felt so happy talking to Grace, even though what they were talking about was completely unimportant. Lucas felt like he had found his soul as a human being.
That didn't mean that his desire to attack and suck her blood had disappeared, but Lucas was able to control himself so as not to hurt Grace, who had helped him get rid of most of his suffering.
After a while, Grace finally said goodbye. She had spoken with Lucas and made sure he was okay, so she felt relieved. She left with a sense of joy, although she had given her body to Lucas at that moment.
"You care a lot about your coworker, Grace?" someone said suddenly as Lucas stepped out of the apartment building.
Grace startled when she turned around and saw Ezra behind her.
"E—Ezra, what are you doing here?" Grace asked nervously.
"What are you doing here?"
"Nothing," Ezra replied briefly.
Ezra had already been a little suspicious of Grace's strange behavior and her sudden concern for Lucas. That wouldn't happen unless something had happened between them.
"What were you doing at Lucas's house?" Ezra asked.
"I just stopped by to check on him because he looked sick."
Having been friends since childhood, Ezra knew Grace's mannerisms when she was lying. Grace spoke without looking at his face and showed a guilty expression even though Ezra hadn't accused her of anything.
Grace's explanation was a lie.
"You're so close to him that you went to visit him yourself?"
"Ezra, don't corner me?"
"No. Just answer however you want. I'm not asking you to be honest because I know when you're lying to me."
Grace sighed softly. She had never been able to keep anything from Ezra once he began to suspect her. Yes, they were best friends, and, of course, they had to share secrets and problems.
"Lucas and I decided to be friends, just like you and me." Grace smiled slightly, trying to convince Ezra she was telling the truth.
Ezra grabbed Grace's shoulder to stop her from walking. "You're still lying, Grace."
"Oh my God, you! Alright. I'll tell you as long as you can keep it a secret that Lucas is sick and could die. So I'm helping him."
"How did you help him?"
"I... Lucas and I have been a little intimate. Not as far as sex, but we did things like that. And he's getting better."
Ezra froze. What he feared had happened. Lucas was after Grace, who knew nothing about it because Grace was the owner of the sacred blood. The vampire cult might have discovered the secret that only Ezra knew about Grace's blood.
And Lucas was the only one they could send to form a connection with Grace so that they could drag her into the world of darkness.
"Are you interested in becoming a prostitute now, Grace?"