I Returned to the Day He Brought His First Love Home-Chapter 53: Beating Them at Their Own Game

"I heard the factory set up some kind of discipline committee or something just for that Grace Winslow? To investigate the rumors?"

"You can say that again. If you ask me, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If she were really so innocent, what would she have to fear from a little gossip?"

"Back when she divorced Director Forrest, I just knew she was the problem. She has the face of a seductress; who knows how many men she’s luring behind the scenes."

"Heh, I bet she’s even gotten her hooks into the director. Why else would the factory create two new positions just for her? Those are paid salaries, and it’s our money they’re spending!"

That last remark struck a nerve with many of the workers.

They worked themselves to the bone for just thirty or forty yuan a month.

Why should two newcomers who did nothing all day get paid the same as them?

Spurred on by Megan Aldridge, about twenty female workers flocked noisily to the building with the director’s office, demanding an explanation.

Grace Winslow was standing on the second-floor walkway, looking down.

Her eyes immediately found Megan Aldridge in the crowd.

"That Megan Aldridge just loves to stir up trouble. Hmph! My investigation is almost complete. The worker who was driven to suicide before... it was because of the rumors she spread!" one of the Discipline Committee members, a woman named Rachel Rhodes, said. She glared down at Megan Aldridge with utter disgust.

The other, Gina Thorne, nodded in agreement. "She’s the one who stirred up all this trouble for you too, Accountant Winslow."

"What’s the plan now?"

Although the two of them knew why Grace Winslow had brought them on board, they were at a loss now that the investigation was complete. They had no idea what to do next.

But just then, Grace Winslow suddenly climbed onto the railing. The color drained from their faces, and they started to rush forward to pull her back.

Grace Winslow shot them a look. Their hearts were still hammering, and they remained shaken.

The commotion also brought out Oscar Osborne and Caleb Forrest.

Along with everyone from the accounting department, who also rushed out of their offices.

Everyone was horrified to see Grace Winslow perched on the railing.

"Grace, let’s just talk this through. Please, don’t do anything rash! A fall from this height... it could kill you." Oscar Osborne broke out in a cold sweat.

Grace Winslow wiped away imaginary tears and spoke in a strained voice, "Director, I can’t go on! They’re spreading such malicious rumors about me... The things they’re saying are just too vile. Death is the only way for me to prove my innocence."

With that, she pretended to lunge forward as if to jump.

Oscar Osborne’s heart leaped into his throat. "No, no, no! We can talk about this! I swear I’ll find whoever started these rumors and punish them properly!"

"It’s no use. What good would punishing them do now? The rumors are already out there! How will anyone look at me? How am I supposed to do my job in this factory anymore?" Grace Winslow buried her face in her hands, the very picture of anguish.

Caleb Forrest was also growing frantic. "Grace, please, calm down. Just come down from there. We can figure this out, whatever it is."

Grace ignored him, keeping her face buried in her hands and letting out soft sobs.

Rachel Rhodes and Gina Thorne seized the moment to chime in. "Director, if you ask me, we should report this to the police."

"That’s right. This is an extremely serious matter. Janey Sawyer threw herself into the river because of these kinds of rumors. Are we going to let another tragedy like that happen at our factory?"

"This is murder! Words can kill, too. Director, I agree. We need to report this to the police. Whoever did this must be punished severely!"

As the two women spoke, Oscar Osborne glanced at Grace Winslow, and his heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled.

’It looks like this girl, Grace, had a plan all along. She’s deliberately making a scene to blow this whole thing wide open and settle it once and for all!’