Chapter44
The next morning, Grace went to school with Laney as usual.
“Grace, did you hear? My brother asked Keyla to be his date for the company’s anniversary celebration tomorrow. The message is pretty clear, don’t you think?”
Laney never liked Grace. Besides finding Grace too nosy, she could see her brother didn’t love Grace.
“If you have any self–respect, you should let him go. He belongs to Keyla.”
When Antonio wasn’t around, Laney always spoke to Grace in a disrespectful tone. Grace was already used to it.
“Laney, I’m leaving soon. Until then, don’t push your luck.”
Laney had never seen Grace lose her temper before. No one besides her brother had ever dared to talk to her that way. She was angry, but something told her that it was better not to piss Grace now.
“You better mean it.”
The first thing Grace did upon arriving at school was submit her resignation. She gave away all her books to colleagues, taking only a few personal items.
Out of the campus, Grace exhaled deeply. If not for Antonio, she never would have forced herself into a job she didn’t even like. Luckily, it had only been three years, not a lifetime.
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On her way home, Grace took a detour past Antonio’s company. She was well–educated in finance, yet she had trapped herself at home for three years. Antonio had no idea that her dream was to work in a towering office building like this.
“Antonio, how do I look in this dress? I don’t want to
embarrass you at tomorrow’s celebration.”
“You won’t. You look good in anything.”
Just as Grace made her way outside, she overheard the conversation behind her. Without looking back, she quickened her pace. But Antonio noticed her.
“Grace, what are you doing here?”
Antonio jogged to catch up. Maybe it was just his
imagination, but it felt like Grace had been avoiding him
lately. Not that he was eager to see her, but this sudden shift unsettled him.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at school with Laney?”
Keyla walked over as well. Grace could see the fury in her eyes, though Keyla kept a sweet smile on her face.
“Grace, Antonio and I are going to pick out our outfits for tomorrow. Would you care to join us?”
Grace glanced at Antonio. Every year, the company held an anniversary celebration, and not once had he ever brought her as his date.
“I’ll pass. I have something important to do tomorrow.”
Antonio, who had been looking awkward just moments ago,
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suddenly tensed up.
“Grace, what’s this important thing? If you want to come, you can pick something with us-”
“I won’t be attending. Antonio, I wish you both the best.”
Grace smiled and walked away briskly, no longer wanting to be the third wheel. Antonio chased after Grace again, ignoring Keyla’s protests.
“Grace, what are you hiding from me?”
The more Antonio thought about it, the more agitated he became. This wasn’t like her. No matter how much he ignored her, she always bounced back. But today, Grace seemed different.
For the first time, Grace shook off his hand. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes and then glanced toward Keyla in the distance.
With a smile, she asked, “What about you, Antonio? Are you hiding something from me?”
Her heart ached. No matter how many times Grace had tried to reason with herself, the pain and resentment still surged uncontrollably. When they had first married, she had longed for love and care like any other girl would. Antonio had given her nothing but cold indifference.
Antonio’s face turned red. He realized Grace might have figured it out. He wasn’t heartless, but he owed Keyla.
“Grace, Keyla and I-”
“Enough. I don’t want to hear it.”
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Tears slipped down her face. Grace used to smile so much, but lately, she had been crying far too often.
“I have something to handle. Goodbye.”
Grace didn’t want to hear Antonio say it was over between them and that he would marry Keyla. For the past Grace, it would be too cruel, and for the present Grace, it just didn’t matter anymore.
