Chapter 1
Grace Parrish had been in a secret relationship with Antonio Kaufman for three years.
Then one day, he dropped a bomb–he was getting married, but not to Grace.
Some friends called Antonio heartless, but he was just indifferent. “If you care so much, why don’t you go marry her?”
Heartbroken, Grace accepted an offer from a headhunter and went abroad.
Antonio couldn’t care less. “Don’t ever come back then,” he told her, sure that she couldn’t live without him.
But when he couldn’t find Grace no matter what, he panicked.
One day, Antonio saw pregnant Grace on TV. He pushed his fist into the wall so hard that it bled.
He refused to believe Grace had married someone else and searched for her like crazy.
Finally, in a crowded street, he saw her leaning on another guy’s shoulder.
He had never seen her smile so sweetly.
But when she turned and saw him, her gaze turned icy.
“Sir, you’ve got the wrong person,” she said.
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Nicole Pittman, the headhunter, called Grace again, and this time, Grace finally agreed.
“Great, I’ve been asking you for so long, and you finally said yes.”
“I need a few more days to get there. Is that okay?”
“Mr. Morton’s been waiting for you, so let’s hurry…” Nicole continued, but Grace hung up quickly as the door was about
to open.
Antonio stepped in with a smile. “Were you on the phone?”
Grace glanced up with a calm face. “Nope.”
Antonio didn’t think twice and slowly moved closer.
His warm breath tickled her ear as he whispered, “Remember what I told you? At work, I’m your boss, but here, I’m your boyfriend. Just chill. It’s been three years–haven’t you got it?”
Grace’s body tensed, and she turned her head away, dodging
his kiss.
Antonio thought she was still mad. He bent down and said, “Look, I made that no–dating–at–work rule. I can’t break it, right?”
He then hugged her with a grin. “I know you don’t mind. Actually, you’re the real boss here.”
Grace forced a smile. “Finally, you’re just getting married to someone else,” she muttered too softly for Antonio to catch.
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He gave her a quick kiss. “I’m beat. Gonna go rest,” he said, already heading upstairs, still glued to his phone with a loving smile.
Antonio smiled because Janelle Crosby was coming back.
Janelle had once been Antonio’s fiancée. Three years ago, she called off the engagement and left him for someone else.
Since then, Antonio had been drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
Grace was a year below Antonio in school. One night, she saw him getting extorted by some drunks and bravely chased them off.
That night was the start of their undefined relationship.
After a night of passion, Grace woke up feeling uneasy, clutching the blanket, unsure what to do next.
Antonio seemed to get what she was thinking. He sat down next to her and handed her a card. “If you’re into me, this is an engagement gift. If not, just think of it as an early wedding present,” he said.
With a serious face, he looked down like a kid who got caught doing something wrong.
Grace already had feelings for the handsome and mysterious Antonio. Her heart softened, and she nodded.
Despite his parents‘ objections, Antonio opened a dessert spot called “Dessert Tryst” as a gift to Grace. She became the pastry chef and manager, while Antonio remained behind the scenes as the investor.
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Antonio was good to Grace. He bought her everything, but to the outside world, he introduced her as his employee.
It seemed like the “engagement gift” was just a throwaway promise. Antonio never brought up getting married again.
At first, Grace thought Antonio just hadn’t moved on from Janelle. She believed he’d eventually forget all about Janelle
and focus on her.
But about a month ago, she found out Antonio was still texting Janelle. He had left his watch with Grace, so she could see all their messages. She quickly noticed he had saved Janelle as “Babe Nellie” with a red heart emoji.
Babe Nellie: “Tino, I’m coming back soon. After all this time, I realized you’re the best.”
Antonio: “Miss you too, Nellie. Can’t wait to have you back.”
Reading this, Grace felt her heart clench. She had spent three years trying to make Antonio forget Janelle and fall for her. But he was just waiting for Janelle, hoping she would come
back to him.
His passion was only for Janelle.
She realized she had wasted three years staying by Antonio’s side. Feeling the sting of betrayal, Grace decided to leave. Then, she continued scrolling through the messages.
Babe Nellie: “8 PM on December 7th. I’ll see you then.”
Antonio: “Nights are cold here. Stay at the airport. I’ll come to get you. Don’t ever leave me again.”
There was a week until December 7th. Grace was planning to
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Clutching the watch, she said goodbye to Antonio in her
heart.
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