Chapter 2
Early the next morning, Grace got up on time. She quickly got ready and headed to Dessert Tryst, surprised to find Antonio already there.
Usually, his mornings were reserved for the gym, and he’d only show up around lunchtime.
As she passed by his office, she overheard him on the phone. “I want a big riverside apartment, ASAP,” he said, his voice barely containing his excitement.
“Oh, he’s eager to get Janelle a place,” Grace thought.
The next moment, she bumped into Antonio as he walked out of the office, his smile still fresh from the call..
Startled, he quickly offered an excuse. “I had too much coffee last night and couldn’t sleep.”
He took a few steps, then turned back to stop Grace and gave her a quick once–over. “You didn’t hear anything, did you?”
Grace looked at him calmly. “No, why?”
He smiled, as if relieved. “Great, or it would’ve ruined the surprise.”
With that, he walked off, practically bouncing.
Confused, she thought to herself, “He’s already back with his first love. Why hasn’t he told me? Maybe he wants me to stay?”
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Chapter 2
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She looked at her reflection in the glass window and gave a wry smile.
Taking a deep breath, she dialed the realtor’s number.
“Ms. Parrish, are you really sure you want to sign this?” the realtor asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got some assets I want to hand over. Can you also get me a death certificate, just in case?” Grace replied.
“Are you giving everything to Mr. Antonio Kaufman?”
“Yes, the sooner the better.”
After hanging up, Grace noticed her sweaty palms.
She used to see those “gifts” as signs of love. But now, she wondered if Antonio just didn’t want her in his house.
How would he explain their relationship if someone saw them living together?
She looked away as Antonio walked in, carrying a cat.
She stared at him in surprise. “A friend’s out of town and asked me to take care of her for a few days,” he explained, with a flicker of panic in his eyes.
He wasn’t into pets, especially furry ones, and their hair often triggered his allergies.
When Grace wanted a cat before, he frowned and said, “Did you forget I’m allergic?”
Then Grace remembered Janelle saying she’d send her cat over first.
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So, it wasn’t really about his feelings toward pets; he just did whatever Janelle asked.
Grace turned away, deciding not to dwell on it. Antonio handed her his phone. “Check this out. Someone messaged me about needing confirmation,” he said. “Aren’t the car and house they mentioned yours?”
Antonio sounded surprised. Before Grace could respond, the cat in his arms puffed up and knocked over a vase on the table.
Grace had made that vase herself after getting into pottery. It was a gift for Antonio, but when it shattered, he didn’t seem
to care.
He chased after the cat, calling out, “Nellie, slow down! Let Daddy check if you’re hurt.”
The cat had a tiny scratch on her paw, and Antonio was beside himself with worry, fussing over her. Then he took her to the vet, skipping lunch.
He put the message behind him and sped away.
The employees gathered around, their whispers filling the air. “That must be his girlfriend’s cat. Did you hear him call himself ‘Daddy‘?”
“Who is the lucky girl? Mr. Kaufman’s loaded, handsome, and such a family guy.”
Grace stayed quiet all this time. As she finished her meal, she told a colleague she’d be going to another city for training in the afternoon.
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“Oh, Grace, this training is a big deal. All the top pastry chefs from the big hotels will be there. If you stand out, our shop will level up. But how will you get there? Mr. Kaufman was supposed to take you,” the colleague said.
“It’s fine. I’ll just take the train.” Grace flashed a polite smile. “Please let Mr. Kaufman know when he’s back.”
She had to attend the training, not for the shop, but for herself.
Grace stood by the roadside with her luggage, wondering how she’d get to her destination. Out of nowhere, a car pulled up and the driver. got off. “Hello, I’m Mr. Lewis Morton’s assistant. He heard you’re out of town for a conference, so he sent me to give you a ride.”
He handed her his business card and ID. “Here, hold onto these until you trust me.”
When she was hesitating, her phone rang.
