Chapter 17 Something Terrible Has Happened
In the early morning, when Grace woke up, the sunlight had already filled the entire room. Her head was still a bit heavy, but she forced herself to sit up, pressing her fingers against her forehead. The alcohol from last night had made her feel a bit weak, but her mind was unusually relaxed.
Just as she walked up to the window and opened it, there came a sound of argument from downstairs.
“Step aside, I must see Grace!” a familiar deep voice accompanied by footsteps came, and Grace immediately froze. She looked down and indeed, it was Antonio.
Outside the door, Judy stood coldly in front of Antonio, saying, “Antonio, what exactly do you still want to do? Grace is no longer involved with you, please have some self- awareness!”
Antonio’s face darkened, his voice hoarse, “Auntie, I just wanted to talk to her. There are still many misunderstandings between us, I can’t let her leave like this.”
“Misunderstanding?” Judy sneered, “Antonio, since you claim it’s a misunderstanding, then please make one thing clear first – my daughter doesn’t need you to meddle.”
She finished speaking and turned around to close the door, but Antonio held the door with his hand. “Auntie, I make it up to Grace. Please give me a chance.”
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Grace, who was upstairs, heard this and felt an endless sense
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Chapter 17 Something Temble Has Happmed
of weariness in her heart. She sighed, changed her coat, and dragged her tired body downstairs.
“Mom, let him in.” Grace stood at the door, her voice calm. “There are some things I want to clarify with him all at once.”
Reluctantly, Judy glared at Antonio and turned back into the
room.
Antonio saw Grace, and all the emotions he had suppressed throughout the night suddenly surged up within him. “Grace, what do I have to do to make you believe me? I truly love you! There is still hope between us, as long as you are willing to give me a chance-”
“Antonio,” Grace interrupted him, her tone cold, “did you love me, or was it just because I was gone that you suddenly felt unwilling to let go?”
Antonio’s Adam’s apple moved, about to speak, but Grace continued, “If you loved me, you wouldn’t make me become Claire’s shadow, you wouldn’t ignore my existence, and you wouldn’t only remember her good when I give everything.”
She stared into Antonio’s eyes, devoid of the once tender affection, “Now, I have made my decision and I hope you can respect it. It’s over between us.”
Antonio felt as if he had been punched hard. He opened his mouth, but to his surprise, he couldn’t utter a single word.
Just at that moment, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, furrowing his brows instantly. After hesitating for a moment, he picked up the phone.
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Chapter 17 Something Texible Has Happened
The voice coming from the phone made Antonio’s face turn pale, “Mr. Kaufman, something terrible has happened… Ms. Parrish… she… she committed suicide!”
Antonio stood outside the door, holding his phone, with a complex and painful expression on his face.
The urgent voice on the phone echoed in his ears, “Ms. Parrish attempted suicide and is currently being rescued. The situation is very dangerous.” These words pierced his heart like a sharp blade, causing waves of dull pain.
Claire was the person he had always wanted to protect since childhood. During those youthful years, her question “Brother, will you always stand by my side?” became a responsibility he could never ignore. But now, he couldn’t distinguish whether everything he had done for her was a sense of duty or a form of escape.
Antonio’s thoughts became even more confused as he looked up at the tightly closed door.
Just now, every word Grace said still echoes clearly in my mind.
“Antonio, I didn’t love you anymore.”
“Our relationship had long ended.”
She spoke so calmly and resolutely as if passing a judgment. She no longer gave him any chance to approach, nor left any room for him.
if he left
Antonio raised his hand to knock on the door, but his hand froze in mid–air. Endless turmoil surged in his heart- now, would it mean that he would never have another
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Chapter 17 Something Temble i
chance?
ble Has Happened
But if he didn’t leave, what about Claire?
He took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door twice, his voice low and trembling, “Grace… I know you don’t want to hear her name, but Claire… something happened to her.”
There was no response from inside the door, only a gust of wind blew through the window of the staircase, bringing a slight chill.
Antonio lowered his head and chuckled bitterly, his throat tightening almost to the point of choking. “She committed suicide, and they are currently trying to save her. I have to go back and see her, she… I can’t just ignore it.”
He leaned against the door, his forehead gently resting on the grain of the wood, his voice even lower, “Grace, I don’t know if you can forgive me, but please give me some time, wait for me to sort everything out, and then come back to find you.”
He didn’t know why he was still explaining. Grace’s determination had already said it all, but he still held a faint glimmer of hope in his heart, hoping that she could hear his heartfelt words, hoping that she could wait for him.
“Grace,” he spoke again in a low voice, “I will not give up. Ten years ago, I made you fall in love with me, and ten years later, I will also strive to make you accept me again.”
The room remained silent as if only his shadow responded to him.
Antonio’s fingers gently caressed the door for a moment, before finally letting go. His gaze lingered on the door for a
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Chapter 17 Something Terrible Has Happened
few seconds, as if trying to memorize its every texture, before he turned around and walked away briskly.
Antonio’s footsteps gradually faded away, and the hallway returned to silence. Grace stood in the doorway, listening to the gradually disappearing sound of footsteps outside, feeling a mix of emotions in her heart.
She leaned against the door frame, gently closing her eyes, but in her mind, she couldn’t help but see many images.
he
