Chapter 92
After returning to Cruxfield, Antonio locked himself in the Kaufman’s villa, going nowhere and seeing no one.
Every day upon waking, he would have someone deliver several crates of alcohol to the room Grace used to live in, and he would drink himself into a stupor.
Each time he drank, his stomach would be wracked with convulsive pain. He would then take some medicine along with the alcohol and continue to drink himself senseless.
After half a month of such self–harm, his body could no longer withstand it, and he was taken to hospital after vomiting blood.
When the Kaufmans heard it and rushed over, the doctor
handed them the diagnosis report.
When Quinten saw the words “malignant gastric perforation” on the report, his face turned extremely ugly. Antonio‘ mother, Marlene, even fainted on the spot.
However, when Antonio woke up and learned about his condition, he showed no reaction. He just lay listlessly on the bed, his face lifeless.
The subsequent treatment was also fraught with difficulties.
No matter who tried to persuade him, Antonio wouldn’t listen. He didn’t follow medical advice and take his medication. He even sneaked out of the hospital multiple times to avoid examinations.
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Under such circumstances, his condition deteriorated rapidly.
Antonio was the only son of the Kaufman family. Therefore, the Kaufmans were so desperate that they even prayed to God for help, but to no avail.
Their last glimpse of hope finally came when Marlene heard. from Morton that Antonio’s self–destructive behavior might be related to Grace. She immediately rushed to the Hudson’s villa, desperate to meet her.
However, no matter how much she pleaded, Devin refused her request.
Marlene was so angry that she even cursed outside the gate. Unfortunately, she was photographed by the press and made headlines that night.
At the same time, there were also headlines about numerous internal issues within the Kaufman Group.
The most prominent were the many misdeeds of Antonio, who was accused of being emotionally driven and unfit for leadership.
In an instant, the reputation of the Kaufman family plummeted. Journalists swarmed downstairs at the Kaufman’s villa and the hospital, hoping to dig out more news.
To preserve what little reputation they had left, and to provide Antonio with a better environment for his treatment, the Kaufmans sent him abroad overnight for medical care.
Grace was uninterested in the turmoil outside.
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After returning to Cruxfield, there was a setback in the Daywich project, which required Devin’s follow–up. Thus, their
honeymoon was still postponed.
Taking advantage of this time, Grace moved into the villa in Julstead Hills to oversee the renovation personally.
When Devin returned from his business trip, she surprised him by picking him up at the airport. Then they went straight to their new home.
As the sun set, the bright golden light shone upon the garden filled with tulips. As the summer evening breeze rustled the curtains, the wind chimes at the eaves tinkled merrily.
Looking at the transformed and refreshed courtyard, Devin smiled happily and gently.
Grace led him through the villa, introducing him to each room in the house. They went to the living room and kitchen on the first floor, then to the bedroom and study on the second floor, and
so on.
Devin followed her, listening to her talk about the detailed decor of each room, slowly familiarizing himself with their new home.
In the end, hand in hand, they went to the rooftop terrace and watched the crimson sunset together.
Leaning in his embrace, Grace said in a very soft voice, “You know what? After my mom passed away, the concept of home became distant to me. Before I met you, I had actually made up my mind to spend my life alone.
“However, on the night after our wedding, you lay next to me
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and fell asleep. At that time, we were not yet familiar, but I slept peacefully and once again found the feeling of home.”
As he listened to her whisper, Devin smiled more brightly.
“Do you know when I realized that you were the love of my life?”
Grace turned to look at him curiously.
“When?”
Devin took her hand, his index finger tracing the diamond ring, his eyes shining like the stars.
“The moment I heard your voice. The first time I saw you.”
