Chapter 243
Even after we reached home, the nausea lingered, and I remained silent.
Antonio asked the maid to bake me a pumpkin pie and settled onto the sofa with a pregnancy manual.
Since I’d become pregnant, Antonio had transformed from a cold CEO to a solicitous caregiver.
I wasn’t allowed to do anything, not even dry my hair or bend down to pick something up.
He filled notebooks with advice from “What’s to Expect When You’re Expecting” and meticulously planned for postpartum recovery.
The maid, observing this, commented, “Mr. Kaufman is such a good husband.”
Antonio glanced at me. “I just want to make Grace’s pregnancy as possible.”
easy as
He then made serval calls, and half an hour later, sat beside me, beaming. “Are you free tomorrow night? I have a surprise for you.”
I felt no excitement for his surprise, despite his enthusiasm.
Antonio’d turned down a million–dollar contract to take me to the observatory, repeatedly emphasizing how special it was.
“You’ve seemed down lately. Is it the pregnancy making you
uncomfortable?” He took my ice–cold hand, gazing fondly at my stomach.
.000%
ajes joj JOU DJGWBS
“Let’s take a trip around the world after the baby is born.” Antonio gently kissed my forehead.
He didn’t know.
He didn’t know our baby was gone.
At the observatory, the director greeted us warmly, though his smile seemed strained, as if he’d expected someone else.
Oblivious, Antonio excitedly pointed. “Look at that star. It was discovered the day we got married.”
His presentation was interrupted by his ringing phone.
He glanced at the screen and immediately place it face down.
He didn’t know Corine had already sent me a photo.
She was in black stockings and red–bottom heels.
They’d had sex here, in the observatory.
Feeling sick, I looked up at Antonio.
The text seemed to please him.
Moments later, he said, “Darling, there’s an emergency at the office. The director can show you around. I’ll be back in two hours.”
He leaned in to kiss me goodbye.
I pushed him away gently. “Go to work.”
After he left, I wandered through the observatory alone.
In the main hall, a star with a peculiar name caught my eye.
14380
“Antorine.”
Besides the nameplate was a high–definition photo of two hands clasped. together tightly.
The larger, male hand wore a ring identical to my wedding ring.
“Eternal Love” was inscribed beneath the image.
A sharp pain squeezed my heart.
Another text from Corine arrived.
“Your husband is in my arms.”
In the background, I recognized the ceiling of Antonio’s luxury car and a pair of red–bottom heels.
Corine was in the passenger’s seat.
Tears streamed down my face.
The car had been my birthday gift to him.
Antonio loved it, spending a fortune to customize the ceiling with our initials.
“He said having sex in this car is thrilling, like we’re doing it right in front of you.
“I suggested we do it in your house next time, while you’re sleeping beside us.
“Guess what he said?”
My trembling fingers fumbled as I tried to block her number.
I threw the photo of the star onto the floor, shattering it. Then I crouched down, sobbing uncontrollably.
I cried until Antonio returned.
“Grace! Why are you crying?” He asked, startled.
He crouched beside me, shielding me, just as he had in school, protecting me from bullies and thugs.
Everything had changed.
When my sobs finally subsided, I choked out, “I was so touched by your gift. I love it.”
“I have another surprise for you in a few days. I hope you’ll like that one too.” He said, awkwardly wiping away my tears.
“I’m glad you like it. You don’t have to give me anything in return. You’re the best gift I could ever ask for.”
He continued speaking, but I wasn’t listening.
Edwin texted. I got the job.
I was going to the Asolen rainforest for 20 years.
No one would know of my plans until I was gone.
A weight lifted from my shoulders.
I would disappear from Antonio’s world, never to return.
He had chosen betrayal; I chose freedom and a new life.