Chapter21
Antonio examined Grace’s photo, refusing to believe that she was married to someone else. He told himself she must have doctored the image to make him stop looking for her. He had to find her and apologize.
Keyla had learned about Grace’s departure from Laney yesterday. With Grace out of the way, she believed she could finally be with Antonio. Early in the morning, she came to see him.
“Antonio, why did you leave in such a rush yesterday? I called you, but you didn’t answer.”
Laney had told Antonio yesterday that it was Keyla who had followed her on Instagram first. Keyla claimed that she and Antonio had once been a couple. but Grace had broken them up. Laney had always disliked Grace, and hearing how Grace had ruined her brother’s happiness only fueled that hatred. So, she had decided to help Keyla get rid of Grace and reunite. her brother with Keyla. However, everything Keyla had said turned out to be a lie.
Antonio studied Keyla carefully. In his memories, she had always been. pure and kind, not the kind of person who would hurt others. But he also knew Laney wasn’t a liar. Everything he’d learned yesterday told him that Keyla might not be who he thought she was.
“Now that Grace is gone, you must be happy, right?”
Keyla’s smile froze on her face. Why would Antonio say that? She feigned. hurt, her eyes misty.
“Antonio, what do you mean by that? Are you saying that I have something to do with Grace’s leaving?”
Antonio twirled the pen in his hand, eyes fixed on Keyla. All the fond memories of their past came crashing down.
“Keyla, you know what you did.”
Keyla became nervous, realizing that Laney might have said something to him. But she had never given Laney any specific instructions. All she did. was give Laney a few hints, and Laney did everything all on her own.
“Antonio, are you in love with Grace?”
The pen slipped from Antonio’s hand and fell to the floor, the room into a heavy silence. Antonio looked up and finally understood wh felt such pain. Yes, he had probably fallen in love with Grace without realizing it.
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Keyla figured out the answer from his reaction and felt her anger boil. She had thought that once Grace was out of the picture, she would be able to be with Antonio. But Antonio was in love with Grace. How could that be? He had promised to marry her.
“Antonio, your feelings for Grace are nothing more than just gratitude. Didn’t we agree to get married after the company anniversary? We can go to the city hall now…”
“Keyla. I won’t marry you. I’m sorry.
Without waiting for her response, Antonio rushed out the door. All he wanted was to find Grace, apologize, and tell her how foolish he had been to not realize his feelings for her.
Antonio buckled his seatbelt and started the car, but then, he turned off the engine in frustration. The city was so large, and he had no idea where Grace could be. Maybe she wasn’t even in the city anymore.
He started the car again. He needed to find Grace right away, not to apologize, but to confess his feelings. Antonio imagined how surprised she would be if she knew he loved her too. Once he told her he loved her. she would surely forgive him.
Antonio checked for flights, trains, and buses, but he found nothing that could lead him to Grace. She seemed to have vanished.
It wasn’t until the carly hours of the morning that Antonio returned home. The house felt eerily empty. He missed the days when Grace would keep the light on and bring him a cup of tea no matter how late he came home. Now, the house was dark and silent, and he was all alone.
Grace hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in a long time. It took her a moment to realize she was in Shane’s villa. They were married now.
“Grace, breakfast is ready.”
The bedroom door opened, and Shane’s smiling face came into sight. Grace’s heart warmed, and she realized it had been years since anyone had made breakfast for her.
The table was laid with her favorite food, something her grandmother used to cook every day. Grace hadn’t had this in three years, as she had to go with the Kaufman siblings‘ food preferences.
She watched Shane pull up a chair for her. Everything felt just like the old days.
She lowered her head and smiled. Maybe Shane wasn’t such a bad choice after all.