Chapter42
I turned and went into my room.
The next morning, after I woke up and went to throw out the trash, I saw Antonio curled up, asleep outside my door.
But this time. I wouldn’t soften.
Being soft with him was like poisoning myself.
Once was enough.
For an entire month, I acted like Antonio didn’t exist.
Friends tried to intervene, even his parents came to talk to me, but I ignored it all.
Finally. I couldn’t take it anymore. I printed out everything Sarah had sent me and handed it to him.
“Antonio, why don’t you have some dignity?
“How am I supposed to forgive you? How do you expect me to keep living with you when I can’t erase these four years of betrayal from my mind? Am I that worthless?”
He completely broke down.
He fell to his knees in front of me, frantically slapping his own face.
Sarah also begged me, pretending to care, asking me to get back together
with Antonio.
Chapterda
The most dramatic time, she shoved the baby into my arms, tears in her eyes, and ran off.
“Grace, please! Get back together with Antonio. Without a father, this child has no chance.”
She was so sure I’d soften, that my compassionate nature would kick in.
But I didn’t give in.
I set the baby down by the side of the road and walked away.
Did she seriously think I’d pity the child?
How laughable.
The hospital gave me the opportunity to train in Emberford.
If I went, I’d secure the position of director when I came back.
Without hesitation, I agreed.
On the day I was leaving, Antonio chased me all the way to the airport.
He tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Grace, is this really it? Are you leaving just to escape me? Do you really hate me that much? I love you. I’ve always loved only you. I was just deceived by Sarah.
“I’ve been thinking a lot these days. I know I’ve made many mistakes. Can’t you just give me one more chance? We’ve been so in love before. Please don’t give up on me.
“Tell me what I need to do to be forgiven. I’ll do anything. Just please don’t leave me.”
22501
Yeah, we used to be so in love.
Everyone envied us.
Now, look at us.
Should I just forgive him?
Wasn’t it he who destroyed everything, time and time again?
From the moment Sarah got pregnant, he should’ve known the cracks between us were too deep to fix.
I’ve always said I can’t tolerate disrespect.
I’d rather walk away than be mistreated.
But he didn’t listen.
I shook my head, watching the plane take off in the distance.
“Antonio, you gave up first. Why are you blaming me now? Our years of love mean nothing compared to the thrill of something new. I’ve given up, so why can’t you just let me go?”
“You have your path, and I have my freedom. Isn’t that enough?”
For six months, I focused entirely on absorbing new knowledge, learning from different doctors, and pushing myself to grow.
We worked together and successfully saved the life of a woman in a difficult labor.
When the baby cried, I couldn’t help but feel my eyes well up.
“Congratulations, it’s a beautiful daughter, six pounds five ounces,
157D
healthy in every way!”
As the woman was wheeled out, her husband gently cradled the baby in his arms, tears streaming down his face as he leaned against the window.
The six–foot–tall man, usually so strong, cried harder than the woman had.
When I returned to Riverstone, I was promoted to department head.
My first surgery as the new director was Sarah’s hysterectomy.
I hesitated for only a moment before I continued the operation with complete professionalism, no trace of personal emotion.
Afterward, Chloe filled me in.
After I left, Sarah found out she was pregnant again, just two months after giving birth.
She had a huge argument with Antonio, and the pregnancy ended abruptly.
Taking advantage of this, Sarah moved into Antonio’s house and quickly established herself with his parents, using the baby to solidify her position.
Antonio, however, seemed to have some sort of mental block.