Chapter 28
At first, I hesitated to say yes.
But Gale’s mother looked frail, her pale complexion and thinner frame betraying her declining health.
I could not risk refusing her, not after everything that had happened.
Finally, I nodded and got into her car. We headed to a quiet, upscale restaurant to talk privately.
As we sat, I could not help but feel nostalgic.
That restaurant had been where Gale‘ s
mother first took me years ago to celebrate my high school graduation.
Back then, it had also been the place where she brought up the idea of my marriage to Gale, a proposal I had accepted with hope for a happy ending.
But that hope had turned into something
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else entirely.
We were seated in a private booth, the dim lighting adding an air of intimacy to our conversation.
For a few moments, silence hung between us, the weight of unspoken words making my chest feel tight.
It was Gale’s mother who spoke first, breaking the tension.
“Rachel,” she began softly, her voice. tinged with regret, “I’m so sorry for my reckless actions back then. I never meant to offend you. I didn’t know what else to do for my two children. My thoughts were all over the place.”
Her candor caught me off guard, and I hesitated before replying, “Mrs. Douglas, there’s no need to think about it anymore. I’ve forgiven you.”
I offered her a small, genuine smile.
“You’ve done so much for me, more than I could ever repay. You changed my life
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when you came into it ten years ago. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she shook her head. “No, Rachel. It’s me who should be thanking you. And I owe you an apology. I know my actions, especially recently, must have hurt you deeply.”
“I acted recklessly too,” I said gently. “I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly at the hospital. I know I must have hurt your feelings.”
She quickly waved off my apology. “No, no. I deserved every word,” she said earnestly. “You were right to feel the way you did.”
She paused, taking a shaky breath before continuing. “And I know you may not want to hear about this, but I hope it brings you some peace to know.
“Gale‘ s condition has stabilized. He’s
still in a coma, but the doctors say there’s hope. We’re just waiting for him to wake
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up.”
I felt a lump form in my throat, but I nodded, signaling for her to go on.
“As for Gritte,” she added with a heavy sigh, “she’ll be in prison for a long time. You don’t need to worry about her.
“When she’s released, there will be strict conditions, she won’t be allowed to leave the country or contact you, even in Italy.”
“That’s a relief,” I murmured.
“My husband also asked me to convey his sincerest apologies,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “He knows we failed both our children and you. We should have done better.”
I placed my hand over hers on the table.
“Mrs. Douglas, I’ve let go of everything. that happened in Providence. I don’t want to carry any bitterness with me to Italy.
“Please tell Gale that I’m grateful for what he did. He saved my life. And I wish
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all of you well moving forward.”
She blinked rapidly, fighting back tears, and squeezed my hand. “Thank you, Rachel. I wish you all the happiness in the world in Italy. You deserve it.”
When the conversation ended, she had her driver take me back to the Kim family
manor.
As the car pulled up, I hesitated before stepping out.
Turning to her one last time, I said, “Take care of yourself, Mrs. Douglas. I hope your health improves. And thank you. For everything.”
She gave me a sad smile and nodded.
“Goodbye, Rachel.”
The car pulled away, disappearing down the long driveway. I stood there for a moment, letting the finality of it sink in.
When I walked into the manor, I was greeted by an unexpected sight.
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“Surprise!” Hazel, Louise, Minnie,
Louise’s parents, and the manor staff
shouted in unison.
My jaw dropped as I took in the decorations, the table laden with food, and the warm smiles on everyone’s faces.
They had prepared a farewell party for me.
Tears welled in my eyes as I laughed. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
Louise grinned. “Of course we did. You‘ re not just leaving for a vacation, Rachel. You‘ re starting a whole new chapter in your life.”
Hazel wrapped her arms around me. “We couldn’t let you leave without a proper send–off.”
Minnie chimed in, “And besides, who knows when we’ll all be together like this again, right?”