Chapter17
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Antonio was distracted throughout the anniversary celebration. He kept regretting that he hadn’t comforted Grace last night. In the afternoon, he came to the school to pick up Grace. Laney told him Grace was working overtime. However, by the time all the teachers had left, there was still no sign of Grace.
“Excuse me, has the English teacher, Grace Parrish, already left?”
When the last teacher walked out, Antonio hurriedly approached and asked.
The teacher thought for a moment and replied, “You mean Ms. Parrish? She resigned yesterday.”
Antonio couldn’t believe what he’d heard and asked again but received the same answer. Why would she resign suddenly? He called Grace, but the call wouldn’t go through. He felt parched, unable to even speak. What was she doing? Panicked, Antonio called Laney.
“Laney, is your sister–in–law at home?”
Laney took a moment to process and then realized her brother was asking about Grace.
“You’re not married to her. She’s not my sister–in–law.”
“I’m asking if Grace is at home.”
Antonio’s anger came through the phone, making Laney
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tremble. She knew her brother was really mad.
“She’s not home.”
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Antonio hung up the phone, thinking back on Grace’s strange behavior lately. She must have planned to leave for a while. She had no family, so where could she possibly go? Antonio kicked the tire of his car in frustration. He’d planned to give Grace some money if she wanted to leave or treat her like family if she wanted to stay. But Grace just left without a word.
Grace had helped him a lot in the past three years. Antonio felt guilty to her, and now, he didn’t even have the chance to make it right.
Antonio didn’t get home until midnight. Laney was already asleep. He immediately spotted the keys Grace had left on the table. Without even taking off his shoes, he rushed to her room and pushed open the door. It was pitch dark inside. Antonio fumbled for the light switch, hoping that when the light came on, he would see Grace lying in bed. But the bed was perfectly made, and the room was empty.
His eyes fell on the ring on the bedside table. It was the one Antonio had put on Grace’s finger. Underneath the ring was a
note.
“Antonio, I wish you happiness!”
Those words pierced Antonio’s heart like a knife. He had thought he felt nothing more than gratitude toward Grace, but why did his heart ache when he found out she was gone?
Holding onto the last sliver of hope, he opened the wardrobe, but there was nothing left inside. Grace had vanished without
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a trace as if she had never been there at all.
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Antonio collapsed to the floor, holding his head in his hands, his eyes red. He had never known that this girl could be so brave and decisive. Back then, she had asked him to marry her, saying she would take care of his ailing mother and look after his younger sister. Now, when she wanted a breakup, she left without hesitation.
Antonio was supposed to be happy that he’d lost a burden, but he was not. The moment he learned Grace had left, his whole world started to fall apart.
Antonio, what are you doing sitting on the floor?” Laney asked, still half asleep.
It took a long time before Antonio finally lifted his head to look at Laney.
“Laney, Grace left. She doesn’t want me anymore.”
Once the words left his mouth, Antonio understood why he felt so sad. Grace dumped him. The woman he’d ignored in the past three years dumped him.
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