Chapter23
Antonio sat alone in the corner of the bar, Grace’s words constantly playing in his mind like a knife stabbing his heart. He kept drinking, one glass after another.
“Antonio? Why are you here drinking alone? Don’t get yourself wasted, or Grace will have to pick you up again like last time.” Someone approached Antonio. It was the bar owner, a friend of Antonio’s.
Antonio had come here alone the day Keyla had returned to the country. That night, he and Keyla had slept together. But Grace didn’t come to pick him up, did she?
“What are you talking about? Wasn’t it Keyla who picked me up last time?”
At the time, Antonio had been in love with Keyla but unable to set aside. his pride. He remembered he’d drunk a lot that night, and Keyla had come to pick him up. They’d had sex, which was why he decided to marry Keyla.
The bar owner laughed, patting him on the back.
“What are you talking about? I even recorded a video of you that day for fun, but I forgot to send it to you.”
Antonio frowned as he took the phone. In the video, he could barely walk from being so drunk, and Grace was using her small frame to help him out of the bar.
Antonio’s eyes widened. So that night, it wasn’t Keyla; it was Grace! He rushed out of the bar in a frenzy. He remembered waking up the next morning in a hotel across from the bar. He could check the surveillance.
Chesterzs
footage to see what really happened that night.
Luckily, the hotel still had records from that night. Sure enough, it was Grace who had checked in. He watched as the footage showed Grace quietly leaving the hotel early the next morning. But why did he wake up to see Keyla lying next to him then?
Antonio continued watching. About two minutes after Grace left. Keyla arrived with the hotel manager and opened his room door. That explained everything. Keyla had played him.
Antonio suddenly remembered Grace’s phone call about full anesthesia and their encounter in the hospital. Had she really been there just for a friend? Or had it been the one having surgery? Panicked. Antonio rushed to the hospital and checked Grace’s medical records. When he saw that she had undergone an abortion, Antonio collapsed to the floor, sobbing The woman who had loved him so deeply had given up their child. Grace must have known he was going to marry Keyla, and getting rid of their child was her way of punishing him.
The doctor said she didn’t have a family to be there for her, so she could only opt for local anesthesia to stay awake. Given how much Grace was afraid of pain, it must have been agony for her.
Antonio had never hated himself more. He didn’t know how he got home. Laney looked at him with concern but was too frightened to ask what had happened.
“Lancy, do you know? You were about to be an aunt, but Grace… she had. an abortion. She left me, and she got rid of our child!”
Laney didn’t understand what he was saying until she saw the medical records in his hand. She was confused. How could Grace be pregnant if Grace and her brother didn’t even sleep together?
“Antonio, are you sure? Is Grace’s baby yours?”
Chapter22
Antonio told his sister everything. For the first time, Laney realized how devious people could be. She’d thought Keyla loved her brother, but instead, Keyla had pretended to be Grace just to marry him.
“But why would Keyla do this? Didn’t she dump you before?”
Antonio wanted to know the same thing. He had just called his assistant to investigate Keyla’s life abroad. After midnight, his assistant called
back.
“Mr. Kaufman, Keyla has an illegitimate child abroad. The child is seriously ill, and she can’t afford the medical expenses. I guess she wants to marry you and use your money to save her son.”
Antonio could barely stand when he heard the truth. It occurred to him that his pursuit of being with Keyla had cost the child of him and Grace. His heart was pierced with pain. He realized what a bastard he had been. The thought that Keyla still lived in the house he shared with Grace. enraged him.
Keyla was asleep when Antonio dragged her out of bed. His rage frightened her, but she didn’t know Antonio already knew the truth.
“Antonio, what’s going on?” she played dumb.
Antonio slapped her face hard.
“Keyla, you have a child. Why are you still trying to destroy my relationship with Grace? How could you be so evil?”
Keyla stared at him in terror. Antonio had always been gentle with her. She believed he would understand after hearing her explanation, but he wouldn’t listen.
“Get out. Get out now!”
“Antonio, please let me explain…”
Chapter23
Antonio dragged Keyla to the door, throwing her things outside. She cried and begged, but he ignored her. Not only did Antonio blame Keyla, but he also hated himself. If he hadn’t foolishly held onto his feelings for Keyla, Grace would never have left him.
Chapers
