Chapter38
I didn’t want anything from them, neither Antonio nor the baby. I didn’t. want anything from my family either.
By the time I got back to the city from the clinic, it was late at night. I made a mental note to try to abort again when I got back home.
I booked into a random hotel, washed up, cried for a while, and fell asleep
in a daze.
In the early hours, the rapid ringing of the phone woke me up.
My boss at the TV station was calling, sounding both frantic and hyped, “Grace, I heard there was a tornado at that castle you were at yesterday. Glad to hear you are alive. Now go and report it!”
He hung up before I could even respond.
I did work for a very important news channel, and they were aware of the wedding preparations I had.
They even knew it was going to be held in this famous castle that I always dreamed about. That was why my boss knew where I was.
A tornado? At the castle? I couldn’t really believe that, but I would have to check their social media to see what went on.
With a sigh, I got out of bed and turned on my phone. I didn’t see much. going on, and sadly not even one message from Antonio.
Then I checked Facebook. It was strangely uneventful, not even a post from my parents.
Cholatk
That was when I saw Roxanne’s latest post on Instagram–a picture of her hand intertwined with Antonio’s.
On their ring fingers were matching rings.
Seeing the pale scar on the back of Antonio’s hand made my heart ache again.
To protect me from my abusive dad when he was 18, his hand was pierced by a broken beer bottle, leaving that scar.
I always thought it was proof that he cared about me.
Turned out it was just my fantasy. Everything was just an illusion in my
head.
Turning on my laptop, I quickly sorted out some interview materials and asked my lawyer friend to draft up a divorce agreement for the legal marriage we had before.
When I returned to the castle, everything was in ruins.
It seemed like the tornado did some serious damage.
Looking at some detonators piled up near the castle for mining, I suddenly had a bad feeling. I found one of the rescuers and I started to ask for some information.
A tornado caused a lot of destruction, but at the same time, the mining detonators nearby could probably cause similar damage.
The next thing I knew, someone kicked me in the back.
Caught off guard, I went tumbling into the debris caused by the tornado.
Then I heard Levi’s fierce voice rang out. “What the fuck is wrong with
Chapter
you, Grace? Don’t tell me you’re here to catch them in the act.”
Somewhere along the line, he seemed to have forgotten how our mom died because of Elise.
He had long become Roxanne’s lapdog.
I couldn’t recognize him anymore. I didn’t want such a brother.
In silence, I stood up and brushed off the dust.
Then I walked up to him, slapping him hard across the face. I focused all my sadness and pain on that slap.
His head tilted because of the force. Shocked, he stared at me, as he never expected me to fight back.
Before he reacted, I glared at him with disgust, snapping, “I’m here to work. And I don’t want you as a brother anymore. Go cry up to Roxanne.”
Ignoring his furious stare, I turned away and continued with my interview.
Not far away, Antonio walked over, holding the pale Roxanne, not even pretending in front of me.
A hint of guilt flashed across Antonio’s face as he explained, “Grace, sorry for not wishing you a happy birthday last night. I’ll go back and make it up to you when I finish digging here.”
I calmly shifted my gaze from their interlocked hands and shook my head. “No need.”
My chill response left the three stunned.
Levi started to make fun of me, “What are you up to this time, Grace?
14 301
Drop the act. You’ve always wanted Antonio’s attention, right? You know what? Though you’re pregnant, he still loves Roxanne, not you.”
Levi was as ignorant as ever.
Seeing me remain unaffected, Antonio was pissed, too.
He spat, “Grace, you followed me and disturbed my work. And now, you’re even throwing a tantrum? My patience is wearing thin. Roxanne needs peace to recover, and your presence will only upset her. Go the hell out of here, now!”
He grabbed my hand, trying to drag me away. Just then, the tornado alarms in the city struck again.
Another tornado? So soon? That was very unusual and also very dangerous.
Almost at the same time, Antonio and Levi rushed to protect Roxanne, who was standing in the clearing.
Without care, Antonio pushed me to the ground, despite seeing a fallen concrete pole behind me. His only focus was Roxanne.
It slammed into my left leg with brutal force. I cried out loud.
In severe pain, I passed out.
D
