Chapter 24
Unfortunately, Antonio didn’t dic, but Lucile did.
While Antonio was still bedridden, the police came by four times to take
his statement.
When Andrew found out what had happened, his condition worsened. He was admitted into the ICU.
The situation at the Kaufman Group deteriorated even further. Antonio, overwhelmed and injured, had no choice but to attend meetings while still recovering, which caused his wound to become infected, landing him back in the hospital.
This time, when he woke up, his assistant handed him a package from Auroville.
Antonio shot upright in bed, snatching it eagerly, only to find it was a
contract.
Flipping through it, he realized it was the same contract from three years ago–the one between him and Grace.
Inside was a note with a single line written on it, “Dust to dust, ashes. ashes. Grace no longer exists in this world. The contract has expired. From now on, we are strangers, bound by nothing.”
He recognized the handwriting. It was Grace’s.
Antonio sank back against the headboard, closing his eyes as a heavy weight settled in his chest.
He knew this was Grace’s final farewell, her warning not to contact her
again.
to
1045 ==
Chapter 24
After all, since returning, he’d called her almost daily. Each time she blocked his number, he found a new one. When she finally changed her number altogether, he hired people to track down her new one, repeating the cycle.
Thinking of his current miserable state and all that had happened with Lucile, Antonio finally gave up.
He understood now he no longer deserved to stand by her side.
The Kaufman Group was crumbling day by day. Even if they managed to survive this crisis, it would never regain its former glory. And besides…
Even at its peak, the Kaufman Group had never been a match for the Simpson family.
What right did he have to ask for her forgiveness, to hope she’d want to share a life with him again?
***
At the Simpson’s home in Auroville.
Though Jonah had tried to keep what happened in Elmeburg from Grace, she eventually found out.
Surprisingly, she showed little reaction, as if it had nothing to do with
her.
“You’re not surprised?” Jonah asked.
Grace shook her head. “I’ve known about Lucile’s past for a long time.”
Yes, she had known. She had even tried to tell Mr. and Mrs. Parrish and Antonio, but before she could, Lucile had framed her. The Parrish family and Antonio had turned against her, and the words had died in her throat.
Jonah found himself reassessing his sister.
Though he’d kept an eye on her over the past three years, he realized he still didn’t fully understand her.
Maybe Jeffrey saw her more clearly than he did.
His sister was indeed a woman of strength and vision. Perhaps he shouldn’t have been so overprotective.
“Are you really planning to travel the world?”
“Yeah. Maybe seeing more of the world will inspire me. Didn’t you want me to design packaging for the company’s products? I don’t think I’m skilled enough yet.”
Jonah scoffed. “Nonsense. You’re more than capable of handling anything. But if you want to travel or continue your studies, I support.
you.”
He ruffled her hair and sighed. “It’s just… once you leave, I don’t know when I’ll see you again.”
Grace chuckled. “I didn’t realize my brother was so clingy. How did you survive ignoring me for the past three years?”
Jonah’s face stiffened. “What did Jeffrey tell you?”
“Everything.”
“Traitor! Absolute traitor! How could he tell you everything?”
Jonah clenched his fists. “Did he tell you he’s been in love with you for twenty years? Since you were five, he’s been thinking about you. When he ran into you in Elmeburg three years ago, he started digging into your whereabouts. It’s because of him we found you so quickly!”
“For the past three years, he’s been running off to Elmeburg whenever he could. He’s attended all your art exhibitions, bought all your paintings, and even set up a studio filled entirely with your portraits. That guy is
head over heels for you.”
