Chapter 5
“Open the door! Antonio, open the door!”
Grace pounded on the iron door in the dark, but all she heard was the sound of it rattling. Nothing else.
Antonio was gone.
He knew how much she feared the dark, yet he locked her in this tiny, pitch–black room.
There was once a typhoon, and the power went out. The house was plunged into darkness, the wind howling and the rain pouring down, each flash of lightning making her tremble.
She panicked, calling him, crying as she spoke.
Antonio was in a meeting, but he didn’t get angry. Instead, he calmly comforted her, announcing the meeting was over and rushing home through the storm.
When he walked in, he found her in the bathtub, pulling her close. “Grace, don’t be scared. No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your
side.”
But now, all she had was his cold words, “You’re only a little like Lucile.”
Grace couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Outside, the wind and rain began to pick up, just like that night, but now the only thing surrounding her was endless darkness.
She had no idea how long it had been, but when the cold and hunger were about to overwhelm her, the door opened. Antonjo’s tall figure stood
in the doorway, pulling her roughly off the floor.
“Lucile tried to kill herself again. We need to go to the hospital for a blood transfusion.”
Antonio drove fast, seemingly anxious about Lucile, while Grace, already dizzy, felt even more faint. When they arrived at the hospital, Antonio slammed on the brakes, and her stomach collided painfully with the front
seat.
“Antonio…” Grace trembled, trying to reach for him. “My stomach…”
“Stop pretending.”
Before she could finish, Antonio shoved her into the blood donation
and took 1000ml of her blood.
room
Grace’s body grew cold, her lips turning pale, her mind foggy. Even the pain in her lower abdomen faded.
But Antonio didn’t even glance at her. He grabbed the blood bag and hurried off.
“Ms. Parrish?”
The nurse, noticing Grace’s condition, looked down and saw the bloodstains on her pants. She froze in shock and called for the doctor.
When Grace woke up, she was told she had miscarried due to her weakened state.
She placed her hand over her stomach and buried her face in the pillow, crying.
“Grace, you’re supposed to have surgery in about a week… you…”
Before Antonio could finish, he saw her pale face and the tears on hist own cheeks. He froze for a moment. “Are you not feeling well?”
Chapter S
Grace wiped away her tears and turned to face him. “Just now…“‘
Antonio’s phone rang, and Lucile’s voice came through, crying. “Antonio, Mom and Dad aren’t here… I was thirsty and wanted water, but I accidentally spilled hot water on myself… I’m burned…”
When he heard Lucile had been burned, Antonio’s face darkened. “Stay put, I’ll be right there.”
He hung up and looked at Grace with annoyance. “Grace, stop pretending. Even if you die, your corneas are still going to Lucile. After all, you owe her that!”
Grace stared at his back, her voice soft. “Antonio, our baby is gone.”
Antonio’s heart skipped a beat, a sudden unease creeping in. He turned. back to her. “What did you just say?”
But before she could answer, Lucile called again. Antonio didn’t hesitate. and left without another word.
Soon after, Grace, weak and stumbling, made her way to Lucile’s hospital room. She saw Antonio anxiously holding Lucile’s delicate hand, carefully applying medicine to the tiny burn marks.
Ha, all the pampering from these past three years now seemed like a joke.
“Antonio, I think you should lock Grace up. If she’s running around. looking for someone, what will happen to Lucile’s eyes?”
