hapter 18
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Chapter 18
Ruben opened his mouth but could only make sounds after quite a while.
He repeated what Lacey said as if comforting himself, “Grace…
“She’ll be back sooner or later.
“She’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself.”
Mason’s eyes reddened, turning teary.
He grabbed Ruben by his collar all of a sudden, his hands trembling.
“Grace left with Antonio!
“I checked the school’s surveillance footage. She packed up and left with Antonio!”
The more he spoke, the more trembling his voice became. He tightened his grip on Ruben’s collar, making it hard for Ruben to breathe.
“Did you hear me? She left with Antonio!
“Don’t you know what Antonio is gonna do? Don’t you?”
Though suffocating, Ruben forgot to struggle.
After the great fear and despair, he was left with endless confusion.
Chapter 18
Of course, he knew what Antonio was gonna do.
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After all, he was the associate professor and the college teacher.
The list of participants in the ten–year confidential medical study was viewed and confirmed by him, his seniors, and his colleagues.
Antonio was one of the participants.
The research began last Saturday.
It went without saying where Antonio went.
Ruben staggered to his feet and went out of the door dejectedly.
“I’ll go find her and get her home.
“The New Year is around the corner; she stays at home every New Year.”
Trembling, Mason said, sounding desperate, “Why?
“Why did you have to go to Northbeech just because Lacey asked?
“We agreed to go to Ebonhelm. Grace agreed we’d go to Ebonhelm!
“If we had gone to Ebonhelm…
“Grace might not be heartbroken and wouldn’t have gone to the institute…”
Ruben said nothing.
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Chapter 18
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He walked to the bedroom door, and behind him sounded Mason’s cries of pain.
“Drop the act! Ruben, when was the last time you cared for Grace?”
Ruben stopped in his tracks.
He felt his brain and movements become extremely dull, and it took him quite a while before he turned around and looked at Mason with listless eyes.
“What about you? When was the last time you cared for Grace?”
The anger and grief on Mason’s face froze instantly.
Then he crouched down slowly and covered his face, his shoulders trembling.
They were the same.
Neither of them was innocent; both of them were to blame.
It snowed heavily for days in Bluewell.
Deep snow lay on the streets late at night.
Ruben left home for John; it didn’t even occur to him that he should put on his coat.
John said helplessly, “It’s not that I deliberately kept it from
you.
“Only those involved in the confidential study know the exact location and process of the study.
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“No one else does.
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“I just sent Grace and the others to Southdale and had a meal with them for one last time.
“Then they left for the research institute, and I was in not position to follow.
“Chances are, the research institute isn’t in Southdale.”
Chapter 19
