Chapter 9
Antonio froze. He stared at the frail corpse for so long without saying a
word.
He stood motionlessly like a statue.
The rescue workers carried Grace’s body on a stretcher and walked towards him with heavy steps from a distance.
Then they carefully placed the stretcher on the ground in front of him.
“Our condolences, Mr. Kaufman…”
The rain grew heavier, blurring Antonio’s vision.
He suddenly slumped to the ground. His eyes were bloodshot.
Then he reached out, his hands trembling so much that after several times, he still couldn’t lift the body.
Finally, he managed to hold Grace’s corpse with the workers‘ help.
Earlier that day, Grace was sitting in the passenger seat, telling him how much she loved him with a bright smile and sparkling eyes.
And now, she lay in his arms, totally lifeless.
Her body was so cold, which made him cold as well. Even his heart was about to freeze.
“Grace, stop it. This isn’t funny. Wake up, OK?”
He repeatedly called out to her again and again, but she didn’t say
anything or even move as if she was still throwing a tantrum.
He didn’t get angry. Instead, he pressed his face against hers just like before when he acted cute with her.
The blood and dust on her face stained his face, but he didn’t even frown.
Memories of the past came flooding back to him.
Over the years, he had hidden a lot of things from Grace.
The longest secret he had been keeping from her was that he had noticed. her much earlier than she realized.
At the freshman welcome party that year, she was gracefully dancing on the stage.
At first glance, he was drawn to her brisk steps, her fluttering dress, and her bright smile.
Even today, he still remembered every detail vividly.
Noticing how captivated he was, his roommate sitting next to him. whispered to him, introducing her to him excitedly.
His roommate went on and on, but he only remembered her name, Grace
Parrish.
She had a beautiful name.
He repeated it several times.
He even linked their name together.
Grace Parrish. Antonio Kaufman.
Their names alone were already a perfect match.
But soon, he shook his head.
Antonio told himself Juliet was the one he loved. He was bound to marry
Juliet.
Though he convinced himself that, he couldn’t take his eyes off Grace at
all.
From that day on, he had always been paying attention to her. He saw her talking with others on the stairs and chasing after her friends under the
sunset.
Before he realized it, she had occupied his mind.
Later, she had feelings for him and started to pursue him.
He was stunned to find himself having the impulse to say yet, but he quickly suppressed it.
When Juliet acted coquettishly and asked him to take revenge on Grace for her, he said no instinctively.
Juliet was a kind–hearted girl. Why would she make that cruel demand?
To his surprise, Juliet began to act unreasonably after his refusal. She even went to the rooftop, threatening to jump off the building.
He loved Juliet, and of course, he couldn’t bear to see her upset.
So, he said yes.
He promised Juliet that after taking revenge on Grace 99 times, he’d break up with Grace.
Chapter 11
The first time he did it, in fact, the guilt in his heart outweighed the sense of pleasure.
After all, Grace was a wonderful girl, but she nearly died because of his
revenge.
But as he did it again and again, he gradually grew numb.
Besides, Juliet seemed so happy.
Gradually, the last trace of guilt in his heart was gone.
Till that day, his friends drugged Grace and left her with a bunch of punks.
After all these years, he lost it for the first time.
Back then, he thought the reason for his faux pas was that his pride was hurt. After all, Grace was his girlfriend..
If word got out that she was violated, he’d be totally humiliated.
After that day, his attitude toward her began to change.
But he didn’t pay any attention to it.
Today, when he left her in the villa, she said she looked forward to his gift.
At that precise moment, he panicked for no reason.
It was stronger than when he thought Juliet was about to leave him.
Back then, he hesitated for a second.
In that second, he actually thought about a lot of answers.
Per the plan. after today, he’d tell everyone the real purpose of his going out with Grace.
Then he’d ask her to apologize to Juliet in public.
After that, he’d make a clean break with her.
If she was sincere enough, maybe he’d offer her some money as compensation.
He wouldn’t insult her after the revenge game was over.
He’d give her a large sum of money, and they’d part ways amicably.
But then, he saw the big flames as well as his phone without any new messages or calls.
He panicked at once.
One thought filled his mind. He must save Grace. Nothing could happen
to her.
As long as she got out safely, he’d say yes to everything she proposed.
He’d even grant that New Year’s wish she had made a long time ago–to be
his wife.
But none of this could happen if she was dead.
His gaze slowly fell on her motionless face, his eyes unfocused.
He had held her many, many times before, but this time, her body felt lighter than ever, and he held her longer than ever.
With her in his arms, he walked for a long, long time.
Chapter 10
