Chapter 7
As Antonio listened, something inside him snapped. He couldn’t believe he had hurt me time and again for this evil woman.
He stormed into the house, his neck veins bulging, his eyes blazing with malice.
Dorthy froze, completely caught off guard by his early return.
“Antonio, you’re back? Why didn’t you let me know?”
He grabbed her by the throat. “What did you just say, bitch?”
Allen started bawling. “Daddy, stop!”
Antonio kicked him aside.
“Get lost! Stop calling me Daddy. Only Luna can call me that,” Antonio snapped.
Dorthy’s face turned purple as she gasped for air, tears streaming down her cheeks.
But her misery only fueled his rage.
He slapped her hard and tossed her to the floor.
“Still pretending, huh? Tell me, what did you do to Gracie?”
Antonio’s outburst shook Dorthy to her core. Antonio had always been kind to her, but now he was lashing out at her.
She felt things slipping out of her control.
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But she refused to back down. “Grace should have left ages ago. Isn’t it better now, just the three of us together?”
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Antonio scoffed, “Seriously? How many times do I have to say it? Gracie is the only one I care about. And you? Plotting behind my back to ruin us. You’re a bitch”
His words hit Dorthy hard, and her temper got the better of her.
“Stop acting like a devoted husband. When I kissed you, you didn’t pull away, did you? When Allen called you Dad, you didn’t even bring up Luna.
“And when you woke up next to me in bed, did Grace even cross your mind?”
Antonio stumbled back, bumping into the table. His face was wet with tears.
“Yes, it’s my fault,” he muttered.
Then he looked up with a murderous glint in his eyes, “But we both owe her an apology.”
With that, Antonio dragged Dorthy to the river and threw her in. Watching her thrash and scream for help, he let out a laugh.
All he could think about now was finding me and winning met back.
After I went home, I couldn’t bring myself to bury Luna’s ashes in the hills. I just kept her close.
I’d been accepted into Beudale University and was ready to move there.
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Last year, when the college entrance exams were reinstated, I dedicated an entire year to preparing for them. I took them before moving in with Antonio.
Two months ago, I asked if he would consider transferring to Beudale if I got accepted.
He just laughed and said, “Why bother with university? Isn’t it better for the three of us to stay here? Besides, transferring to Beudale isn’t easy.”
I foolishly believed him and thought we would have a happy family life, so I even considered giving up on university.
When my acceptance letter came last month, I wanted to tell Antonio, but was too caught up with Dorthy and Allen.
“I went to school as planned. I kept Luna’s ashes hidden because I worried my roommates might not like it.
But when they heard my story, they didn’t judge me.
“She must’ve been a sweet girl. You should take her out for walk and show her around,” one of them said.
“I juggled classes and a part–time job, earning more than enough to support myself.
My mind felt clearer and steadier. My roommates were kind. They never looked down on me for coming from a small, backward village. Instead, they helped me dress better and build confidence.
About a month later, I ran into Antonio on campus.
I never thought I’d see him again in this lifetime.
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But somehow, he had tracked me down.
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