Chapter 8
I dedicated my heart and soul to
the training for one year. I wanted to
impress those who looked down on me.
When the training ended. I participated in this international piano contest.
But right after the first competition, I bumped into someone unexpected.
As I was walking into the break room, that person hugged me from behind and said, “Grace, I finally found you.”
I recognized it was Antonio. I shrugged off his arms and shoved him.
He didn’t see it coming and fell to the ground. He got up but didn’t blame
me at all.
“Did I hug you too tight? You must be scared. How are you?”
Those who trained with me were shocked. They all knew Antonio Kaufman, after all the Kaufman Group was well–known at home and
abroad.
They whispered to each other how they’d never seen him so humbled and wondered who I was.
If I saw him like this as the newlywed I once was, I’d be thrilled.
But now, all I could feel was disgust.
“Grace, I thought I’d never see you again. For a whole year, even my assistant couldn’t find out where you were. If I hadn’t noticed you in the post of this contest, I wouldn’t know what to do,” Antonio was trembling and choked up.
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He stared squarely at me as if wondering if I was real or not.
I didn’t realize how stubborn he could be. I was not sure what to do.
“I’ll say this one more time in case you don’t remember. We are divorced. You are just a stranger to me, so don’t touch me.”
Hearing this. Antonio lashed out at everyone around and told them to get lost. No one dared to disobey Mr. Kaufman who reigned the business world.
“No, it’s not true. I don’t believe you don’t love me anymore.”
He wanted to hug me again but I kicked him off.
“I told you. Don’t touch me. I’m allergic to men who cheat, especially the filthy ones.
“You’ve slept with another woman. So don’t tell me you love me.”
Antonio screamed desperately with both hands around his head and smashed a water bottle on the floor.
“I asked her to give me the kid and get lost. Trust me. I’m over with her.
“Grace, please forgive me and give me another chance, will you?”
He held my hands and expected my answer.
I shook off his hands, dead in the face, and sat on a sofa.
“I have no interest in knowing what happened between you and her.
“You can’t undo what’s been done. I don’t love you anymore. I simply don’t care.”
The light in his eyes dimmed. He backed up a few steps, as if falling
150
apart.
“No, that’s not true.
“We’ve been together for 3 years. How can you say you don’t love me?
“You just said that because you’re mad at me, right? What would it take for you to come back to me? I’ll do anything for you, even at the cost of my life. Please!”
Antonio knelt on the ground, clutching my trousers tightly. I looked into. his eyes expressionless.
“I don’t love you,” I said, “whether you believe it or not. I’ve got competitions to prepare for. Please leave.”
He froze, knowing I wasn’t kidding or lying to him.
“I looked for you for 3 years. I kept dreaming about you. I won’t give up. Even though you don’t love me anymore, I’ll still wait for you. One day you’ll come back to me.”
He tidied himself up and walked out. Yet the slightly weak steps showed his desperation and frustration.
