Chapter 6
Intimidated by Antonio’s aura, the doctor apologized quickly and then left the ward.
With a sullen face, Antonio walked up to Grace and said in a displeased tone, “If you encounter someone like that, just tell him you have a boyfriend. Is that a difficult thing to say?”
Grace looked at him, finding his words laughable.
He said he’d never fall for her, which made his possessiveness for her out of place.
A few days after she was discharged, Antonio suddenly proposed to take her to a class reunion.
She knew he had always disdained to attend these activities. Now that he suggested this, clearly, he was up to something.
And her hunch was right. Upon arriving at the venue, she saw Juliet at
once.
It seemed Antonio was cold and distant toward Juliet. They barely talked.
But one’s true feelings couldn’t be hidden no matter what.
In the middle of the party, Grace went to the restroom.
When she came back, everyone was playing Truth or Dare.
Juliet lost. She chose Truth and was asked to answer a personal question.
She looked quite embarrassed. As she was about to answer, Antonio suddenly snatched the card and said coldly, “I’ll take the punishment for her.”
The question on the card was, “Who’s your sexual fantasy? Tell us his or her initials.”
The onlookers started teasing, saying, “It’s private, but Antonio has a girlfriend. This isn’t gonna be an awkward question for him.”
After a moment of silence, Antonio said flatly, “JH.”
Grace’s heart sank at once, and her fingertips trembled slightly.
JH meant Juliet Houle.
She couldn’t stay any longer and turned to leave.
After walking out of the club, she texted Antonio, “I’m not feeling well, so I’m off.”
Standing at the roadside, she was about to hail a cab when a familiar voice rang out behind her. “Grace!”
Stunned, she turned around to see Antonio striding toward her.
“Why are you out?” she asked.
Frowning, he said a bit anxiously, “You said you didn’t feel well. What’s wrong? I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Grace looked at him, mixed emotions surging within her.
She shook her head and said calmly, “No need. I’m fine. I’m a bit dizzy. That is all. Aren’t you gonna go back there and hang out with them?”
“You’re my girlfriend. Now that you’re leaving, why should I still stay there?” He reached out and felt her forehead, seemingly worried she had at fever again.
She looked at him. a bit baffled.
Wasn’t he here today to see Juliet? How come he was leaving because of her message?
But she didn’t ask him anything because there was no need.
Just then, her parents texted her, telling her the paperwork was almost done. The day after tomorrow, she’d leave for good.
Her forehead wasn’t hot, which relieved Antonio. He said in a low voice, not asking her further, “Let’s go home.”
***
In the middle of the night, Grace was half–asleep when she heard a faint voice coming from the balcony. It seemed Antonio was on the phone.
She opened her eyes, got out of bed, and walked over on tiptoe, only to see him smoking on the balcony.
He had put his phone on speaker, which was on the railing. She quietly came closer and was therefore able to hear the person’s voice on the other end of the line.
“Antonio, it’ll be the 99th time of revenge soon. We gotta think of something good. Oh, it’ll be your anniversary the day after tomorrow, right? Tell her you have a surprise for her and take her to my abandoned villa while keeping her blindfolded. Then find an excuse to leave. After you get out of there, we’ll set a fire and lock the door. She’ll be totally trapped. How’s that?”
Another person said, “Great idea! I can’t wait to see her punching the door crazily.”
Someone else echoed, “Yeah. She’ll know what it feels like to be desperate.”
They burst into laughter, all thinking it was a good suggestion.
Picturing the scene, Antonio couldn’t help but clench his fist. The veins
on his forehead bulged slightly as he said, his voice tinged with fury, “No. I don’t agree.”
