Chapter 16
On Kyla and Antonio’s wedding day, the whole Parrish’s villa was exceptionally lively.
The rich young men and women all praised Kyla and Antonio,
“Kyla, you and Antonio are such a perfect match. Back in high school, he always gave you a lift home, right?
“I remember that once, he beat the crap out of a couple of punks for you. When you had that car accident, he protected you regardless of his own safety. You’re his one and only exception.”
Kyla’s bestie added, “Yeah, everyone knows Antonio treats Kyla so well, and vice versa. When he was injured years ago, she gave him one of her kidneys.”
An onlooker exclaimed, “Gee! True love is so rare these days.”
“Not to mention they love each other. It’s mutual love.”
Among capitalists in the upper class, love was a rare and precious luxury.
As I sat alone in the storage room, I wanted to laugh.
They thought it was Kyla who did all these things, but actually, it was me.
Antonio was older than me.
When I was in high school, he was already in college.
As he saw how pitiful I was, he felt bad for me and would often have hist
driver wait for me, so we could go home together.
I was often harassed by punks, and he’d take off his suit and fight for me.
Once, we got into a car wreck on the way home. He shielded me with his body, preventing me from any injuries.
That was why I fell for him regardless of everything else and even gave him one of my kidneys.
But…
That Antonio, who loved me, protected me, and always prioritized me, was long gone.
This Antonio sitting outside wasn’t that radiant young man in my
memories.
So, I no longer wanted him.
Time passed by.
The night fell, and Antonio set off fireworks for Kyla, illuminating the whole city.
He asked me to come out and said to me, “Grace, I’ll marry Kyla
tomorrow, but it’ll be a wedding in name only. After the wedding, we can finally be together.”
Thinking that he had helped me countless times and saved my life once, It opened my mouth.
“Sorry, but I won’t…”
I wanted to say “I won’t be with you.”
Chapter 16
But before I could finish, Naomi called out to him. “Antonio, come here! Join us for a pre–wedding game.”
A pre–wedding game?
Antonio said to her, “Alright.”
Then he looked at me. “What did you want to say?”
I smiled bitterly. “Nothing. Go ahead.”
He held my cold hand.
“After tomorrow’s wedding, everything will be over.”
With that, he turned to leave.
I watched his tall figure.
He was right; everything would be over.
***
As the fireworks bloomed in the sky, everyone went to Kyla’s room. I walked into the villa alone and glanced at the time on my phone.
It was 7:15 p.m.
Only an hour and forty–five minutes left.
I took a thorough shower.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and saw my scarred body, the result of my time in jail.
Then I put on the cleanest, most expensive set of clothes I had and waited for the state to come and pick me up.
- 16
Only an hour left.
I looked around, taking one last look at the storage room where I had lived for years.
It wasn’t exactly small, but there weren’t many of my belongings.
I had a couple of shabby clothes, a few pairs of worn–out shoes, a blanket that was discarded by the maid, a tattered diary on the desk, and the only decoration next to it–a photo frame.
I got rid of the clothes, shoes, and the blanket,
Then I walked over to the desk and picked up the photo frame. Inside was
a family photo of the Parrish and the Kaufman families from twelve ago. when I had just become part of the Parrish family again.
I saw the faces of my parents, Naomi, Kyla, and Antonio.
It held all my love.
years
But I took it out of the frame, tore it into pieces, and tossed it into the
trash can.
Finally, my gaze fell on my diary I had started when I was fifteen.
I opened the first page.
“Today is December 3rd, 2012, and it’s sunny. I went back home and saw my parents. My dad is so handsome, and my mom is so pretty. And my two sisters are as pretty as her. I’m so happy! From today on, I have a family.”
Then I flipped through the pages.
“Today is March 1st, 2013, and it’s cloudy. Mom and Dad didn’t give me
44.37%
tuition today, and I don’t know how to tell my teacher. I guess Mom and Dad have their reasons that they don’t wanna tell me. I gotta carn money. I don’t wanna burden them.
“Today is June 7th, 2013. and it’s sunny. I bought the necklace for Naomi with the money I saved from three months of my part–time job, but she doesn’t like it. I’ll earn more money and buy her more expensive gifts…”
Then I saw the last page. That day was the day before I went to jail.
“Today is December 1st, 2017, and it’s raining.”
I wrote only one sentence.
“They don’t love me at all!”
At this very moment, tears welled up my eyes.
I couldn’t help but pick up a pen and write on the last page.
This time. I used the language my family had used right in front of me.
“Today is December 10th, 2024, and it’s snowing lightly.
“Mom, Dad. I’m leaving.
“I’ve been wanting to know one thing. Now that I’m leaving, I can’t help but ask. If you don’t love me, why did you search for me so desperately back then? You even placed notices in newspapers every day.
“Some people say parents don’t love their kids who grow up without being raised by them. Is it true?
“But some parents are so happy when they reunite with their kids…
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“They say when parents find their biological kids, it’s the time they lose then kids again. Perhaps I’m the only exception. The day when you found me is the day I completely lost you.”
I wrote down all my confusion and bitterness over the years,
“Naomi, you say Kyla is the only sister you want. Today, your wish will be granted. From now on, you’ll only have one sister.”
And the last part of my words was for Antonio.
Antonio, you wanted me to wait for you. You said we’d be together after you married Kyla.
“I’m sorry, but this time. I won’t wait for you.
“I hope you will be happy being with Kyla.
“I’m leaving. From now on. we won’t see each other again.”
I placed the diary back on the desk.
Then I put my medical reports when I was in jail on top of it.
The reports showed clearly that I had only one kidney.
After I did all this, it was 9 p.m.
With my faded cloth bag, I limped out of the Parrish’s villa.
Behind me, the villa was brightly lit, and everyone was celebrating Antonio and Kyla’s wedding.
Across the street, a black bulletproof car was waiting for me.
Without hesitation, I walked towards my future.
The cars drove away from the bustling street, disappearing into the night. forever.
