Chapter 29
Beauty?
It had been ages since Grace heard such a compliment.
“Thanks. I’ll come back if needed. Your skills are quite impressive, I’ll recommend you to any friends who need tattoos.”
Grace smiled brightly at the tattoo artist.
As she walked out of the tattoo shop, the wind chime on the rotating glass door tinkled pleasantly.
She turned around and glanced at the door, seemingly seeing her blurred self waving at her.
“Bye.” she said inwardly.
From now on, she’d head forward without looking back.
***
Time flew.
In the blink of an eye, six years had passed.
Antonio and the Parrish family in Osmal City still had no news of Grace.
No matter how influential and well–connected in Osmal City, if someone really wanted to vanish, they could.
Not to mention it was the National Confidential Science Research Institute that took Grace away.
Antonio was in the headquarters of the Kaufman Group.
Anyone could easily tell he had lost a lot of weight.
Just then, the landline rang.
Any call that was made to his office was either about Grace’s whereabouts: or from the prison.
He prayed it was the former.
Looking weary, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and picked up the phone,
“Mr. Kaufman, Ms. Kyla’s mental state isn’t quite stable. She’s been acting crazy every day and has started to harm others. The prison doctor suggests sending her to a mental hospital. What do you think?”
The warden sounded tentative.
“Are you sure she’s not faking again?” Antonio was a bit impatient.
After all, she had gone “crazy” once two years ago.
“Yes, I’m sure of it. I had the prison doctor conduct a thorough examination and tests on her,” said the warden.
“I see. I’ll send a car to pick her up.”
With that. Antonio hung up the phone quickly.
Over the past six years, he had had someone “taken special care” of Kyla in jail.
She endured whatever Grace had endured.
The Parrish family had no objections at all.
They had completely given up on Kyla since that day six years ago.
Perhaps Grace would have mixed feelings if she knew the stark contrast in their attitude toward Kyla.
But…
Antonio lowered his gaze and looked at the photo on the desk.
Grace in the photo was pitifully skinny. Wearing wrinkled clothes, she was deadpan.
“Where are you, Grace? I know, we can’t atone for our sins unless we suffer as much as you did. But if you don’t come back, how can I make it up to you?”
Gently caressing Grace’s face in the photo, he was extremely remorseful and lonely.
Meanwhile, Grace returned to Osmal City.
She completed her mission at the National Confidential Science Research Institute in advance; then she was allowed to do whatever she wanted.
So, she started to paint.
She came back with the famous art agent, Gaven Eaton, and she was already a fairly well–known painter.
The starting bid for her paintings in international auctions was at least 5,000 dollars.
Walking out of the airport, she saw Violet, who came to pick her up.
“You’ve tanned a bit after six months,” Violet teased.
“It’s a healthy tan, and it’s so trendy these days,” Gince argued.
Indeed, she had tamed a bit over the past six months
At best, she was selling her paintings on the street. After being diservered by Claven, she often went out to sen for all kinds of natural views, including the sea, the sky, the volcmo, and so on
Her paintings of nature, coming with a natural serenity, were all vivid and mysterions
“I’m attending a dinner party tonight. Let me take you to dinner tomorrow.” she sind to Violet before they parted.
“OK” Violet nodded, feeling gratified.
Time was the best cure indeed. Within months, Grace had become someone else:
Well, to be more precise, she was no longer Grace, she was Camille Spence, the talented painter.
***
Antonio arrived at Dawn Hotel.
Heing invited by a business partner, he was here to attend a welcome banquet for a rising star in the art world.
The second he locked eyes with the rising star, the champagne glass he was holding fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.
He wondered if he was hallucinating.
He stared at Grace’s side face, not even daring to blink.
Gaven was the first to notice Antonio’s gaze. “Camille, do you know that
man?”
He raised his chin, gesturing for Grace to look at Antonio.
“No.” frowning. Grace sized up Antonio and then answered indifferently.
Antonio subconsciously wanted to walk closer to her, he had to try his best to restrain himself.
“I’m Antonio. Grace, how could you not know me?”
Grace lifted her chin. exuding an air of dignity and confidence.
“Sir. you’ve mistaken me for someone else. My name is Camille Spence.”
