Chapter 31
Before Grace was born, all Aileen wanted was for her to be healthy and happy.
How did things end up like this?
Grace was her flesh and blood.
Why? Why was she so mean to Grace after Grace came back?
Instead of loving Grace, she said all kinds of nasty things to Grace for the sake of another person. Why? Why would she do that?
Every night after learning the truth, Aileen would dream of the day Grace returned home after being released from jail,
She thought she’d spend the rest of her life in remorse.
“Mr. Parker, please. If you learn anything about Grace–anything at all- please tell me at once. You can ask for whatever you want. Whatever Mr. Kaufman offers you, I’ll double it.”
She shook Simon’s hand.
Simon was a bit flustered. “Don’t say that, Mrs. Parrish. This is Mr. Kaufman’s task for me, and I’ll do my job. Don’t worry.”
With that, he said bye and left.
Looking at his retreating figure, Naomi put her arm around Aileen’s shoulders, comforting her, “Mom, rest assured. We’re sincere in winning Grace’s forgiveness. I’m sure once she knows how regretful we are, she’ll
1200
come back.”
But everyone present knew it was a he
Grace would never come back.
Five years ago, the housekeeper showed them the surveillance footage of Grace being kicked out the first time she came back after being released from jail.
At the end of the footage, she bowed in the direction of the villa three
times.
Her implication was clear, she was utterly disappointed in them and cut off ties with them.
“Don’t kid me or yourself. Grace doesn’t want to come back, and we deserve this punishment. How is Kyla doing?”
Aileen patted Naomi’s hand.
“I heard she was taken to Benevolence Mental Hospital. You know her, she’d never accept the fact that her face is ruined and one of her legs is lame.” Naomi said truthfully.
“She had it coming. I just hope she’s not pretending to be crazy to get away with punishment.”
Aileen lowered her head, her voice flat.
Grace was at No. 8, Cloud Road.
After taking a painkiller, she sat on a yoga mat, stretching and massaging her legs.
She thought she’d limp forever.
But when she was in Clastein. Mary and Andy took her to a highly authoritative orthopedic expert.
After more than half a year of recuperation and rehabilitation, as long as she didn’t run, basically, no one could tell her leg had been once severely injured.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Violet and Gaven were the only ones who knew she lived here.
Unless…
Frowning, Grace checked the video doorbell..
Then she saw an extremely handsome but slightly haggard face.
She tried so hard to forget his face but never succeeded.
“Sure enough, it’s you, Antonio.”
Her voice came through the doorbell’s speaker and reached Antonio’s cars.
For some reason, at this precise moment, he couldn’t help but want to cry.
“Grace… I knew it. You’re Grace. Camille? No way. You are Grace. My Grace. I’ve been looking for you every day…”
Hearing this, Grace opened the door at once.
“You’re wrong. I am Camille.”
She took her ID from her bag on the entryway cabinet and showed it to Antonio.
“I am Camille. Antonio. That Grace you’ve been looking for is long dead. Have you forgotten? You sent her to jail. You killed her.”
She looked at him coldly. “So, why bother pretending to be so affectionate now?”
Ignoring his grim look, she said harsh words slowly.
“Grace is dead. You, Kyla, and the Parrish family, all together, you killed her when she was in jail.”
Then she suddenly smiled.
“No, that’s wrong. She died even earlier. She died years ago, on the day you chose Kyla.”
