Chapter 9
Sandra said, “I’m seriously allergic to peaches, and my dad is aware of it.
“Grace got the maid to put peach juice on my bed, and my dad uncovered it.”
Sandra was crying her eyes out, her face hidden behind her hands, looking utterly mistreated
“Still lying?” Antonio stepped right up and clutched Sandra’s collar, his grip firm.
His height alone nearly lifted her off her feet.
Sandra begged, “Antonio, please let go. I can’t catch my breath.”
Antonio looked down at her. His face, usually so good–looking, twisted into an ugly expression, “Sandra, did you forget you’re wearing Grace’s favorite perfume?
“It’s the one I bought for her so many times.
“I guess I just let it slip my mind.”
A bitter smile flashed on Antonio’s face. He realized how much he had let slip.
He had forgotten how committed Grace had been to him over the years.
He had forgotten their three years of being in love, how she had
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hoped they would make it last.
He had forgotten how Grace had cried quietly in front of him when they split, yet accepted the situation without protest.
He had forgotten the girl he had once loved so dearly. How sweet and tender she was.
He had forgotten how much he once cherished her but only to leave her behind.
He had let a lot slip through his memory, and now it was all coming back to bite him.
Antonio said, “The perfume has white peach and gardenia in it.
“You claimed you were allergic to peaches, but if you’re wearing this every day, why aren’t you having a reaction?”
Sandra’s eyes bulged in surprise, her face draining of color.
She was trembling all over uncontrollably.
Antonio continued, “So, you’ve been lying all along.
“You plotted against her, tricked me, and lied to Mr. Parrish.
“Sandra, I was blind to fall for a schemer like you.”
Antonio released her and pushed her away with force.
Sandra fell to the ground, trying to justify herself, but she couldn’t come up with a single argument.
She indeed wore that perfume every day. There was no denying
- it.
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Chapter 9
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“I’ll expose you for who you really are.” Antonio gave her a final look. Then he slammed the door and walked out.
The driver raced through the streets, dropping him off at Grace’s apartment.
Her window was dark with no lights on.
She might be sleeping, but Antonio wasn’t ready to call it quits.
He was desperate to see her, to say he was sorry, to own up to his mess, and to beg for her forgiveness.
But no matter how hard he hit that doorbell, how loud he banged on the door, Grace didn’t open the door.
A neighbor, who had enough of the commotion, finally called the property management.
That was when he learned from them that Grace had already left and had asked them to sell her apartment.
Antonio wondered, “Where has she gone? Is she still in Vertway City? Will she ever come back? When will that be?”
He didn’t have a clue.
All he could think about was one thing, and it creeped him out.
It was like a beast hiding in the dark, ready to gobble him up.
He had lost Grace.
He might have lost her for good.
All the schemes and setups Sandra and Marie had pulled on
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Grace were finally out in the open.
Even the servants in the Parrish’s place stepped up to support Grace.
When Sandra and Marie got booted out of the Parrish’s place, they looked totally humiliated.
They were like rats in a trap and everyone was against them.
Antonio stood in the garden among the withered gardenia bushes, his eyes suddenly filling with tears.
Gardenias might die and then bloom again.
But once Grace was gone, she would never come back.
Lately, Roy had tried to contact her over and over.
As soon as the call connected, Grace would fall quiet and hang up the moment she heard their voices.
When she left Vertway City, apart from the keepsakes, she took all the inheritance her mom had left behind.
Now, the Parrish family was just a hollow shell.
Everyone thought she was gone for good.
From afar came the sounds of chaos, mixed with women’s cries and curses.
Perhaps because their dreams of riches had crumbled, Sandra and Marie revealed their true and spiteful selves.
“Open the trunk, I want to inspect the luggage,” Roy demanded.
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He stood on the steps, looking utterly drained.
Antonio, observing this aging man, felt just as pathetic and ridiculous.
It was crazy how they had pushed Grace away over these two vicious women.
This was karma.
Sandra and Marie refused to open the trunk and began to make
a scene.
But it was futile. Dozens of large trunks were opened by force. Beneath piles of clothing were fancy bags and jewelry.
“Let them keep only the clothes. Nothing else,” Roy ordered, his face stern.
Sandra and Marie, sobbing and howling, tried to snatch back their jewels and trinkets.
But the bodyguards pushed them away.
Not only were the valuables in the trunks confiscated, but the jewelry they had on was taken off as well.
Sandra fought back so hard that her earlobe got ripped. Blood started to run from her neck all the way down to her chest, making it a really scary sight.
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