Chapter 2
Antonio pushed open the door and found Grace on the floor, vomiting.
For once, he showed a bit of softness. “Hey, what’s up? You okay?”
It felt like a formality, polite but not genuine.
If it were Yesenia, he’d be rushing her to the hospital in a heartbeat.
Grace struggled to her feet, looking as pale as a ghost. She had no energy left to argue. “I’m fine,” she said flatly.
Antonio nodded, looking relieved. “Yesenia’s not feeling well, and she burned her hand making soup. How about you make it for her every day? She’ll forgive you for talking smack.”
Grace sneered, “Me making her soup after she caused Talia’s death? I’d be happy to chop her up. I-”
A loud slap shut her up.
Antonio’s disappointment was clear.
“Seriously? You call yourself a mom? How can you say stuff like that? Yesenia’s dad saved us, and now she’s on her own. Can’t you just leave her alone?”
Yeah, Yesenia was “on her own” with Antonio’s full support.
Chapter 2
A wave of helplessness washed over Grace.
He knew Kate was her only family, but he took off without a
care.
And he knew Talia was her world, but he left her behind at the playground. All for Yesenia.
Grace suddenly hated herself for all the screw–ups.
If she hadn’t fallen for Antonio and thrown everything away to be with him, maybe Kate and Talia would still be around.
Antonio’s phone rang again, summoning him away.
Since Yesenia came back, he’d been all about her, totally ignoring his wife and daughter.
One night, when Talia had a burning fever, Grace couldn’t get through to him.
She ended up hauling Talia to the hospital herself, her feet blistering from the trek.
Maybe Grace should have given up on Antonio long ago.
Grace closed her eyes. This was the last tear she’d shed for him and their marriage.
Memories of Kate and Talia flickered before her, and she could almost hear their voices.
“Grace, my sweet girl, I can’t wait to celebrate the New Year with you.”
“Mommy, I miss Daddy. I want to watch fireworks with Daddy, Mommy, and Nana.”
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Chapter 2
Grace smiled through her tears. “Alright, we’ll celebrate together and be a happy family.”
When she reached out to hug them, they vanished.
“No!” she cried out, collapsing to the ground, her body. shaking.
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“Grandma, Talia, please don’t leave me. It’s so cold and lonely here. I’m coming to find you,” she screamed in her mind.
Antonio didn’t come back until the afternoon.
He held out Talia’s favorite Barbie doll.
“This is from Yesenia,” he said, his tone almost patronizing. “She thinks Talia just needs to get to know her better. Can’t you learn from Yesenia and be nice?”
Seeing Grace’s icy expression, Antonio sighed and pulled out a bracelet.
“Alright, here. We’re married. What’s the fuss about?” he said.
Grace looked at the glittering bracelet and replied coolly, “This is just a side stone. Where’s the main one?”
Antonio froze for a second before quickly pocketing the bracelet.
“Uh, I’m not really into jewelry. I’ll get you something better next time.”
Her lips twitched, fighting a smile.
Grace wasn’t into jewelry either, but she recognized the main stone from the news–it was “Éclat.”
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Chapter 2
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Guilt held him back for a moment before he finally said, “Hey, New Year’s coming up. Why don’t we invite Kate for a family dinner?”
Grace’s face lit up. She mumbled, “A family dinner, good idea. Just two weeks away…”
Antonio sighed in relief at her familiar smile.
If he had looked closer, he would have seen the deep sorrow hidden in her eyes.
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