Chapter 25
At dawn, Antonio came to the beach and knelt in front of me..
Behind him were Dad and Mom, who were in a terrible state. Especially
Mom, whose eyes were shockingly red and swollen; I could hardly
recognize her as that noblewoman.
They had already had someone to make those photos and videos online go. away as if nothing had ever happened. But I knew this wouldn’t change anything.
“Grace. I’m sorry. I was so stupid that I didn’t see through Claire. It’s all my fault. I didn’t even look into the truth and ended up hurting you. Grace, I have no idea she’s that kind of person. I never expected her to gamble with her own reputation. I’m so sorry.
“It’s all my fault. Beat me or scold me however you want. I mean it. You can punish me for as long as you want, just give me a chance to make it up to you, OK?
“Please, Grace. I’m begging you. I’ve found those people, and Claire is at the police station. Tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it whatever it is. OK, Grace?”
Leaning against Troy’s shoulder, I stared blankly at the sun rising in the distance, remaining motionless as if I hadn’t heard him at all. Deep down, I felt no joy or satisfaction.
Troy lifted his head and looked at Antonio with disgust.
“If you really feel sorry, piss off. You’re the last person who deserves to be in front of Grace. You could have looked into it ages ago. Why did you
Chapter 25
have someone stop me? Grace didn’t have to go through any of this. Why did you have me locked up? Are you happy now?”
Troy’s condemnation made Antonio’s face paler; he almost was about to
burst into tears.
Mom walked to me and knelt in front of me. Her body was hunched, and only then did I see that most of her hair had turned gray.
“Grace, you’re freaking me out. Talk to me, OK? I now know what a terrible mistake I’ve made. I shouldn’t have believed Claire only. You’re such a sweet, kind girl, and you always protect her. Of course, you’d never do such a thing because of Antonio. I was wrong. I should have believed you.
“Grace, come home with us, OK? We’ll make it up to you. We’ll love you even more than before. You can punish us however you want, OK? Just come back with us.”
She said this cautiously while reaching out several times, but she still didn’t dare to touch me.
I presumed that she had already seen those videos, and of course, she’d known how scarred my body was. Claire eagerly exposed the videos, or she might never have suspected Claire.
But so what if they were apologizing to me? None of their words.
mattered. Even if I punished them, it wouldn’t change anything. What had happened. Nothing could change that.
Dad stood next to me in silence, and for the first time, there were tears in his eyes.
He said, “Grace, come back with me, OK? I promise no one will ever dare. to upset you again. I’ll make a statement, announcing to everyone that
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from now on, Claire will be expelled from the family. You won’t be treated unfairly ever again. Let me make it up to you, OK?”
At the wedding, when Claire knelt on the ground, accusing me with tears. on her face, Dad said the same thing.
I was heartbroken back then, but now, I wished Dad had expelled me from the family right on that day.
I knew he said this just to coax me.
Over time, memories would fade, and they’d be one happy family again. I was the only one who was bound to suffer.
With such a thought, I smiled faintly.
“I’m not going back. The Grace you know already died in Nighton. Dad, I’ve disgraced the Parrish family, and you said you no longer wanted me as your daughter. From now on, I have no parents.”
Dad and Mom’s faces became ghastly pale at once.
Mom’s body shook, and she almost slumped to the ground. After coming back to her senses, she cried at the top of her lungs, begging me for my forgiveness while trying hard to explain herself.
But I was fed up with their explanations. What was the point of explaining to me anyway? The harm had been caused already. Explanations were nothing but excuses.
I didn’t need their excuses.
“Antonio, I’m so glad we didn’t get married,” I said and couldn’t help but laugh.
Troy held me even more tightly, kissing my hair.
I continued, “If I had married you, I would have been tortured to death. You claimed you wanted to marry me while getting involved with Claire. I admit I have no idea what’s going on in your mind, and I hate you so much.
“Of all people, I hate you the most because you’re the one who hurt me the most. I ended up where I am now all thanks to you. Happy?
“I begged for your help countless times. What were you doing back then?“
