Chapter 3
The door curtain was lifted, and Anna walked in, holding Carlo’s hand.
In the dim light, I took a good look at this young woman for the first time.
Her hair was waist–length, and she wore a stylish spaghetti- strap dress, something I never would have dared wear at her
age.
Her trendy style radiated a youthful energy.
As for me, still recovering from my stomach pain, I probably looked a mess.
Antonio always said he liked smart women. He would praise my literary talent, saying I was like fine wine–getting more refined with age.
But look at him now. He was also attracted to young, beautiful girls.
As Anna entered, she tripped on a slipper and nearly fell.
Antonio quickly rushed over to catch her and completely ignored me. He loosened his grip, and I fell heavily onto the bed.
The pills he’d been holding dropped to the floor as ! to support Anna.
rushed
She gave me an apologetic smile. “Grace, Mr. Kaufman has
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already talked to you about this, right?”
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“I didn’t want to bother you tonight, but it’s urgent because it concerns Carlo.”
I stared at Antonio, confused.
Wasn’t he here tonight just to bring me medicine?
“Actually, it’s not a big deal. We just need to move Carlo’s household registration to my name first, and then we’ll transfer it to yours through our marital tie.
“Carlo is about to start elementary school, and I know you have a property in the school district. That area has the best schools in the city, and since you like living there, it will be convenient for you to take care of Carlo.”
I trembled, staring at him in disbelief.
That house was the only thing my late mother left me.
It was where we had struggled through our hardest years, the place we once dreamed of living when we retired.
And now, he wanted the illegitimate child to live there and even expected me to take care of him?
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I gasped for air. Compared to the pain in my chest, the ache in my stomach was nothing.
“No way! That’s my house! I’d rather give it to a stranger than let a child out of wedlock…”
Before I could finish, Antonio cut me off angrily, “Watch your mouth! There’s a child here!”
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He covered Carlo’s ears, his eyes filled with concern when he looked at Anna.
Anna looked pale as a sheet, tears brimming in her eyes as she turned to him. “Mr. Kaufman, you never actually told her about this when you got out of the car to take that call, right?
“You lied to me, saying she had agreed. But the truth is, you just wanted an excuse to come back and see her, didn’t you?
“Carlo was a test–tube baby. I went through endless hormone injections just to keep him. I won’t let him suffer any more. Mr. Kaufman, maybe you should stay. Carlo and I will leave. We’ll move to another province.”
She sobbed so hard she could barely breathe.
Antonio gently pulled her into his arms. “You gave birth to Carlo for me. If I were to abandon you both now, I’d be no better than an animal.
“If she’s unwilling to make any compromises for Carlo’s education, I’ll buy a new place in the school district and put both Carlo and your names on the deed.
“Dangarnon is where you grew up. No one gets to make you leave!”
My heart sank as I looked at them.
Antonio wouldn’t let Anna leave Dangarnon. If anyone was meant to leave, it should have been me.
As I saw them out, I handed Antonio the divorce papers.
“Let’s not meet again. Once you sign the papers, just mail them back to me.”
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Chapter 3
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Antonio was stunned and grabbed my wrist. “Stop joking! At our age, few people get divorced.”
“But some do, don’t they?”
His face flushed with anger. “What will our students think of us? What will our colleagues think, especially since we work in the same department?”
“That’s your problem.”
I quickly pulled my hand away and left.
Wasn’t this ridiculous? When we were young, we could stand up to the pressure and choose not to have kids. But now, he was willing to tolerate a loveless marriage just because he was afraid of how others would see us.
We’d been a couple and colleagues for twenty years.
In the beginning, we left home and were struggling to make ends meet by doing odd jobs.
During those tough days, we never complained. Later, we both furthered our studies and became professors at the same school. We never parted ways.
But later, I didn’t remember when, even though we spent every day together, there was nothing left to say.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t go back to the way things were.
