Chapter 4
1 288/Vouchers
After hanging up the phone, I wiped away my tears bitterly.
Then I got out of bed and went to the doctor who had performed my IVF.
She was puzzled.
“It was per Mr. Kaufman’s request, and he provided the re- paired eggs. Is there something wrong with the fetus?”
I shook my head. “No. I was just asking.”
Turning to leave, I stopped recording.
I had already thought it through; how come it still hurt? Stroking my belly, I scheduled an abortion for that day.
Lying on the cold operating table, I stared at the ceiling in a daze.
Under the aurora, Antonio held me in his arms tightly.
After a long time of silence, he said seriously, “Grace, before I met you, I always thought I could spend the rest of my life without love.
“But I feel so lucky to have you in my life. We’re destined to be together. Now, my only hope is to live longer…”
I knew love wasn’t eternal, but at that very moment, perhaps it was.
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Chapter 4
288 (Vouchers
After the surgery, I asked the doctor for the remains of the undeveloped fetus and then put it in a box.
I hailed a cab to go home. As I pushed open the door, unexpectedly, I saw Pearl.
She was wearing the high–end gown Antonio gave me on my last birthday as well as an emerald necklace my family gave me on our wedding day.
She looked at me, smug.
“Mrs. Kaufman, you’re back. I’m so sorry. Mr. Kaufman insisted on taking me to his family’s banquet, saying that I could dance with him.
“Don’t blame him, OK? After all, given your condition… You know how men are. Their pride means the world to them. Oh, and don’t worry. I’ll return your gown once we’re back.”
My gaze turned icy.
“Take off the necklace. You took it without my permission, and that is stealing. You don’t know? And it’s quite surprising that you seem pleased with yourself after selling your body out for this gown.”
Pearl pulled a long face. Before I could react, she strode toward me and pinched my thigh hard.
In the next second, she fell to the floor.
Antonio walked downstairs at the same time.
Seeing this, he rushed toward us, helped her up, and frowned as he questioned me angrily, “What happened? Grace, what did you do? Aren’t you supposed to be in the hospital?”
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288–Wouters
My breathing turned heavy as I looked back at him in disbelief. “Why don’t you ask her what she did? Look at my legs. What could I possibly do?”
Pearl wiped away the tears that she managed to squeeze. “Mr. Kaufman, it has nothing to do with Mrs. Kaufman. I tripped and fell.
“But I really didn’t steal her gown and necklace, and I’ve never sold my body out. Mr. Kaufman, I think I’ll skip the banquet. Sorry.”
Antonio looked at her with distress. He wiped away her tears, totally not giving a damn that I was present.
Suppressing his fury, he said to me, “I gave Pearl your gown and necklace, and I invited her to the banquet.
“I’ve been the butt of the joke for three years all because of you. Grace, at least try to be more understanding, OK?
“You’re getting more and more willful taking advantage of your pregnancy. But Pearl has done nothing wrong. Apologize to her!”
My chest heaved violently as I looked at him, shocked.
People always blurted out their real thoughts when they impulsive. Only now did I realize this was how Antonio thought of me.
were
We were married for three years; of course, he knew what kind of person I was.
Pearl’s acting skills weren’t superb; rather, they were lame. The reason why he was acting like this was because he had
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already chosen her over me
All of a sudden, I didn’t feel like arguing at all. I wheeled myself back into my room.
Antonio shot me a discontented look and then lowered his head to comfort Pearl in his arms
Chapter 5
