Chapter 47
Chapter 47
The IV drip intensified my dizziness. I stumbled, barely catching myself.
Antonio hadn't returned, not a single call or text.
Five hours passed.
Reluctantly, I dialed his number.
He sounded surprised I was still at the hospital.
"Grace, I'm so sorry. I meant to come back after taking Alicia home, but she had stomach cramps..."
A woman's voice interrupted. "Sir, your order is served. Enjoy your dinner!"
Antonio covered the phone, but I still heard Alicia. "Antonio, you should go back."
Disappointment washed over me again.
Antonio piped up, "Grace, go home. I'll explain later."
Another lie, mostly likely.
I hung up, asked the nurse to discharge me, and went home alone.
Antonio didn't appear all night.
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Kept awake by fireworks, I worked on a custom jewelry design for a client.
Then, a Facebook notification flashed.
Alicia had posted a photo of herself under the fireworks, captioned, "I know you still love me."
I froze. Logging out, I realized I'd been logged into Antonio's account.
Feeling suffocated, I burrowed under the covers and forced myself to sleep.
The next day, I went to work and handed in my resignation.
My manager, aware of my impending marriage and return home, expressed both happiness and regret.
Speechless, I hugged her and whispered my thanks for her support.
Word spread among my colleagues and they insisted on a farewell dinner.
I booked a room at our usual restaurant with Antonnio - mostly out of habit and convenience.
During the meal, I ran into Alicia in the restroom.
She smiled warmly. "Antonio recommended this place, right? The grilled salmon is
their signature dish. You have to try it."
I smiled back, ready to leave. We weren't on friendly terms.
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But she stopped me.
"I've noticed Antonio always rinses the shrimp he peels for you. Are you sensitive to spice, too?"
The word "too" struck me.
I could handle spice, but Antonio always rinsed the shrimp, claiming spicy food wasn't good for women.
I'd assumed it was concern for my health. Now, it seemed like a ingrained habit, a habit formed for Alicia, the one who truly
couldn't tolerate spice.