Antonio was about to say something when a loud voice cut through the air.


    "Dr. Parrish!" someone cried, snapping everyone back to their senses. "We''ve just taken in an old man with a heart problem in the ER. He needs surgery right now!" Grace followed, having a bad feeling about it. Her eyes widened in disbelief when she finally saw the patient.


    "Grandpa?"


    Russell was fine as a fiddle yesterday, so how could he have a heart attack today?


    Antonio wasn''t his usual cool self at that moment.


    Omar was scared out of his wits, sobbing. "You have to save Grandpa!"


    Grace didn''t waste any time and hurried into the operating room.


    She had always been Russell''s doctor, and this time was no different. She led the surgery, which took almost seven hours.


    When Grace came out of


    the operating room, she was so weak that she could barely stand, her face as white as a sheet.


    She pulled herself together and followed Russell''s stretcher to the ward.


    "He''s stable now," she reassured Antonio and Omar


    "Why did you trigger his heart condition again?" Antonio demanded all of a sudden.


    Grace''s face went nk. "What did I do? Why are you ming me? I''m just as shocked to see him here as you are!"


    Antonio tossed Russell''s phone at her. "The evidence is right here. What else is there to argue about?"


    Grace nced down and saw a text


    she''d sent that morning on the phone''s screen.


    "Grandpa. I''m going to divorce


    Antonio," the message said, repeated loudly by Antonio.


    The ward fell dead silent.


    Grace stared at the text. She nced at Omar, who was hiding his head and fiddling with his fingers. Realization suddenly dawned on her.


    He had been ying with her phone earlier.


    Sensing Grace''s gaze, he quickly hid behind Antonio.


    Grace stamped down her anger and asked calmly, "Omar, why''d you send that text?"


    "Wow." Antonio said in disbelief, pulling Omar close to him. "Since when did you start ming a kid for your own mistakes?"


    Grace heard the disappointment in his voice but found it hrious.


    "Do you think I''m ming him?"


    asked. "Look at him. Look at how he''s


    ing. He''s embarrowed


    because he knows that he did this."


    Antonio narrowed his eyes. "You''re delusional.".


    Before Grace could respond, Omar suddenly started crying. His face


    as he


    juan do and as a mix of guilt and f "I didn''t know set


    that text would make Ge


    wanted Mom and Dad to get a


    divorce so mommy Kendra could be my mom."


    Grace felt numb. This wasn''t the first time something like this had happened.


    After a moment, Grace gently stroked Omar''s hair. "Don''t worry. I won''t make you wait so long."


    "You''re Omar''s mom." Antonio said reproachfully. "You don''t have to be so hard on him."


    Grace offered a faint grin. "Your


    father almost died because of a text that Omar sent. And telling him offis too hard on him? Come on now, Antonio. He deserves more than a p on the wrist but I''m letting him off the hook."


    Antonio hesitated, his eyes flickering with a twinge of guilt.


    At that moment, Russell, who''d been lying in the hospital bed, stirred awake. He surveyed the room and then exhaled in relief. "Grace." Grace promptly moved closer. "Yes?"


    Antonio didn''t say anything more and just moved closer to the bedside.


    Omar was clutching Russell''s hand while brushing away his tears.


    Russell tenderly ruffled Omar''s hair, but his eyes were on Grace.


    "Grace, Omar needs you. Don''t divorce Antonio. Will you promise me that?"


    Grace''s throat constricted, and after a brief struggle, she croaked out, "I''ll take care of it. You get some rest."


    With that, she made up an excuse and left.


    She couldn''t bring herself to lie to Russell or swear off the divorce.


    Grace had always been the one calling the shots in her life. Why would she stop now?