Chapter293


    Deep into the night.


    I chucked the pile of letters into the fire and then grabbed the photos.


    There were Antonio and Tyler, grinning from ear to ear on either side of me.


    But looking at it now, all I felt was a bitterugh.


    The photo went up in mes, those grins turning to dust.


    My eyes were filled with the fire''s light.


    As they burned, I saw bits of the letters.


    Tyler promised, "I''ll always look out for Grace, keep her as my princess forever."


    Antonio''s words were there too. "I''ll make Grace my bride, and we''ll start a family, with a son and a daughter."


    They each made their promises to me, so full of conviction.


    They both said I was more important than anything to them.


    But now, the letters were faded and yellow.


    The ink, once bold, had started to vanish.


    Like those empty promises, they turned out to be nothing but hot air.


    The letters turned to ash, and the heat bit my fingers.


    I dropped them, and theynded on the dress below.


    The fire spread, catching the curtains and the wooden crates. Smoke poured out into the night.


    I stood there, my face hot from the mes, my eyes stinging from the smoke.


    And then, Antonio called out of the blue.


    I let the call go.


    Before long, Tyler was dialing again.


    I hit the hang-up button once more.


    vel


    Right as I was about to block their numbers, Antonio dropped me several WhatsApp messages, "Grace, no matter what, Michelle is your sister.


    "I''m hoping you''ll be there to cheere


    her on during her big m


    She''s hoping to feel your


    "I''ll grab some jewels you''d love tomorrow, and I''ll bring them back to you.


    Let''s keep things cool, alright?"


    Then Tyler''s messages popped up, "Grace, I promise that I''ll make it right in the future.


    "As for Mom''s ne, I''ll get a new one, just the same. Can you forgive me?"


    I felt augh welling up, but it was drowned out by the tears.


    I sent off two replies.


    To Antonio, it was, "No way I''m blessing her. Instead, I''ll curse both her and her mom to hell."


    To Tyler, I typed, "Why don''t you ask Mom to forgive you?"


    Once I sent those messages, I wiped them from my contacts.


    I towed my bag, cast a final nce. at the


    bet


    dwalked away without turni Wend brimming with memories,


    back.


    All the loose ends were tied up, and I was ready to move on.


    Just after I walked away, a gust of wind blew over the candle that was still burning.


    It started off as just a little spark.


    But the dry air made the fire catch on, and it began to spread.


    Pretty soon, the whole ce was up in mes.


    The vi, with all its memories, burned down to the ground.