Chapter311


    "Grace, I bought a car seat and a stroller."


    "I also pre-ordered a camera. Let''s record every moment of our child''s life."


    I left Antonio''s messages unanswered.


    Soon, another arrived.


    "Are you unwell? Why haven''t you replied?


    "Should I cancel the meeting ande get you?"


    When he received no response, the calls started, a dozen or more.


    I deleted his texts and ignored the ringing.


    Then Corine sent another video, another clip of them together.


    I took a deep breath, trying topose myself.


    To my surprise, Antonio arrived at the hospital, rushing to my side and pulling me into a hasty embrace.


    "Where have you been? You didn''t answer my texts. I was so worried!"


    "I wasn''t feeling well and wanted some fresh air. My phone died," I answered calmly.


    "It''s my fault. I should have made more time for you. But there was an emergency meeting at the office," he exined.


    An emergency meeting that required him to unbutton his shirt?


    I looked away, pretending not to see his rumpled clothes and the love bites on his neck.


    Antonio led me to the car, visibly relieved.


    I watched silently as he retrieved an enormous bouquet of roses from the trunk. "Please ept this and forgive me."


    The local flower shops had the freshest roses.


    He bought me a bouquet every time he passed by.


    I used to see it as a gesture of love.


    Now, I realized it as a token of guilt.


    Corine''s video shed in my mind again.


    Her moans, her writhing beneath him, her words echoing, "Antonio loves me."


    I didn''t know when their affair had begun.


    Looked at him now, I felt like I didn''t know this man at all.


    Hen2


    He''d been worried when I didn''t reply to his texts, setting aside his and his mistress to search for me


    6ontent belongs to swnowne


    Yet, he''d also bought a mansion for her behind my back.


    I''d loved him for over a decade, only to discover I was a stranger to the real Antonio.


    My silence made him anxious.


    "Did I do something to upset you?" He reached for my hand, cing it against his cheek.


    Images from the video flooded my mind. I recoiled, nausea rising in my throat. I began to vomit.


    Antonio was fastidious, yet, without hesitation, he cupped his hands to catch my vomit.


    I had barely eaten in days; it was mostly water.


    The dual torment of my physical and emotional pain brought tears to my eyes.


    Looking at him, I saw genuine caring.


    But it didn''t change the fact that he betrayed with Corine.


    I fought back the wave of anguishet consuming me and pulled away.


    curling up on the Swo


    urling ap


    "Let''s go home." Antonio said, his eyes red-rimmed. He leaned over to


    fasten my seatbelt pattinge


    my hand.


    He thought I hadn''t noticed him secretly shove a pair of stockings further under


    the seat.


    Or the strange perfume mingled with the scent of cigarettes that almost made me retch again.


    I rolled down the window, staring out at the passing scenery.


    The urge to leave Antonio, to leave this city, had never grown stronger.