Chapter 35
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,
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“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 blank. “What did I do? Why are you blaming 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 glanced 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 glanced at Omar, who was hiding his head and fiddling with his fingers. Realization suddenly dawned on her.
He had been playing 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 blaming a kid for your own mistakes?”
Grace heard the disappointment in his voice but found it hilarious.
1288 ouchers
“Do you think I’m blaming him?” she asked. “Look at him. Look
at how he’s behaving. He’s embarrassed because he knows that he did this.”
Antonio narrowed his eyes. “You’re delusional.”
Before Grace could respond, Omar suddenly started crying.
His face was a mix of guilt and fear as he said, “I didn’t know sending that text would make Grandpa sick. I just 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 off is too hard on him? Come on now, Antonio. He deserves more than a slap 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
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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?