Chapter 38
With the aftershocks finally over, a heavy silence set in. “Help me!”
Grace was buried under the wreckage and surrounded by darkness. Her breaths were getting shallower.
Lost in time, she was jolted back to reality by a child’s cry. “Kendra! I want Kendra!” She came to with a start, shouting as loud as she could, “We’re here… Please help!”
Her shouts drew the rescue team, who rushed to their location. They started clearing the rubble, and a thin ray of light pierced the darkness.
A glimmer of hope sparked in Grace’s chest, but it was dashed when she heard the rescuers. “Mr. Kaufman, Dr. Parrish and Dr. Jermyn are trapped under the same slab. If we lift one side, the other will crush the other… We have to choose one.”
Omar choked with tears, “Save Kendra! I need Kendra!”
Omar’s plea stabbed Grace’s heart. For a moment, she felt everything slipping away. Her own child had picked someone. else over her in a time of crisis.
Antonio’s response was slow in coming.
The rescuers‘ urgency grew. “Mr. Kaufman, we can’t wait! If another tremor hits, we’ll lose them both!” It was then that Antonio’s voice cut through the tension, cold and firm, “Save Dr. Jermyn.”
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Grace’s world darkened as she closed her eyes, giving in to despair. The rescuers focused on lifting the slab to reach. Kendra.
The slab shifted, crushing Grace with brutal force, worsening her injuries. Blood silently escaped her lips as her vision blurred.
Just before the darkness took her, she heard Omar’s sobs. “Kendra, I thought I’d lost you forever. Promise me you’ll never leave me again!”
Grace, exhausted, shut her eyes, and darkness took her in.
When Grace opened her eyes again, she was back in Drelar Hospital. Russell, noticing her awake, hurriedly summoned a doctor.
The doctor checked her over and reassured them, “She’s in stable condition. A few more days here, and she’ll be on the mend.” Grace observed Russell, who appeared to have aged years in just a few days, by her bedside. Tears brimmed in her eyes.
Russell’s eyes flickered with guilt as he said, “Grace, you’ve been through so much. Get some rest and don’t worry about anything.” Grace closed her eyes, offering no response.
Even if Russell didn’t voice it, she knew he’d figured it out. That was probably a good thing. When she recovered, it would be time to go abroad.
Days passed in a blur.
Grace handled the discharge process and approached Kendra’s ward for the first time. Antonio and Omar were there, just as she
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expected.
Antonio’s expression shifted when he saw Grace. “Why are you here?”
Perhaps the caution in his tone was too evident. Antonio
paused, as if he was choosing his words carefully. “How’s your injury?”
Grace offered a wry grin. “I’m tough. I won’t go down that easily.”
Omar stood by Kendra’s bedside, arms opened, giving Grace a look that made it clear she wasn’t wanted. “What are you doing here? You can’t hurt Kendra!”
Grace felt a fire burning in her chest.
Given her condition, she lacked the strength to start a fight, let ⚫ alone hurt Kendra. Besides, they guarded Kendra fiercely.
Grace got straight to the point with Antonio, “When can we head to the courthouse and wrap up this divorce?
“I’ll take what’s mine, and everything else, including the kid, is all yours,” she said, her tone firm. Antonio’s face clouded over, and he paused before asking, “Are you serious, Grace?”
Grace shot him a puzzled glance and questioned, “Do I look like I’m joking?”
She added, “You can marry anyone you like, and Omar can choose his own mom. It has nothing to do with me.” Omar’s eyes widened in surprise, tears starting to form.
Right then, he balled his fists, yelling in a fit of anger, “You don’t
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want me, and I don’t want you either! I want Kendra to be my mom!” With that, he made a point of rushing over and clinging to Kendra.
Kendra masked her happiness, feigning concern as she said, “Grace, you shouldn’t talk about divorce so lightly.”
“Don’t misunderstand,” Grace clarified, “I’ve always been fine with Antonio and Omar coming to see you. It’s just…” Antonio cut in, “Grace, I didn’t go to see you because…”
Grace stopped him right there, not in the mood for his excuses.
“Does it even matter? I handed you the divorce papers before I left for the rescue mission. Your visits don’t change a thing.” At her attitude, Antonio’s eyes chilled, as if his gaze could freeze.
His anger was palpable, and he nodded curtly. “Alright, don’t blame me if you regret this!” Grace frowned, puzzled by his sudden outburst.
Antonio didn’t waste any time, taking her back to their home.
He swiftly signed the divorce papers, gathered the required documents, and they made their way to the courthouse to finalize their split. As they walked out, Grace felt a surprising wave of relief wash over her.
Their five–year marriage had seen the love she once had for Antonio dwindle away. Antonio stood there, a few paces away, seemingly expecting her to change her mind.
Instead, Grace glanced at the beaded bracelet on his wrist, hesitated for a moment, and said “Hands carry a lot of germs. Remember to clean them.”
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Antonio got it instantly, his body stiffening as he began, “I…” But Grace just left without turning back.
As he watched her leave, an unfamiliar sensation stirred in his chest. He felt an urge to call out to Grace, but his phone rang, interrupting the moment.
Kendra’s soft voice floated through the receiver. “Antonio, Omar is asking if you can take him out for a meal. Can we go
together?” Antonio wavered for a moment and then got in his
car.
He was confident that Grace would back down within a week.
Meanwhile, Grace returned to the Kaufman’s place, packed up, and cleared out everything that was connected to her. With her suitcase in hand, she boarded a plane heading overseas.