Chapter 6 Happiness
Antonio said, “Sorry. I said I wouldn’t work late, but there’s too much to do at the company.”
I cupped his face, my fingers gently rubbing the corners of his lips. “It’s okay. The company comes first. You’ve had a tough day.”
He let out a sigh of relief, but then he tensed up again because my hand had slid down his neck and was hovering near the buttons of his pajamas.
Ah, this place…
With just a little flick of my fingers, those hickeys and scratches would be exposed.
Antonio lowered his eyes, his breathing getting heavier.
Just as he let go of my waist and reached for my wrist, I lost interest in teasing him and turned around abruptly.
His hand grabbed at nothing.
“Sleep now,” I said.
Antonio’s hand went back to my waist, slowly tightening its grip.
I could feel his chest against my back as he held me closer and closer, like he wanted to melt me into him.
“Grace, I love you.”
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Chapter 6 Happiness
I hummed in response, thinking for what felt like the millionth
time…
Where did that man who would rather be pierced by shards of glass than let anything happen to me go?
Sadness came over me, and tears started rolling down my
face.
The next morning, when Antonio saw the two little ones, was pretty surprised.
“Did you bring them back?”
“Yeah. They grow up fast. Every day counts.”
I pushed the milk and sandwiches toward Antonio.
“How about we take them to school and pick them up together every day?”
Antonio agreed with a smile.
This was my last act of kindness and cruelty toward him.
Only three days left.
But in fact, he only had two days left to be with the kids.
he
In the car, the kids were excited. They chatted away t Antonio about their time with their grandparents, the story of The Little Mermaid they heard last night, and reminded him to pick them up from school with me in the afternoon.
Antonio smiled and nodded.
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When we got to the kindergarten, the kids kissed his cheek.
He squatted down, looking like the happiest man in the world.
He hooked his arm around my waist and gave me a kiss on the
cheek too.
“Thank you, honey. The best thing that ever happened to me is marrying you.”
The sunlight shone on Antonio’s face, and I felt a little sorry
for him.
“You’re welcome,” I thought. “After all, your happiness has been ticking down for a long time now, and it’s almost over.”
In the afternoon, Antonio showed up right on time at the kindergarten gate.
We picked up the kids together and then hung out with them at the nearby park.
Helena still wouldn’t quit. She even started a live stream, saying she’d dance for whoever tipped the most. She hinted that the dance could be a bit suggestive.
Antonio was furious. Without me or the kids knowing, he used a secret account to tip her over 500 thousand dollars, making himself the top tipper. Then he left a comment: “Wait till I get home, and dance for me!”
Helena giggled to her fans, saying, “This is my boyfriend. He’s possessive!”
Her fans went crazy in the comments.
“Wow, so much love!” “Your boyfriend is so sweet!” “We want
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Chapter & Happiness.
to see you dance too!”
Helena sent me a screenshot of Antonio’s comment.
She even circled the words “get home” and the username “My Beloved Helena” in bold red.
“Do you still think you’re the only one? His place with me is a home too!”
“Alright, I’ll let you off the hook today and let him catch his breath. Tomorrow is the big day, and I’ll stream it for you.”
For the first time, I replied, thinking hard about what to say: “Antonio is my husband, and I love him dearly. Please leave him alone. Name anything you want, and if I have it, I’ll give it to you!”
Helena seemed satisfied.
Another round of messages hit me, each one more brazen than the last.
“I want your spot as Antonio’s wife. Will you give it to me?”
“So what if you’re a violinist? Men are all the same–they’re all about sex. Antonio can’t live without me!”
“Grace, you should know your place and leave Antonio!”
I didn’t read the rest of Helena’s messages at the time because I was busy.
I smiled and gave Antonio a little piece of cake. “You were good today. Here’s your reward.”
Antonio took a bite and then pouted and kissed me. “I’m
Chapter 6 Happiness
always good.”
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I snapped a photo with my phone. The two kids were off in the distance, making it a perfect family of four.
I posted it on Instagram.
Caption: “The one right here is the one I love.”
Antonio smiled at my post. He saved the photo and posted it on Instagram too.
Caption: “The one I love is the one right here. My one true love.”
A few minutes later, Helena lost it.
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.