Chapter51
“Kendra is the best person in the world! If it hadn’t been for you, I would have been her kid!” Grace met Omar’s gaze. Since he believed Kendra should be his mom, Grace decided to step aside. That afternoon, a lawyer brought the divorce papers.
Grace then threw herself into reclaiming her properties and preparing for the divorce. But that night, she got a call from Victor Conner, the hospital director.
“A massive 7.0 earthquake hit Cloudview Town, with over 200 casualties. We’re sending a rescue team. Are you in?” asked Victor.
“I am,” Grace replied without a beat. As a doctor, saving lives was her calling.
Victor let out a sigh of relief. “We’ll depart at dawn. Be ready.” Grace murmured her agreement.
She hung up, got up, and left the room.
She needed to talk to Antonio about the divorce before she left, so she could head straight to the courthouse upon her return. The hallway was dark, with a sliver of light from Antonio’s office.
Why was Antonio still at work so late?
Antonio had forbidden Grace from entering his office:
She had always respected that, never bugging him at work. But then, Grace heard moaning from his office. “Antonio, slow
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down. I can’t take it.”
Grace’s heart pounded as she swung the door open to find Kendra, in a white dress, straddling Antonio, her face flushed.
The door thudded against the wall.
Antonio’s hands on Kendra’s waist trembled, his eyes still hazy with desire, which turned to shock and panic at the sight of Grace.
Kendra yelped, jumping up in a flurry.
Her sudden move caused the beaded bracelet, glistening with moisture, to tumble out from under her skirt! Grace’s stomach churned at the sight.
She never thought Antonio, so pious, would make out with Kendra in her off–limits office.
Suppressing her nausea, she forced out, “My bad. Carry on.”
“Dad, Kendra, what’s going on?”
As Grace turned, she saw Omar, who had appeared in the doorway, rubbing his eyes in confusion.
She paused, realizing how inappropriate it was for a little kid to witness that kind of thing. She was just about to tell him to leave when Omar caught sight of her. His face instantly twisted into a look of disgust.
He ran to Kendra, pleading, “Kendra, can you tell me a story?”
As he spoke, he threw a disdainful look at Grace.
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Kendra smiled at him, “Sure, Omar. Go to bed. Your dad and I will finish up here and then I’ll come to tell you a story, okay?”
Grace got the message and walked away without a backward glance. The next day at the crack of dawn, she was on a bus to Cloudview Town.
During the ride, she texted Antonio: “Heading to Cloudview Town for the rescue. Divorce papers are on your desk, signed. Make sure you sign too.” She powered off her phone. The whole thing just made her feel sick.
Cloudview Town was a mess after the quake, with countless injuries and a death toll that kept rising. Grace and her team dived straight into the rescue efforts, barely looking up as the hours flew by.
As dusk settled in, she suddenly heard a familiar, young voice. “Dad, Kendra, this place is so horrible.”
Grace froze and spun around.
She was surprised to see Antonio with Omar in one arm and shielding Kendra with the other, all three of them at the relief site. They must have come along to keep Kendra company.
Grace gave them a quick once–over and then went back to her work. But Kendra wasn’t having it, calling out, “Grace!”
In the next second, they made their way over.
Antonio’s look as dark and fierce as a storm cloud.
Grace shot them a glance, her attention briefly landing on Omar’s face. “Why do you bring Omar here? It’s dangerous
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here.”
Grace was through with Antonio and Kendra’s drama. She was out.
Yet, Grace couldn’t just stand by and watch a kid be brought into the relief site, no matter whose child it was. She’d speak up.
Antonio seemed to get her wrong. “Omar’s got his own mind. Even if you’re his mom, you can’t push him around.”
Omar snorted, “Don’t flatter yourself. Dad and I are here to help Kendra with the rescue. I’m not leaving!”
Kendra chimed in, trying to ease the tension, “Grace, Antonio and Omar will stay clear of the danger zone. They’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” Grace looked at them, nodded, and managed to say, “Alright.”
As she turned to go, a frantic shout cut through the air. “Dr. Parrish, Dr. Jermyn, we need you now!”
Grace’s heart raced, and she quickly walked away, not sparing them another glance. The light drizzle made the rescue efforts move at a snail’s pace.
Grace saw Kendra on the side, looking way too at ease. Before she could get Kendra to act together, a warning cry cut through the air. “Aftershocks are coming! Run!”
The ground started shaking violently again, cracks appearing in the walls. Panic spread as everyone scrambled to get away. Before Grace could react, she was buried under the rubble along with Kendra!
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Chapter52
