Chapter
check in on now and then.
He got that she wanted to be his wife, but in his eyes, only Livia had what it took to stand next to him.
He’d been holding onto that for years, but hearing that Livia was jetting off again made him waver.
Since they first met when he was just seven, he’d been waiting for Livia for nineteen years.
He figured all this time he’d win her over, but she just thought of him as her best friend.
For an ex–boyfriend who was just plain in every way, Livia ditched him again.
Antonio was worn out.
When she hung up on him, he was utterly disappointed, deciding to let her go and to free himself as well.
Once he made up his mind, he was cooler and surer than he thought he’d bc.
No drama or tears. He just slept it off and when he woke up, he was over her.
The drinking that came after was just to chase away the lonely feelings.
Yeah, he felt lonely. Even a big shot like him, who could get whatever he wanted in Cruxfield, wasn’t immune to those feelings.
Being on top, Antonio knew better than anyone that everyone was just out for benefit.
Lots of people were always around him, but he knew they just wanted his money and power.
There weren’t many he could trust, but Grace was one of those few.
She liked him for who he was, not because he was CEO of the Kaufman Group
That was why he kept her close, not for anything big, just so he wouldn’t be alone when he felt lonely.
But when that hope faded, all he had was the bottle to keep him company.
After Quinten’s talk, it hit him that Grace really did mean something to him.
Out of everyone, he’d rather have Grace stick around.
Once he was sure about it, he told Morton to text Grace and ask her out.
A day went by, but there was no response from Grace.
Fed up. Antonio tried calling her straight up, but it went unanswered. In the end, his number was blocked.
Antonio was steaming, but what could he do?
When Daisy came by with dinner, he spotted her, waved, and his mind drifted back to the call he’d made before heading to the hospital.
Chapter 108
The next day, Devin and Grace headed to his parents‘ place.
They met at the toast yesterday, but with everyone around, they didn’t have a chance to chat.
The family get–together was buzzing today, and his parents were all over Grace, chatting away.
With Devin there, she felt right at home, the nerves just melting away.
After a decade with the Kaufman family, Grace was no stranger to fancy events. She was a pro at navigating social situations and had Devin’s parents laughing non–stop.
By the time they said goodbye, Devin’s mother, Madison Hester, was reluctant to part with Grace, inviting her back soon.
Grace promised to visit, told them to take care, and then they hit the road.
On the drive back, Devin was driving, curious how she was feeling.
With the window down, she soaked in the evening breeze, feeling totally chill for the first time that day.
“It was great. We had a nice chat and the food was delicious. The only bummer is that it went by too fast, and I’m a bit sad to say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Hudson.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Hudson?” Devin echoed, puzzled.
Grace caught herself, quickly fixing her slip. “I mean, Madison and Leon. I really, hit it off with them. Can we swing by more often?”
Chapter 100
Devin’s eyes crinkled up in a smile. “As long as you’re happy, that’s all that counts. They adore you, just like I said.”
Grace let out a hearty chuckle, about to say more when her phone cut in.
She almost hung up, thinking it was Antonio, but then she saw it was Daisy and answered.
“Grace, Zander told me that you moved because of a wedding. Why do you keep it a secret? I got you a gift. Are you free tomorrow to hang out?”
At the Kaufinan’s home, Daisy was one of the few friends Grace had. She was fond of Daisy, who was only in her early twenties. Without a second thought, she agreed to have a meal with Daisy the next day.
After they settled on a spot, she filled Devin in.
Devin was cool with it. He asked for the details and offered to drive her
there.
Grace felt a bit awkward about it and tried to say no.
But at a red light, Devin turned to her with a shrug. “Don’t worry about bothering me. We just got hitched, and I’m on a break. What else am I supposed to do? Plus, once you’re done with dinner tomorrow, I thought we could go on a date and get to know each other better.”
That put Grace at ease.
They chatted about their plans, and by the time they pulled into their place, it was 9 p.m.
Grace took a shower and then chilled with a book for a while before heading to bed when Devin walked in.
The room went dark, with just the bedside lamp casting a soft light.
They lay there, chatting up again.
Chapter 109
Devin shared some hilarious stories from his childhood that had her laughing her head off.
She was laughing so hard she had to hold her stomach and wave for him. to stop.
He took her hand, tucked it under the covers, and whispered a good night.
The room went quict.
With the sound of his steady breathing and the warmth of his touch, Grace felt her heart settle.
Remembering the day’s fun and seeing the peaceful face next to her, she felt at home in a way she hadn’t for ages.
It had been three years since her mom passed away, and now, in this new home, Grace felt that long–lost feeling of security again.
