Chapter 19 The IV drip intensified my dizziness . I stumbled , barely catching myself . Antonio hadnt returned , not a single call or text . Five hours passed . Reluctantly , I dialed his number . He sounded surprised I was still at the hospital . Grace , Im so sorry . I meant to come back after taking Alicia home , but she had stomach cramps … A womans voice interrupted . Sir , your order is served . Enjoy your dinner ! Antonio covered the phone , but I still heard Alicia . Antonio , you should go back . Disappointment washed over me again . Antonio piped up , Grace , go home . Ill explain later . What was there to explain ? Another lie , mostly likely . I hung up , asked the nurse to discharge me , and went home alone . Antonio didnt appear all night . Kept awake by fireworks , I worked on a custom jewelry design for a client . Then , a Facebook notification flashed . Alicia had posted a photo of herself under the fireworks , captioned , I know you still love me . Logging out , I realized Id been logged into Antonios account . Feeling suffocated , I burrowed under the covers and forced myself to sleep . The next day , I went to work and handed in my resignation . My manager , aware of my impending marriage and return home , expressed both happiness and regret . Youve been fantastic here . But I wish you all the best , she said . Speechless , I hugged her and whispered my thanks for her support . Word spread among my colleagues and they insisted on a farewell dinner . I booked a room at our usual restaurant with Antonnio mostly out of habit and convenience . During the meal , I ran into Alicia in the restroom . She smiled warmly . Antonio recommended this place , right ? The grilled salmon is their signature dish . You have to try it . I smiled back , ready to leave . We werent on friendly terms . But she stopped me . Ive noticed Antonio always rinses the shrimp he peels for you . Are you Chapter19 sensitive to spice , too ? The word too struck me . I could handle spice , but Antonio always rinsed the shrimp , claiming spicy food wasnt good for women . Id assumed it was concern for my health . Now , it seemed like a ingrained habit , a habit formed for Alicia , the one who truly couldnt tolerate spice .