Golden Boy

Chapter 7 - Difficult decisions

Grace's POV

I breathed in deeply and grabbed my phone. I called my father.

"Hi, angel. How are you?" He asked, smiling.

"Fine, Dad. You?" I said, biting my lower lip.

He breathed deeply and said. "Fine, Grace."

"... Umm.... Dad, is everything okay in the store?" I asked.

".... Did you talk to your mother?" He asked, puzzled.

"No. What happened?" I asked anxiously.

He sighed and said. "Someone broke the windows of the store last night."

"What?!" I exclaimed in shock.

"Yes, but they didn't steal anything. It is strange." He commented.

Victor!

I ran my hand through my hair angrily, closing my eyes.

"But..." He stopped without finishing his sentence.

"Dad?"

"A week ago, a lawyer came to the store and wanted to buy it, but I refused. However, he insisted and told me he was giving me some time to think. After his visit, strange things started happening in the store. Two guys argued in the store three days ago. They almost scattered everything. And last night the windows. I don't know maybe, it is coincidence, but...." He sighed.

I bit my lower lip, looking through the window.

"Let's not talk about it anymore. How is your university going?" He asked.

"Fine, Dad." I replied, but my mind was still in the store. I needed to do something. Victor Carter would not stop.

My father had some problems in his heart. He had a heart attack last year. After it, my mother and I tried not to get him upset or make him angry. The doctor told us that he had to stay away from stress. But if Victor Carter did what he had told me, my father's condition would get worse.

What will you do, Grace?! Nothing. You have the only way. But... how will I do it to Ethan... to us? Can I live without seeing Ethan? Especially, when I love him so much.

I placed my hand on my stomach and rubbed it gently.

"What will Mommy do? Huh?" I asked sadly, looking at my stomach. "Will you give Mommy strength to bear this?" I stroked my stomach. I breathed deeply.

I woke up and rubbed my eyes. The sun was shining through the window, lightning the room. I looked through the window, still laying on the bed. I didn't want to get up. I felt depressed.

Get up, Grace. As much as you will try to delay it, in the end, you have to do it.

I breathed deeply and got up. I went to the bathroom. After taking a shower, I put on a white blouse and blue denim jeans.

I packed my suitcase. I booked a ticket to Rome last night. But before going to Rome, I had to go university to suspend my studies.

I grabbed my phone and called my mother.

"Dear, are you fine? Your voice is sad." My mother asked, worried.

"Yeah... Mom... I am going to Rome today. I will stay there for awhile." I informed.

"What? Why? But your university?" She asked.

"I will suspend my studies." I replied.

"And Ethan? Are you going with him?" She asked, confused.

I pursed my lips together, trying to hold my tears. "No, Mom... Umm... We broke up." I murmured as tears ran down my cheeks.

"Why?" She asked, concerned.

"It had to be this way..." I mumbled. "Mom, I don't want to talk about it now. Umm... And if Ethan asks you where I am, don't tell him anything." I said.

"Grace..." She sighed.

"Mom, please... Promise me." I pleaded. My voice was cracking.

"Grace... Dear, what did he do?" She asked, worried.

I sat down on the couch as I felt dizzy. Tears were running down my cheeks non-stop. I placed my hand on my stomach.

"Nothing, Mom. Just we are different from each other...." I mumbled. "Mom, promise me."

She breathed in deeply. "Ok, dear. But call me when you arrive there. And keep me informed about your well-being." She said in worry.

"Ok, Mom. I love you and Dad." I mumbled and wiped my tears off my cheeks with the back of my hand.

"I love you too, dear."

I hung up and threw my phone onto the couch. I held my head between my hands as I started crying hysterically.

I wiped my tears off my cheeks and stood up. I grabbed a pen and some paper. I started writing a letter to Ethan.

As I finished the letter, I put it into an envelope and wiped my tears off my cheeks. I put the envelope into my bag. I grabbed my stuff and left.

I went to Ethan's penthouse. He was in the company at this time.

I breathed deeply and walked in. I pulled the envelope out of my bag and placed it on the table. I looked around one more time while tears were running down my cheeks. I breathed deeply and left.

I got in the taxi. I leaned back and slid the window down as I felt nauseated. I placed my hand on my stomach and rubbed it gently while crying.

"Give Mommy strength, my little one." I murmured, sobbing.

Ethan's POV

As the meeting ended, I grabbed my file and left the conference room. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called Grace. Her phone was turned off. I had called her before the meeting too, but it was turned off. I got worried. She never turned off her phone for more than an hour.

I went to my office. After putting my file on my desk, I called Ruby.

She told me that she couldn't reach Grace, and she was worried too.

After hanging up, I grabbed my key and left. I decided to go to Grace's apartment.

I opened the door and walked in.

"Grace? Are you here?" I shouted as I searched for her. But she wasn't in the apartment.

"Where are you, Grace?" I mumbled as I ran my hand through my hair, worried.

After I went to my penthouse; maybe, she was there.

"Grace?" I shouted as soon as I walked into my penthouse.

She wasn't here either.

Damn it! Where are you, Grace?

I ran my hand through my hair, depressed.

Suddenly, I saw an envelope on the table. I walked towards the table. There was my name written on the envelope. It was Grace's handwriting. I gulped nervously and grabbed it.

Ethan,

You are really dear to me. You are one of the most important people in my life. And nothing will change it. But I understood that I don't love you as a boyfriend anymore. I am sorry.

I am leaving the country today. It will be good for both of us if we don't see each other for awhile.

Goodbye. Grace.

I gritted my teeth and crumpled the letter in my hand. I threw it away and pushed everything off the table, making it scattered across the floor.