Chapter 10
Teaching at
it the rural school brought me j joy. The innocent children would compliment my beauty and praise my dedicated
teaching.
Everyone called me their Lucky Star. After my arrival, a philanthropist sponsored the school, demolishing and rebuilding
the dilapidated building, replacing all the desks, transforming it into something resembling an elite private school.
He wouldn’t reveal his name, but I knew it was Alexander Pierce.
Online, I would often see him giving speeches about charity and public welfare.
One day, I received a text message: “Grace, the truth is Ethan Pierce loves you, though he probably hasn’t realized it
himself. His bank card and safe passwords are all set to your birthday. And there’s something else – Ethan has developed
stomach cancer from years of alcoholism. He wants to see you one last time.”
When I saw Ethan, disease had ravaged him to skin and bones, making him almost unrecognizable
Sophia Reed was taking care of him. She told me, “Mr. Piorco didn’t send me here. Ethan hates me. I’m trying to atone.”
“Your name is all he mentions.”
I asked Sophia, “You and Alexander..”
Sophia, having lost her previous arrogance, spoke softly: “He saved my parents. I owe him.”
I didn’t probe further, placing a bouquet of flowers beside Ethan’s hospital bed.
Ethan, who had been drowsy, gradually became alert. He looked at me in disbelief: “Grace, is it really you?”
His hair had fallen out from chemotherapy. I gently placed a hat on his head and said softly, “Yes, it’s me.”
Ethan’s eyes immediately welled up with tears, his voice breaking: “Have you forgiven me?”
People are vulnerable in the face of mortality.
After so many years, what’s the point of holding onto hotrod and grudges?
I nodded, and Ethan broke into a ralioved smile.
After leaving the hospital, I bought two bouquets and went to the cemetery.
To my surprise, I found flowers already placed at my parents grave. Ethan was too sick to leave his bed.
As I wondered who it could be, a familiar voice called out: “Grace.”
I turned toward the voice and saw Alexander Pierce walking toward me, holding two bouquets.
“Do you remember me?”
Seeing my blank expression, Alexander pulled
ut a chocolate wrapper from his pocket.
“You gave this to me. I’ve kept it for ten years.”
Suddenly, my thoughts returned to high school, when I’d encountered a young man crying like a child at his parents‘
grave while visiting my own parents.
Out of compassion, I’d given him my only chocolate and promised to bring flowers to his parents‘ grave whenever I visited.
“It was you?” I exclaimed in surprise,
Alexander looked down with a smile: “Yes, it was.”
“I’m not really a Piorco son- I was adopted from an orphanage. When my brother showed no ambition, the old man focused on grooming me. But when I found my birth parents at eighteen, to keep me focused, he…”
“If Ethan had truly loved you, I wouldn’t have taken Pierce Industries. But he hurt you, and I secretly vowed to win you
Finally, I understood why Alexander had started his own business, why he had taken over Pierce Industries.
The man before me continued: “During the years you were gone, no matter how busy I was, I brought flowers to your parents, paying respects on your behalf.”
Tm planning to sell the company and take the money to live in the countryside with you.”
Alexander reached out his hand, looking at me with deep affection: “Would you like that?”
In the sunlight, the image of him reaching out seemed to overlap with the silhouette of the young man I’d given chocolate to ton years ago.
This Alexander Pierce wasn’t the stern, expressionless man anymore. He’d removed his mask of pratense, showing his true self to me.
My actions saying clearly: “Yes, I would.”
Smiling. I reached out and took the hand of the man from ten yea
years ago.
Sunlight filtered through thin clouds, creating dappled shadows under the plane trees – an eternal ripple effect, silent yet
profound.
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Time will not let down my love
Miral
“Stop Heceded coldly Stephanie was shocked. She turned around to look at him
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