The Lies He Told Me (Grace and Antonio)

Chapter 7 Crazy

Helena stopped texting and started calling Antonio's phone

non-stop.

Antonio's phone vibrated like crazy.

The two little ones were vying for attention, lining up to wait for Antonio to give them kisses, hugs, and lift them high up.

Antonio bit back his anger, put the kids down, and stepped aside to take the call.

He was fuming. At first, he shouted so loud that I could hear some of what he said, "Calm down! Know your place! Don't cross the line!"

But as the call went on, his voice dropped to a whisper, and his lips softened into

a gentle curve as he began to coax and calm Helena.

I stood not far away, holding the kids by their hands.

It reminded me of many years ago when he talked to me so patiently and lovingly.

"Mommy, is Daddy going away again?"

"Mommy, does Daddy not want us anymore?"

The word "again" made me realize that kids could be as aware as adults, sometimes even more so. They might notice things before I did.

Chapter 7 Crazy

Looking at their worried and sad faces, I squatted down and hugged them, my nose stinging.

"Your daddy is busy with work. He doesn't want to leave you," I said with a forced smile. "If he has to go later, don't cry or make a fuss, okay? I will stay with you."

At that moment, I felt a lot of emotions.

The kids would not have their daddy around anymore in the years to come.

"Who says I'm leaving?"

Antonio's black shoes showed up right in front of us.

I looked up at him.

him, and

My eyes got watery.

a look of shock

one knee in panic and

shook my head and said there was some sand in my eyes. Still kneeling, he smiled and blew the "sand" out of my

know what Antonio figured out, but I did

stay.

saw him text

turn off his phone.

Chapter 7 Crazy

saw the messages Helena sent me, one after another, all full of

You couldn't keep Antonio yourself,

used the kids!"

might keep him with you for now, but do you really

wait. Once he gets to the company tomorrow, I've got many ways

respond to

her,

I first

her mind,

1. it.

didn't lose it, how was I supposed to stab him with

he loved

with a loving and indulgent

few times but stopped

only

live a good life together from now

held me tight for

middle of the night, Antonio got up,

her it was over between

hadn't fallen asleep and heard

with Helena was a mistake, but it

when he saw me cry, it felt like the whole world was falling

said he had a feeling that if they kept messing around, he would lose me for sure. He couldn't bear to lose me, so he

night, I

with the fake-death plan, but

kids told us to pick them up in the afternoon, and

got out, he didn't

sent me a WhatsApp message with a short

taken in Antonio's office. Helena was wearing my dress. Her