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.

shining from behind him, and it

My eyes got watery.

a look of shock and worry

knelt on one knee in panic and asked, "Grace, what's wrong?

eyes. Still kneeling, he smiled and blew the "sand" out of

know what Antonio figured out, but I did get

stay.

"stay" because I saw him text Helena: "I'm

turn off his phone.

Chapter 7 Crazy

me, one after another,

shameless! You couldn't keep Antonio yourself, so

used the kids!"

with you for now, but do you really think they can keep him for

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

respond

more I ignored her, the

first had

didn't lose her mind, Antonio wouldn't

1. it.

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

family evening. Antonio kept saying how much he loved me and the kids and how he wanted to give us the best of

him with a

tried to say something a few times but stopped himself. He looked guilty and

only love

a good life

held me tight for a long

middle of the night, Antonio got up, went

her it was

asleep and

mistake, but it

me cry, it felt like the

kept messing around, he would lose me for sure.

night, I admitted I

the fake-death plan, but soon, someone else made the

took the kids to kindergarten. The kids told us to pick them

kindergarten got out,

sent me

dress. Her face was all red, and she was sweating