The Lies He Told Me (Grace and Antonio)

Antonio was distracted throughout the anniversary celebration. He kept

regretting that he hadn't comforted Grace last night. In the afternoon, he came to the school to pick up Grace. Laney told him Grace was working overtime. However, by the time all the teachers had left, there was still no sign of Grace.

"Excuse me, has the English teacher, Grace Parrish, already left?"

When the last teacher walked out, Antonio hurriedly approached and asked.

The teacher thought for a moment and replied, "You mean Ms. Parrish? She resigned yesterday."

Antonio couldn't believe what he'd heard and asked again but received the same answer. Why would she resign suddenly? He called Grace, but the call wouldn't go through. He felt parched, unable to even spe "Laney, is your sister-in-law at home?"

Laney took a moment to process and then realized her brother was asking about Grace.

"You're not married to her. She's not my sister-in-law."

Grace

anger came through the phone, making Laney

"She's not home."

a while. She had no family, so where could she possibly go? Antonio kicked the tire of his car in Grace had

years. Antonio felt guilty to her, and now,

chance to

get home

already asleep. He immediately spotted the keys Grace had left on the table. Without even taking off his shoes, he rushed to her room and pushed open the door. It was pitch dark inside. Antonio fumbled for the fight switch, hoping that when the light came on, he would see Grace lying in bed. But the bed was perfectly made, and the room

fell on the ring on the bedside table. It was the one Antonio had put

than gratitude toward Grace, but why did his heart ache when he found out she

the last sliver of

there was nothing left inside. Grace had vanished without

to

l.ne

asked him to marry her, saying she would take care of his ailing mother and look after his younger sister. Now, when