The Lies He Told Me (Grace and Antonio)

Antonio, the guy who never hid his feelings, could let loose around her.

I didn't bother to see it.

Who said first love was so special? It was just a fancy word for a silly crush.

Antonio's heart has always been set on one person: himself.

I turned around, and there was Antonio, right behind me.

He was a wreck, nowhere near the put-together guy he used to be.

His hair was all over the place, and his eyes were all red.

He was in the clothes I had picked out for him.

He rushed to Stella, giving her a slap.

"Shut up.

I won't let you come between Grace and me. I've gotten to the bottom of this. You never loved me, and you deliberately seduced me to hurt Grace.

"Back at the hostel, you weren't working hard to get by. You took off with a broke artist and split when the going got tough.

"You've been lying to me. You're the reason I lost Grace. She's the best in the world, the one who loves me the most."

Stella was in shock, covering her face.

Antonio turned to face me.

"Grace, you knew all about her. Why did you keep it from me? Why did you stand by and watch me being deceived?"

I stood there, too stunned to say anything for a beat.

"Would you even hear me out? Or would you just call me jealous? We've grown up together, and you still don't get who Stella really is?

"You're lusting after her body but not willing to take responsibility. Antonio, you're a real piece of work!"

My words must have hit home because Antonio kept a distance for a while.

Stella didn't dare to pull her usual stunts around me anymore.

I got a job at my mom's company and

slowly but surely, I was getting the swing of things.

hang out with my colleagues, grab a bite, and just chat

was peaceful, almost too good

was back in the groove, something

I got this creepy feeling

was one of those sketchy areas where the streetlights were

risk calling the cops and setting the person off,

it cool.

a dense

crying,

my money. It's all

me like he was scared

the streetlight

of light, I caught a glimpse of

a tone of

He went rigid.

look at hist face, I let him have it with a slap so hard that it

you think you're

cheeks flushed red in a

tenderly took my hand and

a finger on you. I couldn't if I tried. All I want is to bring

recoiled in disgust from his

had known him for years, and witnessed his stubbornness, the way he'd never retreat until he was

this level of fixation, this madness? I

was terrified, crying, shaking

Take my money. It's all I have," I

silent, gripping me like he was

the streetlight

light, I caught a

of disbelief, I

He went rigid.

pushed him off

strength,

at

bet

once I got a

hard that it

hand.

think you're doing? You're acting worse than a

cheeks flushed red in a

took my hand and blew on it

if I tried. All I want

disgust