The Lies He Told Me (Grace and Antonio)

Chapter 257

The suddenness of my attack on Gina froze the room.

A beat later, they surged forward, pulling me away just as Gina's head was about to smash into the wall.

I landed hard, cheek scraping against the icy tiles.

Their earlier disdain morphed into gleeful violence.

"Damn it. Gina said she'd say sorry, why'd you hit her?" someone snarled, yanking my hair.

"Feral thing, no upbringing."

All eyes turned to Antonio.

He wouldn't fail them.

He approached, his eyes glacial, sending a shiver down my spine.

Before I could react, his kick slammed into my stomach.

Pain exploded, doubling me over, my face paling. I gritted my teeth, refusing to cry out.

He looked down, his voice as cold as

his gaze. "Don't flatter yourself You're nothing.

"You and your brother are just pets."

The sneer was familiar. I used to cower, apologize, and beg for his mercy.

was the man I'd loved for five

a difficult past leaving me

been my lifeline then, the one who'd stood

believing I'd found someone

learning to cook his favorite foods, absorbing everything about

and I, orphans raised by the

heir. Our relationship was a

in the stairwell

but his introduction to his

return revealed

He'd

but they'd split. He'd used me to provoke Gina, parading me before his friends, their public displays of

I was just a clingy

us was

all knew about

and Antonio were the real

fool,

prince-and-pauper fairytale gone

floor, despair consumed me. Finally, I

with you, and so is my brother.

flicker of unease

quickly replaced by coldness. "Fine, but you hurt Gina, insulted my friends,

was my

wincied, clutching her head, watching

the

He grabbed my wrist. "Last

a smirk playing on my