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.

the man I'd loved

a difficult past

had been my lifeline then, the one who'd stood

believing I'd found someone who'd

obsessed, learning to cook his

worlds were irreconcilable. My brother and I, orphans

their sole heir. Our relationship was a fantasy I never

in the stairwell had felt like a

but his introduction to

return revealed

He'd

family for her, but they'd split. He'd used me to provoke Gina, parading me before

I was

chasm between us was vast,

all knew

Antonio were the

a fool,

prince-and-pauper fairytale gone horribly

floor, despair consumed me. Finally, I found

done with you, and so

flicker of

hurt Gina, insulted my friends, and ruined our party. I want you on your knees,

silence was my

her

the scratch I'd

He grabbed

gaze, a smirk playing on