Chapter 14
He loved me forever?
I stared at the drones in the sky, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Antonio strode toward me.
“Grace, what happened yesterday is all my fault.”
Under the colorful neon lights, amidst the crowd, his voice was utterly tender. “But you have to believe me. Even though Kyla was the one who saved my life, you’re the one I love. So, there’s no need for you to lie.”
I suddenly felt like crying.
Make no mistake–I wasn’t moved. It was because of what he said.
Together with my parents and Naomi, he treated me unfairly, and at the same time, he claimed he loved me. How could he be so hypocritical?
“What’s wrong?”
Noticing my silence, he pinched my cheek with his slender fingers.
“You’re so skinny, Grace. You should eat more.”
Only then did I look at him. “I was behind bars for seven years, I should feel lucky I made it. Surely, you don’t think I could gain weight, do you?”
Meeting my gaze, he trembled.
It probably only occurred to him now that he was the one who sent me to prison.
He was about to say something when the door of the Rolls–Royce Phantom opened, and a familiar voice rang out.
“Antonio, Grace, why are you still outside the car? It’s so cold out there
It was Kyla.
My heart sank even more.
Antonio explained. “Kyla insisted on coming with me. She wanna thank you for being the bigger person and saying yes to me marrying her.
“Let’s go. Grace. I’ll take you back.”
He took my hand and led me to the car.
Inside the car, as Kyla saw me get in, she glanced at my shabby clothes.
Then she said. “Grace, Mom and Dad have the accountant send you money regularly, right?
“How come Naomi said you were working in a restaurant?
“You shouldn’t do this. Those who don’t know might think Mom and Dad are biased and treat you poorly.”
Then she took off the bracelet she was wearing and handed it to me.
“Grace, if you need money and are too embarrassed to tell Mom and Dad, let me know. Mom bought this on my last birthday. It cost her 500,000 dollars. This should be enough to last you a while, right?”
500,000 dollars?
As I looked at the extravagant bracelet, I smiled self–mockingly.
A single gift of hers was worth 500.000 dollars.
When I was in high school. I went to my mom because I needed 500 dollars for tuition.
My mom said. “Money is all you ever want. Do I owe you or what? You should be grateful that I brought you to this world. Stop asking me for money all the time.”
From then on, I never asked my parents for a single cent.
As for having the accountant send me money? That never happened.
“They are biased. Look at what you’re wearing and what I’m wearing.
I patted her bracelet away. “Drop the act. I’m not fifteen anymore. I won’t fall for it.”
When I was fifteen and had just returned to my family, I wanted to be close to Kyla.
But she framed me and let me take the blame for whatever mistakes she made again and again. By the time I realized it, it was too late.
Tears streamed down Kyla’s cheeks at once.
Seeing this, Antonio immediately took her side, defending her, “Grace, Kyla meant well. It’s fine if you don’t want the bracelet. Such harsh words. are uncalled for.”
See? This was the man who claimed I was the only one he loved.
Whenever Kyla and I had a row, he always sided with her.
“Antonio, do the poor have to accept charity and be grateful for it?”
Chapter 14
I asked him word by word.
I had my pride.