Chapter 2 Provocation
Just as Grace was opening the ride–hailing app, Antonio grabbed her phone and turned off the screen.
“Why are you hailing a taxi this late? Come back with us,” he said.
Then he handed the phone back to Grace. Zelma nodded and chimed in, “Grace, why don’t you come back with us?”
Grace was never good at arguing with Antonio, so she followed them into the car.
She glanced at the front passenger seat, the spot that had been hers for thirteen years, now taken by another woman- Antonio’s official fiancée.
In the rearview mirror, she saw Antonio’s deep eyes. When he looked at Zelma, his eyes softened, like ice melting on a glacier. It was a look Antonio had never given her, not ever.
Not wanting to see them being lovey–dovey, Grace turned her head and looked out at the snow swirling all around outside.
“This doll is kind of old. I just bought a new one,” Zelma suddenly spoke up.
It was a little lion plush toy that Grace and Antonio had won together. She happened to be a Leo, so Antonio had kept it in his car ever since.
“Since it’s your star sign, I’ll keep it in the car. It can bring me some good luck,” Antonio had said back then.
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Chapter 2 Provocation
Grace felt a little tug in her heart and was about to say something, but Antonio spoke up first.
“Let’s use the new one you bought.”
It made sense. Antonio probably forgot about the toy; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let it stay in his car.
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It was a reminder of the good times they had shared. Antonio didn’t seem to care much about it, but Grace wanted it back.
In the underground garage, the three got out of the car.
“Antonio, that’s my thing. Can you give it back to me?” Grace pointed at the lion toy.
Antonio’s face turned bad. He looked like he was trying to hold back his anger. Finally, he burst out, “When did you put that in my car?! Grace, don’t you know I hate these fuzzy things the most?”
Seeing he was mad, Grace quickly said, “You were the one who put it there, not me…”
The air between them got weird. Antonio reached over, grabbed the toy, and tossed it at Grace.
He then took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands carefully, like he had touched something gross.
“Do you really think anyone would believe you?” Antonio frowned and shot back at Grace.
Yeah, ever since that kiss got stopped by him, everything she did seemed shady to him.
But back in the day, Antonio trusted her the most. No matter
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Chapter 2 Provocation
what she said, he would believe her without any hesitation.
When she was a kid and got framed by her classmates for stealing money, Antonio left an important company meeting. to come to the school. He checked the surveillance, cleared her name, and even made the real culprit apologize to her in front of everyone.
“Antonio, you’re the only one who would believe me and help me find the truth,” Grace cried, holding onto his hand.
Antonio gently patted her head and comforted her softly, “I’ll believe anything you say. Remember, I’ve got your back, no matter what.”
Now, Grace didn’t have much to argue back. After all, she was the one who crossed the line that time, not Antonio.
The toy looked kind of worn out, with even a seam that needed to be sewn up.
“Come on, act like an uncle. Don’t be so picky with your niece,” Zelma chimed in, her tone a touch provocative. Her feelings were laid bare for all to see, but Antonio chose to let it slide.
He finally looked a bit happier. He pulled the gentle woman into his arms and whispered, “If only she could be as smart as you.”
After he said that, he slid his right hand down Zelma’s lower back, and she, playing along, wrapped her arms around his neck. The two started kissing right in front of Grace.
Grace turned pale, and she was left stunned and at a loss. The kind and gentle Antonio she remembered seemed to have
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disappeared completely. She felt a pain in her heart that made it hard to breathe.
Why was this happening? She couldn’t figure it out. The only thing she could think of was to acknowledge her family roots, to finally put Antonio at ease and stop him from avoiding her like this.
Watching the couple kissing right in front of her, she couldn’t help but think back to the kiss when she had confessed her feelings and got turned down. It was only then that she realized what a genuine response from Antonio looked like.
After a while, Antonio loosened his tie and looked at Grace with displeasure. “What, do you want to watch the whole thing?”
Chapter 1 The Tom To
Chapter 3 The Torn Toy
