---- Chapter 71 His words were like needles to my heart. Clutching my chest, | realized that Antonio wasn't worth my love. He never truly trusted me, choosing to believe someone who should never have had his ear. Celia gave me a smug look, then clung to Antonios sleeve pitifully. "| took some of Dad's attention. It's fine if Grace hates me for it. What others think doesn't matter, as long as you understand me, Antonio." She ended with a sweet smile, and Antonio's eyes softened.

He playfully tapped her nose and helped her up. ---- gradually restored his health. If he hadn't been so set on marrying me, he probably would've begged my mother to be his godmother. When Antonio found out she had died alone in a foreign country, he cried even harder than | did. I'd never forget how he glared at Celia and her mother with pure hatred at my mother's funeral. But now, less than ten years later, Antonio told me it was just drama between parents.

| thought I'd lash out at him in anger, but after all that letdown, | felt a strange calm. "Do what you want. We're done,' | said. Antonio froze for a moment, then gave me a familiar smile. "Don't say that. I'll be with Celia for her last days, and come back to you ---- afterward." With that, he ignored the protests of my friends and walked away with Celia. | stood there, watching them leave, and suddenly remembered his confession on my 18th birthday.

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Antonio handed me a big bouquet of red roses, his face flushed. "Sure, roses are a little cliche, but my love isn't. Grace, I'll never marry anyone but you," he said with a serious tone. It almost felt like a proposal. | never doubted Antonio's feelings for me. | truly believed we would always be together. So | didn't notice his growing attention to Celia back then.

---- Back home, | changed out of my wedding dress when my assistant sent me the results of an investigation into Celia's supposed illness. "Ms. Parrish, Celia did visit the hospital recently, but it was for a stomach issue, not cancer. Also, she and Mr. Rosario registered their marriage two weeks ago,' the assistant said. | let out a cold laugh. Two weeks ago, | had been busy preparing to propose to Antonio. And Celia had already planned to crash it with that marriage certificate.

My mother's last words rang in my mind, "Don't let the past hatred hold you back. Antonio is a good man; build a beautiful future with him." But reality crushed that wish. "Mom, | wanted to ---- follow your last wish, but | can't. Celia and | aren't family anymore."