Word of my failed proposal quickly reached both families.


    "The Parrish family''s


    eldest daughter fails proposal and gets dumped" started trending locally.


    Celia put on a fake show of tears, and Melvin, my father, med me.


    "Celia''s very sick. How could you put her through this savage act online? She''s your sister. Fix it. Now!"


    I shook my head with a sneer and refused. He stormed over and pped me hard across the face.


    It had always been this way. Since Celia was born, Melvin never took my side again.


    After her mother''s death a few years ago, he poured even more love into Celia.


    In the past. Antonio always had my back, but now even he sided with her


    too.


    Melvin''s endless rant filled the air, but I just looked at the rain outside, staying silent.


    Finally, J, Antonio''s mother, showed up to save me, with a bruised and battered Antonio trailing behind her.


    "Grace," Antonio said, annoyed at my cold gaze, "don''t think my mom can always save you."


    J frowned and smacked Antonio again. "Apologize to Grace!"


    Antonio looked at me and muttered, "Sorry"


    J, using her close friendship with my mother, scolded Melvin.


    Then, she held my hands, her expression softened. "Grace, can we talk for


    a moment?"


    I sighed softly and led her to my bedroom.


    As soon as the door closed, tears came to her eyes.


    "Grace, I understand you. You''re just like your mom. Once you make up your mind, you never look back. It''s Antonio''s loss," she whispered.


    After a short pause, she added, “I''m


    not gonna ask you to forgive my- son. But if there''s anything I can do to help, just say the word. I''ll always have your back."


    Her words warmed my heart.


    After thinking for a moment, I said, "J, let Antonio make Celia''s ''dying wish''e true."


    She looked surprised, then smiled faintly.


    "If that''s what you want, Grace, then so be it. It'' the answer to his choices. He''ll regret this."


    time for Antonio to face


    We smiled at each other, silently letting the topic slip off and never mentioning Antonio again.


    With approval from both families, Antonio started preparing for the wedding.


    He refused to break up with me. His texts came daily-


    words of love and pleas for patience.


    I never responded, letting him y the fake lover.


    Celia, on the other hand, kept sending photos to provoke me.


    Thanks to her, I saw pictures of


    Antonio flying abroad for customet


    wedding rings, a super expensive dress, a fancy venue, and luxurious decorations.


    Even a picture of him carefully trimming her toenails.


    Celia texted, "Antonio is such a sweetheart. No wonder you couldn''t resist proposing to him!"


    By now, it


    was crystal clear to


    me-his excuse of not bet


    was just a lie to k


    me calm.


    If he loved someone, he''d marry her without hesitation.


    Celia casily imed the grand wedding Antonio once promised me, along with every bit of affection.


    As I distanced myself from the mess, I decided to dig deeper into his betrayal.


    After Celia''s mother entered our lives, my mom had me save the house''s surveince footage regrly. "Now, I sat alone at myputer, watching scene after scene of Celia shamelessly pursuing Antonio."