The suddenness of my attack on Gina froze the room.


    A beatter, they surged forward, pulling me away just as Gina''s head was about to smash into the wall.


    Inded 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 cial, sending a shiver down my spine.


    Before I could react, his kick mmed 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 tter 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.


    This was the man I''d loved for five years.


    I''d joined hispany after college, my insecurity from a difficult past leaving me vulnerable to my colleagues'' maniptions. They''d made me a scapegoat.


    Antonio had been my lifeline then, the one who''d stood by me.


    My heart had soared, believing I''d found someone who''d face the world. with me.


    I''d be obsessed, learning to cook his favorite foods, absorbing everything about him.


    But our worlds were irreconcble. My brother and I, orphans raised by the Kaufman family''s charity;


    Antonio, their sole heir. Our rtionship was a fantasy I never dared to dream.


    His proposal in the stairwell had felt like a miracle.


    We kept our office romance secret, but his introduction to his had falsely convinced me he was serious.


    Gina''s return revealed their history.


    He''d


    defied his family for her, but they''d split. He''d used me to provoke Gina, parading me before his friends, their public disys of affection with Gina a cruel performance.


    To them, I was just a clingy nobody.


    The chasm between us was vast, fueling their contempt.


    They all knew about Gina.


    She and Antonio were the real couple.


    I was a fool, oblivious to their mockery.


    A prince-and-pauper fairytale gone horribly wrong.


    Sprawled on the cold floor, despair consumed me. Finally, I found my J voice.


    "I''m done with you, and so is my brother. We''re through."


    A flicker of unease crossed


    Antonio''s face, quickly reced by coldness. "Fine, but you hurt Gina, insulted my friends, and ruined our party. I want you on your knees, apologizing to everyone."


    My silence was my answer.


    Gina wincied, clutching her head, watching our confrontation.


    I saw the scratch I''d inflicted.


    Antonio''s rage intensified. He grabbed my wrist. "Last chance. Kneel?"


    I met his gaze, a smirk ying on my lips.


    My defiance fueled him.


    "You''re stubborn," he grumbled, nodding to his friends.


    They attacked.


    Meanwhile, Antonio held Gina close, gently dabbing at the minor scratch.


    Every blow shattered my ribs.


    But could it surpass the agony of losing my brother?


    Finally, they stoppped.


    Antonio looked down, his contempt palpable.


    "Do you get it? Apologize."


    I managed a twisted smile.


    "I get it. My biggest mistake was you. You asshole."


    His face darkened. "Always challenging me. See how you manage without my help. blind brother and leave."


    your


    "I don''t need a reminder. I''m leaving." I pushed myself up, my body screaming in pain.


    "Hold up!" he yelled."Take your blind brother and leave!"


    I stood, fighting back tears. "Don''t worry. My brother''s gone. He problem


    by anymore." (