Lilian's POV
"Lilian! There you are!" Antonio stepped directly into my path, wearing that charming smile I'd grown to distrust.
My stomach dropped when I spotted Augusto hovering just behind him, his imposing figure casting a shadow over the moment.
Of course he would show up now, when I least needed this complication. Augusto had an uncanny talent for appearing at my most vulnerable moments, yet whenever I genuinely needed his help, he vanished like smoke.
Antonio beamed at me with practiced warmth. "I've been wondering what happened to you after you vanished from the charity gala so abruptly."
The audacity of his fake concern nearly made me scoff out loud. This man had orchestrated my humiliation at that event, and now he had the gall to pretend he'd been worried about me.
Before I could respond, Augusto's voice cut through the tension. "He seems quite fond of you. I had no idea you two had become so intimate."
