Chapter 160
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room where Antonio and Zabelle lay entangled in each other’s arms.
Their breathing was slow and steady, their bodies warm against each other as they slept peacefully oblivious to the world outside.
The loud vibration of a phone cut through the silence, making Antonio stir.
A low groan left his lips as he reached blindly for his phone on the nightstand, his brows furrowing in irritation
Would it kill the universe to let him and his wife have their moment of peace?
Speaking of his wife, his grip tightened around Zabelle’s waist instinctively, unwilling to let go of the warmth she provided. When he opened his eyes, he looked at the caller ID and when he saw it, he hissed in annoyance as it was none other than Alejandro.
That bastard”
“What the hell do you want this early? Antonio muttered under his breath as he accepted the call
He barely had the phone to his ear before Alejandro’s frantic voice blasted through the speaker.
“Antonio! Thank goodness you answered the phone. We have a serious problem. One of our hotels caught fire last night.”
Antonio’s brows snapped together, his sleep vanishing in an instant. “What?” He silently yelled not wanting to wake Zabelle up.
“And that’s not all Alejandro continued, his voice filled with tension. “The company is being investigated for money laundering and drugs. Word is. ari arrest warrant might be issued for the both of us at any moment,”
That was enough to jolt Antonio fully awake. His muscles tensed as he sat up abruptly, his arm pulling away from Zabelle.
“Son of a bitch,” he cursed under his breath, his mind racing
Zabelle stirred beside him, sensing the sudden shift in his mood. Her lashes fluttered open, and she took in his rigid posture, the cold look in his eyes sending a chill through her.
“Antonio_she whispered, pushing herself up on one elbow,
He ran a hand through his disheveled hair before pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’ll be there soon.” His tone was clipped as he ended the call without waiting for Alejandro’s response.
Zabelle sat up fully now, concern written a
all over her face. “What happened?” She asked as stroked his cheek.
Antonio exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching before he turned to her. “One of our hotels caught fire, and now there’s a whole investigation going on about drugs and money laundering. There might be an arrest warrant out for me and Alejandro soon.“
“What?” Her eyes widened in horror and her hands flew to cover her mouth.
Antonio reached for her, his large hands cupping her face as he pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. “Don’t worry, my love. I’ll handle it” His voser was calm, but she could feel the tension. Unlike before, she could read Antonio perfectly, and so she knew that he wasn’t as calm appeared to be.
He was already sluiting into damage–control mode, his mind working ten steps ahead.
as he
“But Antonio-
“Slih” He stroked her cheek with his thumbs. “In
thumb. “I need you to trust me, alright?”
Zabelle swallowed, nodding besiumnly.
With that, he swiftly got out of bed, stripping off his sleepwear and heading straight for the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the room. but Zabelle could only sit there, her heart pounding in her chest.
Wanting to keep herself preoccupied, she got up and began tidying their mom, a habit she was slowly developing whenever her nerves got the best
of her.
17/3
12:08 PM –
c
Minutes Later, Antonu emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered. He didn’t waste any time in entering the closet, and when he came out his sharji sınır was hugging his frame as he adjusted his cuff links.
Zabelle immediately walked over to him, and she placed her hands on his chest. “He careful, Antonio, and text me, so I know what’s happening,” she
He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in a slow, reassuring kiss. “I will,” he promised her after which he kissed her once again.
Zabelle then followed him outside the mansion, and she watched as he stepped into his sleek black car and drove off.
The moment be disappeared from view, an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach and she felt herself begin to hyperventilate.
She hated this. The fact that she couldn’t do anything for him killed her, and it reminded her of just how useless she was, and she felt tears come to her eyes at the thought of that, but she sniffed, refusing to cry in front of the guards.
Just as she turned to go back into the mansion, her phone vibrated and when she looked at it, she saw that it was a text from Antonio.
“Stop hyperventilating. I’ll be fine. Someone will be there with you shortly so you don’t lose your mind. I love you”
She re–read his text over and over again, and a small smile appeared on her lips. Antonio knew her like the back of his palm, but she wondered who it was that was coming.
Was it Alicia? She wondered.
Just as the thought came to her head, she heard the sound of a car approaching and when it got to the front of the mansion, it was none other than Nivers who stepped out.
“Oh goodness” she exhaled in relief as she really needed a friend.
“Hi Nivera greeted and from the look on her face, it was obvious she was worried as well.
“Hi, come on in,” Zabelle said as she led Nivera into the mansion.
“Hey, have you heard from Alejandro yet!” Zabelle asked as she looked at the text she had sent to Antonio an hour ago, which was sitting unread in his DM
He had said he would keep her updated, and he had been doing so until an hour ago when he suddenly stopped texting and responding
She knew Antonio wouldn’t break his promise and so, she could help but worry that something had happened to him.
“No, he hasn’t. Olunya
goodness, this is so frustrating Nivera groaned as she tugged her hair harshly,
Zabelle reached out and grabbed her hand. “You’ll rip it off if you keep tugging it,” she said as she looked at her phone to see if Antonio had responded.
“I’m worried,” Nivera said. Even though Nivera had been sent there so the two of them wouldn’t lose their minds with worry, the opportunity was happening as they were hyperventilating together.
When Zabelle would stari, Nivers would calm her down and vice versa.
“You know what, let’s check the news if anything new has come in,” Nivera suggested and Zabelle nodded in agreement.
Without wasting time, she began to flip through her phone and as he did, her eyes landed on a new notification which made her blood run cold as she read the leadline.
“BREAKING NEWS. Antonio Garcia, Billionaire CEO, Arrested for Rape Allegations.”
Her heart stopped as she read the news, and she started hearing loging in her ears.
Her grip on the phone lightened as she quickly tapped on the article, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
“Antonio Garcia, the heir to the tancia empire, has been taken into custody following allegations of rape. Reports suggest that a woman has come forward with claims of assault, prompaing an immediate police investigation. Sources close to the authorities say that there may be more victims
involved. More detands to follow-
Vichara
Chapter 1000
‘s phone slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor. She heard Nivera call out to her, but she didn’t pay any attention to her,
Zabelle’s
This had to be a mistake.
Antonio would never
Her legs felt weak as she sank onto the couch, her hands shaking violently.
Thn wasn’t just an attack on his business.
This was an attack on him.
And whoever was behind this was trying to destroy him completely.
