Chapter 84
After what felt like forever, Zabelle called it quits with the pictures and she and Antonio made their way into the grand hall.
It was breathtaking, Zabelle thought to herself. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the room, and the air buzzed with conversation and laughter.
Zabelle stayed close to Antonio as they entered, overwhelmed by the atmosphere and the number of people.
“Relax,” Antonio murmured once again, his voice low and calming. “You’re with me.”
“You said that last time, and then you left me alone, Zabelle fired at him.
“It was so you could get your personal pictures. Plus I didn’t leave you, I was literally ten feet away,” Antonio told her, and she rolled her eyes regardless.
Ast
they moved through the crowd, Antonio introduced her to a few key figures, his hand which was holding herself occasionally brushing it as a form of silent reassurance that he was still there.
Zabelle tried to focus all of her attention on Antonio, but she couldn’t ignore the stares.
Women in jaw dropping gowns eyed her with curiosity, some with poorly veiled jealousy.
Men glanced at her with intrigue, their gazes lingering a moment too long. Didn’t they remember that she was married She wondered.
And then there was Vanessa
curve.
Vanessa made her entrance like she owned the room, her crimson dress clinging to her every Heads turned as she walked in, her confident stride making it clear she thrived in the spotlight. Zabelle wondered where Jeremy was and why Vanessa came to such an event without her boyfriend.
Vanessa’s gaze immediately found Antonio, and her lips curved into a predatory smile as she found her target. But then her eyes landed on Zabelle, and the smile faltered for a fraction of a second.
Without wasting time, Vanessa approached them with a glass of champagne in hand, her expression perfectly composed
“Well, well, if it isn’t my sister and my brother–in–law,” she greeted, her voice smooth.
However, inwardly, she gagged at having called Antonio her brother–in–law.” It’s been too long.”
“Vanessa,” Zabelle was the one who replied as Antonio didn’t see any reason why he had to talk to the woman standing in front of him
“Zabelle,” Vanessa’s smile tightened. “You look… different.”
Zabelle forced a smile, refusing to allow Vanessa to rile her up. Thank you. So do you.”
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she recovered quickly, turning her attention back to Antonio.
“You know, I’ve been meaning to catch up with you, Zabelle. There are so many things we should discuss.”
Antonio’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he placed a protective hand on Zabelle’s lower back.
“I’m here with my wife, Vanessa and I would like some time alone. If there’s something you’d like to discuss, it can wait until another time. In the meantime, you can go meet your boyfriend
18:22 Sat, Dec 28 GD.
Chapter 84
Vanessa’s smile didn’t falter, but Zabelle knew her sister well enough to see the irritation in her eyes.
55%
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Without waiting for a response, Antonio led Zabelle away from there. “That was mean,” she remarked and Antonio chuckled softly.
He had an annoyingly nice wife, but he liked her that way, even though it got on his nerves sometimes.
“Don’t let her get to you. She thrives on drama, and you’re beautiful, just like you always her.”
Zabelle nodded as another blush crept up her skin, but her mind lingered on Vanessa’s words, especially when she caught the latter subtly glaring at her..
“Now come, let’s go have our seat,” Antonio told her.
The gala was in full swing, and it was nothing short of an extravagant display of wealth and power.
Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow across the room, their light reflecting off champagne flutes and glittering gowns.
The air was filled with conversations, sharp laughter, hushed negotiations, and compliments that Zabelle could tell we’re
fake.
Antonio sat in the chair next to her as he observed her and looked stunning in that green gown.
His wife’s beauty was commanding enough to draw gazes from every corner of the room. He had noticed the men staring as well, and it made it boil to the point where he wanted to gouge their eyes out.
He leaned closer to her, his voice low and private. “Is it just me or are most of the dresses here ugly and over the top?” He asked her.
Zabelle turned her head, a look of shock on her face. “I thought you didn’t pay attention to these kinds of things,” she squinted her eyes at him.
“I don’t,” Antonio replied, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. “But when I’ve seen how beautiful–the dress you’re wearing is and how you make it look even more beautiful, I can help but judge other people for looking uglier in theirs.”
Zabelle felt the heat rush to her face for the umpteenth time, and she looked away, pretending to examine the crowd. What was up with Antonio, and why was he behaving so differently?
“You should warn a girl before you say things like that.”
“Why?” he teased, tilting his head. “Afraid I’ll make you blush? Oh wait, I already did.”
She opened her mouth to retort, but her words were cut short by the arrival of a waiter who was holding a tray of drinks.
Antonio casually reached for a glass of whiskey, his attention still on Zabelle while she didn’t take anything as she didn’t drink alcohol.
From across the room, Vanessa watched the exchange with narrowed eyes, and she clenched her fists in annoyance.
She had been watching them all evening, her irritation building with every shared glance and private smile.
It wasn’t just jealousy that burned in her chest–it was rage. Zabelle had no business being here, basking in Antonio’s attention, wearing his name like a crown.
She was a nobody who was supposed to be trampled upon, but everything could stop talking about her and complimenting Zabelle.
18:22 Sat, Dec 28
Chapter 84
Vanessa’s grip tightened around her champagne flute, her knuckles turning white.
When her gaze fell on a passing waiter, and she nodded to him, their earlier conversation replaying in her head.
“See that man over there? The one with the whiskey?” she said, nodding toward Antonio.
The waiter hesitated. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Make sure you serve him this,” she said, discreetly slipping a vial into his hand. “And don’t ask questions. I’ll pay you handsomely, like I always do.”
It wasn’t the first time she was using the waiter to do her dirty deed at events like this.
The waiter nodded, immediately disappearing into the crowd. Vanessa’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk as she returned her attention to the pair.
Soon that smile on Zabelle’s face would be wiped completely clean, and she would have the last laugh.
