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Chapter 81
e now that’s much better,” Antonio remarked as he took a sip of his coffee and leaned back in his chair.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Zabelle frowned. He had prepared the food and he was busy drinking coffee.
“No, I’m not hungry,” Antonio shook his head.
“No, you’d lose your mind if I didn’t eat. You have to eat something.” Zabelle told him as she grabbed a plate and dished out his food.
“Now eat.” she ordered him as she placed the plate of food before him, and this made him smile. It was cute when she tried to act tough like him.
“Fine,” he however said as he grabbed his spoon and started to car.
“What about you?” he asked. “Do you cook, or are you more of a takeout expert?
“Takeout expert. I prepared simple dishes, but more often than not they don’t taste really good,” Zabelle sighed as she took another bite of the food. “There was a time I really wanted to learn, but I wasn’t allowed in the kitchen and when I moved out, I got very busy as…”
She stopped when she realized that she was over sharing. “Sorry she quickly apologized.
“No, I want to know,” Antonio told her. Even though he knew that she had it rough growing up, he didn’t know just how rough it was, and her speaking about it always helped him in increasing her family’s punishment when he would finally get
rid of them.
“When I moved out of my family’s mansion, my father was not hoppy, and he made it his mission to ensure that he would make life unbearable for me. I had to work multiple menial jobs to make money, and so I didn’t have the time to learn how
to cook.”
A frown immediately appeared on Antonio’s face as he realized something, and Zabelle blinked as she thought it was because of what she had said. “Antonio?” She called.
Antonio’s mind took him back to when they were back on the island when she had cooked for him. If she couldn’t cook, then she must have spent hours learning and then making those dishes which looked nice.
He never felt regret for the things he did, but at that moment, he felt utter regret for having destroyed her hard work in an instant.
Fuck, he was an asshole.
“Antonio, did I say something wrong?” He heard Zabelle ask him and he shook his head.
“No, no, I just remembered something,” he remarked. He needed to apologize to her, but it wasn’t the right atmosphere to do so.
He then changed the conversation to something light–hearted, making sure to avoid anything to do with her father or the stormy night that brought her here.
The playful atmosphere of the breakfast was something he loved, and he didn’t want to ruin it by bringing up something that would make them end up in another fight.
When they finished eating. Antonio immediately stood and he stretched. “I have to get ready for work. I have a meeting can’t miss.”
“Okay. I’ll clear the table,” Zabelle said, starting to clear the table
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“You don’t have to do that We have helpers for that,” Antonio sa, pausing at the doorway.
She waved him off. “I don’t mind. Go shower. You don’t want to be late.”
He gave her a small nod before heading upstairs.
After he left, Zabelle started doing the dishes and her mind wandered back to what she’d overheard earlier now that she was alone.
Antonio’s sharp tone and the anger in his voice when he spoke to his father–it was clear there was history there, something painful and unresolved. 1
She glanced toward the door of the kitchen and she sighed, her brow furrowing. What had William done to make Antonio so bitter!
Her fingers brushed over the edge of the counter as she let the thought linger.
Antonio wasn’t the type to talk about things like that easily. But port of her wanted to know because earlier wasn’t just bitterness.
the anger she’d seen
It was hurt. Antonio must have loved his father a lot, and whatever William did must have hurt him a lo
But what was it? She found it rude to ask his mother about it, but that was the only person who had a chance of telling her. With a sigh, she began rinsing the plates, pushing the thoughts aide for now. If he wanted to tell her, he would. Until then, all she could do was be here.
She wouldn’t pry as it was a family matter.
After she was done, she made her way to the living room to pass the time. It was amazing how her life had changed, as she would have been at work by now has she not met Antonio.
Speaking of the devil, she heard him come down the stairs, his presence commanding as always, though it felt less overwhelming today.
He was dressed in a sharp navy suit, and his hair was still slightly damp from his shower. He adjusted his cuff links as he stepped into the living room, and she noticed his tie was draped around his shoulder.
“Help with it,” he said, and she immediately got up to do so. As she did, she paid attention to the height difference between her and Antonio, and she sighed in annoyance.
“Why are you so tall?” She complained. “Just how tall are you?”
“Over six foot and six inches tall.” Antonio responded as he parted her hair. “So short,” he muttered, and she raised her head to glare at him.
five six, that’s not short,” she cried out.
“I’m f
“I’m a foot taller than you, but sure you aren’t,” Antonio rolled his eyes and a cough immediately escaped from his throat when Zabelle made the tie very tight.
“Zabelle!” He called out, and she reluctantly loosened the tie.
“I’m not short,” she repeated, and he nodded, this time without sarcasm.
“Yes, you aren’t,” he agreed.
“Good. I’m done with the tie,” she told him.
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“By the way, there’s something I forgot to mention
“Oh?” she hummed, arching an eyebrow.
“There’s a gala tonight. It’s an important event, and I’ll need you to attend with me,” he informed her.
“A gala?” Zabelle repeated and he nodded.
“Don’t worry about anything. The beauty team will be coming by this evening to get you ready
“If you need to get anything for it, there’s a card on the table for it.”
She nodded slowly, trying to process the sudden announcement. “Okay… sure.”
Antonio studied her for a moment, his expression softening as he realized she was nervous about it. “It’s nothing to stress over. Just show up and look stunning–which, knowing you, won’t be a problem.”
Zabelle rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the small smile that crept onto her face. Was that his way of calling her beautiful? She asked herself.
“Are you saying I’m beautiful?” She decided to ask.
“I am,” he said simply, as he started to walk. “I’ll explain more later. For now, just relax.”
With that, he grabbed his keys from the counter and headed for the door, tossing a final glance over his shoulder. “I’ll be back by late afternoon. Don’t let the beauty team overwhelm you. You’re the boss, after all,” he reminded her.
Zabelle chuckled, shaking her head as he disappeared out the door.
“What do I do with my time? Zabelle asked herself after he had lef
Vanessa sat at her vanity
ity mirror and she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Her fingers found the sleek invitation card resting on the vanity table, an invitation for tonight’s gala.
She smirked as she imagined the glamorous event, the sparkling chandeliers, the clinking of glasses, and the gossip that were always accompanied by events like these.
But more than the event itself, her mind was fixated on one person.
Antonio.
She leaned back in her chair, a sly grin playing on her lips. The thought of him always brought a wave of excitement and a spark of determination.
Vanessa knew Antonio would be at the gala tonight. He was a man of influence, and he had been attending for years now.
Tonight wasn’t going to be just about admiring him from afar. This was her chance to do what she’d been planning for weeks: get close to him and make him hers.
Zabelle might have Antonio’s attention now, but Vanessa couldn’t understand why,
le was quiet, reserved a shadow in companher own charm and confidence.
She had always been the one to draw people in, to turn the attention to herself, and so it didn’t make sense that Antonia would be interested in someone like her sister who was ugly.
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Vanessa’s lips curled into a suirk as she picked up a strand of her hair, twisting it idly. “Not for long she murmured to herself.
She had watched from the sidelines for too long, seeing the way Zabielle had been enjoying being Antonio’s wife.
That was going to change. She’d always been able to get what she wanted, and Autonio would be no different,
Tonight would be perfect. The gala was the kind of place where she thrived, as she was always dressed to kill and catching everyone’s eye. Antonio wouldn’t stand a chance once he saw the dress she had chosen.
Her gaze shifted to her reflection in the mirror, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Time to show him what he’s been missing.”
The thought sent a thrill through her. Antonio belonged with someone who could match his fire, his confidence.
Not someone like Zabelle, who was easy to control and who hid behind her meekness. Vanessa would make sure he saw that tonight.
As she began to plan her outfit for the evening. Vanessa’s grin widened. By the end of the night, she’d make sure Zabelle wasn’t even a thought in Antonio’s mind. This was her moment. And she wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away.
SEND GIFT
