Chapter 126
Gabriel rushed into his mansion and on his face was a tense expression as his minil raced. He loosened his tie as he walked into the living room, where Lily was sipping tea.
Upon hearing footsteps, she looked up and when she saw the tense expression on his face, a frown appeared on her face.
“Gabriel, what’s wrong?” she asked, setting down her cup. “Is it still about Vanessa?“
He didn’t respond immediately, pacing the room trying to figure out what his next step would be. Finally, he turned to her, his face pale.
Antonio knows he informed her
Lily’s brow furrowed as she med to make sense of what he had just said. “Knows what?”
Gabriel sighed heavily, running his fingers roughly through his hair. “He knows Zabelle isn’t our daughter.”
Lily froze, her eyes widening in horror, the same reaction he had when Antonio told him.
“What? How Did you tell him?” She wasn’t thinking properly, and so she blurted the first thing that came to mind.
course not. Why would I tell him such a thing?” Gabriel snapped, continuously running his hand through his hair.
“He came to my office, barged in like he owned the place, and dropped it like a bomb. I have no idea how he found out, but he knows.” “Dors Zabelle know!” Lily asked, her voice trembling. It was a secret they had kept for years with the expectation that it would never come to light. Gabriel hesitated, then shook his head. “He didn’t say anything about that. But if he’s gone this far, who’s to say what he’ll do next?” H Irritation
He hissed in
“He could have told her, and she sent him to interrogate me, and he might have done so with the expectation of finding answers before he tells
her.”
Lily sunk into the couch, her hands covering her face. This is a disaster. If she finds out. Her voice trailed off, her mind spinning with the consequences
Ganel clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he very well knew the consequences of the situation. “We’ll deal with it. But right now, I need to
“Think faster, Gabriel, this isn’t something we can sweep under the rug again! You promised no one would find out
“I know what I promised” he snapped, his voice sharp enough to make her flinch.
Regret flickered in his eyes for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by something darker.
“He simply knows she is not our daughter, the probability of finding out who her real parents are is zero. We took care of those ends years ago,” he ineered, and he saw Lily calm down a bit, but the worry hadn’t fully dissipated
Au Lily sat silently, her worry etched on her face, Gabriel began to pace again. His thoughts in chaos.
He hadn’t even told Lily everything
Yes, she knew Zabelle wasn’t their boological daughter. That much had been unavoidable when they had brought her into their lives.
But there was so much more so much that Lily didn’t know, and it was good she didn’t as she couldn’t be trusted with it.
Secrets buried deep–Secrets that could destroy him if they ever came to li
Calatiel uopped ja
litter smile rugged at his lips.
“Mayler it’s time.” he uttered under las breath, but Lily beard hi
“Time for what? Lily asked, her voice hesitant.
He turned to
to her, his expression unreadable. “Time to close that i
chapter. Permanently?
“What are you talking about?” she demanded, standing now, her earlier fear replaced with frustration as he wasn’t making himself clear.
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Chapter 126
Gabriel ignored her question as he was lost in his own thoughts
If Antonio knew about Zabelle’s true parentage, then the clock was ticking. He couldn’t afford any loose ends, any risks.
Because if anyone ever found out the truth about Zabelle’s origins÷not just that she wasn’t their daughter, but the real truth, it would be the end of everything
His career. His marriage. His life as he knew it
And for the first time in years, Gabriel felt a flicker of genuine fear.
He turned to Lily,
to Lily, his voice steady but cold. Til handle this. Don’t worry” She didn’t need to know the details.
Lily frowned. “Gabriel, what are you planning! You’re scaring me.
Buy Gabriel didn’t answer. Instead, he left the room, his mind already racing with the steps he needed to take.
As he ascended the staircase to his room, his expression hardened. He had kept his secret hidden for decades, sacrificing more than anyone knew to ensure it stayed buried:
And he wasn’t about to let Antonio–or anyone else–tear it all apart
“It’s time to end this, he whispered to himself, his tone resolute, “Once and for all.
Antonio sat with Zabelle in the sleek waiting room of Hildea’s headquarters, the minimalist decor and polished surfaces reflecting the company’s reputation for innovation and elegance.
Zabelle fidgeted beside him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, exposing the nerves she was trying to mask.
Antonio glanced at her, his gaze softening “Relax, Zabelle,” he said, his voice low but reassuring. “You’ve got this.”
She looked at him, her lips parting to respond, but the words seemed to get stuck in her throat. Instead, she nodded, her cheeks flushing
Before she could dwell on her nerves any further, the receptionist approached them with a warm smile. “Sir, ma, Hildea’s creative director is ready for you. Please, follow me
Zabelle took a deep breath, her heels clicking against the floor as she stood. Antonio rose alongside her, his presence as steady as ever. They were led into a spacious conference room, its walls adorned with mood boards, fabric samples, and sketches of upcoming designs.
suit was as sharp as her gaze, and the air
with a commanding presence. Her tailored pantsuit
At the center of the room was a woman in her mid–thirties w of authority she carried was noticeable,
“Mas Garcia, Mr. De Luca, she greeted Antonio and the lawyer, extending a hand to each of them in turn after which she turned to greet Zabelle. Tm Clara Voss, Hildea’s strative director. Thank you for coming”
“Thank you for inviting us, Autondo replied smoothly, his tone polite yet firm.
Zabelle murmured her thanks well, her voice soft. She wasn’t a people person, and so she didn’t have much to
say.
Clans gestured for them to sit at the sleek glass table. Once they were seated, she began.
“I’ll get straight to the point. Hildea has been following your story, Miss Garcia. Your unique sense of style, your ability to stand out despite naustaring a low profile—it’s something we believe could resonate with our vision.”
“My uyler” Zabelle blinked in surprise. She didn’t really think she was stylish, as she barely paid attention to such details.
Clara smiled. “Yes. Your understated elegance, the way you carry yourself. The gown you wore at the gala was from one of our collections and after
-demand for it has tripled.”
Zabelle glanced at Antonio, her eyes wide with disbelief. He gave her a
ve her a small mod, his expression encouraging.
We’d like to explore a partnership with you, starting with a campaign for our new collection”
She turned back to Clara as the struggled to food her words “Tin honored, truly. But I’m not a model, and I don’t have any experience in this field.”
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Chapter 126
Clara leaned forward, her hands clasped on the table. “We’re not looking for a traditional model Miss Garcia.”
“We’re looking for authenticity, someone who can bring a fresh perspective to our brand. And we believe you’re the perfect fit considering your recent rise to fame.”
Zabelle’s heart raced. The words felt surreal, almost like they were meant for someone else.
Antonio’s voice cut through her thoughts as he whispered in her ear. “If you have any reservations, Zabelle, now’s the time to voice them. where I’m sitting, this sounds like an incredible opportunity.”
from
She looked at him, his steady gaze on
e on her. If Antonio thought it was good, then it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.
Finally, she nodded, turning back to Clara. “I’m willing
willing to give it a try,” she said.
Clara’s smile widened. “That’s wonderful to hear. Let’s go over the details, then.”
For the next hour, Clara walked them through the campaign concept, the photoshoots, and the terms of the partnership.
Antonio remained quiet for the most part, as his lawyer handled everything, only interjecting occasionally to ask a question or clarify a point. Zabelle, though nervous, found herself becoming more engaged as the discussion progressed. By the end of the meeting, she felt a spark of excitement she hadn’t expected,
And apart
from the excitement, she couldn’t wait to see the look on Vanessa’s face when the partnership would get revealed to the public. Clara stood, signaling g the end of their discussion. “We’ll send over the paperwork for you to review, and once everything is finalized, we can begin preparations.”
“We’ll be expecting the lawyer said. “Thank you again for coming, Miss Garcia. I’m confident this will be a successful partnership.”
As they left the building, Zabelle couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions, nerves, excitement, and majorly disbelief.
Antonio walked beside her, his hands in his pockets. “You did great there,” he said, his voice filled with pride.
She glanced at him, her lips curving into a small smile. Thank you for being here. I don’t think I could’ve done it without you:
He stopped walking, turning to face her. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Zabelle. All I did was show up. The rest! That was all you.”
His words sent a warmth spreading through her chest, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say
As they reached his car, Antonio opened the door for her, his expression softer than usual.
“This is just the beginning, Zabelle. You’ve taken the
first step, and I have no doubt you’ll go far.
“I hope so,” she whispered.
I know so
