Chapter 155
Hours later, Zabelle lay curled against Antonio’s chest, her breathing soft and even as she drifted off to sleep.
Antonio’s hand gently stroked her hair, his other arm wrapped securely around her waist.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispered into the quiet room. “Not Gabriel, not anyone. You’re mine, Zabelle, Always”
His blood still boiled when he thought of what could have happened if he hadn’t arrived to stop Gabriel in time.
Would he still be holding his woman in his arms? A life without her wasn’t one
that was worth living
“Antonio, go to sleep” she mumbled sheepish and her soft murmur of his name in her sleep brought a faint smile to his lips.
Pressing a kiss to her temple, he let himself relax, content in the knowledge that she was safe in his arms, and it was always going to remain that
Way
“I love you” he said to her and he would wait for the day she would say it back,
The Next Morning
Zabelle stirred. her body nealed close to Antonio’s.
For a moment, the quiet morning felt like an escape from reality, a world where there were no threats, no revelations, just the safety of his arms around her.
But she couldn’t sleep forever, and as her eyes flustered open, the weight of the previous day’s events settled over her chest.
Gabriel wasn’t her father. The man she had spent her life trying to understand, to please, wasn’t her blood. The bastard had also tried to kill her for confronting him
The question of whether he would have pulled the trigger if Antonio hadn’t showed up was one that would remain unanswered, as she didn’t know just how crazy he was.
Her emotions churned. I was a
as a mixture of confusion, anger, and an odd sense of relief she didn’t fully comprehend
“Good morning” Antonio’s deep voice hit her, pulling her out of her thoughts.
His hand smoothed down her back as he leaned closer to press a kiss to her forehead.
It would be a be if she said his action didn’t make her heart flutter. It felt so good to be loved, and Antonio loved with the same intensity as his hatred
“Good morning.” she replied softly, her voice still laced with sleep.
For
a moment, they simply lay th
lay there in silence, the room filled only with the faint sounds of their breathing
But Antonio wasn’t a man who let things linger unresolved, and he wasn’t about to start now
They needed to have a conversation and seeing as everything was peaceful, there was no better time than that moment.
“Planning on pulling another stunt!” he remarked, his tone gentle but probing
Zabelle sighed, and she shook her head before turning her face into his chest. “No, I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful.”
“Do you know before you came, I used to have trouble sleeping because of what happened to Natalya?”
“Really?” Zabelle asked, and he nodded.
“No wonder you were always in my room in the early hours of the morning before we got married, she grumbled, and he chuckled.
“But now!”
he told lie
“Ever since you moved into our room. I’ve been able to get proper sleep.
her, and he felt her smile against his chest.
Antonio then tilled her chin up, so their eyes met, his gaze steady and unyielding. “I’m not the one who matters right now. You do. Talk to me. Zabelle. You need to talk about what happened”
Zabelle’s lips parted as if to protest, but the look in his eyes told her there was no escaping this conversation. She bit her lip, trying to gather her.
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Chapter 155
“It’s complicated,” she began, hier voice barely above a whisper.
“I know.” Antonio said, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “Hut you don’t have to figure it out alone. Start from the beginning.
How are you feeling
Zabelle hesitated, her fingers absently tracing patterns on his chest.
**I don’t know, Pan of me feel relieved Gabriel. he’s always been so hard, so cruel. I’ve spent my entire life thinking I had to enclure it because be was my father, that I owed him something. But now.” She trailed off, her eyes distant.
“Now you know you don’t owe him anything” Antonio finished for her, and she nodded.
still the man who raised me, who shaped so much of who I am. Finding out he’s not my father doesn’t
“Exactly. But it’s not that simple, is it? He’s still is erase all of that?
Antonio’s jaw tightened, his protective instincts flaring. Goodness, his wife was too nice
“He didn’t raise you Zabelle. He controlled you, manipulated you. There’s a difference”
His words hit a nerve as they were right, and tears welled in her eyes. “You think I don’t know that? I do, Antonio. But it doesn’t make it any easier to untangle all of this in my head”
Antonio pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her as if he could shield her from
from the storm raging inside her.
“You don’t have to untangle it all at once. But don’t bottle it up. You need to let it our
Zabelle took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she continued. “My life is complicated.”
Antonio kissed her forehead again, his heart aching for her. “Maybe, but you can decide what you want to do with the truth now. You’re not bound by their choices anymore. You’re free to choose for yourself.”
Her eyes met his, and there was a flicker of hope, but that didn’t hide the pain in them: “But what if I don’t know what to choose? What if I feel
“You’re not lost. Besides, you have me.” Antonio said firmly. “You’re finding your way. And I’ll be right here with you, every step of the way”
“The devil himself,” Zabelle smiled.
“But an angel for you”
Zabelle’s team finally spilled over, and she buried her face in his chest, letting herself cry. Antonio held her tightly, his hands stroking her back as he murmured soothing words.
*I feel like I don’t even know who I am anymore,” she confessed between sobs.
“You’re Zabelle, Antonio said, his voice steady and sure. “You’re strong, fierce, and brilliant. Gabriel doesn’t define you. You define you.”
His words settled over her like a balm, and slowly, her sobs subsided. She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with gratitude shining in her tear- filled eyes
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Antonio cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears. “Always”
They stayed like that for a while, the morning sun creeping higher in the sky before Zabelle broke the silence.
“Antonio,” she called.
“Do you think my actual parents would have loved me?” She asked.
ו יור
“There’s no doubt about that s
seeing–Antonio paused as there was no way
“He committed suicide,” Zabelle completed her words and he sighed. She then sat up:
to way he could complete his
up and
sentence without
rubbing salt in he
turned to face him
“Antonio, do you think there’s a way you can find her?” He asked, her eyes filled with hope.
“What if I tell you I already asked Martins to start searching for you?” He smiled as he stroked her cheek
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11:05 AM &
Chapter 135
“You re the best thing that happened to me. Zabelle told him as she leaned in and gave him a kiss.
“Of course I am,” Antonio responded cockily and she rolled her eyes
“If she’s out there, we’ll find her.”
For the first time in what felt like forever. Zabelle allowed herself to feel a glimmer of hope, and she desperately prayed that her mother was alive and well
“By the way, I’m still mad at you for leaving the house and putting yourself in danger,” she heard Antonio say and she groaned!
“Are you serious?” I was trying to handle it myself,” she said softly. “I didn’t want to put you in danger.”
“You don’t get to decide that for me. Do you understand! I don’t care what your reasons were–when it comes to your safety, you don’t get to go on your own like that. Not without me.”
“I get it” she murmured in defeat. “I messed up.”
“Yes, you did,” Antonio said, his tone firm. “And if you ever pull something like that again, Zabelle. I won’t just be mad–I’ll make sure you can’t leave this house without my knowledge.”
Her mouth dropped open, her eyes narrowing. “You can’t trap me here. Antonio”
“Watch me,” he replied, his gaze steady. “You’re my wife. Your safety is my priority, whether you like it or not.”
Zabelle stared at him, her jaw tightening. “I’m not a child, Antonio.”
“Then stop acting like one. he shot back.
“You’re insufferable!”
“I let you do anything you want but when it comes to your safety, I won’t compromise!” Antonio deadpanned
‘Annoying brute, Zabelle remarked just as her phone vibrated.
Crossing him, she reached out to the nightstand and grabbed her phone.
“Who is it?” Antonio asked as he knew there weren’t a lot of people who had Zabelle’s number.
“It’s from the lawyer. OMG, I have my first shoot today!” Zabelle exclaimed as she read the message.
