Chapter 167
Zabelle at stiffly in the back seat of the sleek black car, her fingers curled into fists on her lap and she tried to get her mind off everything that was happening.
She was however unsuccessful, and it annoyed her as she had promised herself she wouldn’t break down, not in front of anyone.
Not in front of William, not in front of Alejandro, and certainly not in front of the guards and driver who accompanied her hack to the mansion.
However, if she kept on thinking about the whole situation, she wouldn’t be able to keep her tears from falling
Her throat was tight, her chest felt hollow, but she refused to let even a single tear fall. Not yet
She had spent hours waiting in that station, hoping for Antonio to walk out of there.
But instead, she had been forced to leave while he remained locked beland bars. It was unfair. It was infuriating. But most of all, it was unbearable,
How was she supposed to stay in that huge mansion without her husband? She didn’t want to imagine what condition his cell was in.
Would th
the bed be soft for him, and would it be able to contain his long legs?
Fuck! She cursed in the mind and the urge to destroy something hit her strongly.
The city lights flickered through the tinted windows as the car drove through the streets, yet all she could see was the image of Antonio in that cold,
sterile cell
Her phone suddenly vibrated in her purse.
ap her out of her thoughts, and she quickly reached for it
The small distraction was enough to snap
She didn’t know what she was expecting. Who was she kidding, she was expecting a message from William or Alejandro with some kind of plan to eventum Antonio’s denied bail or better still, that he had been granted bail.
But when she saw the name flashing across the screen, her entire body stiffened.
Gabriel.
Her grip on the phone tightened, and her jaw clenched as she opened the message.
It was a simple text. Just an address. And below it, a message
Meet me there in twenty minutes. Let’s talk.
Her pulse pounded with anger. The audacity to text her asking to meet
was some pawn in
After everything he had done, after ruining Antonio’s life, after watching her suffer he still had the gall to summon her like she was some his gamer
Goodness, was it just mad audacity or was it because for years she allowed him to walk over her!
She had no interest in meeting him. None whatsoever.
But her rage burned hotter than her hatred for him, and if she let this opportunity pass, she knew she would regret it.
“Take me here, she undered, holding up the phone for Elias, to see,
Elias barely spared the screen a glance before narrowing his eyes. “Are you sure, ma’am? We should be going home
Just drive, Hias,
He hesitated, but after one look at her, he obeyed. The car made a sharp turn, changing cou
ling inside her.
Zabelle’s nails dug into her palm as she stared out the window, trying to suppress the seething emotions boiling
Gabriel was going to pay, and she hoped in the end, he paid with his wretched life
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Chapter 167
When they arrived at the location, Zabelle’s brows furrowed. The place he had asked to meet was a beach..
Her instincts screamed at her. This was a trap…
She knew Gabriel wouldn’t be foolish enough to try something violent, not with Elias watching. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t planning something manipulative
“Keep your distance, but keep your eyes open,” she instructed Elias. “If anything seems off, you know what to do.”
Elias gave her a firm nod. Understood, ma’am.”
She then stepped out of the car and started to make her way to where he stood. However as she got closer, she noticed there was another person there.
ne other than Jeremy
my standing beside Gabriel
And it was none
Her stomach twisted in disgust as she wondered what he was doing there.
The sight of her ex–boyfriend standing so comfortably with the man responsible for Antonio’s suffering made her blood boil.
Jeremy had already betrayed her once, but seeing him align himself with Gabriel: That was another level of treachery but why was she shocked when he had made his stance clear that night.
“You came.” Gabriel started.
“Only because you’re a coward who doesn’t know when to stop,” she spat. “What do you want?”
Gabriel chuckled, crossing his arms. “Straight to the point, I see.”
Jeremy took a step forward, his expression softer. “Zabelle, listen.”
“Shut up,” the snapped, her glare like fire. “I have nothing to say to you.”
Jeremy sighed but didn’t retreat.
“Are you here to admit you framed Antonio?” she demanded, crossing her arms
Gabriel laughed. “You think I need to? Antonio has a lot of enemies, my dear. Enemies who wanted him to go down for a long time. All I did was plant a seed”
“That’s bullshit. We both know it was you that did ic”
“Is it?” Gabriel squinted his eyes.
my doing.
“Do you really believe that every powerful man Antonio has crossed just sat back and let him thrive? You’d be a fool to think this was all my de They’ve been waiting for an opportunity to strike, and your husband gave it to them.”
She glared at him, still not believing his words. “You expect me to believe that just days after confronted you, those men conveniently decided to strike?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying”
Her fists clenched, and before she could argue, Jeremy cut in
“Zabelle, Antonio’s world is dangerous. You know that better than anyone. He was bound to fall eventually
She turned on him sharply. “And what? You’re suddenly concerned about him! Or are you just using this as an excuse to slither back into my life like you’ve been trying to do?*
Jeremy’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t deny it and that was all she needed to know.
Gabriel sighed dramatically. “Why are you so angry, Zabelle! You should be grateful as those men are giving you a way out.”
“Excuse me?” She stiffened.
Gabriel smirked. “You don’t see it, do you? You’re the problem.”
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Chapter 167
Zabelle’s breath hitched, but she masked the reaction with cold defiance. She would never let them know that she felt the same way.
“You came into Antonio’s life, and since then, everything has gone wrong” Gabriel took a slow step toward her.
“Your past enemics. your reckless decisions—it all started with you. The old Antonio would have never fallen the way he has. But ever since he met you, he’s been weak. Blinded. Vulnerable.”
“Shut up,” she hissed.
“You know it’s true. They made the decision to strike on the same night you came to my mansion and if you hadn’t, he would have realized and taken the appropriate steps to save himself he pressed.
“You
suffer.
can feel it, can’t you? The weight of his downfall on your shoulders. You are supposed to be his wife, his partner, yet you keep letting him
Zabelle’s heart pounded. She knew he was trying to manipulate her, she could see it, but the words still cut deep.
Gabriel smirked widened when he sensed her hesitation and that was just what he needed.
“Tell me, how much longer do you think they’ll protect you? How long before Antonio himself realizes you’ve brought him nothing but ruin?”
“I’m done here, Zabelle said as she turned to leave, but Jeremy stopped her when he spoke.
“Even his parents see it, Zabelle. They won’t say it out loud, but they know.” He paused. “How much longer before they get tired of you?” Jeremy, said choosing a gentler approach
“They won’t just let you go so easily, you and I know that. They’ll want revenge for what you have done to them.”
Zabelle felt something inside her crack, but she wouldn’t show them. Not here. Not now.
She swallowed hard, forcing her chin up. “You’re both pathetic,” she said, voice shaking only slightly. “Trying to turn me against Antonio? It won’t work. It will never work”
Jeremy’s brows furrowed, but Gabriel just chuckled.
“Believe what you want,” he said. “But we both know the truth. They’ve arrested your brother for something that I had no hand in and that is kind of family you think won’t ruin you in the end?”
“I’d rather they ruin me as long as they ruin you first.” Zabelle smiled, and it wiped the smile off Gabriel’s face.
Without wasting time, she turned once again to leave.
“Zabelle,” Jeremy called after her. “Think about what we said.”
She however didn’t stop nor did she look back. Because if she did, she wasn’t sure she could keep herself together.
Elias was
was already waiting, and as soon as she got into the car, she clenched her fists, so tightly her nails bit into her palm. No, She wouldn’t cry.
She wouldn’t let them win.
But their words echoed in her mind like a haunting melody.
What if they were right? And deep down, she knew they were. She was the cause of all that was happening to Antonio and his family.
the
